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July 6, 2003
Sermon: "Genuine Christianity"
Scripture: Deut. 30:30:6; Ezek. 36:26,27; Matt. 22:37
Reverend Larry Gerber

Today is Holy Communion Sunday, and is the last day of a four day holiday for many. It is a time of celebration and reflection. Celebration of who we are as Americans, and whose we are as Christians. Early this morning we sang the song "Thank God I'm a Methodist", a silly song, but based on reality of folks called Methodists, and there is even a little bit of theology in that song.

Let's look at patriotism first. Who are we, and why do we do the things we do? Take Betsy Ross for instance. She made the first American flag, or was it Francis Hopkins? Either way, Betsy Ross is the one we remember in our American heritage, because she, according to legend (which we have taken to be factual), one afternoon in June of 1776, was approached by three men, in her seamstress shop in Philadelphia. One of the men was George Washington.

They explained they wanted an American flag to replace the state banners carried by the Revolutionary soldiers. General Washington is reported to have shown Betsy Ross a rough sketch - a square banner with 13 stripes of red and white, and 13 stars scattered across a blue field.

Reportedly, Betsy looked at the sketch and suggested the flag be rectangular instead of square, and that the stars be 5 points instead of 6. The legend goes on to say that she made such a flag, and it was presented to Congress and officially adopted as the American flag.

There may be some doubt as to whether she made the first flag, but we do know that she made many such flags. Betsy Ross made her living as a seamstress and upholsterer. She outlived her 3 husbands, and eventually lived with her daughters. Even though she went blind, she continued sewing until her last days. Betsy Ross died in Philadelphia in 1836, at the age of 84.
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Patrick Henry began life as a bartender in a Virginia saloon. He left school at age 15 so he could spend more time fishing and hunting. His father gave him a farm and 300 slaves, but he was a miserable farmer, and went bankrupt. He began tending bar in a tavern owned by his father-in- law. He was a good bartender and a good talker. Town Lawyers frequented this particular bar, because it was across from the county courthouse. As they drank beer and discussed law, Patrick listened. He decided that he was as smart as those lawyers, so he read law for a month, took the bar exam, and failed the written test, but he talked a blue streak, and was admitted to the bar, based on his ability to talk, talk, talk.

Patrick Henry would go on to be a good lawyer, and be elected to The Virginia House of Burgesses, where he would make his famous speech, "If this be treason, make the most of it."

Several years later he sparked the beginning of The American Revolution with his challenge, "Give me liberty, or give me death." He would become the Governor of Virginia during the Revolutionary War. Patrick Henry, the bartender - to - Patrick Henry the patriot.

John Wesley - the neat and handsome young clergyman, was a notable figure among the Oxford Methodists. He had spent six college years in Christ Church, had been ordained a priest of the Church of England, and elected Fellow of Lincoln. The Holy Club had come into being while he was back home assisting his aged and infirm father at Epworth and Wroot. He had now been recalled to take up his duties at the university, as Greek lecturer and moderator of the classes in Lincoln College, where his fellowship entitled him to a small stipend, dormitory room, and meals in hall. He had to resign in 1751 because of his marriage.

It was at this point that John Wesley stepped to the front of the stage. By common consent he took leadership of the Oxford Holy Club. They grew in numbers and interest under his leadership. The object of the so called movement was to perfect souls of its members in piety and good works - to know and to do the will of God. This was frowned upon by faculty and students in eighteen century England. None-the-less, the Holy Club continued on. Every night the group would gather to review what each had done during the day and to consult what should be done the day following, their meetings always commencing with prayer and ending with a frugal supper.

The groups plans of action were various, but the main goal was to reach others for Christ. This might mean reaching out to the impoverished families; visiting people in prison, and preaching to the prisoners, offering them Bible study, and Communion once a month.

John Wesley laid much stress upon self-examination. He taught each of the club members to take account of their actions in a very exact manner, by writing a constant diary. They were to keep method and order in all that they did. After morning devotions, which were at a fixed time, 5 or 6 am being the best time, they were to outline what they would accomplish in various parts of the day. By days end, they could correct the importance of a mind that had been used to live by humor and chance, and prepare it by degrees to bear the restraints of a holy life.

They were to keep the fasts, visit the poor, take weekly Sacraments, in order to subdue the body, increase their charity, and obtain Divine grace, by retreating from the world. This was genuine Christianity, according to John Wesley.

John Wesley would take his "methodism" to Georgia where conflict of interests would make that trip a fiasco. He would fall in love, and then think twice of his calling, and back away from marriage. He would attempt to convert "the heathen redskins", only to barely make it across the ocean with his scalp intact.

John Wesley would go back to England, a distraught man, with a broken spirit. But, he would find a new lease on his spiritual life upon attending a meeting on Aldersgate Street on March 6, 1738. That evening changed and revitalized Christianity, which had been dormant for nearly 200 years. John Wesley had a new theme: "Salvation by faith alone."

Wesley had been taught that salvation came from receiving the Holy Sacrament and being baptized, supplemented by works of mercy and help of the Spirit. He knew that night that he had been lacking in faith, studious as he was, and learned in Greek, and the Bible. He now had faith, and he began to sing a song in German: "My soul before Thee prostrate lies; To Thee, her source, my spirit flies; My wants I mourn, my chains I see; O let Thy presence set me free!"

He sang, he wept, he rejoiced, and the moral courage which enabled John Wesley, after his Aldersgate experience, to endure the disfavor of his ecclesiastical overlords, the bishops of the Church of England, and to disregard their injunctions, was matched by fists, sticks, and stones which were aimed at him in the first two decades of his itinerant work. The mobs were sometimes set on by the clergy of the baser sort, sometimes by the country squires who were irritated by his castigation of their frivolous and vicious lives. The bottom line - John Wesley could not change who he was, a zealot for the Lord in spite of those who would laugh at him ridicule him, and attempt to run him out of town. John Wesley began a great awakening. He had hoped to revitalize the Church of England, but started a Methodist Movement. The Church of England changed very little if at all, but some how he lived out his life as a Priest in the Church of England. He never meant to start a movement outside of the church.

But, here we are today. We are Christians, we are United Methodists! We have genuine Christianity, because John Wesley challenged himself and his Holy Club members. He challenged them to put God first; to pray daily, on a regular basis, at a regular time; write out the daily plans, and chart how it went, so that at the end of the day, one could account for his/her daily activities, and access how they could perfect themselves.

John Wesley would remind us that: God is love, and that the love of God knows no bounds. God's love embraces neighbors, strangers, friends, and enemies; not only the good and gentle, but also the forward, the evil, and the unthankful. To live in God's love, the Christian walks in the light of eternity, has a clear sight of, and confidence in, the Most High, and reconciles all things through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

When we go the table (receive Holy Communion), we are reconciled. We are given a new start. We remember what Jesus did for us. We remember his broken body, his spilled cup. We are given the opportunity to be lifted up and to be made whole. Those who once were blind can now see, those who were sick are now healed, those who were miserable are now happy, because the Truth has set them free.

Betsy Ross changed the meaning of our flag, because she suggested changing the symbols, and configuration.
Patrick Henry changed the meaning of freedom by his words "Give me liberty or give me death".
John Wesley changed the meaning of Genuine Christianity, by living his faith rather than by reading the text.

Thank God I am an American, and thank God I am a "United" Methodist.

Let me know what you think. The church Email is: SLUMC@att.net, Phone: 480.895.8766