Two weeks ago the senior pastor at my church, Wellshire Presbyterian, preached a phenomenal sermon on the healthcare debate. I asked him for the text and have posted it in two blog posts. The first can be read here: http://blogadegregorio.blogspot.com/2009/09/healthcare-debate-and-christian.html
The second part is below.
Guest Blogger: The Rev. Dr. John H. Bell, Jr., Pastor - Wellshire Presbyterian Church
Sermon entitled "O Divine Physician"
Disclaimer: This is a copy of the notes that were used by Dr. Bell to preach on Sunday, September 6, 2009, at Wellshire Presbyterian Church. It was intended for oral delivery to a community of faith in worship. Minimal attention has been given to spelling and grammar in this manuscript.
In the Good News according to Mark, the story of the Syrophoenician woman is important primarily because it shows that Jesus cared for all – those who did not share his race or nationality – and even those who were demon possessed, but … the story is one of the most interesting stories in all of Scripture and presents great mystery and intrigue.
Did you notice that Jesus initially does seem to degrade or insult this woman by comparing Gentiles to dogs, saying it is not fair to give the food of the children to the dogs, meaning it is not fair to give the food for the Jews to the Gentiles? We understand that Jesus understood his mission to be primarily to the Jews, but to compare the Gentiles to dogs seems derogatory [… I heard a comedian the other day that when he was growing up, “man” is what men called their good friends. But “man” gave way at some point to “dude” and “dude” at some point gave way to “bro,” and now it seems men are expected to call their best friends: “dog.” … Perhaps, but Jesus was not using dog as a term of affection here.] In ancient Palestine, dogs were not the beloved, pampered pets that they are in Denver, but they were more like garbage disposals, whose job it was to eat up all of the discarded food and lick the floor clean.
Now, I know of no scholar or preacher who has a good explanation of Jesus’ initial insult: is this a display of his humanity? He was fatigued, he needed some rest, he wanted to be alone … did he simply just slip and say the first thing that came to his mind? … I am personally lost for a good explanation BUT what really matters is that Jesus relents and to a degree even repents: he changes his mind. The woman did not take offense at his insult; she did not blanch; rather she came right back at him, saying, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” Sensing her resolve and her desperation, Jesus is moved: he is moved from apparent indifference to compassion. He initially brushes this woman off but then decides to help her. . . . This point should be of interest to us in our prayer life, for here we see that the persistent plea of this woman actually moved Jesus to action. We talk a lot about how prayer changes us, but the Bible is unequivocal: prayer has the capacity to change God, to move God to compassion, to motivate God to benevolent action. Walter Brueggemann, one my professors, once said in class that ancient Israel had two types of prayers: “Help?” and “WOW!” The amazing thing about this story is – not that Jesus insulted the Gentiles by calling them “dogs”; rather, the amazing thing this woman’s plea pushed Jesus to act.
In your prayer life, you should seek to imitate this woman, who showed great courage, persistence and risked rejection … I find that fear of rejection is one of the main psychological barriers that people face – not only in their prayer life, but in life in general … I am always inspired by the example of Abraham Lincoln, who was born into poverty, lost eight elections, twice failed at business and battled depression throughout his life, suffering from at least one nervous breakdown. As a great man once said, you are not a failure when you lose, you are only a failure if you quite trying. In your prayer life, make it your goal to be like this woman who boldly approached Jesus, who did not back down when she was initially rebuffed, who was not afraid to risk rejection and who showed persistence and who – in the end – move Jesus to compassion.
The final point that I wish to make may be quite bland or obvious, but it seems to be lost on many Christians in the contemporary debate taking place in American, and that is: much of what Jesus did was heal people from disease and free people from physical pain or mental anguish.
In the first story, Jesus exorcised a demon, which most likely was - in modern terms – curing a child with mental or psychological difficulties; in the second story, Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment. Another Gospel claims that Jesus healed every disease and cured every illness. Jesus was a Divine Physician, a doctor who did not recognize borders or treat people according to their ability to pay.
Now, I am going to be honest: I have not been following the details of the current health care debate and I am in no way, shape or form taking a position on the current health care bill before Congress. However, what I do find appalling is the clear lack of concern on the part of many for those who have inadequate access to health care. How in the name of Jesus Christ can any Christian justify a lack of concern for the physical and mental needs of the poor? – this is beyond my comprehension as a Christian, who reads my Bible and tries to follow Jesus Christ, who seems to have spent most of his time healing people from disease and illness.
We might and maybe SHOULD all disagree on how it happens, who pays, to what degree government is involved but Christians should be promote adequate health care for all persons on the face of this planet. Presbyterians once saw it as our Christian duty to start hospitals and send out medical missionaries to third world countries on our nickel. I understand that reasonable minds disagree when it comes to the details of health care and health insurance, but it is not acceptable for Christians not to care for the medical needs of the poor – and help pay for it.
Listening to the debate in the public square and at private parties, I wonder if Christians have forgotten the story of the Good Samaritan?
Here it is:
‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii,* gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” After telling this story, Jesus says to his disciples, ‘Go and do likewise.’
In the current, hostile climate, as we argue and fuss about what to do about health care, it would be wise for those who claim to be Christian – conservatives and liberals, persons in both parties!!! -- to hear and obey the Divine Physician, Jesus Christ, who charged his disciples to “Go and do likewise” – to be like the Good Samaritan, who saw a man in desperate need of medical attention, was moved to pity, bandaged his wounds, put him on his own animal, took him to an inn and paid the bill.
During one Christmas Eve worship service I accidentally called for an offering for the “less needy.” My father-in-law humorously said he had a vision of the ushers running out into the street and tracking down people in expensive cars and fur coats to GIVE them money from that offering.
Well apparently, some Christians think that’s the way it should be: rich get richer and poor get poor, but it is not so in Kingdom of God. It is not so. Christians have a responsibility to care for the least of those among us.
The second part is below.
Guest Blogger: The Rev. Dr. John H. Bell, Jr., Pastor - Wellshire Presbyterian Church
Sermon entitled "O Divine Physician"
Disclaimer: This is a copy of the notes that were used by Dr. Bell to preach on Sunday, September 6, 2009, at Wellshire Presbyterian Church. It was intended for oral delivery to a community of faith in worship. Minimal attention has been given to spelling and grammar in this manuscript.
In the Good News according to Mark, the story of the Syrophoenician woman is important primarily because it shows that Jesus cared for all – those who did not share his race or nationality – and even those who were demon possessed, but … the story is one of the most interesting stories in all of Scripture and presents great mystery and intrigue.
Did you notice that Jesus initially does seem to degrade or insult this woman by comparing Gentiles to dogs, saying it is not fair to give the food of the children to the dogs, meaning it is not fair to give the food for the Jews to the Gentiles? We understand that Jesus understood his mission to be primarily to the Jews, but to compare the Gentiles to dogs seems derogatory [… I heard a comedian the other day that when he was growing up, “man” is what men called their good friends. But “man” gave way at some point to “dude” and “dude” at some point gave way to “bro,” and now it seems men are expected to call their best friends: “dog.” … Perhaps, but Jesus was not using dog as a term of affection here.] In ancient Palestine, dogs were not the beloved, pampered pets that they are in Denver, but they were more like garbage disposals, whose job it was to eat up all of the discarded food and lick the floor clean.
Now, I know of no scholar or preacher who has a good explanation of Jesus’ initial insult: is this a display of his humanity? He was fatigued, he needed some rest, he wanted to be alone … did he simply just slip and say the first thing that came to his mind? … I am personally lost for a good explanation BUT what really matters is that Jesus relents and to a degree even repents: he changes his mind. The woman did not take offense at his insult; she did not blanch; rather she came right back at him, saying, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.” Sensing her resolve and her desperation, Jesus is moved: he is moved from apparent indifference to compassion. He initially brushes this woman off but then decides to help her. . . . This point should be of interest to us in our prayer life, for here we see that the persistent plea of this woman actually moved Jesus to action. We talk a lot about how prayer changes us, but the Bible is unequivocal: prayer has the capacity to change God, to move God to compassion, to motivate God to benevolent action. Walter Brueggemann, one my professors, once said in class that ancient Israel had two types of prayers: “Help?” and “WOW!” The amazing thing about this story is – not that Jesus insulted the Gentiles by calling them “dogs”; rather, the amazing thing this woman’s plea pushed Jesus to act.
In your prayer life, you should seek to imitate this woman, who showed great courage, persistence and risked rejection … I find that fear of rejection is one of the main psychological barriers that people face – not only in their prayer life, but in life in general … I am always inspired by the example of Abraham Lincoln, who was born into poverty, lost eight elections, twice failed at business and battled depression throughout his life, suffering from at least one nervous breakdown. As a great man once said, you are not a failure when you lose, you are only a failure if you quite trying. In your prayer life, make it your goal to be like this woman who boldly approached Jesus, who did not back down when she was initially rebuffed, who was not afraid to risk rejection and who showed persistence and who – in the end – move Jesus to compassion.
The final point that I wish to make may be quite bland or obvious, but it seems to be lost on many Christians in the contemporary debate taking place in American, and that is: much of what Jesus did was heal people from disease and free people from physical pain or mental anguish.
In the first story, Jesus exorcised a demon, which most likely was - in modern terms – curing a child with mental or psychological difficulties; in the second story, Jesus heals a deaf man with a speech impediment. Another Gospel claims that Jesus healed every disease and cured every illness. Jesus was a Divine Physician, a doctor who did not recognize borders or treat people according to their ability to pay.
Now, I am going to be honest: I have not been following the details of the current health care debate and I am in no way, shape or form taking a position on the current health care bill before Congress. However, what I do find appalling is the clear lack of concern on the part of many for those who have inadequate access to health care. How in the name of Jesus Christ can any Christian justify a lack of concern for the physical and mental needs of the poor? – this is beyond my comprehension as a Christian, who reads my Bible and tries to follow Jesus Christ, who seems to have spent most of his time healing people from disease and illness.
We might and maybe SHOULD all disagree on how it happens, who pays, to what degree government is involved but Christians should be promote adequate health care for all persons on the face of this planet. Presbyterians once saw it as our Christian duty to start hospitals and send out medical missionaries to third world countries on our nickel. I understand that reasonable minds disagree when it comes to the details of health care and health insurance, but it is not acceptable for Christians not to care for the medical needs of the poor – and help pay for it.
Listening to the debate in the public square and at private parties, I wonder if Christians have forgotten the story of the Good Samaritan?
Here it is:
‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two denarii,* gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” After telling this story, Jesus says to his disciples, ‘Go and do likewise.’
In the current, hostile climate, as we argue and fuss about what to do about health care, it would be wise for those who claim to be Christian – conservatives and liberals, persons in both parties!!! -- to hear and obey the Divine Physician, Jesus Christ, who charged his disciples to “Go and do likewise” – to be like the Good Samaritan, who saw a man in desperate need of medical attention, was moved to pity, bandaged his wounds, put him on his own animal, took him to an inn and paid the bill.
During one Christmas Eve worship service I accidentally called for an offering for the “less needy.” My father-in-law humorously said he had a vision of the ushers running out into the street and tracking down people in expensive cars and fur coats to GIVE them money from that offering.
Well apparently, some Christians think that’s the way it should be: rich get richer and poor get poor, but it is not so in Kingdom of God. It is not so. Christians have a responsibility to care for the least of those among us.
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