I almost titled this sermon “It’s Not a Game of King (or Queen) of the Hill.”

          Because this enterprise of Church isn’t a competition:

                   For years, Protestant Churches tried to be more like businesses,

                             with pastors acting suspiciously like CEOs.

                                      Thank God most of us have gotten past that.

 

Sometimes churches are referred to as “Rev. So-and-so’s Church…”

          but I know that you at Emmanuel know

                   that the church belongs not to the pastor,

                   nor to one or two members just because they are substantial givers.

                             The church belongs to Jesus Christ.

 

When St. Paul writes that the Corinthians are to be “united in the same mind”

          he doesn’t mean that all church members should be alike:

                   that would be uniformity, not unity.

                             In fact, Paul states very strongly that each person’s gifts

                                      are unique, and all gifts and all individuals are needed

                                                in the building of God’s temple,

                                                          the body of Christ, the Church.

 

My colleague David Stammerjohn wrote this week

          about the building of cathedrals in Europe.

                   In a building project that takes several generations, he writes,

                             building upon the solid foundation with the right materials takes on a

                                    special meaning.  A master craftsman had to be sure to communicate the

                                    plan across generations and each craftsman bore a personal responsibility

                                    to get it done right.  e-mail, Sermonshop, Feb. 18, 2011)

 

And then he makes a metaphorical leap similar to St. Paul’s:

          Perhaps we need to look at the church that way.  Each one of us is building upon a

            foundation of Christ.  We must use the right material, lives of faithful witness.  Jesus

            gives very stern warnings to anyone who would cause someone else to fall away.  Are we

            raising up the example of a life lives in faith that others can build upon?  (ibid.)

 

Now, I’ve spent enough time among you to know

          that there are many here living lives of faithful witness.

                   And I know that you have a tendency to pitch in and work together

                             when work needs to be done.

 

Very few of you who worship here every week

          are not involved in several ways in the ministries of the church.

                   Since I was here in your anniversary year, I’ve learned

                             that no one pastor stands out as everyone’s “King David” –

                                      each pastor in your collective memory

                                                spoke in special ways to some …

                                                          and at least the ones I met and heard about

                                                                   were all completely unique persons!

 

                   I might add that, as diverse as your individual gifts are,

                             even more diverse perhaps are your personalities.

 

That insures, by the way, that your relationships aren’t always smooth.

          Yes, it’s true that Christians – even those giving faithful witness –

                   sometimes get on each other’s nerves.

                             It happens.

 

I think one lesson your children are learning

          is that we don’t all have to agree

                   in order to love one another.

                             And that’s a good lesson to learn!

 

As long as we remember that Jesus Christ is the center, the foundation,

          on which we build our lives

                   and on which we build up the church,

                             as it were “keeping our eyes on Jesus” –

                                      and that we are a few in a long line,

                                                a “great cloud of witnesses,”

                                                          perhaps we can keep better perspective.

 

And perhaps if we think of playing our part

          in building God’s temple,

                   we can concentrate on using the very best materials –

                             the gifts of the Spirit –

                                      to leave for the next generation of witnesses.

 

Paul writes to the Corinthians, and also over the centuries to us:

          “Do you know that you are God’s temple

                   and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

                             It helps to remember the significant role that the temple played

                                      in the lives of the Jewish people.

                             Not only was it the center of worship,       it was also a Holy Place,

                                      in the center of which God’s very presence lived.

                             Even the high priest only entered the Holy of Holies

                                      once a year, on Yom Kippur,

                                                to offer sacrifice for all the sins of the nation.

 

          To think of themselves as the temple of the Holy

                   must have been a stretch for the Corinthians!

                             I know it feels like a stretch to me …

                                      But it feels a bit less of a discomfort

                                                if I remember that I am but one among

                                                          the great cloud of witnesses.

 

When we’re doing some of the more mundane work of the church

          it may be difficult to remember that we’re building God’s temple.

                   Which reminds me of one of my favorite songs,

                             written and sung by Susan Trump.

 

Listen:

          [Play “The Stone Cutter”]

The Stone Cutter   © by Susan Trump Music

 

A man was chopping at a stone,

I asked him what he did.

He said, “I cut these stones to size

just as my master bids.

I am a lowly stonecutter,”

this bitter man did cry,

“And I’ll be working at this job

until the day I die.”

 

A man was chopping at a stone,

I asked him what he did.

He said, “I cut these stones to size

just as my master bids.

I am a loving father,

and a husband to my wife.

I shape these stones the best I can

to give them a good life.”

 

A man was chopping at a stone,

I asked him what he did.

He said, “I cut these stones to size

just as my master bids.

He raised his eyes unto the skies,

his vision shined so clear

“I’m building a cathedral

to last a thousand years.”

 

Building a cathedral, or cutting up a stone,

We make these choices every day,

at work and in our homes.

Throughout our lifelong journey,

wherever we may roam,

we’re building a cathedral, or cutting up a stone.

 

It’s up to each of us:

          either we’re washing dishes after a church dinner,

                   or planning a Sunday School lesson,

                             or practicing that difficult section of an anthem,

                                      or balancing the church’s books,

                                                or writing the annual report,

                                                          or visiting that crotchety old person

                                                                   or disciplining the fidgety little kid,

          OR we’re building God’s temple.

                   Stone on stone, piece by piece, generation by generation,

                             witness by witness.

 

We witness to the power of the cross,

          which is the power of love so deep it is

                   deeply vulnerable to the point of death…

                             God’s self-giving in Jesus Christ,

                                      for us, God’s children.

 

For in spite of the shortcomings of the Corinthians – apparently many –

          and in spite of our shortcomings –

                   Paul tells us that “all things are yours … all belong to you,

                             and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”

 

May we continue to build up God’s temple,

          for witness to future generations

                   and to the glory of God.        Amen.