August 21,2022
Indianola Presbyterian Church, Columbus
"Good Trouble "
Sermon by Rev. Trip Porch
August 21, 2022 Based on Luke
My junior year of high school, I took an introduction to music theory class as an elective. After studying guitar, piano, and music for years by then… somehow it was the first time that I realized music had rules and frankly, I was a bit disappointed.
Junior year was a fairly anti-establishment stage of my life, and music was a great outlet to me. I had been learning to play all sorts of genres and styles. Music seemed to be a limitless creative space, an art form that had no rules or boundaries but was just a completely open for freedom of expression. But then, in class, we began memorizing the circle of fifths and practicing scale after scale until we could play them in our sleep, and music began to lose life to me.
One day, maybe a month into class, I asked my teacher… Why are we spending so much of our time learning all of these rules? Music rarely plays by these rules, I mean look at jazz, none of this makes sense in the world of Jazz. Why do we need to know this? His answer stuck with me, and is something I’ve thought of often ever since. “You have to learn the rules, in order to know how best to break them.”
My mind was opened. Jazz isn’t musical anarchy, its intentional, and strategic. It’s breaking the rules on purpose, it’s breaking the rules to make a point.
In our scripture today, Jesus is playing Jazz. That is to say, he knows the rules of faith, he’s played those scales his whole life, but now he’s reached a place where he can recognize where those rules need to be pushed, bent, and broken. He can see how reliance to these rules is holding the people back, and he sees how pushing back, calling the question, and breaking these rules can serve a deeper good.
The rule that is at the heart of the argument is a big one for the Jews. In fact, its number four on the list of the big ten. Not just rules, but Commandments which tradition taught were rules that came directly from God… “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it neither you nor your family, nor your employees, not even the foreigner living in your country shall not do any work, it’s a day God rested, so you should rest too.”
It’s a good rule. It’s a rule that’s designed to protect people from becoming overworked and abused and it’s a rule that is designed to remind us that we are more than what we do. In fact, I’d argue it’s a rule we still need today. A rule telling us we must take sabbath, we must disconnect from work and the stresses of life and …rest.
But in our story today, we see this rule tested in the real world when things get messier.
Jesus is teaching in the synagogue when he sees a woman there for worship who has been afflicted, hunched over and disabled for 18 years. In that moment he makes a decision. He knows what he is supposed to do. He knows how this commandment was interpreted by leaders at this time… “Remember the sabbath and keep it holy” meant no work of any kind, it’s a day for God, it’s a day for quiet and passive reverence. But he chooses to call out to her. He tells her she is healed and lays his hands on her, and she stands up at once and begins to praise God.
Jesus saw a very clear line drawn between the rules of religion and the world and the deeper rule of love that God has named for all of us. It’s like the preacher Barbara Brown Taylor says:
“The only clear line I draw these days is this: when my religion tries to come between me and my neighbor, I will choose my neighbor. That self-canceling feature of my religion is one of the things I like best about it.
Jesus never commanded me to love my religion.”
Like most healing stories in the Bible it’s a beautiful intimate moment. Jesus sees this woman, his neighbor, and loves her fully as she is without judgement. He can see her struggle and her pain and he helps her, and this action leads to her restoration and her praising God.
But then the leader of the synagogue calls out… “WHOA whoa whoa… Stop that! Don’t help here. There are 6 other days you could do this, why do you have to do this on this the sabbath day?”
And Jesus, armed and ready, calls out the double standard…
“There is no way to avoid working on the sabbath, even you have to take your donkey to get water and food. Why do you allow this work on this day but not work that really honors God?! Caring for the sick and afflicted, freeing the prisoner, doing God’s work of justice and reconciliation. What if we kept the sabbath holy not just by worshipping with our mind and soul, but by honoring God with our actions as well?”
The religious leaders are “put to shame” and all the people there begin to rejoice.
It’s because they recognize that he’s not wrong. Yes, He may have broken the standards of their time, but it was in pursuit of a more profound good which was something they could all recognize as holy.
It reminds me of something the late Representative John Lewis reminded us of again and again…
“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.”
That quote came from a speech he gave on the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama in March 2020 commemorating the tragic events of Bloody Sunday.
Of course, a much younger John Lewis was there that day 55 years earlier. He was there as peaceful protesters intended to march the 54 miles from Selma to Montgomery in order to demonstrate at the state capitol in hopes to meet with the governor to speak out and advocate.
But as they marched across the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma a large group of state troopers were waiting on the other side. As they continued to march they were beaten for crossing the bridge. Lewis and others like Amelia Boynton Robinson were beaten so badly they were hospitalized.
This is the “good and necessary trouble” that John Lewis referred to when he spoke on that same bridge later in 2020. Getting in the way of injustice, getting yourself into trouble breaking the rules even …if it’s for a just and good cause. It’s a phrase that became his trademark, a mantra of sorts that he’d use again and again in order to inspire people to question and push back against authority when that authority is unjust or misguided. Lewis saw, like Jesus did, that holiness is more than just piety and solemn reverence, holiness also means living out your faith as God does. In fact, he saw this as the main role people of people of faith have in this world.
He said, “Today on some of the biggest issues, moral issues, [it] seems like we’ve been so silent. Somehow, we need to find a way to reclaim our position as people of faith. We don’t need to give up, or give out or give in, or get lost in a sea of despair and become discouraged; we just need to get out there.”
He said,
“When I was growing up, my mother and father and grandparents used to tell us, ‘Don’t get in trouble. Don’t get in the way.’
But during the ’60s, the religious community got in trouble. We got in the way. And it’s time again for the religious community to get in the way. To get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble.”
Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is our calling, this is what a life of faith looks like… getting ourselves into good trouble, standing up to injustice, breaking the rules in order to follow a deeper rule of love.
May this be how you live your life in faith, and may Christ give us the courage, and the faith to follow this rule of love in our life.
Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
*CALL TO WORSHIP Christopher Dent
One: God gives justice to the weak and the orphan;
All: God rescues the weak and the needy.
All: Blessed be the one, holy and living God, now and forever.
One: Let us Worship God.
*HYMN No. 35 “Praise ye The Lord, the Almighty”
*Prayer of Confession
O God of mercy, we confess that we live self-centered lives. We tolerate injustice and cruelty, complacent in our corner of the world. We neglect the needs of others. In your righteousness, deliver us and rescue us. Turn us to your way and lead us in your light, that we might serve you and care for all of creation.
*Assurance of pardon
*Congregational Response 582 “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me”
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
Musical offering “Prayer of St. Gregory” Alan Hovhaness McKenzie Shalosky, trumpet
Prayer of illumination
SCRIPTURE: Luke 13:10–17 CEB
Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight. When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.” He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God.
The synagogue leader, incensed that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded, “There are six days during which work is permitted. Come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day.”
The Lord replied, “Hypocrites! Don’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from its stall and lead it out to get a drink? Then isn’t it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” When he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, but all those in the crowd rejoiced at all the extraordinary things he was doing.
Children’s Message Annabelle Brown
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 58:9b–14 CEB
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and God will say, “I’m here.” If you remove the yoke from among you, the finger-pointing, the wicked speech; if you open your heart to the hungry, and provide abundantly for those who are afflicted, your light will shine in the darkness, and your gloom will be like the noon. The Lord will guide you continually and provide for you, even in parched places. He will rescue your bones. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water that won’t run dry. They will rebuild ancient ruins on your account; the foundations of generations past you will restore. You will be called Mender of Broken Walls, Restorer of Livable Streets.
If you stop trampling the Sabbath, stop doing whatever you want on my holy day, and consider the Sabbath a delight, sacred to the Lord, honored, and honor it instead of doing things your way, seeking what you want and doing business as usual, then you will take delight in the Lord. I will let you ride on the heights of the earth; I will sustain you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob. The mouth of the Lord has spoken
One: Holy Wisdom
All: Holy Word
Sermon Rev. Trip Porch
*Hymn no. 79 “Light Dawns on a Weary World” TEMPLE OF PEACE
Prayers of the Church
The Lord’s Prayer
Offertory
*Offertory response #607 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen
*Prayer of Dedication
(Source: Prayer for Justice and Peace, Iona)
We long for the time
when the meek shall inherit the earth
and all who hunger and thirst after justice
shall be satisfied,
and we believe that, despite the persistence of evil,
now is always the time
when more good can be done
and we can make a difference.
May it be so, through the offering of these gifts
and the offering of our lives. Amen.
*Hymn “Let Justice Flow” LET JUSTICE FLOW
Time of Community Sharing
Charge and Benediction
POSTLUDE
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452
WORSHIP LEADERS
Pastor – Rev. Trip Porch
Liturgist – Christopher Dent
Children’s Message –Annabelle Brown
MUSIC LEADERS
Organist – Orlay Alonso
Guest Musicians: McKenzie Shalosky- trumpet; Parker Wilkinson- piano; Trip Porch- guitar
Prayer Ministry
For 08/21/2022
Please remember in prayer the following members and friends
Church Family
Relatives and Friends
Marilyn Shreffler
Arthur Lee
John George – father-in-law of Greg Hitzhusen
Joanie Bradt – niece of Ginger Haack
IPC This Week
Sunday, August 21,2022
10:30 am Worship Service
Monday, August 22, 2022
3:00 pm CAHS Music Clinic
7:00 pm Ember Theater Group
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
3:00 pm CAHS Music Clinic
6:00 PM Worship & Music
6:30 pm NA Meeting
7:00 pm Ember Theater Group
7:30 pm AA Meeting
Wednesday, August 24,2022
7:00 pm Property Committee
7:00 pm Ember Theater Group
7:45 pm SESSION
Friday, August 26,2022
7:30 pm AA
Saturday, August 27, 2022
6:30 pm NA
Sunday, August 28,2022
10:30 am Sunday Worship
