Cost Of Belonging

Sermon Script

Cost of Belonging

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” Those were the words of Rosa Parks, a woman whose quiet courage in the face of injustice ignited a monumental civil rights movement. While sitting in the first row of the “colored” section, she refused to move to the back of the bus to make room for white passengers. On that day in 1955, Rosa was momentarily jailed for her silent protest. That incident marked a significant time in history that led to the end of segregation.

However, Rosa’s journey to belonging was not without cost. That day was a defining moment from the result of a lifetime of being told she did not belong. As I studied the readings for today, I compared her experience of belonging, with getting on the bus of discipleship. This destination is not always an easy trek or without cost either. Therefore, the question we are challenged with on this day is… Would you willingly take the back seat of the bus? Or pay the price…

Struggle Bus

Moses was wondering this same thing in the Old Testament lesson in Deuteronomy. You see… when Moses crossed the Red Sea, he successfully brought the Israelites out of Egypt.

But he had an ongoing challenge of the pagan Egyptian ways that remained in the Israelites. In fact, they were bouncing on that struggle bus for 40 years. Now in our reading today in chapter 30, Moses pulled up to the last stop right before going into the promised land. It is here he once again reminds them that they belong to the Lord… A God who delivered them from slavery through parted waters, who provided for them in the wilderness, and who affirmed His covenant with them at Mt Sinai…

Moses now tells them that the bus has gone as far as it can go this side of the Jordan. It is now time to walk. He reminds them they are now called to walk in God’s ways and keep His commandments. For God’s chosen people it is now time to choose. Remain on that struggle bus and die… or pay the price and live. Moses encourages them to choose life with God. He says in verses 19-20, “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days…” His message is clear… it has been a long and dusty road, but the cost of belonging to God is well worth the investment.

One In Christ

This theme continues in the Epistle lesson. Here we find that Paul writes a short letter to a fellow believer named Philemon. His slave O-nes-imus, whose name means “useful,” somehow damaged his masters trust over financial matters and rendered himself “useless” by running away. Somehow, Onesimus, who was risking his freedom, met Paul who was incarcerated at the time. From his cell, Paul then took the opportunity to introduce him to “the way, the truth, and the life”.

Now a believer in Christ and a new man, Onesimus delivers Paul’s letter of encouragement to Philemon who must consider belonging in a new light. Paul writes in verse 15, “For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant, but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother.”

You see, as a slave Onesimus legally “belongs” to Philemon, but in God’s eyes all people are created as one in Christ. This is why Paul would like to see them sit on the same seat in the bus… We don’t know how this story ends, but quite often runaway slaves were put to death. Did Onesimus repent and Philemon forgive? We would like to think so. Paul continues to write in verse 18, “If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.” Paul was going to follow up with this relationship and “pay the price” whatever that may be, so these men knew who they belonged to. In Christ.

 Belonging

These readings today show us that the cost of belonging while investing in discipleship can have great rewards. However, as we analyze the readings thus far… let’s consider these questions… What does it mean to belong to Christ in today’s world? And… what is the cost involved?

Rosa Parks just wanted to belong. She would have liked nothing better than to be accepted as a beloved sister on that bus. I admit, I would have felt unwanted, like Rosa did, if asked to move to the back… Have you ever felt a lack of belonging? It is a very real concern, and one worthy of attention… because, belonging does matter.

Upon reflection of the various stages in my own life, I saw this to be true. I remember during childhood, I sought inclusion in playground games, while as I grew older, the sense of belonging shifted toward teams or organized activities. Wouldn’t you agree, that even in adulthood, belonging remains significant in relationships, business settings, or community, where a sense of connection is frequently valued? How about a sense of belonging within your faith walk? For you younger folks, do your Christian values fit in with others at high school or college? Has anyone else been challenged with your belonging in Christ in places you frequent… possibly right here in church?

If so, you might understand that belonging has a cost associated with it in ways we may not see or understand. Whether intentional or not, there may be a cost involved through a sacrifice, compromise, or a negative consequence endured with something as simple as a quiet seat on a bus.

 Pay The Price

That’s why we must be braced for the cost involved with belonging to Jesus’ call. Yes, we will have some of those same challenges tugging at our belonging as a Christian in society today. When this transpires, I can imagine Moses or Paul asking… Are you willing to hold your position in the bus to follow Christ?

The world we live in is constantly demanding for us to just move to the back. The part of the bus where the evil one temps us in all that we do… the part of the bus where our old self does not die easily.

Can we resist these temptations long enough to cross the Jordan to green pastures and still waters? Can we find our new self that will forgive or ask for forgiveness like Paul asked of Philemon and Onesimus?

In certain ways we can relate to our readings. The two men who were confronted with a decision, and the Israelites who were faced with a challenge; both are examples of a sacrifice, compromise, or a consequence that can be experienced in our lives today. Which gives us this same question to ponder. Is it easier to just go to the back of the bus? Or worth paying the price…

 God’s Loving Hand

The good news is, as baptized children of God, we have the means to make a choice pleasing to Him… Because… we are held in the precious hands of God through the gift of faith. Embraced as His children and established in His kingdom. A precious gift indeed. But, at the same time, we also must remember that His loving hands are open hands and not a clinched fist which would crush us to keep us. That is what Paul explained in his letter to Philemon… God wants us to stay in His hand, but He does not want us to stay as slaves if we so desire to leave.

We also learn this from the Israelites. They chose life and crossed the Jordan to the promised land. However, many of them later crawled back out of the loving hand of God…  That’s why we must place our trust in the gift of faith given to us by the Holy Spirit to make the right decision.

 Do What Is Right

Which brings us back to what Rosa said… “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” Moses says in Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 18… “And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers.” Through faith, we know what is right and good in the sight of the Lord and we need not let fear in this world penetrate our heart when we are secure in God’s eternal promise.

So, it is fair to ask… What does our eternal promise cost? Truth to be told, this does come with a price… but a price which we do not have to pay…Jesus paid it for us. In obedience to the Fathers will, Jesus shed His blood and gave His life on the cross as full payment for our sins and a promise of our salvation. This is a gift which we cannot purchase and which we do not deserve. It is given by God’s grace alone and received by faith alone.

Carry Your Cross

The cost we will endure then will be found in belonging to Christ in the form of discipleship. When Jesus selflessly took up His cross for you and me, He now looks for us to rejoice in our faith and take up our cross for Him. This is what Jesus speaks of in the Gospel lesson in Luke 14. As harsh as this may sound, Jesus says in verse 26, “If anyone who comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” I must be quick to remind you that the word hate in Biblical terms, means “not love more than,” or “love less…” Jesus here is saying we are not to love our family, spouse, and life itself more than Him…

But Jesus got your attention, didn’t He?

That is the point because He knows this is not easy for us and as we focus on where we belong, it can become a sacrifice for you and I as we follow Him. We are asked to see our life and everything in it through the lens of our calling in Christ, who loves us and laid down His life for us. Our Lord and Savior who willingly died and then rose again for the forgiveness of all our sins.

Jesus Paid The Price

My friends, He was rejected, stricken, smitten and afflicted… He felt pain and sorrow, anger and tears. Jesus faced resistance nearly everywhere He went. He paid the price… and in this world… in ways great and small, this is our cost with belonging as well. This is what Jesus is preparing us for when He says in verse 27, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Bearing our cross becomes our offering with being a believer.

Luther talks of this through the theology of the cross; being a disciple of Jesus requires Christians to understand that God’s power and saving grace is revealed in the weakness, suffering, and death of Jesus on the cross…  and now the suffering for us in this world is to take up our own cross and follow Him. This stands in contrast to a theology of glory, which offers promises of prosperity or an expectation that life will be simple and favorable. Jesus does not promise such things. And so, we are to be prepared and ready for what may come. Like Jesus says in the Gospel lesson, don’t start building a tower or go into battle unless you know what is involved and what it is going to cost.

 True Cost Of Belonging

That was a long bus ride across the wilderness to find out the true cost of belonging. But like Rosa Parks found out… paying the price was worth it.

She suffered in ways we don’t know… but what we do know is when we carry our cross, we will know how to walk, when to stand, and where to sit… to know what it means to cross the Jordan so to speak, and dwell in the way of the Lord. Our Psalm of the day, chapter one verse one gives us this assurance, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord.”

A sense of belonging within the Body of Christ, flowing out of our Baptismal calling, helps us grasp this truth and live by it… View belonging as a sense of being embraced in someone’s arms. What a wonderful picture to be held tightly in God’s grip of grace.

 Get On The Bus

We are blessed with that sense of belonging because we believe in Jesus. God’s only Son… Our Lord and Savior, conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. Died and Rose again! He paid the price for our sins which gives us a belonging that is fed and nourished each time we come to the Lord’s table. Strengthening our belonging by faith through His very Body and Blood in communion with Him as we take up our cross and follow Him. Take your seat on that bus, because belonging to Him matters… it is well worth the investment.

Amen