Fasting & Feasting for Lent,

Part 1

Sermon Notes

March 1, 2009

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church

9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248

(480) 895-8766

Psalm 34:13-14 NRSV

¹³Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

¹⁴Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Romans 12:10 NRSV

¹⁰Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 14:19 NRSV

¹⁹Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

A. Introduction

1. Advertisement

a. Some year’s back I got an advertisement from a Christian Publishing House. It came in a brightly colored envelope, and boldly printed on the outside was this phrase: “Fasting and Feasting for Lent.” I wondered what this was all about?

b. So I opened up the envelope. The company wanted me to buy some of their programs and books. They were especially promoting books on Feast Days, and programs to encourage folks to fast for Lent.

2. Fasting and Feasting for Lent

a. This got me to thinking. Maybe we ought to fast and feast to prepare ourselves for the Lenten Season. Lent to me ought to be more than, “I gave up chocolate or cigarettes”, as good as that might be for one’s waistline or health. Giving up stuff has merit in that it might teach you discipline. However, giving up things ought to help us to appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus more, and help us focus on loving others more. Giving up going to the movies is better if one uses this sacrifice to spend more time in prayer, more time with the family, or more time in helping others.

b. Lenten disciplines should help us grow closer to God and live more grateful lives in thanks to Jesus. The Jesus of the Bible was a man of positive actions. And I believe that we need to, also, prepare ourselves for Lent by seeking to do some of those same good things that Jesus did. So this year let us do both fasting and feasting for Lent!

B. Fast from Criticism and Feast on Affirmation!

1. Terrible Singer and Ronald Reagan

a. While Ronald Reagan was Governor of California, he and Nancy were on vacation in a small town in northern California. They went to a “touristy” local hot spot. The featured singer was terrible, and the song had amateurish lyrics and a mediocre tune. Reagan leaned over to the man sitting next to him and said, “Isn’t that awful!” The man turned red and said, “I’ll have you know that’s my wife singing!” Reagan tried to recover so he said, “Well, I didn’t mean she was bad. It’s that terrible piece of music she’s trying to sing. Who could write such junk?” The angry man said, “I did!” These two people never did vote for Reagan and gave their vocal support to anyone running against him!

b. It’s easy to criticize, and for the most part not much fun to be criticized. Now some will disagree with me, because folks are always talking about the benefits of constructive criticism. There is such a thing, and in the right setting it can be useful. However, if we’re honest, most of our criticism is not constructive or positive.

2. Nasty Letter

a. Back through most of the 1990's I was the Senior Pastor of the North Scottsdale United Methodist Church. This was a loving congregation with lots of children and great programs for children, youth and families. We had an excellent music program and an active theater group. We were one of the fastest growing congregations in the Desert Southwest Conference. Many people visited our worship services and had favorable responses, but not everyone. I got a scathing letter from a winter visitor from the Pacific Northwest, who reminded me of this truth: Most of the time when we criticize others our motives are not pure or good. This lady did not like much of anything about our Church. She did not like the choir, the décor of the Sanctuary, and the people were not friendly like those back home. Then she lit into me: “While the crowd exiting was large, I still feel that you only glanced at me when we shook hands at the door. My pastor back home gives each and every person a deep and long searching look of love.” And then she turned on my beloved state of Arizona. She wrote, “I did not enjoy my trip to Arizona. I did not get to play golf or go to the Grand Canyon. The miserable rain spoiled all of this. So I did not think it too much to ask to have an uplifting worship service, but you couldn’t even do that!”

b. Now you don’t have to have a PhD in psychology to figure out that this woman was mad before she came to worship. She was angry about the rain and maybe angry with God too. If you and I want to fast this season, why not fast from taking it out on others. I think this might please Jesus more than giving up some trivial thing.

3. Negative Church

a. We need to be careful about our complaining. Even when our motives are good, criticism can tear down people, groups, and Churches. Some years ago I was sent to bring healing to a Church with a lot of problems. They had suffered a lot. The previous pastor had done some bad and unethical things. The Church got caught in a negative cycle. Some there wanted the Church to rebuke the past immorality and to be a pure and holy Church. However, in their zeal for purity they hurt others. A new woman became active in the life of the congregation. She taught Sunday School. In the fall she decorated her classroom with plain old pumpkins. A self appointed delegation went to her and ultimately chased her out of the Church. “You’re teaching the children Satan worship, because pumpkins are used for Halloween.”

b. In the 1980’s this Church had almost 600 members. Today they have less than 100 members left. If you want to kill a Church, a club, a business, or if you want to destroy a marriage, relationship, or family, just start picking and complaining about things. Wouldn’t this be a great season to fast from criticism? Listen to and follow what the Bible says: "Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." (Psalm 34:13-14 NRSV)

4. Ben Hooper

a. The Reverend Fred Craddock and his wife were on vacation back to their home state of Tennessee. They were in the Smokey Mountains at a restaurant with a marvelous scenic view. The owner of the restaurant, a man named Ben, warmly greeted each and every table. They got to talking and Ben shared his story. He had been born to an unwed mother. Ben said, “People back then had two words to describe me: illegitimate and the 'B' word. And it wasn’t 'Ben'. Now we were mighty religious there in the hills. And folks talked a good deal about forgiveness, but they never seemed to forget who they thought I was.” Kids at school whispered behind his back. Some parents wouldn’t let him play with their children. Certain store owners made it clear he had no place in their store.

b. Ben’s momma insisted that he go to Church, even if she had to work. So he would sit at the back of the Sanctuary and sneak out during the last hymn. One Sunday the pastor hurried down the isle just as that last hymn started, and grabbed him by the hand. The pastor then asked, “Who are you son?” Ben froze in fear. The pastor asked, “Whose boy are you?” Ben felt the tears welling up. The pastor went on, “Wait a minute, I know who you are. I see the family resemblance. You are a child of God!” The good cleric released Ben’s hand, patted him on the back, and said, “Boy, you’ve got a great inheritance. Go and claim it now!” Ben told Reverend Craddock, “That statement literally changed my life. From then on I had respect for myself, and I demanded more from myself. I was a new person! You’re welcome to use the story if you’d like.” Fred said, “Ben, what’s your full name?” He replied, “Ben Hooper.” And Craddock knew who he had been talking to! Two times the good folks of Tennessee had elected Ben Hooper as governor!

c. Remember what the Bible calls us to do: "Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor." (Romans 12:10 NRSV) "Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (Romans 14:19 NRSV) So this Lent, why don’t you and I fast from the “put-downs” and the stereotyping of people. Instead why not find some positive and affirming thing to say to at least one person each day during the forty days of Lent!

C. Conclusion: This Lent…. Fast from Criticism and Feast on Affirmation!

Fasting & Feasting for Lent,

Part 1

Fast from Criticism and Feast on Affirmation!

Psalm 34:13-14 NRSV

¹³Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.

¹⁴Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Romans 12:10 NRSV

¹⁰Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 14:19 NRSV

¹⁹Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual up building.