"Guests of God, Hosts to All"

Introduction. In a chaotic world, full of dangers and uncertainties, thank God for risk-free trial offers. And for risk analysis and risk management and signs that warn us--"enter at your own risk." These things help us be in control, and control is important. Weight control and birth control. Crowd control and quality control. Remote control and cruise control. Must not ever lose control.

Move 1. Most people like to be in control. Most find it difficult to risk. They find it difficult to be vulnerable, in situations in which they are not in control.

Many feel that control brings power. They think that if they can manipulate the persons and events around them, then they don’t expose themselves to danger. Many people don’t take chances, because doing so might mean that they could fail. They avoid situations of potential failure, for they might lose power over something or someone in the process.

In Morocco, one of the most moderate of the Muslim countries, the government allows citizens and visitors alike to go freely around the country. The government allows people of all faiths to visit Muslim places of worship, called mosques. But, according to Mae and Merv Coover who visited Morocco 8 years ago, soldiers guard the Catholic churches in the country. They will allow visitors, as well as the dark-skinned African citizens, to enter into the churches; but they keep out "curious Muslims"-- the lighter-skinned Arabic, and presumably Muslim, citizens. The government is afraid they might be influenced by the Christian gospel (conversation with Merv and Mae Coover, October 21, 2004).

But Muslims are certainly not the only ones who fear loss of power. Many people in government, many people in business, many people of many faiths, do not leave things to chance, because doing so means things can change. Though that change might be for the better, people also know that change can bring loss of control.

Since people like to be in control, because control can bring a measure of comfort and security, they often do not risk, do not take chances, do not like change.

Move 2. How amazing, then, is the biblical story of Abram, the one whose name is later changed to Abraham. It is a story appropriately located in the Bible book known as Genesis, meaning "beginning." It tells of the beginning of a journey, as Abram leaves the security of his homeland behind, and risks moving to a new land, with nothing but a verbal promise–no contract, no paperwork, no deed–nothing but a promise. The story is about God’s promise, not initiated at all by Abram, that all families of the earth, all people, are to be blessed through him. Though today, over 3,000 years later, the meaning of the promise seems dim and unclear, it does shine forth brilliantly at times.

I have invited Ann Egeland to relate a story from her recent trip to Europe that illustrates this promise.

Ann: "On a recent trip to Eastern Europe I had an interesting experience. Betty Slack and I were traveling with a mixed group of people. Some had departed from San Francisco and twenty more joined us in Vienna. Together we formed a strange kind of family- strange and dysfunctional- but a family nonetheless. We were on a bus for many hours a day. We had shared meals, searched for toilets, or more importantly, and searched for the bewildering currency for the money to get us into the toilet.

On the eighth day of our tour it had turned cold and rainy. Our morning stop had been to Auschwitz and Birkenau the horrific death camps in Poland. Our bus family was pretty solemn and thoughtful when we returned to the bus. After a quiet ride we reached our afternoon stop at the Yasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, Poland. The predominantly Roman Catholic population of Poland regards this monastery as the spiritual center of their country.

The bus family was introduced to a small nun who was to serve as our guide through the Church and a pause at the shrine, which is so revered here, the Black Madonna. The picture of Saint Mary was painted hundreds of years ago on linden wood, which over time has darkened so the Madonna is a rich dark brown. Devout Catholics believe that a prayer, letter or rosary said to the shrine will give the person their wish, a cure or an answer.

As we walked through the ornate church I observed an interesting situation. Here we were a mixed bag of people- Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and atheist. We were following behind a little nun in the traditional habit of a past generation. Her faith and her love and her devotion to her job and her calling radiated in her face and sparkling eyes. She didn’t care that we were strangers; she wanted us to see the Shrine and share the mystery with her and the devout.

At one point we were ushered into a gift shop and Sister made it very clear that it would be very nice if we bought something for the care and upkeep of the church. Remembering my teaching sisters of my ancient past and the ruler, which I got for lack of cooperation, I immediately complied. No more whacking for me…. After the gift store we were given an opportunity to have our souvenirs blessed. I snickered to see the Jewish lady beside me place her post cards in the pile for the blessing. I appreciated that no lightning bolts or meltdowns occurred as we were all showered with holy water.

At the end of the tour the real experience occurred. Sister asked us to sing a hymn with her and say a prayer. We had a difficult time finding a hymn we all knew but it was finally decided that ‘Amazing Grace’ would serve us well. We started sing, this group who were as diverse as could be, and two-part harmony resulted. Others outside the group turned to look. We were for that minute a faithful family of God. And it didn’t matter the denomination or origin or nationality. Then we prayed and I saw people join hands. I felt a moment of family, and faith and joy that will be my most important souvenir of Poland."

Yes, here is the meaning of the promise given to Abram. Today in eastern Europe, just as in the past in the Middle East, it is a story of risk, of opening the self up to a new reality, of being vulnerable and a little out of control. This story of Abram–of journeying, of risking, of receiving God’s promise--is still our story today if we’ll let it be.

Move 3. In order to experience this story in our own lives; in order to have the kind of experience that Ann and Betty had in Eastern Europe; in order to feel God’s presence and promise as Abraham did; we must realize that we are guests.

Naturally, we tend to organize our worlds in ways that we are not guests. We see private ownership as extremely important. We tend to think in terms of "me" and "mine." This is my house. This is my car. This is my family. We use these words of possession not in any evil sense, but often in a sense of care and love. But we must admit that these words–"my" and "mine"--give us a sense of control. They help us feel comfort, that in this crazy, mixed-up and ever-changing world, there are some things that are "mine."

We find places of security in which we are the owners–and not just our houses or apartments. Many of us think of Cache Valley, or some other part of the country, as "my home." We think of America as "my country." We think of First Presbyterian as "my church."

Please don’t get me wrong–we need a sense of care and love for the things and ideals entrusted to us. But as people of faith, when we stop and think about it, we realize that these things–whether tangible or intangible–are not fully ours. We realize they are gifts from God. We realize that "my" world is God’s world, that "my" family are God’s children, and that "my" church is Christ’s church. We are guests of God here.

We see this attitude expressed by Abraham, as, at "his own" home, he warmly greets three strangers who arrive at his doorstep, and gives them the best he has to offer. We see him put himself in a secondary position, even though, presumably, he should be in charge. Like Abraham, we can experience God’s promise, that all families and all peoples are to be blessed, when we see that just like them, we are guests.

Move 4. Realizing that we ultimately are guests is the prerequisite to being good hosts. Realizing that we are not ultimately in control, that God gives promises of blessings and hope, gives us the courage to take leaps of faith, as Abraham does when he not only warmly greets three strangers, but bows down to them, exposes his back to them in an act of vulnerability that we don’t often see in today’s world.

How good are we in this church about realizing we are God’s guests, and then using that realization to be gracious hosts? In the October issue of our church’s newsletter, the Pulse, I shared with you a letter that I would like to share again today. The letter is from the parents, faithful Latter-Day Saints, of a bride married in this church a few months ago to one of our church’s members. The letter says,

Wow! What a compliment to you, the people of this church.

Yet, we are not perfect. Recently, I spoke with a couple who moved to Cache Valley a few months ago, two wonderful, friendly people who have been to our church, and also visited Prince of Peace Lutheran and St. John’s Episcopal. The couple, in a very non-accusatory, very matter of fact way, said that of the three churches, they received the "coolest," or least friendly, reception here at our church. They also told me, in a complimentary way, that they observed that we are very fond of one another. I thought to myself that, for some reason, we failed to extend the warmth of God’s presence we feel here with that couple on that day.

Last week, we heeded Betsy Franchina’s call to turn and greet one another with the phrase, "Love be with you." In that vein, I invite you, for just a minute, to turn to someone near you who you don’t know, or don’t know well, and greet that person. Tell them your name and a little about yourself, and then ask them a little about themselves.

We may overwhelm our visitors, but I daresay, there are some of us in this church who have been here for several years, who don’t really know others who also have been here for several years. So let us make ourselves a little uncomfortable for a few moments, and greet at least one person who currently is unknown or not well known to you.

Conclusion. (After a few moments have passed…) All of us–50-year members new members and visitors alike–are guests of God in Christ’s church. And all of us are hosts, able to warmly welcome, if not bow down to, the strangers in our midst. May we continue in this way each week, each day, as we continue in faith on life’s journey.

October 24, 2004

Rev. Dave Hedgepeth

First Presbyterian Church

Logan, Utah