Satan - Alive and Well (Lent 1C-2-16)

What do you see when you look at this painting?

It is a coniferous forest – spruce and fir trees – in dusky light, at the eve of a snow storm.

It is a Canadian forest in the depth of winter.  It is not the most hospitable place: dark, cold, a boot swallowing snow scape, no sure paths, acres of space to be alone with the potential to get lost.

This could be interpreted as our experienced version of the desert. Jesus goes off into the wilderness.

My first parish, as you know, was in the wilderness of Northern NB, amidst hills, valleys, and coniferous trees – a land of snow, furious winds, bears, coyotes, and black flies all summer long. It was my place of wilderness training after the high of ordination; trying to figure out what pastors actually do from day to day.

 Jesus went to the wilderness to seek God’s direction after baptism – he went to set himself on the path for ministry and to fulfill his call. Jesus had just had a spiritual victory, if you will, a mountain top experience – having heard God say, “You are my beloved Son.”  He enters the wilderness, high with emotion… and it is in this state that Satan tempts him, with the promise of one great experience after another; tempted by experiences of power, glory, and material wealth. Although one goes to the wilderness to listen for God’s voice; in this wilderness Satan waits with an arsenal of demons. 

Power, glory, and material wealth…  all of this crosses the mind of a new pastor in a new parish; and how the pastor interacts with such temptation affects his or her relationship with church council, the congregation, and the community.

I was reminded this week of those early days, by a post on FaceBook from a woman who lives in northern NB.  The post was an article about a man who recently left a church in Plaster Rock.  The church has been there for 20+ years. In my time there it was called the Apostolic Pentecostal Church.  They built a new building and invited the community to come and see; which I did.  The church plant was huge and they had a large membership (making some of the other local churches and pastors jealous).   The pastor’s office -the inner sanctum- was decked out in solid oak fixtures; people were separated – male and female- upon arrival, introduced to a number of members and taken on a tour, phone calls were made in following weeks to anyone who visited during the open house; the church had a school and sent young adults to a private college in the States; paychecks were brought by members to the church with the church taking their cut and giving back what they deemed people could live on; the church found houses for members brought into the community – holding their mortgages; they found every member a job, threatening local businesses of boycotting their establishments if they didn’t give jobs to their people upon request; it was a church whose members shared what they had, provided for everyone, made people feel included; they prayed together, worshiped for hours, lived a noticeably different life – reminiscent of Christian communities Paul talked about in his letters … but, then, the demons showed their faces.  The pastor made all the decisions, pronounced the community ethic, took more – so as to have fancy cars, trips, and winabegos; baptisms were done in Jesus’ name alone, interpretation of scripture became self-serving.  Power, glory, and material wealth thrived.

When people felt pressure – when a person wanted to leave…

They lost everything – family, friends, house, car, other possessions, and they were excommunicated.  That’s what the article was about – the cult – it seemed okay at the time of joining – it sounded good- , but, people had no freedom.  They were not welcome to think and believe for themselves. Leaving meant stepping out into a new wilderness, alone.

What do you see when you look at this painting?

Between the trees are grotesque and evil demon-like faces.

This painting scared me when I was young.  It hung above the living room couch, and if ever alone in the house, I avoided the living room once nighttime fell. I always saw the faces more prominently than the trees. The painting was painted by the Southern ON artist named Jack Bechtel and was won in a raffle by my father. My dad also saw the faces, and knowing Jack, went to his studio to ask about them.  Jack was adamant that the painting was trees, only trees – no faces!  Not so long afterward, Jack died of cancer. Did he paint out those demons sub-consciously?

Living close to the Apostolic community and interacting with people in Plaster Rock who were members of this church, had me reflect on the presence of Satan in our lives. I was reminded this week that I haven’t talked about Satan and demons for a long time. It isn’t really a topic we face front-on in the church today and it sits in opposition to technology, science, and the critical mind.  We talk of a philosophical understanding of evil: exemplified in poor choices, awful feelings, and unloving deeds; but, Satan as an entity, as concrete, not so much.

I once read that, ‘the devils greatest achievement is that we do not really believe he exists.”  In an early sermon, I wrote, “Satan is a master of disguise, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, hiding and achieving success through many normal means, including through Christian organizations because we either don’t believe or are afraid to look. We do not want to find the devil working through us, as we may be chasing our own visions and goals on the way to following God.  Sometimes we like being selfish, having power, and a little glory.”

Satan came to Jesus when he was waiting on God.

Filled with the spirit, Jesus’ heart desired to be open to hear God speak – Jesus was humble and vulnerable on this part of his journey. An open heart meant an open opportunity for Satan.  What if Jesus the charismatic leader listened to the wrong voice?  We need to be aware at all times and in all places that Satan is very much alive and excited at the possibilities of working through us; using us without our knowledge while we think we are getting on with doing the Lord’s work. 

Satan is no fool.

Satan focuses not on Jesus’ weaknesses, but, rather, Jesus’ strengths.  Generally, we think that it is weakness that is a human beings downfall… Satan understands this, so instead uses our strengths; the things through which we have the potential to seek and/or gain power, glory, and material wealth.

Satan is persistent.

Three times the Devil comes to Jesus in the wilderness, with a different tact each time.  And when Jesus resists the temptation, we find out this is not the end: when the devil had finished every test, he departed from Jesus until an opportune time.

Satan is not stupid.

Satan uses something good and simply twists it just a little for his own purposes.  Notice in Luke, the Devil quotes scripture – probably better than some of us can.  The scripture is used to deceive, taken out of context and used in a self-serving way.  The church in Plaster Rock started in solid doctrine, no wishy-washy sitting on the fence beliefs, a community that welcomed and looked after each other… until it twisted into power, glory, and material wealth.

On Wednesday night we began Lent, remembering that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Over the next five weeks we will partake in Jesus’ ministry and be called to look closely at our hearts and the path we have chosen to travel and live.  We travel with Jesus – daring to enter the Canadian winter spruce forest – to the wilderness, to listen for God’s voice; we go mindful that Satan is lurking along the path. Satan wants to get a grasp on us; to have us turn away from what God is doing in the world.  We will be tempted to power, glory, and material wealth; while God calls for the Lenten practices of carrying less baggage, being courteous – giving alms, and praying. Remember that on this journey Satan will not likely appear with horns and a red suit, but, disguised – quoting scripture and looking like the Good News.

Almighty and merciful God, we believe that through Jesus’ name you have given us power over Satan and demons.  Encourage us to look for evil and rid our lives of evil and its destructive forces.  May your angels protect us and the evil one have no power over us. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Everything to Do with God - (Transfiguration C-2015)

Over the years I am sure that you have heard more than one sermon by me, and some from my predecessors, who preached this passage focusing on Peter, James, and John – and how it is that at the time they did not understand what was happening on the mountain with Jesus.  The sermon likely ventured into explaining mountain top experiences and living in the valleys – how the disciples needed the experience to face the days after Jesus’ death. This morning the sermon takes a different track.

For the first time I noticed verse 32:

³² Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.

It is particularly the words, but since they stayed awake ---

You will remember that in the garden of Gethsemane, which we will read Easter weekend, the story is told that the disciples kept falling asleep – and were woken up by Jesus and told to keep watch while he went to pray. It seems that in that story staying awake was important.  But not here. Not now.

I wonder if the three disciples were along, simply because they were. They had gone for a walk with Jesus. The event on the mountain was not about the disciples having an experience. It did not matter whether they saw it – mind you because they were awake they had a fantastic experience and faith booster. No one checked on them to make sure they were awake. The event  - the purpose of the mountain experience -was for Jesus – it had nothing to do with humans and everything to do with God.

So if the story is not about people what is there for us to learn?

We can learn something very valuable from God’s example, that is applicable to our lives.  God sought out others to carry the load of life and ministry.  Think about it, who on earth, at the time of Jesus, was his colleague? Who would he have been able to share everything with? Of whom could he ask questions? Where could he dump his frustrations?  Who else could he ask about veiling his presence, the reaction of people, what it felt like to perform miracles?

Twenty years ago, one of the most valuable lessons my internship supervisor taught me was the importance of attending gatherings with other clergy.  As we were in Sault Ste Marie he was creative; once a month joining with his Anglican colleagues for worship, study, and conversation; we joined with other Lutherans in Northern Michigan every couple of months.  These gatherings took precious time, in gathering and in the amount of driving.  He kept telling me they are important; even though sometimes it felt like a waste of time.  I get it now.  It didn’t take long to get it.  I had stories and experiences that were unknown to others and things to express that would not be appropriate to share outside of such a group. I needed a certain kind of support and offered support back.

Jesus was modeling the fact that no one, not even God, can survive, cope, or act alone – and remain in ministry.  One can not be about God’s work without being in relationship and having the support (and being support) for others.  Ministry is not a one person show.  Ministry is not about me; even if you are Jesus.

Let me ask this:  Is it better for us to be asleep if we are about considering experiences to be provided for our edification and pleasure? Is it better to be asleep than pursue the mountain top? Is it better for us to sleep, unless we view life as not about us, but about Jesus; God incarnate?  One thing for sure, if we are sleeping we don’t get in the way of what God is doing in the world. And we don’t stick our foot in our mouths.

On that note, Peter’s remarks are good ones to illustrate what happens when one has not talked with others about their thoughts and ideas.

³³ Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

Peter wants to build huts.  He instantly brings the whole experience into something that is tangible and can be controlled.  He speaks in the language we so often fall into --- buildings and money.  It is easier to focus on the material rather than the mission (the glory of God) because material is safe and controllable; ministry on the other hand can go every which way, and is far from fitting into a box.

As we see in the story the unsafe road of ministry (taken when Jesus comes down the mountain) has demons that show themselves – healing, publicity, expectations. There are expectations that Jesus will do miracles, why wouldn’t he; and I wonder are those who are asking - thinking about Jesus and God’s glory or about their life, and the lives of their loved ones? Are they asking because life is seen as being about them?

At Bible Study on Tuesday, when looking at the passage from Corinthians, conversation centred around no longer needing a veil to see God. Luther had an interesting take on this, it is not that we no longer need a veil – God provided a veil; the veil was a human body.  Convinced of the absolute distance between God and humanity, Luther felt strongly that a veil was indeed necessary; the veil is Christ.

Once again, shame on us to think that we have the ability and power to see God without a veil.

And to think that this sermon has taken us down the tunnel of being self-absorbed. Bryon Yawn a writer for Christianity.com says:  Unfortunately, we’ve been conditioned to read ourselves onto the pages and into the events of Scripture. We don’t even realize we’re doing it. What’s the first question we ask of the Bible in our personal reading times or church services? “How is this relevant to me?”  which I did by asking what can we learn, how is it applicable to our lives? He continues, This is the wrong question entirely. No question could push us further from the real story. It’s very much like walking out into the night sky and assuming all the stars showed up to look at us.

It is NOT about us! Life -real life- real living; is not about us. 

And deep down we know this is true.  Deep down we know we need not be told the steps to live a ‘real life.’ All one need do is watch inspirational YouTube videos that have gone viral, read the community section of the newspaper, look at the list of people who have Queen’s Jubilee Medals or the Order of Canada recipients; here we find a whole bunch of people who have done amazing things!  They are people whose words and actions are not focused on themselves and do something great for others--- at least in the moment of service for which they are being commended.

Thomas Merton wrote: I have the immense joy of being a man, a member of a race in which God Himself became incarnate….And if only everybody could realize this!  But it cannot be explained.  There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.”

We walk around in veils of being self-absorbed. When we think of the self and not the community, we add another layer that hides the Christ within us all. It is time to peel back the veils and the sleepiness.  It is time to not think about ourselves, but about relationship, support, and taking the wild uncomfortable unpredictable road of ministry… following in Jesus’ footsteps up and down a mountain wherein we are humbled enough to let veils drop, to remove veils from others --- and then to find Christ in the face of another reflected back to us --- God’s glory.

When will we know if we have accomplished ministry? When will we know if we are on the right path?… if we are asking the question we are still seeking the experience -to own- for ourselves.  When we no longer need to know --- that is when we have lifted the veils and Christ is reflected.

The advice for this week is that each of us has one of two options:  go to sleep and stay out of God’s way, or Live ‘real life.’  --focused on everything that is not about you.