Not the Fluffy Teddy Bear Jesus

Sermon based on Luke 9:51-62 and Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Jesus’ action are often easier to embrace than his words.  It’s easier to bear what we see from Jesus rather than what we hear.  We can interpret his actions, and often they can be what we want them to be.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to read the words of Jesus where it seems like he’s being mean and harsh?

Personally I’d prefer the cuddly teddy bear Jesus texts–where Jesus heals people, says nice things, and makes people feel good and warm inside.

But Jesus isn’t nice here–he’s harsh.  He says things that are hard for us to hear.  What do you mean, Jesus, that there are some that are not fit for the kingdom?  What do you mean, Jesus, let the dead bury the dead?

This isn’t cuddly teddy bear Jesus, this is make a darn choice Jesus.  This is “are you in or are you out” Jesus.  This is harsh Jesus, I have my eyes set towards Jerusalem Jesus.

In this text from Luke today, Jesus had just begun his journey towards Jerusalem.  He was focused on what was to come and he knew that would be put to death.  His path was in focus, and as he encountered his disciples he was calling them into focus.

When we hear texts like the one from Jesus today, it’s easy to react to them.  Jesus seems angry and impatient here.  He seems frustrated by his follower’s legitimate distractions while he has his eyes set on Jerusalem, on the death that awaits him.

The follower says, “I will follow you Jesus, but first let me say farewell to those at home.”  and Jesus said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

It’s hard to make a straight line with a plow when you keep looking back. Farmers need to have their vision fixed towards the horizon, toward the end of the field, to keep the planting lines straight.

You have to choose what you are going to look at.  Are you going to look back or look ahead?  Jesus made his decision–he fixed his gaze on Jerusalem.  He made his decision about what direction he was going.  And now, the followers of Jesus had to make a choice. Where would his disciples fix their gaze?  What direction would they go?

It’s not often that our lectionary texts–the ones from the Hebrew scripture, the gospel and the epistle–speak to each other.  But this week, I heard the conversation between the words of Jesus and the words of Paul, the author of Galatians.

Paul says, “For freedom in Christ has set us free. stand firm then and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”  For Paul, slavery is an important theme.  It was a common thing in first century Roman culture.  It was what the society was built upon.  The poor relied on those of higher ran and social class to have their needs met, and those folks were indebted to those above them.  Everyone needed a patron, a provider.  And in return you were forever indebted to them.  The God your patron worshipped, you worshipped, the things your patron desired, you were to desire.  As the client, the one in need, your patron didn’t care about you, they cared about your loyalty.  So in exchange for loyalty, they would throw you a bone.

There was also slavery as we understand it–people were in service of their patron when they couldn’t pay their debts.

Paul’ premise was that Jesus came to undo this system.  God was our patron, not some rich family  who had other loyalties and didn’t care about you, but God.

Jesus changed this system from patron client to jubilee, to bearing one another’s burdens.  We look after each other, we care for each other.  We are no longer slaves, but we are one in Christ, and as one body we look after each other, knowing that the love of God flows from us (albeit imperfectly) and we give and receive without expectation of repayment or servitude.

This new system that was part of the early church meant that the followers of Jesus must break their relationships to their patrons–they must remove themselves from the chains of their oppression.  This is one of the reasons that the Roman government came to hate Paul and the early followers of Jesus.  They were destroying the system that enslaved.  They were finding another way, and it was threatening to the whole structure.

Paul’s words in Galatians were in this context.  We are are free in Christ, so let us not become  enslaved again.  Choose your path–the path of Freedom in Christ–and do not stray from it. Keep your eyes on Christ, don’t look back.

These are hard words from Jesus and Paul.  Because I know I am enslaved to so many things.  Aren’t we all?  Don’t we all have things that enslave us?

We are enslaved to technology.  It’s a wonderful tool, and has in many cases made our lives more efficient and helped us to connect better with those we love.  But it can also be the thing we must be looking at instead of focusing on what’s ahead.  Have you ever been to a supper where everyone has their phones out?  I’m guilty of it too, especially if I’m feeling anxious.

We can be enslaved to our economic systems.  Our mortgages and student loans can feel oppressive, and prevent us from doing courageous kingdom work.  If we are enslaved to those payments and our eyes are turned away from the work of God when we must focus on making enough money to cover our bills.

We can be enslaved to our possessions.  The car needs to have an oil change, the computer has a virus and needs new protection, the air conditioner filter needs to be replaced, the dishwasher needs to be repaired, the suit needs to be dry-cleaned.  You get the picture.  The more things we have, the more work we have to do to keep up with them.

We are free in Christ, and yet, we have to admit that there are things that enslave us.  There are things that cause us to keep our hands on the plow, while looking behind us, or making frequent stops on the job.

There are so many things that stand in the way of discipleship, that can interrupt our urge to follow in the way of Jesus.  And Jesus, with his eyes set firmly towards his death, reminds his followers of this.  He doesn’t say it nicely, but quite honestly, there’s no easy way to say it.  There’s no easy way to say that the road to discipleship comes first, that we can’t move forward and look back at the same time.  These are harsh words of truth from Jesus.  And the truth is not always nice.

Christianity is not about the fluffy teddy bear Jesus.  It’s not about feeling good all the time.  It’s about recognizing the hard truth of following Jesus–that in order to plow effectively, we can’t look back.  In order to follow Jesus with our whole selves, we have to recognize those things that can enslave us.  In order to live a life of discipleship, we must embrace the freedom that we have in Christ.

While I’d prefer the fluffy teddy bear Jesus texts, I have to recognize that I don’t always learn the important thing in cuddly times.  I often learn the most important lessons in those times when life is harsh, when the words are not careful of my tender feelings.  I learn what I’m enslaved to when it is named, or when I am finally, painfully, free from it.  I learn how to follow when I find myself heading the wrong way on the path, in the dark without a flashlight.

God, give us the will to embrace the freedom you have given us, to be free from what enslaves us, and to follow you with singular commitment and clarity.  AMEN