First
Presbyterian Church, Lake Charles, Louisiana
This is not about Global Warming, or
the world coming to an end in 2012 as per the Maya Calendar. The reading from
Luke is an episode from Jesus’ last trip to Jerusalem. He knows he is going to
die, but that his death will actually be a glorious new beginning. He says, “I have come to bring fire on the earth.”
“Fire on the earth!”We often think first about how our faith in
Christ is deeply meaningful to us. Of course it is! But Jesus’ work goes beyond
making us happy and secure about eternity. Jesus came to set the world on fire.
He was ready
to see it set ablaze. Fire makes me
think of Pentecost- those tongues of flame, the Spirit of God in visible form
poured out on all sorts of people-kindling the fire of faith within them- And giving them all sorts of
gifts to offer for God’s glory, and for service to the Lord Jesus.
Jesus also spoke about his
baptism.He did not mean a ceremony, a
joyous and sweet moment shared with family and church. Jesus was talking about his own death. It was
a terrible thing, an immersion into
betrayal, suffering, and anguish unto death.Romans 6:1ff says we are baptized into the death of Jesus, but also are
bound inextricably to his resurrection. There can only be a spiritual fire
kindled and fanned to blaze warmth and light across the world when we are truly
and deeply tied into Jesus’ baptism by crucifixion, and resurrection.
Sometimes
it’s hard work to come up with an example- but André LeBlanc, who has
faithfully served as Youth Director since 2007, gives a living one today. He
grew up in this church. He has worked with the youth.He has gone on mission trips as close to home
as Oak Grove in Cameron Parish and as far away as Cuba.He has shepherded some of our children on Mo
Ranch conferences. Now we are seeing him off to Miami.
For the next
year or so, André will work with homeless people at a shelter.Or, he might be serving with young children
at an after school program. Or he may be doing some of both!
In a
dramatic and highly visible way, André is going to be part of the “fire on the
earth”:baptized in Christ, sent out to
serve.
Here is God, working to bring
resolution to all the world’s problems!We would expect everything now to tie in together, and be “HAPPY EVER
AFTER”.But Jesus goes on to talk about
conflict, about even families disagreeing sharply about him.
Everybody can see what’s happening. Everyone
has to decide what they think of it all. That is not necessarily cheerful news
to us. Like many other churches, we are anxious and eager to reach new people.
According to the Lord we worship, not everyone is going to respond positively
and joyfully to the gospel- no matter what we do, no matter what we try to
change!
Jesus’ words
are a reminder to us—and to you too, Andre.We love what we define as “success stories”.Problem is, over and over again, God reminds
us that he wants us to be faithful in our choices and our commitment to him—and
leave him the results.
Friends,
remember that I am your pastor- but you are ALL ministers, ministers of the
good news about Jesus. André is going to be involved in the work of telling and
showing people God’s cross-shaped, boundary-bursting, life-transforming love
for them. We are committed to support him, and to pray for him.
And whether
it’s in concentrated form in a shelter or a program or collecting school
supplies for far-away children or taking food to the Oak Park Food Pantry,
whether in Miami or Calcasieu Parish, we are part of the fire that Jesus
kindled on the earth. We are part of a fire that does not destroy, but
purifies, and lights the way to God through the darkness.
