Sermons
Building Bridges
Series: TurbulenceBUILDING BRIDGES
Sermon By Terry Siverd / June 28, 2020 / Cortland Church of Christ
Throughout the month of July we will only be meeting for Sunday Morning worship.
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Many years ago a gospel preacher (dear to my heart) said something that has always stuck with me. I've known Marvin Jacobs (aka, Jake) since I was nine years old - - he was an important mentor: his teaching and guidance during my formative provided a key role in helping to shape my own values. He was the preacher at the West Avenue congregation in Ashtabula throughout my adolescent years. Jake grew up in the Massillon, Ohio. I had spent the first decade of my life living in the deep south. Before our family moved to Ashtabula, we worshiped with the West Hill congregation in Pensacola, FL. As was common among many churches in the south in the late 1950's, early 1960's, there were black churches and white churches, with a few that were “mixed”. While the West Hill congregation had a mea- surable degree of diversity, it was predominately a large sea of white members with a few black sprinkled in.
When our family moved north in 1963, we rented a house on the south end of Main Street in Ashtabula. My fourth grade class was a little-bit integrated, but then the next year we moved to the eastern outskirts of town, near the village of North Kingsville, where my sisters and I were enrolled in the Buckeye School system. In reviewing my 1971 Edgewood High School yearbook, I reminded myself that my graduating class had 182 students - - all of whom were white, with the exception of one hispanic, Manuel Pomales.
Let me return now to recollect that noteworthy statement that has always stuck with me. I bring this up as a thought-starter to assist us in thinking about racial prejudices and racial tensions. Jake and his wife Margaret had a daughter and a son. Jake, who is Caucasian, once said: I would rather have my daughter marry a Christian black man than to marry a non-Christian white man.
I won't poll our gathering this morning, but I will say that I whole-heartedly agree with Jake's statement!
Despite my insulated (less-integrated) upbringing, I have never thought of myself as a racist. The fact that I am WHITE did not then and does not now make me superior, much less supreme, to any other race or person. From the perspective of pro sports, my family's move to NE Ohio in the early 60's immediately caused me to fall in love. Right from the start I began rooting for the Cleveland Browns and I quickly became a #1 fan of Jim Brown, Ernie Green and Paul Warfield. The color of their skin made no difference to me whatsover. Simultaneously
I became a Cleveland Indians fan and I quickly fell in love with the likes of Sudden Sam McDowell, Sonny Siebert, Leon “Daddy Wags”Wagner and Louie Tiant. White, black or brown - - the color of their skin made no difference at all to me.
There is a culture of intolerance that is currently unfolding (exploding) among some of our fellow citizens. Monuments all over our country are being defaced, damaged and/or destroyed. The argument fueling this conduct is that such people (represented by these monuments) did something unforgivably wrong. George Washington & Thomas Jefferson both had slaves, therefore their statues must go.
Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were Confederate generals, therefore their statues must go.
Not long ago someone posted on our church Facebook page a petition to rename the George Benson auditorium (a centerpiece on the Harding University campus). The petition urged that it be renamed because George Benson (Harding 2nd president) was “a vocal racist and supporter of segregation”. Dr. Benson had a 29-year tenure serving as Harding University's second president from 1936-1965. In a recent mailing, Harding's current president, Dr. Bruce McLarty, called attention to the following. It is true that during the 1950's Dr. Benson sup-ported racial segregation. But it is also true that in 1963, Dr. Benson led Harding in becoming a racially-integrated college. It's also true that Dr. Benson did mission work in China for many years, establishing the Canton Bible School. Dr. Benson also was a leader in supporting the spread of the gospel in Africa, Zambia in particular. Dr. Benson is buried in a cemetery in Searcy, AR. Shall we topple his grave marker because he wasn't perfect? If so, shall we insist on that same standard for each and every one of us? Aren't you glad that people don't judge you by your leaner/weaker years? Dr. McLarty writes, “I've wondered how many Bible heroes we would have left if we labeled
everyone according to their worst moment, their greatest sin or their most embarrassing weakness. In Hebrews 11, there would be no Abraham (the liar), no Noah (the drunk), no Moses (the rebel), no Rahab (the prostitute), no David (the adulterer and murderer) nor any of the rest. I have included a full copy of Dr. McLarty's response - - attached to this sermon on our website.
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We had a family devo after breakfast this past Thursday. Our reading was from Proverbs 24 - - a great chapter filled with much wisdom. Vs.3 / by wisdom a house is built...and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Vs.6 / In abundance of counselors there is victory. Vs.19 / Do not fret because of evil doers, or be envious of the wicked... Vs.23b / To show partiality in judgment is not good. Vs.28 / Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. I asked our group (Jeannie & myself with Betina, Albert & George), “Who wrote Proverbs?”. After we read from Prov.1:1, Albert asked something like this, “Wasn't Solomon a sinner?”. He then added something like this, “I thought God's people were supposed to be saints.” This led to a dis-cussion about how all of the people of the Bible were SINNERS. Even in many churches, where we ought to know better, the concept of sainthood is sorely misunderstood. Being a SAINT is not something we attain based on our sinless behavior. If so, none would qualify. Being a saint is achieved when we are set apart (sanctified) with serious intentions of following Christ. But it is the precious blood of our sinless Lord that cleanses us of our sins (Acts 22:16). That which labels us as a saint is not HOW we stand, but IN WHOM we stand. Hear again 2Cor.6:21 - - (God) made (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteous of God IN HIM.
In a recent midweek Bible study of The Twelve Apostles, we emphasized that all of the apostles had clay feet - - they were all flawed individuals - - yet God still used them in the work of the gospel.
In the first century Christianity was introduced to a world that was extremely polarized. Jews didn't like the Gentiles and Gentiles didn't like the Jews. In Eph.2:14, Paul writes in the midst of a world filled with hatred & animosity reminding the saints in Ephesus: He Him-self is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall... If we're to aspire to build bridges rather than barriers, we must be willing to open our ears and eyes to wrongdoings around us and fairly seek out reforms that help improve our societal and racial relationships. We're living in a time right now when many people seem eager to cast stones. The gospel of John is filled with many amazing stories from the life of Christ. One story that will serve us well throughout all of our days is found in Jn.8:1-11. Was there apparent wrongdoing (sin)? Yes! Ones were “caught in the very act”. Was the Law explicit about the sinfulness of adultery? Yes!
Were plans made to deal with it fairly and justly? No! Where was the guilty man? How did Jesus handle this situation? He wrote in the sand and He invited the one without sin to begin the stoning process. He wrote in the sand a second time and when they “heard it” the crowd of accusers disbanded. After the mob had dispersed Jesus asked the woman, Where are (your accusers)? Did no one condemn you? And she said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go your way and sin no more.' James, the brother of the Lord, wrote words that can be very helpful in our present circumstances. Js.1:19 / Let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for
man's anger does not achieve God's righteousness. What we've been witnessing of late is indicative of a lot of fomenting. Enhanced and encouraged by social media and 24-hour news-casting, harsh words often rashly spoken are being spewed 'round the clock. It seems to me that the remedy for some of what ails us is the think more earnestly and deeply and to guard our tongues - - not to hold back in speaking truth, but to weigh our words very carefully. I say this to all of us, regardless of our political leanings and/or the color of our skin.
