Therefore . . .

St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Matthew 28: 16-20, Rev. Marianne Niesen, May 18, 2008

 

Today’s scripture text comes at the very end of Matthew’s gospel and it includes what is known as the "Great Commission." Let me explain . . . Matthew tells us his version of the story of Jesus: the birth, the teachings, the healings. He tells us about Jesus’ final days: his arrest, trial, suffering, death . . .and his resurrection. He tells us that Jesus told his disciples - when they saw him after his death - to meet him in Galilee. So, according to Matthew, they returned to Galilee (which was home for them) and there, Jesus told them . . . go therefore into the whole world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teach them and remember I am with you always. That’s the part that is called the ‘Great Commission.’ In Matthew’s gospel, those were Jesus’ final words of instruction. In effect, he ‘commissioned’ them for the work of spreading his message throughout the land.

And that has happened. The Great Commission has energized folks to go to foreign lands and share the gospel. However, the emphasis in such endeavors has typically been on baptizing and not so much on making disciples. And that, unfortunately, over the years, has led to abuse. Well-meaning Christians have forced baptism on whole tribes and nations in an effort to ‘save’ them. Christians have been guilty of a serious lack of appreciation for the ways God has worked in other cultures and among other faith traditions. The problem, I believe, comes primarily when good, well meaning people (people like you and me) place an emphasis on the wrong part of this text - emphasizing baptism over making disciples.

Let’s return to it again. The entire gospel of Matthew is a rich account of the power of Jesus’ life and teaching on his disciples. That ragtag group of followers were transformed and inspired by the one they called ‘Teacher and Lord.’ When the end came, they were devastated and confused and fear- filled. Then they experienced Jesus as alive again and, according to Matthew, when that happened, Jesus ‘commissioned’ his beloved friends with the words we just heard . . . all authority on heaven and earth has been given to me, go therefore and make disciples, teach them, baptize them . . . Translation: Friends, you have experienced me - my life, my love, my authority (to use Matthew’s words) - if that has mattered to you, if your life has been changed, then go and share it. Attract people with love - by how you live - don’t attack them with water (or anything else!). Attract them. Make disciples. Make friends with them as I have with you. Baptism may follow, of course, but it was never meant to be where we started. And the key to how we attract people, how we make disciples is in what I believe is the most important word in this text. Therefore. That is the word that connected what happened to the disciples as they followed Jesus to what they would do about it. You’ve been inspired, therefore, go and inspire others. You’ve been healed, therefore, go and heal. You have been nourished by my word, therefore, go and share it. This has happened, therefore, do this. Of course, the disciples had other choices, as do we all. We loved Jesus and they killed him therefore we will retaliate. We loved Jesus and they killed him therefore we had better hide or they might get us. We loved Jesus and they killed him therefore he must have been wrong about God’s love for him and us.

"Therefore" is a powerful word. It connected what happened before to what might happen in the future. It connected the way Jesus lived to the way the disciples would live. Therefore is the word that proclaims the choice that thoughtful, faithful people have about how they live and who they become. And, while we cannot change the past, we do have power to make a different future.

Therefore . . . such a little word that makes all the difference. It is this word that I want to leave with our graduates this morning. In a sense, this Sunday - when we celebrate the accomplishments of our high school graduates - is a therefore kind-of-day. It is the moment in between what has gone before and what is yet to come. The past is over, the future is before you. You cannot do a lot about the past - it has been full of activities and accomplishments and challenges. Graduates, I hope you remember good days at school and with your families and here at St. Paul’s. My guess is that you also remember some not-so-good times. Perhaps there have been failures, and some disappointments. Here at church, you may have heard some boring sermons and some decidedly un-inspiring music. But whatever makes up your life so far, it is what it is and it is your package of life. Now the choice is yours . . . therefore, what will you do?

The point is . . .we - you - have a choice about what comes next. And regardless of what has gone on before, we do not need to be confined or defined by it - for good or for ill. But we do need to make a choice. Therefore is the word that makes the connection between then and there. And, in many ways, God and the world depend on us all to make good, healthy choices no matter what the first part of our equation has been. (I purposely used the word ‘equation’ here so you don’t think algebra was a useless subject!)

Here’s what I mean. I have been hurt, therefore I will hurt you. That’s one way the equation of life can unfold. Lots of people live that way. Nations live that way - our own nation has been guilty of it - but it is not the only way. Here’s another . . . I have been hurt in life, therefore I understand what hurt is and I will resolve that I will not do it. I will return good for ill (which is, by the way, precisely the way of Jesus). I have been misunderstood, therefore I will let you see how it feels or I have been misunderstood therefore I know how hard it is and I will go the extra mile try to understand you. I have a good education therefore I will make sure you realize just how smart I am or I have a good education therefore I realize how blessed I am and I am going to do something to make a difference. I didn’t get into the school I wanted therefore I’m going to pout my way through college or I didn’t get into the school I wanted but I did get into my second choice therefore I am going to treat it like the best thing that ever happened to me. It just might be!

Therefore is the word that separates what we have been given or what has happened or what has befallen us from what we have a choice about or a responsibility to do. You are about to graduate . . . therefore what will you do?

The great preacher Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick told about an incident in his own childhood. He heard his father say to his mother, upon leaving the house one Saturday morning: "Tell Harry that he can cut the grass today, if he feels like it." Then, halfway down the walk, his father turned once more to add: "And tell Harry that he had better feel like it."

That’s a ‘therefore’ moment! Things like grass cutting and dish doing and test taking and countless other mundane and not-so-mundane tasks need to be done. We can complain, be belligerent or nasty about it all or we can make the doing of such things ‘therefore’ moments. We can choose to do what needs doing with grace and good humor. The power of ‘therefore’ is the power of choice. In this world of ours, it can be easy to feel as if we don’t have many choices, as if everything is stacked against us, as if our vote doesn’t count, our opinions don’t matter, our small contribution won’t do much. Such hopelessness breeds discontent, anger, rage as well as despair and frustration. With people that’s annoying; with nations, deadly. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We don’t have to give in to hopelessness. We can make another choice. We have power over what comes after the therefores of our lives.

In 1968, a man named Kent Keith was a sophomore at Harvard University. He wrote a booklet for high school student leaders entitled The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council. In it he offered some challenges for life that grew out of his own experiences. He wrote "making the world a better place can’t depend on applause. You have to keep striving, no matter what, because if you don’t many of the things that need to be done in our world will never get done." The booklet sold some thirty thousand copies in the late sixties and early seventies.

After that, he went on with his life and then, in 2002, some 25 years after he wrote his booklet, he began seeing the very words he had written in a student council pamphlet on framed wall plaques, quoted in articles, used in prayers. Sometimes they were attributed to Mother Teresa, sometimes to ‘anonymous’ and occasionally, to himself. He could have been angry. He could have sued someone. Instead, he mused that the popularity and widespread use of what he had written probably indicated a deep hunger in people for spiritual truth and wisdom. My words have mattered even though people didn’t know they were mine. So he wrote another short book, again sharing his reflections, this time offering them as a way for all seekers - even those not in high school - to find meaning in a crazy world. I’d call that a ‘therefore’ moment for him. (Somebody stole my words, my thinking, my wisdom. . . therefore, it must be needed.) He calls his reflections the Paradoxical Commandments. You may have heard them before. Today I offer them to all of us - and especially to our graduates - as a ‘therefore’ challenge for life. The ‘therefores’ are my addition.

The Paradoxical Commandments

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Therefore, love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Therefore, do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Therefore, succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Therefore, do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Therefore, be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds. Therefore, think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs. Therefore, fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Therefore, build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Therefore, help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Therefore, give the world the best you have anyway.

Indeed, you - we- have a package of life so far and a future ahead. Jesus gives us all a vision for living. It was his way . . .live with joy, proclaim with assurance that love is more powerful than fear, that hope and faith can move mountains. The challenge is before us all . . . therefore, what will we do?