Series: “Jesus’ Message: You Are a Participant in the Dream”
“Just Say Yes to Multiethnic Faith Communities”
1 Samuel 17:57-18:5, 10-16
Mark 4:35-41
Jesus consistently challenged the disciples to put their beliefs into practice. In Mark 4:40, Jesus responds to the disciples’ plea for help in the storm. Jesus replied, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” Martin Luther King, Jr, in his April 16, 1963, Letter from a Brimingham Jail, writes,
Injustice anywhere is a threat. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives in the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.[1]
I think the disciples thought it was an injustice that Jesus was sleeping on a cushion in the stern of the boat. Jesus was fine, and they were fearful of losing their lives. The disciples spoke up. Jesus moved them from belief to action.
Moving belief into action is imperative. You recall the story of David and Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:32 reads, “David said to Saul, let no one’s heart fail because of him [Goliath]; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Such is the plight and blessing of Christians to put their belief that God is present in all things and move faith and beliefs into action with the marginalized. Such is the plight and blessing of Christians to put their belief that God is present in all things and move faith and beliefs into action with diverse ethnic groupings. Such is the plight and blessing of Christians to put their belief that God is present in all things and move faith and beliefs into action with the suffering and oppressed. Our call is to engage injustice in all its forms.
The Gospel reading in Mark 4 asks us to hear Jesus’ words, “Peace! Be still!” quieting the storm. We are to put key Christian beliefs into action, thus quieting the storms in everyday life. In the storms in our lives and in the lives of those around us, we can rediscover our faith in the power of Jesus’ words to the wind and sea, “Peace! Be still!”[2]
Unjust realities confront us every day. The current discussions on race, the Juneteenth Federal Holiday, immigration, economic equity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender equality, both personally and in government, all have themes of justice and injustice woven throughout.
The storms rage, but Jesus states, “Peace! Be still!” When we put our faith, our beliefs into practice it is not faith that God will protect us, but faith and beliefs that conquer fear and secure us in God’s promise that death has been defeated and will never win. The storms outside aggravate the storms within. Each of us might want to acknowledge our fears.
Nine years ago, Wednesday, June 19th, Dylann Roof was charged with nine counts of murder and bond was set at $1,000,000. In this initial hearing, Roof faced families of some of the nine people he was accused of killing and heard words of forgiveness. At the bond hearing, Dylann Roof stood motionless while listening to the anguished words of relatives of victims he allegedly gunned down Wednesday night at a Bible study meeting at the historic Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. “I will never be able to hold her again, but I forgive you,” a daughter of Ethel Lance said. “And may God have mercy on your soul. …God forgives you, I forgive you.”[3] Dylann Roof received justice for his crimes. He also was offered forgiveness by his victims.
Like David, who did not demonize the Philistines, a legitimate enemy of the people of Israel and a different ethnic group, put your faith into action, personally and collectively. Engage “the other.” David did not fear “the other”, Goliath, but trusted in God. David, defeating Goliath, was a witness to the Philistines of the true nature of the Israelites’ God.
Jesus addressed the value of multi-ethnic faith communities when meeting the woman at the well, a Samaritan, and the Syrophoenician woman begging for the crumbs on the floor, and we are to do the same as his followers. Jesus wants all to be touched by and touch Jesus. Diversity in human ethnicity is ordained by God.
Ponder these key Christian beliefs. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Love God and love others. Mourn with others. Endure persecution for doing the right thing. Serve the least.
Embrace the diversity, ethnically, in humanity. Discover the contrast between hero and villain, victor and vanquished, and vulnerability and strength. Lean into the ultimate power of love to overcome the storms within and without.[4] Spiritual understanding leads to a way of being rooted in love and justice.
Like David, examine your unexamined assumptions.[5] Listen intently to your fears and speak into them.[6] Receive and act on Jesus’ words, “Peace! Be still!” Amen.
This sermon was preached the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost on Sunday, 23 June 2024
by the Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh in the Great Room and Sanctuary
at Grace Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kansas
Copyright 2024.
Steven M. Marsh
All rights reserved.
[1]Bryan Loritts, ed., Letters To A Birmingham Jail: A Response To The Words And Dreams Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2014), 20.
[2]In the two paragraphs of textual analysis above, I have benefited from the thinking of Daniel L. Smith-Christopher, J. Scott Hudgins, Eunjoo Mary Kim, Scot McKnight, Dan R. Dick, William Greenway, and David J. Schlafer in Joel B. Green, Thomas G. Long, Luke A. Powery, Cynthia L. Rigby and Carolyn J. Sharp, editors, Connections, Year B, Volume 3 (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2020), 89-93, 93-95, 96-99, 100-102, 102-103, 104-106 and 106-107.
[3]Adapted from a CNN report on www.cnn.com, June 19, 2015.
[4]Adapted from William Greenway in Joel B. Green, Thomas G. Long, Luke A. Powery, Cynthia L. Rigby and Carolyn J. Sharp, editors, Connections, Year B, Volume 3, 105.
[5]Adapted from J. Scott Hudgins in Joel B. Green, Thomas G. Long, Luke A. Powery, Cynthia L. Rigby and Carolyn J. Sharp, editors, Connections, Year B, Volume 3, 95.
[6]Adapted from David J Schlafer in Joel B. Green, Thomas G. Long, Luke A. Powery, Cynthia L. Rigby and Carolyn J. Sharp, editors, Connections, Year B, Volume 3, 107.
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