On Power

Sermon 2022.08.28

Rev. Wesley Menke

Érase una vez una pareja en la que el marido no era fiel. La esposa le suplicaba y le rogaba que cambiara su comportamiento, pero su comportamiento solo empeoró. Entonces, un día, el hombre le dijo a su esposa que haría un viaje a Florida con una amiga y que regresaría en unos días. La esposa intentó algo diferente. Investigó destinos románticos y luego le sugirió a su esposo un itinerario para él y su amiga. Inmediatamente canceló el viaje y se quedó en casa. El punto es que el poder importa, y cómo lo obtenemos; a menudo se malinterpreta.

Algunas personas piensan que Jesús y sus seguidores no quieren ni tienen ningún poder. Pero, de hecho, hoy Jesús enseña formas de subvertir los esquemas de poder convencionales; y construir poder para nuestra propia supervivencia y bienestar mutuos.

Las dificultades en tu vida no son un castigo divino que mereces y debes soportar. Depende de ti lidiar con los problemas en tu vida. Jesús enseña que el poder se ejerce a través de la comunión.

No se arrodillen a los pies de un rey y de aquellos con poder oficial, sino levántense junto a aquellos a quienes la sociedad ha ignorado. Eso es lo que hizo Jesús.

Jesús vivió esto, comenzando su ministerio entre la base de la pirámide social y finalmente siendo coronado rey por Pilato.

Los que tienen el poder oficial se benefician cuando todos clamamos por ser los mandamás. Pero si te sientas con los humildes y el anfitrión te llama, te dan más.

Leemos en Hebreos 13 que la iglesia debe respetar el matrimonio y la familia. Esta no enseñanza de ser puros. Sino nos necesitamos unos a otros para sobrevivir.

Finalmente, se promete una gran bendición a aquellos que adoran a Dios y pronuncian el santo nombre de Dios. ¿Qué le dijo Dios a Moisés que se llamaba? “Yo Soy.” Habla el nombre de Dios y sé bendecido.

Once upon a time there was a couple in which the husband was not faithful. The wife would plead and beg him to change his behavior, but his behavior only grew worse. Then, one day, he told his wife that he would be taking a trip to Florida with a friend, and that he would be back in a few days. The wife tried something different. She researched romantic destinations and then gave her husband a suggested itinerary for him and his friend. He immediately canceled the trip, and stayed home. The point is that power matters, and how we get it; is often misunderstood.

Some people think that Jesus and his followers do not want nor have any power. But in fact, today Jesus teaches ways to subvert conventional power schemes; and build power for our own mutual survival and well being. The problem is works-righteousness; a scheme devised to take away power from you. The devil tricks you into thinking that you have to keep working all of the time to earn your power. By doing this the devil takes away your power to live freely and happily. Like the unfaithful husband in the story, the devil torments us, for the sadistic pleasure of watching others suffer.  

The truth is that we are saved by grace, through faith, and not by works. The hardship in your life is not a divine punishment that you deserve and must endure. God doesn’t do that. Your sins are forgiven. What you do with your life, and how you deal with hardship depends on you; it depends on your faith. It’s up to you to deal with the problems in your life. Power is something we all need to be able to do anything, especially solve problems. Jesus teaches that power is exercised through fellowship.

Fellowship intentionally reaches out to other struggling persons to find common ground. There is a lot more common ground than we realize. The key is to recognize that true power comes not from scrambling or groveling at the feet of a king and those with official power, but standing up alongside with those who society has disregarded, shunned, and cast aside. That’s what Jesus did. Power comes from the bottom.

Jesus said that all who humble themselves will be exalted, but all who exalt themselves will be humbled. Jesus also said that when you give a party, don’t just invite people of means who will return the favor, but invite those who have less means than you. You will be blessed because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid when new life is given to the just. We forget how shrewd and tactical Jesus could be. This isn’t just a lesson merely on social graces, this is a formula for building power. Jesus lived this out, beginning his ministry among the bottom of the social pyramid, and ultimately being crowned a king by Pilate. Jesus, our humble servant king inspires a kingdom to grow now still 2,000 years later while other empires come and go. 

Proverbs 15 teaches us to not seek out the presence of a king or win his support. Rather, build a movement of people who are bound together in fellowship so that the king is forced to say, “Come up here, and talk to me,” because they cannot ignore the power growing under their feet. 

Those with official power benefit when we all clamor to be the top dog. We thereby consent to the hierarchy and social control. If you scramble for the best seat, and the host or king shames you in front of the party, then they have reestablished their power over the goings on. But if you sit with the lowly and the host calls you up, they recognize your power, and by naming it give you more. 

We read in Hebrews 13 that the church which formed in Jesus’ physical absence took seriously the necessity to show hospitality to the least, last, and lost, knowing this was how they would grow. Respecting marriage and families wasn’t about policing purity as it was fearing the loss of sacred human bonds and companionship. Civilization is built by the trust and fidelity between us, ordinary people. We can’t survive or improve our lot unless we can care for and respect each other in the present moment. Leaders aren’t to be worshiped but regarded with sobriety, learn from their success and mistakes. Finally a great blessing is promised to those who worship God and speak God’s holy name. What is God’s holy name? What did God tell Moses the name was? “I am.” Speak the name of God and be blessed.