Stewardship of Life

Spin Doctors or Cross Bearers?

By Sharron R. Blezard, August 27, 2014

Lectionary Reflection for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A

August 31, 2014

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” Matthew 16:21-22

We all like to know the news — that is, when it’s good news, happy news, or at least palatable news. Everyone loves a winning team, and only die-hard fans cheer through losing season after losing season without complaint, grumbling or worse. An entourage of speech writers, consultants, advisors, and spin masters helps public officials and personalities share every move in carefully crafted ready-for-prime-time and social-media sound bites. Hold your head high, put your best foot forward, and spin the story in its best possible light. Right?

Not according to Jesus you don’t. Jesus is a truth teller even when the news isn’t popular, pretty, or even palatable. Jesus’ truth is a costly truth, and he is quick to set Peter straight for trying to spin the message. Following Jesus is about truth and focus and dying — to self and to the lures of the world. Our invitation is not to run with the in-crowd but rather to take up a cross (scandalous!) and become intimately acquainted with losers. For it is only in bearing and losing that we gain real life, a message that leaves spin doctors scratching their heads.

At its root, the challenge for Christian communities today is really no different than what Jesus was trying to get Peter to understand some 2000 years ago. All the catchy programs, caramel lattes, slick graphics, and accomplished worship bands in the world won’t spin or alter the truth about Jesus Christ. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and his call is one to participate in the healing of the world by putting not only some skin but our entire selves into the process.

We are called into a way of life that runs counter to everything the world tells us is worth having and doing and being. We are invited into community, splashed with water and word, filled with Spirit breath, and gifted to give and give and give some more. Paul sums it up nicely in this week’s epistle lesson from Romans (12:9-21) where he outlines what it means to take up one’s cross and follow Jesus. It’s not all tough, awful stuff

either. There is great joy and reward in the discipleship journey. When the beloved community is at its best, it is nothing short of amazing; when it’s not at its best, it’s still the best way to live.

Cross-bearing is not a mandatory activity. Jesus makes it clear to Peter, and by extension to us, that if we’re not going to keep our mind focused on God and discipleship, we need to get out of the way. But if we let go of our illusions, our fears, and our rationalizations, we will find our eyes opened to real life. We will find Jesus in so many ways, in so many people, and in completely unexpected places. Don’t worry about prettifying the good news; the truth is so very much better, but it’s something each disciple must experience: all or nothing. Are you in?

In Worship

The Cross is a widespread symbol. People wear crosses, hang them on their walls, from the rearview mirrors of their cars, and tattoo them on their bodies. But who are the real “cross bearers”? Who in your congregation truly bears the cross of Christ, and what does that lo

ok like? Invite worshipers to name people of faith who were or are cross bearers. You can begin by naming a few of your favorite cross bearers. I would have to name Dietrich

Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, Jr., Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa, and Martin Luther. My cousin, Doris, is someone I would lift up as cross-bearer I know personally and who has influenced my own discipleship walk. Give people opportunity to discuss and name these people. Then have them discuss what it looks like for them to be cross bearers. What are the challenges and stumbling blocks? What might be counted as joys? Make sure your intercessory prayers include a petition for bearing one’s cross.

With Youth

Consider Paul’s instructions from Romans 12 as operating instructions for cross bearers. It’s one thing to say “deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me” and another thing to live it day in and day out. We do it better in community, so looking at Paul’s writing

provides a helpful framework for what this might look like. What if you took one verse every week and prepared a focus devotional for youth to use? You might consider using Facebook or Twitter to keep the youth conversing about these operating instructions. At the end of whatever time period you set, bring the youth back together to debrief about how the operating instructions helped or did not help. Another way to go is to use this passage as the theme for a weekend retreat.

With Children

Psalm 128 offers a wonderful opportunity for a “motion” play. Use the Common English Bible or Easy to Read Version and come up with actions for each verse and/or phrase. When you finish with verse eight, remind the children that the church is a place they can love, but that Jesus doesn’t just stay in the building all week long. Jesus dwells in the world, so they can love the world, love all of God’s people, and enjoy the signs of God’s glory wherever they go.

Photos: Leland Francisco, Tim Green, Robert Douglas.