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The Gospel of Moderation?Lectionary reflections for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (C)by Michael Hopkins
Readings for Pentecost 11, Proper 15, Year C, Aug. 15, 2004 Isaiah 5:1-7 or Jeremiah 23:23-29
Writing in the current issue of The Christian Century (August 10, 2004), William J. Sachs of the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) reports on a recent ECF survey of Episcopal Church leaders. One paragraph stood out for me. This emphasis [on holding differences in creative tension] suggests why the majority of Episcopalians are neither totally for nor against the actions of the church's national body [in “electing Gene Robinson” and “allowing the blessing of same-sex unions”]. They view General Convention's decisions as compelling a position on a complex issue, before the church at the grassroots was ready to take a position. I have every reason to believe that Sachs' assessment is true across the board. The majority of Episcopalians are a pretty moderate bunch. Most of the time I actually think of myself as among them. But I couldn't help reading this Sunday's Gospel reading as calling moderation into question as an ethical or theological stance. I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! . . . Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. This is not the Gospel of Moderation. It is a Gospel of Action, Conflict, even Division. It causes most of us preachers to either thank God we are on vacation right now or to come up with some kind of, “Well, what Jesus really meant by this was . . .” This is not the Gospel of Moderation. It is a Gospel of Action, Conflict, even Division. It causes most of us preachers to either thank God we are on vacation right now or to come up with some kind of, “Well, what Jesus really meant by this was . . .” In that vein, I don't think Jesus thought moderation was a bad thing, although, perhaps, even it has to be taken in moderation. There is a time for action, conflict, and division. Such is a given for the continued growth of the reign of God. We do serve a God who acts and who is passionate about justice among his people and desires us to be well. We may well pray to live our lives in a time of moderation (save us from the time of trial?). God, at least occasionally, has other plans, and moderation can never be an excuse for injustice or even just plain laziness. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? In the end, there is little about the gospel that is “moderate,” and we should be grateful if there are occasional seasons of it in our lives as individuals, society, or even the church. But there are also those seasons of fire!
The Rev. Michael W. Hopkins is rector of St. George's Episcopal Church in Glenn Dale, Md., and is past president of Integrity . He is a Witness contributing editor, and may be reached by email at mwhopkins@comcast.net .
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