"Forgive Them, They Know Not" November 21, 2010

Jeremiah 23:1-6
Luke 23: 33-43
The other day I was visiting with a young couple, whom we had had the pleasure of marrying, about the Baptism of their newborn child. Cradling the child close to my breast, as I looked deeply into her eyes, her father asked “Rev. Lindsey, does the Presbyterian Church believe our child is damned to Hell?” Much like having cold water splashed in your face, as one representing the love of God, representing the Church, I instinctively replied: “Not This Child!”
But then inquired, What do you mean? And he said, “You know, in that stuff about Original Sin?”

I think there is a correlation here, that just as there is decreasing belief in the institution of marriage, because so many couples experienced the wedding, then realize that marriage is about a life together;
And there is decreasing belief in being a Family, because so many couples had sex, then realized that being pregnant they would spend a lifetime raising the child, who often return home after college;
So also there is decreasing understanding of what We Believe taking theological ideas out of context.

Original Sin is not the belief that Babies are Evil, or That Innocence is Condemned, not by any means. But Rather, that all of us, as Human Creatures, do exactly what Adam and Eve had done; when given the choice between acting in righteousness, a committed relationship with God, or satisfying our desires, we choose Candy, Fluff, Satisfaction of our Lusts and Desires in the Moment.
Original Sin is the Claim that we are Human, Creaturely, Driven by Desires, Sinful and thus Mortal. Are there any among us who doubt that this is so?
But the Context is not that we were created in Sin, not that God formed evil, horrible children, who would grow up to be evil horrible people; but rather that God formed humanity, all creation as naïve, therefore “Not Knowing”.

A basic flaw in beliefs today is that we have believed as SUPER-SESSIONISTS!
How is that for a $100,000 term from Seminary?
Almost as obscure as Supercalafragilisticexpialadocious!
Super-Sessionism is believing that everything that came before us was wrong and we possess all the answers. What a flawed way of thinking! Much like blaming someone who is blind, that they sinned. Or blaming those who are divorced for having been without love, it is simply not true.
There are times when human circumstance are insurmountable for human beings to control or conquer.
Rather than Humanity having Original Sin, or being destined to be profane, Christian Faith begins that humanity has been naïve, not knowing, awaiting a Savior who would lead us to God, bringing justice, transforming us from naïve creatures as hard-headed as a rock, as stubborn as a mule, to being divine. There is nothing wrong with being a Rock or a Mule, they are Creaturely, the reality is Not that we were evil, not that we were born into Original Sin, but according to Genesis, God Blessed Creation including Humanity as “Good, Very Good” for a Starting Point in Paradise.
But that at that point in human history, repeated over and over throughout time, we chose to satiate ourselves, gorging on Stuffing, entertained with parades, rather than giving thanks to God for our blessings.
The point of Christianity is not that Jesus is the answer to Judaism, to the Old Testament; but rather that Christ is the response to all in our lives that is not divine, not right with God.

The prophecy of Jeremiah was indictment that JUSTICE and AUTHORITY were to have been aligned! Instead of Kings acting as Shepherds, who risk their lives caring for the sheep; Leaders have lined their pockets and sacrificed the weak to make themselves more powerful. Jeremiah's promise is that there will eventually come one, who will lead, by caring for the least and lost. Rather than Kings and Priests serving as intermediaries, bearing our prayers to God and meeting out justice between people; that all would have direct access to God as their Shepherd, who knew and cared for each one as a lamb of God.

Life is not fair!
My parents had four sons. My father would repeatedly describe to each of us, that they would not treat us equally. Not that they did not love each of us, but that the needs of each in their time were different. The morning before I candidated here, a 9th Grader approached me and said “Rev. Lindsey, I want you to know that there are 412 tiles in that ceiling. I have counted every one repeatedly during sermons.”
Five years later, in 2001, four children came to us, as refugees from Civil War. One did not like the cold and wanted a family. One wanted a career in the Military and perhaps in Medicine. One wanted a career in Banking. One wanted to have a Clinic in their home village. Today, there is a Clinic in their village providing quality Health Care. The one wanting a Career in Banking entered the job market as the world economy went through chaos. He found a job and was laid off, and found a job and was laid, and found a job. One graduated Cum Laude from College in Biology, and is now the Executive Officer of the Army base in Utica. And one, this day, stands with a family of his own, presenting his second child for the Sacrament of Baptism. Each of us is unique, each is loved by God and by the community of Faith.

In this Sacrament, when celebrated for an Infant, we ask the parents to extend their faith to their child. Asking who is your Lord and Savior is demanding what is the greatest authority in your life as a parent. Is your aspiration that your child will be rich, that they will be healthy, that they be educated or Free? Or is it that God demonstrated to us in the Love of Jesus Christ would be their child's goal?

This Sacrament has in earlier times been described as washing away Original Sin, but even more is a claiming by God and by this community, that you will be loved. What ever your needs in life, to be challenged to use your gifts at math or computers and technology for the church, to be a leader sacrificing for others, to be warmed by love, if your son or daughter is far from home at war, if your daughter or son has done something horribly wrong, still they will be loved. No matter what.

I think the failing of the 20th Century was that people came out of the Great Depression, and back from War, THANKFUL to be alive, and we made them Members, assigning each to roles of administration. For a time, the Churches burst at their seams with thankful people. But Administration cannot hold people's faith! Instead the purpose of the Church is to teach people Discipleship and Compassion. If humanity cold learn those two lessons, what a different world this would be.
DISCIPLESHIP, continually learning, seeing the parables of life and interpreting faith in the world! COMPASSION, caring for others without reserve, giving of ourselves as others have need.

In recent years this congregation has radically changed. Someone described that as much as they loved and revered and feared Dr. Dobson, in his day, Children were not tolerated in the worship of God. Last Sunday, someone else described that what they love about the Church is that we are Child-Friendly.
Years ago, there was a story that Grandparents wanted their grandchildren baptized but were rejected; today we have come to recognize that residency is not requirement of the sacraments. That those wanting to receive the resources of the Church, wanting to celebrate their faith or struggle with their circumstance should be given everything we have to make a difference. We have positioned ourselves and challenged ourselves to continually be more compassionate and trusting. We have worked to be of service and mission. What I believe the Church could and needs to strive for, is to make disciples. The responsibility of the Church is not to have all the answers, but to probe the faith questions beneath the surface. When asked questions like “Is my child Damned to Hell” to ask “Why?”
When an infant or new believer is baptized, that we would not simply perform the ritual that day, but accept responsibility to pray for them, to hear their questions and look for their needs, that all of us might come to be Thankful for All God has given.