November 20th

Christian Survivor

Mark 13:1-8


I have to be honest. When it comes to the “Survivor” series, I do not have a clue—not one. I’ve heard of an “immunity challenge;” but I thought that was a legal term.

I’ve also caught parts of conversations about these shows. I’ve heard about the back biting, deal-making, and ruthless behavior all in the name of money; but I thought the topic of conversation was just another presidential election year.

Stephanie Reznick of Eel Magazine has come up with a good idea. How about some Biblical reality shows? For example, what about “Temptation Garden?” Couples are put in an idyllic garden, where all their needs are gratified. The hook is that they cannot eat the forbidden fruit cup. The evil host tries to tempt them into eating it by telling them they will know all the answers to the questions on “Jeopardy.” The first one to eat the cup is kicked out of the garden. The winner gets eternal life.

Hey, in my book, eternal life beats a million dollars by a long shot!
Here’s an interesting one: Fear-the-Fish Factor (otherwise known as the “Jonah Game”). A large marine animal swallows contestants whole. They have three days to get out. The winners get to survive. The losers? Well, we won’t go into that.

Believe it or not, there is a survival message in today’s Gospel lesson. Today’s reading in Mark picks up from last week, where we discussed Jesus’ teachings on the “smell” of religious hypocrisy in the temple, compared to the sweet “smell” of humility and generosity in the story of the widow’s offering.

As Jesus and the disciples were leaving the temple, one of the disciples made an innocent enough observation about the architecture of the temple. Apparently the buildings which made up the temple were quite impressive. In fact, this temple was seen by many people as not just any building; this temple was the very place where Heaven and Earth met. This place was the dwelling place of God. The historian Josephus noted that “the temple was not only impressive to Jews, but it was also revered by aliens from the ends of the earth who have heard of its fame.”

So imagine the surprise of the disciple when Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; it will all be thrown down.” Ask a simple question…

But what was it about the temple that provoked such a response from Jesus? Maybe we can get a few clues from earlier readings in Mark. In chapter 11 of Mark, Jesus cleanses the temple by driving out the money changers--a signal of the end of the temple’s function. Jesus’ overturning of the tables may be seen as an overturning of what had become a corrupt system.

Notice the positioning in verse 3 of today’s reading. Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives OPPOSITE the temple. The language and imagery of positioning here is very strong. Jesus has set himself opposite, not of Judaism, not of the physical buildings that made up the temple itself, not even of the wealth it held. These things—wealth and buildings—are neither good nor evil in and of themselves. Jesus set himself opposite of what the whole institution had come to represent.

The temple had come to represent power, wealth, privilege, well-placed political alliances, and not just a few shady financial dealings. In the midst of all this corruption, however, the temple was still seen by many as THE ONLY PLACE people—AND ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE AT THAT—could find God.

In other words, the “institution” (and many of its leaders and members) had somehow lost their focus on love, service, hospitality, sound teaching, and modeling ethical behavior. They built their faith around an institution, rather than the One who that institution was supposed to represent. They had lost their focus on the REAL God.

Unfortunately, many people continue to do the same thing today. We place our faith not so much in God as we do in structures—particular government structures, particular political parties, and yes, even particular denominations. But really, is that so bad? Is it so wrong the support your government, political party, and denomination?

Of course not. The problem surfaces when WE try to put GOD in our particular “temple.” The problem intensifies when we start thinking that our government is the only one God blesses. The problem actually becomes ridiculous when we think the agenda of our political party is the only one that God supports. Finally, the problem becomes heretical when we begin to think that God is on the side of OUR denomination because we’re the “conservative” church, the “liberal” church, and-- I’ve got to say it-- because we are the only truly “open and affirming” church.

Besides, rather than God being on “our” side, aren’t WE supposed to be on GOD’s side? Think about that for a minute.

When Jesus made the comments about the destruction of the temple, he was probably referring to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in the year 70CE by the Romans. But the spiritual message we can take from this Jesus’ comments is this: No matter how secure institutions—ANY institution-- may appear, they can ALL be overthrown.

Now this message frightened the disciples. Peter, James, John, and Andrew begin asking the questions, “When? and “How?” “When will these things happen?” “How will we know?” In other words, “How are we going to survive?”

When we place our faith in institutions, rather than in God, eventually something is going to happen to cause the walls of that institution—whatever it may be—to come tumbling down. It may be literal—as was the case with the temple. Or it may be figurative—our government lies to us; our political party starts talking out of both sides of its mouth; our denominations become more interested in numbers and playing politics than they do in spreading the Gospel message of Jesus the Christ.

Our walls are down, and our weakened faith is exposed and susceptible. Like the disciples, we are frightened. How can we survive?

At first, Jesus is really no help at all. He speaks of wars and rumors or wars, famines, and earthquakes as only the beginning. Jesus then goes on just past our readings for today to tell the disciples how they will be arrested and turned over to councils and kings to testify.

Jesus tells the disciples they are going to be beaten—and listen to this—they are going to be beaten IN THE SYNAGOGUES! The very religious institution that used to welcome them will one day beat them and drive them out because they will proclaim the Gospel of Jesus the Christ!

I can imagine the disciples thinking, “Uh, thanks, Jesus. We ask for when and how, and we get world upheaval—not to mention that whole arrest and beating part.”

But Jesus doesn’t leave the disciples OR us empty-handed. Jesus gives us a clue to Christian survival in a hostile environment in verse 5. …”Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.

The clue here is BE AWARE. Be aware of your surroundings. Be part of the world around you; listen; learn. At the same time, it is important for us to drink in the “living water” of Christ daily through prayers, study and service. This “living water” can keep us strong against the elements of a hostile environment that seeks to spiritually dehydrate, disorient, and eventually destroy us and our witness to the power of Almighty God.

Jesus gives us a second clue to Christian survival just past our reading for today in verse 10. “And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations.” The clue here? FOCUS ON YOUR CALLING. What Jesus was telling the disciples in effect was, “Don’t be so worried about the when and how of the future. Your priority is to focus on doing your job—preaching the Gospel—in the here and now.”

The 2003 translation of this passage could sound something like this: “Yes, there are wars, domestic violence, disease, poverty, a dying ecosystem, and numerous forms of oppression. But rather than focusing on these tragedies, focus on the root cause—a broken world that, for the most part, has turned its back on God.

Then proclaim the good news of Jesus the Christ! Give people hope! Proclaim Christ through your words! Proclaim Christ through your actions! Proclaim Christ through the example of your lives! THAT is your job as a disciple of Jesus Christ!

No, not everyone will love you. Your government structures may reject you. You will probably be arrested for non-violently protesting unjust laws, and will have to explain your actions to hostile judges.

By the way, don’t be surprised if some of your churches reject you for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ because others in your denominational structure may see that as “offensive” or “exclusive”.

But, there is no need to fear any of these things. As we are strengthened by drinking from those “living waters”; as we focus on our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ to proclaim the Good News through our words, deeds, and indeed, by the examples of our very lives, we build endurance. We begin to have hope.

It is a hope that tells us that in the midst of chaos and distress, Jesus comes. It is a hope that tells us in times of wars and rumors of wars, Jesus comes. It is a hope that tells us in an era when safe havens are hard to find, Jesus comes. It is a hope that tells us that even when leaders fall, institutions fall, and families threaten to fall apart, still Jesus comes. It is a hope that enables us to survive—it is a hope that enables us to thrive!

Christian Survivor. It’s no game. The stakes are high—very high. The challenges we face today are much like those of the disciples: to not only survive, but also to thrive; to bring hope to a world that is dying for change. It’s not easy; it can be downright dangerous sometimes.

However, with the hope we have in the love of God that is revealed in Jesus the Christ, not only can we survive, not only can we thrive, through Christ Jesus, we can change the world!

Be strong. Stay focused. Keep the faith. And as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Keep hope alive.”

God bless you and amen.