LOOK WHO GOD CHOOSES!

Jeremiah 1; 4-8; Luke 4: 16-30

Today in our congregational meeting, we will talk about choosing; the Presbyterian way of choosing is actually our attempt to discern, to figure out who God has ready for us as an Associate Pastor. The way of discernment can be slow and deliberate, something like a short dating process. “Is this the right person to marry?” people wonder. Some just trust their feelings, some ask friends, some take weeks, some months, and some years to make that choice, and some never do. “Is this the right job for me?” people wonder as they either try to fit their skills and passions with a job description or they simply take any position just to get some money, or to get out of the job where they are currently employed. Everyday we make choices: what to wear, what to eat, what to do, with whom to do it, etc. Today we look at the surprising ways and the surprising people whom God has called to different positions and ministries, some chosen as a prophet, as a leader, or a King, and one chosen to bear the Son of God. Sometimes it seems that our ways of choosing can be cumbersome compared to God’s perfect way of choosing, especially since a committee of one seems so easy. But even Donald Trump uses advisors on “The Apprentice,” even “American Idol” uses a panel of three judges and the public to make its selection. It takes millions of votes to elect a president in America. So our personal and business worlds model choices by many votes and by a personal selection. As I said when I began, Presbyterians try to put seven discerning people in a room with potential ministerial candidates with the prayer that all are open to God’s Spirit and attuned to God’s Word and Will. We are in that process in this church now.

Back in April of 2001, the old Presbyterian seminary of the south called Columbia Theological Seminary was looking for its next President. It had had good men lead the seminary in the great Reformed Tradition for years, yet it also sought to always be reforming over time. Good Presbyterian institutions are like that: Reformed, but always reforming. Who had God picked to lead Columbia in the 21^st century? One of distinguished the Professors of that school Dr. Walter Brueggemann, preached at the new president’s installation service. He said these words, basing his text on the calling of Elisha by Elijah in 1 Kings 19: “The work of some search committees is long, complicated, and quite public, surrounded by many rumors and much intrigue. There are other search committees that operate quickly, quietly, and simply (and this is a rather unfortunate comparison) rather like the Westminster Dog Show—one judge looks and points to the winner, and the dogs do not even know the process that is going on. [Our search for a president was of the former style that ended happily with the selection of Dr. Laura Mendenhall] and we are all elated.” (INSCRIBING THE TEXT, Augsburg Press, 2004, p. 103). Yes, a southern seminary discerned that God had Laura Mendenhall in mind and she has led Columbia to continue being a preeminent campus of theological discussion and preparing people who have heard God’s call to ministry. Look who God chose! Can you imagine?

Conversely, Breuggemann reminds readers of the quick decision of Elisha when Elijah called him to be his successor. Now some in the Daytona Beach area have become wary of preachers picking their own successors; it is dangerous because one person’s gifts are not another’s gifts. Nationally it has happened as well: Oral Roberts’ son is no Oral Roberts; Robert Schuller’s son is no Robert Schuller; Billy Graham’s son and daughter are not Billy Graham. In the case of Elisha, it was the same: the choice was perhaps a natural one, but Elisha was not Elijah, not by any stretch. Elijah, the one person search committee, casts his mantle upon Elisha, the cloak that is the sign of a heavenly call, and Elisha accepts it as a sign of God’s blessing. Contrary to any words Jesus had for disciples who wanted to “take care of business” first, Elisha is permitted to go tell his mom and dad and kiss them goodbye, and then he agrees to the job. He was, in a matter of speaking, ordained (set apart for the work,) in a “parting of the waters” ceremony, and then Elisha asked for and received a double portion of God’s blessing from Elijah before the tired Prophet died. Here was an early example of choice by a committee of one; like others chosen in that way, he was good, but not as great as the one who chose him. Conversely, a search committee made Laura Mendenhall an unexpected choice to succeed Doug Oldenburg as Columbia’s President. Now let’s look at a third call.

Jeremiah is the second longest book of the Bible, with only the Psalms being longer. It contains many words of sermons and messages from the prophet: some encouraging, some comforting, some condemning, some re-directing. God called Jeremiah at another historical turning point in Israel’s history; God needed someone to introduce the idea of new wine in an old wineskins world. Jeremiah eventually preached that God would be giving the people a new covenant, unlike the old one that the people broke over and over. Some say that Jeremiah was foreshadowing the New Testament, the coming of Christ, and the New Covenant announced at the Last Supper. Others believe that Jeremiah was a crucial man who kept an ear towards God as Jerusalem rebuilt itself from destruction after the Exile. There is truth in both stands. But look who God chose: God chose a youth; some even interpret the word to mean a boy, to be his next anointed prophet! Conversely, some have argued that Jeremiah was not really young chronologically, but young in experience as a prophet! That is John Calvin’s stand as he says: “When Jeremiah thought of himself, he felt he was wholly unequal to undertake an office so arduous. Hence the excuse that is added is that of modesty. We then see that God forgave his timidity, for it proceeded, as we have just said, from a right feeling; and we know that from good principles vices often arise. But it was yet a laudable thing in Jeremiah, that he thought himself not sufficiently qualified to undertake the prophetic office.” (Calvin’s Commentaries, Vol. IX, Baker Books, 2005, p. 38.) It seems to me that God often chooses those who, like Jeremiah, feel too young, or immature, or ill prepared, or timid. Look at God’s choice of Moses to be the central figure of the Old Testament- it was a good thing he had his brother Aaron and his charisma along side, and his sister Miriam’s enthusiasm and talent as two bookends to his volumes work. Look at God’s choice of a mother for his Son: someone young, innocent, not worldly, perhaps not even excited about religion: Mary was the perfect choice. Conversely, what about Abraham and Sarah as the parents of many nations? How could they have had the energy to go to their son’s ball games, and calf roping contests, and graduations? Yet God choose centagenarians to raise their son Isaac, who in turn would father Jacob, who in turn would father the 12 sons who would lead the 12 tribes of Israel. God can see beyond the horizon with holy plans when all we can see, with Biblical binoculars, is the horizon! It takes faith in God to step out and not chose the one who is the most beautiful, or handsome, or the smartest or the one with a magnetic personality. God, a committee of one (or three if you think of the three persons) is looking for a clean heart, and a humble spirit. With that God can bless a ministry, a marriage, or a mission. So: how’s your heart? How’s your spirit? Are you busy ducking behind a newspaper, or hiding behind a bulletin, or pretending to not care, or find yourself distracted by other things so God will not choose you? Watch out! It is when you least expect it, perhaps at a most inconvenient time, that God may call you to a higher work than what you are doing or may use the work you are doing for higher purposes. If you are a parent, God may call you to raise reverent children who love Jesus, ones who may devote their lives to ministry. If you are single, God may be calling you to become hopefully devoted to Jesus during your extra time or with your good talents. If you are older, God certainly has plans for you! Some of the best citizens of our nation and the best disciples in our churches are those who have the time and appreciation to devote hours to Christ. And if you are young, Jesus may be preparing to call you to follow him even as God in Christ knew you even before you were born. To coin a popular way of thinking in churches today: You, you can have a life filled with purpose. Listen for the ways that God wants to use even you! You could be the stunning outcome of a God-in-three-persons search committee. Perhaps today is the day to let your family know: God has big plans for even you!

Jeffrey A. Sumner January 28, 2007