January 17, 2010

“One Goal – Many Paths” – I Corinthians 12:1-11 – January 17, 2010

When I began my ministry I served three small churches in the country. I had always lived in larger cities so the experience was a real culture shock. The worship services were at 9, 10 and 11 AM respectively. In between each church I drove about 10 miles. The first church was the smallest, only about 15 people. On my very first Sunday I was getting ready to leave but my car was out of gas. We were 20 miles from the nearest gas station. I man in the church immediately went to the back of his car and brought a 5-gallon gas container and put gas in my tank. He said, “After living in the country all your life you learn to carry gas with you.”

I shall never forget his kindness. He was also the man who went to the church early on Sunday mornings to stoke up the furnace. The folks at Grace Chapel Methodist Church were the most loving and humble folks I ever met. They loved their little church but most importantly they loved each other. A few years ago Grace Chapel closed its doors and the remaining members joined a neighboring congregation. But, I will always remember them. Although they were small in numbers their ministry of compassion was great.

Last fall I attended a memorial service in a different denomination. There was no bulletin so we had no idea when we should stand, or what we should say. There were liturgical responses that the congregation said but we did not know them. Some people kneeled at times but not all. There were two hymns sung but we had to leaf through the index to find them. The experience was awkward.

It’s easy to make judgments about churches and congregations that are different than our own. We are used to certain liturgical customs and traditions and when we find ourselves in a different context it makes us uncomfortable.

On the other hand, the minister sang several chants. He had an impressive voice. I also saw him at the hospital the night our friend died. The immediate family appeared to be comforted and attended too. Although it was a different tradition, I am aware that the family was given hope and helped with their grief.

Here we find Paul reminding the church at Corinth that everyone is different but all are important. He said there is a variety of "spiritual gifts" or talents but all are inspired by the same God. We may not fully understand nor do we always agree of the ways that others live out their faith. But, that doesn’t mean that they are not inspired by God. People are impressed with mega churches and they have effective ministries. But, the size of the church is not what matters for the Spirit of God is in all.
Just as each denomination and each church is different so is each member. Everyone has unique spiritual gifts. Paul was telling the Church at Corinth that no one spiritual gift was superior. They were all equal. He said, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” When Paul wrote this letter he was writing to those who were feeling excluded or unimportant. He was giving encouragement to those who had gifts but were reluctant to use them. Preaching is a gift, but then so is putting gas in the preacher’s empty tank.

What did Paul mean by the common good? I believe he meant the love ethic, “to love one another and our neighbors as ourselves.” That is our goal as the community of faith and the ways in which we love others are numerous. We love by helping, giving, teaching, nurturing, listening, building relationships or just being with. As Paul said in chapter 13, “Love is patient and kind, love is not envious or rude. Love does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful. Prophecies, speaking of tongues and even knowledge will cease, but love never ends.”

One day a man told his wife that he had decided to ask his boss for a raise. He was nervous, but toward the end of the day he finally got up enough courage to ask. To his surprise, his boss gave him a larger increase than he had anticipated. He also praised him for the great job he was doing. The man was elated and when he arrived home he found the dining room table set with the best china. Candles were burning and his favorite dinner was waiting for him. He thought, “Someone must have called his wife and told her the news.” He went into the kitchen and told his wife the good news and they embraced.

A little later he sat down at the dinner table and found a note that read; “Congratulations, darling, I knew you would get the raise. This dinner will tell you how much I love you.” The dinner was wonderful. When his wife got up to take away the plates and get the dessert, he noticed another card stuck to the bottom of her plate. It fell to the floor as she went into the kitchen. He retrieved it and read these words; “Don’t worry about not getting the raise, my dear, even though you deserved it. This dinner will tell you how much I love you.” (from Home Fires, by Charles L. Allen)

The woman loved her husband regardless of the outcome. She, like the man who put gas in my tank, was prepared to show him how much she cared.

Paul was also reminding the Church at Corinth that they are a team. They needed to work together giving every member a chance to use their gifts. Whenever we discount someone’s individual contribution or try to give priority to our own agenda we are not a team. In the next few verses in chapter 12, Paul said, “The Church, is like a body. When one part aches, we all ache. When one part is successful, we are all successful.” Perhaps you remember the movie, "If you could see what I hear". It was about a blind man and a deaf man. They witnessed a crime. Separately the crime could not be solved, but by combining their individual gifts of seeing and hearing they were able to piece together the mystery.

The Church is a team. This is not "my" church. A Church cannot function with only a minister. It takes every individual’s gifts and talents to work for the common good. Although I have been in ministry for 30 years, there is a limit to my gifts. It is impossible for any one person to cover all the bases in the life of a congregation. Some of you have been here for decades. You have the gift of experience, tradition and dedication. Others are new. You bring fresh ideas and energy. Together we work as a team for the common good.

This is also true for families. What makes for healthy families is every individual having the freedom to be who they are. It is no accident that opposites attract. If you and your mate are exactly the same, your relationship would be dull and meaningless. What makes your life exciting is that your qualities compliment one another.

Paul was also encouraging the people at Corinth who were feeling insecure to use their gifts. Jesus said (Matthew 5:14-15) “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lamp-stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”

In a certain mountain village in Europe several centuries ago, a nobleman wondered what legacy he should leave to his townspeople. Finally, he decided to build a church for a legacy. The complete plans for the church were kept secret. When the people gathered, they marveled at the church’s beauty and completeness. Following many comments of praise, an astute observer inquired, “But where are the lamps? How will the church be lighted?”

Without answer, the nobleman pointed to some brackets in the wall. He then gave to each family a lamp to be carried to the worship service and hung on the wall. “Each time you are here, the area where you are seated will be lighted,” the nobleman explained. “Each time you are not here, that area will be dark. Whenever you fail to come to church some part of God’s house will be dark.”

Everyone has a “light” that helps to keep the community of faith shining brightly. God needs our individual gifts to be the Church in the world. The more we let our lights shine the more faithful we are and the more we all work toward the common good.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio

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