Sermons

"Walking with God"

Delivered from the Pulpit of First Congregational Church

of Anchorage by The Reverend Mark E. Long

on September 27, 2009

Lections:  Micah 6.6-8

                  2 Cor. 9.6-12

                  Mt. 25.31-40

"What does the Lord require of you?"  This is not a question of idle curiosity to the prophet Micah.  He asks the question on Jerusalem's streets after Assyrians laid waste to Judah's cousins in the Northern Kingdom.

The only way to understand such devastation is punishment.  YHWH used the Assyrians to punish the bad behavior of Israel.  Remember the commandment "Thou shall not have any other gods.  I am a jealous god."  Well, the Israelites didn't.  Remember that is.

Micah foresees Judah headed down the same road to the same fate so by way of reminder he asks the people of the Southern Kingdom, "What does the Lord require of you?"  Micah's words pretty much fall on "deaf ears" because the people believe Jerusalem, capital city of Judah, to be under divine protection.

The Lord, you see, made one of those "one-way" covenants with King David.  YHWH promised to build a temple for his home on earth through David's "family," but, what got missed by reckless Judeans, YHWH didn't promise to keep it standing.  Clearly it is important to pay attention to details.

The first part of our passage this morning is Micah's prophecy that the people will be asking, much too late, what can we "sacrifice" to save our hides.  What would you like Lord?  Prime calves, thousands of rams, oil by the pounds - how about a child?[1]  Clearly the people confused which god they were trying to appease.

Micah asks:  "Would the Lord, this Lord, require those kinds of things from you?  Of course not, this just shows how far off the path you are.  Simply do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly[2] (wisely) with [this] God."  That is all that is required.

That is all - it is still all that is required.  You don't have to believe anything in particular, do or say anything special, or dress in a certain way. Do the just, loving thing and get on personal terms with the voice that requires you to do it.  That is all.

It is true in Matthew's day as well.  Matthew tells us in his gospel that the sheep will be separated from the goats not by what we believe, even how fervently we believe it, but by what we do with what we have been given. 

We are required to do our part to give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, provide clothes for those with less than they need, care for the sick, and welcome strangers that come through our door no matter how strange they appear or act to us.  If you want to be one of the Lord's sheep - these are not optional.  Or at least this is what Matthew believes Jesus said.   

And life today affords us plenty of opportunities down the street and much farther away to get onto or stay on the path of God - let's consider one.  But first let's see what is at stake. 

You live in a village in the developing world - a place of poverty in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.  To show you the formidable odds that you face in these places, I'm going to ask you some questions.  Please stand as you are able.

["Health in the Village:  A Simulation" exercise.]

It doesn't look so good; seems most of you wouldn't make it.  It is a grim, sad reality that we have just exposed.

But take heart - help is on the way - YOU!  You have an opportunity today to begin or to continue a walk with God in the "wise" way of just and kind action.  People in places you may have difficulty conceiving need you to see their need but more than that they need you to do something about it.  You have the chance today to help those who live lives we are spared only by fate.

I strongly encourage you to participate today in the CROP Hunger Walk.  If you plan to walk, thank you; if you are supporting a walker, thank you.  If you have done neither; it is not too late.  Go home, put on your tennis shoes, come back to church, get an envelope, write a check put it in the envelope, turn it in and join us as we walk - even if it is only to the end of the parking lot.  It is not how far you walk that is important but that you are moved to think about why you walk as you do.

It is not about walking, even because they walk, rather it is about doing what is required of you - to do justice, love kindness, walk wisely in the way of God.  Think on these things, act on these things and receive back the blessings that you bring to others.

As you sow, so shall you reap.  It is as true for this age as it was when Micah tells the people of Judah "What is required of them," or Matthew's gospel tells his audience the difference between sheep and goats.  What will it be today?  "What will you sow?"

This is how I see it with my tennis shoes in the car.  Amen.