Sermon Texts

May 11, 2008

During this primary campaign season people have charged all the candidates with "pandering" to their audiences. Senators Clinton, McCain, and Obama all appeared on a world wrestling show and were accused of pandering to the young male audience that such a show appeals to. Sen. Clinton's having a shot, Sen. Obama's feeble attempt at bowling, Sen. McCain's asking about a barbeque restaurant's recipe for their sauce all raised charges of pandering to attract voters. Sen. Obama was criticized for not opening up his 3 on 3 basketball sessions to the media - they were intended to be time for reducing stress -- and then when he does have a session open to the press, he is accused of pandering to the basketball fans of North Carolina. You can't win! So all the candidates have been accused of pandering for votes, while they claim they are merely trying to be relevant and connect with the people whose votes they are seeking.

The Pentecost story could prompt similar charges. Jews from across the Mediterranean world heard the apostles speak in their own languages. Were the apostles pandering to these people with different native languages - or were they demonstrating that the good news of Jesus Christ reaches across language barriers? Could St. Paul be accused of pandering? In 1 Corinthians he says that he became all things to all people - pandering, right? But why? "So that by all means I might save some," he says - that is, trying all kinds of ways to connect with people so that they will hear the Gospel message.

As we hear the Pentecost story again, we rightly imagine that the Spirit might work within and through us to communicate our faith in Christ in language that speaks to people around us. Will that be pandering? It might be. Some forms of Christianity today that suggest that prosperity comes through faith or who emphasize an all-positive, "feel good," no cross or suffering Christianity may well be pandering to Americans who seek success, wealth, and a life that avoids difficulty. I read some comments this week by a youth minister from Naperville who cautions against a youth ministry that strives so hard to be relevant to youth culture that it loses its foundation in the Christian faith it seeks to foster within the youth it serves.

On the other hand, following the lead of the Spirit to share our faith in ways that speak relevantly to people around us is what the Pentecost story encourages us to do. Father Andrew Greeley, a prominent Catholic priest, author, and sociologist, recently commented on the large number of Catholics who ignore the official church's positions on a variety of moral issues. He suggests that one reason is that church leaders have not listened to their people. Students who feel that their teachers have truly listened to their concerns are more likely to take seriously what their teachers teach them. The point is valid for other Christians too - preaching and teaching the Christian message will be more effective if it reflects genuine hearing of people's experiences and concerns. Similarly David Miller, executive director for the Yale University Center for Faith and Culture and a professor of business ethics, writes that many business people don't see a connection between their faith and their work. Why? Because in their sermons preachers often talk about how church members should express their faith through the activities of the congregation but say little or nothing about expressing their faith in their daily lives, including at work. The example of Pentecost and the speaking in the languages of the people encourages preachers and other church leaders to speak the faith in ways that connect with the daily lives of church members and that are relevant to what they do the rest of the week.

So what does Pentecost mean for us? The festival of Pentecost promises us that the drive of the Holy Spirit is to communicate the message of God's love in Jesus Christ to us. As we hear in today's Gospel, just as Jesus came to those first disciples he also comes to us and says, "Peace be with you. Receive the Holy Spirit." And as we hear in today's Second Lesson from First Corinthians, the Spirit comes among us to give us each gifts - a glorious variety of gifts - but a variety of gifts intended for the common good and for building us all up in our unity in the Body of Christ. The Spirit speaks to us in all our diversity of gifts, experiences, and language and unites us in the one faith in the unity of the Body of Christ.

In saying this I am making a commitment to you as a preacher. If my preaching does not connect with you and the realities of your daily life, you have a right to come to me and ask me to make such connections. I'm not promising that this should happen every week, but it should happen from time to time if I preach in the spirit of Pentecost. One of the emphases of my sabbatical is to reflect on preaching and to work on ways to encourage sermon feedback - which should foster preaching that connects with you who listen to my sermons.

What does Pentecost mean for us? The festival of Pentecost also challenges us people of faith to find ways to share our faith that speak to the people around us. Bishop N.T. Wright in the study video for "Simply Christian" says that Christianity is the one group that exists, not for its own members, but to reach out to non-members. How do we speak out so that people around us hear the Gospel message in their own language? How do we share our faith so dramatically or effectively that we need to assure people that it's the freshness of the Spirit and not the effect of new wine within us?

It's perhaps good to remind us that it is indeed the Holy Spirit who works within and through us. We may be surprised by what works as effective sharing our faith; it may well be something we do or say unintentionally. Recall the words of Paul in the Second Lesson describing all the gifts of the Spirit and how they work together for the common good. Our role may be to be open to the Spirit and not be a barrier.

Besides being open to the work of the Holy Spirit, how do we respond to this challenge to share our faith in ways that speak to the people around us? It may well be that I as a preacher cannot really answer this question, for the answer will be different for each of you, depending on your gifts, experiences, relationships, and opportunities. What can you do? Listen. Listen to hear and understand the needs and concerns of the people around you. Forgive. In today's Gospel Jesus commissions his disciples to forgive. Sharing our faith means sharing God's gracious love and forgiveness in ways that speak to people's real needs. Encourage and build up. Recall how Paul says that the Spirit gives diverse gifts that serve the common purpose of building people up in the unity of faith.

And watch out! The story of Pentecost reminds us that being open to the Spirit means being exposed to new directions in faith and life that amaze us, that turn our lives upside down, that transform us and our faith community. Come, Holy Spirit! Amen.