“If God is for us …”
Dear church,
It’s Gospel Sunday and gospel means “good news,” that’s the literal translation of the Greek word “euangelion.” But let me address the elephant in the sanctuary right away… it’s kind of hard to believe good news these days, isn’t it? I find it sometimes hard to believe good news - and I’m an optimist by nature. The current generation of young people find it hard to believe good news, if you allow me to make that generalization. They tend to see a bleak future, a world on the brink of disaster, a burning world, a dysfunctional world. They are sometimes called the “anxious generation,” which sounds like a mental health diagnosis. And older people – people like me - wonder: what’s wrong with them? I mean, this may sound funny coming from a pastor but here it is… they drink less; they have less fun, less sensual pleasures, they start driving much later in life than previous generations… I am not making this up, that’s what the data shows about young people in the late teens and early twenties today. So, older generations – people like most of us here this morning who mostly remember those days in our 20’ s fondly, we wonder, “what’s wrong with them?” Well, perhaps we should consider the possibility that they see more clearly where we are headed. They have more life ahead of them, and what they see as their future frightens the daylights out of them. Maybe they have more reasons to be anxious compared to when we grew up. - I believe that.
It’s gospel Sunday and gospel means “good news.” But the elephant in the sanctuary, we can’t just move him out. Elephants are hard to move. And the Bible itself, in its prophetic tradition, warns us to even try to sugarcoat big, serious issues just because they are unpleasant. The prophet Jeremiah famously called out false prophets for proclaiming peace when Israel was in grave danger, and pretending that all was good when societal issues screamed to heaven. People with integrity can’t just lie or pretend that problems aren’t there. They will name them and tackle them, as much as that’s in their power. And so, the truth is, we live in times when we are starting to see, feel and smell the sins of generations in terms of the climate crisis. It’s not an exaggeration. It’s a big issue that impacts life on earth for all of us. It’s bigger than the United States. It’s bigger than China. It’s bigger than the unnecessary wars we are seeing. It’s bigger than the stock market. It’s big.
But it’s gospel Sunday and gospel means “good news.” Question: Where is it, the good news? Answer: look with the enlightened, redeemed eyes of a Christian, look with the eyes of a person of faith, look from deep within your soul, and you will find it almost anywhere, believe it or not. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a treasure hidden in the field that one man stumbled upon. Well, perhaps that field is not somewhere out in one of the former farms of Montgomery County. Perhaps that field where the treasure is hidden is in your soul; much of your life is there, the sacred core of God in you. But once you connect with it and allow it to change your perspective and your identity, it brings you a sense of gospel, good news, in every season of life and even during times like these when it’s hard or even irresponsible to predict a good and pleasant future.
Paul, in his powerful 8th chapter of Romans, a chapter full of gospel, full of good news, puts it this way: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” “If God is for us…” Paul says and it’s a rhetorical question, for God is by definition of our faith ALWAYS for us and never against us. Even when we are asked to change our lives, to clean up our acts individually or as a society (which we are!), God is for us. That’s the gospel. It’s the cornerstone of what we believe and the very expression of good news. It’s primal to anyone who is a parent. Of course, you are in your son’s or your daughter’s corner even when they mess up, right? And if you’re not, you don’t understand what it means to be a parent: it means unconditional support even when it’s hard. But what am I preaching? Most of you know that already, and know it well. Aren’t the most heartbreaking stories that we hear those of parents who for whatever heartbreaking reason abuse their own children? When that happens, a sacred boundary is crossed. It’s against the order of God. It’s awful and tragic.
Question: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Answer: anyone can be against us. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. Sometimes people in our closest family turn against us. Sometimes we feel mistreated by people we trusted, whether that’s mostly our spin or for real. And yet, what Paul preaches here – and he knew what he was talking about, having experienced adversity – is the Gospel, which is that the Holy One is always for us and would literally give his life for us on a bloody cross. It’s the basis from which we can deal with just about anything. God’s yes to us is the basis which enables us to endure hardships, if we must. It’s the basis of this church and its ministries. It’s the precious pearl from the parable we heard earlier, which brings beauty and value and purpose to us. Let that gospel shine into our world, shine in you and through you, even in the midst of your own shadows and doubts, even during these most challenging and often dark times. “If God is for us who can be against us?” Amen.
