Sermon Notes - Sept. 11th
September 11, 2005
“Observe the Day”
Romans 14:1-12
1. Well, well, it’s Rally Day again, which means that it is back to school, and back to reality. Unless of course, you live in Louisiana!
Since today is 9/11 – this would be the time to remember the World Trade Center disaster – but that event has been overshadowed by an even larger American catastrophe which has been on all our minds and television screens for the past many days.
This past year has certainly been time for disasters – in the last 12 months -- there was the Florida Hurricane last fall (remember that one), then the Tsunami in January…the shooting at Red Lake HS in the spring and now Hurricane Katrina. To say nothing about the ongoing death and destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I don’t know about you … but at least as far as the weather is concerned I have been quite appreciative of the weather up here in Bemidji – as of late.
Not that the weather isn’t a problem because we all know that, here in this state, we never know for sure what the weather is going to be. I guess, that’s part of the charm of it all. We live in an uncertain environment where the weather changes all the time. It keeps you on your toes. And every winter, as Garrison Keillor pointed out, the climate tries to kill us all – or sort of …!
2. Unlike in Minnesota, places like Florida and the Gulf States and California have very mild climates … no cold winters … no sub zero temperatures … no blizzards and ice storms … BUT … they do have earthquakes and Hurricanes … but they don’t happen every year. In the intervening years, I suppose it would be easy to become complacent. I don’t know, I’ve never lived anywhere but in Minnesota. I do know that when I was in California in July – the weather was exactly the same every day for two weeks. Name a time in Minnesota when the weather was exactly the same for three days in row!
Take your pick, I guess. No one says you have to live in northern Minnesota. Or New Orleans. Or Los Angelos, either. So, don’t complain, I guess. At least up here in Bemidji, we know what to expect. We plan for it. It’s a way of life. We have to be prepared. We cannot be complacent.
I am not saying we are smarter or superior to people who live elsewhere … but I do think the weather in these parts makes us think differently.
I affects a lot of what we do … and how we behave.
You just can’t be complacent in Minnesota (expect maybe for a little while during the three months of summer). Most of the time, you have to be on your toes … and some people can’t take that … so they move to a warmer climate. You take your chances …!
3. Now today is traditionally the beginning of the church year … when everyone comes back to church … and Sunday School starts … and things like that …
Back to church … What does that mean …? And just why do we have to go to church? … Why would we want to go to church? And why is church always on Sunday? Does it have to be? And what does Paul mean in today’s scripture when he refers to those “who observe the day?”
To better understand this whole business we first of all must understand how it came to be that one day a week is celebrated … and represents a day on which most of us do not work … for after all, there is nothing astronomically necessary about worshipping God every seventh day is there?
Think about it:
The earth revolves around the sun and it also revolves on
Its axis … it revolves on its axis 365 times during the time
It takes to circle the sun once … and because of this it is easy to come up with 365 days which are divided by into 24 units or hours in a single day … which are further divided into minutes.
But what about months? Well, the moon revolves around the sun about every 28 days … which, in some societies, very roughly corresponds to months – called lunar months –which is what the ancient Hebrews used … to calculate their calendar …
And thusly you end up with 13 months …
However, we today use the later Roman or Gegorian method which determines months according to the Sun … and gives us 12 months … many of which are named after gods and goddesses … and some after Emperors like Augustus – for August and Julius for July.
But, and this is the important point, there is nothing that says that months have to be divided into 7 day - weeks. In fact, the Egyptians had a 10 day week.
4. Digging into the history of the 7-day week is a very complicated matter. Authorities have very different opinions about the history of the week, and they frequently present their speculations as if they were indisputable facts. The only thing we seem to know for certain about the origin of the 7-day week is that we know nothing for certain.
The common explanation is that the seven-day week was established as imperial calendar in the late Roman empire and furthered by the Christian church for historical reasons. The British Empire used the seven-day week and spread it worldwide. Today the seven-day week is enforced by global business and media schedules, especially television and banking.
And of course, most think it is because the first pages of the Bible explain how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This seventh day became the Jewish day of rest, the sabbath, or Saturday.
5. In the Jewish Religion the Sabbath (or Shabbat, as it is called in Hebrew) is one of the best known and least understood of all Jewish observances. People who do not observe Shabbat think of it as a day filled with stifling restrictions, or as a day of prayer like the Christian Sabbath. But to those who observe Shabbat, it is a precious gift from G-d, a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time when Jews can set aside all of their weekday concerns and devote themselves to higher pursuits. In Jewish literature, poetry and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (come, my beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] bride). It is said "more than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel."
Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more important than Yom Kippur. This is clear from the fact that more aliyahs (opportunities for congregants to be called up to the Torah) are given on Shabbat than on any other day.
Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.
Shabbat is not, however, specifically a day of prayer. Although Jews do pray on Shabbat, and spend a substantial amount of time in synagogue praying, prayer is not what distinguishes Shabbat from the rest of the week. Observant Jews pray every day, three times a day. To say that Shabbat is a day of prayer is no more accurate than to say that Shabbat is a day of feasting: Jews eat every day, but on Shabbat, they eat more elaborately and in a more leisurely fashion. The same can be said of prayer on Shabbat.
6. In modern America, we take the five-day work-week so much for granted that we forget what a radical concept a day of rest was in ancient times. The weekly day of rest has no parallel in any other ancient civilization. In ancient times, leisure was for the wealthy and the ruling classes only, never for the serving or laboring classes. In addition, the very idea of rest each week was unimaginable. The Greeks thought Jews were lazy because we insisted on having a "holiday" every seventh day.
Shabbat involves two interrelated commandments: to remember (zachor) the Sabbath, and to observe (shamor) the Sabbath.
Zachor: To Remember
Jews are commanded to remember Shabbat; but remembering means much more than merely not forgetting to observe Shabbat. It also means to remember the significance of Shabbat, both as a commemoration of creation and as a commemoration of our freedom from slavery in Egypt.
In Exodus 20:11, after Fourth Commandment is first instituted, G-d explains, "because for six days, the L-rd made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and on the seventh day, he rested; therefore, the L-rd blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it." By resting on the seventh day and sanctifying it, Jews remember and acknowledge that G-d is the creator of heaven and earth and all living things. Jews also emulate the divine example, by refraining from work on the seventh day, as G-d did. Hence the question for us: If G-d's work can be set aside for a day of rest, how can we believe that our own work is too important to set aside temporarily?
In Deuteronomy 5:15, while Moses reiterates the Ten Commandments, he notes the second thing that we must remember on Shabbat: "remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the L-rd, your G-d brought you forth from there with a might hand and with an outstretched arm; therefore the L-rd your G-d commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."
7. What does the Exodus have to do with resting on the seventh day? It's all about freedom. As I said before, in ancient times, leisure was confined to certain classes; slaves did not get days off. Thus, by resting on the Sabbath, Jews are reminded that they are free. But in a more general sense, Shabbat frees us all from our weekday concerns, from our deadlines and schedules and commitments. During the week, we are slaves to our jobs, to our creditors, to our need to provide for ourselves; on Shabbat, we are freed from these concerns, much as our ancestors were freed from slavery in Egypt.
Shamor: To Observe
Of course, no discussion of Shabbat would be complete without a discussion of the work that is forbidden on Shabbat. This is another aspect of Shabbat that is grossly misunderstood by people who do not observe it.
Most Americans see the word "work" and think of it in the English sense of the word: physical labor and effort, or employment. Under this definition, turning on a light would be permitted, because it does not require effort, but a rabbi would not be permitted to lead Shabbat services, because leading services is his employment.
Jewish law prohibits the former and permits the latter. Many Americans therefore conclude that Jewish law doesn't make any sense.
The problem lies not in Jewish law, but in the definition that Americans are using. The Torah does not prohibit "work" in the 20th century English sense of the word. The Torah prohibits "melachah", which is usually translated as "work," but does not mean precisely the same thing as the English word. Before you can begin to understand the Shabbat restrictions, you must understand the word "melachah."
Melachah generally refers to the kind of work that is creative, or that exercises control or dominion over your environment. The word may be related to "melech" The quintessential example of melachah is the work of creating the universe, which G-d ceased from on the seventh day. Note that G-d's work did not require a great physical effort: he spoke, and it was done.
8. Sounds a little complicated. It was and is. And yet, I want to keep before you the main concepts … What it comes down to is that every week we need to take time to set aside our everyday concerns and acknowledge that God is our Creator. When we fail to do this we neglect our basic spirituality. This is not good!
So, what we are called to do, by God is to remember and to observe.
We, even as Christians, come together each Sunday … in the tradition of the ancient Hebrews to remember WHO WE ARE.
Why is that important? Because if we don’t know who we are …we are apt to lose a sense of purpose and direction in life.
Why was I born? Who is God? What is his purpose for my life?
Are these not important questions?
And yet how easily we can forget who we are … we get busy … and we think that our purpose is to achieve this or that … or we go to work and think our purpose is to make money … or we are involved in being parents and we think that is all there is to life (and it feels like it, sometimes).
So, it is important … to remember who we are … that is what the Sabbath is about …
9. And, we are also called to observe …which means to pay attention … and to rest … from our work … which means to pay attention to God … in worship and prayer … and to strengthen our faith …
And as the old saying goes …
IT’S NOT JUST A GOOD IDEA … IT’S THE LAW …
THE LAW OF MOSES, THAT IS …
WHICH MEANS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
10. Now, of course, any good thing … particularly in the practice of religion can be over done … and by the time of Jesus … there was a great need for reform … and Jesus was not above bringing this to the attention of the religious leaders. For in Mark, Chapter Two, we read:
23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"
25He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."
27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
11. So, the point here is not to become so obsessed with how to worship … or what day of the week … or all the other things … that go into worship … but with the purpose of worship itself …
Namely to Remember and to Observe … the presence of God in our lives.
For quite obviously, there are many different ways to worship and to remember and to Observe …
For there are at least 25 different churches in Bemidji at last count … that’s a lot of choices … and we are only one of many … that’s for sure
Are we the best? Well, I like to think so? But, of course, others may not agree. But, one thing is true … for all of us who are here … THIS CHURCH IS THE BEST FOR US … and that is all that matters.
And if worshipping here on Sunday … helps us to remember who we are and allows us to set aside a time to observe, to celebrate, to recognize God in our lives … then that’s what matters.
12. As for the other people … and other churches … and how we should relate to them, Paul has a few words for us in Romans 14 (I am now reading from the Eugene Peterson modern translation):
1Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with--even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
2For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly. 3But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. 4Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.
5Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
6What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. 7None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. 8It's God we are answerable to--all the way from life to death and everything in between--not each other. 9That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.
That’s pretty clear, now isn’t it? Any further questions?
13. Now, one of the things I particularly like about this congregation is that we are a pretty tolerant group for the most part … which in part comes from the fact that we come from a wide variety of backgrounds … and that’s good … and it is something we can celebrate today.
And so, on this Rally Day, let us celebrate … our being together … as the school year begins let us remember who we are as we observe this holy day.
Let us also celebrate our oneness in the Christian faith … in our common convictions … in the love and caring that goes on among us … and also in our openness to others in the spirit of
OPEN HEARTS, OPEN HANDS, OPEN DOOR
14. And, on this Holy Day let us remember, as we worship comfortably in this nice church all those who have been afflicted by the terrible Hurricane devastation in Lousiana and along the Gulf States.
Let us give thanks for the 10 Methodist disaster team volunteers who have gone down to help and for the contributions that are coming in to UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief).
And let us give thanks for all the United Methodist Churches and volunteers in Houston, Texas and around the country who are helping out … with all the Hurricane survivors.
And Now let us pray … for all those who are suffering, who have lost loved ones, who are displaced … for the very young and for the very old who are deeply affected by this calamity …
But because there are so many that it is hard to put a face on them all … let us pray specifically this morning for just a few of our fellow Methodists down in the Gulf area … (And I will ask you to please say “Oh, Lord Hear Our Prayer”)
Let us first of all pray for the Rev. Jerry Hilbun and the First United Methodist Church in Slidell, Lousiana. According to the United Methodist News Service:
Rev. Slidell and his wife weathered the storm with his aunt, Marilyn Hunt, a retired Air Force nurse, in her apartment in Ocean Springs, near Biloxi, Miss.
“I went to Ocean Springs to get my aunt and take her to Memphis, but she refused to go,” Hilbun said. “So my wife, Eleeva, and I, my aunt and a friend of hers were only four miles from the beach when Katrina came ashore.”
The apartment complex was battered for 12 hours with 145- to 155-mile-an-hour winds. The eye passed within two miles.
After watching huge chunks of plywood, shingles, windows and siding fly by, Pastor Hilbun feared the worst for the building that houses his 1,700-member congregation. He was determined to get back into Slidell.
After his slog through drowned streets, he found the city-block-wide building still standing — in three feet of water.
“There was an eerie silence inside,” Hilbun said. “The sun was reflecting from the water onto the ceiling, and you could hear dripping. Hymn books were floating everywhere. The carpet was bubbling up from the floor, the sheet rock coming down.
“But we will rebuild,” he said. “We will rise from the ashes and continue to serve in ministry in that place.”
Let us prayer for Rev. Hilbun and First UMC:
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Imagine coming to our church this morning … to find the hymn books floating down the aisle!!
Well, do you have time for one more?
Let us pray for the folks at Leggett Memorial UMC in Biloxi, Mississippi. According to the News Service:
At Leggett Memorial United Methodist Church, which faced the beach in Biloxi, only the frame, half the roof and the back wall of the sanctuary remained after the Hurricane. All the pews and the carpet were washed away. The building housing the offices and classrooms was smashed.
Most of the buildings at Seashore Assembly, a retreat facility that owns the Leggett land, remained standing but would likely have to be razed. The first floor of Fazer Hall, a motel-like building for guests, was gutted. Arlean Hall, a United Methodist Women’s retreat center on the grounds, also lost its first floor. Manager Art Steinaway said the foundations of both buildings were compromised by the rush of water. Van Hook Hall was leaning, and Steinaway said it would have to be torn down.
Seashore Retirement Community, owned by Mississippi Methodist Senior Services Inc., was seriously damaged. Its 58 residents and a few staff members rode out the storm and were later moved to other Senior Services facilities.
LET US PRAY … FOR THESE FOLKS …
OH, LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
And here’s a prayer posted on the United Methodist Web Site … which kind of sums it all up … really: It was posted last Friday, Friday, September 02, 2005 8:22 PM by United Methodist Pastor Lee A. Moore
I didn't know my wife even had a second cousin on the coast of Mississippi, Lord. But her family called and told us last night he was dead from the Hurricane. Less than forty years old. Kind of puts my worry about the price of gas in perspective. Help me, help us all to focus on the big things. And this is a big thing, God. Thank you God for a hot shower and a bed and all the things I take for granted. And show me what I can give up to help others.
Amen.
“Observe the Day”
Romans 14:1-12
1. Well, well, it’s Rally Day again, which means that it is back to school, and back to reality. Unless of course, you live in Louisiana!
Since today is 9/11 – this would be the time to remember the World Trade Center disaster – but that event has been overshadowed by an even larger American catastrophe which has been on all our minds and television screens for the past many days.
This past year has certainly been time for disasters – in the last 12 months -- there was the Florida Hurricane last fall (remember that one), then the Tsunami in January…the shooting at Red Lake HS in the spring and now Hurricane Katrina. To say nothing about the ongoing death and destruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I don’t know about you … but at least as far as the weather is concerned I have been quite appreciative of the weather up here in Bemidji – as of late.
Not that the weather isn’t a problem because we all know that, here in this state, we never know for sure what the weather is going to be. I guess, that’s part of the charm of it all. We live in an uncertain environment where the weather changes all the time. It keeps you on your toes. And every winter, as Garrison Keillor pointed out, the climate tries to kill us all – or sort of …!
2. Unlike in Minnesota, places like Florida and the Gulf States and California have very mild climates … no cold winters … no sub zero temperatures … no blizzards and ice storms … BUT … they do have earthquakes and Hurricanes … but they don’t happen every year. In the intervening years, I suppose it would be easy to become complacent. I don’t know, I’ve never lived anywhere but in Minnesota. I do know that when I was in California in July – the weather was exactly the same every day for two weeks. Name a time in Minnesota when the weather was exactly the same for three days in row!
Take your pick, I guess. No one says you have to live in northern Minnesota. Or New Orleans. Or Los Angelos, either. So, don’t complain, I guess. At least up here in Bemidji, we know what to expect. We plan for it. It’s a way of life. We have to be prepared. We cannot be complacent.
I am not saying we are smarter or superior to people who live elsewhere … but I do think the weather in these parts makes us think differently.
I affects a lot of what we do … and how we behave.
You just can’t be complacent in Minnesota (expect maybe for a little while during the three months of summer). Most of the time, you have to be on your toes … and some people can’t take that … so they move to a warmer climate. You take your chances …!
3. Now today is traditionally the beginning of the church year … when everyone comes back to church … and Sunday School starts … and things like that …
Back to church … What does that mean …? And just why do we have to go to church? … Why would we want to go to church? And why is church always on Sunday? Does it have to be? And what does Paul mean in today’s scripture when he refers to those “who observe the day?”
To better understand this whole business we first of all must understand how it came to be that one day a week is celebrated … and represents a day on which most of us do not work … for after all, there is nothing astronomically necessary about worshipping God every seventh day is there?
Think about it:
The earth revolves around the sun and it also revolves on
Its axis … it revolves on its axis 365 times during the time
It takes to circle the sun once … and because of this it is easy to come up with 365 days which are divided by into 24 units or hours in a single day … which are further divided into minutes.
But what about months? Well, the moon revolves around the sun about every 28 days … which, in some societies, very roughly corresponds to months – called lunar months –which is what the ancient Hebrews used … to calculate their calendar …
And thusly you end up with 13 months …
However, we today use the later Roman or Gegorian method which determines months according to the Sun … and gives us 12 months … many of which are named after gods and goddesses … and some after Emperors like Augustus – for August and Julius for July.
But, and this is the important point, there is nothing that says that months have to be divided into 7 day - weeks. In fact, the Egyptians had a 10 day week.
4. Digging into the history of the 7-day week is a very complicated matter. Authorities have very different opinions about the history of the week, and they frequently present their speculations as if they were indisputable facts. The only thing we seem to know for certain about the origin of the 7-day week is that we know nothing for certain.
The common explanation is that the seven-day week was established as imperial calendar in the late Roman empire and furthered by the Christian church for historical reasons. The British Empire used the seven-day week and spread it worldwide. Today the seven-day week is enforced by global business and media schedules, especially television and banking.
And of course, most think it is because the first pages of the Bible explain how God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This seventh day became the Jewish day of rest, the sabbath, or Saturday.
5. In the Jewish Religion the Sabbath (or Shabbat, as it is called in Hebrew) is one of the best known and least understood of all Jewish observances. People who do not observe Shabbat think of it as a day filled with stifling restrictions, or as a day of prayer like the Christian Sabbath. But to those who observe Shabbat, it is a precious gift from G-d, a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time when Jews can set aside all of their weekday concerns and devote themselves to higher pursuits. In Jewish literature, poetry and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (come, my beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] bride). It is said "more than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel."
Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more important than Yom Kippur. This is clear from the fact that more aliyahs (opportunities for congregants to be called up to the Torah) are given on Shabbat than on any other day.
Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.
Shabbat is not, however, specifically a day of prayer. Although Jews do pray on Shabbat, and spend a substantial amount of time in synagogue praying, prayer is not what distinguishes Shabbat from the rest of the week. Observant Jews pray every day, three times a day. To say that Shabbat is a day of prayer is no more accurate than to say that Shabbat is a day of feasting: Jews eat every day, but on Shabbat, they eat more elaborately and in a more leisurely fashion. The same can be said of prayer on Shabbat.
6. In modern America, we take the five-day work-week so much for granted that we forget what a radical concept a day of rest was in ancient times. The weekly day of rest has no parallel in any other ancient civilization. In ancient times, leisure was for the wealthy and the ruling classes only, never for the serving or laboring classes. In addition, the very idea of rest each week was unimaginable. The Greeks thought Jews were lazy because we insisted on having a "holiday" every seventh day.
Shabbat involves two interrelated commandments: to remember (zachor) the Sabbath, and to observe (shamor) the Sabbath.
Zachor: To Remember
Jews are commanded to remember Shabbat; but remembering means much more than merely not forgetting to observe Shabbat. It also means to remember the significance of Shabbat, both as a commemoration of creation and as a commemoration of our freedom from slavery in Egypt.
In Exodus 20:11, after Fourth Commandment is first instituted, G-d explains, "because for six days, the L-rd made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and on the seventh day, he rested; therefore, the L-rd blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it." By resting on the seventh day and sanctifying it, Jews remember and acknowledge that G-d is the creator of heaven and earth and all living things. Jews also emulate the divine example, by refraining from work on the seventh day, as G-d did. Hence the question for us: If G-d's work can be set aside for a day of rest, how can we believe that our own work is too important to set aside temporarily?
In Deuteronomy 5:15, while Moses reiterates the Ten Commandments, he notes the second thing that we must remember on Shabbat: "remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the L-rd, your G-d brought you forth from there with a might hand and with an outstretched arm; therefore the L-rd your G-d commanded you to observe the Sabbath day."
7. What does the Exodus have to do with resting on the seventh day? It's all about freedom. As I said before, in ancient times, leisure was confined to certain classes; slaves did not get days off. Thus, by resting on the Sabbath, Jews are reminded that they are free. But in a more general sense, Shabbat frees us all from our weekday concerns, from our deadlines and schedules and commitments. During the week, we are slaves to our jobs, to our creditors, to our need to provide for ourselves; on Shabbat, we are freed from these concerns, much as our ancestors were freed from slavery in Egypt.
Shamor: To Observe
Of course, no discussion of Shabbat would be complete without a discussion of the work that is forbidden on Shabbat. This is another aspect of Shabbat that is grossly misunderstood by people who do not observe it.
Most Americans see the word "work" and think of it in the English sense of the word: physical labor and effort, or employment. Under this definition, turning on a light would be permitted, because it does not require effort, but a rabbi would not be permitted to lead Shabbat services, because leading services is his employment.
Jewish law prohibits the former and permits the latter. Many Americans therefore conclude that Jewish law doesn't make any sense.
The problem lies not in Jewish law, but in the definition that Americans are using. The Torah does not prohibit "work" in the 20th century English sense of the word. The Torah prohibits "melachah", which is usually translated as "work," but does not mean precisely the same thing as the English word. Before you can begin to understand the Shabbat restrictions, you must understand the word "melachah."
Melachah generally refers to the kind of work that is creative, or that exercises control or dominion over your environment. The word may be related to "melech" The quintessential example of melachah is the work of creating the universe, which G-d ceased from on the seventh day. Note that G-d's work did not require a great physical effort: he spoke, and it was done.
8. Sounds a little complicated. It was and is. And yet, I want to keep before you the main concepts … What it comes down to is that every week we need to take time to set aside our everyday concerns and acknowledge that God is our Creator. When we fail to do this we neglect our basic spirituality. This is not good!
So, what we are called to do, by God is to remember and to observe.
We, even as Christians, come together each Sunday … in the tradition of the ancient Hebrews to remember WHO WE ARE.
Why is that important? Because if we don’t know who we are …we are apt to lose a sense of purpose and direction in life.
Why was I born? Who is God? What is his purpose for my life?
Are these not important questions?
And yet how easily we can forget who we are … we get busy … and we think that our purpose is to achieve this or that … or we go to work and think our purpose is to make money … or we are involved in being parents and we think that is all there is to life (and it feels like it, sometimes).
So, it is important … to remember who we are … that is what the Sabbath is about …
9. And, we are also called to observe …which means to pay attention … and to rest … from our work … which means to pay attention to God … in worship and prayer … and to strengthen our faith …
And as the old saying goes …
IT’S NOT JUST A GOOD IDEA … IT’S THE LAW …
THE LAW OF MOSES, THAT IS …
WHICH MEANS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
10. Now, of course, any good thing … particularly in the practice of religion can be over done … and by the time of Jesus … there was a great need for reform … and Jesus was not above bringing this to the attention of the religious leaders. For in Mark, Chapter Two, we read:
23One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"
25He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions."
27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
11. So, the point here is not to become so obsessed with how to worship … or what day of the week … or all the other things … that go into worship … but with the purpose of worship itself …
Namely to Remember and to Observe … the presence of God in our lives.
For quite obviously, there are many different ways to worship and to remember and to Observe …
For there are at least 25 different churches in Bemidji at last count … that’s a lot of choices … and we are only one of many … that’s for sure
Are we the best? Well, I like to think so? But, of course, others may not agree. But, one thing is true … for all of us who are here … THIS CHURCH IS THE BEST FOR US … and that is all that matters.
And if worshipping here on Sunday … helps us to remember who we are and allows us to set aside a time to observe, to celebrate, to recognize God in our lives … then that’s what matters.
12. As for the other people … and other churches … and how we should relate to them, Paul has a few words for us in Romans 14 (I am now reading from the Eugene Peterson modern translation):
1Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with--even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
2For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly. 3But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. 4Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.
5Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience.
6What's important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God's sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you're a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. 7None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. 8It's God we are answerable to--all the way from life to death and everything in between--not each other. 9That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.
That’s pretty clear, now isn’t it? Any further questions?
13. Now, one of the things I particularly like about this congregation is that we are a pretty tolerant group for the most part … which in part comes from the fact that we come from a wide variety of backgrounds … and that’s good … and it is something we can celebrate today.
And so, on this Rally Day, let us celebrate … our being together … as the school year begins let us remember who we are as we observe this holy day.
Let us also celebrate our oneness in the Christian faith … in our common convictions … in the love and caring that goes on among us … and also in our openness to others in the spirit of
OPEN HEARTS, OPEN HANDS, OPEN DOOR
14. And, on this Holy Day let us remember, as we worship comfortably in this nice church all those who have been afflicted by the terrible Hurricane devastation in Lousiana and along the Gulf States.
Let us give thanks for the 10 Methodist disaster team volunteers who have gone down to help and for the contributions that are coming in to UMCOR (the United Methodist Committee on Relief).
And let us give thanks for all the United Methodist Churches and volunteers in Houston, Texas and around the country who are helping out … with all the Hurricane survivors.
And Now let us pray … for all those who are suffering, who have lost loved ones, who are displaced … for the very young and for the very old who are deeply affected by this calamity …
But because there are so many that it is hard to put a face on them all … let us pray specifically this morning for just a few of our fellow Methodists down in the Gulf area … (And I will ask you to please say “Oh, Lord Hear Our Prayer”)
Let us first of all pray for the Rev. Jerry Hilbun and the First United Methodist Church in Slidell, Lousiana. According to the United Methodist News Service:
Rev. Slidell and his wife weathered the storm with his aunt, Marilyn Hunt, a retired Air Force nurse, in her apartment in Ocean Springs, near Biloxi, Miss.
“I went to Ocean Springs to get my aunt and take her to Memphis, but she refused to go,” Hilbun said. “So my wife, Eleeva, and I, my aunt and a friend of hers were only four miles from the beach when Katrina came ashore.”
The apartment complex was battered for 12 hours with 145- to 155-mile-an-hour winds. The eye passed within two miles.
After watching huge chunks of plywood, shingles, windows and siding fly by, Pastor Hilbun feared the worst for the building that houses his 1,700-member congregation. He was determined to get back into Slidell.
After his slog through drowned streets, he found the city-block-wide building still standing — in three feet of water.
“There was an eerie silence inside,” Hilbun said. “The sun was reflecting from the water onto the ceiling, and you could hear dripping. Hymn books were floating everywhere. The carpet was bubbling up from the floor, the sheet rock coming down.
“But we will rebuild,” he said. “We will rise from the ashes and continue to serve in ministry in that place.”
Let us prayer for Rev. Hilbun and First UMC:
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Imagine coming to our church this morning … to find the hymn books floating down the aisle!!
Well, do you have time for one more?
Let us pray for the folks at Leggett Memorial UMC in Biloxi, Mississippi. According to the News Service:
At Leggett Memorial United Methodist Church, which faced the beach in Biloxi, only the frame, half the roof and the back wall of the sanctuary remained after the Hurricane. All the pews and the carpet were washed away. The building housing the offices and classrooms was smashed.
Most of the buildings at Seashore Assembly, a retreat facility that owns the Leggett land, remained standing but would likely have to be razed. The first floor of Fazer Hall, a motel-like building for guests, was gutted. Arlean Hall, a United Methodist Women’s retreat center on the grounds, also lost its first floor. Manager Art Steinaway said the foundations of both buildings were compromised by the rush of water. Van Hook Hall was leaning, and Steinaway said it would have to be torn down.
Seashore Retirement Community, owned by Mississippi Methodist Senior Services Inc., was seriously damaged. Its 58 residents and a few staff members rode out the storm and were later moved to other Senior Services facilities.
LET US PRAY … FOR THESE FOLKS …
OH, LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER.
And here’s a prayer posted on the United Methodist Web Site … which kind of sums it all up … really: It was posted last Friday, Friday, September 02, 2005 8:22 PM by United Methodist Pastor Lee A. Moore
I didn't know my wife even had a second cousin on the coast of Mississippi, Lord. But her family called and told us last night he was dead from the Hurricane. Less than forty years old. Kind of puts my worry about the price of gas in perspective. Help me, help us all to focus on the big things. And this is a big thing, God. Thank you God for a hot shower and a bed and all the things I take for granted. And show me what I can give up to help others.
Amen.
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