Sermon - November 15, 2009

Pentecost 24 - Year B
November 15, 2009
Mark 13:1-8

No "Bait and Switch"

I am an avid Public Radio listener. Friday evening’s production of This American Life was all about bait and switch. They explored those situations where you are lured in by one thing only to realize later that the real purpose is something else completely. Most of the snippets were about religion. Ira Glass, the host, said, “There is a lot of Jesus involved in bait and switch”.

One guy being interviewed said that he was brought up in a church which believed that the task of evangelism was to communicate an unpopular message to people who didn’t really care anyway. He would go to the beaches at spring break and invite college students to a beach party, complete with shows, food, and drinks. It was after they arrived that they realized that the “drinks” consisted of pink lemonade and diet coke. The cool dudes wearing trendy beach clothes and handing out the invitations were now in Jesus t-shirts and talking about the dangers of not accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

Bait and switch. Not a very nice tactic. And certainly not something we would want to pull on those who have begun to trust us enough to start to think that they would like to join up with us and become a part of the fellowship.

I am thinking of Isabel and Seagan. I am thinking of their parents, as they bring them forward to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism. What of John and Becca, as they affirm their baptism and state a desire to live out their Christian calling in this congregation? And I am mindful of the role of the dice which means that all of these persons are joining the Church on the day that we read Jesus’ strong words of warning as to what life is like for those who would make such a choice.

“Do you see these great buildings?” Jesus asks. “Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

They are exiting the Temple when Jesus speaks these words. The disciples, that rag-tag band of faithful followers, are impressed with what they are seeing. Remember that the twelve were common persons, fishermen and peasants. They had probably never been to Jerusalem before. While they had heard Jesus preach about the city and its place of worship, they had not seen it with their own eyes. There were no doubt impressed. “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!”

It isn’t really accurate to refer to what happens next as bait and switch. It isn’t that Jesus lured them in with such sites only then to later tell them what would be in store for them were they to follow him. He had been traveling with them for some time and had tried, repeatedly, to tell them what following him would be like. Jesus could not be accused of bait and switch. And his words, spoken as the disciples are being wowed by the magnificent Temple, attempt to bring these converts back to reality.

I don’t think we have misled Isabel, Seagan, Jon and Becca. The same needs to be said for all the rest of us who sit together in this sanctuary. But as we sing our comfortable chairs, sing our lovely hymns, all the while smiling and looking exceedingly inviting, we need to make sure that we aren’t being attracted to the large edifices all the while missing the purpose of the Teacher whom we come here to honor.

The edifice which threatened to lure the disciples was the impressive Temple in Jerusalem. I am sure it was quite the sight. Among the modern edifices of which we need to be aware are things like prosperity gospels, or sure tickets to heaven. When we sign on, we need to make sure we are signing on for the real thing.

The baptismal liturgy clearly states what it is that this life is about. While there may be some lovely music along the way; while we might have occasion to dress in pure white linen; the promise consists of:
• Living among God’s people
• Hearing the word of God and sharing in the Lord’s supper
• Proclaiming the good news of God in Christ through word and deed
• Serving all people, following the example of Jesus
• and striving for justice and peace in all the earth.
The impressive edifices are only temporary. That which is permanent is our commitment to these ends. Being attracted for any reason other than living into these promises probably means that we have been lead astray by one who claims, “I am he!” but isn’t.

Perhaps it isn’t unfortunate that these persons have come to us on this day, with this appointed Gospel lesson, stating their desire to live among us. It is rather fortunate in that it gives all of us the opportunity to remember again what it is that following Jesus is all about. It does not begin nor does it end with being impressed with the large and impressive structures, it consists of what lies within - within our beautiful houses of worship; within the heart and soul of each who looks to Jesus and expresses a desire to follow him through whatever birth pangs are to come.

Amen.