The On Going Work of Turning

Image Courtesy of United Methodist Board of Discipleship, Worship Resources

There is a scene in O Brother, Where Art Thou? where Everett, Delmar, and Pete are hiding in the woods and a congregation begins walking through to go to a nearby river for Baptisms. The stream of people flowing through the woods brings their conversation to a slow stop as the trio begins to follow the congregation down the river bank.  It is one of my favorite scenes in the movie for a variety of reasons, but it comes to mind today as we consider the voice of John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness on the second Sunday of Advent.

It never really occurred to me that the preparations for advent are a bit like being in a wilderness place.  Yet, throughout Scripture we find that the wilderness is a place of preparation.  The children of Israel were prepared for entering the Promised Land by their sojourn in the wilderness; they spent years shaking off the remnants of a life of slavery and learning to be free.  Jesus prepared for his ministry by spending 40 days fasting in the wilderness.  Advent is a bit like a wilderness place as we wait and listen and prepared our hearts for the celebration of Christ’s birth and as we prepare ourselves for Christ’s eventual return. One may even go so far as to say that the life of discipleship, that the process of sanctification, is a wilderness life as we learn to shake off the remnants of our slavery to sin and learning to live a life of freedom as the children of God .  

That is why John is crying out in the wilderness, “Repent!” Change your lives! Change your minds! Turn from the slavery you know to the freedom you have been given! Wash yourselves as an outward sign of your inward commitment!

One Sunday when I was away from my church for a conference or some event, I heard that the guest preacher offered up a fantastic sermon. (It’s always a little intimidating when you come back from being away for a Sunday and folks are talking about how good that visiting preacher’s sermon was!)  One of the points that was made was that there is a huge difference between “Interest” and “Commitment.”  Lots of folks may be interested in something; but only a handful will demonstrate the commitment necessary to make something happen.

Like stand up paddle boarding.  I am really interested in learning how to ride swells and small waves on a stand up paddleboard.  Whether or not I am committed to learning how to ride a SUP is something altogether different.  I have an interest in learning how to surf after 20 plus years away from a long board.  I have to muster up the commitment to actually get out there and learn if I want to do more than just stand on the pier in IB and watch surfers.

John the Baptist isn’t interested in interest.  He’s crying out that folks need to lean into commitment.  

I think the Pharisees and Sadducees are there because they are interested in what John has to say. Maybe they just want to find out what all the hubbub is about.  That’s probably why he calls them on the carpet, too.  In no uncertain terms, John is calling them out: 

“Brood of vipers” isn’t the kind of language you use when you want to build bridges or when you’re trying to be tactful about something. It’s not a phrase that my friend and mentor would encourage the use of when using the art of pastor-fu on someone.

“Bear fruit worthy of repentance.” Those are key words to a life of being prepared in the wilderness.  Those words call folks to a life of commitment.  It’s not that John is preaching to people who are inherently bad or evil or wicked.  He’s not.  He’s preaching to people who have become comfortable in their relationship with God.  He calls the Sadducees and the Pharisees out because they have become comfortable in their positions of leadership.  He calls out anyone who feels like they don’t have any more internal work to do because they’re already members of the club.  He says, “Don’t tell me you have Abraham as an ancestor…bear fruit of your life with God!”

Maybe that’s something for the church to hear in Advent: Bear fruit worthy of repentance; let repentance be an ongoing work in your lives. 

The on-going work of turning ourselves toward God. Ms. Carrie, a saint, really, truly a saint of the last church I served before going on active duty, and in her last days she wanted to talk to me about dying and making sure that she had everything covered when it came to repentance. If there is a person I would think would not have to be concerned about repenting, it was Ms. Carrie. But she still wanted to make sure her life was turned as closely as possible to facing God. Repentance, making the turn toward God, is an ongoing work.

I’m still learning traffic patterns around the area, and the other day I was in the wrong lane coming out of 32nd Street and needed to get over by one lane to get to the exchange and commissary gate…got the non-regulation salute from someone who was less than thrilled by me blocking up traffic once I finally managed to get over…got to thinking about how we don’t do much with regard to allowing folks the benefit of the doubt anymore, maybe they don’t know where they are going…yada yada yada…I was composing the most eloquent Facebook post ever about how we need to change and maybe be a little more grace-filled and kind, and when I finally get to the light to turn left on the green arrow, someone in the right turn across the intersection shoots out in front and gets into the space for those of us turning left! I did not render honors in like fashion, but I was pretty irritated and then it occurred to me how willingly we see the need for other folks to repent and maybe not so much when it comes to ourselves. Repentance, making the turn toward God, is an on-going work.

Which leads us to the altar. John was doing nothing but pointing people to Jesus, who pointed people to God. And when we come to the altar, we are turning our lives in that God-ward direction, remembering everything God did, does, and will do, in the person of Jesus.   The president of my seminary said once “It is at the altar where we are confronted with the call to alter our lives.”

As we celebrate Communion this day, may we hear the call of John to turn ever more toward God in Christ; may we hear, receive, and know the assurance of forgiveness.