Pastor Debbie Spangler
Sermon Text: Amos 5: 6-7, 10-15
Sermon Title:
In our world, grace and justice don’t seem to be two words that should go together. R.C. Sproul was a well-known pastor of the Presbyterian Church of America as well as an educator. On the first day of teaching his class, Sproul explained the assignment of three term papers—due on the last day of September, October and November. He clearly stated there would be no exceptions (except for medical reasons). At the end of September, 225 students dutifully turned in their papers while 25 remorseful students did not. The excuse: “We’re so sorry. We didn’t make the proper adjustments from high school to college, but we promise to do better next time.” Sproul bowed to their pleas for mercy and gave them extensions. He warned them not to be late next month.
At the end of October, 200 students turned in their papers while 50 students did not. Those students begged: “Oh, please---it was homecoming weekend, and we ran out of time.” Sproul once again gave mercy but warned: “This is it. No excuses next time. You will get an F.”
At the end of November, only 100 students turned in their papers. The rest told Sproul: “We will get it in soon.” Sproul’s response: “Sorry. It’s too late now. You get an F.” The students howled in protest. “That’s not fair!” Sproul replied: “OK, you want justice, do you? Here’s what’s just, you’ll get an F for all three papers that were late. That was the rule, right?” The students had quickly taken his mercy for granted, Sproul later reflected. The students just assumed it. When justice suddenly fell, they were unprepared for it. It came as a shock, and they were outraged.
This morning we will look at several readings---looking at them for justice and for mercy and ponder how the two go together. Let’s begin with our New Testament reading: Hebrews 4: 12-16. We read that the Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword. It is so sharp that it can divide soul from spirit and joints from marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Before him (the Word of God also applies to our Lord Jesus Christ), no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
Wow. Just Wow. Accountable for our actions AND for our thoughts and intentions. Not one of us here in this sanctuary as well as not one of us who have ever lived (except for Jesus Christ himself who was sinless) can ever hope to stand blameless for our thoughts and actions before God. There are no excuses. God sees all and knows all. We know what justice requires---our death.
Now, where is the grace? We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens---the one and same Jesus Christ. He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tested as we are yet he remained without sin. We know that because of Him, we can approach the throne of grace with boldness so that we can receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (that time of need is at the Final Judgement).
A teenage son rebelled against his parents and against God. For four years he protested his guilt and made innumerable promises to “straighten up.” So much pain and embarrassment and discouragement had been inflicted on his parents that his mother’s heart hardened against her own child. After one very trying episode, the mother walked away. The son sat on the sofa. He picked up a family photo album and began flipping through the pages. The pictures of better and happier days filled him with emotion. He called his mother back into the room to look at one picture, which showed him as a young child and his mother smiling at him with approval. The teen said: “When I see this, I understand why you can’t love me anymore. In the picture, hope fills your eyes as you look at me. But I dashed all your hopes, Mom. Please forgive me.” The mother’s hardness broke, and she embraced her son in love. What moved her were neither protests of innocence nor fresh promises to do better. Rather, she was moved by his absolute desperation. The Bible tells us that is also what moves God.
In our Mark 10: 17-31 reading, we encounter the story of the “Rich Young Man”. The young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus replies by listing the Commandments—don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, etc. The young man replies that he has kept those Commandments since he was a youth. Jesus had compassion on the young man. At this point in the story, it seems the young man will not need justice since he has kept all the Commandments. But Jesus was not finished yet. He told the young man: “Go, sell, what you own, and give the money to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The young man was shocked. He went away grieving for he had many possessions.”
What? In this day and age of building that hold people’s unwanted yet not dispensed with items (I’m talking about storage units), we would all be convicted, I suspect. Very few people are good at getting rid of unused items. I’m not one of them. The idea here is that many times the more we have, the more we want, and then we worship the “getting and the having” more than we do God and we care about our things more than we do others. Peter said to Jesus: “We have left everything and followed you.” Jesus replied: “There is no one who has left house and family and fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, who will not receive a hundred fold now and in the age to come eternal life. That sounds just. But here comes the kicker: “Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
I don’t know about you but if I’m in a line at the movie theatre and I know it will be packed because it’s a new movie out that is popular, if I am held back so that some latecomers are taken in ahead of me, I will be howling in protest. (Well, not howling but I will be grumpy about it). It’s not fair for latecomers to get in ahead of someone who has been on time, early even, and been waiting in anticipation. BUT if I were that latecomer, I would be happy. Now, let’s put it in the perspective of getting into heaven. If I came to accept Jesus into my life---just at the end of my life---I would be grateful for the mercy extended to me. BUT that mercy was extended to me even if I were the first in line. God’s mercy extends to all---first and last and in between. THAT is gracious justice.
Amos 5: 6-7, 10-15 points the finger at us and at society: “you hate the one who reproves in court (an honest judge) and despise him who tells the truth. You trample the poor and force him to give you grain. What we are commanded to do is this: “Seek good, not evil so that you may live. Hate evil, love good and maintain justice in the courts.”
How we treat the rich or those of equal standing often reflects what we hope to get from them. But because the poor can give us nothing, how we treat them reflects our true character. Do we, like Christ, give without thought of gain? We should treat the poor as we would like God to treat us.
James 2: 15-17 says: “If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill,” yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
Earlier this week in a devotional I posted, I presented 8 common excuses for not helping the poor and needy:
1. They don’t deserve help. They got themselves into poverty; let them get themselves out.
2. God’s call to help the poor applies to another time---as in 2000 plus years ago.
3. We don’t know any people like this. Why don’t you?
4. I have my own needs.
5. Any money I give will be wasted, stolen, or spent. The poor will never see it.
6. I may become a victim myself.
7. I don’t know where to start, and I don’t have time.
8. My little bit won’t make any difference.
Any of these excuses sound familiar? As one individual, you may not be able to accomplish much, but it’s in the effort. Our church’s mission committee is doing an outstanding job in trying to find ways in which we can all work together to help those in need in this community. Support these projects that the Committee will be presenting to you. More than that, give of your time, talent and treasure to make a difference. This church should have a mission fund that is ready for any mission need that may arise at any time. It’s not the same as a “pastor’s discretionary fund”. It is for the time when a mission need presents itself. God may just have one for us sooner than you think. Justice is not always the aftermath of a deed, justice is often doing what is just and right without strings attached, without judgement made---just because God first loved us and commands us to “love one another.” THAT is gracious justice.