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“WHY CAN’T WE ALL GET ALONG?”
A MESSAGE FOR ECUMENICAL SUNDAY
EPISTLE SCRIPTURE TEXT:  ROMANS 10:1-13

DAVE RING, PASTOR
LOS ALAMOS 1ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 14, 2007

SCRIPTURE TEXT:  1Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. 5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

PRAYER:  “Lord Jesus, inspire my words.  Help me to present Your truth, with love.  Amen.

MESSAGE:  Two men were sitting next to one another on an airplane.  Each noticed that the other was displaying a cross – one as a lapel pin, the other as a tie-tac.  So they struck up a conversation.  “You’re a Christian?”  “Oh, yes, all my life.”  “What kind of a Christian?”  “I’m a Methodist.”  “Oh, really?  I’m a Methodist, too.”  “What kind of Methodist are you?”  “I’m an old-line Methodist who follows the 1926 Book of Discipline.”  “Really?  So do I!”  “How do you interpret Paragraph 67 of the 1926 Discipline?”  “Oh, I believe it’s absolutely and literally true.”  “Wonderful.  So do I.”  “What about Paragraph 271?”  “Well, I’m not so sure about that one.”  “Die, heretic, die!”
The fragmentation of the Christian church is the continuing global scandal which very effectively prevents our faith from accomplishing its God-given goal – to win the world to Jesus Christ.  In the eyes of the secular world, Christians are a narrow-minded, bigoted, contentious lot who spend most of their time fighting with one another.  And on those rare occasions when we aren’t actively in conflict with each other, we’re trying to shove irrelevant values and outdated standards down the throats of people who already – because of our incessant infighting -- have a negative opinion of us.
You probably don’t like hearing that observation, but it’s both candid and on target.  I’m one of you at present, but unlike most of you, I haven’t always been.  And I still remember what it’s like to be outside the Christian church.  We Christians like to delude ourselves by saying that most of the world isn’t Christian today because they’ve never heard the gospel.  That statement was true in 1800.  It was partially true in 1900.  But in 2007 it’s a bold-faced lie.  Most of the world today isn’t Christian because they’ve seen what those who call themselves Christians do to one another – and they want no part of our continuous brawling.

Let me pause for a moment to assure you that there really is a positive note in this message.  But before I move to it, I want to put one more aspect of the Christian conflict issue before you.  We United Methodists have a tendency to say, “Yes, we acknowledge that other Christian groups can be fractious and conflict-ridden, but we’re above all that.  We’re inclusive – we get along -- we love everybody.”

Around 1989, when our present United Methodist Hymnal first became widely available, the United Methodist congregation I was then serving, in nearby Albuquerque, raised the necessary funds to purchase enough new hymnals to place in all their pews.  But before the order was completed for about 200 such, someone raised the issue:  What color of cover should they have?  The majority opinion was for red, which would match the color of that sanctuary’s carpet.  But a minority favored blue.  Against my advice as pastor, they insisted on taking a congregational vote.  92% of those present favored red hymnals.  And that very day six families quit that church.  The truth is that United Methodists, including Los Alamos United Methodists, can be just as contentious as any other Christian group.

Let’s turn now to the Word of God for some guidance through this perplexing dilemma.  Romans is the primary book of the Bible to which virtually all Christians turn for guidance on significant theological matters.  Most of the major doctrines of our faith were first articulated in Romans by the apostle Paul. Romans is a weighty book; it proclaims many great truths.  And the greatest of them all is this, from chapter 10 and verse 9:  “…if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  That’s a finely-distilled description of the basics of what it takes to be a Christian.  Since it’s a direct quote of God’s Word, it’s not man’s definition – it’s God’s.  Publicly proclaim Jesus as your Lord and privately believe in His Resurrection, and you will be saved.  That’s all; no more - and no less.  God promises it – and that settles it.

For those who might think God’s criteria are “too easy,” let me quickly say, from three decades of pastoral experience, that opening one’s mouth and, before witnesses, sincerely accepting Jesus as personal Lord is a bigger commitment than some of you might think.  Over my years of ministry I’ve had dozens and dozens of folks say to me, “Preacher, there’s just no way I could ever get up and walk down that aisle and stand before all those people to accept Jesus.  Can’t I just tell you privately, and that be enough?”  If it’s a transfer from another church wherein you’ve previously made a public profession of faith, that’s fine; I’ll bend when necessary.  But for your first time ever, public profession of faith in Jesus is absolutely necessary.  Why?  Because Jesus Himself says so:  “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man will also acknowledge…”  That’s Luke 12:8.  So I can’t lessen what Jesus requires.  As to the second criterion, to “believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead…” it can stay private, between you and God.  But that one and only public requirement – acknowledgment of Jesus as personal Lord – is one I don’t have the authority to waive.

What isn’t required could be a very long list.  Let’s consider a couple of significant ideas.  I, personally, believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, a girl named Mary.  But despite some churches’ insistence that belief in the virgin birth of Jesus be a criterion for inclusion in the Christian faith, it isn’t.  I also personally believe that Jesus is coming back to claim His people – and possibly soon.  But again, belief in the Second Coming is not among the basic requirements of Christian faith.
Frankly, I often wish Christians would spend time discussing, and maybe even arguing over, some of the truly important ideas of our faith.  If we got into conflict over the issue of the virgin birth, it might be a fight worth fighting.  I’d enjoy a good chance to contend on Mary’s behalf.  But the issues we Christians fight and divide over are much, much less significant.  Music, which is barely mentioned in the New Testament, is far and away the #1 cause of strife in Christian churches of every stripe and persuasion – and it has been for centuries.  The mode and meaning of baptism, which is somewhat more significant, can also be a cause of contention.  But what really keeps our combative spirits as Christians fueled are a myriad of “nibbling” issues – where and how to place decorations in the sanctuary, whether to take communion in a common cup or via individual servings; when to stand, sit or kneel at various points in the worship; whether to clap, raise one’s hands, shout “Amen,” or remain utterly quiet during a service.  Any and all of these ultimately trivial concerns regularly cause Christians to feud with one another – and the world to remain disbelieving in the Christ we claim to represent.

Today is January 14, 2007.  I’m fourteen days late with this, but it’s Ecumenical Sunday today.  It’s the particular annual Sunday when we are supposed to showcase our commitment to unity and harmony throughout the Body of Christ.  So this morning I’d like to propose a “New Year’s Resolution” for 2007 for the people of Los Alamos First United Methodist Church – for all the people of this arm of the Body of Christ on earth today.

A few years ago, Robert Fulghum wrote a best-selling book entitled, “Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.”  I didn’t go to kindergarten, and my parents weren’t always the best in the world, but I do remember learning this tidbit of wisdom by the time I was five years old:  “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.”

No, Jesus didn’t say it, at least not in those exact words, but I want to commend it to you as “2007 Resolution Number One” for the people of Los Alamos First United Methodist Church:  “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.”  All this year if you enjoy a hymn that’s sung or a musical special that’s performed in worship, say so.  Congratulate the choir; praise the Music Director; offer a hearty “Amen” to the Praise Band or the Bell Choir.  And if you don’t like the music, keep it to yourself.  Bite your tongue and endure it.  Consider it a sacrifice for Christ and His Church.  During 2007 if you like the Sunday morning message, tell me so.  If you don’t, resist the temptation to mail 20 copies of a letter of condemnation to all past and present Pastor-Parish Relations Committee members, the D. S., the Bishop in Albuquerque, and maybe even the pope in Rome.  If the temperature in your Sunday School classroom was just right, thank one of the Trustees.  If it wasn’t, put on a sweater or take one off as the situation requires, but say nothing to anyone.  You get the picture, I’m sure.  Let’s make 2007 a year of naught but affirmation for, by, and among the people of this church.

And what of our relations with other churches and the members thereof during 2007?  Do we need a “Resolution Number Two” for our external dealings, our interactions with others outside our own congregation?  If the people of this church really were to adopt and steadfastly keep “2007 Resolution Number One” for the first six months of this year, by the middle of July we’d have most of the rest of Los Alamos wondering why.  If Los Alamos First United Methodist Church can go six full months without any dispute, major or minor, arising among us, the “Los Alamos Monitor” will be sending a reporter down here on Sunday mornings to interview us.  This is a small town; word travels.  If this congregation can live in total peace and harmony with itself for six months, the other churches of this city will be sending representatives to us to teach them how to do the same.  And eventually the whole atmosphere of our town will be transformed.

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