The Main Thing

Polk City UMC

May 19, 2002

Mark Haverland

 

Acts 2  ²   And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³   And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. ⁴   And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵   Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶   And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷   And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸   And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹   ….We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." ¹²   And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" ¹³   But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." ¹⁴   But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵   For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day; ¹⁶   but this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ¹⁷   'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; ¹⁸   yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. ¹⁹   And I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth beneath, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; ²⁰   the sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day. ²¹   And it shall be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

 

 

A friend of mine reported that she was the program for a group of elderly ladies in a church in our area.  Dana is quite the singer and she has a program of songs which she brings to women’s groups, particularly older women’s groups.  She likes the look on their faces when she sings “Holy City.”  The woman beam as they listen to the familiar music, music often lost in the rush for contemporary songs with a beat.  We like it when we hear familiar sounds whether it is music or words.  I heard recently of employees disciplined at Wal-Mart for speaking their native Bosnian language while on the job.  Wal-Mart knows that people are uncomfortable when they hear a strange language in what should be a familiar setting.  I hear my daughter coming home from way up the street because her radio blasts what she thinks is music so that we all can hear.  I am as likely to flee from her radio as she is from mine.  I’m told that convenience stores have solved the problem of too many teens loitering around their parking lots by playing Mozart very loud over the loudspeakers.  We like to hear what we have grown accustomed to hearing.  We flee when the music or the language is unfamiliar

 

That’s why Pentecost is so spectacular.  People listened to words which were totally foreign to them and yet they did not flee.  People heard a strange wind rush by and did not run for cover.  People were touched by fire and did not grab a hose.  Strangers from all over the known world gathered at Pentecost and found that they belonged to and with each other after all.  This is the work of the spirit.  It makes us belong to and with each other.  It takes a miracle to make us belong to a group of people who are so different, a miracle like that first Pentecost.

 

Luke describes that first Pentecost experience as the spectacle it must have been. It’s a pedal to the metal, full speed ahead, no holds barred, throw caution to the wind, extravagance.  It is a beautiful description of something very holy:  a heavenly sound like that of a rushing wind, descending fire, tongues of flame, speech allowing everyone to understand what was being said in a myriad of languages, and finally a moment of conversion resulting in thousands of people being added to a tiny community of faith. So wild, so free, so strange and so wonderful was the day that not even the most lavish use of the human language could capture the experience of Pentecost.  For Luke, the first Pentecost was a dramatic and colorful demonstration of the power of God's spirit to bring human beings together.

 

Ever since the first Pentecost, this day has been regarded as the moment when the church was born.  The church is where people of different stripes and different colors can belong together to God.  Pentecost gave new life to a fragile and forlorn community of faith grieving the loss of their savior, and gave birth to the church, which would nourish that community in the absence of their leader.

 

No one who was present on that day escaped God's grace. The tongues of holy fire rested upon each of the disciples.  The crowd surged forward.  Each person heard the disciples speak in his or her own language. It was an outpouring of God's creating energy touching every life present. Some mocked it, others got it confused with being drunk and still others concluded that it was not what it appeared to be. But it was exactly what it appeared to be–God's powerful spirit was unleashed on a diverse community and in that moment the church came to life.  The church, one, holy and apostolic, as we like to say, came into being.

 

One of my jobs during the week is to prepare the hymns for projection and then practice singing them so that at least someone on Sunday morning knows the tune.  I found myself moved in spirit by the third verse of the last hymn, O Spirit of the Living God.  It made me realize that this Pentecost event was a glimpse into the future, when every day will be Pentecost.  God’s hope is that one day the entire world will hear as one the words of God.  Teach us to utter living words of truth which all may hear, the language all may understand when love speaks loud and clear; till every age and race and clime shall blend their creeds in one, and earth shall form one family by whom thy will is done.  One day, when the Kingdom comes, we will be one people.  For now the church gives us a chance from time to time to experience what some day will be complete.  As our Bishop likes to say, religion may be personal but it is not private.  We will all be one someday together.

 

The first Pentecost changed lives, deepened commitments and caused a burning desire to share the good news of the new life born of the Spirit.  What about us today? This is Pentecost, nearly two thousand years later. Do we possess the same power, the same surge for new life, the same courage to speak the truth in love with each other, the same commitment to be about God's mission in the world? Do we see the signs of God's power in our midst? Have you felt the rush of the wind blowing in this congregation? Do you see tongues of fire transforming human speech and calling us toward a more radical inclusiveness within the community?  We’re a little staid for all this Pentecostal enthusiasm, I’m afraid.  My big regret as a preacher is that I am not more Pentecostal, for the gospel seems to expect more exuberance than I can muster,  But we have our form of Pentecostal enthusiasm here at PCUMC nonetheless.

 

For the past 35 years or so, management consultants have been stressing a common theme:  “Remember, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”  Most successful companies follow this advice.  First you figure out what the main thing is for your organization; then you spell it out in a mission statement; then you make every decision, no matter how big or small, with that main thing in mind.  Part of the value of a mission statement is that it helps organizations distinguish the good things from the best things—especially when it comes to how they invest their time and their talent and their treasure.

 

So what is the main thing for us to tell and show?

 

Once a teacher of the Old Testament law asked Jesus, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  “The most important one is this,” Jesus said. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. (Mark 12:28-31).  Loving God is the main thing.  In fact, this commandment, along with the one that immediately follows it “to love your neighbor as yourself” makes up what we call “The Great Commandment.”  Loving God and loving neighbor is the central theme of both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Loving God and neighbor is the main thing.  Note that this is not optional.  It is a commandment.  We must love God and neighbor.  We are encumbered with this dual commandment.  It is a commitment we made when we became members of Christ’s church.

 

When we keep the main thing the main thing, it changes our center from ourselves to Christ.  Jesus becomes our love focus, and people will see Christ through their interactions with us.  That’s what it means to be witnesses.  People see Jesus when they look at us.  When we love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, it changes what we do and how we do it. We’ll do things for love that we wouldn’t do for any other reason. 

 

Haven’t you done extravagant things for people you love?  Driven great distances to be together?  Spent excessive amounts of money on flowers and gifts?  Devoted days of hard labor to help someone do a task that wasn’t much fun?  At times we do crazy, but wonderful, things for those we love.  Think of the things you’ve done for a friend, or a relative, spouse, or children or parent.  The extravagance of your actions may have seemed excessive or undeserved to those looking on.  But the spring from which your actions flow is a heart full of love.

 

Likewise, love for God will cause us to do things we would otherwise not do, in ways we would otherwise not do them, for people we don’t even know.  That’s keeping the main thing the main thing.

 

When Chad Hampel, Scott George and I helped with the Christmas in April project a few weeks ago, we were keeping the main thing the main thing; we were following the commandment to love God and neighbor.  When some of us join Heidi Anderson in June to build a Habitat house in Des Moines, we are keeping the main thing the main thing; we are following the commandment to love God and neighbor.  When we take a few hours to help Shari serve food at the community kitchen, as we do one evening a month, we are keeping the main thing the main thing; we are following the commandment to love God and neighbor.  When we remember Linda Pennington’s encouragement to bring food for the food pantry, we are keeping the main thing the main thing; we are following the commandment to love God and neighbor.  When we dream dreams for the future of our church, as several of us are doing with the help of Martha DeSilvestro, we are keeping the main thing the main thing; we are following the commandment to love God and neighbor.  When we dig into the work of making this church a live active witness to the love of God in our community, we are keeping the main thing the main thing; we are following the commandment to love God and neighbor.  We do these things for the love of God, so it should be no surprise that we do them extravagantly and at some personal sacrifice.

 

The prophet Joel said the young will see visions and the old will dream dreams as he pours out his spirit on us.  I am greatly encouraged that as I grow old I can fulfill God’s plan just with my dreams.  I have many dreams.  I have great dreams for this church.  I dream it will continue to be a witness so that others see Jesus Christ at work in their community.  I dream it will be a place where growing numbers of families worship and serve God.  I dream it will be a place where children can learn and grow in Christ.  I dream that we will build one day for this church a wonderful sanctuary which will bring a holy space and reverent setting for worship and prayer.  I have many dreams for this church.  Many will come true, I’m sure.

 

I have other dreams, as well.  For instance, I have great dreams for my daughter, Kate, as she grows into a young woman on her own. Since today is a great day in her life and in the lives of her parents, I’d like to tell you of my dreams for Kate.  I’m sure they are the dreams of all parents for their children.  I dream that she will find a vocation that will give her satisfaction.  I dream that she will find a mate that will please her as much as Faith pleases me.  I dream that she will learn to be proud of her many talents and gifts.  I dream that she will remember her home as one of love and faithful Christian discipleship.  I dream that she will create a similar home of her own one day.  And I dream that she will develop a love of the church, and find in the church a way to express and experience her love of God.  I dream that she will become the woman of love, hope and faith that Jesus asks her to be.  I know in my heart that these dreams will come true.

 

The spirit of Pentecost calls us to dream dreams of a new life and a new world in the powerful realm of God.  Do not be afraid to dream new dreams and see new visions.  It’s what Christians do.  God's people dream the best dreams of all: dreams of love, grace, peace and justice.  God’s people dream dreams that say, "Love just might work. Give it a try." God’s people dream dreams that cause the world to sing, as we will sing in just a few moments: Teach us to utter living words of truth which all may hear, the language all may understand when love speaks loud and clear; till every age and race and clime shall blend their creeds in one, and earth shall form one family by whom thy will is done.  As a forgiven and reconciled people, let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God.