Prompting: “Are You Ready….Yet?”
Galatians 5: 1, 13-15; Luke 9: 51-62
June 27, 2004

So the new Christians, gentile converts attending house churches, are rejoicing in this new spiritual experience of faith, but some problems exist. So many of them are struggling (still struggling despite their faith) with problems of the flesh….human choices, behaviors including immorality and anger and jealousy and self-control.…you know the list!

And so they wonder if there just might be the need for some more “laws” to help them find their way in their faith. They turn to the group of Jewish Christians…another Christian sub-group that has developed a whole system of legal requirements and demands on their members….as if more laws would bring more justice and fulfillment in life…we’ve visited this notion over the last several weeks and came to realize that people create justice, laws don’t.

(Today there are several churches creating many more guidelines and laws and standards as if that is the long-term answer to the human struggle of the flesh. It may work better at first, feel like relief, but what is it’s long term effectiveness in helping an individual who is really struggling?)

Some Gentile Christians submit to these laws and great discord and confusion results. Paul hears of this and regards it as a great misinterpretation of Jesus’ teachings and God’s deepest desires for God’s people. In a sense, they squander their new freedom in faith and enslave themselves to a different slave master…more laws. And what are the fruits of this decision? They “bite and devour” each other. There is actually less freedom.

Paul says…remember…the only law is to love your neighbor as yourself. This is the only way to experience the kindom here on earth. It has nothing to do with institutional laws.

He goes on…. Not so sure if you’re free, if you’re tending to false standards, following laws that don’t yield justice and joy?

Look at the fruits. If the fruits of your choices aren’t the fruits of the spirit, then you are adhering to the wrong religious principles and following rules of the flesh…human rules and behavioral choices that are self-centered and short sited.

The flesh (our choices) and the spirit are to work hand in hand to balance each other and guide us.

So, for example, you say you love kids and love your own or your nieces and nephews or grandkids or friend’s kids, you show them kindness (a good fruit to bear) when they are well behaved but yell at them when you are having a bad day or they do a kid thing. You are kind to children here but refuse to support the new school bond cause your kids are no longer in school…Are you really letting the fruits guide you in the “more” of life…to the bigger picture? Just an example.

If your faith doesn’t help you examine the choices you are making, doesn’t invite you to “freedom from” and then “direction toward” what is life giving in this moment and more importantly the next….Paul says you then have only traded one master for another.

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Jesus was about to turn his travels toward Jerusalem moving toward Passion Week. He travels through Samaria on his way….a place unfriendly to foreigners, especially pilgrims assumed to be traveling to a religious festival…which is what they assumed about Jesus. The disciples were outraged at their lack of reception and felt retaliation was appropriate….and knew Jesus had the power to do it! Don’t we all?! But instead, Jesus rebukes them….and moves on. “Get over it! They don’t get it…we do! Don’t let your energies be diverted to such pettiness! Look at the fruits that choice would bring…resist enslaving yourself to your anger-false pride!”

He travels on and many are drawn to his charisma, his message, his community. I know I would have been…..wouldn’t you? They ask to go with him and he reminds them that means giving up your usual home, your usual way of doing things, your usual sphere of influence. And then, he asks them…invites them…to do what they say they want to do….follow him. And their response? Oh, sure but let me return home to finish up some details. Oh, sure, but let me say good-bye…then I’ll be right back.

I don’t know about you, but anytime anyone has ever said to me…yes, but let me just go check on my dad or say good-bye to my sister…well, somehow they just never seem to materialize.

Can I help you paint the downstairs? Sure. Great, just let me go back home and change…or give me a call when you want me….and I’ll be right there….not!

I’d be glad to visit so and so, just let me finish my chores around home and I will go.

I’m going to do my homework just as soon as I finish watching this one show.

I’ll be home for dinner just as soon as I finish this one last thing.

I’ll sign up to do that just as soon as everyone else has had a chance to sign up for their fair share.

I’ll pray as soon as I have time. I’ll be at church as long as the sun doesn’t shine.

I’ll stop over eating as soon as I finish eating the groceries I just bought.

I’ll……..

No one loves children more than Jesus. No one was a more devoted son than Jesus. Jesus is not doing a “teaching” about family here. He’s helping us see how we misuse very important things to satisfy our own hesitations….how we use them for an excuse not to commit.

You can’t plow a row, walk in a straight line, move into your future in God….if you’re looking back. When will you be ready to look forward? What great excuses has your gifted imagination come up with? Are you ready yet…for the “good” life?

Thing is: God is…and will always be ready for you to look ahead, live into freedom, enjoy the fruits of the spirit. God is ready, willing, and has a plan for your well-being which necessarily depends on you! Are you ready yet?