SAYING AND DOING

Dr. Richard J. Henderson September 25, 2005

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Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32

Introduction

Many years ago in another church, I worked with a wonderful man, who not only attended church all the time, but also chaired the Education Committee. He was calm and thoughtful; he developed a strong committee, and cared deeply about the church. He got things done, with care.

About a decade later, I got to know a person who worked with this man every day in his office. After describing how demanding, harsh, and angry the man was, he commented to me, "Well, you know what he's like," assuming he was the same way at church as he was a work. I didn't recognize the person he was talking about. The man he described in the office was almost the opposite of the man I knew at church.

Apparently, this man kept his faith at church. What he said at church and what he did at work were very different.

I

In our gospel reading today, Jesus is confronted by some religious leaders who questioned his authority. During their conversation, they try to trick him into answering a question so they can use it against him. Jesus sees what they are up to and asks them a question back. They can't answer Jesus' questions without getting themselves in trouble, so Jesus doesn't answer their questions.

Then Jesus goes on to tell them a parable about a man who had two sons. The father says to the first, "Go and work in the vineyard today." The first son says, "I will not." But then he changes his mind and goes to work.

The father goes to the second son and tells him to go work in the vineyard. The second son says, "I go, Sir," but he doesn't go. Jesus asks, "Which son did the will of his father?" Of course, there is only one answer- the first son, who said no but then changed his mind and went. In some ways, my friend from the other church was like the second son.

There are people who go to revivals over and over again. They always come forward at the altar call, often with tears in their eyes and true sorrow. They confess their faults and take Jesus as their savior over and over again. Maybe there is something in the emotional experience that helps them. But if we don't change our actions, we won't really feel better about who we are.

Jesus said that our words don't count if our actions don't change. We can go to a dozen altar calls, but if we don't change the way we live, it doesn't amount to anything. In the Bible, repenting isn't so much about emotional responses as it is making ethical changes.

II

There is a televangelist who appears to be the epitome of a religious person. When see him on television he preaches devoutly; he takes his colleague's hand and prays fervently to God with his eyes tightly closed. He appears to be a devout Christian man. That same person broadcast to millions of people that he thought we should murder a president elected by the people of his country, because he didn't like him. He went on to say that this would be okay because his assassination wouldn't disrupt the flow of oil to the United States. He then denied saying it, which wasn't too wise since he was broadcasting the message, and it's pretty easy to check. He has since apologized, but the cat is out of the bag, so to speak.

Jesus makes clear in this parable that it isn't how religious you seem, but how you act that demonstrates your faith. Words don't count, actions do.

III

In this parable, the first son says "No" but changes his mind and goes to work. The people who don't appear to be religious, but do God's will are the ones Jesus lifts up to the religious leaders. Maybe they're never in church, don't understand about Jesus, aren't even sure about God. Yet day in and day out, they live a life that honors God. Maybe they avidly search for peace, insist that people be treated fairly, generously jump in to help someone in need.

What about a person like Gandhi, who wasn't Christian but surely did God's will in bringing freedom to India without being violent and worked for justice for people who were put down. Gandhi taught Martin Luther King, Jr. how to bring about change through non-violence. Did he say, "No," but then did God's will? What about those who don't seem to be godly, but do God's will? What of the homeless people who constantly look out for their homeless friends to be sure they have a place to stay and food to eat? They aren't in church. Frankly, church people wouldn't like the smell, but they are showing the compassion Christ demands.

IV

Okay, it's pretty clear. Those who say, "Yes" to God, but don't do God's will are in worse shape than those who say, "No" and then do what God wants. Actions count, not words.

But there's more. After saying this, Jesus flings an insult at the religious leaders. "The racketeers and the hookers are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you." Can you imagine someone saying that today to a group of ministers, priests, bishops and archbishops? Those you look down on, who are rejected in society and especially in church, will be walking into God's kingdom ahead of you!

It reminds me of a conversation I had with a policeman who worked at the county jail. He said, "I don't know why you church people help these inmates; they're the bad guys." Jesus says, sometimes it's not so easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys.

Conclusion

This parable begs a question. I know you've thought of it already. What about the son who says, "Yes, I'll work in the field", and then actually does? The parable points to this as the ideal, without mentioning it.

One of the things I love about my job is the people who state their faith and then live it everyday. These are the people who are committed to Christ, who demand fairness, who give generously, whose compassion comes as a natural response, and who humbly stand before God.

There is a man in the congregation who sat in a board meeting when everyone agreed that a long time employee should be fired for a mistake he made. He listened to them rail against this man. Then he calmly said, "He has given us years of loyal service, and yes, he has made a big mistake, but who of us hasn't? I believe it is wrong for us to fire him without giving him a second chance." His comments turned the whole board around and the man was kept.

Every other Monday, people come here to distribute food to supplement the pantries of low-income people. Somehow, they are always smiling and pleasant in doing their work. Other people take a week of their vacation, put down a good bit of money, and then go to Honduras to spend that week living in "rustic" conditions building bunk beds in a shelter for abused women. At the end of the week, they are thankful for the chance to have been there. These are just some of the people at Faith Community who not only speak their faith, but do it.

Clearly what the father wants is a child who will say, "Yes, I will do the work," and then does it.

Amen

©Richard J. Henderson 2005