January 15, 2023 - Put to the Test
Matthew 4:1-17
Deborah Laforet
Put to the Test
Let us pray. May the words from my lips and the meditations of my heart be guided by your Spirit and be words of wisdom for this day. Amen.
In my studies to become a minister, I had to learn about the bible, about God, Christ, and Spirit, psychology and pastoral care, how to work with all ages, awareness of social issues and social justice, among a host of others topics. In addition, they also evaluated how students interacted with our peers, with the community, did they have an awareness of self, and how they met challenges and high stress. Also, every year, they checked to see if students yet identified as minister. Did they feel comfortable calling themselves a minister and interacting with others as minister. Like other professions, like doctor, lawyer, nurse, social worker, teacher, a minister becomes part of one’s identity. When you say, out loud to people, that you are a minister, people expect certain behaviours or skills, wrongly or rightly. Minister is a persona one wears and one that comes with certain expectations from others.
Identifying myself in this way took time. This label can sometimes set me apart from others, which makes me uncomfortable at times. I think having my first job in a rural town in Saskatchewan helped that process. Everyone in that small town knew I was the minister. I didn’t have to wear an alb, or collar, or even a cross. They knew the family was new in town and they knew I was the new United Church minister. I tried not to act any differently, but I was always hyper aware that I was representing the United Church in town, that I was expected to be extra ‘holy,’ whatever that means, and that anything I said or did would have an impact on how people saw ministers and churches in general.
How one identifies is supposed to match up with how one lives out that identity. For example, if I’m having a bad day and inadvertently, look past someone’s pain instead of being aware and compassionate, then that reflects badly on me as what’s expected as a minister. People do test me. They will ask me about my politics. They will ask me how I can believe in God when there is so much suffering, or even how I can be part of the church when there has been so much abuse. And those are the people who dare to ask a question. Some walk away or sometimes, when people discover I’m a minister, there is this awkward silence, where people just don’t know what to say.
At times, minister’s are expected to have the skills needed to save a church or, at least, make sure there are lots of people in the pews, lots of money in the offering plates, and no conflict, just a big happy family. Unfortunately, ministers are sometimes bullied when they don’t do all that is expected of them.
Last week, we had a baptism and a transfer of membership. When we are baptized, when we renew our faith, especially as adults, we are saying out loud that we are committed to our faith and that we believe in God, Christ, and Spirit. As I say in the baptism liturgy, one is marked with the sign of the cross, and one is confirming, in public, that they are Christian. This is an identity one chooses to wear. People have expectations of Christians, again, rightly or wrongly. When one announces they are Christian, people expect a bunch of God talk, an invitation to pray or go to church, and maybe even debates on controversial political topics, and this makes a lot of people uncomfortable.
People will test you. They will ask you how you feel about gay people, transgender, and non-binary. They may ask how you feel about certain political agendas. They may want to know if you are born again and if you think you’re better than all those who aren’t Christian. They may even watch your actions to see if you truly act like what they expect of a Christian.
Last week, we read the passage in Matthew’s gospel where Jesus is baptized. Jesus was given an identity on that day. As Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens opened, and a voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love. With him I am well pleased.” There was no hiding for Jesus. The word was out. He was chosen. He was special. He had been identified as the Son of God. So what was expected of him, as the Son of God? How would people think Jesus should act? Did anybody really know?
Maybe that’s why Jesus went into the desert. Maybe he needed the space to figure it out for himself. The bible tells us Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days. This number is symbolic and probably represents the forty years that the Israelites were in the desert after they were freed from Egypt, but no matter the length of time, Jesus spent a long time there, fasting. We are told that he was famished, which was the perfect time for the devil, the tempter, to come knocking. Jesus was vulnerable, weak, and susceptible to temptation.
And of course, the first task the devil requests of Jesus, to demonstrate his identity as the Son of God, is to turn stones into bread. It sounds like an easy task for the Son of God, and, as I said, Jesus was famished. But he resists.
Then the devil places Jesus on the pinnacle of a temple, overlooking the holy city, and dares him to jump. After all, God would not let any harm come to his Son. Jesus, again, resists.
Then the devil brings Jesus to the top of the tallest mountain and offers Jesus the world, literally, and all the power that comes with ruling all the kingdoms of the world, if Jesus would just bow down and worship him. This time, Jesus is fed up. “Away with you, Satan!” is his response.
Each time Jesus is tempted, he remembers the words of his faith. Remember he is Jewish and has grown up hearing the words of the ancient Hebrew texts. “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” These texts were at the tip of his fingers when he needed them, at a time when he was tired, famished, and being strongly tempted.
And so we have Jesus making his identity known. He will live by the Word of God. He will not put God to the test. He will only worship God. In many ways, these words describe his ministry. He puts his own people to the test by knowing the ancient scriptures, not just the words but the intent. He is never loud and proud with his extraordinary gifts, but instead, humbly walks the land, comes close to those set apart, and heals those in need. And he truly only worships God - not money, not power, not ownership, and not even his own popularity or favour. And because he did not succumb to temptation, because he continued to speak the word of God, and preach of love and justice, he was put to the test, and ultimately, put on a cross to die.
How do you identify yourself? How do we, here at St. Paul’s, identify ourselves to the Oakville community. If Oakville residents looked around at the number of churches in Oakville, would they be able to easily identify what it means to be Christian, to be a follower of Jesus? Do we live by God’s word? Do we put God to the test? Do we worship God alone?
These are questions we can ask ourselves as we leave this place and spend the rest of the week at home, at work, and in the community. If you never said a word about your identity, could people tell?
We can ask these questions as a faith community. What do people see when they look at St. Paul’s? What is the evidence of our identity? I think people who come and become part of this community, feel the warmth and belonging that we share here, but how does this get extended outward, beyond these walls, just as Jesus went beyond his own community and even his own followers. Can those who follow Jesus, who identify as Christians, create a new picture for others of what it means to be Christian? The church over the past 2000 years has fallen to temptation again and again, especially when it became the centre of power and began to worship that power. There have been mistakes made, but, after all, we are also a people who believe in forgiveness and new beginnings. We can show the world what the resurrection of the church might look like and how it could help transform our world into one of justice and peace, compassion and love. May it be so. Amen.