On the eve of these celebrations we wanted to take this moment to pause and share remarks by Dr. Gennifer Brooks, homiletic professor, that were delivered last year at the 2011 GEBS Banquet. Though these words are now a year old their truth still remains. Enjoy and congratulations again to the class of 2012!
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Graduates, are you ready?
This is no children’s game, where the chosen one says: Ready or not here I come. This is real; this is serious. So let me ask you again: Are you ready?
I want to frame these brief remarks in the context of the liturgical season; the season of resurrection; Easter time as well as the context of an end-time; the end of a journey, or better said, the end of a phase of this part of your life’s journey.
Listen to these words from Luke 24:48-49:
48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’
Now although this is not a sermon, we are part of a seminary community, so it seems appropriate that I should use a biblical text to frame my remarks. Christ is risen and he has appeared to the disciples. This particular appearance occurs after Cleopas and his companion returned to Jerusalem after their experience with Jesus on the Emmaus road and the subsequent meal and as you would expect, Jesus is trying to still their fears about the change that has come and the even greater change that is about to come upon them. So it seems appropriate given the fact of the change that is even now occurring as you graduates prepare to leave these hallowed halls. So are you ready?
For the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...10 years that it has taken you to get through the requisite classes, or to scheme your way out of them with as little real study and work as possible, you have been witnesses to the grace of God operating in your life. How else were you able to understand the academic language of your theological undertaking? Surely you understood that it was only by God’s grace that you survived the intricacies of biblical interpretation; the epistemological and existential engagements of mind and spirit; the meandering, mysterious and often unfathomable musings of theological and ecclesiological discourse in the quest for truth and the essence of the divine. Indeed you are living witnesses of the divine/human relationship that permeates all of life. And so at the liminal moment in the greater liminality that marked your existence as seminary students, the question that I think is most important is: Are you ready?
This text in combination with the theme directs us to address some important questions that have to do with your readiness to face the charge that is set before you. My question about readiness has to do with how equipped you feel as a disciple of Jesus and a bold leader of Christ’s church to do the task to which you say you have been called. Jesus knew that the disciples were not ready. They had spent the requisite three years of academic maneuvering through lessons that they just did not understand, and their graduation day had come and the event with its attendant pomp and circumstance, held on a Hill called Calvary had passed. And although they had not taken their place in the graduation procession, it was time for them to step out into the new world – the world without the physical presence of their teacher, but they were not ready.
And Jesus knew it.
And so he tells them to sit awhile and wait for the finishing touch that would mark their readiness to go out into the world, as he had done; to teach and feed and heal; as he had done; to raise the dead and offer new life in his name.
“Stay here in the city and wait until you receive the power that God has promised you.” Wait, because if you dare to step out without the power of God; without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, you cannot step anywhere. Well you can, but you will soon fall on your face, fall by the wayside, or maybe into a ditch; down some steps; into a dark hole that is well-nigh bottomless, like the pit of hell that some of our congregations sometimes seem to be. Stay here until you receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Here? Where? It’s time to leave seminary, Dr. Brooks. What are you talking about? Well I’m glad you asked.
On the flyer for this event the theme was states as Bold Leaders Equipped for the
Call and even if you are feeling bold enough to step out, to leave this womb of
learning, I must adjure you to be careful not to be foolish enough to step out in the
strength of the knowledge and skill that seminary has provided. That is so fleeting
that if it is your only foundation, when the challenges come, (whether or not it was
covered in some class or other), you’ll cry out: “They didn’t teach me that in
seminary.”
And even if you are feeling well-equipped, be careful not to get caught up in lauding the arsenal of knowledge that you have gathered here. Every arsenal empties out eventually and must be replenished. And you cannot run back here – can a person re-enter the mother’s womb for a re-birth. Not hardly! The one equipment source that is always available and has every tool you never heard of or could ever wish for is God.
You see the bottom line is that if the only equipping you did while you were here had to do only with the fallible information of textbooks and lectures and exams, then you are somewhat under-equipped no matter what your transcript or your diploma says. But if you have allowed yourself to experience the anointing of the Holy Spirit, present in the teaching of professors and the collegiality of classmates then you are empowered and equipped for all time and the boldness that you feel is not your wisdom or your inflated ego, it is God.
One of my students likes to begin his sermons by telling the congregation that he has a word for them from the Lord. I admire his certainty. I am never that sure. I wait until after I preach for the hearers to say that they have received a word from the Lord. And I would say to you all, be careful about your absoluteness. Be very careful about the voices you hear and the interpretations you make about them. Wait and listen and then wait again because God always sends confirmation of any word that God sends.
Be quick to listen for God’s word and slow to speak your interpretation. Wait for God. Wait for the Holy Spirit. Wait for the anointing. It will come and when it does, you will receive power from God to do the work of God. That was Jesus’ message to his first century apostles and to all of you twenty-first century apostles. The source of your empowerment; the one who will put the finishing touches to your equipping is ready and waiting. Your Pentecost is just around the corner.
Are you ready to receive it?
When that day comes, the power of God will indeed be a wind that clears out all the cobwebs of uncertainty and burn up all the debris of over-confidence and give you the direction and the fortitude to move you into the place that God has already prepared for you and set you on the rock that is the only foundation that can withstand the challenges of life and ministry for all time. On that day you will be truly equipped to live into your call because of the empowerment of God that it brings. On that day you will see visions of God’s glory; you will dream dreams in vivid color; and you will speak words that have the power of God within them; prophetic words; life-giving words of peace and justice and the presence of the Holy One in our midst.
And even if you are feeling well-equipped, be careful not to get caught up in lauding the arsenal of knowledge that you have gathered here. Every arsenal empties out eventually and must be replenished. And you cannot run back here – can a person re-enter the mother’s womb for a re-birth. Not hardly! The one equipment source that is always available and has every tool you never heard of or could ever wish for is God.
You see the bottom line is that if the only equipping you did while you were here had to do only with the fallible information of textbooks and lectures and exams, then you are somewhat under-equipped no matter what your transcript or your diploma says. But if you have allowed yourself to experience the anointing of the Holy Spirit, present in the teaching of professors and the collegiality of classmates then you are empowered and equipped for all time and the boldness that you feel is not your wisdom or your inflated ego, it is God.
But, no matter how empowered and equipped you feel because of the great work
that you have done here; the great experience that you have had here, you still need
to wait on God for your marching orders. Jesus told the disciples to wait in
Jerusalem; wait until the appointed time. Wait on God to show you how to move
and where to step. Oh you may have an appointment, but let even the way that you
come to the appointment; what you hope to do in that appointment, be directed and
empowered by God.
Wait and listen for God’s direction before you begin making drastic changes in the church, among the people, and even in your own life. Wait before you start telling the folks to whom God has sent you how important you are with your seminary education. Wait and allow yourself to learn from the people of God how much you really do not know and if you do, even in the voices of the people you will hear the voice of God directing your path, and that in itself will be a source of empowerment for your life and work in Christ’s name.
Recently I heard someone who had made a mess of an opportunity say that after fasting God had told her it was time to step out because it wasn’t just the appointed time, it was the anointed time. Be very careful how you interpret the thoughts of your mind. Wait and listen carefully. Make sure that what you hear is indeed a word from the Lord. And by the way, the only way to really know the voice of God; to recognize it within the cacophony of competing voices all around you is to maintain an active, engaging and hopefully transformative relationship with God. Just in case you have taken a vacation from your daily conversations, start them up again, or you definitely will not be able to discern the divine voice.
Wait and listen for God’s direction before you begin making drastic changes in the church, among the people, and even in your own life. Wait before you start telling the folks to whom God has sent you how important you are with your seminary education. Wait and allow yourself to learn from the people of God how much you really do not know and if you do, even in the voices of the people you will hear the voice of God directing your path, and that in itself will be a source of empowerment for your life and work in Christ’s name.
Recently I heard someone who had made a mess of an opportunity say that after fasting God had told her it was time to step out because it wasn’t just the appointed time, it was the anointed time. Be very careful how you interpret the thoughts of your mind. Wait and listen carefully. Make sure that what you hear is indeed a word from the Lord. And by the way, the only way to really know the voice of God; to recognize it within the cacophony of competing voices all around you is to maintain an active, engaging and hopefully transformative relationship with God. Just in case you have taken a vacation from your daily conversations, start them up again, or you definitely will not be able to discern the divine voice.
One of my students likes to begin his sermons by telling the congregation that he has a word for them from the Lord. I admire his certainty. I am never that sure. I wait until after I preach for the hearers to say that they have received a word from the Lord. And I would say to you all, be careful about your absoluteness. Be very careful about the voices you hear and the interpretations you make about them. Wait and listen and then wait again because God always sends confirmation of any word that God sends.
Be quick to listen for God’s word and slow to speak your interpretation. Wait for God. Wait for the Holy Spirit. Wait for the anointing. It will come and when it does, you will receive power from God to do the work of God. That was Jesus’ message to his first century apostles and to all of you twenty-first century apostles. The source of your empowerment; the one who will put the finishing touches to your equipping is ready and waiting. Your Pentecost is just around the corner.
Are you ready to receive it?
When that day comes, the power of God will indeed be a wind that clears out all the cobwebs of uncertainty and burn up all the debris of over-confidence and give you the direction and the fortitude to move you into the place that God has already prepared for you and set you on the rock that is the only foundation that can withstand the challenges of life and ministry for all time. On that day you will be truly equipped to live into your call because of the empowerment of God that it brings. On that day you will see visions of God’s glory; you will dream dreams in vivid color; and you will speak words that have the power of God within them; prophetic words; life-giving words of peace and justice and the presence of the Holy One in our midst.
Then, empowered by God, the way will seem just a little clearer, but more importantly, the strength to deal with the challenges that are part of any human endeavor, will be yours. And empowered by the Holy Spirit, there is nothing in this life that you cannot face or from which you cannot emerge victorious. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, you will truly be equipped for your call.
Are you ready to receive the power from on high?
One last thing – it irritates me mightily when I hear clergy or any other church leaders talk about their role as empowering the people to do the work of God. Since you have no power of your own; since you are no power source, the only thing you are equipped to do is to help guide the people of God to find the power source, plug in and stay connected. You do not have the ability to empower yourself far less anyone else. So even if you use that language, (and I would really prefer it if you do not); but if you do, be certain that all you are saying is that you are helping others to find the only power source that never drops or even winks out, so that they can know the power of the risen one for themselves.
So are you ready?
Are you ready to be empowered by God? Are you ready and equipped to step out boldly into the call of God on your life? Are you ready to take your place in leading the people of God to find the power of the Holy Spirit for themselves? Well, you’d better be, because you have to leave. Your time is up! Your liminal time of preparation here is over! The world is waiting; the church is waiting; God is waiting and now is the time.
The call you heard is real and the time has come for you to give the final answer. We’ve given you what we had; hopefully you had enough good sense to take what we offered; now go in the power of the Holy Spirit and boldly lead God’s people to God.
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