SERMON PREACHED AT THE 90th ANNIVERSARY OF HOLY
TRINITY, KILLARNEY, MANITOBA
AUGUST 3rd , 1980
Text:" Jesus asked them saying, What think ye of
Christ?" Mt 22:42
Introduction:
As we gather together this Sunday for the 90th
Anniversary of Holy Trinity, Killarney, there are probably many
questions on your mind. I know that you can hardly wait to ask people
that you haven't seen for awhile questions like: "How have you
been keeping?", "Where are you living now?", "What
are you doing?" or "What are your plans?"
There is another question that I would like to place
before you this morning. It was the same question that was asked of
the first Anglican Congregation in Killarney some 90 years ago. It
was the text of the first sermon ever preached here. It was a good
question to begin a Christian congregation with. It is a question
that is still relevant today because it is still life--provoking for
us as individuals and for us together as a Christian Community. It is
a question that Christ asked of the Pharisees as they gathered
together to mount opposition against him. The question:
WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?
1.
We live in an increasingly pluralistic society today,
unknown to those who lived ninety or an hundred years ago. In those
days it was pretty much what we would call a Christian society. The
church had a dominant place in their lives. The Christian church is
where they went or stayed away from, whatever the case may be. But
today we are faced with many beliefs, systems of beliefs, and
doctrines---- too many to even list. For example we have a great many
humanists today who are dedicated to human values, and are selflessly
dedicated to the human cause, but would never have God as a term of
reference. We have on the other hand the Christian Pietists who seem
to be more concerned about the next world than this one. They believe
mostly in "Pie in the sky when you die, by and by". They
are more concerned with that than they are about justice, freedom,
and helping out in the situation here and now. Sometimes they have
been described as "so heavenly minded that they are no earthly
good." We also have the Marxists and other forms of communists.
We are continually in contact with people of other religions. There
was a time when you never saw Hindu Temple or a Moslem Mosque in our
Communities. Now they have become commonplace in Canadian cities.
There is much interest in comparative religions. Many schools and
colleges include the study of comparative religions in their
curriculum. I read recently of a documentary produced in England
called the 'LONG SEARCH', and included thirteen presentations on
world religions. It concluded with a program called 'Loose ends,
depicting different peoples climbing different mountains, In this
pluriform atmosphere Christians need to be clear on the meaning of
their faith. Christians more than ever need to be clear that the
chief distinctive characteristic of Christianity is Jesus Christ himself.
Let me tell you of Sundar Singh. He was born into an
Indian Sikh family but after his conversion became an itinerant
Christian leader. He was once asked by an agnostic professor of
comparative religions in an Hindu College what he had found in
Christianity which he had not found in his old religion. "I have
found Christ", he replied. "Yes I know", said the
professor impatiently, "But what particular doctrine have you
found that you did not have before?" "The particular thing
that I have found," he replied, "is Christ"
The Christian faith is not so much a theory, or a
philosophy of life, or a principle, as it it a relationship with a
person. The Christian Faith is a Christ centered faith. The Christian
life is a Christ centered life.
You see, it is really an important question to have
before us this morning:
WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?
2.
Because we are talking about a relationship with
Christ, it will take the rest of our life to answer that question.
Nothing is more limiting in our growth in the relationship than
having fixed ideas. The Primate in his address to General Synod last
month talked of the church responding to the challenges in the world.
He said that the response is not easy and involves a PILGRIMAGE of
faith and action rather than a dogmatic, closed system of thinking.
Jesus asked the Pharisees the question, "What think ye of
Christ?" because he knew that they had fixed ideas about what
the Christ (Messiah) would be. These fixed ideas needed to be broken
if they were to open themselves to the true Christ. They answered,
"He is the Son of David" They had an idea that he would be
a Prince, like David, that would shatter Israel's enemies and lead
the people to the conquest of all nations. They saw him as a
nationalistic, political, military leader, who would bring power and
glory back to Israel. Jesus told them that he would be something
different. It wasn't enough to call him 'David's Son'. He was
actually David's Lord. He was not the earthly conqueror who would
repeat all the military triumphs of David but he was the SON OF GOD
who would show the LOVE OF GOD upon the Cross. Because they were
looking for something else, they missed the greatest love story of
all times - the love between God and the people of the world, that
was shown in Christ.
Understanding the love of God is something you have to
grow in. You can have insights and flashes of inspiration about it,
but in no way can you comprehend it all at any one time. There is
always more to learn about - more to experience.
A few years ago a book called I Heard the
Owl Call my Name was popular. It was about a young
priest going out into a northern mission in B.C. When he first went
out there, the people watched him with suspicion, like people often
watch their clergyman. At first there was an uneasy relationship.
However, as time went by , they spent time together, they learned of
one another, they shared joys and sorrows. They shared the depths of
sadness. The relationship grew and finally the Bishop wrote to the
young priest, 'You suffered with them, now you are theirs, and
nothing will ever be the same. "
Isn't it true that we must know personally that
someone understands our suffering and pain before we allow them a
place in our lives.
Henri Nouwen points out in his book the Wounded
Healer that we are indeed a people who would not see
God as authentic unless his caring came from a "heart wounded
with suffering". He says that No God can save us except a
suffering God. He continues, "Who can save a child from a
burning building without taking the risk of being hurt by the flames?
Who can listen to a story of loneliness and despair without the risk
of experiencing similar pains of the heart. In short , who can take
away suffering without entering it."
Well, that's the God we believe in. That is the kind
of Love that Christ reveals to us.
God in Christ has suffered all the things that you and
I have suffered and more. He has been rejected in his own home. He
has been ridiculed in public. He has been knocked down and walked on
as a doormat. He was betrayed by loved ones. He was oppressed by the
power structure. He was put to death by his enemies. BUT HE HAS NOT
BEEN DEFEATED. HE HAS OVERCOME IT. HE HAS SHOWN THAT THE RESOURCES OF
THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS ABLE TO TRIUMPH IN THE MIDST OF IT.
Do you hear it now? Is it coming through? --the
question that is central to our faith, and to our understanding of
God's revelation to us? Do you hear it across the land and blowing in
the wind
WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?
You can only answer that question by following Him .
So walk with Him my friends! Walk with Him and find out. That's the
only way you will know Him. The disciples in the New
Testament were asked to follow. Levi wouldn't have known Him if he
remained sitting at the Receipt of Custom. He had to leave that and
follow. Peter and John would never have discovered who He really was
if they had stayed with their nets and boats. They followed Him and
learned of Him as they went along. It was a long way down the road
when they were able to uttered those words, "Thou art
Christ, Son of the Living God", They walked with him, they
talked with Him, they worked with Him, they relaxed with Him,
eventually they would go the whole road with Him and die for Him.
You won't find Him by sitting and contemplating about
Him , or thinking about arguments for and against Him. You need to
follow him. He will show you things you never knew. Your hearts will
burn with illumination. Your eyes will be opened to the meaning of
life and death. You will grow in the knowledge of His great Love.
3.
There are a great many things that take us away from
our continuing relationship with Christ. A number of things stand in
the way or hold us back. There are no greater obstacles than the
peripheral concerns that plague the church and keep us from centering
on Christ as the finisher and perfecter of our Faith. Sometimes there
seems to be so much concern over these other peripheral concerns that
it is difficult to see where Christ is in it all. Much of the
fighting and conflict in the church is over these smaller issues. I
have met people who left the church over a clash with other members
about the design of the kitchen in the parish hall. I have met others
who withdrew their support from the church because the minister said
the wrong thing as they shook hands with him after the service. These
are peripheral concerns. They have little to do with the main task of
the Church of showing Christ to the world, and being effective
channels of His reconciling Love. During the war they say there was
much in-fighting in the barracks as people waited and prepared to go
to the front lines. When they got out to the front lines they could
only be concerned about their main task. Their individual differences
were lost in the grand overall task that stood before them. They
didn't have time and energy to fight among themselves They had a job
to do together. Sometimes the church seems more like the barracks
where people are always preparing and waiting for something to
happen, and never seems to be involved in their main purpose. There
is so much fighting among ourselves because we are not overwhelmed by
the great and glorious mission that Christ would have us do. If our
relationship with Christ was central, we wouldn't have the time or
energy to become involved with little spats about peripheral concerns.
I have personally been hurt in the church. I have felt
unjustly treated at times.( I not talking about my experience at Holy
Trinity but speaking of my history in the church). I have felt
unjustly treated by the higher authorities. At times I have
experienced the loss of dignity. I have suffered many things at the
hands of good church people. I have thought of leaving the church. I
have said many times, "What's the use? "Why keep on keeping
on?" But just as I've turned to leave, Just as I was walking out
the door, I heard in the midst of the struggle, through all the
debris which haunts the soul a thousand times over, that never leaves
me, that pulls me up short , and sets me on my feet again...the
question that brings me back to what its all about:
WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?
That is what it is all about. Isn't it?
Conclusion:
I'm sure that through 90 years of this parish that we
have had to be brought back many times to what it is all about. I'm
sure that some of you can remember times when you wanted to leave
because of peripheral concerns. You've been cheesed off, burnt up,
and burned out over a number of smaller things. There have been many
hurt feeling over the "other" concerns of the
church. Sometime they "Have got the better of us". But
there is one question that I would place before you. It is not what
you think of the minister. It is not what you think of the Vestry, or
the A.C.W. or the Choir, or the Order of Service. It is not what you
think of your neighbor sitting beside you in the pew. There
is only one relevant question at this time. It is:
WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?
You have to be together in Christ to go forward as the
people of God. Christ is able to give our life and ministry together
true meaning. Christ alone is able to give us victory. Christ alone
is able to give us the vision we need. Christ alone can give you the
Peace we cry after. Christ alone can give us true Glory. Christ alone
can sustain us through the toil, through the struggle, through our
suffering, and through death.
I have always been taken by a speech given by Martin
Luther King the night before he died in the cause of liberating an
oppressed people. He had lived for Christ. He had lived and died
with Christ. He said these words:
I don't know what's going to happen now. We've got
difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me because I've been
to the mountaintop. Like everyone else, I would like to live a long
life. But I'm not concerned about that. I just want to do Gods will
and he has allowed me to go up the mountain. I have seen the promised
land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight,
that we as a people will get to the promised land. I am happy tonight
that I am not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man.
"Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
Let us pray:
O God, who hast set before us the most wonderful gift
of your son Jesus Christ to reveal to us your Love, Help us to look
unto Him and see that he is the beginning and end of our life, the
perfecter and finisher of our faith. Help us to follow Him and learn
of Him as our Mediator, our Foundation, our Life Giver, our Lord, the
Secret and Goal of our Living, our Love, and our Model. Grant us 0
Lord to ever keep before us the question, 'What think Ye of Christ?'
in order to keep us from straying from your true purpose and our true
task in this world.
Give us , 0 Lord, the gift of Faith, so amid the
confusion and perplexities of life, we may lay hold of your power,
and your love. We search for you but we know that we cannot find you,
unless you first have found us.
We thank you for every revelation that pierces the
chaos of human history, and for every bit of light that has shone so
brightly into our darkness.
We pray through, on, in, under, for, with, unto, and
like our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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