So Rev, you gonna preach about what Frist is doing?

[realFedUp]

Wouldn't it be great to think that across
this nation tomorrow every sane religious
leader will teach and preach about
what Frist and the "Christian" neoconnuts
are doing to people, policies and democracy through
their demagoguery and false theocracy.

[RevCheesehead]

1. Yes, I am!

Here's what I posted as a response (to RedEarth's post):

The lectionary text is John 10:1-10.

"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of the stranger."

Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I AM the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

What I'm planning on doing is addressing the comment made by "a politician" who is claiming to speak with the voice of the shepherd. This false shepherd is telling the sheep that one political party is the enemy, the party of "anti-sheep." There are many frightened sheep, who hear this voice, and start running to the gate, because they don't want to be attacked by wolves. But Jesus stands at the gate, as the one who knows his sheep. And when the sheep calm down, they will hear HIS voice, and realize that only the true Shepherd stands at the gate, keeping them safe, and opening it for all those sheep that have come to him for safe-keeping.

I think it will preach.

[Princess Turandot]

2. You're not planning to put some large photos at the back of the Church..

..real Shepherd..wolf in Shephard's clothing.....lol

[RevCheesehead]

3. As tempting as that is - -

no. I've got a couple of high-profile republicans in one church. But the great thing is, they love me, and love my preaching. Even the stuff I preached during the election -- they agreed that we needed to find ways to come together, to heal our nation, and care for the poor and needy. (Sadly, this did not change their vote. :( )

One woman does special altar arrangements, so I told her last week I was doing the "I AM the gate" and asked if she had any ideas. The dear lady (nearly 80) gathered broken branches and MADE one! She also had a small sheep (about the size of a poodle) standing behind it! I love creative people. :)

[realFedUp]

4. So Rev, how did your sermon go over?

Would love to hear about your feedback.

[RevCheesehead]

5. Well, the Republican activist in our congregation -

was nodding her head in agreement with everything I said, so I'd say things went well. :D

I was rather inspired, so I tied in the lessons with the Children's Sermon, as well as the regular sermon.

I began with the gate, and said the gate was for both safety and security. I told the kids Jesus said HE was the gate, and gave them a Jesus doll to place on the gate. Then I took a smaller, uglier sheep and said "This sheep loves Jesus. Can he come in?" They said yes, so I gave the sheep to a girl, and she put him behind the gate. Then I took out SpongeBob, and said "SpongeBob loves Jesus. Can he go inside, too?" They screamed "YES!!" So SpongeBob went behind the gate. Then I brought out Patrick (SpongeBob's friend). "Can HE come in, too?" "YES!" Then I told the kids to listen to the rest of the sermon, and watch what happens to those who are inside.

Move to sermon: background on sheep, shepherding, how the sheepfold was an enclosed space with only one way in or out. At night, the shepherd laid down to sleep across the entrance of the gate. If an enemy tried to enter, the shepherd would waken, and defend the sheep.

But Jesus said he was the GATE, not just the shepherd. Asked what kind of security gates we have in our world (here the kids answered as I was preaching). One kind of gate keeps bad things from coming in (like airport security), another kind protects the store-owner from those who would steal from them. Jesus does both for us.

First of all, he lets anyone in who loves him, and wants to be a part of the flock. All are welcome. That's what the children's sermon is about. Everyone is welcome.

This is from John's gospel. But listen to what Matthew tells us about Jesus' sermon (I proposed they were the same teaching, from the same "Sermon on the Mount"). Matthew doesn't tell the story about the gate, but he does tell us what Jesus was teaching:

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.

-Matthew 7: 13-20

Ah, apparently there were some places where there was more than one gate. (this text is not about excluding non-Christians, it is about the gate which is used by Christians!)

Ah, there are wolves! And they dress up like sheep! Why? Because they want to enter and destroy. "Be afraid, flock! Be afraid!" There are all kinds of people claiming to be the Messiah, but Jesus tells his church I AM the way, the truth and the life. (I AM = Yahweh) This is the way which leads to eternal life, for those who follow Jesus. (and don't worry about those who don't follow Jesus. Remember there are other gates! This text talks about the Jesus-gate.)

Then the hermeneutical question: what does this mean for us today?

Well, there are wolves out there, who want to use our faith not just to destroy us, they are seeking to cause division among us - and they are doing it for political, not religious purposes. This is evil.

One of these politicians dared to claim that Democrats are anti-religious. And he has teamed up with a number of preachers who are spreading this lie. (Don't get me wrong - I would be furious if the opposite side was doing the same thing.) But here's why I take great offense at this statement: I am a Christian - and I am also a Democrat. I know that some of you are not - and that's OK. That's what God's diverse community looks like. What offends me greatly is that I am first and foremost a Christian, and I have chosen to follow the Democratic party, precisely because it reflects my understanding of Christian teaching about how to love and care for others. That's my choice to make - you may have another view, and that's OK. But we must be in agreement as Christians. We are Christians first and foremost, and political animals by choice.

Those politicians are seeking a political, not a Christian agenda. And that is not only offensive to me, it is offensive to every person who is a Christian, it is offensive to Jesus, and it is offensive to God.

Here's what they're trying to do: They're looking through the gate, and asking "Why is SpongeBob there? He's not a sheep. He doesn't belong there. Why is Patrick there? And while we're at it, why is that ugly, beat-up sheep there? They don't belong there." The sheep begin to be afraid, IF they don't listen to the voice of the shepherd.

THAT's why Jesus is the gate: he decides who is inside, and he keeps us safe from those who would do us harm.

I then concluded with a reading, called "I stand at the Door."

[realFedUp]

6. good sermons

glad you noted that there are other gates also
(as in other religions) I am a Christian but
don't feel that Christ is the only way to God.

[GOPBasher]

7. What an awesome sermon!

Rev, I've spent the past year looking for a mainline Protestant church to go to. I'm not too concerned what particular denomination it is; I just want a good Christian church that is more liberal than the ultra-evangelical Southern Baptist church that my wife goes to. It's been a year, and I'm still looking. If I lived in your general vicinity, I wouldn't have this problem. I'd be going to your church. :-)

[RevCheesehead]

8. Thanks.

I see you're in NY. You might want to check out the Methodist churches in your area. The northeast is fairly liberal, but there are also conservative congregations as well.

I'd love it if you came to my church, too! :)

[GOPBasher]

11. Thanks for the suggestion.

I may try going to some United Methodist churches around here. Right now, I'm checking out a UCC church. But I don't know. I've been looking for about a year now. All I know is I don't want to go back to a Catholic church now that the new pope is rigidly conservative, and I don't want to go an overly evangelical church that is so divisive and "us against them." (My wife goes to one; it's not what I want.)

[realisticphish]

9. i, too

would love to be in your congregation...unfortunately, a commute of 10 hours each way really isnt feasible ;)

[RevCheesehead]

10. Thanks, phish

Just keep posting here, and you'll make me happy! :)