Sermon Notes for January 29th
January 29, 2206
"A New Teaching With Authority"
Mark 1:21-28
1. the Gospel of Mark was written around the year 70 - approximately 40 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. By that time the mad emperor Nero was in Rome and the persecution of the Christians had begun in earnest. At the same time, Jewish freedom fighters were waging a guerilla war against Roman domination. (Now, it all depends on whose side you are on whether you are a freedom fighter or a terrorist) So, as far as the Jews were concerned they were fighting for their freedom. But as far as the Romans were concerned they were terrorists or insurgents and it wasn't long before the Roman legions came in and wiped them out. As a result, the Jewish people were totally and utterly scattered forever throughout the world. At least until recently when the state of Israel was re-created sixty years ago and the whole thing started all over again. Amazing, what this little piece of real estate has meant in the history of the world! I am not making this up – it all really happened.
So, it was in the midst of this tremendous turmoil and warfare that a very early Christian, writing under the name of Mark sat down to record what is a very basic outline of the life, teachings, and ultimate purpose of Jesus Christ. He called it the Gospel of Mark. Which means the TRUTH about Jesus with a big"T." Why did he write it? Well, with all the catastrophic things that were happening at that time, many Christians believed that Jesus would immediately return. And what with his widely reported miraculous appearances after death, many assumed that these were definitely not ordinary times. Surely, they thought, these were the end times. Surely the Day of the Lord, long expected by the Jewish people, was at hand. But, eventually they realized that Jesus was not going to return immediately and many of those who had seen and known him were dying off. Something had to be done to pass on the story about Jesus, which up until then had been told by word of mouth. So Mark took up the task of writing the first Gospel.
2. How accurate is Mark? By their standards, pretty accurate. By ours, maybe not. For one of the most eerie passages in Mark is the one where Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple. You know, where he says "not one stone will be left unturned." Well, did someone remember that Jesus had actually said this forty years earlier, was that one of the stories of Jesus and the disciples that was passed around and discussed, or was Mark writing a little bit of current history back into Jesus teaching? No one knows for sure. But, the destruction of the Temple would certainly have been very much on the minds of everyone in 70 AD. For we must realize that for the Jewish people the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Roman army was an act of such terror and such enormous proportions as to make the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York look small in comparison. For many Jews it seemed like the end of the world.
And yet it wasn't. And the Jews soon began to reorganize under Rabbinical Judaism, which centered their faith on the local synagogue and kept their biblical heritage intact as they dispersed throughout the world. And, the Christian movement, also realizing that Jesus was not coming back immediately, started writing down the Gospels and, with Paul, began to spread the word about God's Son to the Gentile world.
3. Now as we start out in the New Year -- the lectionary follows the story of Jesus from birth to Easter. During January we have heard once again about Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River (which was his call to the ministry) and then we heard about how he called the disciples in the story of Nathaniel.
Now, today we read in Mark about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
So, lets summarize Mark’s messaged for today:
a. Jesus began teaching in synagogues
b. People were astounding at how he spoke with authority
c. A man with an unclean spirit appeared
d. He challenged Jesus
e. Jesus stood up to him
f. The spirit came out of him
g. People were amazed, again, at Jesus authority
h. The word spread around Galilee about Jesus
4. Interesting story, huh? Except that there is one problem. One BIG problem. And that is that many people today do not believe in evil spirits. Isn't that right? Or least the way we think nowadays is certainly not the way most people believed back in Jesus' time. Yet, I certainly don't think that Mark is just making this story up. I undoubtedly think that something quite obviously happened in a synagogue somewhere when Jesus was preaching and Mark picked up the story and included it in his Gospel for an important reason.
What was that?
The reason was that he wanted to proclaim and witness to the reality that God - acting through Jesus - has ultimate power over the forces of this world - evil forces - unclean spirits - demonic entitites.
Now, as I have said, Mark and many Jewish and Christian people at that time were very traumatized by the destruction of the Temple … and all the rest. It really must have seemed like things were totally falling apart. Evil and violence were rampant. Not a lot different than today, perhaps -- or so some people think. Especially if you happen to live over in the mid-east. And --- the way things are going lately in the global village --- we may all be drawn more and more into the turmoil in that area. For it doesn't take a brain surgeon to understand that it is a very dangerous place what with nuclear weapons, terrorists, the worldwide desire for more and more oil, all mixed together with the very volatile forces of religious fundamentalism. One could even say, without stretching it too far, that there are a great many unclean spirits in the air over in the mid east right now -- if you understand what I mean.
So, Mark was really trying to point out that even in the midst of turmoil and despite what happens, God, through Jesus Christ, has ultimate authority over these things and that we should not be afraid and not lose hope -- no matter what.
5. So, Mark goes on to say that Jesus taught "with authority." What does that mean"? Well, the Greek word for authority is exousia. It means something similar to that of a military commander. It means that when Jesus spoke - people listened. He had a commanding presence. In a sense, because of his own personal struggle with evil forces in his own temptations ( which are sometimes called the devil) and having overcome them through the spirit of God working through him -- Jesus was a force to be reckoned with. He was, in himself -- a powerful interpersonal spiritual force and he knew it. And others also saw it and recognized it even if they didn't fully understand it. And, as Mark tells it, even the evil and unclean spirits in other people recognized the spiritual power of Jesus and were frightened and disturbed by it … and so the man with the unclean sprit cries out … "Have you come to destroy us?"
Does this seem a bit much to believe today? Well, first of all, we must realize that the Gospels are often condensed stories. After all in those days they didn't have computers and reams of paper or even books. Things were written longhand. So they had to be economical. As a result we never get the whole story. Like who was this man with the unclean spirit. Where did he come from? What was his personal mental health background? Things like that. Also, because people did not have access to modern mental health treatment and diagnosis they tended to lump all manner of things mental and emotional into "unclean spirits" or demons.
6. Nowadays, of course, we look at things differently, or try to. Although, I am not always sure that we know as much as we like to think we do …
As I have mentioned previously, most of her adult life my own mother suffered from what is now called schizophrenia. It was a kind of borderline case and did not incapacitate her (although she was hospitalized once or twice.) Most of the time she functioned fairly normally without medication. This was because she lived with my grandfather, her brother (my uncle) and my aunt, and my great aunt (my grandfather's sister in law). A rather unusual situation to grow up --to ssay the least. I was, it turns out, raised by a committee!
But it did provide a relatively safe and secure environment in which my mother could live with her rather strange and limited condition and it kept her from being placed in a mental institution --- which in those days was not at all a happy place to be. For in spite of her problems she was surrounded by caring and loving people. It wasn’t fun. But, given the circumstances, it worked as best it could. And the alternative, as I said, wasn’t all that great.
Now my mother's main symptom was the strange and unusual fact that she frequently "heard voices." And from time to time she would talk to them. Mostly when she was alone. But it could suddenly happen at any time. However, during an episode, if I would tell her to stop, she would and could. So, she seemingly had some control over it. Yet, at other times, it sometimes seemed to be a kind of fantasy world for her, which she rather liked or couldn't fully escape. I am not really sure.
7. Well, nowadays we have better drugs for treating people with
schizophrenic symptoms - although, unfortunately, many people don't like to take them.
What causes schizophrenia? Nobody really knows. Over the years I must have read a dozen books and articles about it --- but it remains a mystery. One book, in fact, states that there are something like a dozen or two dozen prior conditions which can be contributing factors including: genetic predisposition, certain kinds of dysfunctional families, cultural values, and especially traumatic experiences. Some experts believe that schizophrenia is inherited. But, as far as we know, no one else in our family ever suffered from this problem. On the other side, my father believed up to the day he died that it was caused by certain post-partum chemical or hormonal imbalances created during giving birth birth. For it all started shortly after I was born. But to limit it just to one thing, is too far too simple, I think. It is really still a mystery.
Whatever the case, it was not something people talked about back in those days and it was many years before I could ever feel comfortable discussing my mother's condition with anyone. Times, thank goodness, have changed. And I hope that those of you who have encountered mental illness in your friends or family will feel better about discussing these things without all the shame and guilt which surrounding mental illness in past times. For the healing that needs to take place in such situations is not just for the person affected but also for everyone associated with them. We all need to cast the demon of mental illness out of the darkness and into the light of day. Let us all say --Amen!
Now, while I am not suggesting that my mother was exactly possessed by demons --- I would say that if you observed her closely. (As I did -- probably more than any other person.) One could quite easily say, in biblical terms that it did definitely appear at times like she was possessed by "unclean spirits." Or, at least by persons or forces outside of her direct control. And it also appeared that she was often tormented by them. In fact, it was something that could be a times rather terrible and frightening thing to observe and, at other times, it could be rather comical, to say the least. After all, sometimes, if you can't laugh - what can you do?
8. My point in all this is to say that whereas we do not exactly live in a world in which we all believe in witches, werewolves, and demon possession, there are certainly plenty of unclean spirits around us all the time. What are these things that can, if we are not careful, take possession of us?
Well, let's name a few:
First of course, in addition to schizophrenia, there are the other mental and emotional conditions such as depression and manic depression. Nowadays, especially with depression, we do know that there are strong hereditary and hormonal factors at work and we also know that the demon of depression can in many cases be safely treated with modern drugs. Thank goodness for that.
9. And then, of course, there are the many forms of addiction such as: alcoholism and drug abuse. Now, I ask you, honestly, do not these substances have the power to possess and take over some people’s will power and eventually their whole lives? For that is exactly what do they do! In a way are they not unclean spirits? And why is it that AA is still the most successful form of treatment in part because it requires each person to submit to a "higher spiritual power" in order to rid themselves of this compulsion toward substance abuse? Think about it…
And then there are eating disorders - obesity and anorexia and bulimia. And sexual addictions and other forms of abusive behavior.
And how about things we don't ordinarily include under spiritual possession such as: extreme hatred and racial prejudice; and addiction to work; and even anger. Anger, you say? Yes, it is true – sometimes anger can really be a form of possession when it gets control of a person. Now I once had the opportunity to work closely for many years with a very angry person. It wasn't just once in a while. It was all the time -- every day. And it would occasionally get really out of control. The term for that, I learned, is rage. That is what it is -- out of control anger is rage. Now, everyone gets angry now and then. WE all do. But, sooner or later we get it under control and hopefully it doesn’t happen very often. And anger is not all bad, For the Bible even speaks of righteous anger at injustice and wrongdoing. So, there is nothing wrong with that. But then there is abusive, dominating, belittling, sarcastic, and manipulative anger which is really, in biblical terms, possession by an unclean spirit - is it not? It calls for exorcism. Sometimes that can occur in a group setting when one person and then another and finally everyone in the group confronts the angry person and the organizations upper management is forced to take action and discipline this person. I actually saw this happen. It was really an intervention. And it was also a kind of public exorcism! For the tremendous power of this very troubled person to control everyone around him through anger and manipulation was finally brought out into the open and broken for good. And while he did not actually fall on the ground and convulse like in the story of Jesus in the synagogue … he did break down and cry and grovel for mercy. Amazing. But nobody was fooled. For we all suddenly realized the truth that underneath the playground bully is just a coward.
10. Well, I could go on … but I think you get the idea.
So, stop for a moment and think about how each of us can take the idea of unclean spirits and apply it to our modern day world.
And I think you will begin to see that -- although we use different and more modern psychological term --- the reality is that we also do really live in a spiritual world as well. For we are all surrounded at times by temptations and addictive forces both within us and outside us which threaten to take possession of us. We see it all the time.
In fact, you don't have to belong to one of the more conservative evangelical and Pentecostal churches to believe in demonic forces or spiritual possession.
And sometimes it is these very groups -- while thinking they are waging spiritual warfare against the devil and his legions --- who themselves fall prey to the very same dangers of mind control, manipulation, and emotional abuse which they preach against.
In fact, recently, I had the opportunity to hear a powerful story about someone who was in a religious cult for many years until this person was literally kidnapped and deprogrammed by a skillful anti-cult counselor. It was a chilling reminder of how even religious groups can practice spiritual and emotional possession on their followers -- all in the name of Jesus Christ!
11. So, we must be careful in trying to take Jesus actions in healing too
literally. After all, in Mark 1:21-28 we actually don’t know the whole story. And, of course, Jesus lived and acted in a world very different from ours -- where exorcism was commonly practiced with greater and lesser success.
As a result, we must also be careful in our own lives and in relating to the lives of friends and loved ones not to rely entirely on "faith healing" and prayer in difficult matters of mental health and addiction. "Oh, just pray about it." People say.
Well, of course, we should always pray about it. When I am sick, I always ask for God to send his spirit in Christ to heal me. But, if it doesn't get better immediately, I also go to the doctor. Same thing in dealing with interpersonal and mental health issues. So, while we should always pray for God's healing and guidance, we also need to seek pastoral and professional mental health advice.
On this very subject, the Episcopalian priest and psychoanalyst, Morton Kelsey writes in his book on spiritual discernment: "Human beings are deeper and more complex than we ordinarily realize. Many things, he writes, that appear demonic within us may actually be rejected parts of ourselves that have broken off because we have refused to look at all of us and so have failed to work at integration and wholeness." (Was that what happened to my mother? I sometimes, wonder, Were the unclean spirits or voices which she heard merely parts of herself that she refused to accept? -- Who knows? )
Kelsey goes on to warn that the popular idea of exorcism in movies and on TV leads to dangerous over-simplifications. "Psychosis and neurosis,," he writes, "are seldom healed by exorcism. And he goes on to say that, "It is not just a matter of casting something out, but of building up the individual to resist evil. Discernment in these matters, he says, requires a knowledge not only of the spiritual realm, but of the psychological as well." Enough said.
12. Well, as we all know, prevention is better than a cure. And so, it is one of my purposes in ministry -- as a pastor - in fact, it should be one of the primary purposes and mission of this entire congregation, (and every church) to, as Kelsey puts it, "build up in each other the ability in each of us to resist evil by doing good to one other and to the world."
And, in order to accomplish this mission we need to recognize and identify the dangerous forces at work in the world. The same kind of forces which Jesus encountered in the unclean spirits, in the prejudices and narrow mindedness of the religious authorities in his day, and in the stark power and oppression of totalitarian governments such as the Roman Empire. For the truth is that evil and unclean spirits can infect the world at all levels from the individual personal to the family to work and the community and even to nations and governments, and also corporations, and institutions.
13. Now may seem like a daunting task, you might say. For how on earth can we ever find the power and the courage and the insight to stand up to these overwhelming forces - these unclean spirits? You may ask.
How, do we do it? Well, the positive and hopeful and inspiring message from Mark in today's Gospel is that we do it not by ourselves alone, but through the power of God through Jesus Christ. That's how. That, in a nutshell, is the message of today's story. For the reality is that by the power of God Jesus spoke and acted with authority over evil spirits. And, as a result, we, too, as his disciples can avail ourselves of the same power of God’s love through prayer, worship, and through our own loving, caring ministry to each other. And I want you to know that I actually see this at work every day in this congregation and I thank God for it. Amen.
"A New Teaching With Authority"
Mark 1:21-28
1. the Gospel of Mark was written around the year 70 - approximately 40 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. By that time the mad emperor Nero was in Rome and the persecution of the Christians had begun in earnest. At the same time, Jewish freedom fighters were waging a guerilla war against Roman domination. (Now, it all depends on whose side you are on whether you are a freedom fighter or a terrorist) So, as far as the Jews were concerned they were fighting for their freedom. But as far as the Romans were concerned they were terrorists or insurgents and it wasn't long before the Roman legions came in and wiped them out. As a result, the Jewish people were totally and utterly scattered forever throughout the world. At least until recently when the state of Israel was re-created sixty years ago and the whole thing started all over again. Amazing, what this little piece of real estate has meant in the history of the world! I am not making this up – it all really happened.
So, it was in the midst of this tremendous turmoil and warfare that a very early Christian, writing under the name of Mark sat down to record what is a very basic outline of the life, teachings, and ultimate purpose of Jesus Christ. He called it the Gospel of Mark. Which means the TRUTH about Jesus with a big"T." Why did he write it? Well, with all the catastrophic things that were happening at that time, many Christians believed that Jesus would immediately return. And what with his widely reported miraculous appearances after death, many assumed that these were definitely not ordinary times. Surely, they thought, these were the end times. Surely the Day of the Lord, long expected by the Jewish people, was at hand. But, eventually they realized that Jesus was not going to return immediately and many of those who had seen and known him were dying off. Something had to be done to pass on the story about Jesus, which up until then had been told by word of mouth. So Mark took up the task of writing the first Gospel.
2. How accurate is Mark? By their standards, pretty accurate. By ours, maybe not. For one of the most eerie passages in Mark is the one where Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple. You know, where he says "not one stone will be left unturned." Well, did someone remember that Jesus had actually said this forty years earlier, was that one of the stories of Jesus and the disciples that was passed around and discussed, or was Mark writing a little bit of current history back into Jesus teaching? No one knows for sure. But, the destruction of the Temple would certainly have been very much on the minds of everyone in 70 AD. For we must realize that for the Jewish people the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Roman army was an act of such terror and such enormous proportions as to make the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York look small in comparison. For many Jews it seemed like the end of the world.
And yet it wasn't. And the Jews soon began to reorganize under Rabbinical Judaism, which centered their faith on the local synagogue and kept their biblical heritage intact as they dispersed throughout the world. And, the Christian movement, also realizing that Jesus was not coming back immediately, started writing down the Gospels and, with Paul, began to spread the word about God's Son to the Gentile world.
3. Now as we start out in the New Year -- the lectionary follows the story of Jesus from birth to Easter. During January we have heard once again about Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River (which was his call to the ministry) and then we heard about how he called the disciples in the story of Nathaniel.
Now, today we read in Mark about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
So, lets summarize Mark’s messaged for today:
a. Jesus began teaching in synagogues
b. People were astounding at how he spoke with authority
c. A man with an unclean spirit appeared
d. He challenged Jesus
e. Jesus stood up to him
f. The spirit came out of him
g. People were amazed, again, at Jesus authority
h. The word spread around Galilee about Jesus
4. Interesting story, huh? Except that there is one problem. One BIG problem. And that is that many people today do not believe in evil spirits. Isn't that right? Or least the way we think nowadays is certainly not the way most people believed back in Jesus' time. Yet, I certainly don't think that Mark is just making this story up. I undoubtedly think that something quite obviously happened in a synagogue somewhere when Jesus was preaching and Mark picked up the story and included it in his Gospel for an important reason.
What was that?
The reason was that he wanted to proclaim and witness to the reality that God - acting through Jesus - has ultimate power over the forces of this world - evil forces - unclean spirits - demonic entitites.
Now, as I have said, Mark and many Jewish and Christian people at that time were very traumatized by the destruction of the Temple … and all the rest. It really must have seemed like things were totally falling apart. Evil and violence were rampant. Not a lot different than today, perhaps -- or so some people think. Especially if you happen to live over in the mid-east. And --- the way things are going lately in the global village --- we may all be drawn more and more into the turmoil in that area. For it doesn't take a brain surgeon to understand that it is a very dangerous place what with nuclear weapons, terrorists, the worldwide desire for more and more oil, all mixed together with the very volatile forces of religious fundamentalism. One could even say, without stretching it too far, that there are a great many unclean spirits in the air over in the mid east right now -- if you understand what I mean.
So, Mark was really trying to point out that even in the midst of turmoil and despite what happens, God, through Jesus Christ, has ultimate authority over these things and that we should not be afraid and not lose hope -- no matter what.
5. So, Mark goes on to say that Jesus taught "with authority." What does that mean"? Well, the Greek word for authority is exousia. It means something similar to that of a military commander. It means that when Jesus spoke - people listened. He had a commanding presence. In a sense, because of his own personal struggle with evil forces in his own temptations ( which are sometimes called the devil) and having overcome them through the spirit of God working through him -- Jesus was a force to be reckoned with. He was, in himself -- a powerful interpersonal spiritual force and he knew it. And others also saw it and recognized it even if they didn't fully understand it. And, as Mark tells it, even the evil and unclean spirits in other people recognized the spiritual power of Jesus and were frightened and disturbed by it … and so the man with the unclean sprit cries out … "Have you come to destroy us?"
Does this seem a bit much to believe today? Well, first of all, we must realize that the Gospels are often condensed stories. After all in those days they didn't have computers and reams of paper or even books. Things were written longhand. So they had to be economical. As a result we never get the whole story. Like who was this man with the unclean spirit. Where did he come from? What was his personal mental health background? Things like that. Also, because people did not have access to modern mental health treatment and diagnosis they tended to lump all manner of things mental and emotional into "unclean spirits" or demons.
6. Nowadays, of course, we look at things differently, or try to. Although, I am not always sure that we know as much as we like to think we do …
As I have mentioned previously, most of her adult life my own mother suffered from what is now called schizophrenia. It was a kind of borderline case and did not incapacitate her (although she was hospitalized once or twice.) Most of the time she functioned fairly normally without medication. This was because she lived with my grandfather, her brother (my uncle) and my aunt, and my great aunt (my grandfather's sister in law). A rather unusual situation to grow up --to ssay the least. I was, it turns out, raised by a committee!
But it did provide a relatively safe and secure environment in which my mother could live with her rather strange and limited condition and it kept her from being placed in a mental institution --- which in those days was not at all a happy place to be. For in spite of her problems she was surrounded by caring and loving people. It wasn’t fun. But, given the circumstances, it worked as best it could. And the alternative, as I said, wasn’t all that great.
Now my mother's main symptom was the strange and unusual fact that she frequently "heard voices." And from time to time she would talk to them. Mostly when she was alone. But it could suddenly happen at any time. However, during an episode, if I would tell her to stop, she would and could. So, she seemingly had some control over it. Yet, at other times, it sometimes seemed to be a kind of fantasy world for her, which she rather liked or couldn't fully escape. I am not really sure.
7. Well, nowadays we have better drugs for treating people with
schizophrenic symptoms - although, unfortunately, many people don't like to take them.
What causes schizophrenia? Nobody really knows. Over the years I must have read a dozen books and articles about it --- but it remains a mystery. One book, in fact, states that there are something like a dozen or two dozen prior conditions which can be contributing factors including: genetic predisposition, certain kinds of dysfunctional families, cultural values, and especially traumatic experiences. Some experts believe that schizophrenia is inherited. But, as far as we know, no one else in our family ever suffered from this problem. On the other side, my father believed up to the day he died that it was caused by certain post-partum chemical or hormonal imbalances created during giving birth birth. For it all started shortly after I was born. But to limit it just to one thing, is too far too simple, I think. It is really still a mystery.
Whatever the case, it was not something people talked about back in those days and it was many years before I could ever feel comfortable discussing my mother's condition with anyone. Times, thank goodness, have changed. And I hope that those of you who have encountered mental illness in your friends or family will feel better about discussing these things without all the shame and guilt which surrounding mental illness in past times. For the healing that needs to take place in such situations is not just for the person affected but also for everyone associated with them. We all need to cast the demon of mental illness out of the darkness and into the light of day. Let us all say --Amen!
Now, while I am not suggesting that my mother was exactly possessed by demons --- I would say that if you observed her closely. (As I did -- probably more than any other person.) One could quite easily say, in biblical terms that it did definitely appear at times like she was possessed by "unclean spirits." Or, at least by persons or forces outside of her direct control. And it also appeared that she was often tormented by them. In fact, it was something that could be a times rather terrible and frightening thing to observe and, at other times, it could be rather comical, to say the least. After all, sometimes, if you can't laugh - what can you do?
8. My point in all this is to say that whereas we do not exactly live in a world in which we all believe in witches, werewolves, and demon possession, there are certainly plenty of unclean spirits around us all the time. What are these things that can, if we are not careful, take possession of us?
Well, let's name a few:
First of course, in addition to schizophrenia, there are the other mental and emotional conditions such as depression and manic depression. Nowadays, especially with depression, we do know that there are strong hereditary and hormonal factors at work and we also know that the demon of depression can in many cases be safely treated with modern drugs. Thank goodness for that.
9. And then, of course, there are the many forms of addiction such as: alcoholism and drug abuse. Now, I ask you, honestly, do not these substances have the power to possess and take over some people’s will power and eventually their whole lives? For that is exactly what do they do! In a way are they not unclean spirits? And why is it that AA is still the most successful form of treatment in part because it requires each person to submit to a "higher spiritual power" in order to rid themselves of this compulsion toward substance abuse? Think about it…
And then there are eating disorders - obesity and anorexia and bulimia. And sexual addictions and other forms of abusive behavior.
And how about things we don't ordinarily include under spiritual possession such as: extreme hatred and racial prejudice; and addiction to work; and even anger. Anger, you say? Yes, it is true – sometimes anger can really be a form of possession when it gets control of a person. Now I once had the opportunity to work closely for many years with a very angry person. It wasn't just once in a while. It was all the time -- every day. And it would occasionally get really out of control. The term for that, I learned, is rage. That is what it is -- out of control anger is rage. Now, everyone gets angry now and then. WE all do. But, sooner or later we get it under control and hopefully it doesn’t happen very often. And anger is not all bad, For the Bible even speaks of righteous anger at injustice and wrongdoing. So, there is nothing wrong with that. But then there is abusive, dominating, belittling, sarcastic, and manipulative anger which is really, in biblical terms, possession by an unclean spirit - is it not? It calls for exorcism. Sometimes that can occur in a group setting when one person and then another and finally everyone in the group confronts the angry person and the organizations upper management is forced to take action and discipline this person. I actually saw this happen. It was really an intervention. And it was also a kind of public exorcism! For the tremendous power of this very troubled person to control everyone around him through anger and manipulation was finally brought out into the open and broken for good. And while he did not actually fall on the ground and convulse like in the story of Jesus in the synagogue … he did break down and cry and grovel for mercy. Amazing. But nobody was fooled. For we all suddenly realized the truth that underneath the playground bully is just a coward.
10. Well, I could go on … but I think you get the idea.
So, stop for a moment and think about how each of us can take the idea of unclean spirits and apply it to our modern day world.
And I think you will begin to see that -- although we use different and more modern psychological term --- the reality is that we also do really live in a spiritual world as well. For we are all surrounded at times by temptations and addictive forces both within us and outside us which threaten to take possession of us. We see it all the time.
In fact, you don't have to belong to one of the more conservative evangelical and Pentecostal churches to believe in demonic forces or spiritual possession.
And sometimes it is these very groups -- while thinking they are waging spiritual warfare against the devil and his legions --- who themselves fall prey to the very same dangers of mind control, manipulation, and emotional abuse which they preach against.
In fact, recently, I had the opportunity to hear a powerful story about someone who was in a religious cult for many years until this person was literally kidnapped and deprogrammed by a skillful anti-cult counselor. It was a chilling reminder of how even religious groups can practice spiritual and emotional possession on their followers -- all in the name of Jesus Christ!
11. So, we must be careful in trying to take Jesus actions in healing too
literally. After all, in Mark 1:21-28 we actually don’t know the whole story. And, of course, Jesus lived and acted in a world very different from ours -- where exorcism was commonly practiced with greater and lesser success.
As a result, we must also be careful in our own lives and in relating to the lives of friends and loved ones not to rely entirely on "faith healing" and prayer in difficult matters of mental health and addiction. "Oh, just pray about it." People say.
Well, of course, we should always pray about it. When I am sick, I always ask for God to send his spirit in Christ to heal me. But, if it doesn't get better immediately, I also go to the doctor. Same thing in dealing with interpersonal and mental health issues. So, while we should always pray for God's healing and guidance, we also need to seek pastoral and professional mental health advice.
On this very subject, the Episcopalian priest and psychoanalyst, Morton Kelsey writes in his book on spiritual discernment: "Human beings are deeper and more complex than we ordinarily realize. Many things, he writes, that appear demonic within us may actually be rejected parts of ourselves that have broken off because we have refused to look at all of us and so have failed to work at integration and wholeness." (Was that what happened to my mother? I sometimes, wonder, Were the unclean spirits or voices which she heard merely parts of herself that she refused to accept? -- Who knows? )
Kelsey goes on to warn that the popular idea of exorcism in movies and on TV leads to dangerous over-simplifications. "Psychosis and neurosis,," he writes, "are seldom healed by exorcism. And he goes on to say that, "It is not just a matter of casting something out, but of building up the individual to resist evil. Discernment in these matters, he says, requires a knowledge not only of the spiritual realm, but of the psychological as well." Enough said.
12. Well, as we all know, prevention is better than a cure. And so, it is one of my purposes in ministry -- as a pastor - in fact, it should be one of the primary purposes and mission of this entire congregation, (and every church) to, as Kelsey puts it, "build up in each other the ability in each of us to resist evil by doing good to one other and to the world."
And, in order to accomplish this mission we need to recognize and identify the dangerous forces at work in the world. The same kind of forces which Jesus encountered in the unclean spirits, in the prejudices and narrow mindedness of the religious authorities in his day, and in the stark power and oppression of totalitarian governments such as the Roman Empire. For the truth is that evil and unclean spirits can infect the world at all levels from the individual personal to the family to work and the community and even to nations and governments, and also corporations, and institutions.
13. Now may seem like a daunting task, you might say. For how on earth can we ever find the power and the courage and the insight to stand up to these overwhelming forces - these unclean spirits? You may ask.
How, do we do it? Well, the positive and hopeful and inspiring message from Mark in today's Gospel is that we do it not by ourselves alone, but through the power of God through Jesus Christ. That's how. That, in a nutshell, is the message of today's story. For the reality is that by the power of God Jesus spoke and acted with authority over evil spirits. And, as a result, we, too, as his disciples can avail ourselves of the same power of God’s love through prayer, worship, and through our own loving, caring ministry to each other. And I want you to know that I actually see this at work every day in this congregation and I thank God for it. Amen.
posted by Anonymous at 10:11 AM
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