Do Good

Do Good
Luke 6: 27-28

A. Introduction
1. We started last week with a sermon series based on Bishop Rueben Job’s book, “Three Simple Rules, A Wesleyan Way of Living.” Those three simple rules of living were 1. Do no harm, 2. Do good, and 3. Stay in love with God. Last week, “Do no Harm.” And we started with a cartoon.
a. Luann: “It’s tiring to be this helpful.”
i. Of course we learned that doing no harm was much more than that. That through careless or hurtful words or gossip we often did harm to those we care about the most.
ii. That harm can often not be undone, it can be forgiven, yes; but often the consequences of harm cannot be undone.
iii. That we need to be proactive in not doing harm.
b. This week Luann has a word about doing good. The activist says, “Hey, I have an idea, let’s start an organization of teens dedicated to making the earth a better place.” Not too enthusiastically, “Yeah, fun.” And “Sounds like a blast.” Undaunted, “It would be fun, we could do all kinds of stuff. Clean up litter, paint thinks, drive seniors to the mall. We could call it, The World Improvement Teen Society.” “Twits?” “Wha’d ya’ say about driving to the mall?” That’soften where we find ourselves isn’t it? “Wha’d you say about driving to the mall?”
2. God created us as social creatures. We are beings that need community. We need the help of one another to get through this life. God gave us guidance on how we are to live. They’re not just his rules, but what we need. He tells us “to love our neighbors as ourselves.” We need to need one another. And what about those outside the boundaries of our communities? How do we bring them in? “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Our enemies need love too, “do good to those that hate you.”
3. A story: HIS NAME WAS CARL. CARL WAS A QUIET MAN. HE DIDN'T TALK MUCH.HE WOULD ALWAYS GREET YOU WITH A BIG SMILE AND A FIRMHANDSHAKE. EVEN AFTER LIVING IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 50YEARS, NO ONE COULD REALLY SAY THEY KNEW HIM VERY WELL.BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT, HE TOOK THE BUS TO WORK EACH MORNING.THE LONE SIGHT OF HIM WALKING DOWN THE STREET OFTEN WORRIED HIS FRIENDS. YOU SEE, HE HAD A SLIGHT LIMP FROM A BULLET WOUND HE HAD RECEIVED IN WORLD WAR II.ALTHOUGH HE HAD SURVIVED WORLD WAR II, HIS FRIENDS WORRIED THAT HE MAY NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE CHANGING NEIGHBORHOOD WITH ITS EVER-INCREASING RANDOM VIOLENCE, GANGS, AND DRUG ACTIVITY.
ONE DAY CARL SAW A FLYER AT HIS LOCAL CHURCH ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO CARE FOR THE GARDENS OF THE CHURCH. CARL RESPONDED IN HIS CHARACTERISTICALLY UNASSUMING MANNER.WITHOUT FANFARE, HE JUST SIGNED UP. CARL GREW TO LOVE TENDING FOR THE CHURCH GARDENS – CAREFULLY WEEDING, FEEDING AND WATERING. HE WAS WELL INTO HIS 87TH YEAR WHEN THE VERY THING HIS FRIENDS HAD ALWAYS FEARED FINALLY HAPPENED.
HE WAS JUST FINISHING WATERING THE GARDEN FOR THE DAY WHEN THREE GANG MEMBERS APPROACHED HIM. IGNORING THEIR ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE HIM, HE SIMPLY ASKED, 'IT’S A HOT DAY, WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINKFROM THE HOSE?'
THE TALLEST AND TOUGHEST-LOOKING OF THE THREE SAID, 'YEAH,SURE,' WITH A MALICIOUS LITTLE SMILE. AS CARL OFFERED THE HOSE TO HIM, THE OTHER TWO GRABBED CARL'S ARM, THROWING HIM DOWN. AS THE HOSE SNAKED CRAZILY OVER THE GROUND, DOUSING EVERYTHING IN ITS WAY, CARL'S ASSAILANTS STOLE HIS RETIREMENT WATCH AND HIS WALLET, AND THEN FLED.
CARL TRIED TO GET HIMSELF UP, BUT HE HAD BEEN THROWN DOWN ON HIS BAD LEG. AS HE LAY THERE TRYING TO GATHER HIMSELF THE PASTOR CAME RUNNING TO HELP HIM. ALTHOUGH THE PASTOR HAD WITNESSED THE ATTACK FROM THE CHURCH OFFICE, THE PASTOR COULDN'T GET THERE FAST ENOUGH TO STOP IT. HELPING CARL TO HISFEET, THE PASTOR KEPT ASKING CARL IF HE WAS OKAY.
CARL JUST PASSED A HAND OVER HIS BROW AND SIGHED, SHAKING HISHEAD. 'JUST SOME PUNK KIDS. I HOPE THEY'LL WISE-UP SOMEDAY.' HISWET CLOTHES CLUNG TO HIS SLIGHT FRAME AS HE BENT TO PICK UP THE HOSE. HE ADJUSTED THE NOZZLE AGAIN AND STARTED TO WATER THE GARDEN. CONFUSED AND A LITTLE CONCERNED, THE PASTOR ASKED,'CARL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GO HOME & REST.' 'I'VE GOT TO FINISH MY WATERING. IT'S BEEN VERY DRY LATELY,' CAME THE CALM REPLY.SATISFIED THAT CARL REALLY WAS ALL RIGHT, THE PASTOR COULD ONLY MARVEL AT CARL’S RESPONSE THIS ATTACK. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE THREE GANG MEMBERS RETURNED. JUST LIKE BEFORE THEIR THREAT WAS UNCHALLENGED. CARL AGAIN OFFERED THEM A DRINK FROM HIS HOSE.
THIS TIME THEY DIDN'T ROB HIM. THEY WRENCHED THE HOSE FROM HIS HAND AND DRENCHED HIM HEAD TO FOOT IN THE ICY WATER. WHEN THEY HAD FINISHED THEIR HUMILIATION OF HIM, THEY SAUNTERED OFF DOWN THE STREET, THROWING CATCALLS AND CURSES, FALLING OVER ONE ANOTHER LAUGHING AT THE HILARITY OF WHAT THEY HAD JUST DONE.
CARL JUST WATCHED THEM GO. THEN HE TURNED TOWARD THE WARMTH GIVING SUN, PICKED UP HIS HOSE, AND WENT ON WITH HIS WATERING.
AS THE SUMMER QUICKLY FADED INTO FALL, CARL WAS DOING SOME TILLING WHEN HE WAS STARTLED BY THE SUDDEN APPROACH OF SOMEONE BEHIND HIM. HE STUMBLED AND FELL INTO SOME EVERGREEN BRANCHES.AS HE STRUGGLED TO REGAIN HIS FOOTING, HE TURNED TO SEE THE TALL LEADER OF HIS SUMMER TORMENTORS REACHING DOWN FOR HIM. CARL BRACED HIMSELF FOR THE EXPECTED ATTACK. 'DON'T WORRY OLD MAN,I'M NOT GONNA HURT YOU THIS TIME,’ SAID THE TATTOOED, SCRUFFY LOOKING YOUNG MAN.
THE YOUNG MAN SPOKE SOFTLY, STILL OFFERING THE TATTOOED AND SCARRED HAND TO CARL TO HELP HIM UP OUT OF THE BUSHES. AS HE HELPED CARL GET UP, THE YOUNG MAN PULLED A CRUMPLED BAG FROM HIS POCKET AND HANDED IT TO CARL. 'WHAT'S THIS?' CARL ASKED.'IT'S YOUR STUFF,' THE MAN EXPLAINED. 'IT'S YOUR STUFF BACK. EVEN THE MONEY IN YOUR WALLET.' 'I DON'T UNDERSTAND,' CARL SAID. 'WHY WOULD YOU HELP ME NOW?' THE YOUNG MAN SHIFTED HIS FEET,SEEMING EMBARRASSED AND ILL AT EASE. 'I LEARNED SOMETHING FROMYOU,' HE SAID. 'I RAN WITH THAT GANG AND HURT PEOPLE LIKE YOU.WE PICKED YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE OLD AND WE KNEW WE COULD DOIT. BUT EVERY TIME WE CAME AND DID SOMETHING TO YOU, INSTEAD OF YELLING AND FIGHTING BACK, YOU TRIED TO GIVE US A DRINK. YOU DIDN'T HATE US FOR HATING YOU. YOU KEPT SHOWING LOVE AGAINST OUR HATE.'THE YOUNG MAN STOPPED FOR A MOMENT. HE SAID, 'I COULDN'T SLEEP AFTER WE STOLE YOUR STUFF, SO HERE IT IS BACK.' HE PAUSED FOR ANOTHER AWKWARD MOMENT, NOT KNOWING WHAT MORE THERE WAS TO SAY. HALTINGLY HE CONTINUED, 'THAT BAG'S MY WAY OF SAYING THANKS FOR STRAIGHTENING ME OUT, I GUESS.' AND WITH THAT, HE WALKED OFF DOWN THE STREET.
CARL LOOKED DOWN AT THE SACK IN HIS HANDS AND GINGERLY OPENED IT. HE TOOK OUT HIS RETIREMENT WATCH AND PUT IT BACK ON HIS WRIST. OPENING HIS WALLET, HE CHECKED FOR HIS WEDDING PHOTO.HE GAZED FOR A MOMENT AT THE YOUNG BRIDE WHO STILL SMILED BACK AT HIM FROM ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.
CARL DIED ONE COLD DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS THAT WINTER. MANY PEOPLE ATTENDED HIS FUNERAL IN SPITE OF THE WEATHER. IN PARTICULAR THE PASTOR NOTICED A TALL YOUNG MAN THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW SITTING QUIETLY IN A DISTANT CORNER OF THE CHURCH.THE PASTOR SPOKE OF CARL'S GARDEN AS A LESSON IN LIFE. IN A VOICE MADE THICK WITH UN SHED TEARS, THE PASTOR SAID, 'DO YOUR BEST IN THIS LIFE AND MAKE YOUR GARDEN AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU CAN. WE WILL NEVER FORGET CARL AND HIS GARDEN.'
THE FOLLOWING SPRING ANOTHER FLYER WENT UP. IT READ: 'PERSONNEEDED TO CARE FOR CARL'S GARDEN.' THE FLYER WENT UNNOTICED BYTHE BUSY PARISHIONERS UNTIL ONE DAY WHEN A KNOCK WAS HEARD AT THE PASTOR'S OFFICE DOOR. OPENING THE DOOR, THE PASTOR SAW APAIR OF TATTOOED & SCARRED HANDS HOLDING THE FLYER. 'I BELIEVE THIS IS MY JOB, IF YOU'LL HAVE ME,' THE YOUNG MAN SAID.THE PASTOR RECOGNIZED HIM AS THE SAME YOUNG MAN WHO HAD RETURNED THE STOLEN WATCH AND WALLET TO CARL. THE PASTOR KNEW THAT CARL'S KINDNESS HAD TURNED THIS MAN'S LIFE AROUND.THE PASTOR HANDED THE YOUNG MAN THE KEYS TO THE GARDEN SHED.THE MAN WENT TO WORK AND, OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, HE TENDED THE FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES JUST AS CARL HAD DONE. IN THAT TIME, HE WENT TO COLLEGE, GOT MARRIED, AND BECAME A PROMINENT MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY. BUT HE NEVER FORGOT HIS PROMISE TO CARL'S MEMORY AND KEPT THE GARDEN AS BEAUTIFUL AS HE THOUGHT CARL WOULD HAVE KEPT IT.
ONE DAY HE APPROACHED THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH AND SAID THATHE COULDN'T CARE FOR THE GARDEN ANY LONGER. HE EXPLAINED WITH A SHY AND HAPPY SMILE, 'MY WIFE JUST HAD A BABY BOY LAST NIGHT, AND SHE'S BRINGING HIM HOME ON SATURDAY.' AS THE PASTOR TOOK THE SHED KEYS AND WISHED THE MAN CONGRATULATIONS, THE PASTOR ASKED, “WHAT'S THE BABY'S NAME?' THE YOUNG MAN QUIETLY REPLIED.“THE BABY’S NAME IS CARL.” (From a sermon by Rev. Michelle Wobrack, July 2008)
4. Carl never lived to know the impact that his kindness had on this boy. That’s true of many of us. To do good is transforming in ways we may never know.
5. But the question is, what good should I do? And the corollary is “and how much is enough?” “What are the boundaries to doing good? How far do I have to go? How much do I have to do? What resources am I expected to use?” “How much time do I have to spare?”
6. John Wesley was often asked and we condensed his words in the saying that is in our bulletin weekly: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
a. Wesley knew that there were no limits to what had to be done: feeding the poor, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison, teaching the children. No limit to the opportunities.
b. He also knew that if it would be done, it would be the Christian community that would do it.
c. The limitation becomes the one of “you can.” How much can we, how much need we?
B. Body
1. Rueben Job says we need to be “proactive” in doing no harm and doing good. To help illustrate what “proactive” means to us, I’d like to borrow some ideas from Stephen Covey. In his book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” he lists the first habit as “Proactive.” Effective people, and I would submit, effective Christians, effective churches are proactive.
2. By that he means instead of reacting to the world around us, we choose how we are to act. The animal world has no intellectual endowments to allow them to choose, they simply react to the stimulus. But for us, between every stimulus and response is the freedom to choose. We choose based on our values, we choose based on our principles. And if we’re Christians, we choose based on our understanding of the will of God. And if we are Christians, we don’t have to do it alone. We are powered by the Holy Spirit to make and act on that choice. Being proactive is a Wesley way of living.
3. My cousin sent me a New York Times article this week that cited a study that said the religious people are more disciplined than non-religious or even just spiritual people. As a non-believer the author was trying to figure out how to fake it. He simply didn’t understand the power of the Holy Spirit to impact our choices and actions.
4. So, since we can choose, since we can choose to do good, what are the boundaries? As I said, Wesley understood that the opportunities are nearly without bound, and the Bible says, “Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”” (Deut 15:11) Wesley understood that there was something we could do every day. But what are the limits?
a. M. Teresa devoted her whole life to doing good.
b. Doing good is a command of Christ.
c. What are the limits?
d. There is no pat answer. “Do all the good you can..” You can is a matter of conscience. It may be a question that is not expected to be answered. For when we answer it, or when we say “I’ve done enough,” maybe we lose the battle of understanding how much is enough.
5. But there are boundaries. The Bible recognizes obligations of
a. Family. A man shall leave his father and mother…
b. Job. Six days you shall labor..
c. Obligations that are intuitive. If doing good does harm to our family, our relationshiops, our means of sustenance, our community, certainly we have gone beyond a boundary.
d. So if a person says to his wife and 10 kids, “God has called me to go do good in Africa, you have to fend for yourselves” clearly that nut has crossed the line.
6. Here’s the deal. We don’t have to live our lives in compartments. We can do good within the framework of all of our activities. We can breakdown our compartments. We can have an attitude of doing good in all our situations. Doing good is an attitude. We can choose to look for opportunities daily in all our situations. We can have an attitude of doing good. That’s how we do all the good we can.
a. We see those people don’t we? Those people who have an attitude of doing good, of kindness. I’ve mentioned my Uncle Keith before. One of the most proactive people I know in reaching out to others. Little things. The family was sitting in an RV park when a stranger pulled his rig in next to us and started to set up. Before I could recognize that something might need to be done, Keith was up helping a stranger, “Let me give you a hand.”
b. An attitude of doing good. And we can start with family. An attitude of kindness, of not doing harm, of doing good just within our families can do a lot to transform this life we’re living into one of joy.
c. And in community. We can do the little things. If we’re able bodied, we can choose to go by the first parking place and leave it for someone behind us.
d. If we see someone we know is struggling while shopping, we may even be able to arrange with the clerk to pay for their groceries anonymously.
e. Certainly, we can pray for others. We can pray too that God will show us the opportunities to do good.
7. Being disciples calls us to step outside of our comfort zone. It has been since the beginning.
a. Abraham was called to go from his country and his kindred to a land that God would show him.
b. Moses was told by God, “Come, I send you to Pharaoh.” Way outside of his comfort zone.
c. Isaiah was called by God, “Whom shall I send?” and responded, “Here I am, send me.”
d. Mary responded to the angel, “Let it be me according to your word.”
e. Peter and Andrew responded to Jesus when he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
f. And Paul, and others throughout the centuries. Our heritage is of those who heard the call and stepped outside of their comfort zone, who were risk-takers for the sake of the Gospel.
8. And we too do good for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
a. Wesley called these acts of mercy. His small group at Oxford that were the very first Methodists fed the poor, clothed the naked, visited those in prison. Later his societies would teach the children of the streets. They would do all the good that they could even when it took risks.
b. We can step into our communities.
i. Foodbanks or shelters or nursing homes need volunteers. We could commit to volunteering onece a month. In the midst of those volunteer opportunities we might find other ways to do good.
ii. Habitat for Humanity in Fayette or Boonville or Columbia always needs volunteers.
iii. Mentoring. Much of doing good is about relationships. I thought about the story of Carl and the difference he made in the young man’s life by his goodness. If we’re not in this life to make a difference in the lives of others, we might seriously ask why we are here.
9. And because we are a part of the worldwide body of Christ, we can step out with the larger community. We can do good around the world. We may need to step out of our comfort zone, we may have to take some risks.
a. We do that by participating in programs like the Festival of Sharing that serves Missouri and the world.
b. There are programs like Crop Walk where we raise money with an afternoon of our time and serve the hungry around the world.
c. Of like the Society of St Andrew that fights hunger by salvaging fresh produce that would otherwise go to waste. There were opportunities nearby to harvest turnips and apples last fall.
d. Stepping beyond that there are Volunteers in Missions, VIM, trips that send workers around the world to do good.
e. And where we can’t go we can make contributions that facilitate others to do good.
C. Close
1. Here’s the good news. We are recipients of the greatest good ever done for humankind, the one whose ministry was to bring goodnews to the poor, recovery of sight to the blind, relief to the oppressed and to let the captives go free. Jesus came to do good. We are his hands and heart and feet. We are called to continue that ministry. To do good.
2. The very best way to start is to have an attitude of doing good, no compartments in our lives. At home, in calls, during shopping, in volunteering. Having an attitude of kindness, of doing good, of being proactive, of choosing to respond to the world by making a positive difference in someone’s life. Amen.

Developing Principled Christian Leaders for the Church and the World

I just read in detail the "Four Areas of Focus" of the United Methodist Church that are to set the course for the church in the next quadrennium. Good stuff, BUT

In the 23 tasks to "Develop Principled Christian Leadership for the Church and the World" there was no mention of a role for Lay Speaking Ministries whose task it is to "Equip United Methodists for All Facets of Lay Ministry." (The latter is the tag line of the Missouri Conference and is generally accepted in wider circles.)

Lay Speaking Ministries has broadened over the last decade to include training congregations in leadership, caring ministries as well as communicating. Lay Speakers do far more than provide pulpit supply, in fact lay speakers need not provide pulpit supply at all.

Courses are available to teach deep hospitality (Lead Small Groups, Evangelism, Creating Faith Communities), faith development (Lead Prayer, Lead Bible Study, Teaching Adults, Cultivate Christian Community, Methodist Heritage, Accountable Discipleship, Devotional Life in the Wesleyan Tradition), outreach (Lead Mission Outreach, Lay Pastoral Care, Discover Spiritual Gifts), Lead in Stewardship, as well as worship leadership, preaching and storytelling.

Courses are open to all and are professionally lead. Request that instructors come to your church to develop your ministries. Search out what we can do for you, for your particular congregation. What training does your church need? Work with you DS and District Director of Lay Speaking Ministries. Expect excellence and make us accountable.

Lay Speaking Ministries has a role to play in "Making disciples for the transformation of the world."

One of my disappointments is that we have failed to fund lay speaking ministries for the Central Conference. Sandy Jackson, advocate at GBOD, had started an inspiring program in Uganda, training a young person as a lay speaker and then as a district director. He traveled Uganda and southern Sudan at great peril for a pittance to train others and tell the good news of Jesus Christ. Often it was the only training that young pastors and laity received. It has ceased for lack of funds.

People of God, if you want to make an impact on the world, sit down right now and make out a check and send it to Sandy Jackson, Director of Lay Leadership Development, The General Board of Discipleship, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Note on the check, Central Conference Lay Speaking.

That's one way we can "Train Principled Christian Leaders for the Church and for the World."

Blessings,

Rick
Director of Lay Speaking Ministries, Missouri Conference

Living and Leading By The Spirit

The Association of Conference Directors of Lay Speaking Ministries (United Methodist Church) holds a bi-annual (to be annual beginning next year) convocation to introduce new training and gather for fellowship and learning. We met this year in Nashville this year. My room was 150 feet from the Upper Room Chapel and the offices of the General Board of Discipleship. (A story: a person on a group travel to Israel decided to stay on the bus at one of the stops when a friend came rushing back saying they had to get off because they were going to see the Upper Room. To which the traveler replied, "That's okay, I've seen the real one in Nashville.")

The highlight of the weekend was a course in progress being developed by the Upper Room leadership, “Living and Leading by the Spirit,” using spiritual formation to transform the church beginning one lay speaker, one congregation at a time for the transformation of the world! With the aid of the Holy Spirit it holds great promise. Look for the course to be published in 2010 and to be taught at the Missouri School of Lay Ministry in July 2010.

The Convocation closed Saturday night with an incredible worship in the Upper Room Chapel featuring Mike Rayson (mikerayson.net; myspace.com/mikerayson), popular Australian songster and minister. Awesome testimony, great music, passionate ministry. Check him out. A fitting way to close such a wonderful weekend.

Blessings,

Rick

Three Simple Rules

A friend asked that I post my sermons on Bishop Job's "Three Simple Rules." Sermon One below. Rick

Three Simple Rules

(Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 7:12; James 3:2-18)

A. Introduction
1. Football week. Are you a college football fan? Which teams? We’re normally fans of our schools, or our regions, or follow the same teams our parents did. For example, we wouldn’t expect to find Kansas fans in Columbia or Fayette. But it’s my understanding that they do exist. The story goes that a Fayette school teacher before letting her classes out for the holidays was asking how many kids were going to watch the Alamo bowl and root for Missouri? All but one child raised their hands. The teacher asked Johnny who his favorite team was and astoundingly he said “Kansas.” The teacher: “Johnny, how can it be that you live here and are a Kansas fan?” “My mom and dad are Kansas fans,” he replied. “Well,” the teacher said, “What if your mom was stupid and your dad was crazy?” “Well,” Johnny replied, “I guess then I’d be a Missouri fan.”

2. We’re captured by our heritage aren’t we? We’re Missouri fans, or Kansas fans, or Army fans, or CMU fans. We’re Methodists because our parents were, or we’re Baptists because we were raised that way. Atheists or agnostics or unknowing maybe simply because our parents may not have given us a heritage.
a. But sometimes the mold is broken. Bishop Ann Sherer used to tell the story of giving her life to Christ as a teen-ager in a Baptist church, but later chose to become a Methodist because the Methodism taught her what to do after she said yes.
b. So the question for all of us is “What is it that we should do?” What rules should we follow? After all, many religions have lots of rules. Those of the Jewish faith have 633 commandments in the Old Testament. That’s a lot of rules.
c. Here’s the good news, John Wesley had only three rules, Three Simple Rules to live our lives by. Yet even though there’s only three, let alone 633, we seem to have lost them or their meaning has been lost in our culture of me-rules.
d. But here’s the really good news: There’s a new book out, a small book, entitled, guess what, “Three Simple Rules, A Wesleyan Way of Living,” by retired Bishop Reuben Job. And even better, it’s short. Sixty-three pages plus appendices.

3. The rules are easy to remember and they are life changing, in fact world changing if we would but follow them. Wesley used them to change a nation and the Methodist movement used them to forge the values of a newly expanding nation in America. We need them again.

4. These simple rules according to Reuben Job are
a. First, do not harm
b. Then, do good
c. And lastly, Stay in Love with God
d. Do no harm, do good, stay in love with God. Easy to understand. Easy to remember.

5. The great thing is that these simple rules, like the teachings of the Bible, transcend time and culture. Imagine what the world would be like if
a. All those around you suffered no harm from another.
b. If random acts of kindness brought smiles to the face and joy to the hearts of those you love.
c. If everyone’s motivation for all that they did and didn’t do was the love of God.
d. Just think what the world would be like.
e. Easy to understand. Easy to remember. There must be something more to it or the world would be different and the sermon would be over by now. Here it is: They are difficult to do.

B. Body
1. Today we’re going to talk about the first of the three rules: “Do no harm.”
a. I’ve always been intrigued by why Wesley chose to list this one first. And I’ve told you before, I think it’s because harm is so difficult to undo. We can be forgiven for doing harm, yes, but sometimes the consequences of harm can just never be undone. First, do no harm.
b. Harm too is what happens when we are careless with those we love the most. And have you noticed that that is who we are most apt to harm? Those we love the most are sometimes hurt, irreparably damaged by unkind, unthoughtful, harmful words.

2. “Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never harm you.” Not true is it. Not true. James understood the power of words to harm: “the tongue is a small member…the tongue is a fire…itself set on fire by hell….No one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
a. So, if we really followed the rule to do no harm, we would have to set aside gossip. We would have to quit talking about others in any disparaging way. It has the potential to harm both the target and the talkers. In fact it harms us to be silent partners in a gossip conversation. We never know all the facts, we never know what’s in a person’s heart. We never know how our words are going to be interpreted. And even the silent persons are conspirators. The next time the story is told in another circle, it goes, “Well Peggy (the silent one) and I were talking the other day.” Suddenly Peggy is part of it.
b. A story with facts behind it. A school girl was away for the summer. Unbeknownst to her in her absence a story began circulating about her and being gone she could not refute it. By the time she returned to school in the fall, the parents of her best friends would not allow them to associate with her outside of school. Harmful? You bet. Disastrous. “Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words will never harm you.” Not true. NOT TRUE.
c. Thinking of sticks, Jesus said, “Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log [big stick] in your own eye?”
d. But it’s so fun to talk about people. Stephen Covey, one of my gurus, says that we should only talk about another as if they were present. First, do no harm.

3. A simple rule isn’t it? But what does it mean?
a. We need to be careful how we define it. It can’t mean, for example tough love. There are times where others may see harm when they are actually for good.
b. And we’re not necessarily talking about pain. After all, no pain, no gain. Training for a race, around the track or in life, may seem harmful in those intense early training sessions, but no pain, no gain.
c. What we are talking about those things that harm the spirit, that diminish, denigrate another, that deprive another of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. Things that harm the spirit, the being of another, are evil, harmful. They kill. And they may not be obvious.
i. Gossip harms the spirit, the reputation, the being of another. It can actually reshape, deform their lives. It can change a school girl from a happy-go-lucky child to one immersed in a world of misery. It can change a cheerful neighbor into a self-doubting target of whispers.
ii. But there are actions, too, that we need to be careful of: Driving drunk increases the potential to do harm. Anything that puts another in harm’s way, physically or spiritually, that enslaves them like substance abuse or gambling or pornography.
iii. Sometimes seemingly innocent things, buying clothing--made by child labor is harmful. But how do we know? To refuse to buy products made in third world countries would deprive them of wealth and would also be harmful. Sometimes doing no harm requires study and discernment.
iv. Our use of resources. Knowing what is really true about the environment is difficult. While we’re waiting to find out, while the world is discerning whether its sunspots or CO2, maybe the rule should be to do no harm while we’re waiting to find out what is true. “First, do no harm.”
v. Or what about doing harm to those who want to first do harm to us? Can we limit our response in a way that is not irreparable? Can we avoid collateral damage? The fear of harm is one of the reasons that just war theory insists on proportional response. Can we limit our harm?
vi. Or on a personal level, can we speak the truth in love with gentleness to those who want to do us harm? Even in the face of evil, can we limit our harm? These are important questions on how we are to live our lives.

4. What would it mean if we committed ourselves to follow this simple rule?
a. It would mean that we would need to think before we act.
b. It would mean that we would have to think after we act.
i. We would need to be reflective.
ii. We would have to examine ourselves.
iii. We would have to do the hard work of discernment, what is true, what is fair, what is just, what is beneficial?
iv. We would have to repent. And we would have to as Jesus said, “leave your gifts before the altar and go be reconciled to your brother or sister.”
c. It would mean that we couldn’t lash out at those with whom we disagree. What would happen to our political discourse if the politicians followed the rule to do no harm?
i. Civility might actually be restored.
ii. If we followed this rule of discourse and understanding, new insight, fresh dialogue, new discovery might be possible.
iii. Even church meetings might become more civil.

5. Before we get off track we need to know that doing no harm does not mean doing nothing. Here’s a writer’s view from the cartoon Luann: Three girls sitting on the couch, the activist among them says, “All the woes of the world and here we sit doing nothing. Not helping one bit.” Girls 2: “Hey, I’m not out littering, or spreading a disease, or joining a gang.” Girl 3: “Yeah, I’m not fighting a war or polluting or using gas.” Girl 2: “We’re very busy doing our part.” Girl 3: “It’s tiring to be helpful.” Exasperated Girl 1: “ Why to I even like you two?”

6. Doing no harm may need to be proactive. It may be laying aside our weapons, whether tanks or tongues; it may be actively seeking new ways; it may be searching for common ground; it may be finding a common table; of finding equal measure of God’s love.
a. Think of the possibilities if the Israelis and the Palestinians played by the rule of first, do no harm.
b. Or the Serbs and the Croates
c. Let alone the Hatfields and McCoys, or you put the names to it.

7. The results seem so obvious, so what is it that keeps us from living out such a rule?
a. It requires trust. Not only in one another, which may be fleeting, but trust in God. It takes a radical trust in God that if I just let this thing go, don’t retaliate, don’t do something to elevate my own importance, don’t protect my own self-interest that God will make it right. I can trust Him.
i. I can also trust God’s wisdom. Remember that passage from James about the tongue? He says, “13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”
ii. It requires a trust that if we obey him, if we become like him, that he will take care of us. Why is it that we fail to walk like Jesus walked? We lack trust. “Only trust him, only trust him, only trust him now.”
b. A second reason that we can’t follow the simple rule is that we are bound to a certain theology or ideology rather that being bound to Christ as both Savior and Lord. The extreme may be the Middle Eastern crisis where both sides are bound in both theology and ideology. But there are others that bind us.
i. We would rather be Republicans rather than Christians, Democrats rather than disciples, citizens of earth rather than of the kingdom.
ii. Giving up our ideology is painful. “You mean I’d have to stop hating Bush?” Or “I’d have to stop denigrating immigrants? I can’t call them spics anymore?” Of course the answer is no. Jesus loves "Japs" as well as Jews, Croates as well as Serbs, Bush as well as Barrak. He told us that even the hated Samaritans are our neighbors. Do no harm.

8. Another reason why we fail to do no harm is that we are not wise enough.
a. We don’t always know the truth. The Pope persecuted Galileo. The Pope wasn’t wise enough.
b. We aren’t wise enough to see ourselves let alone to see our neighbor. And since we aren’t wise, we must do no harm.

9. Stephen Covey, author of “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” emphasizes how much we have to learn in his very spiritual book “First Thinks First.” He boils down life to four areas: to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy; and then I heard him summarize it all on a TV show in about 15 seconds. He could have been saying do no harm.
a. He said, “Live as though you are recovering from a heart attack. Diet, drink, dream in moderation.” In other words do no harm to your body. After all they are temples of the Holy Spirit.
b. He said, “To love. Talk about others as if they can over hear you.” Covey insists that we should never get caught being an innocent bystander of gossip. Instead, ask, “I wonder what he or she would say about that. I have a cell phone, shall we ask?” Be proactive in doing no harm.
c. To learn. Covey says that we need to treat the half life of all knowledge as 2 years. In other words, don’t harm our minds. Be continually learning.
d. Finally, to leave a legacy. Covey says “Live as though every 90 days you have 1 hour face to face with God to settle your accountability to Him.” Do no harm to your souls.
e. Do no harm to your bodies. Do no harm to your relationships. Do no harm to your minds. Do no harm to your souls.

10. Others too teach ways to do no harm. We talked one sermon about the Rotary Four Way Test, the rules that Rotarians use to guide what we think, say or do. It goes “Of the things we think, say or do: Is it true, is it fair to all concerned, does it build good will and make better friendships, is it beneficial to all concerned?” In other words, of the things we think, say or do, do no harm.

C. Close
1. Can you imagine what the world would look like if we took this simple rule seriously? I was wondering what we are called to do and thought of our baptismal vows.
a. The first one is “Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?” In other words, do you reject harm?
b. But the good news is that we don’t have to do it alone. The second question is “Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in what ever forms they present themselves?” We can be more powerful in rejecting harm than we know. We simply need to accept the power of the Holy Spirit that is poured into us.
c. And third, “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him s your Lord, in union with the church which Christ has opened to peoples of all ages, nations and races?” Will you walk in the example of Jesus Christ, put your trust in him, ask the question, “what would Jesus do?” Would he do harm?

2. People of God, first, do no harm. So may it be in all our lives. Amen.

Stay in Love with Jesus

On Sunday I finished a sermon series on Bishop Job's little book, "Three Simple Rules, A Wesleyan Way of Living," with Rule 3, "Stay in Love with God." The sermon flowed into communion, one of Wesley's recommended means of immersing ourselves grace. We served one another in our seats as the disciples had served one another around the table. I asked that as they passed the bread they would say, "Remember Jesus," and as they offered the grape juice to say, "Stay in love with Jesus."

I decided that the flow of the service would be best served if I took communion last. I started the loaf and the cup on either sides of the aisle and went to the rear. As the loaf finished I took the body from one of my older parishioners and turned to the other side of the aisle. The cup had come to the end and was being held by Suzanna, seven years old. As I went to her and dipped my portion into the wine, without prompting I heard this small voice, "Pastor Rick, stay in love with Jesus." Surely she was God's messenger.

May all of you be blessed as I was.

Rick