By No Means
Last week in worship we were blessed right here in God’s House as we
were joined by Sim Bowen, his wife Corina and some members of
the Changing Lives Now Ministry residents. Residents who at one time
in their lives had been emotionally and physically berated, left to rot in
hell and homeless on the streets at a young age. Residents who at one
time had less self-esteem than a beaten animal as they were misled.
Matthew 15: 10-14
And Jesus called the people to him and said to them, “Hear
and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man,
but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Then
the disciples came and said to Jesus, “Do you know that the
Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
Jesus answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father
has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are
blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both
will fall into a pit.”
Now one may look at this scripture and ask what can one be offended by,
after all it is Jesus speaking! But if we examine this text there are several
items to pay attention to. First the Pharisee is not a person but a Jewish
religious group who zealously followed the Torah, the first five books of
the Old Testament as well as their own religious traditions. Second, The
Pharisees were highly respected in their communities but they hated
Jesus because he challenged their proud attitudes and dishonorable
motives.
There are many Pharisee’s in the world we live in, the world of 2005. I look
at them and ask the question, since when did God call you for advise? For
they tend to be judgmental and look down on others from their self
inflected positions of authority and knowledge that the common people
are not capable of having.
This morning though we are talking about more than Pharisee’s we are
talking of intake and output. Is what you eat what you are or is what you are
what comes out of you? It goes back to the vegetarian who told me that this
passage meant one couldn’t eat meat for if they did they would be a
murderer. Apparently the vegetarian never read the book of Acts 10: 10-15
And Peter became hungry and desired something to eat;
but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and
saw the heaven open and something descending, like a
great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it
were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.
And there came a voice to him, ‘Rise Peter; kill and eat.”
But Peter said, “No Lord; for I have never eaten anything
that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to Peter
a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not
call common.” This happened three times, and the thing
was taken at once to heaven.
This morning’s text from the Book of Matthew is about more than food.
This morning is about last Sunday’s worship service here at the TUMC.
Which is how we should worship every Sunday. For last Sunday we
experienced heaven here in this sanctuary, God was ever present as we
came together for fellowship, worship and communion as all are welcomed
at the Lord’s table. Right here in this sanctuary we worshipped together
with those who at one time were the outcasts of society. Kicked, beaten,
whipped, spit upon, denied their birth right by their families, society, and
yes the Church. Why? Because who wants to associate with those kind,
you know, those kind right over there.
Are you also still without understanding? Matthew 15: 15-18
But Peter said to Jesus, “Explain the parable to us, and
Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do
you not see that what comes out of the mouth proceeds
from the heart, and this defiles (defines) a man.
If you are watching TV or a movie and a racy scene appears do you sit and
watch or do you change the channel? Do you look at another as they walk
by and say HMMMM GOOD, I LIKE THAT, or do you say, Great job God,
and be thankful for what you have in your life?
Right here in this sanctuary last Sunday we hugged, worshipped, and had
fellowship and communion with a man who at one time was one of the
most wanted men, not by a magazine, but by the police. We hugged,
worshipped in fellowship and had communion with a woman who at one
time lived a life of disgust.
Their life at one time was defined by the world they lived in for they planted
weeds in the wheat field and what came out of their mouth was evil and
answering to the devil.
Matthew 15: 19-20
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery,
fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what
defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not
defile a man.
It is not the dirt on one’s hands that makes them unclean. It is the dirt in
one’s heart that makes them despicable. The dirt that leads one to have an
identity theft and to become involved in the Meth' epidemic in America’s
new drug crisis. But the glory is in knowing the truth, knowing what God
can do in a troubled person’s life.
Matthew 15: 21-25
And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district
of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from
that region came out and cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord,
son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon.
But Jesus did not answer her a word. And Jesus disciples
came and begged him, saying, “Send her away for she is
crying after us. Jesus answered, “I was sent only to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before
him, saying, “Lord help me.”
In faith a Canaanite woman crossed the gender boundaries of her time to
reach out to a man, Jesus. In faith, the Canaanite woman, a non-Jew,
reached out to one who is Jewish, Jesus. The question is where do you
stand in your lives? Who are you?
Are you one of Jesus’ twelve disciples who did not want to be bothered with
the woman for she was a pest begging? Are you prejudiced because she
was not of your gender, of your race, or of your nationality or intelligence?
Remember, it is not what one eats that defiles them, it is what comes out of
One’s mouth that defiles them.
Matthew 15: 26-27
And Jesus answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread
and throw it to the dogs.” The Canaanite woman said, “Yes,
Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their
Master’s table.”
In her culture one who was not a Jew was referred to as a “dog” for dog’s
walk upon the earth on four legs instead of standing upright like a human.
But our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not look upon her as a dog, for
he realized what she was saying to be true, all are welcomed to eat from
the Lord’s table as all are one in the eyes of God.
Matthew 14: 31-33,
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught Peter,
saying to him, “O little man of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 15: 28
Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be
it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed
instantly.
Are you willing to reach out to one who has little faith, one who may doubt,
one who is different to you? One who if you permit yourself to go beyond
the culture you were raised and lived in may have a great and deep faith.
Where the problem may be your heart and not what you eat.
The headlines of the USA Today for Thursday 08/11/05, read, “Religion
takes a back seat in Western Europe. Attendance is sliding; attitudes
toward God and church authority are changing. Survival is certain almost
for everyone so one of the reasons people are drawn to religion has
eroded.”
People have put their faith in that of this world and have forgotten that there
is victory in Jesus; blessed assurance Jesus is mine for He touched me, O’
he touched me and there is victory in Jesus for those who believe. To God
be the glory.
A fool for love of this world is blind and falls in the pit of hell.
One who longs for the love of Jesus is not a fool for in His
love one shall have a life everlasting in heaven above.
Romans 11:1-2a
I ask then, has God rejected his people? By no means! So let us leave this
house this day and spread the Good News that we have been called to
spread, that God has not rejected His people for there is victory in Jesus,
blessed assurance Jesus is mine for he touched me. He touched me and
made me whole.
In closing, let us pray, let us pray with our palms upward as we hear the
prayer of unanswered prayers from a Confederate Soldier,
Father, I asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I
might learn to humbly obey. I asked for health that I might do greater
things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked
for riches that I might be happy’ I was given poverty that I
might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the
praise of men; I was given weakness that I might
feel the presence of God. I asked for all things
that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I
might enjoy all things. I got nothing that
I had asked for, but everything that I
had asked for. Almost despite
myself my unspoken prayers
were answered; I am,
among all men,
most richly
blessed.
Amen
08/14/2005 JWM
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