Epworth United Methodist Church

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
Nov. 22, 2009
Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25
Mark 13:1-8

Let Us Provoke One Another

One of my favorite passages in the epistles are these words from Hebrews, “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” [Hebrews 10:25]

Usually we use the word ‘provoke’ in an antagonistic sense, like annoying someone or some action that leads another person to anger or something irritating.

In this passage from Hebrews however, ‘provoke’ is used as a positive act, leading to love and good deeds.

It’s an interesting twist in the use of this word.

Jesus does a similar twist as he speaks about the destruction of the temple.

This section of the gospel of Mark is often used to provoke people into fear about the end of the world, but this is obviously not what Jesus is talking about in these verses.

A disciple comments on the grandeur of the temple, and Jesus responds by referring to its destruction; but is he really speaking about the temple, or is he thinking about his own approaching death, or reminding everyone that an earlier temple built in the days of Solomon and considered indestructible was destroyed?

While we cannot answer these questions, one point is obvious: nothing in this world lasts forever, whether we are thinking about persons or anything made by human hands.

The disciples listening to Jesus that day wanted to know the exact date when what he was talking about would happen, and in this regard, not much has changed over time.

The history of Christianity is filled with individuals and groups who have formed exactly because they predict when the world will end, promising to read “the signs” of an imminent end of the world in such events as earthquakes, wars and other calamities.

For some reason people appear obsessed with wanting to know when the world is going to end, and if it will be anytime soon.

I was reminded of this the other day when I was in a Barnes and Noble bookstore.

There was an entire section filled with book about the current fascination with the date 12-12-20012; this is the newest prediction of the day the world as we know it will end.

Some folks are hoping to make a lot of money before this happens, I guess!

But the point Jesus makes, and one we need to focus on, is that nobody can answer this question, and it is a complete waste of the life and the time we do have to try to figure this out or worry about it.

We have more important things to do while we and the world are here; things such as provoking one another to love and good deeds.

With Thanksgiving holiday this Thursday, now is a good time to think about our gratitude for this world, for the gift of life, and for opportunities to love and encourage other people.

In the biblical tradition, God’s realm is characterized not by everlasting stone buildings, but by justice and well-being for all people, creatures, and even the earth itself- so working in struggles for equal rights for all persons, working against poverty, hunger, racism, sexism, and violence is a way of expressing our thankfulness and faithfulness simultaneously.

A world in which all such struggles achieve their goals would truly be a cause for thanksgiving.

While it is easy to imagine that such a world is unrealistic, both our readings today remind us of the importance of trusting in God; when we trust God as the one who desires to bless us and the world, thankfulness becomes easier and contentment naturally increases in our lives.

So, as we celebrate our Thanksgiving holiday this week, maybe we can include in our reflections some ideas of concrete ways we might provoke one another to love and good deeds.

I will close today be sharing two stories, both are about religious institutions, one is the story of a church, and the other is about a Shinto shrine.

In a large city there was a church designed by a famous architect. It was a beautiful stone building of classic Gothic design, with lovely stained glass windows.

Over time the church became the site of many baptism, weddings, funerals and worship services.

The members of that church loved their building, so when the neighborhood became ‘rough’ and people like themselves began moving to the suburbs, they decided to move as well.

And move they did- literally.

Stone by stone, the church was taken apart, each block was labeled, loaded onto trucks and moved to the suburbs!

Out near the local university there was a great site for their church building, and this is where they rebuilt it.

Expensive new homes were being constructed in the same area, and young families were moving in, so it seemed a promising location.

No longer were they a church surrounded by crime and urban decay, but a church by a university in a safe and respectable location.

The people loved their church.

They loved it so much they did not want anything to happen to it.

So even though they located near the university, they refused to allow student groups to use it.

They drafted very strict rules and policies for outside groups, so strict in fact, that most outsiders gave up trying to use it.

The people of the new neighborhood quickly got the message, and not many of them joined the congregation.

The old members continued to travel there for awhile, but over time their numbers dwindled.

Finally, there was simply no one left to love that church, so the denomination dissolved the congregation and sold the building to a nearby hospital that wanted the land for expansion.

One day a huge crane appeared in the churchyard and a wrecking ball smashed the stone building into pieces until nothing was left of it, and that was the second and final time those stones had been separated from one another!

The second story is about Japan’s Grand Shrine of Ise, one of the country’s most prominent Shinto shrines.

The Ise shrine was built about 1,300 years ago, but it is not the same set of buildings that was originally built.

Every 20 years for the last 1,300 years, the shrine complex has been rebuilt in an exact replica of the original shrine.

After it is rebuilt, the sacred objects inside are moved, and the old shrine complex is burned to the ground.

It seems that some wise person from the distant past realized that genuine faith, if it is going to remain vital, must be reborn and rebuilt in each new generation.

“As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” [Mark 13:1]

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” [Hebrews10:24,25]