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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

Machismo or example?

There is no room for complacency when faced with God’s high standards
(Matthew 5:21-37).

Context

• A Cabinet re-shuffle. Memories of the last weeks’ tsunami of accusations and counter accusations against politicians. The minutiae of rules and protocols are scrutinised. Were rules broken? Everyone says, ‘not by me!’
• Meanwhile, another week of strikes. Last week, teachers, civil servants and transport-workers. This week ambulance personnel, and nurses; then physiotherapists and later others. We deplore the inflexibility of those involved; the refusal to lose face; the insistence that it’s the other side in the wrong, as rules, procedures, and the tyranny of economics are cited.
• Next, an earthquake in Turkey and Syria and people are quibbling over jurisdictional niceties, afraid of countenancing political wrong-doing.
• And then, someone using rules to cause trivial havoc!

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

• Where are the principles? Where is the search for justice? Where is the compassion? We wouldn’t do this. We would do right. We would ask whether loyalty has turned into collusion, or respect for confidentiality become a failure of accountability; whether sound finances are taking precedence over basic humanity; whether a quest for better public-service conditions is turning into a campaign to de-stabilise our institutions; and now, whatever the niceties, how best to get food, water, blankets to the desperate. But even that doesn’t meet God’s demands. We’re like the man bringing his gift while fuming at his friend. We should be constantly seeking just solutions, showing exemplary restraint, being scrupulous, while also generous, in our public and private dealings, but also being understanding and forgiving of those who are making a worse job of it than we are. In public life is it possible to engage without getting embattled and embittered? In the face of injustice can we be moderate without seeming weak? Can any self-denying example short of Christ’s perfect one really achieve anything?
• I’ve long looked after the hall bookings for our church. Bookings overrun; halls get double-booked. One hall-booker sent me a tirade. A woman had caused consternation bursting in before the exercise class had properly concluded. No admission of over-running. No conceding that the culprit, blocked in the car park, had a real grievance. Easy to condemn. But how would Jesus’ prescriptions help us achieve a good end here? When are apologies in order? When are counter-accusations justified? On a happier occasion the dance-teacher who found her hall set up with long rows of tables and chairs ready to collate a community newspaper next morning graciously offered to dance round the tables if just the chairs were put away! Why is that so much better?

 

Questions for discussion

• Does your group include those who are supportive of some or all of the strikes and those who are not? Could you tactfully explore where a just solution might lie? Can you find a position where you can agree to differ?
• In the light of this passage, what is the role of ‘righteous anger’? What if someone has done a very bad thing and isn’t saying sorry?

Brenda Vance is a mother and grandmother, a retired university teacher and a URC elder. She lives in Sussex.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

It’s awards season: the GRAMMYs took place last Sunday, the BAFTAs are handed out next Sunday, the Annie’s the weekend after. All those nominated for this year’s Oscars will be honoured at the Nominees Luncheon on Monday but this year, not for the first time, the nominations have brought some controversy.

US actress Danielle Deadwyler, star of the movie Till, this week told the BBC that the film industry is ‘deeply impacted by systemic racism’ after there were no black nominees for best actress or best actor. Following similar criticism in the #OscarsSoWhite campaign in 2015, the Academy increased the number of black and ethnic minority voters to improve representation, but Deadwyler claims that the problem is deeper than that, involving ‘ideologies, thoughts and practices’.  There is a suggestion that it’s not just outward actions that matter, but inner attitudes. Can you think of any other examples where it’s ‘what’s inside’ that matters?

In Matthew 5:21-37, Jesus speaks to his followers about the importance of what is in our hearts and minds – suggesting that right thinking is just as important as right action. Following Jesus doesn’t simply mean following rules or adopting a set of ‘good’ practices, but tuning our inner life to think of others with hearts and minds filled with love. What helps you to deal with negative thoughts and feelings such as anger or jealousy? How might overcoming these transform the way we live our lives?

Darren Philip is National Stewardship Consultant with the Church of Scotland where he writes resources for intergenerational ministry.

 

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