Acts 20: 18-35
NPMC
Anita Retzlaff
14 Pentecost
September 6, 2009
Testimony: Learning by Example
Grace and peace to you from God the Father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus the
Christ. In our moment of silent prayer this morning we pray for teachers and
instructors who guide people in the learning process as a new school year
begins. We also pray for farmers and others involved in the production of our
food as harvest is upon us and an extended warm season is needed to bring in
what has been planted. Let us pray. Lord, as we enter into this new season of
learning and of harvest we pray your presence in the lives of those who work to
provide for our well-being. AMEN
In the month of August I attended 5 marriage celebrations. It is a delight to
witness the covenant of couples who move into the future as a newly-formed
family unit intent upon making their mark in the world and taking courage from
each other to do things together that they may not have done on their own. In
any case, watching these couples come together I am more and more aware of the
fact that we learn by example. Two people bring with them the habits, responses
and strategies learned by watching their parents and extended family members.
And it goes without saying that these learned patterns and behaviours can be
helpful and others, not so healthy, varying greatly from one family to another.
Whether we consider the results good or bad, we learn by example.
And if we hadn’t figured it out yet, we also learn the ways of God by example.
Think about how it was that you came to know God. Certainly you learn about God
by reading the bible and studying the life and teaching of Jesus. But I would
strongly suggest you probably have learned most about God through the people who
claim to be children of God. We learn by example. Some examples of Christians
and their behaviour have put us off; have soured us to the gospel. There is the
expectation that a person’s actions are consistent with their beliefs. When we
see a Christian person acting in what appears to be an unchristian way, it is
tempting to dismiss Christianity altogether. However, there are many kinds of
examples out there and we know that nobody’s actions are perfect and that we are
all on a journey that is still unfolding. Yet it remains incumbent upon us and
this community of Nutana Park Mennonite Church to be the kind of example that
inspires and breathes health into the lives of those who watch us.
When the Apostle Paul prepares to leave Asia for Rome he reminds his followers
in today’s farewell pep talk that a particular kind of example is essential. He
unapologetically describes his own activities: “You yourselves know how I lived
among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving
the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me
through the plots of the Jews.” Paul sets a particular kind of example and he
wants people to follow that example for the express purpose that this way of
living is the way of God in the world. People watch and people learn.
So, how does Paul live; what does he do that draws others to Jesus’ way? First
off, he offends the clergy, those whom he refers to as “the Jews” – he offends
them by opening up membership too widely. After his encounter with God, Paul
extends communion into the fellowship of God-seekers - to Jews and to Gentiles
alike. As you know that’s a tough sell. Most established faith communities are
uncomfortable rubbing elbows with community people of different backgrounds and
traditions. People who are too different from what is familiar (note that the
root of that word familiar, is family) are not easily incorporated into an
established and traditional system. Just like families and in particular a
marriage of two individuals, it takes intentionality and courage to integrate
two systems that are very different from each other. Embracing that which feels
alien can also feel wrong. I am not saying that it is wrong but at first it
feels wrong. You know that it takes time and contact for that feeling to go
away.
Paul got into trouble so completely, for his radical inclusiveness, that his
life was in danger wherever he went. Yet his example remained strong and
consistent. Jews and Greeks alike were called to join the community and Paul
went out beating the bushes to invite them in. He called people to repentance;
that in itself is not popular, and he called them to the good life – a life of
service. His testimony struck a chord with his listeners. The Word of hope and
faith in the goodness of God was the key that unlocked the hearts of people and
broke down the barriers between them. His testimony stirred these new Christians
to action, to living by example.
And so we arrive at that word “testimony” once again. With some delight I keep
putting it in front of us because we can take this opportunity to re-imagine
what testimony is for us on this day and in this time. Testimony is to bear
witness, to declare and to give evidence. The Greek is (martureo) from
which we get our word “martyr.” To give our testimony is simply to tell people
how we have encountered God or how God encounters us. That is what Paul is
doing. Our encounters with God may not be as dramatic as Paul’s but they are our
experiences: our experiences of knowing and feeling that God is with us,
sometimes directing us, sometimes prodding us or maybe most often just that
presence that cheers and encourages us. We learn from each others’ testimonies,
from each others’ example of living well upon this earth. We have heard and
given such testimonies in our congregation in the last months, actually over all
these years, at baptisms, membership transfers and in our brief times of sharing
in the service which we have come to call, “Encounters with God.”
The illustration on the front cover of the bulletin symbolizes for me what we
are doing when we share our testimony, give evidence of God in our lives. The
heart symbolizes the love that we have been given by Jesus Christ who walks with
us. By example, through our testimony, that love embraces those who see our
actions and hear our stories. The footprints are the signs of the journey, the
path that we walk, with God and with each other. We learn from each other; we
learn to love each other and we walk within the embrace, within those brackets
of divine love.
And so Paul is passionate in his testimony of God’s ways. He declares that the
Spirit continues to testify to him and thus he is compelled to testify to all
who will hear. The message is not complicated; it’s pretty basic. God’s grace
and forgiveness awaits us when we repent of our unhealthy ways and destructive
thoughts. No other system, no other go-between is necessary. Because Jesus died
as the ultimate expression of love for us, Paul testifies that we too take the
risks that love implies. It will not always be easy. In fact Paul warns this
little Christian community of the perils that lie ahead. There are going to be
threats from within and threats from without.
There will be influences that erode the community and just as in family life
these threats come from inside and outside. Family strife is often attributed to
that bad influence - the friend of a son or daughter who leads a child into new
and troublesome territory. I received a phone call one day years ago when my
children were little. My son was no longer allowed to play with their son I was
told. From what I had seen the influences went both ways but I held my tongue. I
still maintain that the jury is out as to who was the more troublesome
influence. Many of us have stories like this. Influences from without.
Then there are the inside influences, the rifts that occur from within the
confines of a family system. Someone distorts an event or a comment,
disagreement erupts and the fight is on. And you know how that goes. You can
argue that there was ever a distortion to begin with or you can distort the
distortion. In any case each side takes a stand and refuses to relinquish their
take on the situation and disharmony reigns supreme. These things happen in the
church too and Paul warns his friends that in his absence they must be alert to
the things that can divide them. Sometimes, as in families, congregations do not
survive the troubles that erupt. Just as sisters and brothers do not speak to
each other for years; parents disown children and children write off their
parents, in the church also, members hurt each other, give each other the cold
shoulder and split apart. As overseers or shepherds of God’s flock, those whose
testify to the love of God in Christ Jesus will be called to encourage the
community to seek repentance and heal disruption. When a family or a
congregation is united in its purpose and testimony the savage wolves of
disunity have little power.
In Paul’s final words to the new and evolving church he commends them to God; he
claims them worthy of God’s grace. That is powerful. Paul commends the people,
cements their relationship to God in that moment. As in our public ceremonies,
at a marriage celebration or in a funeral service, we commend people into God’s
care for eternity. What is more transformative than the recognition that we are
God’s companions for all time? Through such commendation the church is
instructed to build each other up, to avoid the abuse of power in leadership and
to support the weak. This is the good life that Paul bequeaths to the followers
of Jesus – to us.
Paul says, “In all this I have given you an example.” He has shown the character
of, been an example of, the grace of God. His testimony is clear. The character
of our lives, the testimony to God’s grace as we have experienced it is most
aptly expressed in lives of service, to each other and far beyond. And so at
Nutana Park we seek to attend to each other’s need and to celebrate the joys of
life together. Out of this desire and discernment Marlene Froese has agreed to
be our small group coordinator that we have renamed the Community Life
Coordinator. We will live by example to each other. We will hear each other’s
testimony of God’s grace in our group life and weekly activities.
We wish to cast the net wider yet and so have begun to meet as a group called
Bridge Builders through which we are discerning our example, our testimony in
the greater community here in Saskatoon. “It is more blessed to give than to
receive,” says Paul to his friends as the very last thing he tells them before
he leaves. Eugene Peterson translates this verse as follows: “You’ll not likely
go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, ‘You’re far happier
giving than getting.’”
God has commended us to a life of service, of giving in a way that is not
patronizing or proud. As in a good marriage or family relationship, service is
manifest as the full expression of mutuality and partnership. Let this be our
testimony as we receive the blessing that Paul leaves to his followers at his
departure: I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that
is able to build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are
sanctified. The peace of Christ go with you all. AMEN