“Imperfection”
A sermon by Sid Burgess for Edgewood PC, Birmingham, AL
Christ the King Sunday, November 25, 2007
Texts: Luke 1:68-79 and 23:33-43
As a “high holy day” on the Christian calendar Christ the King Sunday is relatively new. It was first proclaimed in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, in response to the growing tide of secularism--salvation through government, commerce, education, science and medicine, versus redemption through the Prince of Peace, Mighty Counselor, King of Kings. But not until 1969 did “Christ the King” come to be celebrated as the culminating festival by which the Christian year comes to a close.
It is odd to think that the 20th-century church developed a festival centering on Christ's image as king. In America we are as distanced from the image of "king" as we are from the image of "shepherd." But we do love the legends of the King Arthur and Camelot; and, we admire the cunning wiles of Queen Elizabeth the First. And, there was a time when we thought lovingly of the second Elizabeth, with her growing brood of young princes and princesses. But that was before those royals grew up and began to marry and divorce, with all their dirty laundry hung out to dry in the sleazy tabloids. That was before we knew the Queen could be cold and distant. After all, it’s always the parents’ fault, don’t you know. Now her son, Prince Charles seems . . . just plain inept. Young Prince William is completely untested, and entirely too pretty. For us, royalty has surely lost much, if not all, of it’s charm.
Meanwhile, back here in America, the prospects of our democratic process don’t seem all that much better. Though we elect our top rulers for limited terms there is no limitation on the level of disappointment they can bring to us. Case in point, the present incumbent in the White House. To give equal time, I think most of us would agree that we see serious limitations in the current crop of presidential candidates. Closer to ‘sweet-home’ Alabama, several of our once-highly regarded leaders are now taking up highly-sought space in the prison system, with more suspects in the prosecutorial pipeline.
Finding so much fault with our rulers it seems to me that we might do well to more closely examine the only ruler we stand much of a chance of influencing--ourselves. After all, if we’re going to severely critique the leadership of the high and mighty, we would do well to begin with self-examination. What sort of ruler am I?
I am surely not a candidate for public office, but I do have responsibility in my work, in my family, and for myself. What kind of ruler am I? Obviously, I don’t have all that much authority, and what I have I share with others. But each of us, no matter how humble our circumstances, each of us has some ruling responsibility, even if it just for self. Which is not a bad place for us to begin thinking about what it means to follow the example of Christ the King. Will I play by the established rules of culture-- looking out for number one-- or will I follow Christ and look out for others? Will I play by the rules--“an eye for a eye, a tooth for a tooth”--or will I follow Christ turning first one cheek, then the other? Will I play by the rules--asking what’s in it for me--or will I follow Christ, seeking benefits for others? Will I play by the rules--“three strikes and you’re out”--or will I follow Christ my King, who says to me and to you, ‘You sins are forgiven,’ seven times seven (Luke 17.4)? Will I follow the dictates of popular culture-- if it feels good do it, if it tastes good eat it, if it looks good, buy it--or will I follow Christ who preaches and practices self-denial and self-discipline?
Truth be told, many of us are Monday morning quarterbacks when it comes to the issue of leadership. We can see the shortcoming, the mistakes, and failures of others, but we have a hard time with honest self-appraisal. We fail to exercise positive influence over the only ruler over whom we do have sway. Others of us are just the opposite: cruel tyrants, harsh taskmasters, brutal dictators over the self. When we get on a tear, when we get down on ourselves no one can issue harsher judgment against us, no one can pronounce more severe sentences than we can impose upon ourselves. “It’s all my fault.” “I did it again.” “I never get it right.” “I’m just a total screw-up.” “I just don’t measure up.” “I had it coming.” Did I leave anything out?
So, here we are, placed in charge of the self, ruler of one, boss of me, some of us too lenient, others of us too harsh. Some always blaming others, some always blaming self. So much imperfection in the world and in the self, what is a person to do?
As people of faith, we turn to Christ the King. Christ challenges us to examine the biblical ideal. Turns out that the biblical ideal is not perfection but compassion for imperfect people. No more powerful example of this than the pardon Jesus grants from the cross to the self-confessed criminal at his side: “Truly I tell you, today you will be at my side in paradise.”
To me there is no more powerful statement in Sunday worship, than
the words of pardon.
“I declare unto you, we are forgiven.” “We” includes “me,” thanks be
to God, and “we” includes “them.” Jesus died not just for my sins,
not just for the sins of God-fearing, Bible-believing Christians,
but for the forgiveness of all sin.
From our Presbyterian Church BOOK OF CONFESSIONS, the “Barmen Declaration” from 1934 Germany states:
As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life.
But, my goodness, with so much imperfection loose in the world today, please tell me God has a plan. Somebody, please tell me God has a plan to address all of the shortcomings of men and women, all of the failures of our institutions, the corruption in government, the greed in business. Someone please tell me God has a plan!
Enter Zechariah, with the song recorded in Luke’s gospel, which we sang a few moments ago:
1. Blest be the God of Israel,
Who comes to set us free;
Who visits and redeems us,
Who grants us liberty.
The prophets spoke of mercy,
Of freedom and release;
God shall fulfill that promise
And bring the people peace.
Somebody, please tell me what God’s going do about the dysfunction in my family, the distractions in my life, the failure of willpower, the breakdown in interpersonal communications. Again, Zechariah:
2. God from the house of David
A child of grace has given;
A Savior comes among us
To raise us up to heaven.
And how will I know God is at work among us? How will I know God has not given up on this flawed human race? That God has not given up on me?
Once again, Zechariah:
3. On those who sit in darkness
The sun begins to rise,
The dawning of forgiveness
Upon the sinner's eyes.
God guides the feet of pilgrims
Along the paths of peace.
On Christ the King Sunday we receive the grace of God through Jesus the Son, who at the end of his life was a lonely failure, forgotten by his friends, chastised by the Romans, and left to die on a bloody cross--a cross that swallows up all of our failures--and theirs too--precisely because we humans are not perfect and were never meant to be.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Amen.