There were four priests who would get together once a month to
discuss theology. One of them, Sam, was theologically
traditional, while the other 3 saw themselves as more progressive.
One day Sam was presenting the evidence of the scriptures’ reliability
to his colleagues. The other three shook their heads and said that
we really can’t know what the apostles wrote and said
because the power people in the church wanted to
control people so they changed the original words & stories.
They were very vehement about their point of view.
So after being verbally assailed for the better part of an hour,
Sam called out to God in exasperation:
“Lord, you know what’s right and that I’m faithful to you and
your church. Please send a sign to these my friends
that they might know that I speak your truth.” Just then
the lights in the building blinked off and then back on.
“Just a coincidence,” said one of the more progressive priests.
Sam prayed for another sign and the sky darkened & thunder rolled,
and then once again the sky cleared. “Sorry, another coincidence.”
So Sam prayed again. This time, the sky darkened,
thunder rolled, the lights went out, and a voice from heaven
boomed, “Sam is right about the scriptures and you other
three are wrong!” Looking around, one of the three
replied nonchalantly, “So? It’s still only three against two.”
We live in a time in which it seems everyone offers an opinion about
the church and the Christian faith. And an increasing portion of
those opinions is negative. The mantra, “Question Authority”,
which really took root when I was young, seems to have become
the prevailing attitude among many in the West.
In fact, anything that smacks of traditional institutions
often gets dismissed out of hand in some circles.
Is the message we Christians have for the world a reliable one?
Is it relevant in a world in which Christians’ behavior isn’t always
what one hopes it would be? Do we really have good news that’s
indispensable for the well-being of humanity?
This morning I’d like to share just a little about my own past with you.
If you’re going to be installing me as your vicar it’s only fair that you
know a bit more of who I am and a few of my own views on
these important questions.
I first want to admit that I used to be one of those people who
distrusted, and ultimately rejected, the Christian faith, at least as it’s
traditionally taught. I grew up in a Christian family. In fact,
my dad was an ordained minister of the gospel.
But somewhere in my late teens I gradually came to disbelieve.
I was caught up in the counterculture of Northern California in
the 1970’s, and came to believe that real spirituality wasn’t
a matter of sin, or grace, or God’s authority,
or anything like that.
Instead I began studying yoga, and adopted a mostly Hindu
spirituality, with a little Buddhism and New Age
thrown in for good measure. This period of my life lasted
for the better part of a decade.
I confess to you that those weren’t the most responsible years of
my life. I didn’t really have to worry about sin. I thought karma was
a lot easier a concept to deal with. If I just did enough good deeds,
and practiced enough spiritual disciplines, I figured I’d end up
being in pretty good shape and look forward to
a happy reincarnation. With a little diligence I could
maybe even attain cosmic consciousness, and
who knows, maybe this would be my last time on earth.
It would take too long to recount for you all of the factors that
led me to a personal and spiritual crisis in 1983.
But after a painful breakup with a woman I had grown to love
(a woman who incidentally was a new Christian herself),
everything kind of came crashing down around me.
I was miserable. I really didn’t have much to show for my young life,
and I had to admit finally that, after years of applying myself to
Eastern spirituality, I felt no real presence of God in my life.
I’d been on a treadmill that really had gotten me nowhere.
On the morning of April 23, 1983, as I sat despondently in my room
I remember sensing that the God of the Bible is somehow different
than what I’d been chasing after.
I looked up and said something like, “OK, God if you’re
really there, now’s the time.”
Things quickly got a little strange. I was conscious of a curious
warmth in the middle of my chest. I didn’t make much of that,
but was a little intrigued. At almost the same moment,
the clouds which had been blocking the sun parted enough that
a beam of sunshine came right through the window of my room.
I thought that was kind of interesting, too. I can’t say that I was
willing to risk actual hope at this point, though.
But then something really interesting happened.
I felt the strongest, most certain intuition that I was supposed to
walk over, take my old Bible off my bookshelf, open it, and
read wherever it opened to. I could even see in
my mind’s eye where it would be on the page.
Grateful that there was no one present to witness me doing this,
I took the Bible, sat down, and opened it. This is where my eyes
were immediately drawn: [Use original Bible]
“For the time is coming when people will not put up with
sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate
for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will
turn away from listening to the truth & wander away into myths.”
At that moment, the gig was up. There really isn’t another passage in
all of scripture, I think, that would have hit me harder
than that one did at that moment.
In one instant I became overwhelmed with the reality that
the God of the Bible is real and that He wanted me.
I sank to my knees and offered myself to Him, and started this
wild ride that has been my Christian journey.
I share this with you not any way to imply that I’m anything special.
Not everyone has dramatic conversion experiences to share,
nor do I think they’re necessary. In my case I’m convinced that
I was so thick-headed that the Lord had to get my attention
with something well out of the ordinary.
But the passage from 2 Timothy that was given to me at that moment
has stayed with me. In moments of wavering faith it gives me
evidence of His presence in my life in a very personal way.
But it also instructs me as to what’s important in the life of
a disciple of Jesus. And this is where St. Paul’s words to
Timothy apply to all of us, I think.
If you look closely, there are several directives Paul gives us in this
short, little passage. I’d like to touch on them very briefly.
The first is this. Paul writes these words:
“As for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood
you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you
for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.”
I find this to be a delightfully compact and simple instruction!
“Remember what you’ve learned and embraced.
It’s reliable information received from a reliable source!
Don’t waste your time and energy worrying or doubting!
The sacred writings, the Scriptures, have stood the test of time
and give you the clear, straightforward instruction for
receiving, by faith, salvation in Jesus Christ.”
Paul says, “We don’t need to complicate this! We don’t need to be
blown about by every wind of speculation or pessimism,
or the latest “blockbuster revelation” about Jesus’ bones, or
allegations of vast, right-wing church conspiracies, or whatever!”
Rather, Paul assures us that “All scripture is inspired by God and is
useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for
training in righteousness (OK, goodness and purity), so that
everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, and
equipped for every good work.”
OK? What we have is trustworthy. It gives us what we need to
learn how to “get right with God,” as the saying goes.
And rather than wasting our time trying to build a stairway to heaven
through our own effort, through the scriptures we’re trained to
get on with the business of spreading the gospel and
loving God and our neighbor. And these things aren’t
done in our own power, but in God’s power,
which he offers to us for the asking.
Paul was writing his words to Timothy in the middle of some pretty
heavy circumstances. Timothy was in charge of a church in
Asia Minor in which there were people distorting the gospel story.
On top of that, persecution was breaking out under Emperor Nero.
These weren’t easy times. But Paul’s telling Timothy to
stick to the basics. We have a Savior in Jesus Christ, and
the words that have been passed on to us by our
Christian forebears are both trustworthy and indispensable.
Is this a message that applies to our time? I think it is.
If Paul were writing to us here today, I can’t help but think
he’d be writing something very similar. Rather than relying on
often uninformed opinions as to what Christianity should mean
or what the scriptures say, we can actually trust that
our sacred writings can be our guide.
Now, by saying these things, please don’t conclude that I’m
anti-intellectual. It’s very important for us to discuss how our faith
interfaces with this complex, 21st Century world.
But what I’m saying is that, we’ve had clear, brilliant minds who’ve
gone before us and have pretty well figured out what the Bible
says and what it all means. These were not ignorant people.
And if we spend our time and energy in pointless argument or
in reinventing the wheel, this is less energy that may be spent
on behalf of our fellow human beings and their needs,
both temporal and eternal.
Times are hard, and people have never needed a loving, forgiving,
healing God more than now.
Paul realized this in his own trying times. He continues,
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge
the living & the dead, and in view of his appearing & his kingdom,
I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent
whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince,
rebuke, & encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.”
Be steady. Be resolute. Whether things look favorable or unfavorable.
It doesn’t matter. Keep your nose to the grindstone in
doing your work to expand the kingdom of God,
and be patient in your teaching.
Don’t let the distortions and the heresies get to you.
Be patient and loving in giving people the truth.
I recently had a conversation with some clergy and lay people about
the state of the church and our future. I have to admit that I was
a little jarred at some of what was said. It kind of confirmed
a worry that I’ve had that there are a good number of people
even in the church who are unclear on some
rather important aspects of the historic Christian faith.
We’re all affected to some degree by the culture in which we live,
but I was a little dismayed by how much our American culture has
colored people’s understanding of Christianity.
And my friends, this is where I think we have a lot of work to do.
Not just clergy, although I think we’ve really dropped the ball
in many ways. But all of us are called upon to be representatives,
even ambassadors, of our faith. To ask God to empower us to
speak and act in ways that are pleasing to Him.
To love our neighbors enough not only to relieve their sufferings,
but also to share with them the story that leads to eternal life.
As we move forward in our ministry here at Hope, I pray that we may
do exactly as Paul encourages Timothy. Many around us have
turned from the truth and wandered away into myths.
You and I are needed in this hurting world. And the more I
get to know you, the more joyfully confident I am that
we’re moving forward to respond to that need.
I conclude with Paul’s final words from today’s passage: “As for you,
always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist,
and carry out your ministry fully.”
My friends, I can’t think of anyone I would rather have as partners in
this ministry than the people of Hope Church, and
the Diocese of the Rio Grande. May God empower us strongly
to respond to Paul’s words of instruction this morning.
Amen.
discuss theology. One of them, Sam, was theologically
traditional, while the other 3 saw themselves as more progressive.
One day Sam was presenting the evidence of the scriptures’ reliability
to his colleagues. The other three shook their heads and said that
we really can’t know what the apostles wrote and said
because the power people in the church wanted to
control people so they changed the original words & stories.
They were very vehement about their point of view.
So after being verbally assailed for the better part of an hour,
Sam called out to God in exasperation:
“Lord, you know what’s right and that I’m faithful to you and
your church. Please send a sign to these my friends
that they might know that I speak your truth.” Just then
the lights in the building blinked off and then back on.
“Just a coincidence,” said one of the more progressive priests.
Sam prayed for another sign and the sky darkened & thunder rolled,
and then once again the sky cleared. “Sorry, another coincidence.”
So Sam prayed again. This time, the sky darkened,
thunder rolled, the lights went out, and a voice from heaven
boomed, “Sam is right about the scriptures and you other
three are wrong!” Looking around, one of the three
replied nonchalantly, “So? It’s still only three against two.”
We live in a time in which it seems everyone offers an opinion about
the church and the Christian faith. And an increasing portion of
those opinions is negative. The mantra, “Question Authority”,
which really took root when I was young, seems to have become
the prevailing attitude among many in the West.
In fact, anything that smacks of traditional institutions
often gets dismissed out of hand in some circles.
Is the message we Christians have for the world a reliable one?
Is it relevant in a world in which Christians’ behavior isn’t always
what one hopes it would be? Do we really have good news that’s
indispensable for the well-being of humanity?
This morning I’d like to share just a little about my own past with you.
If you’re going to be installing me as your vicar it’s only fair that you
know a bit more of who I am and a few of my own views on
these important questions.
I first want to admit that I used to be one of those people who
distrusted, and ultimately rejected, the Christian faith, at least as it’s
traditionally taught. I grew up in a Christian family. In fact,
my dad was an ordained minister of the gospel.
But somewhere in my late teens I gradually came to disbelieve.
I was caught up in the counterculture of Northern California in
the 1970’s, and came to believe that real spirituality wasn’t
a matter of sin, or grace, or God’s authority,
or anything like that.
Instead I began studying yoga, and adopted a mostly Hindu
spirituality, with a little Buddhism and New Age
thrown in for good measure. This period of my life lasted
for the better part of a decade.
I confess to you that those weren’t the most responsible years of
my life. I didn’t really have to worry about sin. I thought karma was
a lot easier a concept to deal with. If I just did enough good deeds,
and practiced enough spiritual disciplines, I figured I’d end up
being in pretty good shape and look forward to
a happy reincarnation. With a little diligence I could
maybe even attain cosmic consciousness, and
who knows, maybe this would be my last time on earth.
It would take too long to recount for you all of the factors that
led me to a personal and spiritual crisis in 1983.
But after a painful breakup with a woman I had grown to love
(a woman who incidentally was a new Christian herself),
everything kind of came crashing down around me.
I was miserable. I really didn’t have much to show for my young life,
and I had to admit finally that, after years of applying myself to
Eastern spirituality, I felt no real presence of God in my life.
I’d been on a treadmill that really had gotten me nowhere.
On the morning of April 23, 1983, as I sat despondently in my room
I remember sensing that the God of the Bible is somehow different
than what I’d been chasing after.
I looked up and said something like, “OK, God if you’re
really there, now’s the time.”
Things quickly got a little strange. I was conscious of a curious
warmth in the middle of my chest. I didn’t make much of that,
but was a little intrigued. At almost the same moment,
the clouds which had been blocking the sun parted enough that
a beam of sunshine came right through the window of my room.
I thought that was kind of interesting, too. I can’t say that I was
willing to risk actual hope at this point, though.
But then something really interesting happened.
I felt the strongest, most certain intuition that I was supposed to
walk over, take my old Bible off my bookshelf, open it, and
read wherever it opened to. I could even see in
my mind’s eye where it would be on the page.
Grateful that there was no one present to witness me doing this,
I took the Bible, sat down, and opened it. This is where my eyes
were immediately drawn: [Use original Bible]
“For the time is coming when people will not put up with
sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate
for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will
turn away from listening to the truth & wander away into myths.”
At that moment, the gig was up. There really isn’t another passage in
all of scripture, I think, that would have hit me harder
than that one did at that moment.
In one instant I became overwhelmed with the reality that
the God of the Bible is real and that He wanted me.
I sank to my knees and offered myself to Him, and started this
wild ride that has been my Christian journey.
I share this with you not any way to imply that I’m anything special.
Not everyone has dramatic conversion experiences to share,
nor do I think they’re necessary. In my case I’m convinced that
I was so thick-headed that the Lord had to get my attention
with something well out of the ordinary.
But the passage from 2 Timothy that was given to me at that moment
has stayed with me. In moments of wavering faith it gives me
evidence of His presence in my life in a very personal way.
But it also instructs me as to what’s important in the life of
a disciple of Jesus. And this is where St. Paul’s words to
Timothy apply to all of us, I think.
If you look closely, there are several directives Paul gives us in this
short, little passage. I’d like to touch on them very briefly.
The first is this. Paul writes these words:
“As for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed,
knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood
you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you
for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.”
I find this to be a delightfully compact and simple instruction!
“Remember what you’ve learned and embraced.
It’s reliable information received from a reliable source!
Don’t waste your time and energy worrying or doubting!
The sacred writings, the Scriptures, have stood the test of time
and give you the clear, straightforward instruction for
receiving, by faith, salvation in Jesus Christ.”
Paul says, “We don’t need to complicate this! We don’t need to be
blown about by every wind of speculation or pessimism,
or the latest “blockbuster revelation” about Jesus’ bones, or
allegations of vast, right-wing church conspiracies, or whatever!”
Rather, Paul assures us that “All scripture is inspired by God and is
useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for
training in righteousness (OK, goodness and purity), so that
everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, and
equipped for every good work.”
OK? What we have is trustworthy. It gives us what we need to
learn how to “get right with God,” as the saying goes.
And rather than wasting our time trying to build a stairway to heaven
through our own effort, through the scriptures we’re trained to
get on with the business of spreading the gospel and
loving God and our neighbor. And these things aren’t
done in our own power, but in God’s power,
which he offers to us for the asking.
Paul was writing his words to Timothy in the middle of some pretty
heavy circumstances. Timothy was in charge of a church in
Asia Minor in which there were people distorting the gospel story.
On top of that, persecution was breaking out under Emperor Nero.
These weren’t easy times. But Paul’s telling Timothy to
stick to the basics. We have a Savior in Jesus Christ, and
the words that have been passed on to us by our
Christian forebears are both trustworthy and indispensable.
Is this a message that applies to our time? I think it is.
If Paul were writing to us here today, I can’t help but think
he’d be writing something very similar. Rather than relying on
often uninformed opinions as to what Christianity should mean
or what the scriptures say, we can actually trust that
our sacred writings can be our guide.
Now, by saying these things, please don’t conclude that I’m
anti-intellectual. It’s very important for us to discuss how our faith
interfaces with this complex, 21st Century world.
But what I’m saying is that, we’ve had clear, brilliant minds who’ve
gone before us and have pretty well figured out what the Bible
says and what it all means. These were not ignorant people.
And if we spend our time and energy in pointless argument or
in reinventing the wheel, this is less energy that may be spent
on behalf of our fellow human beings and their needs,
both temporal and eternal.
Times are hard, and people have never needed a loving, forgiving,
healing God more than now.
Paul realized this in his own trying times. He continues,
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge
the living & the dead, and in view of his appearing & his kingdom,
I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent
whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince,
rebuke, & encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.”
Be steady. Be resolute. Whether things look favorable or unfavorable.
It doesn’t matter. Keep your nose to the grindstone in
doing your work to expand the kingdom of God,
and be patient in your teaching.
Don’t let the distortions and the heresies get to you.
Be patient and loving in giving people the truth.
I recently had a conversation with some clergy and lay people about
the state of the church and our future. I have to admit that I was
a little jarred at some of what was said. It kind of confirmed
a worry that I’ve had that there are a good number of people
even in the church who are unclear on some
rather important aspects of the historic Christian faith.
We’re all affected to some degree by the culture in which we live,
but I was a little dismayed by how much our American culture has
colored people’s understanding of Christianity.
And my friends, this is where I think we have a lot of work to do.
Not just clergy, although I think we’ve really dropped the ball
in many ways. But all of us are called upon to be representatives,
even ambassadors, of our faith. To ask God to empower us to
speak and act in ways that are pleasing to Him.
To love our neighbors enough not only to relieve their sufferings,
but also to share with them the story that leads to eternal life.
As we move forward in our ministry here at Hope, I pray that we may
do exactly as Paul encourages Timothy. Many around us have
turned from the truth and wandered away into myths.
You and I are needed in this hurting world. And the more I
get to know you, the more joyfully confident I am that
we’re moving forward to respond to that need.
I conclude with Paul’s final words from today’s passage: “As for you,
always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist,
and carry out your ministry fully.”
My friends, I can’t think of anyone I would rather have as partners in
this ministry than the people of Hope Church, and
the Diocese of the Rio Grande. May God empower us strongly
to respond to Paul’s words of instruction this morning.
Amen.
Itching Ears or Working Hands
(2 Timothy 3:14-4:5)
(2 Timothy 3:14-4:5)
October 28, 2007
Fr. Dan Tuton
Fr. Dan Tuton