Make Way for the Future… by Being Church

Isaiah 62:1-5

Rev. Dr. Mary Alice Mulligan

In honor of the national holiday tomorrow, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here’s a quiz. What was King’s full birth name? Got it? Michael Luther King Jr. When he was about 4 his father changed his name to Martin Luther King Sr, so Michael’s name was also changed. MLK Jr. Names matter. At least Rev. King Sr. thought so; and so did our faith ancestors.

Remember our ancestor Jacob? Esau’s twin. The name Jacob means “Supplanter.” Although Esau was born first, Jacob supplanted his birthright. But when God was ready to use Jacob, his name was changed. After wrestling through the night with a divine messenger, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, which means “Strives with God.” Names are so meaningful, the First Nations Version[1] translates the name’s full meaning each time it refers to a person, like when it refers to the one we call Jesus, the First Nations Version calls him “Creator Sets Free,” which is what the word “Jesus” means. That translation also calls the prophet we hear from today, namely Isaiah, “Creator Will Help Us.” We remember the people of Judah were conquered and taken into exile by Babylon. The people felt their name must be “Forsaken” and their land must be called “Desolate.” They felt God had turned away from them, even after they were allowed to return to Judah from exile, because they had so many difficulties to face trying to become a flourishing, self-sustaining people again. However, “Creator will help us” (Isaiah) tells the people God has turned again to them. They should be called by a new name: “My Delight is in Her.” Isn’t that enchanting? In listening to these name changes, we realize people’s identity changes with the name. To move from being a people Forsaken to those in whom God Delights should result in a significant change in how they see themselves. And a new identity obviously implies a new relationship with God. God delights in us. From the 62nd chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah, listen for the word of God.

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.

God creates people. A community of people takes shape through God’s actions. Think of the 12 tribes of Israel. We know from the name they are the offspring of Jacob/Israel. But the oral tradition of the people says God promised Jacob’s grandfather, Abram his offspring would outnumber the stars. They would be not just a huge collection of families; together they would be “a people.” The Bible dictionary defines “People” specifically as “a sociocultural designation for the social entity of Israel, in contrast to the term “nation” (Heb. gôy) …[which was used as a] political term.”[2] Generations later, when God chose Moses to help free the tribes from enslavement to Pharoah, what are we told Moses should say on God’s behalf? [another little quiz] “Let my people go!” In the middle of arguing with Pharoah and plagues coming and going, the book of Exodus reports LORD Yahweh saying to Moses: I will deliver them from bondage. Then adding, “[tell them] I will take you for my people and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burden of the Egyptians.” (Ex. 6:7) Hear it? A people is not just a collection of individuals. They become a community bound together in God’s care.

Jesus continued a communal understanding of God’s people by establishing his disciples into the church. Disciples became more than individuals who followed his teachings and served others. They were formed into a people, called out, separated from, the surrounding society. The Greek term “ekklēsia” meaning a gathering, was a translation of the First Testament term for the people, so early gatherings of Jesus people used it to show their divine connection. They too were part of God’s people. We translate the term ekklēsia as “church.” It rarely occurs in the New Testament, but Jesus is reported using it when he changes Simon’s name to Peter, the Rock and says, “On this rock I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18) In calling his followers into one body, Jesus was creating the church, a people. One of God’s gifts is creating individuals into a people.

Then we can choose to join. God provides the church so we can become part of the people, if we choose. Last Sunday we considered our personal relationship with God. Remember all the references were individual/singular. We got to investigate our own belief in the Creator and our personal connection to who God is, as we think about making our way into the future. Today we hear communal/plural references. After we figure out who we believe God is, we are invited to become part of the people in whom God delights. And who wouldn’t want to do that, especially as part of St. Andrew United Church of Christ? When we walk in the door of this church, we are immediately considered part of the St. Andrew family. And each person linking in online is considered part of the family as well, which is why we love it when you put a greeting on as we livestream or when you send an email comment later in the week. Each of us is welcome from our first minute. We are invited to brunch every Sunday and usually new people discover other people are eager to sit with them and learn who they are. Anyone who wants to become active in the workings of the congregation is invited to participate on a Team of their choosing (Mission and Outreach, Welcome, Stewardship, or Faith Building) – information in the announcements in the bulletin. The St. Andrew 101, Inquirers Class is starting next week. Every one of us has a voice as we together are making our way into the future. And most importantly, each of us knows whomever we bring to worship with us will be welcome. Truly welcome. We are free to become part of this people.

But there is more. Because being church also has expectations. If we become part of a people, there are responsibilities. The biblical book of First Peter boldly states: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were no people but now you are God’s people…” (1 Peter 2:9-10a) As part of God’s people, we are expected to behave in certain ways, being aware of how our life is now different from our old life.

World War 2 martyr and theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer called the church a community of mutuality. We are not merely an aggregate of individuals who have great fellowship. As individuals committed to God and to Jesus Christ, we form a people, a community of mutual responsibility and mutual accountability. We commit to each other. We are responsible for each other – so the joys and pains of the others are our joys and pains. Mutual responsibility. And mutual accountability, so we respectfully hold each other accountable for our choices and actions. We are an interdependent community of faith. God forms us into the church together on purpose, so the welfare of the whole depends on the welfare of each individual and the welfare of each individual depends on the welfare of the whole.

Many of us may remember the pledges made when we joined the congregation: follow Christ, resist oppression, show love and justice, witness to Christ, promising to continue to grow in faith, be a faithful member, participate in Christ’s mission to the world, and to participate in the life, mission and worship of this congregation. Quite a list. What we may forget is that the congregation is asked to respond, not merely to welcome the new members, but we promise our friendship and prayers, to share in the hopes and labors of the church, and to grow together in God’s knowledge and love. In other words, when a new person promises to be fully a part of this people, the congregation responds promising to help them by praying for them and supporting their entrance into this people, and trusting they will now help them in the same ways. There are similar responses when someone is baptized, or when someone is installed as pastor. As St. Andrew makes a way to the future, success is assured when the entire congregation is inter-connected each to the other by generosity, trust, committed work, patience, service, and especially love. What a wonderful people God has created here.

[1] First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament (Intervarsity Press, 2021, Rain Ministries)

[2] Harper’s Bible Dictionary, “People,” p. 770.