“THE STILL SMALL VOICE”
A sermon on the occasion of the
Baptism of Megan Copley
at the Mint Methodist Church Exeter,
by the Minister, Rev Andrew Sails,
7th August 2011 at 10.30 a.m.
Readings: 1 Kings 19:9-18, Luke 15:1-7
We’ve just read a part of the story of Elijah from 1 Kings 19.
I want to look at that today -
but lets begin a bit further back with the story so far in ch 18.
There, you may recall, Elijah, the true prophet,
has pitted himself and his God
against the false prophets of Baal who worship idols.
Elijah and the prophets of Baal have a competition
to see whose God can miraculously set an altar alight.
The prophets of Baal chant and pray but to no avail.
Then Elijah calls down fire from heaven and at once
the altar offerings are consumed in the flames.
Elijah is vindicated against the followers of idolatory.
We could ask what that has to say to us.
I didn’t pass many idols and graven images on the way to Church this morning -
not unless you count a couple of garden gnomes.
We have many problems in this world,
but worshipping graven images is hardly one of them.
Or is it?
There have been more financial crises this week -
and listening to some people talk
you wonder if those who print money and engrave banknotes
are not the modern day equivalent of those who carved graven images -
making something and then bowing down before it,
allowing it to control our lives, turning it into a god.
And we all know that (helpful though money can be)
it never saved a single soul or gave true meaning to a single life.
Meanwhile the new football season started yesterday -
it was Bill Shankley, much loved manager of Liverpool, who famously said:
"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death…..
I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."
Maybe there are things in life that we idolize & worship with religious fervour
Apparently a brand new night club opened in Wakefield last week -
The club is called “Religion” and it features suitably named theme nights.
The club advertises Monday Mass,
offering "massive offers" on alcoholic drinks.
Its Resurrection night promises to "bring your Friday back to life"
and Saturday is billed as "Salvation - the answer to your prayers".
The company has got into some trouble
with the Bishop of Wakefield about this - he doesn’t approve -
and so the management have issued the following statement:
"The definition of the word religion is a pursuit or interest
followed with great devotion,
which is what partygoers in the city are doing.
"We chose the term Resurrection for a Friday night,
because the night-time economy's suffering
and we're hoping to revive and revitalise it, as its definition suggests.
The same is true of Salvation, and the word Mass was chosen
because it's a massive Monday night of massive music."
Now don’t get me wrong - I support Liverpool football club,
I have money in my pockets and I know that if I use it the right way
it can be really valuable -
and if I am now a bit long in the tooth to go clubbing,
I am delighted that others have the enthusiasm and the energy
to dance the night away.
The key thing is this - To use, enjoy or value something is fine.
But to worship it, to treat it as religion,
or to look to it for all the answers to life, love and the universe, that is not fine -
that is no better than (or different from)
carving a piece of wood and then bowing down to worship it.
We need to audit our lives-
are there things which rule and dominate our lives?
But back to Elijah - he opposes (as well he might) the prophets of Baal -
and shows up their so called god as a sham unable to deliver.
Elijah then has all 450 prophets executed.
What do we make of this?
Two possibilities:
(1) We say Its in the Bible, the writer of Kings clearly approves.
Elijah was therefore right to do this.
But if that is our line, I do think that we need to be rigorous in our thinking.
Perhaps that means we should all sign
the new on line petition to restore capital punishment and -
more than that - make it a capital offence not to believe in our God.
Or (2) - and I hope this is the line we would actually take -
we say that Elijah (and the author of the Books of Kings
who implicitly applauds his action)
were well meaning but on this occasion wrong.
We need to say that the Bible tells the stories
of people seeking God’s will and way -
but sometimes it tells of people who only partially got it right.
Meanwhile Jezebel, discovering that 450 of her court religious officials
have been summarily executed, tells Elijah that he will be killed.
So Elijah runs.
Here’s a thing - he can run away from Jezebel - but not from God.
Go far enough south and you leave Jezebel’s influence behind -
but there God still is - he is no tribal God, but the God of all.
You’ve heard of the boy who goes to Sunday School
each week at the local chapel.
One day he stops as he is leaving and says
“Goodbye Lord - we're emigrating to Australia tomorrow"
But our God is Universal -
he made the waters of Earth and Mars, he created the heavens,
he is a God who cares for us here,
but just as much he cares for baby Megan’s grandparents
watching this service on DVD in South Africa -
the same God who goes with Soyeon and everyone who leaves Exeter,
wherever they may go.
Or as the Psalmist says of God - (139:7-12):
Whither shall I go from thy spirit?
or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me,
and thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;
but the night shineth as the day:
the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
We have given Megan a candle -
just a small candle, but a symbol of the light of Christ,
which is not limited to one place or one time, but goes with her always.
I hope and pray she may lead a long and joyful and happy life -
but if there are bad times, remember (as our NT lesson says)
Christ is our shepherd - wherever we may stray,
he will not forget us, but search out even the one lost sheep in a 100,
and never desert us, whatever we do, wherever we are.
So Elijah’s God goes with Elijah and directs him to Horeb
where God will speak to him.
There is an earthquake and a wind and a fire -
but God does not speak through these -
then a silence in which God speaks with a still small voice.
Of course God does sometimes speak through wind and fire and storm -
the scriptures often talk of the wind and the fire of the Spirit -
the point is that God speaks in different ways on different occasions -
and we shouldn’t just assume that he will speak to us
in the grand religious theatre style.
God speaks in many ways- and we need to be ready hear.
In fact it is so easy in our busy and frenetic world
to be so immersed in the noise and the confusion of everyday life,
we never tune in to what God may have to say to us in the midst of life.
God can speak in all kinds of places - Are our ears open to hear his word?
And what will he say?
Well many things - but Elijah’s experience is not uncommon -
basically the message is “Stop running - turn around -
I have a job for you back in the busy political, dangerous world -
get going.
There is a website called shoesofthefisherman.com which sells shoes.
"Shoes of the Fisher- man" sandals are rubbery flip flops
which have the words "Jesus Loves You" in relief on the sole.
So wherever the wearers walk - in sand, mud, or on wet pavements -
they can engage in a wandering evangelism by imprinting the message.
Made in Thailand by "adult Christian workers
paid a living wage and working in good conditions",
Shoes of the Fisherman are said to make "affirming gifts".
According to the maker, Kathleen Farrell,
God apparently instructed her to cut out an old inner tube
and glue the words "Jesus Loves You" to the bottom of her sandals.
Then she walked on a wet surface and saw the message imprinted there.
"It was awesome, and I knew this was
a wonderful way to spread the Good News". she remembers.
(The Tablet Aug 2000)
I'm not quite sure about that - I haven't ordered a pair yet -
But at a symbolic level, there is a truth here -
God wants us to go walking in the world -
And as we go he wants us to spread the good news of his love.
So today we baptise Megan. Don’t underestimate what we do today -
We are not just enrolling her in a social club or a self help group
We are affirming nothing less than her place in the family of God.
To Megan today - & to us all - God gives (as always) promise and challenge:
Promise: I will be with you always
and will save you in your hour of need.
Nothing can defeat my love and my power.
Challenge: I have a journey for you -
sharing and building love peace and justice in the world -
will you share that journey as you grow?
So may each of us put away our idols, stop running away,
speak with God wherever we are, hear his word for our life,
and respond with heart and soul,
walking his way and sharing his message.
Order of Service
Sunday 7th August 10.30 a.m. Morning Worship led by Rev Andrew Sails
Welcome and Notices
Hymn “Be still” (주의 임재 앞에 잠잠해) (see screen)
Prayer
Baptism of Megan Hazel Copley
The Declaration (Methodist Worship Book p.88)
The Request for Baptism (p.89)
Thanksgiving over the water (p.90)
The Affirmation of Faith (p.91)
The Baptism (p.92)
The Baptismal promises (p.94)
Hymn 566 “Now thank we all our God” (다 감사 드리세) (see screen)
The Peace Leader: Let us share the peace
Adults: The peace of the Lord be with you
Children: And also with you
Leader: Go in peace
(Young people leave for their own sessions)
Readings: 1 Kings 19:9-18
Luke 15:1-7
Hymn 223 “I will sing the wondrous story”
Sermon “The still small voice”
Hymn 673 “Dear Lord and Father of mankind”
Collection
Prayers and Lord’s Prayer
Hymn “I the Lord of sea and sky” (see screen)
Blessing |
“THE STILL SMALL VOICE”
THESTILLSMALLVOICE.pdf