Pastor Sherry’s message for April 28, 2024
Scriptures: Acts 8:26-40; Ps 22:15-31; 1 Jn 4:7-21; Jn 15:1-8
Years ago (in the early 1970’s), I was teaching Sociology in a Catholic Girls School in Newport, Rhode Island. I was a new teacher, trying to impress upon my high school students—all 12th graders—how difficult it is to not conform to societal expectations. It seems to be true that most of us conform or go along with what is expected, most of the time, so as not to be singled out or harassed by “the crowd.” You would not usually drive the wrong way on a one way street, for instance. Most of us would not deliberately walk out of a store without paying for what we found there. My biggest fear in high school was that I would show up to “Wear Your Pajamas to School Day” in my pj’s, only to discover I had the wrong day. People are doing more outrageous things in public now than was true back in the 70’s…but most people, most of the time, do what we call is normative or normal.
So I asked my girls if they would be willing to try a harmless experiment in not conforming. They wore school uniforms, so there were very few ways they could modify their dress to be unique. I challenged them to do something simple like wear ribbons in their hair (not a trend at that time). No one was willing to do even something this tame. When I led them in a discussion as to why that was, they replied that they did not want to “stick out.” I considered the experiment a success because they had to seriously consider the personal cost of not conforming to cultural expectations, and decided the potential embarrassment wasn’t worth it.
I bring this up today because, as Christians, we sometimes forget how countercultural Jesus was, and how countercultural He expects us to be as well:
A. Let’s look at Acts 8:26-40. In this passage, Dr. Luke describes deacon Philip’s encounter with a fellow returning to Ethiopia. Persecution against Christians had broken out in Jerusalem. One would think, “This is terrible!” But in a countercultural, counterintuitive way, God uses it to begin to push the disciples out into Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (to begin to fulfill the “Great Commission”). Philip (not the Apostle, but a deacon) goes to Samaria. In verses 5-8, before this passage, we are told that he preached the Word, healed the sick, and cast out demons. He was doing an excellent job! The culture would say, “He’s a success. Keep him there!” But God, through the Holy Spirit, sends him off in a countercultural direction.
Philip was serving the Lord in Samaria, to the north, but was suddenly sent to the Gaza Road, way to the South. The Holy Spirit directs him to the Ethiopian Treasury Secretary. The guy was a North African believer in Judaism. Notice: He has already encountered the Word of God in the Old Testament. He is reading Isaiah 53, the last of the 4 Suffering Servant Songs—all of which predict Jesus—but he does not understand it. Philip, in a divine appointment, offers to help him. The Holy Spirit has already prompted the Ethiopian official to be curious about Scripture. Then God prompted Philip to be right there to explain. Philip does such a good job of explaining the Gospel that the guy wants to become a Christ-follower. He asks to be baptized. They are in what is essentially a desert, but miraculously spy water—is this a divine appointment or what?–and out in broad daylight, before any passersby, in a countercultural, not-to-be expected way, Philip baptizes him. Wow!
Wouldn’t we expect, then, that Philip would continue to hang out with the guy, to be sure any other of his questions were answered? But no, the Holy Spirit immediately whisks him away to a Philistine city, Ashdod, to evangelize others. Our God seems to delight in doing the unexpected.
In fact, I think He enjoys surprising us in countercultural ways.
Scripture is silent about how many Samaritans or Philistines came to Christ through the ministry of Philip. But Early Church history tells us that the first big Christian church was built in Ethiopia! That Ethiopian must have gone home and told many others about Jesus. Even today Ethiopia is a majority Christian nation surrounded by Moslem nations.
In 1 John 4:7-21, John, the Apostle of love, sets out several countercultural realities about AGAPEO love—the love of God poured out upon us–not philios [brotherly ] or eros [sexual] kinds of love. In verse 7, we are told that agapeo love comes from God, because God is love. Love is not our initiative; we humans did not invent it. So, it makes sense that, as stated in verse 12, when we demonstrate love, we are imitating God. God demonstrated His love for us (verse14) by sending Jesus to redeem us. Verses16-17 remind us that one of the ways we see or experience or cooperate with God is by doing things that are motivated by love.
Aren’t we touched when we see a TV ad (like for Tunnels to Towers or St. Jude’s Childrens’ Hospital), through which generous people provide homes for disabled servicemen, pay off mortgages for police widows, or pay for treatment for kids with cancer? James writes in 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. In other words, if you are moved to do something generous or kind—like contribute to one of these charitable organizations–it is because the Holy Spirit has inspired you. Watch the news. It’s hard to see any evidence of love in action. Loving actions are countercultural and our God wants us to get into the habit of behaving this way.
John adds in verse 18—There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. Knowing God loves us can keep us from caving in to fear.
God’s perfect love for us casts out our fear. If we live on a daily diet of the broadcast news, we can become fearful of many things…everything from nuclear holocaust, to being mugged or car-jacked, or to losing our homes, health, or incomes. But if we can focus on God’s love for us, we can enjoy freedom from these kinds of anxieties. The peace that passes all understanding—not dependent upon our circumstances, but on our relationship with Jesus–is clearly countercultural.
C. Our Psalm today, (22:25-31), reminds us that God’s rule is universal. If we are aware of what is going on in the world currently, we might be skeptical that this is true. Anti-Jewish protestors are swarming our college campuses nationwide, threatening the safety of Jewish students; and causing graduations to be cancelled for the very students who missed their high school graduation ceremonies due to Covid lockdowns. There are wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Arab Terrorists. Our economy is shaky and the cost of gas and groceries is sky-high. Wherever we look, it appears as though what we call wrong is seen as right by the culture, and what we see as right, the culture condemns.
The psalmist, King David, wants us to be reassured that the day will come that (vv.27-28)—All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations. This view is countercultural now, but we who believe in Jesus Christ, and in His 2nd Coming, trust that this prediction will come true.
D. Finally, we have our Gospel lesson, John15:1-8—I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. In this lesson, Jesus is referring to Himself as the “genuine Israel.” All throughout the Old Testament, the vineyard or grape vines are a metaphor for the Jewish people. If Jesus is the authentic Israelite, it is because He has loved His Father, been obedient to His Father, and loved His people.
Additionally, He is saying that we can do nothing of any significance apart from Him. Our culture would have us believe that might makes right; that the one with the most money, biggest social network, or most political power/influence wins. But, counterculturally, we know that none of that stuff will get us to Heaven! Money, power, fame, even health can all be lost. But a vital relationship with Jesus will see us through this life and safely into the next.
If loving Jesus today makes us nonconformists or even dinosaurs, well I say, so be it! I don’t know about you, but I would rather love Jesus and live outside the current norms than be a cultural conformist. Remember, as my little experiment with my high school students demonstrated, the pull or power of the culture over us is very strong. Wearing ribbons is not a sufficient motivator to behave in a countercultural manner, but being a follower of Jesus Christ is—or should be!
This week, try to be aware of times and events when our faith runs counter to the culture. Look for the opportunities that exist when God provides you a divine appointment. Let’s try also to be countercultural people who daily demonstrate God’s love. Amen and amen!
©️2024 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams