"Stepping Out On Faith"

By Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

(Mark 6:7-13)

[6] King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." [15] But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." [16] But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

[17] For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. [18] For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." [19] And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,

(NRSV)

INTRODUCTION:

On the platform of a railroad station there was a large wooden crate with a big dog inside. He was the saddest looking dog you anybody had ever seen. It wasn't that he was ugly or abused, he just looked forlorn and sad. A young woman noticed the dog and asked about him. The railroad employee replied, "You would be sad, too, if you were in his situation. He's chewed the tag off the crate, and doesn't know where he's going."

That sounds like a lot of the people in the world today doesn't it? There are thousands of people who have untold monetary resources. They're skilled, well-educated, and talented. They're in good health. They have almost everything they could want, but they don't know where they're going. They've chewed the tag off their crate, they're bogged down and they're lost.

I. POINT 1:

A. I wish I could remember who it was who told it, but at the "Gathering" a few years ago in Ft. Worth, one of the Bishops told how every year along the California Pacific Coast there are thousands of flocks of birds who fly South for the winter. Many of those birds stop and gather in Monterey to rest and renew their strength. There they not only renew their strength but they gather the flock. When the flock is gathered, fed, and renewed they take wing and move on to their migration South.

But there are some of these birds, known as vagrant birds, who decide to stay in this lush garden of Eden. They have decided they don't want to move on. But a strange instinctual behavior takes over. This instinctual forces them to take wing. They do, but in confusion. Fighting it the whole time, they fly east, west, north and south, looking for the right direction; looking for their flock. Sometimes they're lucky and they find it and join up. In more cases than not, they never find their flock and they try to join up with another group of birds, a flock of another species but they never fit in. Then they do a strange thing, they take wing and they begin flying westward, out over the sea. They fly and fly until they are physically exhausted and then they drop into their watery grave.

We're just like that. We are a people who have lost our direction. We are a people who have found the lush Eden of some worldly pleasure and we want to stay there, rather than continuing on our journey of faith. Some of us are running on instinct and find ourselves casting about frantically for direction. We're lost and we're searching for OUR flock.

The witness of the Bible is that whether we have chewed the tag off our shipping crate or whether we think we have found Eden and have become enamoured of something other than Christ and our relationship with God, we're lost. Each and everyone of us is lost. That's the condition of the world. As a people, we have turned our back on God's creative purpose. We've turned our back on our relationship with God and we're lost.

B. There is a scene in WINNIE THE POOH that takes place as a result of the wind and the rain of the blustery day. Pooh sees Eeyore floating down the river. He and Eeyore carry on a conversation that goes something like this: Pooh asks, "Did you fall into the river, Eeyore?"

Eeyore replies: "Silly of me, wasn't it?"

Pooh asks: "Is the river uncomfortable this morning?"

Eeyore says: "Well, yes, the dampness you know."

Pooh then says: "You really ought to be more careful!"

Eeyore politely responds: "Thanks for the advice."

Then Pooh says: "I think you're sinking."

Finally Eeyore pleads: "Pooh, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?"

Our Lord heard that plea from us. Christ heard our plaintive cry to be Rescued as we floundered about in the far country; as we instinctually took wing and sought our flock, only to find that we had been left behind without a clue as to where to go. We cried out in fear and despair, knowing that if we took flight in the wrong direction, it would be our demise. God heard our cry of despair, "Lord, if it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing us?" God heard our plea and for this very reason, Christ came into the world and walked among us to lead us home.

C. Our society, our world still needs rescuing. Anyone with any sort of sensitivity at all, anyone with any sort of heart at all knows our world still needs a Savior. Every adult child of an abusive parent who is trying to break the cycle is crying out, "If it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?" Every youth on the street who has left home because of alcohol, drugs, abuse or neglect is crying out, "If it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?" Every family who is faced with the growing drug problem, the growing problem of violence in our schools and on the street is crying out, "If it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?" Every family trapped in the welfare system and struggling to be more is crying out, "If it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?" Every couple who have experienced the heartache of infidelity and are trying to rebuild their marriage but don't know where to begin are crying out, "If it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?"

Babies having babies with no father to help raise them. Drugs available on almost every street corner. People experiencing the daily poverty of mind, soul and body. Our society is experiencing a moral drift, a decline in commitment to others, a me-first attitude that robs life of its purpose. In both the inner city and the suburbs, the plaintive plea of our society is, "If it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?"

II. CHRIST'S CALL:

A. The Good News is that the call of God's people was heard by a loving God. God's great love for us, God's desire to reach out and rescue us was the impetus behind the coming of Christ. It was also the impetus and motivation behind the sending out of the disciples. The news was just too good to keep to themselves. So Jesus called the twelve and through the Holy Spirit, empowered them with his authority and sent them out to preach and teach and heal.

But as we look at the passage, it makes us uneasy. First we're not too sure about this evangelism thing are we? We're not too sure about sharing our faith with others. Our faith is such a private thing and it scares us to think about talking about it with someone else. We're not sure we even really know what we believe. They might think we're foolish, or even worse, they might challenge our faith.

The disciples weren't so very different. The disciples were still following along like a bunch of puppies. They Bumbled along two steps behind every punchline in his parables. They scratched their heads and tried to understand but still stayed about three steps behind in the meaning of the miracles. And yet despite their imperfect understanding, Jesus sent them out to others, trusting them just as He trusts us, to spread the Good News.

B. Second, this passage makes us uneasy because Jesus instructs the disciples to take nothing on their journey but the clothes on their back and a staff. Can you imagine taking a trip like that today? We wouldn't think of leaving home without at least three or four pieces of luggage filled with everything we could conceivably need PLUS travelers checks, information on some of the better restaurants, a daily itinerary, and reservations at the best hotels. I know how much planning has gone into our trip to the Holy Land and it's a pre-packaged deal. Can you honestly see taking a vacation or going on a business trip with only the clothes on your back, trusting the good graces of the folks at your destination to feed, house and clothe you?

When we read this passage and Jesus says only take a staff, we're hoping he means a chauffeur, a valet, our personal chef and an executive secretary. But we realize that in reality what Jesus meant was a walking stick, an item designed to facilitate movement and not slow the traveler down. Their focus is not be their needs. They're not to waste time searching for the best accommodations. They're not to be burdened down with possessions and a concern for comfort. Their number one concern is to be the proclamation of the Gospel. Jesus called them to step out on faith alone.

You see, possessions and position mean authority, personal authority. Jesus didn't send them out with their own authority. Jesus sent them out with dignity but without the power of their possessions. They went out not with their own authority, not with their own wisdom, not with their own power, direction and strength. They went out empowered with the authority, strength and presence of Christ. They stepped out on faith to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world like ours, a world crying to be rescued.

III. BECOME LIKE CHRIST:

A. You and I are called to step out with that same faith and proclaim the same Good News of Jesus Christ to those around us. We're called to walk the life of faith without a safety net and to trust in Christ and Christ alone for all that we need. We aren't supposed to be self sufficient, we are supposed to depend upon God in Christ. That's what faith is all about. Like the disciples we have each other and we have the authority of Christ. We have each other for mutual support and accountability. And we have Christ to give us strength, courage, and faith for our task. We have Christ to walk with us every step of the way.

Bill Hinson, pastor of prestigious First United Methodist Church in Houston, writes about the fear he felt when he was eight years old. It seems that one of his chores on the farm was to go out to the dairy barn and take his father supper. Most of the year that wasn't a problem. But when the days started getting shorter, there were many nights when he had to make that trek in the dark. To an eight year old boy, the 150 or so yards from the house to the barn was filled with all kinds of scary shadows after dark. For some strange reason, the familiar stumps and bushes took on frightening edges after dark. The rustle and moan of the branches would set the hair on his neck standing straight up.

Rev. Hinson said he never told his father how afraid he was but on one particular night it must have shown in his eyes and on his face. His father didn't mention the fear, but he made the excuse that he needed to talk to his wife. And he walked back to the house with his son holding his hand. Rev. Hinson says that did more alleviate his fear than anything his father could have said.

We are called to share the Good News of salvation in Christ with our friends and neighbors. And that can be frightening. But we need to know that we can go with our hand in his. He will not take us anywhere he has not already been. And he will not ask us to do anything that he will not fill us and strengthen us with the ability to do. All we have to do is agree to go and then put our hand in his. All we need to do is step out in faith.

B.And in so doing we become more like the Master, himself. The painter Rubens is recognized as one of the geniuses and masters of art. His work has been so influential that we talk about the "Rubinesque" figure. Rubens was also a pretty good businessman. Unlike most of the other famous artists, Rubens was fortunate enough to taste the fruits of his success while he was still alive. He was highly commissioned for his work. In fact he was so highly compensated that he opened what one writer called a painting factory. He started a school, then hired the students, and started an assembly line! He made the initial drawings and his students filled them in using the techniques he had taught them. Then with a few master strokes, he would complete the paintings.

Consider who we are. We're students in Christ's school. We're not masters. We simply fill in the sketches Christ has already begun. When we have done all we can, Christ puts on the finishing touches to produce a masterpiece. To understand our role in such a way relieves us of the burden of relying on our own authority and our own power. We are his disciples, his students, his servants, his apprentices. He is the Master. And he calls us, like the disciples, to step out on faith with him to create a work of art, a work of salvation that he has already begun and proclaim the Good News to a world hungering and crying to be rescued.

CONCLUSION:

At a missionary meeting some young people were discussing the text, "You are the salt of the earth." One suggestion after another was made as to the meaning of salt in this verse. "Salt imparts a desirable flavor," said one. "Salt preserves from decay," another suggested. Somebody else said, "Salt has healing power." Then a Chinese Christian girl spoke out and shared an insight none of the others had shared. She said, "Salt creates thirst." There was a sudden hush in the room. Everyone was thinking, "Have I ever made anyone thirsty for the Lord Jesus Christ?"

Our world is filled with people who don't know where they're going, who have chewed the tag off their crate, who are bogged down and lost. Our world is filled with people who are hungering and thirsting to be rescued. People in all walks of life are crying out: "If it's not too much trouble, would you mind rescuing me?"

You and I have been called to respond. You and I have been called to be like Christ. You and I have been called to step out on faith. You and I have been commissioned and sent into the world with the Good News of our Savior. He has touched our lives with his mercy, grace and forgiveness. The question and challenge of our faith today is: "Has your life ever given anyone hope because they have seen Christ at work in you? Have you ever made anyone thirsty for the Lord Jesus Christ?"