Be strong in the Lord

Lent 3 “Be strong in the Lord” 24/02/08

Joshua1.1-9; Ephesians 6.10-20.

A recent survey identified the most popular lies in common usage. See if some of these are not familiar to you:

“I’m fine.” “Nice to see you.” “Sorry, I haven’t any cash.” “Sorry I missed your call.” “We must do lunch.” “Of course I remember you.” “I’ll get back to you.” “I’m so glad you asked that question.”

These are some of the best avoidance tactics we have for putting off making a decision, escaping confrontation, deflecting embarrassment, and avoiding the truth.

I am sure that Joshua, in his encounter with God, must have been tempted to say “Do you mind if I take some time to think about this?” Otherwise, Why would the Lord have said to him “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged” unless he knew that his servant, was both terrified and discouraged at the task of leadership ahead.

“No one will be able to stand up against you; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” Joshua thought “Actually, that’s exactly what I’m afraid of.” “I will never leave you or forsake you. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go!” Joshua was tempted to reply “Here am I Lord, send him.”

He wouldn’t have known the story about the Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck who was asked for his idea of heaven. Unsurprisingly, he imagined somewhere like Ronny Scott’s in London or the Vanguard in New York, listening to the best kind of Jazz musician. “What would that be?” asked his interviewer? “There are three kinds of Jazz player” He replied. The first plays a solo and you think ‘Great.’ The next time you hear it, it’s the same. It’s all rehearsed and learned. That’s not Jazz.

The second takes longer to sort out because you hear something different each time but after a while you realise he’s a ‘bag of tricks.’ randomly recycling the same old ideas.

The best player is one with the courage to take risks with new ideas, maybe even fail. You’re on the edge of your seat, it’ authentic and of the moment and you know it will be different next time. That’s Jazz!

In Old Testament terms it’s the quality of the faith of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob. They were all challenged to move outside their comfort zone, to embrace uncertainty and vulnerability, and there to find an authentic life, playing a part in God’s purpose for his people.

In the New Testament it is what we see in Christ himself, who is tempted to find a less costly route to fulfil his calling; to escape being handed over into the hands of sinful men and women, to avoid the cross. “Let this cup pass from me, yet not my will but yours be done.”

This challenge is there for the church, in every generation and every walk of life to take up the cross and follow in his footsteps. By that I mean embracing uncertainty and sometimes risking failure.

You will be aware of the struggle being played out between church and state in Zimbabwe. Nolbert Kunonga until recently bishop of Harare, in a bizarre move, unilaterally declared himself Archbishop of Zimbabwe. An outspoken admirer of Robert Mugabe, he enjoys the support of police and security forces. Church leaders who opposed this were arrested and their churches closed. Kunonga has been richly rewarded for his loyalty to the state.

In contrast with this collaboration, Pius Ncube, former Catholic Archbishop of Bulawayo a man known for his faith and deep belief in non-violence, has always opposed the state-violence he has witnessed at first hand. He called on fellow Zimbabweans to join him in peaceful street protests, knowing full well this could lead to personal injury or death. He said:

“The problem with Zimbabweans, is that they are not very brave, and neither am I.”

Yet are these not the very people God calls when courageous action is needed? Abraham, and a whole litany of patriarchs, prophets and kings were all aware of their human frailty when they responded to God’s call.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

There are always exceptions though. Only this week, you may have read that everyone was locked out of Harare Cathedral by the authorities. An 80 year old parishioner is in the habit of feeding the birds and topping up the bird bath in the cathedral precinct. She and her bicycle, were forcibly ejected by the police, who threw her to the ground and beat her about the shins. She remained defiant. “This is nothing! I used to play hockey for my college and my shins are quite used to being beaten.”

Pius Ncube stands in the tradition of Janani Luwum, archbishop of Uganda who was martyred for protesting against the killings and disappearances under the regime of Idi Amin. A close friend of his, vowed to take his place and served as a high court judge in Uganda, until he refused to convict an innocent political opponent. He was beaten, tortured and escaped with his life to the UK.

I speak of course of John Sentamu, archbishop of York who in a recent TV interview, removed his clerical collar and to everyone’s amazement, cut it into pieces saying “This is what Mugabe is doing to Zimbabwe, I will not replace it until he is out of office.” When no one listens and you are ‘in dialogue with the deaf, you have to take drastic action.”

“Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.”

The challenge for the church in every age is to avoid drifting away from reality and recognising when fresh vision and change are needed. When it is time to speak up for the truth. What is the reality we so easily forget?

Perhaps T.S. Eliot can help us in these lines from Murder in the Cathedral:

“Destiny waits in the hand of God, shaping the still unshapen: Destiny waits in the hand of God, not in the hands of statesmen, who do, some well, some ill, planning and guessing, having their aims which turn in their hands in the pattern of time.”

“Those who put their faith in worldly order, not controlled by the order of God, in confident ignorance, but arrest disorder, make it fast, breed fatal disease, degrade what they exalt.”

So it is that Christ offers no resistance at his arrest, allows himself to be handed over, into the hands of his accusers and at his most vulnerable, overcomes once for all, “the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers of this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

We need the courage of those who like Joshua and Moses before him, are prepared to move into uncharted territory, embracing uncertainty and vulnerability. finding in God’s promise, the resources they need to take up their cross.

In our own Anglican church, perhaps it is courage for an archbishop, holding together a wayward communion, raising unpopular issues and weathering the media storm. Or a young church in London, St Peter’s on the Winstanley Estate in Battersea, aiming to help people practically and spiritually in a hostile, drug ridden environment.

I have in mind a group of churches in Doncaster working voluntarily with so called feral youths and ex offenders; my own neighbouring churches in Sheffield offering sanctuary to asylum seekers; building bridges with our Muslim friends, exploring new and creative ways to build community.

It is a courage that reaches for reality, that knows its own human vulnerability and refuses to hide. A courage that finds quiet confidence in the fragile glory of God, at the heart of all things, revealed in Christ. Amen