Observing Lent the Lord’s Way: #4 Pray

 

Prayer is a private matter –
privileged communication –
between you and your God.
It is no one else’s business!
  
Yes, they thought they knew how to pray.
Just like we think we know how to pray.

But, Jesus told them, and Jesus tells us,
they had it wrong, and most of us have it wrong.

In God we live and have our being, and prayer is as natural as breathing.
We come as we are.
God is already present.
As soon as we tune in, the exchange begins.


Habakkuk 3:2, 17-19
Matthew 6: 5-9

Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent.
Lent is a fascinating time in the church year that Presbyterians are only beginning to appreciate.
Used to be, as you know, we never observed Lent in Presbyterian churches.
 
But, today we see this time as an opportunity to attend to the parts of our lives that we often neglect.

From the very earliest times, Christians took time out before Easter to reflect on their faith, cultivate it, and prepare for a most joyous celebration of Easter.

Remembering that Jesus took 40 days off to prepare for the beginning of his ministry, the church sets aside these 40 days prior to Easter for us to get ready.

I have been concerned for some time that we in the church are somewhat off track with our Lenten emphases each year.
So I decided to do something a little different this year.
This year I am exploring what it would be like if we observed Lent according to what Jesus said.
So, I am calling the series: Observing Lent the Lord’s Way.

The first Sunday, we observed how Jesus took that time off. 
He took time to take a time out - for 40 days.
It obviously was of great benefit to him as he was about to start his earthly ministry.
And, the promise is that it could be of great benefit to us, as well, if we were to take the time to take a time out each day for this time before Easter.

And, two weeks ago I reminded us that Jesus left some pretty specific instructions about how we should observe Lent.
Oh, to be sure, Jesus never observed Lent, and Jesus wouldn’t understand what Lent has become,
but, Jesus was very concerned about appropriate behavior for people of faith.
And he spells a lot of this out in the sixth chapter of Matthew.

The very first thing Jesus addresses in the first verse of Matthew’s chapter 6 is to “Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public - so that people will see what you do.”
Jesus says that God is just not interested in public displays of faith.
In fact, we should wash our face and comb our hair so others will not have a clue as to what we may up to.

Last week we heard what Jesus said about fasting:
"When you fast," he said, "don’t do like the hypocrites do by putting on a sad face and making a show of it,
but make sure you wash your face and comb your hair so others won’t know what you are doing."

Fasting had become an integral part how faithful folks practiced their faith.
Fasting was understood, and expected.
So he said, “When you fast” . . .
Not “if you fast”.
“Don’t make a show of it, so others will know what you are doing.”
In fact, Jesus completely redefines the whole concept of fasting.  (Check out what I said last week, it’s on line on our website.)

And, here in the fifth verse of the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus gives us instruction on prayer.
We are encouraged to pray.
It is part and parcel of our faith.
Prayer was an important part of Jesus’ life and whole being.
And he had some pointed things to say about how we should observe Lent this year.

Jesus told those gathered on the mountain that day, and he tells us, to pray –
but never ever make a show of it,
don’t be like those hypocrites,
just don’t pray in public.
In fact, when you do pray, be sure to go to your room and shut the door. 
Prayer is a private matter –
privileged communication –
between you and your God.
It is no one else’s business!

And, Jesus doesn’t stop there, does he?
And, another thing, Jesus says, “when you pray, do not use a lot of meaningless words.” 
Keep it simple.
There is no magic formula that needs to be said.
There are no “holy’‘ words to memorize.
And nothing is gained by making prayers long.

Then, Jesus gives the example.
This is how a prayer should be.
And, he begins: “Our Father, who art in heaven . . .”
What we call The Lord’s Prayer .”

Prayer was a big thing to Jesus.
He seemed to be praying all the time.
He prayed before and during all major events in his life that we find in our Bible.

And, prayer was a big thing to people of faith in Jesus time.
But, Jesus thought that what people were doing with prayer was off-base.
The people observed what the priests and holy ones did and heard how they prayed.
They learned how to pray from them.
And they learned their lessons well.

But, Jesus said, that’s not what real prayer is.
Think about it, God knows you and God knows your heart,
God knows your need – as well as your joys – even before you are aware of them.
God doesn’t need a lot of gooble-de-gook from you.
God needs just for you to recognize what’s going on in the world around you and how you fit in to it.

And, most certainly, God is not impressed with public displays of prayer in any way shape or form.
When you engage a public display of prayer you are doing it for your own reward from those who see you – and those who may hear you.

In fact, the only honest prayer comes when you are in private, out of sight, behind closed doors.

Yes, they thought they knew how to pray.
Just like we think we know how to pray.
After all, most of us have been praying for years and years.

But, Jesus told them,
and Jesus tells us,
they had it wrong,
and most of us have it wrong.

Sam Walker Foss puts this into perspective with his poem "Cyrus Brown's Prayer":

"The proper way for man to pray,"
Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,
"And the only proper attitude,
Is down upon his knees."

"No, I should say the way to pray,"
Said Reverend Dr. Wise,
"Is standing straight with outstretched arms,
And rapt and upturned eyes."

"Oh, no, no, no!" said Elder Slow,
"Such posture is too proud;
A man should pray with eyes fast closed,
And head contritely bowed."

"It seems to me his hands should be
Austerely clasped in front.
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,"
Said Reverend Dr. Blunt.

"Las' year I fell in Hodgkin's well
Head first," said Cyrus Brown.
"With both my heels a-stickin' up,
My head a-pointin' down;

"An' I made a prayer right then an' there
Best prayer I ever said,
The Prayin'est prayer I ever prayed,
A-standin' on my head."

One preacher reminds us that part of the difficulty lies in the fact that we do not live in a praying world. It is a frightened and frightening world, but it is not a world that knows how to pray.
It perhaps would like to pray, but many have given up on the task.
It is a world that contains many who prayed once, but have given up the effort.
There are many gifted people in this world, who do the best they can to meet the challenges of a troubled world and who seek to become worthwhile people and contributing members to society.
But through it all there is a sense of isolation from God and because of that isolation, they feel alone in their struggle.

The real problem is that most of us were never taught about what prayer is and can be.
We grew up confusing the God and our discourse with God and Santa,
from whom we asked many gifts and favors.

Well-meaning church theologians haven't helped much either.
Their definitions and discussions on the matter often leave us cold and confused.
I even heard one well-known theologian in a seminar say: "Prayer is basically man in the totality of being stretched out to possess the transcendent, awesome God in the intimate inwardness of his deepest consciousness."
That sure clarifies things and sets our hearts and minds to the task, doesn't it?

Some you may have read Olive Ann Burn’s book, Cold Sassy Tree.
One of the characters, Grandpa Rucker, is a pretty lively character who can be counted on to dispense wisdom born of experience.

Listen to what Grandpa Rucker says:

"Another thang to think on: some folks ain't said pea-turkey to God in years.
They don't ast Him for nothin',
don't specially try to be good,
and don't love nobody the way Jesus said to 'cept their own self.
But they go'n git jest bout as much or as little in the way a-earthly goods as the rest of us.
They go'n have sorrows and joys,
failure and good times.
And when they come down sick they go'n git well or die, one,
jest same as the prayin' folks.
So don't thet tell you something bout prayin'?
Ain't the best prayin' jest bein' with God and talkin' a while,
like He's a good friend,
stead a-like he runs a store and you've come in a-hopin' to get a bargain?"

(When you pray, say Father – Papa – Daddy – )

Grandpa Rucker got to the heart of the matter our hearts.
Prayer is being in communion with God, not something to be used when needs arise.
Prayer is being in relationship so that God can speak to us,
more than our pestering God with a grocery list of wants.
Prayer is finding peace in the midst of troubles,
calm in the midst of calamity,
and love in the midst of our loneliness.
It is not that we don't know how to pray;
it is that we have lost what it means to be in relationship with a loving, hearing, forgiving and gracious God.

Prayer is the only skill the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them.
They didn't ask him how to heal,
or to teach,
or to ask for money,
or to run meetings,
or to do miracles,
or to manage crowds,
or to organize a movement
or start a church.
They asked him to teach them how to pray.
And Jesus said. When you pray, say "Our Father."

Our Father.
Not our God, Lord, commander, master.
Our Father.
Prayer was the way he began every important step of his life.


Anne Lamott thinks there are really three essential prayers.
Three things that spur our relationship with our God.
The three prayers that are genuine, most real, and so basic are:
Help,
Thanks,
and Wow.

Friends, you can write this down and take it with you: Prayer is simply being together with God.
Acknowledging that you are always in God's presence.
Prayer is mutual awareness and the quiet exchange, as when two friends sit before a fire.

Prayer involves exchange.
Just knowing that the power of the infinite surrounds us in all we do, we offer an effort to live a good life.

We give to God our human loves and our daily chores.

We give to God our small efforts to create a better world.
We share with God all our concerns,
for that is what friends do, isn't it?

Most of us live busy lives, and when we pray unceasingly, much of our prayer takes place on the run.
Whether we operate machinery,
change diapers and wash dishes,
or grapple with problems at a desk or on a phone, we too can have those moments of heightened awareness and greater exchange with the Mystery that is always right where we are.

We have people, concerns, and appreciations to hold up to God as we bathe and dress,
as we drive from place to place,
as we stand in the line at the bank or grocery store, as we wrestle with our responsibilities,
and as we relax with our friends.

Friends, the prayer of a good person has a powerful affect.
In God we live and have our being, and prayer is as natural as breathing.
We come as we are.
God is already present.
As soon as we tune in, the exchange begins.
It is usually quiet and low-key, but something profound is happening.

Many of you in this room can attest to the veracity of the words of James: The prayer of a good person has a powerful affect.
Prayer has an affect on others,
and prayer changes you.
Pray unceasingly.
Experience for yourself, the healing power of prayer.
And you will be well on your way to living a fuller life – a max-life.

This is prayer the Lord’s way.
This will help you to observe Lent the Lord’s way this year.
You are on the way toward the very best Easter ever!
Amen.

This sermon was shared with the congregation of Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, during a worship service, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 10, 2013.

Lent the Lord's Way: #3 Fast

 

 

I am convinced that if we did observe Lent the Lord’s way,
it could change our perception of reality
and leave us in a much better position to know what happened on that first Easter morning so long ago.

Isaiah drops the hammer:
The Lord says words they did not want to hear –
Words WE do not want to hear today.
"This is the kind of fasting I'm after . . . 

 
Well, I have mentioned before:
When I graduated from the university, some of my friends  graduated "Cum Laude," it means "With Honors."
And, a few of my friends graduated "Magna Cum Laude" it means "With High Honors."
And I even had a close friend who graduated "Summa Cum Laude" it means "With Supreme Honors."

When they called my name, I believe the phrase they used was "Magna Cum Pellidentium." 
I looked it up.  It means, "By the skin of your teeth."

That is so like so many of us when it comes to knowing about and practicing our faith, isn’t it?
We practice our faith Magna Cum Pellidentium – don’t we?

So, on this Third Sunday in Lent, 2022, we are continuing our quest to see the Lord would want us to observe Lent.
Jesus actually left some pretty specific instruction what we should be doing – but, we tend to skip over these instructions, because . . .

But, I am convinced that if we did observe Lent the Lord’s way,
it could change our perception of reality
and leave us in a much better position to know what happened on that first Easter morning so long ago.

The first week of Lent we observed the Jesus took a time out before he began his earthly ministry.
And, very early on, believers saw the benefits of doing that as well.
We are told that Jesus took 40 days to off, fast, and confront his demons.
The early believers thought we should take 40 days as well to prepare for our ministries.
In fact, they saw wisdom in taking 40 days each year just before Easter to prepare ourselves to receive and understand and properly celebrate what Easter reveals to us.
So, the first week, we were reminded to take time to take a time out each day between now and Easter.
 
Last week, we looked at how our Lenten observance should be totally incognito – off the radar – out of the public eye.
In fact, Jesus said, to be sure to wash your face and comb your hair – so no one will know what you are up to.

And, so today, I am looking at the notion of Fasting.
We know what fasting is, don’t we?
We have heard about people who fast,
we have read about people who fast,
perhaps even a few in this room have fasted in the past.
While we know what it is,
fasting is certainly not main stream for us,
or for anyone we know, is it?

But, we know what fasting is. 
The dictionary definition is going without food and/or drink for a period of time. 
We are told that Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness before he began his ministry.

Gandhi fasted.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Fasted.
Peace demonstrators fasted.
Some prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center fasted.

In fact, fasting seems to be something some people do in an attempt to attract attention to their cause.

Personally, I have never understood this on at least two counts:
I am sure that I could fast for a week – or even 40 days and 40 nights – and no one would care. 
No one would notice.
Nothing would change.

And, secondly, I know you will find this hard to believe, but when I go without food, I get cranky.
I know, it is so against the image you have of me, but I do get cranky when I go without food for too long.  
I am unbearable. 
I know, it is hard to believe, but ask Suzanne.
When I was discussing this with my daughter, she asked, well how long have you ever gone without eating.
I responded: “Oh, eight or nine hours.”

We know what fasting is:
Going without food and/or drink for a period of time.  
People of the Jewish faith knew what fasting was.
In fact, it had become a sacred act – something a person did regularly in order to gain favor with God. 
Fasting and offering animal sacrifice were part and parcel of how they expressed their faith. 

The early Christians knew what fasting was. 
After all, they were Jews at first,
and fasting was still practiced as a way of humbling oneself in order to get your priorities in life straight. 
So, we are told, Jesus fasted before he began his ministry – for 40 days and 40 nights, we are told.
[By then, I would be soooo cranky.]

Because it was so widely practiced, we are told that Jesus felt like he had to address the issue right there during his sermon on the mount. 

When you fast, he says.
Not if you fast, but when you fast.
You do it, you know you do, so listen,
when you do it, don’t do like the hypocrites do by putting on a sad face and making a show of it,
but make sure you wash your face and comb your hair so others won’t know what you are doing.

Wash your face and comb your hair is good advice.
When the practice of our religion is done in public for all to see – for people to see how holy you must be, it is wrong, Jesus said.
Good advice. 

But, there is a problem with our understanding of this fasting concept. 

Long before Jesus, 3-400 hundred years before Jesus, this prophet appeared in Judea and began spouting the weirdest things. 
This prophet spoke for the Lord God. 
He spoke with authority to the priests and to all the people. 

Everyone knew him and recognized his authority. 
They listened to him and even came to him for advice.

The people of faith came to him with their complaints.
Look, they said. 
What’s happening here?
What’s going on?
It seems as if the Lord has abandoned us. 
We have been left to cope all alone. 
We hear nothing from the Lord. 
Bad things happen to good people – and we don’t know why.
We pray and nothing happens.
We fast and nothing happens.
What gives.
Why should we fast if the Lord never notices?
Why should we starve ourselves if the Lord pays no attention?

And, the 58th chapter of Isaiah tells us that in response to those complaints the Lord said:
The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers.
Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight.   [You get cranky, the Lord says.]
Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers?
When you fast, you make yourselves suffer;
you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on.
Is that what you call fasting?
Do you think I will be pleased with that?

And, then to everyone’s surprise, the whole concept of fasting gets completely redefined.
Do you think I will be pleased with that?
Do you think that going without food and or drink for a period of time is going to get my attention?
Do you think that going without food and or drink for a period of time is going to get my favor?
Do you think that going without food and or drink for a period of time is going to influence what happens to  you?
Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers?

If you fast to have influence with the Lord God the Creator of the Universe and all there is,
your faith is on the wrong track.
If you think ANY of your faith rituals is going to influence me, you have another think coming. 

And, then, Isaiah drops the hammer:
The Lord says words they did not want to hear –
Words WE do not want to hear today.
"This is the kind of fasting I'm after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
This is what it really means to worship the LORD.
Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly.
Free those who are abused!
Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless.
Give clothes to those in need;
don't  [ever] turn away your relatives.

"get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people's sins,
[Be]  generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,

This is what this religion is all about.
This is what I notice.
This is what gets my attention.
This is the Lord’s work.
Later on, Jesus picks up this theme when he says this is what is going to be on the final exam –
this is what you will be asked about during your orals –
this is what you will be judged on.
Because this is our calling.
This is what we are to be doing.
This is what we are about.
Our faith is about living for others. 
When we give of ourselves for another, we make the ultimate call.
Jesus would say, when you do these things for these people, you doing these things for me –
you are doing these things to me. 

For sure, this requires radical reorientation.
This goes so against what we were taught –
and what we learned so well –
and what we all bought in to.

Its not about me.
When it is about me, it is a distorted reality.

For the promise is made –
and has been so many times throughout history – and there are some people in this very room –
who can vouch for veracity of the promise:
when you work toward these ends,
when you do this ministry for others,
when you live your life so others may live better,
you will have great rewards.

"Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun,
and your wounds will be quickly healed.
I will always be with you to save you;
my presence will protect you on every side.
When you pray, I will answer you.
When you call to me, I will respond.

That’s the promise.
That’s the bargain.

"If you put an end to oppression,
to every gesture of contempt,
and to every evil word; 
if you give food to the hungry
and satisfy those who are in need,
then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.

Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.

This is the kind of fasting the Lord wants.
This is the kind of fasting the Lord responds to.
This is the kind of fasting that is part and parcel of our faith. 
This is the kind of fasting that is an integral part of how we might observe Lent the Lord’s way. 
This kind of fasting is an important component to an appropriate Lenten observance. 

It’s the Lord’s work.
And it is what we are to do.
Amen.

The congregation of Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, heard this sermon during a worship service  on the third Sunday of Lent, March 3, 2013.

Lent the Lord's Way: #2 Wash Your Face and Comb Your Hair

 

I have been concerned for some time that we in the church are somewhat off track with our Lenten emphases each year.

This year I am exploring what it would be like if we observed Lent according to what Jesus said.
  
Jesus was very concerned about appropriate behavior for people of faith.
And he spells a lot of this out in the sixth chapter of Matthew.

The very first thing Jesus addresses in the first verse of Matthew’s chapter 6 is to “Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public - so that people will see what you do.”


Today is the second Sunday of Lent.
Lent is a fascinating time in the church year that Presbyterians are only beginning to appreciate.
Used to be, as you know, we never observed Lent in Presbyterian churches.
 
But, today we see this time as an opportunity to attend to the parts of our lives that we often neglect.

During this time before Easter we are challenged to open ourselves in new ways to the Spirit’s transforming power – not unlike Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry.

From the very earliest times, Christians took time out before Easter to reflect on their faith, cultivate it, and prepare for a most joyous celebration of Easter.

Remembering that Jesus took 40 days off to prepare for the beginning of his ministry, the church sets aside these 40 days prior to Easter for us to get ready.

This is a unique season. 
This is a season that truly belongs to the church.
The rest of the world couldn’t care less about Lent.
Never has.
Probably never will.
Think of the last great Lenten movie you saw.

To be sure, the world observes the day before Lent. 
Some know  this as Paczki Day.
That's "Gobble Down the Jelly Donuts" day.
That's "Pig Out on Pancakes" day.
And in New Orleans, that's "Bring Mardi Gras to a Drunken Conclusion" day.
But one wonders how many people there were the next morning who understood why they stuffed their stomachs or soaked their livers the day before .

I have been concerned for some time that we in the church are somewhat off track with our Lenten emphases each year.
So I decided to do something a little different this year.
This year I am exploring what it would be like if we observed Lent according to what Jesus said.
So, I am calling the series: Observing Lent the Lord’s Way.
The first Sunday, we observed how Jesus took that time off. 
He took time to take a time out - for 40 days.
It obviously was of great benefit to him as he was about to start his earthly ministry.
And, the promise is that it could be of great benefit to us, as well, if we were to take the time to take a time out each day for this time before Easter.

And, today I am reminded us that Jesus left some pretty specific instructions about how we should observe Lent.
Oh, to be sure, Jesus never observed Lent, and Jesus wouldn’t understand what Lent has become,
but, Jesus was very concerned about appropriate behavior for people of faith.
And he spells a lot of this out in the sixth chapter of Matthew.

The very first thing Jesus addresses in the first verse of Matthew’s chapter 6 is to “Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public - so that people will see what you do.”
It is very clear here:
no Tebowing,
no kneeling after a touchdown or other big play,
no pointing to the heavens when you may have done something extraordinary.
Jesus goes even further, and says that God is just not interested in these public displays of faith.

No, when we practice our faith,
we do faith actions,
we should do so no one will know what we are doing.
In fact, “wash your face and comb your hair” – let no one have any inkling of what you may be doing in private.

I am reminded of the old story of the man who walked into the little Mom and Pop grocery store and said, "Do you sell salt?"
The man said, "Do we sell salt! Just look!"
The man showed the customer an entire wall of shelves stocked with nothing but salt-Morton salt, iodized salt, kosher salt, sea salt, rock salt, garlic salt, seasoning salt, Epsom salts – every kind of salt imaginable.
The customer was amazed.

"You think that's something. Come over here."
He led the customer to a back room filled with shelves and bins and cartons and barrels and boxes of salt.
The customer said, "This is unreal!"
The man said, "You haven't seen anything yet."

He led the customer down some steps into a huge basement, five times as large as the previous room. It was filled wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling with every imaginable form, size, and shape of salt you could imagine.
The man looked at him and said, "You really do sell salt!"

The store owner said, "No, we don't, that's just the problem!  We never sell salt.
But that salt salesman that comes by every week, boy does he sell salt!"

It seems that we often miss the point – even when it is spelled out for us in an obvious way.

Remember to wash your face and comb your hair, Jesus said.
There is a story that Robert Redford was walking through a hotel lobby one day and a woman saw him and followed him into the elevator.
She was so excited she said, "Excuse me. Are you the real Robert Redford?"
Without even a smile, he looked at her and said, "Only when I am alone."

This is what Jesus was getting at: The real you is what you are and what you do when nobody sees and nobody knows, but God.

When you go out in pubic be sure to wash your face and comb your hair.

It may interest you to know that the word Jesus uses for hypocrite, is the same Greek word that means actor and/or, literally,  mask-wearer.

One of the major forms of entertainment, back in the days of Jesus and Greek culture,
was the theater.
Greek and Roman actors would wear large masks and costumes designed to increase the size of their appearance.
They would wear platform shoes to make themselves look taller.
In other words, they did everything they could to make themselves appear to be something that they really were not.

They would wear different masks to portray different emotions or different scenes or different parts of the act and that is why they were called "hypocrites." Sometimes, they would wear one type of mask and sometimes they would wear another.

For the same reason that modern actors today put on heavy makeup and perhaps wear specially designed costumes or will pad their clothes to make them look bigger or stronger;
they project an image that appears to be real, but it really is false.

The word hypocrite soon took on the connotation of someone who treats the world as a stage on which he is just playing a part.
He tries to make himself appear to be something that he really is not;
his actions really don't match his words.

There is the person who can quote his Bible from one end to the other, but he never lives it.
There is the person who sits in a small group on Sunday morning pretending to be pious and religious, but regularly “overlooks” items on his tax return each year.
It is the person who comes to church, never misses and gets all the blessings of the church, but never financially supports the church and helps the church to continue its mission of reaching people for Christ.

Jesus was talking about people who play a game of religious make-believe.
They know all the cues.
They know what to say,
what to do, when to say it and when to do it,
but privately they have no heart for the things of God at all.

You may remember a movie that came out about a few years ago called, "Catch Me If You Can."
The film was based on a true story.
It is the story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., who lived a wide and crazy life as a doctor, airline pilot, banker, investor, attorney and celebrity.
The irony behind his story was he wasn't any of these in reality.
He intentionally was a fake and a fraud and a pretender.

He realized early in his life that he had the uncanny gift to convince people that he was "somebody" just through the way he came across with confidence and acting ability.
He turned life into a game and made a living at it and soon found himself addicted to role playing. Before it was over, he had helped to perform surgery in an operating room,
conned banks out of thousands of dollars,
flew an airplane as a pilot
and gone places and met people most of us could only dream about.
The only problem was it was all a show;
it was all a sham.
The FBI finally caught him and he ended up spending years in the federal prison.
He had so much talent, but he wasted it pretending to be something he was not.

Call it whatever you what to – 
putting up a front,
wearing a mask,
playing pretend,
putting on a show,
but the Bible says it is hypocrisy.
What God wants you to do is just simply be who you are.
Someone has well said, "Be who you is, because if you is who you ain't, you ain't who you is."

Be sure to wash your face and comb your hair.
Make certain you do not perform your religious duties in public for all to see . . .

Again, Jesus clues in to “performing”.  The word he uses is the Greek word which literally gives us the word "theater."
It means literally, "something to be stared at."
In other words, Jesus said, "You don't have to put on a show for anybody.
You don't have to put on a Broadway performance." The Pharisees were just like Dion Sanders.
When it came time to give
or it came time to pray
or it came time to fast, it was "prime-time".
They had a "strut your stuff" spiritually.
Jesus said about the Pharisees in John 12:43, "For they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God." (John 12:43, NASB)

Whenever you try to use your religion to cause other people to notice you
or to brag on you
and to give you praise and honor and glory,
when that becomes your motive, so that, as Jesus said in verse 2, "They may be honored by men."(Matthew 6:2, NASB)

Then listen to what He goes on to say, "Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full." (Matthew 6:2, NASB)
The word "reward" is a technical expression that was used at the completion of a commercial transaction where a receipt would be given showing "paid in full."
Jesus was saying that those who trumpet and parade their good works so they can get the applause and glory of men receive their reward the moment the clapping begins and the moment the clapping ends their reward is over.
They get exactly what they are looking for, no less, but no more.

It is so easy to fake Christianity. 
It is so easy to spit polish your image on the outside, but if it doesn't correspond to spiritual integrity on the inside, then to God it means nothing.

As you do your Lenten activities, remember to wash your face and comb your hair.

Jesus doesn’t want us to make a show of our faith. Jesus wants us to be authentic in our commitment to him.
I think that’s what Lent is all about.
It’s about dropping the pretense.
It’s about living the Christ life to the best of our ability
and not worrying about what the rest of the world thinks.
Even though we are in this treasured fellowship,
in a sense it’s just us and God.
We are humbling ourselves in the presence of complete holiness and praying with the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”

In this time before Easter,
remember what Jesus said and did,
take time to take a time out;
practice your faith in private;
and keep your face washed and hair combed
so no one will be the wiser . . .

Amen.

The congregation of Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, heard this sermon during a corporate worship service the Second Sunday of Lent, March 3, 2013.

Doing Lent the Lord's Way: #1 Take Time to Take A Time Out

 

For me, when we get beyond the familiar outward trappings, the main purpose of Lent is to encourage us to take a time out.

Biblically, there are some specific things we can do with this time,
but what we do is of less importance than to commit to taking the time –
to get closer with our God.
 

We are told that before Jesus began his ministry he took a time out.

He went off by himself – for 40 days – and 40 nights.

Jesus must of thought that this was completely necessary for him to do.

He did this to get his head right,
to get more completely in tune with God’s will and purpose for his life.     

For centuries the church has said it was important to remember what Jesus did here,
and it is important for us to take a time out as well.

Jesus took 40 days for his time out,
the church said we should take 40 days each year before Easter for our time out –
a time out from the routine of our regular normal life to consciously focus on getting our heads on right,
to get more in tune with what God is concerned about and wants for us to do with the rest of the days of our lives.

Lent is a fascinating time in the church year that Presbyterians are only beginning to appreciate.
Used to be, as you know, we never observed Lent in Presbyterian churches. 
But, today we see this time as an opportunity to attend to the parts of our lives that we often neglect.
During this time before Easter we are challenged to open ourselves in new ways to the Spirit’s transforming power –
not unlike Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry.

From the very earliest times, Christians took time out before Easter to reflect on their faith, cultivate it, and prepare for a most joyous celebration of Easter.

Remembering that Jesus took 40 days off to prepare for the beginning of his ministry, the church sets aside these 40 days prior to Easter for us to get ready.
This is a time for us to explore the mysteries of the universe,
looking beneath the surface –
within ourselves –
examining our own motives and desires,
and ascertaining exactly what our commitment is:
to what,
to whom,
and what it means.

Lent is meant to remind us that the days are getting longer now –
Spring is right around the corner.

Actually, the word Lent comes from an ancient word that meant "springtime," – 
that period of the calendar during which the days lengthen.
Because the church season always fell at that time of year, the name came to apply there as well.

All around us new life is preparing to break out as the weather turns. 
Signs of life are preparing to bud right before our eyes.
And, our task during this season is to prepare ourselves to see these signs when they occur.

Like I have said before, I believe we need Lent!

Lent encourages us to look within ourselves to see how we have confused popular cultural values with Christian faith.
Through sustained focus on the life and ministry of Jesus, Lent can help us resist the pressures of this culture.
Lent can remind us that we are called to continue his ministry:
“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Consequently, Lent prepares us for an Easter that is more than bunnies and eggs –
an Easter that begins a whole new reality –
a whole new world.

As you know, 40 days is almost a sacred number with strong Old Testament associations. 
40 days seems to be a long time when you think about it.
[It is more than the 30 days we get to accept the special offer of the day that is in our daily mail.] 
It seems that God is saying:
“take up to forty days to decide – 
40 days to make up your mind – 
which side are you going to be on.” 

The Gospels say Jesus was given 40 days to decide  whose side his life would be spent on. 
40 days to come to a decision to align with God or accept the worldly enticements of the Devil.   

40 days seems to be God's time for allowing significant decisions to be made. 
Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days getting the 10 commandments. 
Elijah spent 40 days in the wilderness encountering God. 
An extended time was given people of Noah's time to make up their mind before it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. 
The 40 days of Lent gives us sufficient time to make up our minds again: 
to decide for life – or death,
to decide for God – or the ways of the world around us.

For me, when we get beyond the familiar outward trappings, the main purpose of Lent is to encourage us to take a time out.

For us with our total dependence upon clocks and schedules and appointments and meetings and deadlines, taking time for a time out is probably the most difficult thing any of us could be called upon to do.
And yet, here it is.
The call goes out each year during this time before Easter,
and our response is usually no more than an acknowledgment of a quaint – if not somewhat ancient, antiquated tradition – that we may give a passing nod to in church,
but having very little to do with anything in our home, or at work, or how we spend our time.

Most of the days of our lives we are pretty much self absorbed in our lives and our obligations and our health and perhaps in the caring for another or two or three or four or . . .
We live in response to stimuli from outside of ourselves.

Lent calls us to take time for a time out from all of that.
Take time now – just commit to only 40 days – this time leading up to Easter –
take time each day to focus on something other than on what we usually spend our time on.

It is important to take the time.
Jesus did it.
Moses did it.
Isaiah did it.
Many many others did it.
And, today many many others are doing it.
You can do it as well.

Traditionally, Biblically, there are some specific things we can do with this time,
but what we do is of less importance than to commit to taking the time –
to get closer with our God.
The pattern is,
the experience is,
the promise is,
that when we do,
we become more aware of God’s presence
and more aware of God’s purpose
and more aware of what we are to do with the rest of the days of our lives.

And, of course, that’s the scarey part, isn’t it?
Because we’re not sure we want to discover that we should be doing something we aren’t doing, right?
For years I have been compiling a file of stories of people who after a time out,
changed the direction of their lives because it became clearer to them that this is what God would be having them do.
It’s a thick file containing many many stories.
Someday it would be worth sharing in some way just to see the stories one after the other after an other after an other.

Taking time for a time out can have a powerful affect on a person.
Norman Vincent Peale – and many other preachers – was convinced that by taking time out to concentrate on certain scripture lessons, folks could experience a power and wholeness and wellness that they never knew possible.

Of course, I think that, too.
Each Sunday between now and Easter, I will be focusing on specific practices that have proven to put us more in tune with the ultimate power and purpose of the universe.

Aligning our lives with the moral direction of the universe is probably the most primal of all our activities –
and that is something we cannot do with a compass or a clock.
It is something we can only do in a community like this one.

For your sake, each day during this time before Easter, take time for a time out.

And be here next week as we explore certain practices proven to lead us in the right direction.
Amen.

The congregation of Christ Presbyterian Church in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, experienced this sermon during a worship service, the First Sunday in Lent, February 17, 2013.