9-16-07

It is a lovely letter, this little book in the back of the Bible, not even I Timothy, but II Timothy, but it is lovely nevertheless, rife with words of concern and caring, grace and gratitude, and that great gift of friendship.

What we heard read this morning is testimony to a deep and long lasting friendship between Paul and Timothy. Paul is the writer of the letter. Timothy is the recipient. Tim opens his mail box and reads:

"I am grateful to God whom I worship...when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy." (1:3-4)

Let's recall the historical prologue to this letter. Paul meets Timothy while staying at Timothy's mom's house in Lystra, which was in Asia Minor then, modern day Turkey today. Paul arrives there disappointed and discouraged. He has had a falling out with Barnabas.

Barnabas was Paul's first missionary partner. Barnabas is a very important person in the history of the church. More than a partner in ministry, Barnabas was Paul's sponsor, so to speak.

You may know Paul was not always keen on Christianity. Quite to the contrary, Paul was a Christian bounty hunter. Until on one hunt he gets knocked off his high horse on the road to Damascus, initiating a religious experience which converts Paul to Christianity.

Sometime later a repentant Paul shows up at the Jerusalem church seeking employment. Well, the church leaders remember Paul. They remember him as Saul the dreaded bounty hunter, which doesn't read too cool on his resume.

They are about to bounce Paul out the door, believing him to be a double agent, when Barnabas befriends him, which you can read about in the Book of Acts,(9:26ff). Barnabas believes Paul, arguing Paul's case before the Church Council.

Barnabas wins, convincing the Council of Paul's authenticity. And so it is the church employs Paul as an apostle, or missionary, to carry the "good news" about Jesus Christ to the Greek speaking world.

Only, the Council says, Barnabas, you go with him, just in case.

And that is how Paul and Barnabas become missionary buds. They journey from Antioch of Syria, the first and foremost of the Gentile churches located near the Mediterranean Sea in what is now southeastern Turkey, sail across to Cyprus, Barnabas' home port, then up to the south central coast of Turkey, and on into the heartland of Asia Minor, and back again by pretty much the same route.

I'll spare you the map, but it is a nice cruise. And a successful mission. Many Gentiles are converted to this new Jewish movement later to become distinctly called Christianity as more and more Gentiles join to the objection of the more Orthodox Jews.

Following a sabbatical, a refreshed Paul prepares for a second missionary journey with Barnabas. But, alas, the two apostles have a falling out. Barnabas wants to take John Mark. Paul is opposed.

You see, John Mark, who perhaps later becomes the author of the Gospel of Mark, we're not sure, and who is perhaps the son of one the six Marys in the New Testament, but that is too confusing, is now a young man, and who had begun mission number one with Paul and Barnabas, sort of as an apostle apprentice. However, he bails from the party in Perga of Pamphylia, we know not why, and returns to Jerusalem, incurring the wrath of Paul.

Organizing trip #2, benevolent Barnabas wants to give John Mark a second chance. Pitiless Paul says, "No way." They argue (Acts 15:39).

The solution: Paul and Barnabas split up. Barnabas takes John Mark, and they sail again west

for Cyprus. Paul picks a new partner, Silas, and they travel north by land to Asia Minor, revisiting some of the sights of his previous success, including Lystra, and beyond. By the way, Paul and Mark later reconcile, so we do have a happy ending. After all, it's the Bible.

However, it is for this reason I suggest Paul arrives in Lystra a bit bummed about Barnabas. He stays in the home of Eunice, a woman who had offered hospitality on the first trip. Eunice is a Jewish Christian lady. Her husband is Greek. Eunice's mother, Lois, is also a Christian. Lois lives with her daughter and son-in-law.

Eunice's son, Timothy, is also at home. A recent graduate from college, he is looking for work. Hmm, Paul thinks. I need another apostle apprentice. Timothy is Jewish by his mother. He is Greek, by his father. A perfect combination for preaching a Jewish Messiah to the Greek world.

Therefore, Paul says to Timothy, "Why don't you come work with me?" Timothy's mom, Eunice, says, "Praise the Lord, my son has a job!" Tim's dad says, "For crying out loud, how is he ever going to repay his student loans on a preacher's salary?"

And that is how Timothy joins Paul's second missionary journey, traveling with Paul through thick and thin, including stonings, shipwrecks and starvations, lashings, lickings and incarcerations. Timothy is there, at Paul's side, along with Silas and Luke at times. Timothy is no easy Mark.

Now Paul is in prison, again. Timothy is not in the tank, so they are therefore separated. Timothy writes Paul, expressing his concern for Paul. Paul writes back, "I am grateful to God...when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears (at the time of separation), I long to see you (again) so that I may be filled with joy." (1:3-4)

How lovely. What friends. At the end of the letter Paul requests Timothy "to come as soon as possible." (4:9) He even gives Timothy instruction, writing, "Bring (pencil and paper), bring the books, and bring my cloak (which I left at so-and-so's house). Pick it up, please, and do your best to come before winter." Indeed, it is cold in those cave prisons, along the Mediterranean Sea in the winter.

Well, this is quite an insight into the personal life of Paul. Paul needs a friend. This is what he says. He needs company, companionship. He writes that he has been deserted by those who were there with him at the time of his arrest. "Demas, in love with the present world, has deserted me, and gone to Thessalonica (don't we know Demas). Crescens has gone to Galatia. And Titus has gone to Dalmatia. Luke, alone, is here with me. Do your best to come soon." (4:9)

So we learn that even an apostle like Paul, behind the stirring sermons and strong affirmations of faith, has a need for friendship, and a warm cloak before winter. We can know all the creeds, and recite Bible verses verbatim ad nauseam, but there comes a time where each of us feels the need to request of a friend, "Will you come see me?"

We tend to emphasize religion as personal. We say religion is a matter between the individual and God. We talk about God and me, Jesus and me, the Holy Spirit and me, me, me, "It's all about me." This is the classic, American understanding of religion, fitting well into our culture of independence, individuality and self-reliance. But this is not biblical Christianity.

Biblical religion is social. It is not only something that happens alone, it is something that happens "in community," where forlorn disciples walk along the road, an invitation is given to a stranger, bread is broken, and their eyes are opened.

Biblical religion is not only something that happens between the individual and God, it is something that happens between the individual and neighbors, which, I might add, is a lot more challenging.

Christianity is not only experiencing God's love through a personal relationship with Jesus, it is exercising Jesus' love through our "neighbors- in- need," as you will hear in the coming weeks, where we respond to the tsunamis and earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and fires of the world.

We often hear it after a funeral. The family is talking. They say, "You know what meant the most? The people. Seeing the people, and the hugs, the condolences, the casseroles. We did not expect that. It means a lot."

We hear it following surgery. The person recuperating, saying, "It was really rough, but you know what helped? The calls, the cards. I had no idea so many people cared."

We hear it after a person is victimized by a crime or circumstances and they are vacant and without hope. They try to pray, but no words come out. They say, "You know what kept me going? Friends. They carried me. How can I ever repay them?"

I think it is like this. When God cannot communicate to us because all our senses are numb, and we cannot communicate to God because God is hidden behind a cloud of sorrow or veil of tears, then God sends "Timothy," if not a teddy bear.

God sends a friend, saying, "You go for me. I want them to know how much I love them. But I cannot get through. You go and tell them. You hug and hold them for me."

Christianity is not only personal. It is social. It is community. It is about people caring for people. How do we get there? Back to Paul's letter to Timothy. Listen to this.

Paul to Timothy, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and then in your mother Eunice, and now lives in you." So there it is. It is inherited or taught. Or both: inherited and taught. Passed on from generation to generation - this much we know, and a point worth mentioning on this "Homecoming Sunday."

Lois passes her faith on to her daughter, Eunice. Eunice passes her faith on to her son, Timothy. Timothy becomes a traveling companion to Paul, who takes the "good news" to the world.

That's beautiful. This is the church at work. It begins with every generation being responsible for the next generation. If it were not so, you would not be here.

What I am saying is, I'm glad Eunice dragged Timothy to church. We should do no less with our children. Oh, don't leave bruises, but assert yourselves. You are in charge. And God's world is depending upon it. If not our faith and values, our children will suck up somebody else's. Better to do our work here and now.

Sure the kids will fuss. They will put up their fight, list their litany of complaints, "It's boring." "I don't know anyone." "The coffee is too weak." Oops, sorry that's the husbands.

You tell them, "So what if it is boring. A lot of life is boring. It will be good practice." Besides, the cookies are good. So it can't be that bad.

So the children need to be here. They need to be here as children, sometimes sleeping, sometimes distracted, sometimes talking, just like the adults. But they are absorbing it. Make no mistake, they are absorbing more than we know. If not what we say, then what we do. And if not here, somewhere else.

We want them here. So when the time comes for them to make decisions on their own, to make sense out of the questions of life, to pick themselves up after "the fall," to take up their cross, or wade through their gardens of Gethsemane, they will have someplace to turn to, a source of sustenance to enable their journey, by the love of God we know, through Christ our Lord.

And if this be true for the children, it is true for the adults as well. Too many among us are not here. Each of you can think of someone who is a member of this church and who you have not seen for some while. Give them a call, will you, and invite them to church. They will enjoy hearing from you. Really, they will. Oh, don't be obnoxious and in their face. But will you call

them and let them know you miss them?

Here, let's make it simple (screen down for power point). Do this:

1) Call them and ask them how they are.

2) Let them know we have missed them, and be prepared to listen. For there may be a reason

they are not here and we need to hear it.

3) Ask if there is anything we (the church) can do for them, and be prepared to write it down, so that you can give it to me or the appropriate board.

4) Share with them something you love about your church, and if you cannot think of anything, following the service we are going to give you a pamphlet from which you can read, "16 Reasons Why I Love the UCC." Pick your favorite and plagiarize.

5) Let them know, again, we have missed them, and how we hope to see them in church.

Will you make the call? And if you cannot think of anyone, let me know. I have a lamentably long list. And it is time to invite them to "come home." For as Paul wrote to Timothy, " I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy."

AMEN.