Open Hearts

Matthew 22:34-40, Jeremiah 29:11-14

This sermon is part of a series of sermons on the UMC advertising slogan, “Open hearts, open minds, open doors—the people of the United Methodist Church.” As we look at “open hearts”, “open minds”, and “open doors”, my goal is that we might understand how each of these apply to us—our church. I am also going to present what makes each of these distinctly appropriate for United Methodists. My hope is that every time we hear this slogan it will take on a deeper significance, and that we may be moved to live up to its full meaning.

In this slogan, “open hearts” is first, and I believe that it is most important because “open hearts” is about love. The Pharisees asked Jesus what is the most important thing. Jesus replied that the most important thing is to love God and to love our neighbor. (Matt 22:37-39).

First, “open hearts” is about loving God.

In Jeremiah, we learn that we find God when we seek for God with our whole heart (Jer 29:13)….

We believe that God loves us & wants to be in relationship with us….

We respond to the love God has for us—God’s love that goes before our own love…. We call it grace….

Is that so distinctly Methodist—that we love God? Of course not. Many religions the world over speak of loving God. But, our understanding of the role of love in the process of salvation sets us apart. We believe that salvation is a process, not an event. We believe that salvation is a process that begins at birth and continues at least until we die. Salvation is the continual outpouring of God’s grace, and our faithful responding to that grace.

Methodists have a theology of salvation that is grace-centered, as opposed to judgment-centered.

In a judgment-centered understanding of salvation, the sinner is fleeing the wrath of God as they come to Jesus…. The first things are sin, judgment, punishment, and the way out—the cross. Here, salvation is often seen as an event—the sinner’s repentance and acceptance of forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

These things all exist and they are worthy of knowing, but they don’t immediately yield an open heart to God. I am one who doesn’t believe that a broken heart is the same as an open heart.

I discussed this difference in theology with my Brother (a Missionary Baptist evangelizing in Mexico) and he told me that the most important thing first is to escape the wrath of God and then we can nurture a loving relationship with God. Besides, he said, some people will not respond to anything but their own sinfulness—they have to be first scared into their relationship with God. I’ve got to admit, he has a point.

But there are other people, and I suppose that I am one of these, who will not respond to the impending judgment of God. When I was younger I rebelled against such a notion. I figured that a God I must serve out of fear is not worth serving. Those evangelists that used to visit at the door said, “You’ll end up in Hell.” “Fine,” I’d reply, “…all my friends will be there.”

Then came God’s sneak attack—love. Martha was becoming a part of my life and I started back to a tiny church in Ft. Worth--Grace UMC (appropriately named). There, I began to respond to grace—God’s unconditional love for me. There was a preacher named Roy Bassett that loved me with God’s love. It took me a while to trust him—I didn’t think anyone could be that nice. God finally conquered me with grace, and I have never been the same. I have been “open hearted” to God.

Having open hearts mean that we live out our grace-centered understanding of salvation in the UMC.

Let’s say a girl gets pregnant in High School. Her friends want to throw a shower. Her friends ask you about your church’s fellowship hall. What do you say?

If your tradition of salvation looks first toward the judgment of God upon the unrighteous sinner, then you say, “No.” That is being faithful to your tradition and that is the correct thing for you to do.

Now, what if your church has an open-hearted, grace-centered tradition of salvation? What do we do if we want to show someone that they stand under grace—that although there is such a thing as condemnation, God would much rather love them than damn them? I have agreed to baby showers. I have asked only that the kids come and talk with me about God’s love for them, about Jesus, and about the importance of church in the life of their family….

Second, “open hearts” is also about loving our neighbor.

Last week I described that idyllic church born on Pentecost day (Acts 2:43-47).

That spirit of cooperation and togetherness didn’t last long. Paul’s letters to the churches address all kinds of conflict within the churches….

Every church is the same in this regard. Most churches manage to stay healthy and to nurture each other in the love of God. How does that happen? It happens because of open hearts for each other.

Nobody can truly have an open heart toward God and not have an open heart toward their neighbor (see 1John 2:9-11 for a good description of this). Because God’s love will fill our heart to overflowing and we will have to share it with each other.

I promise you that as you open your heart to God, then God will pour his love for someone else into your heart. You will know when this happens because it will be someone who needs love, and it will be someone who you would normally find unlovable. When this happens, just watch to power of God’s love in that person’s life. You will become an instrument of God’s grace—the saving power of God!

Having an open heart is a powerful thing—both as a church and as individuals. Open hearts live in the humble boldness of God’s love. It is that same kind of humility and boldness seen in the cross of Jesus.

Open hearts require boldness! What will people think if we let a pregnant teen into our midst? What will people think if we love sinners? People will think the same thing they thought of Jesus. “Look,” they said, “He eats with sinners. He can’t be the real thing. He is not truly of God. He is not the one we are looking for!” I can assure you, people today will say the same about us. Open hearts take boldness!

Open hearts give of themselves relentlessly! A child was asked, “What is love?” She replied, “It’s when dad reads a bed-time story and doesn’t skip any pages.” …you know what I’m talking about….

Open hearts live humbly. We ourselves are not here in this church to be happy; we ourselves are not here to rise to the top; we ourselves are not here to be adored for our talents; we ourselves are not here to achieve great things. Rather, we are here so that we might celebrate these things in each other….

Open hearts are not a secret.

Not at our jobs….

Not at our homes….

Not here in this place….

Open hearts—the People of the United Methodist Church

Hearts open to God in worship, service, ministry, study, stewardship, prayer, witness….

Hearts open to each other as we live a powerful life in love with the God of all creation, and in love with each other….

We are the people of the United Methodist Church. Thanks be to God, Amen.