Sermon 04.21.2024: God Needs Resurrection Publicists

When Paul and Silas preach the reconciling love of God in the capital city, the dominant society punishes them for "turning the world upside down.” Today, in our currently-irreconcilable culture, when we preach God’s inclusive love, we should expect no less! Shall the fundamentalists win? Or can God call on a more loving publicist, like you?

Scripture

Acts 17:1-9

After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.’ Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the market-places they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s house. When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, ‘These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.’ The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.

Romans 11:11-16

So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.

Sermon Text

Paul & Silas: The Best Case for Jesus 

As we tune in to the Narrative Lectionary this week, Paul and Silas have been having a time! They are on a tour of synagogues and homes, publicizing the Good News of the Risen Christ. Their mission: to argue their best case for Jesus, the long-expected messiah who suffered, died and is risen. In doing so, they are attempting to transform their 2000-year-old religion.[6] What could possibly go wrong? 

Jail Time 

In the preceding story that begins at Acts 16:16,, Paul and Silas encounter an unnamed young woman who is being trafficked as a fortune teller. She follows our heroes, shouting to everybody in town about how great they art. She praises them so many times it suddenly becomes irritating. Anybody ever tell you how great and wonderful you are just one too many times? Our word can seem meaningless until we walk the talk. Paul is up to here with the fortune teller’s fawning,. In a fit of anger, he exposes her and her handlers as charlatans. Having destroyed a pimps’ livelihood and, hopefully, freed this young woman, Paul and Silas are hauled before the magistrate and accused of subverting the Roman way of life. They do not offer a defense, but instead, like Jesus, they endured a public condemnation and even a violent flogging.[7] Handed over to the jailer, they were shackled in the innermost cell of the jail. During the night, what do they do? They sing and praise God and make their case to the incarcerated. A miraculous earthquake opens the locked doors and breaks every chain—extreme natural[8] theology, God’s calling card! The prisoners don’t even try to escape, and why should they? After receiving the good news of Jesus Christ, they are free at it gets, everywhere and anywhere. Paul and Silas keep on preaching the unconditional life-saving love of Jesus until the guard has his family have been baptized, scripture says, without delay. The next morning, the Roman authorities saunter on over to the jail only to find out that Paul and Silas are Jewish yes, but also Roman citizens. As citizens, demand to be released publicly rather than in secret. They do not help the corrupt authorities save face. Paul and Silas use their privilege to pull back the curtain on an abusive system. The Romans are obliged to “eat crow"[9] in public. They even apologized. Paul and Silas thanked their host, Lydia, and off they popped. 

On to Thessalonica! 

In chapter 17, they travel on to the northeastern Greek port city of Thessalonica. Thessalonica had a large Jewish population and was also Roman occupied.. They stay at the home of Jason and friends. There’s a monument there today, a monastery. As is their pattern, Paul and Silas visit the synagogue first thing, and many women and men opened their hearts to Jesus as Messiah. The powerful old guard did not approve of this new teaching. They accused Paul and Silas of “turning the world upside down.” (17:6) 

Jesus is Lord 

But isn’t this exactly what mother Mary assured us would happen as she sang about the messiah in her womb? The child will instigate an upside down world, scattering the proud in the imaginations of their hearts, bringing down the mighty from their thrones, and exalting those of humble estate?[10] Mary’s song even prophesies the justice-love of God for all Abraham's offspring[11]—the Jews, the Christians and the Muslims. Why don’t we publicize this? Mary’s song offers a way to peace for the Abrahamic religions. There is nothing more heretical than a modern war relying on religion for justification. Tell me what could be worse than that. 

For resurrection people, the world can be only one way: loving. Love must prevail. Love must guide every choice, every policy, every vote. When the world misses the mark, we, like Paul and Silas, must point out the emperor has no clothes. All it takes is behaving as if Jesus our king, our Lord—a title reserved only for caesar back in Bible times.[12] And today, resurrection people deny our caesars to declare “Jesus Christ is Lord” by renouncing any other person or ideology that wants us to bow down in devotion. Jesus Christ is Lord. Can you think of anyone today who wants us to behave as if they are a king? If they come for me, they’ll need to get through Jesus first. When the city authorities can’t find Paul and Silas, they impose a penalty on their Jesus-loving friends. That’s so like them. Leaders with despotic leanings rarely earn respect. They just demand it through fear, lies and intimidation. 

Uganda’s Queer Genocide 

Currently in Uganda, new laws (along with accepted mob violence) are working to eradicate the queer population. Authorities there are also searching for straight allies. Another genocide in the making. This year, Pride parades around the world will be dedicated “to bring hope and show love…to our brothers and sisters across Africa.”[13] God has needed good publicity since the ten commandments. Nearly half of the commandments are about preserving God’s good reputation. 

Questionable Sanctuary in San Francisco 

Five weeks ago, I told you about our City’s policy requiring refugee families with children to live on the street for two weeks before being allowed to apply for shelter and assistance. Thanks to the letters you wrote during coffee hour last month, tomorrow morning a resolution to improve this unholy broken system comes before the Board of Supervisors. Alison Faison and I will be there with Faith in Action Bay Area. Come join us. We know in our hearts that San Franciscans want the right thing. Come to see not only your tax dollars but your pledge dollars at work! . 

Publicize! 

This is how we publicize the goodness of God and the potential of Calvary Presbyterian Church. God has so many mean and crazy publicists, some with TV shows and popular podcasts. God needs better publicists. When hate gets loud, love must get louder.[14] Some days I think that Calvary is one of the best kept secrets in the Bay Area. There are so many good congregations in San Francisco, but there is only one Calvary, where the gospel lands squarely on the side of the humble, poor and left-out and where we offer ways[15] to publicize the Good News of the Risen Christ. 

Pull Back the Curtain 

Since 1939, The Wizard of Oz has shaped American culture and inspired generations to karaoke singers to butcher “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. Perhaps there are some “friends of Dorothy”[16] present or watching online today. (If you know, you know.) Towards the end of the movie, Dorothy and her friends—Tin Man, Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion, and Toto too (her little dog)—find themselves standing before The Great Oz, a large floating head that looks suspiciously like Vladimir Lenin.[17] This unnerving apparition is lapped by smoke and tongues of flame. “I AM THE GREAT AND POWERFUL OZ!” it booms. 

Dorothy and her friends are full of self-doubt, worn down by their social locations. The Scarecrow is conditioned to live as a simpleton. The Lion has a big burly body but feels like a fake, a coward. The Tin Man, like so many people, has been conditioned to doubt whether he will ever experience love. Then, Toto, the least powerful and most maligned of the group, goes over to the little booth, pulls back its curtain and reveals the very grand wizard is just an old humbug[18] from Kansas—an actual snake oil salesman. 

He frantically twists knobs and throws levers. His power depends on the smoke and mirrors and demanding deference from Dorothy and her friends. Paralyzing fear and self-doubt. Spiritual denigration and emotional abuse. The age-old tools of the oppressor. Such is that which God wants us turned upside down. Richard Rohr says that we are in an[19] apocalypse, an unveiling—and some powerful, violent charlatans are being exposed. 

As people of faith, we are called dismantle the “social hierarchies that the powerful have constructed over the centuries to defend their own interests”[20] against the interests of God. Whether it’s mob violence in Gaza, Uganda, Haiti or Ukraine, the surveillance state in Russia, Iran, China, or the violence done to women and children in Florida, Texas and most places in between, God needs a better publicist, and that’s you. That’s us. 

If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul, 

You can tell the love of Jesus, and say he died for all.[21] 

AMEN. 

6 Origins of Judaism go back at least ten centuries before 

7 not recommended in 2024 

8 natural and revealed theology working in tandem 

9 Eating Crow discussed at < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eating_crow> 

10 Luke 1:51-55. Luke’s community is credited with the composition of The Acts of the Apostles. 

11 Luke 1:55 

12 “Saying ‘Jesus is Lord’ is a political statement” by Pastor Kevin at <https://floodsofjustice.wordpress.com/2018/07/23/saying-jesus-is-lord-is-a-political-statement/> 

13 Troy Perry, “Founding Father of LGBTQIA+ Pride Movement Calls to Restore African Pride” April 11, 2024, at < https://medium.com/@info_90276/founding-father-of-lgbtqia-pride-movement-calls-to-restore-african-pride-9d0e0f501fa1> 

14 Paraphrasing Rev. Marci Glass, Calvary’s pastor/ head of staff 

15 < https://www.calvarypresbyterian.org/events> 

16 < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend_of_Dorothy> 

17 < https://santitafarella.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/image-of-vladimir-lenin-doing-a-wizard-of-oz-head-float-over-tractor-and-people/> 

18 Sean D. Burke (Acts of the Apostles), The Queer Bible Commentary, Vol. 2 (London: SCM Press, 2022) 

19 Rohr goes so far as to call this time an apocalypse, which means “uncovering”. 

20 Burke. 

21 There is a Balm in Gilead sung by Chanticleer and Bishop Yvette Flunder < https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=balm+in+gilead+yvette+flunder+chanticleer&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:d4af305e,vid:n8NHcDTFQoc,st:0>