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February 6, 2005
Fire on the Mountain
Exodus 24:12-18
Ponder the story from Exodus, the one about Moses, his staff and the seventy-member Session going up on the mountain to have a confab with the Lord. We come on the story at the point where the Lord has said Moses and Joshua should come closer. I tried and tried to get my thoughts about this story started in I don't know how many ways. I ashamed to say, and I hope nobody will hold it against me, my thoughts were hindered by one little part of the story. In itself, it's not a part that seems very important. But it just seemed to stick out. Like a little piece of spinach between front teeth messes up a nice smile.
It's a wonderful story about Moses and the leaders of the people of Israel going up on the mountain to get the final draft of the way the Lord wants things to be between them. Moses had read it all to them, they agreed; the Lord's version was written in stone. Moses and the rest had all gotten there, had a big feast right in the presence of the Lord, when the Lord decided to have Moses and Joshua, Moses assistant and heir apparent, come closer. A powerful moment gets intensified.
Maybe it's a little like when the President of the United States steps forward to take the oath of office at the inauguration. It's the moment everyone's been waiting for, but it's no less powerful for having been anticipated. Indeed, the anticipation is part of the power of the fulfillment that comes in the moment the President, hand on Bible, vows to uphold all that we hold precious. Such a glorious moment.
So maybe you can understand why I'm so ashamed of myself, and afraid people will hold it against me, for letting my thoughts about this story of such a glorious moment be hindered by something so insignificant. Or, at least it seems it ought to be. On the other hand, it's a part of the story that is so typical of us. Here is Moses, on the verge of a grand and glorious meeting with the Lord; you would think his thoughts would be on that and nothing else. But they're not. Just as he and Joshua were setting out to go, he says to the band of Elders: "Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them."
A dispute! That's what I noticed. Here is Moses and the rest in the midst of this glorious moment, and what's on his mind, what does he notice? That while he's away trouble will break out among the seventy leaders left behind. We don't know what kind of trouble he surmised, but whatever it was troubled him enough to take steps. Parents know when things get too quiet; they need to take steps.
Moses might just as soon have gone on without mentioning anything at all. He could have said to himself: You know, I've got more important things to tend to. I can't be bothered with small matters. But if he didn't mention it then, later on would be too late. Things would have gotten out of hand. So he took care of it and then went on to what he was supposed to be about. Some things just need to be stopped before they get started.
Take what Peter did the day he and James and John were with the Lord, and the Lord was transfigured. I can't imagine what that must have been like. Picture the scene. Jesus is gloriously transformed before the eyes of astonished disciples; Christ holds a conference with Moses and Elijah. Who but Peter would have anything to say after such an event? Peter reminds me of people who believe they must comment on everything as if their doing so confirms the reality of events. Peter is a fisherman, but he talks like a contractor: let's put up some buildings to memorialize this great event. While Peter was still speaking . . . a voice from the cloud said: "This is my beloved Child, with whom I am well pleased; to this one you shall listen." God interrupts. God, not Peter defines the moment. Without saying it in so many words, Matthew has let us know what Peter said was just so much religious bologna. Some things just need to be stopped before they get started.
This congregation has a grand history of witness to the very covenant Moses and the elders went to the mountain top to receive. This congregation has a grand history of bearing witness to the Lord who was transfigured before Peter, James and John; the very Lord whom God proclaimed to be very son. It's a grand and glorious ministry you have. You've reaffirmed your calling by making a commitment to continue ministry downtown. You've invested big time to renovate your facilities. You've made a commitment to worship in the tradition of historic Christianity. You've continued in your commitment to minister to people in need by providing a Sunday evening meal, by housing a food bank, by operating a thrift shop, which you'll resume upon completion of renovations. Before long, you'll celebrate these commitments when we take up use of the renewed Sanctuary and allied spaces.
I'm not Moses and the leaders of your church who gathered for a retreat yesterday are not the seventy elders. We did gather to embrace the covenant the Lord has with this congregation. All of it involves all of us, as well as future generations. We looked to the future. We started making plans for our transition into the renovated Sanctuary and other parts of our building. Early June is closer than it seems. We also built upon the idea of the Magnet for Ministry. Discerning who the Lord is calling this congregation to be in the years ahead is an important part of the covenant. We also talked and planned about how to encourage members' participation and support of the church's ministry now. Perhaps it seemed those discussions weren't as grand as the ones about moving back into the Sanctuary and coming to terms with the ministry God is calling us to, they were nevertheless important. With such a wonderful history and grand prospects, ought we to bother ourselves with what may seem like small matters?
One of the things that happens when a pastor leaves is that some members do likewise. They may not leave permanently, but they fall down in their participation. They don't show up for worship as often, or at all. They stop helping out with things they helped with before. They may not pledge or contribute. It's a situation we could go without mentioning, but if we don't acknowledge it now, later on may be too late.
We are creatures of habit. Most of you are in the habit of worshiping here most Sunday mornings. Members who fall away can get in the habit of not coming. The longer they don't come, the more likely they won't come. You all know people who used to come to worship regularly, but who've been less regular, maybe have stopped altogether, since last August when your pastor left. If you haven't tried to encourage those who've slackened, do you think now is a good time? It's something you'll need to face up to sooner or later. Sooner's better than later.
I forget who said it, but I like it and believe it bears a gospel message: "It's never too soon to be kind." The ministry we've been called to is full of grace. The covenant that Moses and the leaders of Israel embraced was full of grace. The Lord Jesus Christ who was transformed before Peter, James and John is full of grace. Grace is the kindness of God. When we reach out to people in Christ's name, it is a matter of sharing that grace, a matter of kindness. Getting in touch with the people you know who've been away for a while is a way of sharing the grace of God, a demonstration of kindness. It is never too soon to be kind
.
When the writer of 2 Peter talked about Jesus being transfigured, he reminded us that we know about God's grace, God's kindness because of the Bible. He knows that the Bible needs interpreting, and that interpreting the Bible is not just a private matter. Someone has called the church a "community of interpretation." I believe that means that the whole church is involved in interpreting the Bible. We all know there are different interpretations of the Bible, and sometimes we lament that there are so many, and so little agreement on what the Bible means. What's important is not this or that agreement or disagreement, but that we keep up the conversation.
My wife and I argue sometimes, we disagree. We may go awhile not talking to each other. We don't get things settled until we start talking to each other again. We need to pick up the conversation with people who haven't been here lately. That's the way we interpret the Bible with one another; that's the way we interpret God's grace to one another; that's the way we show kindness. It's never too soon to be kind.
Moses took care to what needed taking care of, and then went on about what God had called him to. When people looked up at the mountain where he had gone, the glory of God was like a devouring fire. Too glorious for words. I wonder if the ministry we've been called to is likewise too glorious for words.
On the way to glory, Moses took care of what needed taking care of. If he hadn't it would have warted him from then on. Taking care of what needs taking care of is on the way to getting closer to the Lord. Before he went on, he left some people to see that things got taken care of. We'll have to look long and hard for a mountain in our part of the world. But I hope we don't miss the fire. I hope we don't miss the glory.
Moses is gone. Aaron and Hur couldn't be here this morning. Well, I'm here to tell you, as a kindness, it's time to do what needs to be done. It's on the way to getting closer to the Lord. It's never too soon to be kind.
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First Presbyterian
Church of Cedar Rapids
310 Fifth Street SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Phone: 319-364-6148
E-mail: church@fpccr.org
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