What the Lord Requires

I shared the following deeply felt prayer concerns with the Avery UMC congregation this morning. Then we talked about living as people of hope, which we will commit to doing today and every day until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

A lot has happened in the world since we last met in this space a week ago to worship and pray together. While I am tempted to push these things aside and lead worship as if all is well, this is not the time for that. So allow me a moment to share with you what’s on my heart today.

First, the presidential election. The choice, as always, was between two flawed candidates who both promised a future that is brighter than present reality. One was elected, the other was not. With regards to policies, plans, promises, and party politics, we will disagree as Americans, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Many good, faithful, upstanding citizens voted for Clinton, and many voted for Trump.

Donald Trump is now in line to become our next president, and just as President Barack Obama deserved our support, so does Donald Trump, however we feel about him. He will be the president for all of us, and we all ought to pray for him and hope that he will exercise good leadership for all 320 million Americans.

However, there is one way this election cycle was different than any other in my lifetime. There is no denying that Trump’s campaign included inflammatory rhetoric towards women, people of color, Muslims, and persons with disabilities. His running mate has a history of restricting civil rights for the LGBT community.

As a result, the election seems to have led to an uptick in harassment and violence, particularly towards persons of color and Muslims. Women are feeling hurt and undervalued, and LGBT persons wonder if the rights they’ve fought so hard for will now be taken away. Simply put, there are a lot of Americans afraid of a Trump presidency right now.

Whether we believe these fears are justified or not doesn’t matter. When our fellow citizens are fearful, our responsibility isn’t to encourage them to “get over it.” We cannot tell people how they are supposed to feel. Our responsibility as Americans and Christians is to advocate for and protect them, just as we would want someone to do for us if we felt scared or undervalued. Our citizenship and our faith requires it.

However, for most of us here in Washington County, the election was overshadowed by the events in Canonsburg on Thursday morning. This was a tragic event in so many ways. The death of one police officer, Scott Bashoium, and the wounding of another, James Saieva, reminds us that every day, police officers in our communities put their lives on the line in order to keep us safe. They need our prayers not only today, but every day.

While we pray for the family Scott Bashoium, and for all law enforcement officers, two other persons died in this altercation. Their families are grieving today as well.

We must not overlook that Dalia Sabae, who was three months pregnant, was killed by a man she had a protection from abuse order against. This marks the 2nd time in 3 months in our region that a woman was killed by the spouse she had a protection from abuse order against. This should be enough to raise our awareness of domestic violence and begin to work against it.

If you’ve ever wondered why more victims of domestic abuse and violence don’t seek help, this is why. The seeming ineffectiveness of protection from abuse orders is only going to make it even more difficult for people in this area to report that they are being abused. We must do more to protect the vulnerable among us, and that work must begin immediately.

We also must think of our children, and teach them that abuse and violence is never okay. While women can be abusers as well, it is much more common for men to be the abuser, so our boys and men need to be taught from an early age that violence is not okay. It is never okay. This is learned behavior.

Yes, we’ll pray for all these things today, but let this also be a wake-up call for us to do more than pray. Our Christian faith compels us to seek justice and to defend the powerless. This is a clear issue that calls us to take tangible action as a community, so this does not happen again. Volunteer with or donate to Domestic Violence Services of SW PA. Work to make laws more stringent. If you know of abuse taking place, don’t look the other way. Take a stand. It’s the responsibility of all of us to work together to end domestic violence. The Lord requires this of us.

It's Time.

“Hey Erik: what do you think about LGBT persons?” called a seminary friend across our student lounge. Not many people were around, but the handful of students who were would definitely hear my response. I do not like being put on the spot, especially when it comes to controversial issues. I scanned the room for an exit, but that wouldn’t work. I was stuck – I had to answer the question.

“Well, I don’t agree with the lifestyle, but I don’t see why it should be a barrier to friendships.”

To my relief, my friend simply shrugged, mumbled an “okay”, and went back to pecking away at her laptop. We never spoke about the subject again, though since it was Friday, we played Ultimate Frisbee together on the quad that afternoon.

Sometime later, I learned that this friend identifies as bisexual. When I found out, it brought new significance to that brief interaction. Despite my disapproval of her bisexuality, she has never stopped loving me just as any other friend. And I have never stopped loving her.

But there’s something I’ve never told her. It’s a secret I’ve kept from friends and family for years. I no longer consider identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender to be sins to avoid or “defects” to cure or correct. I don’t see them as lifestyle choices, but rather as part of a beautiful God-given identity some of us are created with.

So this is me coming out. I want to be an ally to LGBT persons. They need allies, because discrimination is prevalent in many forms. Their right to find housing or employment is often denied. Harassment comes from coworkers and strangers. And in the church, we pretend to welcome them with “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors,” but as soon as they step beyond the threshold, they are told their committed romantic relationships are not blessed by God. Furthermore, if they feel called by God to serve in ordained ministry, they must deny this part of their identity.

Ten years ago, I would have never imagined I would identify as an ally. But people change, and I have come to my current understanding as a result of years of struggling, questioning, and wondering if God created me this way. Indeed, God created me to be an ally to my LGBT brothers and sisters, because God created and called me to love my neighbor without restraint.

I still don’t feel comfortable being vocal about controversial topics. And I worry that identifying as an LGBT ally might strain my relationships with friends, family, and members of my church. Some people will try to change my mind, some will question whether I can really be a Christian, and some may even stop talking to me.

If it’s this scary for me to come out this publicly as an ally, I can’t begin to imagine the courage it takes for people to come out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Those who come out within the context of the United Methodist Church, which is exclusionary in nature, must be among the most courageous people of all.

So, dear church, it’s time. It’s time to remove hurtful and exclusionary language from the United Methodist Book of Discipline that describes the practice of homosexuality as “incompatible with Christian teaching.” It’s time to remove restrictions on ordination based on what happens behind bedroom doors. It’s time to allow churches and pastors the ability to encourage and support marriage covenants between two people committing their lives to each other, even if those two people don’t look like a traditional wedding cake topper. Simply put, it’s time to stop causing unnecessary pain to our brothers and sisters in Christ who identify as LGBT.

I have needed a long time and an open mind to get to this point. Friends who had the courage to come out to me helped me see that LGBT persons also happen to be among the most committed Christians I know. Proponents of LGBT rights showed me the ugly side of discrimination in civil and ecclesial arenas, which I cannot reconcile with a God whose greatest command is to love. My understanding of church history reminded me of ways tradition and scriptural interpretation have evolved over time as we learn more about the nature of God’s good creation, which includes humanity.

The limits of time and space preclude me from going into depth about my theological journey on this matter. Yet, please understand that I have not come to this position lightly, or just because I have LGBT friends, or because our culture is progressively becoming more accepting of the diversity of human sexuality. It has been, and continues to be, a difficult intellectual and theological exploration for me. As I continue to seek clarity, I’m thankful for friends like the seminary classmate above, who patiently love me and give me space to work out my own theology for as long as it takes.

We live in a world that seems to be moving ever deeper into opposing shores of love and hate. And each time the United Methodist Church refuses to take legislative steps toward greater love, it means we drift closer and closer to hate. Eventually, our drifting will run aground on hatred’s rocky shore, and when that occurs there will be no denying our sin: we will have completely separated ourselves from the love commandment that is central to scripture. At that point, our ability to be in ministry with all people will be so diminished that our witness to the Gospel will be ineffective and hollow.

It’s time. It’s time to end the pain we are causing our brothers and sisters. It’s time to welcome and celebrate everyone who comes to the UMC, without regard to sexual identity. It’s time to end our hypocrisy and finally live into our commitment of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.” It’s time to love our neighbors as ourselves. It’s time, church. It’s time.

When Bowling Alleys Close

Route 19 Bowl & Lounge here in Washington closed its doors for good yesterday. Within a month, demolition of the building will begin. With this change comes the end of my Thursday night bowling league, as the 17 teams are scattering to three different area bowling alleys for next season.

I'm not very good at bowling, but I enjoy being in leagues for a variety of reasons. One reason is the chance to meet and socialize with people I otherwise would probably never meet. In particular, bowling is one of the few social activities in our culture that draws an inter-generational crowd. Our now defunct league was made up of adults of every age, and we all got along like one big family with several generations.

I am a big proponent of inter-generational friendships, and the church is another place where these relationships can blossom. But sometimes, we stifle this by creating all our ministry groups and worship opportunities around ages, genders, or life stages. The resulting church "community" becomes little more than a collection of segregated groups. While age-appropriate and gender-appropriate ministries are essential, there is also a need to bridge the generational gaps, so young and old can listen and learn from each other.

In Paul’s letter to Titus, he charged the older women of the church to “encourage the young women,” (2:3), and the older men of the church to “urge the younger men to be self-controlled” and to “Show yourself in all respects a model of good works.” (2:6-7). Paul also wrote to a young leader, Timothy, encouraging him to “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).

Paul's message is clear: no matter what age, we have something to teach and something to learn from people of different ages than us. And a healthy church is one that fosters multi-generational relationships in its ministry. I am glad that Avery seems to do well with this. We encourage inclusion of children in worship. We consider our older members when planning ministry or renovating the building. And my heart is strangely warmed every Sunday that I walk into the fellowship hall after worship and see young adults talking and laughing with people old enough to be their parents or grandparents. Sometimes those interactions even create conversation about ways of living or current social issues, where generational lines are recognized yet are not a barrier to fruitful dialogue.

With the closing of yet another bowling alley, I'm reminded that the church's role in cultivating inter-generational relationships is more important now than ever before. So whether you are young or old, or somewhere in the middle, be intentional about developing relationships with people of different ages. Such relationships are a blessing to all who engage in them, and they also help us more fully become the body of Christ envisioned by scripture.

Firing Someone Doesn't Change Much

By now, most people in the Pittsburgh area have heard about the termination this week of Wendy Bell, a local news journalist for WTAE. If you’re like me, you have heard the news because of the reactions it generated, both in support of Bell and in support of the station firing her.

I do not, nor have I ever, watched local news, and I barely knew who Wendy Bell was before this week. So, I have no intention of debating whether she is a noble journalist who was simply misunderstood, or a racist whose true colors are finally showing. There are enough people doing that already. This is not a referendum on Bell or WTAE.

However, I have read Bell’s original post on Facebook that started this whole mess, and it unquestionably demonstrates white privilege and racist attitudes. This does not necessarily make Wendy Bell a hateful person or explicitly racist. She may have had the best of intentions. I will give her the benefit of the doubt that she did and does mean well.

But that doesn’t make it okay. This controversy sheds light on a problem in our culture, particularly in Western Pennsylvania where conversations on race are few and far between. A professor of mine from seminary often said, “There are no racist people. Only racist attitudes.” That has always stuck with me. It reminds me that even if I have the best of intentions, I still possess racist attitudes of which I am unaware. This is known as implicit bias – having attitudes or beliefs that operate below a conscious level, affecting our thoughts and actions without our awareness of it. It is these attitudes which must be addressed, and which are in some ways equally as problematic as explicit racism.

Wendy Bell, like me, benefits from white privilege. Wendy Bell, like me, isn’t always conscious of the implicit biases and racist attitudes she has. Wendy Bell, like me, continually needs anti-racism or sensitivity training. My hope is that Bell takes advantage of this situation to grow and mature as an individual.

As for WTAE, they could have used this controversy as an opportunity to address a systemic issue by requiring all their employees, including Bell, to engage in such training. Maybe they are, and maybe they terminated Bell because she refused to participate. I don’t know. What I do know is that firing Bell solves a public relations problem, but it won’t do anything to dismantle racism in WTAE’s workplace, our region, or our country.

This is one reason I am proud of my employer, the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. We take seriously our commitment to “creating a culture of inclusiveness”, recognizing that “We are richer with diversity and we will continue to find ways to witness with full inclusion and the embracing of all our sisters and brothers of color.” Several years ago, we required all pastors to participate in a two-part Dismantling Racism training, and conference leadership has recently decided to require similar training for new pastors within their first year of service as a commissioned minister and provisional member. The conference also added a new staff position last year, a Coordinator of Diversity Development, to help “move the church forward in being racially inclusive of all persons as we seek to make disciples for the transformation of the world.”

Until we move beyond calling people racists or getting defensive when others call us racist, nothing will change. Until we acknowledge that we have implicit biases and work to overcome them, nothing will change. Until we begin to discuss about what is problematic in our language surrounding race, nothing will change. Attacks and counter-attacks draw headlines, and employee terminations have the veneer of taking a stand, but the real work lies beyond. Change begins with conversation, and continues with a commitment to changing ourselves from within. This is what God requires of us. Might this be a chance for the church to take the lead, changing and re-shaping the cultural discourse?

The Pride of a Pirates Fan

Today, I attended the Pittsburgh Pirates Season Ticket Members Field Day at PNC Park. For almost 2 hours, I and my friend Dan were given the opportunity to play catch, take batting practice, and field fly balls on the field of PNC Park. This is my 3rd time taking someone to this experience, and I continue to be amazed that a Major League Baseball organization allows its fans to take part in such an event. It prompted me to write a letter to the organization, through my account representative. Below is my letter.

To Whom It May Concern:

As a long-time Season Ticket Member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, I want to take a moment to thank you for being such a great organization. I recently returned from the Season Ticket Member Field Days at PNC Park, my third time experiencing that benefit. The Field Days are truly a unique experience, and every person I have taken with me has remarked how lucky they feel to have this opportunity.

I always expected and practically demanded these experiences when the major league team was not successful every year. And as the on-field success increased year after year, you could have reduced or eliminated perks for Season Ticket Members and been completely justified in doing so. Instead, you have shown continued commitment and loyalty to the fans not only in these experiences, but with top-notch customer service, ticket exchanges, and placing our names on the outfield wall.

Thank you for everything you do for the fans, particularly the Season Ticket Members. I remember a time not too long ago where being a fan and Season Ticket Member of the Pirates brought me ridicule and jokes at my expense, even in my own city. Today, I can proudly say that I am a life-long fan of the best organization in Major League Baseball. I don’t see other playoff-contending teams letting their fans take batting practice and play catch on the field. Once again, you have shown that the Pittsburgh Pirates are in a class all by themselves both on and off the field.

With sincere gratitude,

Erik Hoeke

Prayers for Charleston

Lord, words cannot adequately express the heaviness within our hearts today. Last night in Charleston, SC, 9 of your children died in bible study because of hatred. 3 of your children watched the horror unfold. One of your children rebelled from your love in the worst way, committing the racially motivated act of murder that can only be described as hatred.

It reminds us, God, that even the Church is not safe and secure from evil, that even our houses of worship can quickly be turned into scenes of violent crime and murder. We weep for the victims, their families, the congregation of Emanuel AME Church, and the community of Charleston, as we pray for healing and hope in the midst of unimaginable grief and horror. We pray for the shooter, that his hardened heart be filled with your love, that he may come to realize the gravity of the unspeakable acts he committed and the consequences, and most of all that he recognize the face of Jesus in all people, including those whose lives he took. And we pray that this moment may teach us all to love one another more deeply, especially those who look or act different than us, so we may realize that we are not so different after all and that black lives do matter.

O God, humanity is full of so much hate and evil, sometimes manifest in racism, and sometimes in violence and death. Lord, where hatred is blossoming drive it out with your love. Where blood is shed, beat guns and knives into instruments of productivity and peace. Where we fail to understand why someone would take the lives of others, help us to understand your goodness in the midst of the evils we face.

As religious people enter houses of worship this weekend, we will do so more fearfully than last week. We will be more on edge, we will wonder if any place is truly safe. And we will be startled by the answer: not in this world. No amount of prayer, security systems, emergency action plans, licensed handguns, or military might will ever create the security we seek. But we do know this: even in the valley of the shadow of death, you are with us. Even when death comes early as the result of violent, hateful acts, you are with us. You comfort those who mourn, you welcome these 9 departed souls into your kingdom, and you remind us in your own death and resurrection that physical death cannot and will not have the last word.

No, hatred, evil, and death do not win in the end. And the cosmic battle is not about good people ultimately vanquishing bad people. It is about your love and grace utterly destroying the powers of evil and death so that they are no more. In this we place our hope, even if today that hope is barely visible through the tears welling up in our eyes.

The Season of Quiet

Living as a Christian in Western Pennsylvania means you can't go a few months without hearing the ubiquitous Steelers Excitement Christian Guilt Trip. Each pastor has her or his own spin and verbiage, but the argument goes something like this: in church, we are quiet/proper/boring/lethargic, but at football games, we are loud/rowdy/easily excitable. The resulting lesson is simple: we clearly love our Steelers more than we love God, because if we really loved God we would be jumping up and down, waving "Trinity Towels" and screaming "Here we go, Jesus, Here we go!"

To some extent, the Steelers Excitement Christian Guilt Trip, or SECGT, has a point. We do get excited about things we love, and if we can't get excited about our faith in God, then perhaps we have some spiritual growing up to do. But there are certainly times when the life of Christian discipleship requires a response entirely different than what is found at a sporting event.

Today marks the beginning of Lent, a season filled with meditation, repentance, and most of all, silence. It's a solemn season, not depressive but reverent. Lent is when we "bury the Alleluias" and leave services in darkness and silence. Lent is not the time to be measuring our depth of faith with the yardstick of football enthusiasm.

Furthermore, when we compare worship to a football game, as the SECGT does, what are we saying about God? After all, football is little more than frivolous entertainment. I sure hope God is more than one of many weekend entertainment options from which we may choose.

But I'm not completely a spoil-sport. I do think there are days to jump and shout and sing in celebration and praise of the almighty God. Easter is one such season, standing in stark emotional contrast to its predecessor, Lent. Pentecost is another, as the disciples got so rowdy with worshiping God that others accused them of hitting the football tailgates a little too hard.

Lent serves as an annual reminder that God is worthy of praise with all our emotions and temperaments. Excitable worship will return in a few weeks, but there is tremendous value in quiet, reflective worship - especially in a culture in which these things are lacking. So, let's embrace the season of quiet, because we desperately need it right now.

Humble Beginnings

Sermon for Sunday, January 11, 2015
Avery United Methodist Church
Washington, PA
Rev. Erik A. Hoeke

Mark 1:4-11

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

The obvious question on this Sunday - the day every year in which we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus - is, "WHY?"

Why does Jesus get baptized? Why on earth does the Son of God, the Savior, the Messiah, the one who is God incarnate, need to be baptized?

All four Gospels tell this story in some form, but they give few answers. And the answers they do give aren't very good:

• Mark, the text for today, gives no explanation - just that it happened.

• Luke mentions Jesus' baptism as more of an afterthought - "all the people were baptized," he writes, and "oh yeah, Jesus was too."

• Matthew clumsily explains it as some vague fulfillment of righteousness, but then doesn't tell us anything about what he means by that.

• And the Gospel of John conveniently leaves out any mention of Jesus being baptized, though all the other elements - the Isaiah reference, John's water baptism, even the Spirit descending like a dove - are there.

So, why does Jesus need to be baptized?

Some have suggested a spiritual reason: that baptism was symbolic of his call into earthly ministry. Though just a few weeks ago we celebrated his birth, we have already moved on to his age 30 year, when his ministry begins. And maybe this ritual purification affirmed from God above serves as a "kickoff" for his ministry. At the font we start our journey, as the song goes, and Jesus does too.

Or, perhaps there is a theological reason for Jesus' baptism: In becoming human and taking on every aspect of humanity, does he take on original sin from the fall of Adam and Eve? Does Christ becoming human make him in need of purification by baptism? That's a rabbit hole we could descend into and get lost for a while.

Maybe it's more simple; a practical reason: in being baptized, Jesus is just showing us what he wants us to do; being a good leader by modeling proper behavior for his followers.

Whatever the reason for Jesus' baptism, it does mark the beginning of his earthly ministry. For the writer of the Gospel of Mark, this is the beginning of the story of Jesus. His readers would not have had the benefit of the birth stories of John the Baptizer nor Jesus to explain what all this meant. This baptism story is the beginning of the good news of Jesus.

But if you're paying attention, you notice that Jesus starts his ministry really passively. I mean, he doesn't even do anything. It seems like he just wanders into the scene, John leads him into the Jordan and baptizes him, then as he comes up, both a Spirit dove and a voice descends upon him as the heavens are torn apart.

This is pretty compelling action here, but little (if any) of it is coming from Jesus. John, the heavens, the Spirit, and the voice are the primary actors, and Jesus is the one acted upon. Even the names show this - John the Baptizer and Jesus the Christ or Lord. Jesus has a title; while John has a job. Whose ministry are we talking about?

But I think that's the point Jesus is trying to make. Sure, he may not need to be baptized with repentance and forgiveness of sins, because he is the Son of God - he is God. But he submits to the ritual act to model and encourage the behavior for the rest of us, but maybe also to avoid appearing snobby, turning his nose at purification rituals that drip with the essence of humanity: sinfulness, confession, repentance, begging for forgiveness. This is sooo not the scene of a messiah.

Or is it? Again, that's why he came. He came to save us from these things. He came as God's tangible sign of forgiveness - the same forgiveness we beg for.

As he is baptized, Jesus does this other strange thing: he has John baptize him. He didn't need to do that either. After all, he's Jesus. But as parents invite children to help even when the help isn't necessary, or as pastors ask others to pray for them even though they can do it themselves, Jesus is someone with complete authority who invites John the wilderness prophet to baptize him. He doesn't need John to baptize him, but he asks him anyway.

In this story, we discover the humility of Christ. Here is the Son of God asking a camel's hair wearing, locust and honey eating human to do a ritual purification that he could have done himself, and that maybe he didn't even need in the first place.

Jesus' ministry begins so humbly, and it continues that way. As we read the Gospels, we see a man of great humility:

• A man who listens to "the least of these" without an air of superiority.

• A man who kneels down to wash the grimy feet of his followers.

• A man who humbles himself to the point of death on a cross, setting aside his own glory so that we humans may participate in that glory too.

Jesus' life and ministry had a humble beginning, and a humble ending too. Along the way, he disarmed people continually with his humility; people who valued power and superiority and beating their chests and climbing ladders and always being right and never needing anyone's help, least of all someone from Nazareth - for what good can come from that Godforsaken place anyway?

Jesus modeled a different way, a better way. In his example, we see that all our power-grabbing and chest-thumping and defensive rhetoric can be replaced by compassion, service, love, and sacrifice for the sake of others. And when he invites John the baptizer to do something he could just as well have done himself, we realize we can do that too. Just because we can make it on our own doesn't necessarily mean we should try.

Christ's humility teaches us that. He teaches us how to be more like him as we move through this world. He teaches us that everyone we meet has something to offer to us, if only we invite them to share it. And he teaches us that humility enables us to shed our sins with the waters of baptism, to receive the Spirit, and to hear those same words from above that he heard: this is my son/daughter, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Don't Try This At Home

Sermon for Sunday, August 10, 2014

Avery United Methodist Church

Washington, PA

Rev. Erik A. Hoeke

Matthew 14:22-33

Common English Bible (CEB)

22 Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. 23 When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. 25 Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake.26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed.

27 Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

28 Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”

29 And Jesus said, “Come.”

Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!”

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind settled down.

33 Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!”

Well, this is an interesting story, isn’t it? It begins with Jesus, worn out from a long day of ministry with the crowds, sneaking away for prayer time on a mountaintop. We can talk all we want about Jesus always being there for the disciples, but the truth is, sometimes he needed his own time to reconnect with God. So he sends them out on the lake, and soon after they depart from Jesus a storm begins.

This has happened before, of course. But last time, Jesus was in the boat – sleeping, but there nonetheless. This time, they’re all alone, with no Jesus to calm the storm. That’s how it is: sometimes, Jesus immediately calms the storm, and other times, the storm rages on through the night.

All night long they battle the storm, into the early morning hours. And whether it’s exhaustion from fighting to survive or simply the chaos of the crashing waves and sheets of rainfall, the disciples start to see a figure in the distance. This figure is walking across the water, so it must be a supernatural being. And they are terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they say – no, they scream – and I’m betting that at least the fishermen among them probably had some salty language to go with that fear.

But it’s not a ghost. It’s Jesus, walking across the lake. In a storm, remember. This is not a Sunday stroll for Jesus, but a walk across horrendous waves, with a torrential downpour pelting his face and shoulders, and vicious winds from all sides threatening to knock him down into the abyss. But Jesus treads on, mastering the chaos above, below, and all around.

“Be encouraged,” he calls out through the storm. “It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” To which Peter responds with a challenge: “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” Jesus accepts the challenge, but rather than order he simply invites Peter: “Come.” Come, Peter. Give it a try.

So, out Peter goes, and this is where the story gets really interesting. Peter gets out of the boat, in a terrible storm, and starts walking on the water. We don’t know how far he gets, whether it’s a step or two, or almost the whole way to Jesus, but he gets out and walks on water, like a god.

What are we supposed to think about Peter’s actions here? This is something that has been much debated throughout Christian tradition. Should we praise Peter as courageous, for being the only disciple willing to risk stepping out of the boat to go towards Jesus? Or was he simply being selfish, leaving the boat – which symbolizes the community of faith – to merely do something that would draw attention to him? Perhaps he serves as a representative of the disciples, many scholars say, and he represents the faithful actions of all followers who risk the stormy seas to respond to Jesus’ invitation. Or, maybe Peter’s just an idiot. How else would you describe someone who jumps out of a boat in the middle of a storm and tries to walk on water?

Well, I think it’s a bit more nuanced than that. I do think Peter is courageous, for wanting to be like Jesus so much that he’s willing to try walking on water. But I also think it’s an ill-advised move, because while it’s okay to want to be as much like Jesus as you can be, it’s important to remember, Peter, that you are not in fact, Jesus. And it’s not okay to think that you are. But had Peter not stepped out on that water, would he have ever learned this important lesson?  And would we have ever learned it?

We could say that Peter may have only taken one or two steps on that water, which is better than most people I know, including myself. But then he starts to sink because he took his eyes off the ball, he lost focus of Jesus. But let’s not mistake the truth here: Peter was going to sink sooner or later. There is no way this story ends otherwise, I’m convinced. Because again, he’s like Jesus, but he is not Jesus. No one can master the chaos like Jesus can – no one before, no one since.

We laugh at how anyone could be so naïve to think otherwise, especially about themselves, as Peter did. But a little bit of introspection, I believe, will reveal that there’s a little bit of naïve Peter in all of us.

Sure, we may not expect to walk on water at our neighbor’s pool party or at the beach this summer, but how often are we naïve enough to believe that we can master the chaos, only to get knocked into the abyss by a stiff wind?

Picture two parents who do everything to raise their child well and give him every opportunity to succeed. They first conquer the chaos of diapers and middle of the night wake up calls, then master the chaos of potty-training, then the first day of school, followed by teenage angst and finally sending the boy off to college to become a man. They have tried to master the chaos as best they can at every point, and for a time it appears they’ve succeeded. Now their beloved child has a good job, a son, and a fiancé that he plans to marry next year. Not perfect by any means, but his life is coming together pretty well.

Then one day they discover that their son has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. And suddenly they are sinking, sinking, sinking, down into the abyss. “Lord, rescue us!” they cry!

Picture a man with a squeaky clean reputation. His whole life, chaotic waters have tempted him, but he has always managed to rise above them. He is a model husband and father, is of high character and standing in the community, and has always adhered to the highest ethical behavior while running his own company for over 3 decades. But now, he has a chance to make a shady business deal that could make him enough money to retire in a few months rather than a few years. It’s not exactly illegal, but it is unethical in the way it will adversely affect a large number of people. It’s not like him – he’s always stayed above the chaos - but the temptation is too great, and he makes the deal. And he is sinking, sinking, sinking, down into the abyss. “Lord, rescue me!” he cries.

Picture a pastor of a church. Churches are always chaotic, but this pastor has found a way to master the chaos: attend every meeting, keep conflict to a minimum, and do everything asked of him, no matter how unnecessary it seems. Sure, it requires insane hours and gallons of coffee, but that’s the sacrifice of ministry, he convinces himself. But one day he wakes up, and realizes that for all the chaos he’s mastered at the church, there’s chaos in other places that he hasn’t mastered: his health is suffering, his family life is strained, and the joy of being in ministry has left him – but he was too busy to notice. And he is sinking, sinking, sinking, guilty of trying to be not just like Jesus, but trying to be Jesus. “Lord, rescue me!” he cries from the depths of the chaos.

Everywhere I turn, I see people trying to be masters of their own chaos. From the simpler storms of our self-inflicted busyness to the more severe thunderstorms of illness and death, we convince ourselves that no matter what life gives us, we can handle it. After all, God won’t give us any more than we can handle, right?

Wrong. Life often gives us more than we can handle, and God allows this to happen so that we may learn to trust in God rather than our own ability to master the chaos.

You know, there’s nothing wrong in wanting to be like Jesus. Indeed, that is what we should strive for. But when did we, like Peter, start trying to live our lives as if we are Jesus? When did we abandon trust in God and replace it with trust in our own efforts, our own steps out on the water? I don’t know when it was for me, but now that I’m sinking I realize how foolish it was to think I could ever walk on water.

You might be sinking too, unable to conquer the storms of life that rage on around you. But be encouraged! Jesus is here, don’t be afraid. And while he may not immediately calm the storm, without hesitation he will reach out and keep you from being swallowed by the waves, if only you call out to him for rescue. Of course, it requires a humble confession, like the one from Peter, a confession that we are in need of saving because we can’t save ourselves.

Whether it was the right decision or not, I’m glad Peter got out of the boat that day. Because in being stupid enough to do so, he reminds me even today that I too am sometimes stupid enough to think that I can master the chaos. In truth, it’s all I can do to keep from sinking. And were it not for Jesus, I would have sunk down into the depths long ago. So, every time I feel myself knocked down by the stiff winds, I remember Peter’s most courageous act of all: crying out, “Lord, rescue me!”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.