September 4, 2005

    (Jimmie Johnson)

Matthew 18:15-20

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

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The chaos monster roared into all our lives and devoured many of our fellow countrymen this past week and severely wounded our national psyche as well. Likely thousands are dead, a major city is completely destroyed, a tri-state region is devastated, a million or more are refugees, television coverage showed images that looked like third-or fourth-world conditions, and shockingly, institutions, such as law and government, were totally halted and broken. The chaos monster of wind and water has washed away our super power image in ways that even 9/11 had been unable. The world waits and watches to see our response to the monster of chaos.

The people of Israel were a desert, nomadic people. They were people of “dry ground.” That’s why it is such a powerful metaphorical move on their part to speak of God delivering them through the waters, the parting of the sea, while the same waters destroyed their oppressors. They were both frightened by big water, fast-moving water, and yet aware that the same water had been an instrument of their salvation. They had a popular belief that the chaos monster lived in the big waters. It even had a name Leviathan. This is not only Old Testament imagery but New Testament imagery as well. It’s why storms are all through the gospel stories, storms with their raging, frightening, chaotic power, threatening to drown and destroy and wash away Jesus and his followers.

The idea of the chaos monster is in the opening words of Genesis. It is fascinating that in the Genesis account of creation, there is no mention of creation out of nothing. No, a close read of the text declares that God’s Spirit hovers over the chaotic formless void and mist and creates our world. Some raw chaotic stuff was already there, and from this chaotic reality, God acts with goodness and creates order and structure and meaning out of the monstrous disorder.

Look, this week we have seen the greatest natural disaster in our nation’s history strike us and plunge us beneath a massive wave of grief. The wind and water of the storm have created a national disaster of biblical proportions. We have been staggered. The world’s only super power has been humbled. The power of chaos has been felt. The fragileness of human and planetary life has been revealed and seen in the power of the monster storm. What meaning and goodness will be wrought from such disorder and chaos?

The governing elders of our congregation have authorized us to begin receiving money this morning so that we might move to provide relief as a congregation and as a member of Grace Presbytery. Our own Joe Sudderth and Bob Lott are serving as our coordinators. Treasurer Mark Harren has established a special hurricane relief account. Checks may be made out to First Presbyterian Church but need to be marked for hurricane relief or similar wording. First Presbyterian Church will respond with generosity but not with an arrogance assuming we can do more than we can. For any institution to promise more than it can deliver would be such a cruel blow to desperate people who have lost all.

As our relief coordinators see the needs, they will specify ways we can help. Right now, money is the need. Their initial plan is that monies be given locally to help evacuees housed in our city and that monies be given through our Presbyterian Disaster Relief work to help in the region itself. I have been told over 30 Presbyterian Church USA congregations have lost their buildings. Elders, deacons, church members, and clergy, too, are suddenly without incomes. And the churches have been destroyed along with their personal homes.

I can’t imagine the flood of hurt which would sweep over my heart if Sherry and I did not have you as the people of faith and these buildings. You make us want to pray. You make us want to believe. You make us want to serve. You make us want to share and give. You simply make us better as human beings in the image of God. Your interaction with one another and with us has been the formative influence on our family.

A little over a year ago, a member of this church who wished to remain anonymous presented Sherry and me with a $5000 check. She said she wanted us to have some fun, wanted us to kick up our heels and enjoy being together on a special trip. She said she would love to see us take a trip to Rome. But, laughingly she said, you can go to Las Vegas or Hawaii or do whatever you want with this gift. She said, “I simply want you to have a great time.” Well, we put the money in savings and planned that when the time was right, we would go to Rome. The birth of two grandsons last year didn’t make this past summer a good time to go. So we began to talk to a couple of friends about going next summer, the summer of ‘06.

This past Monday having watched the devastation brought by the storm, I prayed. Praying for me takes the form of stopping, looking, and listening. And it was not long until I felt that I knew what Sherry and I could do. I e-mailed her at work and told her my idea. She responded right back: “Go for it.” This past week, we wrote a check for $5000 for hurricane disaster relief in honor of you, our congregation, and what you mean to our lives. The money had been a gift to us. It was a generous and unexpected surprise. We want to pass the money on through First Presbyterian relief efforts.

In the coming days and weeks and months, I ask you to discover the meaning of your baptism as you pray about giving any surplus or windfall money that you might have to our congregation’s relief efforts. Many will give through the Red Cross or other fine agencies and organizations. But the Outreach Committee of our church, guided by our coordinators, Joe and Bob, will help us to respond not only as citizens but as citizens of a heavenly kingdom, too. The Disaster Relief organization of the Presbyterian USA denomination can guarantee 95 percent goes to direct aid and only 5 percent is needed for administration.

Chaos is scary and causes me always to get a case of the shakes. You might never notice it, but I can always feel it when it happens inside. It’s the awareness that I am in over my head, out of control. It can happen when I walk through a nursing home door, or into a hospital room, or simply get a telephone call and hear someone letting me know his or her life has fallen apart. But, when I pray, when I stop, look, and listen, what the Psalmist promises is true: the Lord blesses with strength.

Order and goodness come out of the chaos. One lady in our congregation called me in tears and said, “You know Pastor Jimmie, I really believe God is saying something to us as a nation. I really do.” My faith tells me she is right. Let’s stop, look, and listen. And on the other side of prayer, we will know what to do as a nation and as Presbyterians. The chaos monster is real. What is more ultimate is God’s compassion.

I watched a White House news conference where our national press secretary was answering questions about foreign aid being offered. Frankly, he didn’t say that any had. I, for one, have been somewhat hurt and angered that no other countries have sent help. Then I realized we haven’t asked for it. The press secretary himself said we hadn’t. I wonder why? Do we still believe we are invincible? Are we so filled with arrogant pride that we cannot in the face of the chaos monster ask for help from others?

Asking for help is one of the bravest and wisest things you can do when chaos strikes. There is no more sincere gift from God than a humble spirit that asks for help.