Mark 9:30-37 September 23 2012
My dog has this thing about dominance. Maybe because he's a poofy poodle, but every time he meets another dog, he seems to feel that he has to prove how macho he is. And dog psychologists tell us, that dogs have a very strong instinct to know exactly who dominates who in the pack. Cesar Millan tells us the way to have a happy dog, is to make it clear to the dog that you are the pack leader.
Dogs are not the only ones who have an instinct to dominate others. People do, too. I remember hearing about one such conflict in this very congregation, between a former pastor and a former treasurer, about who got possession of a certain room. Did you notice, when I came here, for months I would not even use that room, and when I did I made sure there was a key that was available to anyone. I was just not going to get involved in that sort of dispute. I am not a dog, even if I do wear a “dog-collar”.
Dominance disputes like this can be very subtle, especially among women. We started in Junior High, jockeying for status, about who was in the “in” group, about who was “cool”. And in churches, people can usually tell you who has the power, and it's not always the pastor or the Council. People get power in subtle ways, and people who have power are not always willing to let go of it.
It is not surprising that the disciples were discussing who was the “greatest”, that is, who was the leader of the group. Last week we heard how Peter, who had been the leader, had put his foot in his mouth in a big way, by rebuking Jesus for predicting his suffering and death. Jesus very deliberately, and in the presence of the other disciples, put Peter down, calling him Satan, and saying that he was thinking in human ways, not as God thinks. So Peter had been pretty much demoted, and so the others were talking about, well, who was leader now? I can just imagine Peter, sulking, tagging along after the others, listening in to this conversation with a very grumpy expression on his face.
Jesus knows what's up, and so he asks them what they were talking about. They have the good grace to be embarrassed at the question.
The thing is, we are not dogs. Being the leader, being most important, being the greatest, may be an instinct we share with dogs. But we are humans. Jesus came to save us, and one of the things he saves us from is our instincts. We are no longer slaves to the flesh, as St Paul says over and over. Or, as James says in our second reading, the wisdom that engages in “bitter envy and selfish ambition is earthly, unspiritual, devilish... But the wisdom from above, [from God,] is pure, peaceable, gentle and willing to yield.”
As Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Even that can be misinterpreted and made into just another way to jockey for position. You sometimes see this in churches, where some people think that everybody should defer to them because they work harder than anybody else in the church. I don't think that's what Jesus meant.
Jesus himself, even though he was God, put aside all the power of God to become human. Jesus didn't push himself forward or insist on privileges. Jesus chose to hang around with losers and people with no power, treating them with respect and going out of his way to help them.
Jesus even showed respect for children, who in those days were less important that even slaves. And he taught his disciples to treat all such with respect, to welcome the least important people, because that would be the same as welcoming him, indeed, welcoming God into our lives.
The ones who actually get to meet God in this life are the ones who have given up on asserting themselves and seeking power. They are the ones who look at their neighbours, not as a means to get more influence, but simply as other people who have needs, other people who are also children of God.
What is true for individuals is also true for the church. A lot of churches fall into the trap of playing “who's the greatest”. They compare notes about who has the biggest worship attendance, the nicest building, the biggest budget, the busiest pastor. Which is the most successful church in town?
Jesus says, “You're asking the wrong question. It's not about who is largest or most successful in earthly terms. It's about who is being the servant of all.”
We look around at our low numbers here and can't help wondering if we are failing. But when I go to gatherings of other pastors and tell them what we are doing, they are amazed. We have so few people, yet we do so much in the community. We are not focused on being the greatest, we are focused on what we can do to serve others. And that is what Jesus values the most. We are not failing, we are succeeding – in doing what God wants us to do.
It is said that the door to heaven is very low, so that only the humble can enter. James says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” This is not done by trying to climb up to the heights of power where we imagine God must live. It is done by associating with the least and the lost, for that is where Jesus promises to be. “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me, but the one who sent me.”
And do you know why this is? Because as we become more welcoming, we become more like God! God is the one who longs for God's children to return home, who eagerly gathers us together for feasting and fellowship, who even put aside all the power of God to become human, just so that we might know God. So as God's own rescued and adopted and beloved children, let us grow up to be like our heavenly Father.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
My dog has this thing about dominance. Maybe because he's a poofy poodle, but every time he meets another dog, he seems to feel that he has to prove how macho he is. And dog psychologists tell us, that dogs have a very strong instinct to know exactly who dominates who in the pack. Cesar Millan tells us the way to have a happy dog, is to make it clear to the dog that you are the pack leader.
Dogs are not the only ones who have an instinct to dominate others. People do, too. I remember hearing about one such conflict in this very congregation, between a former pastor and a former treasurer, about who got possession of a certain room. Did you notice, when I came here, for months I would not even use that room, and when I did I made sure there was a key that was available to anyone. I was just not going to get involved in that sort of dispute. I am not a dog, even if I do wear a “dog-collar”.
Dominance disputes like this can be very subtle, especially among women. We started in Junior High, jockeying for status, about who was in the “in” group, about who was “cool”. And in churches, people can usually tell you who has the power, and it's not always the pastor or the Council. People get power in subtle ways, and people who have power are not always willing to let go of it.
It is not surprising that the disciples were discussing who was the “greatest”, that is, who was the leader of the group. Last week we heard how Peter, who had been the leader, had put his foot in his mouth in a big way, by rebuking Jesus for predicting his suffering and death. Jesus very deliberately, and in the presence of the other disciples, put Peter down, calling him Satan, and saying that he was thinking in human ways, not as God thinks. So Peter had been pretty much demoted, and so the others were talking about, well, who was leader now? I can just imagine Peter, sulking, tagging along after the others, listening in to this conversation with a very grumpy expression on his face.
Jesus knows what's up, and so he asks them what they were talking about. They have the good grace to be embarrassed at the question.
The thing is, we are not dogs. Being the leader, being most important, being the greatest, may be an instinct we share with dogs. But we are humans. Jesus came to save us, and one of the things he saves us from is our instincts. We are no longer slaves to the flesh, as St Paul says over and over. Or, as James says in our second reading, the wisdom that engages in “bitter envy and selfish ambition is earthly, unspiritual, devilish... But the wisdom from above, [from God,] is pure, peaceable, gentle and willing to yield.”
As Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Even that can be misinterpreted and made into just another way to jockey for position. You sometimes see this in churches, where some people think that everybody should defer to them because they work harder than anybody else in the church. I don't think that's what Jesus meant.
Jesus himself, even though he was God, put aside all the power of God to become human. Jesus didn't push himself forward or insist on privileges. Jesus chose to hang around with losers and people with no power, treating them with respect and going out of his way to help them.
Jesus even showed respect for children, who in those days were less important that even slaves. And he taught his disciples to treat all such with respect, to welcome the least important people, because that would be the same as welcoming him, indeed, welcoming God into our lives.
The ones who actually get to meet God in this life are the ones who have given up on asserting themselves and seeking power. They are the ones who look at their neighbours, not as a means to get more influence, but simply as other people who have needs, other people who are also children of God.
What is true for individuals is also true for the church. A lot of churches fall into the trap of playing “who's the greatest”. They compare notes about who has the biggest worship attendance, the nicest building, the biggest budget, the busiest pastor. Which is the most successful church in town?
Jesus says, “You're asking the wrong question. It's not about who is largest or most successful in earthly terms. It's about who is being the servant of all.”
We look around at our low numbers here and can't help wondering if we are failing. But when I go to gatherings of other pastors and tell them what we are doing, they are amazed. We have so few people, yet we do so much in the community. We are not focused on being the greatest, we are focused on what we can do to serve others. And that is what Jesus values the most. We are not failing, we are succeeding – in doing what God wants us to do.
It is said that the door to heaven is very low, so that only the humble can enter. James says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” This is not done by trying to climb up to the heights of power where we imagine God must live. It is done by associating with the least and the lost, for that is where Jesus promises to be. “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me, but the one who sent me.”
And do you know why this is? Because as we become more welcoming, we become more like God! God is the one who longs for God's children to return home, who eagerly gathers us together for feasting and fellowship, who even put aside all the power of God to become human, just so that we might know God. So as God's own rescued and adopted and beloved children, let us grow up to be like our heavenly Father.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
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