Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
text: “all is vanity and a vexation of spirit” (Ecc. 1:17, KJV)
The Twenty-Seventh Sunday after Pentecost – 16.Nov.2008
Lime Rock Baptist Church – Lincoln, RI
The Rev’d G. Travis Norvell
This Fall marks my eighth year as a Christian minister, I’m not longer a neophyte but I’m not a seasoned journeymen either. I have been spending a fair amount of time reflecting on my first seven years – I have entitled this year my working sabbatical. At one time in my life I was sure my model for ministry would be the priestly model: helping to correct and make relevant a “right order” to life. As divinity school commenced I was sure the prophetic model would be the model for my career: helping to make a more just and more righteous world. After seven years I see a different model, the wisdom model: the results of an examined and reflected religious life.
In the 12th century an Englishman, a one John of Salisbury, a man who studied with the Christian theologian Abelard (whom you may know from his well-known love affair with Heloise), was a secretary for Thomas Beckett (the archbishop of Canterbury who was executed by four knights due to comments made by King Henry the Young, you may also know this story by the play written by T.S. Eliot A Murder in the Cathedral), and later made bishop of Chartres in France. You have a little of the time and life this man lived, I mention it to give note of the circles of great people whom this man walked with; which is significant because the one lasting bit passed onto us from John of Salisbury comes from a letter where he quotes an associate of his which reads:
Bernard of Chartres used to say that we are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants, so that we can see more than they, and things at a greater distance, not by virtue of any sharpness of sight on our part, or any physical distinction, but because we are carried high and raised up by their giant size.
When we read the Bible, especially the books from the wisdom tradition we are climbing the backs of the giants who went, experienced, and lived life before us and standing on their shoulders and seeing life at a greater distance and with a bit more clarity.
The wisdom tradition is a minority voice in the Old Testament, primarily confined to the books of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. These books represent a tradition that is bespeckled throughout the biblical narrative of “counter-testimony.” They are the voices of skeptics, cynics, pessimists, and naysayers. When other voices say how great life is, how great there religion is, how sure they are of their belief these books say lets hold on a minute and examine the situation, let us climb on the shoulders of giants and see what life looks like from that perspective.
Let us pause for a moment and tease further the meaning of wisdom. Since we are all getting over the buzz of politics let us start there. When President William Jefferson Clinton told the rationalized to the grand jury why he was not lying "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the--if he--if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not--that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement... This statement may very well be an act of quick and wily genius but I would not say it was wise. To keep this bi-partisan, my next example. Our current Vice President Richard Bruce Cheney rarely writes anything down, records, or emails his thoughts or conversations. The majority of his directives are voiced from person to person, therefore leaving no paper trail or physical evidence. I think this too is a brilliant and smart action to practice but I do not think it is wise for posterity or history.
On the day we entered this world, the day we passed the threshold from our mother’s womb to the outside world we were already encoded with the Deoxyribonucleic acid of our mother and father and the 1000s of generations before them. We are the products of an evolutionary process that separates us from the rest of creation. We are able to walk upright, communicate, make tools, write, develop relationships, love, forgive, laugh, cry, dream, hold several ideas simultaneously, and cook. All of these are passed on with no work or effort on our part, they are simply bestowed on us due to the advances of our forefathers and foremothers. Wisdom, however, is not passed from one generation to another. Wisdom must be learned, accepted, adapted and received.
Will we accept the wisdom of the Bible? The Bible offers us the ability, the chance, to climb onto the shoulders of giants and see the world from a clearer point of view. When we climb onto the shoulders of the writer of Ecclesiastes what do we see? The wisdom of Ecclesiastes, the words of the Teacher Qoheleth? All is vanity.
We may buck and disregard the wisdom of Qoheleth but truly consider it for a moment. Right now we are being asked to put our full trust in political and financial institutions. Institutions which have been in cahoots with each other for a good number of years now. So much so that Kevin Philips says there is no longer parties in America there is simply one party of big business with a Republican and Democratic wing. I am very hopeful and will be praying for real growth and positive developments during the Obama presidency but I am also sure it will fail to fully correct, heal, and satisfy the hungers of our souls. If we look for the financial and political realms to bring us salvation we will not find it, indeed a vain attempt to self-medicate. Perhaps more than ever we need to hear the words of the pessimist, the cynic, and skeptic that awaits us in the book of Ecclesiastes.
Now before you run out the doors of this sanctuary and decide to become a nihilist saying to everyone and everything all is vain, forget about even trying… Take the book of Ecclesiastes as a whole. There is one caveat to the teaching of Qoheleth of all is vanity, all is vanity if our lives are not predicated on a life relation with the Living God.
The book of Ecclesiastes ends with what some scholars term an orthodox ending. I say hogwash to such a premise. Hear the ending: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.”
Qoheleth leads us to believe that his book was written during the reign of King Solomon. Solomon was a man blessed with a great heritage, knowledge, ability but squandered it all. During his reign the United Kingdom of Israel crumbled before his eyes. The book of Ecclesiastes came to prominence after Exile, after the time of deep reflection and examination. After a time Israel in some way said if our lives are not centered on the Living God then all is vain, all is a chasing after the wind and cause of vexed spirits. The community stood on the shoulders of giants and reconsidered their lives in relation with the Living God.
We are here together trying to carry out decent, honorable lives in the name of Christ in the world. We are engaging in worthy and noble work as ambassadors of Christ in the world. In the times we live in I believe we have a unique opportunity to offer a reflected and examined perspective of this life we are living, a perspective deeply rooted in the wisdom tradition of the biblical narrative. We have a chance to share the good news of God in Jesus Christ from the wisdom tradition: what the good life looks and feels like, what a life that matters looks and feels like, how to live the good life, and how to make a difference in this world that affects the very essence of being a human being.
Let us not simply live lives grasping after shadows and vapors, let us live the good life standing on the shoulders of giants, fearing God and keeping his commandments.
Amen and Amen.
Showing posts with label Fall 2008 Sermons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fall 2008 Sermons. Show all posts
16 November 2008
10 November 2008
The Unnecessary Christian: Sermon, 9th.November.2008
The Unnecessary Christian
text: “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia…” (II Chronicles 36:23)
The Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost – 9.November.2008
Lime Rock Baptist Church, Lincoln, RI – The Rev’d G. Travis Norvell
I have often heard the saying that the only hands God has in this world are mine and yours, that if we do not take up the work of reconciliation, righteousness, and love then the work of God does not get done. There is a biblical precedent for this when God calls Israel and the Church partner and cooperate to build his kingdom here on earth. We can come to view ourselves as quite necessary and vital. We can even think of leveraging our unique position with God. What if God said I do not need you? What if God basically said fine, if you are not going to do my work I’ll find someone who will? What if God was tired of being taken for granted?
Take the time period of the late 7th century BCE; the time of the prophet Jeremiah; specifically during the reign of king Josiah. The story goes…during the reign of king Josiah the book of Deuteronomy was found or re-discovered (Israel had drifted considerably from the Lord). Josiah read the book and was moved to initiate a grand program of religious reform. The nation swayed back in the direction of rightness and life looked pretty good, then Josiah died and his successors came into power: first Jehoiakim and his son Zedekiah. They had nothing to do with their father’s program of reform, so in a few years the nation was not only back where it used to be but was on the verge of annihilating its relationship with the Lord. The time was so bad God’s only choice was to send up the Chaldeans to serve a wrathful retribution.
In no time at all the pendulum swung from reform to debauchery. The sins of the time were so severe that all were affected: the priests were unfaithful, the temple was polluted, when God did try to intervene by sending forth prophets the people mocked them. The land too was affected, the sins were so severe that the promised land needed a break from Israel’s presence, the land needed a Sabbath of Sabbaths: a seventy year break to recover, to heal, and replenish itself!
God’s love includes elements of jealously, hurt, and wrath. We do not like to view or think of God this way but it is a part of the relationship. If we are honest with ourselves we will admit that our love for others also includes jealousy, hurt, and wrath. Who can cause God or us more hurt than those whom He and we love(s) and care(s) for? Through the stories in Genesis we have looked at over the past few weeks the potential of God’s wrath, jealously, and retribution. Take the flood for example: God’s full wrath released onto creation. I see in that story a God who afterwards is afraid of the degree of his anger, surprised by his own ability to be so wrathful. Could this answer why Noah’s act of worship moved Him so?
After Noah’s act of worship God vowed never again to destroy creation. I do not know if God properly thought this vow out, what were the limits to God’s vow? What was permissible on earth after this vow was made?
These questions were answered when armies from the north invaded Israel, burned the city and temple, and led the people out of the promise land to a foreign land in chains in an experience known as The Exile. The Exile caused Israel to grope and to ask why God? how could you let this happen? In the travail that followed prophets and theologians gave a brief and succinct answer: we caused this to happen.
God did promise never again to destroy creation and God did promise to make a nation out of Abram but God did not promise never to destroy Israel.
Israel as we knew it was destroyed the armies invaded and the people were brought to Babylon. True, remnants of Israel remained in the promised land, but not many. After 70 years of punishment, after 70 years of tenderization and absence God decided it was time for Israel to go back to the promised land when the grand proclamation was made:
Any of those among you who are of his people – may their God be with them! – are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel.
Perhaps the promise made to Abram was still intact. Did you notice, however, who heralded the proclamation? It was not a prophet, priest, or king of Israel; it was King Cyrus of Persia: a pagan, foreign, and king of the people who destroyed the promised land and forced Israel into exile. This man was now the instrument to deliver the Word of the Lord.
God’s action to choose King Cyrus as the messenger of God delegates not only Israel but also the Church as unnecessary! God’s action of picking the enemy began a new chapter in the ever evolving relationship between God and humanity. A relationship which breaks all previous understanding of what should and should not happen.
As children of God, as disciples of Jesus Christ, as members of the new humanity we are constantly presented with choices and decisions: will the way of God prevail or not prevail in our lives. Will we again this day choose to seek to align our wills with God’s will.
Our lesson this morning reveals that God has an end point of history, an Omega point pulling all of history towards consummation whether we choose to jump on it or not. If we choose to we are more the better, if not God will tarry on. God will continue on with or without us. Regardless of how important we think we are, in reality we are unnecessary. Quite humbling.
Now then what to do? I want my life to matter in this world. I want the world to be a better place to inhabit for my children. I want to be on the right side of history. I want the arc of my life to bend towards justice, peace, and righteousness. I dare say all of us here this morning are here for those same purposes. We are here hoping to be infused with a glimpse of the kingdom of God, we are here for our souls to be healed and mended, for our minds to be transformed, and for our to beat in synchronization with God’s.
We do not want to be left aside as God continues to work here on this earth. May we take this time to commit and recommit ourselves to the way of God.
text: “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia…” (II Chronicles 36:23)
The Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost – 9.November.2008
Lime Rock Baptist Church, Lincoln, RI – The Rev’d G. Travis Norvell
I have often heard the saying that the only hands God has in this world are mine and yours, that if we do not take up the work of reconciliation, righteousness, and love then the work of God does not get done. There is a biblical precedent for this when God calls Israel and the Church partner and cooperate to build his kingdom here on earth. We can come to view ourselves as quite necessary and vital. We can even think of leveraging our unique position with God. What if God said I do not need you? What if God basically said fine, if you are not going to do my work I’ll find someone who will? What if God was tired of being taken for granted?
Take the time period of the late 7th century BCE; the time of the prophet Jeremiah; specifically during the reign of king Josiah. The story goes…during the reign of king Josiah the book of Deuteronomy was found or re-discovered (Israel had drifted considerably from the Lord). Josiah read the book and was moved to initiate a grand program of religious reform. The nation swayed back in the direction of rightness and life looked pretty good, then Josiah died and his successors came into power: first Jehoiakim and his son Zedekiah. They had nothing to do with their father’s program of reform, so in a few years the nation was not only back where it used to be but was on the verge of annihilating its relationship with the Lord. The time was so bad God’s only choice was to send up the Chaldeans to serve a wrathful retribution.
In no time at all the pendulum swung from reform to debauchery. The sins of the time were so severe that all were affected: the priests were unfaithful, the temple was polluted, when God did try to intervene by sending forth prophets the people mocked them. The land too was affected, the sins were so severe that the promised land needed a break from Israel’s presence, the land needed a Sabbath of Sabbaths: a seventy year break to recover, to heal, and replenish itself!
God’s love includes elements of jealously, hurt, and wrath. We do not like to view or think of God this way but it is a part of the relationship. If we are honest with ourselves we will admit that our love for others also includes jealousy, hurt, and wrath. Who can cause God or us more hurt than those whom He and we love(s) and care(s) for? Through the stories in Genesis we have looked at over the past few weeks the potential of God’s wrath, jealously, and retribution. Take the flood for example: God’s full wrath released onto creation. I see in that story a God who afterwards is afraid of the degree of his anger, surprised by his own ability to be so wrathful. Could this answer why Noah’s act of worship moved Him so?
After Noah’s act of worship God vowed never again to destroy creation. I do not know if God properly thought this vow out, what were the limits to God’s vow? What was permissible on earth after this vow was made?
These questions were answered when armies from the north invaded Israel, burned the city and temple, and led the people out of the promise land to a foreign land in chains in an experience known as The Exile. The Exile caused Israel to grope and to ask why God? how could you let this happen? In the travail that followed prophets and theologians gave a brief and succinct answer: we caused this to happen.
God did promise never again to destroy creation and God did promise to make a nation out of Abram but God did not promise never to destroy Israel.
Israel as we knew it was destroyed the armies invaded and the people were brought to Babylon. True, remnants of Israel remained in the promised land, but not many. After 70 years of punishment, after 70 years of tenderization and absence God decided it was time for Israel to go back to the promised land when the grand proclamation was made:
Any of those among you who are of his people – may their God be with them! – are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel.
Perhaps the promise made to Abram was still intact. Did you notice, however, who heralded the proclamation? It was not a prophet, priest, or king of Israel; it was King Cyrus of Persia: a pagan, foreign, and king of the people who destroyed the promised land and forced Israel into exile. This man was now the instrument to deliver the Word of the Lord.
God’s action to choose King Cyrus as the messenger of God delegates not only Israel but also the Church as unnecessary! God’s action of picking the enemy began a new chapter in the ever evolving relationship between God and humanity. A relationship which breaks all previous understanding of what should and should not happen.
As children of God, as disciples of Jesus Christ, as members of the new humanity we are constantly presented with choices and decisions: will the way of God prevail or not prevail in our lives. Will we again this day choose to seek to align our wills with God’s will.
Our lesson this morning reveals that God has an end point of history, an Omega point pulling all of history towards consummation whether we choose to jump on it or not. If we choose to we are more the better, if not God will tarry on. God will continue on with or without us. Regardless of how important we think we are, in reality we are unnecessary. Quite humbling.
Now then what to do? I want my life to matter in this world. I want the world to be a better place to inhabit for my children. I want to be on the right side of history. I want the arc of my life to bend towards justice, peace, and righteousness. I dare say all of us here this morning are here for those same purposes. We are here hoping to be infused with a glimpse of the kingdom of God, we are here for our souls to be healed and mended, for our minds to be transformed, and for our to beat in synchronization with God’s.
We do not want to be left aside as God continues to work here on this earth. May we take this time to commit and recommit ourselves to the way of God.
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