Sermon - So that our people may be saved

Sermon - Sunday 2nd November 2003

MCCM - So that our people may be saved

Scripture: Isaiah 43

John Stanway

This is the final sermon in the five-part series that we have been giving, based on the ministry statement of this church, as seen on the front of your Orders of Service. We believe that this church is: "Raised up by God, to be transformed disciples, following Jesus, using our gifts, so that our people may be saved."

The powerful Reading from Isaiah, as brought to us by Craig, shows to we who are already dedicated to God, that we are saved through God's great love and mercy. But there is more to it than that. In conjunction with our mission statement, we need to use these words, and the words and messages of the previous four weeks, to bring more people to salvation in Jesus, as we - the "transformed disciples" who follow Jesus - use the gifts that He gives so freely to us, to bring more people to His salvation. We need to "marry" the two - the mission statement, and the promises of God in today's Reading.

Marriage…? /Raised up by God…

Most of us will know that not all marriages are made in Heaven. Those of us who appreciate antiques and fine furniture will know that "marriage" can be a derogatory term, used when two or more components are constructed into something that they ought not to be - quite often to deliberately deceive.

However, we do not preach deception. If we did this, we would join the conservatives, fundamentalists and all others who would denounce us, using Biblical book such as Leviticus and some of the Pauline Epistles, to condemn ourselves with. These people "marry" poorly translated, non-original manuscripts, with their own bigotry and hatred, to condemn people, whilst, of course, refusing to acknowledge the portions of these same books that they might find personally offensive, which they view as being immaterial, or which they think to be of no consequence. If we joined them in this, who would we then be deceiving? Only ourselves, surely? As people of faith who may be LGBT by God's design, we would be obliged to abandon at least one of the things that we are unable to change. We would either have to cease to be the people who we actually are - which is an impossibility - or we would have to claim that we have no faith: an equal impossibility. If you take nothing more from this sermon today, then at least take with you these words: God made each and every one of you as the people whom you are, and God loves you for simply being yourself and for loving Him and the Son, Jesus, in return. Do not deny God's love, nor preach deception against yourselves!

Further, we do not believe the things that many fundamentalist folk may say about their "conflict" of us being LGBT people, when they claim that we cannot be harmoniously joined to God, to Jesus. If we were to believe this, many of us would have permanently given up long ago; we would not - with the good faith that we each possess - call ourselves Christian; we would not attend church as the people whom God created us to be, that is, the people who we actually are; the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches would not have been established and grown into the international denomination that it has become and - most importantly of all - we would doubt that God is with us, and we would fear divine vengeance. In short, we would condemn ourselves, denying ourselves the love, guidance and protection of Jesus. Do not allow the conflict created by bigots to cause you to deny God's love for you, and do not preach deception against yourselves!

Be Not afraid…/To be Transformed Disciples…

The Reading tells us clearly not to fear; it tells us to follow God - not the rules of men who would condemn us; it tells us that we are called by name and redeemed through our faith; it tells us that we are precious to God; it tells us that we are honoured and loved by God; that we are chosen as God's servants and witnesses: it tells us that we are - already - "transformed Disciples".

I go before you always…/Following Jesus…

Darren often says that one of the central messages of Jesus remains: "I never said it would be easy; I only said it would be worth it." The Reading tells us that we may have to pass through raging waters, or walk through fire in our service and love of God. Whilst these may be metaphors to us, I wonder how many of us here present, or who will read this on our website, feel that they have already done these things to either come, or remain true to, the faith that we have in Jesus? Indeed, I know that I am not alone in having denied Jesus, having failed to love God, just because the world and its hypocrites tell me that I cannot be both myself and a true follower of my Redeemer. I tell you this: you not only can, but ought to be, the people whom you are - and you are worthy followers and disciples of the Lord!

Come, Follow me…/Using our Gifts…

God could not be more specific - or more inclusive - in the Reading given: "from the East and from the West I will gather you…let all the nations gather together, and let the people assemble." This is the only instruction that we need to come, and to remain faithful, to God. We do not need the invitation or the permission of anyone else. Fundamentalists, conservatives, bigots, take note: God invites, loves and welcomes us! We do not need your blessings, your hands laid on us in prayer, your admonitions, and your sanctions! What you would have cured in us and removed from us, is our personal gift from God: you have no right to deny our callings, our ministries, our faith, our lives, our value as gifted people of God!

All of the people gathered together in this church today, have gifts that they use in the service of God and of God's people. We have some superb musicians; we have people with excellent singing voices; we have those greatly gifted with writing skills; we have those who give freely of their finances, not only to church, but also to charities; we have some excellent orators; we have those who support others through charitable works; those who look after us here in church; those who feed us, physically and spiritually; those whom we can turn to in times of trouble and crises; we have those who never cease to be evangelists for the church and her life and ministry; and we have those who claim to give nothing - yet are amongst the biggest givers, with their generosity of spirit, their profound faith, their friendliness, warmth and true humanity. These are just some of the great and precious gifts that God has bestowed on His people in this congregation: and those who posses these gifts use them to the greater glory of God, and for the welfare of God's people.

And I will give you rest/So that our People may be Saved

We are all called to salvation. We have identified the valuable resources that God has planted within this congregation. We have seen how the people of this church use these immense gifts for the good of all people. In these things, we truly are the witnesses of God; we truly are those whom God has called by name, the chosen people: in and because of these things, we know and believe in God, understanding the calling that God gives to each one of us.

Our rest comes through this one Godhead, but all the more so when we use and apply our gifts, skills, talents, tithes, efforts and profound love, not to further our own interests and concerns, but to glorify God and the Son, and to bring more people to salvation.

Every single time that one of us helps another, every single time that someone witnesses our faith, every single time that we speak of our knowledge and love of God, every single time that we utter a prayer, every single time that we show concern to someone less fortunate than us, every single time that we show compassion, every single time that we refute the preposterous claims of bigots and those who are filled with hatred, we become greater participants in the Godhead that we proclaim. We are - all of us - taking part in the biggest and finest crusade that has ever been: to bring more people into the knowledge, presence and love of God, "so that our people may be saved."

Do not fear: