BAN THE 'BUTS': NO EXCUSES!
Freedom for Maximum Living
Pentecost 5
Luke 9:51-56 and Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Paul Swartz - June 27, 2010

Once upon a time there was a court jester who had served the Caliph at Baghdad and his court, keeping them amused whenever they called on him. One day in a moment of thoughtlessness, not unlike General McChrystal, he offended the Caliph. For his impertinence, the Caliph ordered that the jester be put to death. "However," said the ruler, "in consideration of your many years of service, I will let you decide how you will die."

"Well," replied the jester, "if it's all the same to you, O most generous Caliph, I choose death by old age."  I don't believe that was one of the choices presented to Ronnie Lee Gardner, convicted of murder and executed in Utah by a firing squad last week.

There are some things we get to choose, and some things we don't. We don't normally get to choose how we'll die. But we do get to choose how we will live.  Paul wants us to clearly understand that truth in the contrast he makes between living according to the "desires of the flesh" or the "desires of the Spirit."  And so our Gospel invites us, as followers of Jesus, "to set our faces" on a journey of discipleship that involves choices and commitments that lead to MAXIMUM LIVING.

I don't know many people who struggle to choose good over evil. There are a few, I admit. But most people I know, and I include myself, struggle with a greater reality. Our faith challenges us not when we're at our worst but when we think we're pretty good. It is then that we are challenged to remember that the very good is the worst enemy of the best. That's when it REALLY gets tough! 

Some years ago, at a church conference the leader asked participants to take part in an exercise. Her purpose was to demonstrate that many times people do not present what is really concerning them. Instead, they come forth with a blanket statement that is so broad it is difficult to deal with. Conferees were asked to break into "twos"; then, each one was to present something with which they had a problem -- something that upset them -- that bothered them. After the sharing took place, the leader then asked, "That's your problem, but what is your REAL concern?"

Here’s how it went in one of the teams. One woman immediately stated a problem. She was working as a layperson in a church, with the responsibility of family programming. She said she gets really upset when people say that the church is very important to them, yet immediately say that they can't help with a specific program or emphasis because they have to do something which is more important. Her examples were, "I really think that the children are a top priority for the church, but I cannot teach Sunday School because that is the morning that my children sleep in, since they've been up late the night before." Or, "I think that family outings or fellowship time is important, but I cannot come to the picnic because my son has baseball practice that day." She gave several other examples, all of which are excuses similar to those every church worker has received. After listening, her partner responded as the leader had asked, "That is your problem, what is your real concern?"

Her response was: "My concern is that I wish we could kick all the "BUTS"  out of the church!" She then went on to explain that grammatically, anytime a sentence contains the word "but"  it entirely negates what was said previously.

You can see where this is leading. The three conversations in our Gospel are about choices too. Jesus has begun his ultimate journey: as the text has it, "He set His face to go to Jerusalem."  The cross! Nothing would interfere. Not an inhospitable Samaritan village. Not angry followers who would call down lightning strikes to avenge the insult. Someone came along who indicated an enthusiastic desire to accompany Him: "I will follow You wherever You go." There is the hint of a raised eyebrow in Jesus' reply: "You want to follow Me? Really? Really? Do you know what that might mean? 'Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.' In other words, are you ready to do without? Just to follow Me? Really?"

We need to understand that there would have been few individuals in the First Century whose conception of a Messiah would encompass a suffering, rejected, and crucified Savior. Yet there is a deeper level to this dialogue. We're familiar with the association of nations with birds and animals. The United States has its Eagle, England the Lion, Russia the bear. In the First Century, the Gentile nations, including Rome, were referred to as "birds of the air”  and members of the Amonite nation were called "foxes."  You may recall Jesus referring to Herod as "that fox" (Luke 13:32).  

In other words, everyone is at home in Israel except the One who truly is Israel. The overlords and their puppets have palaces, but God's Anointed has nothing...not even "a place to lay His head."

Another joined the march and Jesus invited him, "Follow me."  BUT he said, "First, let me go and bury my father."

Strange reply from Jesus: "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."  How are we to understand such a curious answer? First, we can eliminate the idea that Jesus is suggesting that the man abandon the funeral arrangements for his Dad who has just passed away. Had Dad just died, the young man would be mourning. He would not have had time to be hobnobbing on the road with a teacher.  The tradition of the culture (and the practical necessity forced by living in a hot climate) was to proceed to burial within 24 hours after death. Junior was not being instructed to do something to which anyone with an ounce of sensitivity would have objected. 

But on a deeper level, the phrase "to bury one's father"  has a long history as an expression for doing one's sacred duty of remaining home until one's parents are respectfully buried. That could be years down the road. Instead, we should understand the excuse as being, "Lord, I will follow you, BUT let me get all family obligations out of the way first."  And even that doesn't not sound especially unreasonable. However, the question arises as to when will all the obligations be "out of the way?"  If that man's family is anything like MY family, the answer could well be NEVER.

Still, the "Let the dead bury their own dead" response sounds a bit harsh. Perhaps we should understand it in the same way as Jesus' instruction to pluck out our eye out or cut off our hand if we look at something or touch something we shouldn't -- a bit of Semitic hyperbole that dramatizes a point but is not meant to be taken literally. SERIOUSLY, but not literally. "The living," Jesus is saying, “choose the present reality of God's Kingdom. Let the spiritually dead absorb themselves with empty traditions.”

Now another says he wants to come along. "I will follow you, Lord; BUT let me first say farewell to those at my home."  The real translation should be more like, "let me go home and take my leave."

In the Middle East, the person leaving always asks permission and the one remaining says "goodbye." Between a son and his parents, this is more than a formality. How many times have we resorted to a higher authority we know will overrule us? “Oh, I'd love to, but I have to ask..." and depending on what the request is you can fill in the blank with spouse, parents, children, boss, whatever. Jesus is claiming greater authority over us than any and all of these!

Jesus’ response draws on a bit of conventional country wisdom: "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."  Every farmer will tell you that can’t plow a straight furrow without keeping your eyes straight ahead.
This was Jesus' message that day:  "Get your priorities straight. Under-stand that the relationship between you and Me is much more than just signing up for a course. It is a lifetime of commitment. Then (and only then) will you be ready for God to rule in your life. It is then that you will experience FREEDOM FOR MAXIMUM LIVING!"

Now, move that story up a bit. Fast-forward the tape to 2010. Jesus' invitation to "Follow Me" is offered again – to you and to me! The temptation is to respond the same way our ancient friends did. "Lord, I'll be glad to follow BUT...BUT...BUT...”  There are so many things that call to us. GOOD things - family, friends, work, and on and on and on. The choices that confronted the would-be disciples on the road were not between good and evil. The choices were between that which is good and that which is best.  My, my. Some things never change, do they? "Lord, I will follow, BUT..."

The greatest threat to the gospel is "the good," not "the evil."  When we recognize "the evil"  in our lives, we usually want to get rid of it. However, when we become content with "the good" in our lives, we may fail to follow Jesus in seeking what is "the best."  “Lord, I will follow, BUT...”

Is it time to BAN THE BUT'S from your Christian journey? Yes, they come SO easily. Worship? But Sunday is our family day. Sunday School? But this is the only day I get to catch up on my sleep. Mid-week Bible study? But it's such a rush after work. Teach? But there are others who could do it just as well. Serve on a Ministry Team? BUT I've done that before. BUT, BUT, BUT...
The good news is that once the BUT's are gone, a real blessing awaits. Is there a BUT that is hindering your Christian journey? A BUT that is keeping you from a blessing?

An expert on the subject of time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will probably never forget. As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered over-achievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on a table in front of him. Then he produced about some good sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a pitcher of pea gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was onto him. "Probably not," one of them answered.

"Good!" he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a pitcher of sand. He started dumping the sand in, and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted.

Once again he said, "Good!" Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked up at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is this: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all.”

Hmm. Jesus says, "Follow Me."  BIG rock. We respond, "I will follow you, Lord, BUT..."  Priorities! Get the big rocks in first. How do you make sure the priorities are appropriate? A good start will be a commitment to BAN THE BUT'S, then all the rest will fall into place, and you will discover the  freedom to enjoy MAXIMUM LIVING!  AMEN!

Let us pray.
O God, we confess to lives of regularly misplaced priorities. We genuinely want to do better. That is why we are here. Help us, for Jesus' sake.  AMEN!