Downward Mobility - February 1, 2015

Downward Mobility

Micah 6:6-8, Romans 12:9-21

February 1, 2015

Grace Presbyterian Church

Rev. Dr. Richard E. Miller

 

Honest, Gentle, Generous Last week, John the Baptist gave three answers to the question, “What should I do now that I am baptized?” He said that we should be honest in a dishonest world, gentle in a hostile world, and generous in a selfish world. What this boils down to is this. We are to live and speak and act in accordance with the cadence set by Christ, not the norms of society. We’re to be in the world, but not of the world.

If we don’t, we’re not being faithful disciples. In addition, if non-believers can’t tell the difference between themselves and us, they see no reason whatsoever in following Christ. So the question this morning is this: “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

Upward Mobility Maybe one of the reasons we wouldn’t be arrested, let alone convicted, for being a Christian is because we’ve embraced society’s definition of success. It is all summed up in the words “Upward Mobility”

One man defined it in this way:

“The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record - that’s what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.” [Henri Nouwen, 1932 -1996] The Super Bowl between the Patriots and the Seahawks bring fame and fortune to all involved. Superbowl rings to the victors. Accolades all around.

Biblical Examples  Of course, as we know, Upward Mobility started with the serpent who said to Adam and Eve, “When you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil your eyes will be open and you will be like God.” [Genesis 3:1-7] Now to be like God would be quite a leap upward wouldn’t you say?

Later on the people decided to build a tower that would reach to heaven itself so that they could “make a name” for themselves. [Genesis 11:1-9]

And in the New Testament, James and John went to Jesus and asked to be seated on either side of him when he established his kingdom. [Matthew 20:21ff] To be seated in places of honor is being upwardly mobile.

On January 20th, when President Obama gave his State the Union address, some members of congress went to the auditorium hours ahead of time in order to be able to sit on the aisle. By so doing, they would be able to shake President Obama’s hand as he entered. But even more importantly, since his entrance was being televised, their constituents at home would see them shaking hands with the President.

Worldliness  Henri Nouwen wrote, “When we start being impressed by the results of our work, we slowly come to the erroneous conviction that life is one large scoreboard where someone is listing the points to measure our worth. And before we are fully aware of it, we have sold our soul to the man grade-givers. That means we are not only in the world, but also of the world. Then we become what the world makes us. We are intelligent because someone gives us a high grade. We are helpful because someone says thanks. We are likable because someone likes us. And we are important because someone thinks we are indispensable. In short, we are worthwhile because we have successes .”

If we allow the world to determine our intelligence, helpfulness, likableness and importance, it means we’ve placed our lives under it power and control. So each day we must ask, are we what the world makes us or are we what Christ makes us?

Barclay put it this way, “Don’t try to match your life to all the fashions of this world; don’t be like a chameleon which takes its color from its surroundings; don’t go with the world; don’t let the world decide what you are going to be like.” [Letter to the Romans, p. 170]

Jesus said it this way: “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” [Matthew 6:24]

 

Jesus lived his life serving God rather than worldly powers and temptations. For instance, in the wilderness Satan offered him all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would do one simple thing - just bow down and worship him. Here was a golden opportunity for upward mobility for Jesus. But Jesus replied, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” [Matthew 4:10] When he had a chance to rule the world, he chose to be the servant. When arrested in the Garden, he could have ordered a legion of angels to kill the guards, but he chose the road to the Cross.

Downward Mobility  In other words, Jesus chose to follow the drumbeat set by his Father in heaven rather than that of the world. I suggest that instead of the worldly definition of upward mobility, Jesus chose downward mobility. What is downward mobility? The term itself has negative connotations, such as  demotion, downscaling, decreasing, self-denial, and losing. However, for a Christian, downwardly mobility means simply to follow Christ instead of worldly powers. It means not to allow worldly powers to pull us away from our walk of faithful discipleship. So if we want to be in the world without being controlled by the world, how can we do it?

Monastery  One is for us men to join New Melleray Abby, a Trappist monastery south of Dubuque, Iowa. I visited this monastery while a student in seminary. I found out that there were about thirty=five monks living at the monastery for the rest of their lives, and that they spend their time raising cattle, farming, making wooden caskets, and praying. They start their day at 3:15 a.m. and end it at 8:00 p.m. In addition, they take a vow of silence, never talking to a soul. If you joined them, worldly temptations wouldn’t affect you very much, would they?

Nunnery  Or you women could join a cloistered nunnery. A few years back, when the Pope visited New York, a nun was allowed to leave her cloister to hear him speak. She had not been outside the walls of her cloister for 23 years. But in those 23 years, she had no worry about what she would wear or what she would eat or what she would do for these things had already been decided for her.

 

 

Old Order Amish  If monasteries or nunneries don’t appeal to you, how about joining the Old Order Amish in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania? Here you would live without electricity, iPhones, iPads, television or Internet. No more car insurance or repairs since you’d drive horse and buggies. No more fashion problems because you’d be told what to wear. You men could have beards, but not mustaches. And you women would never have to get your hair done since you’d never cut your hair for the rest of your life.

One person noted, “The Amish value simplicity and self-denial over comfort, convenience and leisure. Their lifestyle is a deliberate way of separating from the world and maintaining self-sufficiency.” [The Amish and Plain People.”]

The Old Order Amish strive to fulfill the injunction of Paul when he said, “Be not conformed to the world but be transformed from the world.” [Romans 12:1-2] Now I seriously doubt if any of us will be running out to join a convent or monastery. Or that we’ll be moving to Pennsylvania to join the Old Order Amish. We’ll be staying right here.

And as we do stay put, how can we take steps to be in the world but not of the world?

Morning Scripture  Our morning scriptures have specific guidelines on how to exercise downward mobility.

The guidelines of the prophet Micah were short and to the point. Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Be just, be kind and be humble. Each of these traits is a sign of downward mobility - of being in the world but not of the world.

Paul also offers some excellent suggestions about how to be downwardly mobile. He says that we should not think of ourselves more highly than we should, that our love must be sincere, that we should hate what is evil and cling to what is good. We should honor one another above ourselves, and each day be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, share with those who are in need, and be humble, not thinking of ourselves more highly than we should. Sometimes being humble can be rather tricky. Most Humble The story is told that the session of a church, realizing the virtue of humility, appointed a committee to identify the most humble person in the congregation. The committee met for hours on end going through the membership. They finally selected Wilbur, a little man who worked hard but never took credit for anything he had done.

They called him up during the worship service and gave him a button which read, “Most Humble.” Wilbur was so pleased, he immediately pinned his “Most Humble” button on his shirt for all to see.

Servant  Yes, it’s hard to live our lives in the world without allowing the world to entice us away from following Christ. Jesus gives us guidance when he said, “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be a slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Mark 10:43-45] Jesus put his words into practice when he knelt down and washed his disciples feet just before the Lord’s Supper. Now that’s downward mobility!

Final Thoughts If we follow Christ and live our life as his servant, does it mean that we shouldn’t try to dress nicely? No. Does it mean that we should turn down promotions at work? No. Does it mean never taking a cruise? No. Does it mean we shouldn’t watch the Superbowl? No. Does it mean getting rid of our cell phones and computers? No.

What it does mean is that we make sure that none of what the world offers ever separates us from Christ. It means letting go forever grudges and resentments of the past thus freeing us from their power. It means making sure that none of the demands upon our time keep us from daily prayer. It means exercising downward mobility in our thoughts and actions. 

Albert Schweitzer  In 1952, Albert Schweitzer won the Nobel Peace Prize. The next year he was asked to speak in Chicago. Reporters gathered to meet him at the railway station. They were excited to see him and expressed what an honor it was to meet him. As cameras were flashing and adulations were being given, Schweitzer looked beyond the reporters and saw an elderly woman struggling to carry her two large suitcases to a bus. “Excuse me,” he said as he went to the aid of the woman. Picking up her suitcases, he walked her to her bus. Watching him do this prompted a member of the reception committee to say, “That’s the first time I ever saw a sermon walking.”    

To the best of our ability, let us strive to live out each day of our lives as a sermon walking. If we do, we’ll be convicted for being a Christian every time. And that’s good! Amen.

 

Romans 12:9-21 NRSV

In his letter to the Romans, after telling them about how God continues to shower mercy on the Israelites, Paul continues his letter in this way:

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

Micah 6:6-8 NRSV

‘With what shall I come before the Lord,

   and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,

   with calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

   with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

   and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

   and to walk humbly with your God?