Sentness – Standing in the Gap

Luke 22:24-27
A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

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Over the past six weeks of our Sentness series, Pastor Mark and I have focused on the idea that what each one of us is up to outside the church walls is what matters most. Our calling is to understand our communities’ needs, partner with God’s work (which began long before we arrived on the scene), and bring truth and transformation through our Spirit-inspired thoughts, words, and deeds among people in need.

Today we conclude the Sentness series by exploring what it means to “Stand in the Gap” for others.

Rather than provide a textbook-style definition of the meaning of “Standing in the Gap,” I’d like to tell a couple stories of people who have stood in the gap for others. I hope you will resonate with these stories. I hope the stories will help you identify times in your life where people stood in the gap for you. And, I hope that you would use your own memories and experiences as fuel to go and stand in the gap for others.

I recently came across a story on a website titled, “To the Mom or Dad who Told Their Child Not to Stare at Mine.” In it, a mother addresses what happens when she goes out in public with her daughter and recognizes peoples’ complete discomfort around her.

The daughter, Sarah, has Apert syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that results in physical differences including a larger-than-average head size, fingers and toes fuzed together, a need for a tracheotomy, and muscular weakness which has left her in an adaptive wheelchair.

The mom writes:
“You’re embarrassed by your child because they’re pointing or staring [at my daughter]. You shush your child and pull them away quickly, and I know you’re doing it to save my feelings, but my feelings are not so fragile and your action is doing real damage. You’re teaching your child to be afraid of what they don’t understand…

“Here’s the thing: kids categorize. They need your help — and maybe mine — to make sure Sarah gets into the right category. They ask questions to figure out how things fit in their world. When you don’t let them ask their “rude” questions, you confirm my daughter as “other.” Believe it or not, every kid I’ve met who was allowed to ask as many “rude” questions as they liked, learned in just minutes to see my daughter as I see her. She is just a kid…a potential friend.”

This mother is standing in the gap that threatens to separate her daughter from others as a result of the stares, questions, and finger-pointing that will likely accompany her daughter throughout her life. By standing in the gap, advocating for her child, and educating us, she is creating opportunities for relationship that will benefit not only people who appear “different” but also people who would otherwise be inclined to think that by ignoring such people they are being compassionate.

The same day I read that story I saw a post from a friend regarding her son’s experience in kindergarten. A brief backstory. Katie, the mom, is white; her husband is Latino; and their son, Abiyu, was born in Ethiopia and adopted three years ago. They all live in Texas.

Turn out that someone from Abiyu’s kindergarten class, probably in the context of a Valentine’s Day discussion about love, told him that when he grew up he would never be able to marry a white woman because he is black. Apparently Abiyu literally brushed off the comment with a flick of his wrist and a “speak to the hand” gesture.

Here’s what Katie said about the incident:

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If you’re more of a visual person, perhaps her picture can sum up her thoughts and words just as powerfully:

This is another example of a mother standing in the gap that threatens to separate her child from others due to his physical appearance. By standing in the gap, advocating for her child, and educating us, she is creating opportunities for relationship that will benefit not only people who appear “different” but also people who would otherwise be inclined to make racially-charged assumptions and comments about people of color.

This is not an issue to political correctness; it’s not even an issue of basic respect. Standing in the gap is a religious calling of the highest magnitude, modeled by God through Jesus Christ. Surely the bravery modeled by these children and their parents can be traced back to the love and security received by Jesus – the one who stands in the gap for us.

Luke’s version of the gospel tells the story of Jesus sharing the last supper with his disciples before he would be betrayed, tortured, and executed. Immediately after this holy experience, the disciples eat the bread and share the cup, they get into a fight about which one of them is greatest.

Jesus corrects them with a curious statement, “The greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves.”

Who is the greatest? I think these children and their parents answer this question clearly. The greatest is anyone who rises up against fear, hatred, injustice, and intolerance and instead seeks relationship, understanding, and peace. The greatest is the one who bears the weight of our sins and displays them for all the world to see.

True leadership is always from a place of vulnerability, not power. True leadership is both standing in the gap for others while at the same time allowing others to stand in the gap for us. True leadership is modeling the behavior we hope others will emulate. True leadership is recognizing that Christ has redeemed us despite our unworthiness; and seeking to respond in kind.

We have so much to learn from one another, especially those who we think are so different from ourselves. We have so many gaps in our lives that can only be filled by people filled with the presence of Christ. May we recognize that Jesus has stood in the gap for us and that Jesus sends us into the world to stand in the gap for those who need our voice, our welcoming presence, and our healing touch.

Amen.

Sentness – Safe Places

Earlier in the week as part of our Soup, Salad, and Scripture class we listened as a pastor on the DVD Bible study compared church to a gym where he works out regularly. He views both the church and the gym as places where we can be surrounded by people who will encourage, motivate, and keep us accountable. He painted a beautiful picture in my mind of what that type of community could be like.

Now, I’ve been a gym member for almost all of my adult life, and I simply cannot point out a single experience that matches what this pastor talked about. For me, gyms are places where my biggest insecurities are laid bare. Because of my insecurities, just about everyone around me in a gym feels like a threat. I feel like I am being judged and made fun of because of my comparable weakness or lack of endurance.

I do believe that at its best a gym can be a safe place where people can develop emotional as well as physical health; and I know people who claim this to be true, based on their experiences. I just have not really experienced that.

Similarly, I believe that at its best a church can be a safe place; and I know people who claim this to be true, based on their experiences. But that truth is so easily hidden from so many people.

Too many people feel the same way about church as I feel about the gym. You’ve probably heard, or have yourself, stories about insincere people, fake smiles, sermons that seem to have no accessible or practical meaning, customs that seem awkward, and pressure to fit into the homogeneous culture where everyone looks, dresses, and acts the same, and has the same political persuasion. You’ll hear stories about people who catch sideways glances from strangers and ask themselves “Are they judging me? Are they making fun of me because I’m different or because I’m unsure about my faith?”

Changing the culture of a gym to make it more of a safe place for even the most insecure exerciser is a difficult task; so too is the task of changing the culture of a church to make it more of a safe place. And certainly we should all take an honest look at our thoughts and actions to make sure we are truly doing our best to welcome all people here, so that anyone who walks in can enjoy the grace that flows as freely as the coffee. That’s what it means to be a safe place.

In addition, we are called to an even bigger and more challenging task – changing the culture of our families, neighborhoods, businesses, are larger communities to create more safe places for the most vulnerable.

The authors of Sentness write,

“We need church to be a safe place, not just within the walls of our buildings and gatherings, but wherever the people of God are seeking to be the church. While others walk away, our role is to walk toward.”

— Sentness, p.131

We are sent people, sent into the everyday ordinariness of life to take steps towards justice and reconciliation and hope for all people: the poor, the executives, the housewives, the veterans, the sexually exploited, the criminals, the lost, the addicted, the immigrant, the successful, the elderly, the gay, the straight, the young, the sinners, the saints, and even the weak and insecure guy at the gym.

In today’s gospel we hear the story of Jesus coming to the aid of a woman who was in an adulterous affair and sentenced to death by a jury of her peers. Although, truth be told, a jury of her peers at that time was a mob of men with a lust for killing backed up by a warped understanding of religion who felt free to take the law into their own hands.

There were a lot of reasons for Jesus not to help the woman: He would be breaking a religious law; he would be forever associated with a woman of ill repute; his entire ministry and reputation could be discredited; and he would be putting his own safety at risk by challenging the mob.

But there was only one reason for Jesus to help the woman: His belief that God loved the woman and wanted her to live.

Jesus knew that God had sent him into the everyday ordinariness of life to take steps towards justice and reconciliation and hope for all people. So he bravely and peacefully steps in, speaks truth, disperses the mob, and brings hope and the promise of life to the woman.

It’s a beautifully simple yet profound example for us to follow. As God’s redeemed people, we are sent to speak up for the people in our neighborhoods and our world who need our voices.

We are fortunate to be a part of a church family where this is being done, regularly. Here are just a few examples that might inspire and encourage you:

There’s the woman who noticed that there were no sports opportunities for girls and decided to run for school board, becoming the first female ever elected to the Hancock County school board. Still today if you go to a girls sport event, you’ll probably see her cheering from the sidelines.

There’s a young man who volunteers with medical vaccine agencies to fund vaccine initiatives across the world, ensuring that millions of preventable illnesses and deaths are actually prevented.

There are several people here who have taken on the task of working with and for at-risk youth who desperately need to know that someone is looking out for them and that the structures of the world will not keep them in the gutter.

There are the faithful volunteers at the Kenneth Butler Memorial Soup Kitchen in Greenfield.

There are countless others who see their jobs and family roles, however mundane they may often seem, as opportunities to honor God and be a presence of peace and hope for those who can’t seem to find it anywhere else.

That’s just a small sample of what a few people are doing on their own accord. Just think what will be possible as this congregation continues to discern where God is at work and how we can use our gifts and resources to join in God’s work.

What would it look like for this congregation to stand up to the bloodthirsty angry mobs demanding religious justification for their oppression of different genders, races, ethnicities, incomes, and any other label we attach to a group in order to dehumanize the flesh and blood people whose lives God has charged us to protect?

“Who of us is willing to count the cost and create safe places when our neighborhoods are distant from God’s dream and needing restoration?”

— Sentness, p.113

There are a lot of reasons for us not to speak up on behalf of those with no voice.

But there is only one reason for us to speak up: Our belief that God loves all and wants us to live.

May you realize that God sends you into the everyday ordinariness of life to take the necessary steps towards justice and reconciliation and hope for all people. May you bravely and peacefully step in, disperse the mob, and speak a word of hope and the promise of life to those who won’t hear it anywhere else.

Amen.