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Sermon July 4 Gal. 6 2 Kings 5:1-14

President Clinton's first inaugural address did not get the attention it deserved  due to his his emphasis on our passage this morning. He tried to make a political sermon to push the idea that as citizens of our country, we are in this together. Bear one another's burdens Paul's words continue to speak directly to the church today. I think back to the threshing crews that helped each other out, farm to farm. Not only is it a physical sharing of burdens, this includes emotional and spiritual burdens. Most of us would far rather help others carry their burdens than to be a burden to others. most of us would rather not ask for help in dealing with our burdens.

 

 

Since we are all in the same boat, Paul asks us to live, not in rivalry, but as brothers and sisters in a family. At the first glance, it looks as if Paul contradicts himself in the passage. I think he is saying that we should take personal care of our own business and needs, but at the same time watch out for others, to help with the free rider issue. Of course some people would prefer to be dependent and to rely on others without lifting a finger. For  Paul, assume the best, not the worst, help out people when you assume that they have tried and tried hard, but they are at the end of their rope. Paul does want us to admonish the sinner. he does so with warning that we find it easier to judge others harshly and be easy on ourselves. If we are to administer discipline, it is  for restoration, not punishment.(Lev. 19:17) Admonishment should be  offered gently. We could take the phrase to bear one another's burdens as to bear with each other's foibles, as much as help carry them. We then fulfill the 2 part teaching of Christ-we play out the love of Christ when we so act for others. When we feel urged to admonish others Paul pushes self-examination. It is an art to learn how to correct people in a way that can elicit some change without them getting riled up in a defensive way.We are all involved in a mix of personal and mutual accountability. All of us are mortal. All of our days are shorter than we would like. What should we do with the time we have?  Seize the opportunity while we have time to do good-for those we can do good, no matter who they are. I have always like the phrase the whole household of God. The good we do is planting seeds for the future; it sows in the Spirit.

 

In the Elisha passage, we face squarely the question of who is our neighbor. should the enslaved prisoner help her new master/ Should the great general lower himself to ask Israel for help? Should Elisha help this foreign general? Let's search for an analogy. What if the Iranian president needed medical aid in Israel? What if the number two Al Qaeda leader needed our medical help? When Jesus alluded to this passage in Luke, his sermon almost got him killed, because the people did not want to hear that god's love is impartial and not limited to the chosen few. Charity begins at home, but it does not end there, and being  chosen doesn't mean special favorite, may mean more responsibility. the  passage also tells us to watch out for expectations. Naaman expected a big splash, but all he got was liturgy, to wash himself clean in the Jordan. We want big time spiritual experiences, but the divine response is to pray, to go to church, to help when you can. Sometimes God gives us a Damascus Road experience, but much more often it is in the unspectacular.