Faith in times of  grave uncertainty…

March 9, 2025

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

There are those whom I know among us who do not care to ever mix faith and politics. And that is because Church life and issues and political noise somehow seem like inappropriate bedfellows. And regardless of how many times I have said that the most politically polarizing figure in all of history was in fact Jesus and the movement that followed in his wake, still many feel that we should not be airing political views or opinions from the pulpit. And even though at least one half of the current political divide shamelessly touts God as being fully on their side, I feel that honest open dialog in matters of faith and politics is critically important in these times. So to those who may feel that such discussion is not what they wish to hear, I am apologizing up front, for I am more and more convinced each day that to be true to our faith and calling, we must find a way to stand opposed to much of what the current administration is doing and saying.

And that is partly because the current political climate seems to be hell-bent on keeping America deeply divided…perhaps with the intention of turning us more fully upon each other rather than together focusing on what is really needed. Especially when it comes to assisting those who are most deeply affected by the wholesale changes being forced upon us at lightning speed regarding so much of our previous ways of living and understanding. Radical change which is not only bringing real hardship upon so many who less than two months ago felt somewhat secure, but change which makes it even more difficult for those historically marginalized to even function openly in a society that was, and still is quite dependent upon their labor and contribution.

I must confess, even for myself, I have not been so tempted to be fearful of what may happen next on the national or global stage since as a young boy we were ushered into darkened school hallways, sitting with our arms crossed over our heads while we waited out yet another air raid drill. Drills that were frightening to a 9 year old boy. And this past Tuesday evening’s address to the Congress only served to heighten that worry and dismay, as so much of who I thought we were, and what I thought the future might hold in store was so seriously and quite callously called into question.

I have shared in the past that one thing I picked up in seminary, was that every preacher will with time settle in on one or another aspect of our faith message, allowing that to become a major focal point of their ministry. I have said that it is much like a ‘one string banjo’ that a minister of the word settles in on and plays…perhaps because they have great passion and conviction regarding it, or perhaps more hopefully, there is a deep impetus to do so that comes directly from the Holy Spirit. Either way, it seems that many preachers tend to hold to a singular line of thought and reason throughout their career in ministry, seeking all the while to share that core message in ever more understandable and relatable ways.

And for me that passion, that ‘banjo string’ so to speak, came to me as a result of studying the words and the actions of Jesus very closely, seeking to find what was at the core of his own teachings…trying to grasp what it was that motivated him to say and do all that he did, and, the reasons why that ministry led him slowly and steadily towards Calvary. And during that search I heard a phrase in seminary that not only was very challenging to my previous understanding, but which forced much of what Jesus seemed to be teaching into clearer perspective. And that phrase was that, ‘the Lord, has a preferential heart, for the poor’. ‘The Lord, has a preferential heart, for the poor’. In other words, all of the scriptures including the Law or the Torah, the Prophets, the Psalms, and the whole of the New Testament are laced throughout with evidence of God acting on behalf of those being treated unjustly or who are oppressed and as a result have cried out to the Lord in their distress. These passages or references are not at all hard to find if you look for them. Passages which for some I suppose, may also serve as an uncomfortable reminder that certain self-centered behavior is not only displeasing to the Lord, but ultimately doomed to fail. A fact which I imagine in some way might give hope to the ‘least of these among us’…however we are not there yet…for the story of oppression and wanton abuse of others is a story as old as humanity, with very few if any periods of relative peace, calm, or true and lasting justice.

My friends…I must confess that it seems as though division, hurt, injury, greed, pride, prejudice, abuse, callousness, and unloving actions of all sorts are still very much a dominant driver of much of American behavior. Now, preaching as I often do about the coming ‘Day of our Lord’, that day of ‘lasting peace and justice’, I know that in the current state of affairs, thoughts such as those can easily be dismissed as so much ‘wishful thinking’. And yet that notion is arguably the central promise at the very heart of our faith story…that is the goal we are all called to seek after as we each work to live into the commandment to ‘love one another as God first loved us’.

Our scripture passage from Luke today seems quite appropriate to this discussion of where we might go from here, of how we are to respond in a world as those who still have hope, as those who still feel called to serve our every brother or sister in need. The passage deals with the very familiar time of testing which Jesus underwent prior to beginning his public ministry. It was indeed a time of great trial for him, where he was subjected to many of the same temptations each of us will undoubtedly face numerous times throughout our lives. In fact, I think we would do well to see this passage not just as some necessary ‘purification’ of Jesus in preparing him for the road ahead, but in fact as a road map for all followers of Jesus to follow if they accept the call to truly love.

The ways and systems of a world forever seeking to elevate the individual or the ‘self’ over others, still offer up all of the same false temptations Jesus was forced to deal with. The first temptation, that of a promise of personal security, both through the acquisition and possession of wealth and all necessary provision is still central to the belief and life purpose of many today. Unfortunately however, obtaining such personal security often comes at great cost to those we have actually been called to serve…and besides that, any such ‘security’ is seldom guaranteed or indeed lasting. 

Secondly, the one who tested Jesus offered him the temptation of great power and authority over others, a chance to reign over others and to elevate one’s personal rank and privilege. We already know this is a false belief, and one that has toyed with humanity from the beginning of time. And in fact, it seems to be a temptation particularly afflicting many of those currently in leadership positions throughout the world.

And lastly, in his third temptation, Jesus was tempted to believe that he was immortal and could do no wrong, for the one testing him told him that God would surely protect and save him regardless of what he did…even unto the testing of God himself. Truly this is the most damaging and insidious root temptation for those who feel that the ‘God of their faith or belief’ allows them to stand in a position of superiority over all others. Those who claim that God is ‘on their side’, and interested only in their fate or future.

Jesus knew what lay behind all three of these tests, and knew that a life spent in the service of others, a life spent loving as our Lord loves us…is a life that has no room for behaviors and understandings that elevate the ‘one’ over the ‘rest’.  By rejecting all three of these, Jesus was signaling that faith is never something to be used for, or seen as, a way to obtain personal favor, security, or status whatsoever.

Rather, and this is critical to understand, a true faith practice is that which enables us to live whole, while in the midst of uncertainty. To truly live within the midst of all that stands diametrically opposed to our Lord’s call to love…and to do so while still exhibiting love for one another.

Faith is that which can still give hope, still give us strength to ‘keep on keepin’ on’. In fact, faith is the only thing that can focus and change our concerns and our fears over into earnest hope and energy to continue to pursue what of late seems increasingly impossible…that of continuing to reach out, spending our time, talent, and treasure in the pursuit of helping the ‘poor’ among us…be they the ‘newly poor’ and suddenly adrift and unemployed, or those who have only ever known a real poverty of need, supply, and even of hope.

The current state of affairs within our nation and in so many regions of the world is not one calling for, or one that even has room for complete despair. But rather it is one that insists that we as Christians stay the course…that we carefully and boldly step into each footstep of the One who is walking before us…fearing not for personal security or safety, but rather trusting that ‘every step we take in faith, will be taken with the Spirit of love and grace by our side’.

It is not a time to hang our heads or more easily, to curse the darkness or division that is currently so rampant. Rather it is time to continue on, doing all we have been so blessed and empowered to do, trusting that this, our ‘little island of hope and promise’, has room for any who wish to yield to that most holiest of temptations…

…that of believing that God is still there…

…that God is a God of love extended without condition…

…that all that we need in the service of God’s love will be provided…

…and finally, knowing that the promise of a day of true and lasting peace is not just wishful thinking, but a day that still awaits our every best effort in bringing it to be.

In closing, I know there may be those who feel that I may not be fully tethered to reality in these moments…but I will willingly and joyfully continue to play upon my one string banjo…praying that you may find both the will and the heart, to dance along with me…

…amen