CELC The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost – August 7, 2005

Matthew 14:22-33

Have you ever wondered what it is like to play god?

If we are honest with one another, we know that we play god at one time or another.

Wednesday I could not help thinking of the root meaning of sin as pride when I watched the telecast of the astronaut remove so easily the fabric from behind a heat shield tile on the shuttle. Sin as pride means to “over reach.” That is, we commit the sin of pride when we think we are able to do it all ourselves.

Now, I do take pride in the accomplishment of the shuttle astronauts and their mission. I want only success and safety for them. There is, though, a lingering affect from that cool move made by the space-suited astronaut on Wednesday morning. He just reached up and pulled out the offending piece. It was seemingly so easy. It makes you begin to think that with enough time and enough effort we can do anything. With enough time and effort we can cure cancer. With enough time and effort we can get everyone else to agree with us. With enough time and effort we can even play god.

It’s something that creeps up in you without really being noticed. If an astronaut can make such an amazing repair in outer space, well there is nothing beyond our grasp here on earth.

This seems to be the thinking of Peter as he jumps from the boat to walk on the water with our Lord Jesus. Do remember the disciples know Jesus is truly the Son of God. Those are the words at the end of our gospel lesson today. Peter wants to play god, to walk on the water, too.

In scripture the “sea”, a large body of water, is always the symbol for chaos, destruction and becomes the very definition of evil opposed to God. Only God can tame the sea when its winds rage against the boat and storm-tossed disciples are feeling a fear of vulnerability you only know when the power of evil explodes before you. Only God can tame the chaos, the chaos that is ultimately death itself.

So when some event of life comes along, like the shuttle repair, and leads us to think we can do it all ourselves, well, we become especially vulnerable to seas that toss and turn and destroy the boat. You see the boat symbolizes the church. It has for centuries been the symbol of the church. More fragile and exposed than we disciples like to admit, the church can be destroyed by the sea. Especially if we are lulled into thinking that we can calm the winds and the storms as only God can. If we are lulled into thinking that like an astronaut can walk in outer space, so we can walk on water here on earth. Peter tried, but he was not as able as we are. So, we reach out of the boat to walk on water.

It is when we become aware that sin can mean “over reaching” that we stay in the boat and begin to sail the voyage God has planned for us. It begins in the cross of Jesus. You might call the cross our “port” or “pier.” It is in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God that our sin is forgiven and we are granted eternal life. It is in the cross that God makes possible our voyage as the church. It all begins in the cross, the Word of God himself, or it never begins at all.

So, it is not a “do-it-yourself” stepping off the boat to walk on the water. It is a true act of faith that God has provided the boat, the voyage and calms the sea. We need only trust God for all that is given.

This is a very different faith than that of many. It is a faith that trusts God for what is needed and looks to God for the strength, guidance and help that makes possible our voyage as the church. The truth of the cross is that it transforms us. It gives us faith to trust God for the direction, the guidance, the power to sail to the destinations God would have us go.

This faith is very different than the “do-it-yourself” imitation faith that dominates our culture. Perhaps it becomes most clear in the changing waters of our age.

No longer do we live in a culture that you can assume is Christian. That may or may not have been the case half a century ago. But now it is clear, we do not live in a Christian culture, that is, a place where you can assume the majority of the people in any room you enter are believers and confess Christ as Lord.

No longer do we live in a culture that you can assume membership is the definition of the church. Yes, there used to be days where people would automatically flock to your church and join it because membership was so very important to so many. Hopefully after people joined they somehow became strong believers supporting the mission of the church. Those days are gone. Now you are aware that if the Christian Church is to survive we will have to see the model of the church transform from membership to discipleship. After all, it is the cross that calls you to follow Jesus not merely be a member of an organization.

How does the old novel go? “It was the worst of times and the best of times.” Indeed, it is a challenging time for the church and for all disciples. God is at work in the midst of us calling us to a new understanding of what it means to be the church. Perhaps the question becomes, “Can we stay in the boat and faithfully sail to the destinations God has in mind for us?” Amen.

Pastor Robert F. Holley