What Shall We Do?

Zephaniah 3:14-20; Luke 3:7-18

By now you have been reminded several times concerning the meaning of the season of Advent. Indeed, it is a time for us to prepare for the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One, the Savior into the world. Certainly, the for those who lived during Jesus' time, there was a definite feeling of expectancy concerning the coming of the Lord. Many fully believed in the imminence of the coming of the Messiah. And, so, when John the Baptist went out into the Wilderness of Judea, preaching down by the Dead Sea, preaching about repentance in preparation for the Savior, there were many who went out to meet him, to listen to him, and even to share in the ritual known as Baptism wherein they would renew themselves as God's people in a reenactment of the People of Israel crossing the Jordan River into the Promised land hundreds of years before.

Now, we have to remember that John was dealing with a people who were very proud of who they were. In fact, many of the people of Israel truly believed their being descendants of Abraham virtually guaranteed salvation for them. It didn't matter how nasty they might be to each other, if they could be counted as descendants of Abraham, then they just knew that salvation was theirs. It didn't matter whether or not they actually followed the laws of Moses or went to the Temple or to their place of worship to adore God -- They really believed that if they could trace their lineage back to Abraham, they had heaven in their pockets.

So, you can imagine what John the Baptist had to contend with when he met these people out in the Wilderness, out in the dessert of Judea. He had to cut through some of their haughiness. He had to break through that pride. Somehow he had to show them that they weren't as spiritually well off as they thought they were. And so, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" And we warned them to bear fruits worthy of repentance, because if they didn't God would choose other people to be his children. And John warned that every tree that doesn't bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

For the people of Israel these were very powerful words, indeed, words they needed to hear, words that John hoped would touch their hearts and make them turn to God, once again.

For us, here today, the question is: Are we like those people who John spoke to in the Wilderness? Are there those of us who also think we are spiritually well off, simply off so that we don't have to think about our salvation?

Of course, I'm always surprised about how many people don't get invovled with Christian Education for themselves. I mean, we offer some pretty good classes for persons of all ages in our church, yet only a small portion of us attend them. Do we think we've learned all there is to learn. Or, do we think that having graduated from High School makes us impervious to further knowledge? Or, are we so comfortable with our present stage in life that we really don't want anything to change? If we find that we are among people who think like this, perhaps the question we need to ask ourself is "What kind of language would John the Baptist use on us if he was here today?" Would he call us a brood of vipers and talk to us about fleeing from the wrath that is to come?

And, then, there are those in our society who believe that they have salvation in their pockets simply by virtue of being born. In fact, we have a civil religion in our nation wherein people think that it really doesn't matter if you believe in God, or in Jesus, that you'll get to heaven, anyway. They've read books like "Life After Life" that seem to foster a kind of universal salvation. They've seen the movie "Ghost" where only murderers and really bad guys go to hell, while good guys are good in spite of being a bit immoral, and still get to go to heaven without ever even mentioning the name of Jesus.

So, what would John the baptist say to our society, today? Would he call us a brood of vipers? Would he wonder if we really wanted to flee from the wrath that is to come? Would he be able to break through our apathy and our unwillingness to change; through our love of our material things at the expense of those who have little? Would he be able to get us to listen, to sit up and take notice?

The people in John the Baptist's day who went out to hear him preaching in the Wilderness were interested in hearing what he thought they would have to do to be acceptable children of God. Coming to him, the crowds asked asked him, "What should we do?" And his reply to all of them is interesting: "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." In other words, John the Baptist's advice to his people, if they wanted to be acceptable as God's children, they had to care for each other and share the things they had. And, somehow, I believe that that's what he would tell us today, as well. He would say, "Share with those who are less fortunate than you."

I'm proud of the way this church and our denomination, in particular, has been looking at ways to share with those who are in need. The other day our church received a letter from our bishop, Bishop Donald A. Ott. I'd like to read that prayer to you, now, if I may:

Dear United Methodist Christian Friends in the Michigan Area:

I have asked your pastor(s) to share this brief message with you. I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. As you gather for worship in this Advent season I want you to know that:

-- I am naming your congregation, your pastor(s) and Lay leader in my times of pryaer; and,

-- I am so thankful for the partnership we have as United Methodist Christians in caring for each other, in the family of our fellowship; and,

-- I am grateful for the ways you have, throughout this year, given yourselves to the vital ministries of compassion and care for others where you are and world wide through prayer and offerings.

As I represent you and Christ across our Michigan Area, the nation and world community, I meet the people and see the places where justice, peace, health, and holiness are present because of God's grace and your stewardship.

Thank you for your commitment and your faithfulness.

In Advent we wait, expectantly, knowing that God's plan is to make all things new. Jesus, the Christ of God, is our hope and our peace. I pray that this Advent you will know hope and peace and the making new of things in your heart, in your congregation, and in your community. That is what you have already helped God to create in others by your faithfulness throughout this year.

With my deepest gratitude to you and to our God.

Bishop Donald A. Ott

The people of Israel, meeting with John the Baptist in the Wilderness of Judea asked him, "What should we do to be acceptable as God's children?" John's answer to them was quite simple: Just care for each other. I think our bishop's letter says just about the same thing.

We who believe in Jesus Christ, we who say that we center our lives around the Son of God, must in very real ways come to grips with the question, "If we believe in Jesus, what should we do?" It's the same answer, really -- We need to continue to care for each other. In our prayers, in our trips to Cass Avenue to help the homeless, in what we leave little house in the narthex for the homeless of Ann Arbor, in our care for our children as they want to know more about Jesus, in our care for those around us -- we answer that question: What should we do?

It can be a mean world, folks. But, God's children can make a difference. And that's you and me.

Let us pray:

O God, we come before you today, asking you to guide us towards those opportunities where we can care for people in need. Help us to be generous with our love. Help us to share our clothing and our food with those who have little. You know what we should do. Show us the way. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.