God’s Produce Department
(Luke 3: 7-18)
Did you ever notice how nice and arranged the produce department is in most grocery stores? All the fruits and vegetables look so good and fresh, neatly arranged and recently washed. I like the peppers, bright red, dark green, vibrant yellow, eye-popping orange, and don’t forget the jalapenos and other peppers of varying flavors and hotness. They really do catch the eye. And many of us think an apple is just an apple but there are so many different varieties with different sweetness. It makes you wonder where this fruit comes from, who produces it, who picks it, and how do they do it so well? I’d like to speak to the manager and ask him or her a few questions about his produce department. How does he do it? It’s so organized and easily accessible.
And it’s producing good fruit that John the Baptist is ranting about in our scripture reading for today. And when I say rant, I mean rant. For his first recorded sermon he comes on pretty strong, especially when he welcomes the crowds who came to be baptized by him exclaiming: You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. Ouch! I’m sure some in the crowd thought they had come to see the wrong prophet, but John knew exactly who he was talking to. He knew that there were some people in the crowd who wanted to be baptized by him so they could escape eternal punishment, and they were not really repenting from sin, nor were they willing to change the way they lived. John had harsh words for such people because he knew that God valued reformation above ritual. And, just to make sure there was no confusion amongst those just looking for some cheap fire insurance he says: And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abrham’s children from these stones. For the overly pious religious leaders in the crowd, he knew they relied more on their family lines than on their faith for their standing with God. For them religion was inherited, a rite of passage. He wanted to make sure that they understood that a personal relationship with God cannot be handed down from parents to children. He’s talking about what we call “pew potatoes”, you know, those families or people who have been coming to church every Sunday for decades but have never gotten up off the pew to do anything that remotely resembles putting their faith into action. I know what you’re thinking. Is the pastor talking about me? Rest assured, I have given serious thought as to whether I have any pew potatoes and I can honestly say no, as I know many of you have done many good deeds and others are actively engaged in their work in God’s produce department.
Well, this really got their attention, and he followed his admonishment up by telling them that the ax is already at the root of trees and that every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire. That prompted many in the crowd to ask him what then should they do? He answered: Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none, and whoever has food must do the same. Then the tax collectors who had come to be baptized asked what they should do, to which John told them not to collect more than they were authorized to collect. And then the soldiers in the crowd asked what they should do, and John admonished them not to cheat or harass anyone and to be satisfied with their pay. John’s message to the crowd demanded at least three specific responses. First, share what you have with those who need it. Second, whatever your job is, do it well and with fairness, and third, be content with what you’re earning. That doesn’t seem too demanding.
To say that the people in the crowd were amazed with John’s forceful but frank message would be an understatement. Luke reports that the people were filled with expectation and began wondering whether John might be the Christ. The Baptist picked up on this and told them that he baptized with water but that the one who is more powerful than him is coming. The one coming will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire he tells them and that he will separate the chaff from the wheat bringing the wheat into his barn and casting the husks into the fire that can’t be put out. Luke closes out this portion of his gospel telling us that with many other words John appealed to them, proclaiming good news to the people.
So, that’s all very interesting but what does it have to do with us? Well, John Wesley, our founder, suggested over 200 years ago, that modern Christians may gain false confidence from their participation in the “visible church” just as ancient Jews gained false confidence from being children of Abraham. He said: “Any such false confidence is worthless; the ax is ready to fall at the root of those trees.” And that was over 200 years ago, begging the question: Where are we now? A great question. Are we merely a “visible church” or are we a church that produces fruit that shows we have changed our hearts and lives? Is our church one of God’s produce departments?
Now, if you’ve been receiving, and reading, my emails you will know that recently I read a book that talks about the five congregational types. When I started reading the book I wondered what type we were and then realized that a well-balanced church has a little of each type and that a church that was strong in one type it would be weaker in the others as in the strong personality would overshadow the other personality traits. Not in any particular order, I’d like to tell you about the types and let you form your own opinions as to which one we are, where we are strong and where we are weak. The first one is Proclamation Centered where the congregation values truth and loves growing and sharing in quality teaching and preaching. I’ll let you be the judge on my preaching, but I do a fair amount of research in preparing my sermons and often refer to our United Methodist Book of Discipline, the writings of John Wesley, a couple of commentaries, and the Bible to support my message. I hope there is a component of teaching in my preaching, but where we are obviously weak is in adult education. And as I am part time this is an area in which the congregation needs to step forward and develop a plan so we all can grow spiritually. The next congregational type is Outreach Centered where the congregation values service and embodying the good news in word and deed. They live to serve those outside the community. In my opinion, this is where we are strongest with our soup kitchen, clothes closet, and food pantry just to name a few of our outreach ministries. The third is Healing Centered where the congregation values wholeness and manifestation of Jesus’ life in the world, seeking to be a community where people experience healing. Some of the areas in which we promote healing are through our kindness and empathy we exhibit on Saturdays as people in distress come to us for help. Many of these folks are hurting and we do what we can to ease their suffering. Providing a place to sit and eat a nutritious bowl of soup is very comforting. Providing places for people to live and get back on their feet goes a long way in the healing process and partnering with all of the other agencies helps us heal countless people. The fourth congregational type is Generosity Centered. This congregation values singleness/generosity and uses its resources to invest in ministries that make a kingdom impact. Generosity is another of our strengths as we often, without hesitation, send checks to worthy causes, especially when a tragedy strikes like a wildfire, flood, or other disaster. We are also generous with our facilities as we allow other groups to use our rooms for meetings and we’ve used our property to house people needing a place to live whether it’s at Margaret’s Village, Peter’s Place, or in our two apartments in the remodeled parsonage. The last one is Fellowship Centered where the congregation values community and loves to be together and nurture one another. I think we do a pretty good job of fellowship which also happens on days other than Sunday with our other activities and I have seen some folks form some pretty strong friendships and bonds. But I think we could do better. And, for that matter, there isn’t a congregational type that we can’t do a little better in and that is where you come in. What can you do to make us better to the point where we are producing even more fruit that is pleasing to God and of value to his children?
And that’s the point. We are God’s produce department. He has put us in charge and is depending upon us to manage our resources to where we can do the best job, be the most fruitful ministry, with what we have. Our turning from sin must be tied to action, righteous action in His name. We must acknowledge that following Jesus means more than just saying the right words; it means acting on what he says, getting up off the pew. John’s message in which he singles out three groups as an example of how to do better is illustrative as there probably isn’t a profession, job, or ministry out there where we can’t be a little more Christ-like. We can be a “visible church” in a good way. A church where when people pass by, they can say to themselves that this is a church that puts their faith into action. A church with a well-organized produce department.
Let us pray.
Gracious and loving God, make clear to us through your Spirit what it is that you require of us, your faithful servants. What sacrifice, desire or tribute do you wish us to bring forth? Guide us in our daily lives to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you as an example to all as to what it means to be redeemed. Through our confessions of sin and our repentance enable us to use your forgiveness to lead our lives in a manner that fulfills your law and may your Son, our Savior, endue our will with His grace to strengthen us as we endeavor to do what it is you require for the restoration of your creation. This we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.