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Friends United Meeting |
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2002 Triennial Sessions
"So Now Finish the Work..."
Keynote
Message
by Retha McCutchen
July 10, 2002
Language
is one of the most important things in the world. Language is what makes
the world work.
...Relationships are built with words.
...Business is done through communication.
...Talking is used to buy, sell or trade.
...Everything we do in life is surrounded by language.
In this room tonight we represent many spoken and written languages: Swahili, Spanish, British English, Arabic, Luya, American English and Kukuka.
Our body language is equally as important as actual words. The expressions on our faces, tone of voice, communicate beyond our spoken words.
This week could be as confusing as the Tower of Babel if we aren't careful to interpret for one another. Yet interpretation goes beyond actual translation of words. Each culture may understand the same word differently. (In the U.S., if we say someone is KuKu, we are ridiculing his or her mental capacity. In Kenya, one eats KuKu for supper—chicken!) In a cross-cultural setting, we must realize that it takes time to communicate clearly. Let's be willing to ask one another for clarification. What I hear may not be what you said.
The theme for Friends United Meeting's 2002 Triennial is... so now, finish the work, taken from 2 Corinthians 8:5-15. We have heard this scripture read tonight and we have sung the words. Do we mean what we sing and speak?
The Apostle Paul's instruction in this passage is about money/possessions—giving money, not about receiving money. But, giving is not the place to start. All giving must come out of an inner commitment to God, grounded in faith. The first action of the Corinthian church was to commit them to God and ask for direction. The giving was an obedient response to God's leading.
This teaching is equally relevant today. The most important aspect of our lives is our relationship with God. Out of that centered communion, we give and serve with joy.
Those present tonight represent a wide economic diversity. There are some who would be considered wealthy by worldwide standards and some living in poverty. Most fall in between these two extremes. Paul the Apostle was talking to every one of us. Giving is judged by attitude, not amount.
Paul was very careful with language. He said clearly, this is not a command; your model is Jesus Christ who gave up a special relationship to God to assume human form (become poor), to suffer and die so that humanity (that's us) might be transformed into God's new people (become rich).
We're not talking about rich in the terms we understand it today. This is not about money. It is about Christ being willing to give up a special relationship with God to assume human form (become poor).
Giving is a privilege.
Giving brings joy.
Giving is also a command to Christians. But cheerful giving is not accomplished
by order from someone you respect. Paul was smart enough not to require
giving. However, he did use the standard of the giving of others to show
that this group did not measure up. He went so far as to compare generosity
with love for others.
A theme for this chapter might be: The duty of giving liberally to assist the poor, and the motives by which such giving should be done.
The best illustration of the teaching that attitude is more important than amount is the words of Jesus. We call this passage the story of the widow's mite found in Mark 12:41-44.
Giving brings unity and shows the power of God's love at work in our lives.
As Friends celebrating 100 years of service through Five Years Meeting, now Friends United Meeting, and celebrating 100 years of Quaker ministry in Kenya, making a commitment to 'finish the work' is a serious responsibility, and it is the responsibility of every person in this room. This commitment is not words alone; it requires action. Such cooperative action will bring a unity that breaks down the barriers of language and cultural differences because the love of God is more important than personal ideas or preference. This is good news for Friends United Meeting worldwide.
God has set before Friends an open door...
One of the saddest stories in the New Testament is also about giving. It is the account of the lives of Ananias and Sapphira recorded in Acts, Chapter 5.
Greed. Lying to look important to other people.
Greed is at the root of sin. Money and material possessions are not the only thing Christians are tempted to covet or desire—position, titles, praise, another person's spouse, to name only a few. Jesus said: No person can serve two masters: for either he or she will hate the one, and love the other; or else will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Mt 6:24).
Paul did not pronounce judgment on Ananias and Sapphira.
He asked the questions.
Ananias and Sapphira died.
The church interpreted it as God's judgment.
Perhaps they died of shock at being discovered in the lie.
The point is, they thought they could deceive the Apostles. Sometimes we can deceive one another, but the Holy Spirit cannot be deceived.
The sin was not in keeping the money. The money was their personal property. Scripture is clear that the Christian community was giving what they each decided—not that every person gave everything he or she owned. The problem was an attempt to lie and deceive in order to look more committed than they actually were.
The church of 2002 has the same problems. Human nature is the same today as it was in the first century. These temptations also cross cultural boundaries.
Wherever we go and whatever we do, Quakerism must be synonymous with integrity.
Does your meeting/church take parking lot (tea time) decisions? That's my description of people who sit through Monthly Meeting without speaking and then on the way home begin telling people what was wrong with the decision taken. Friends, such behavior is wrong. Quakers believe in consensus decision-making because we believe that corporate leading of the Spirit of God leads to Godly decisions. Not one of us is qualified spiritually, mentally or any other way to make solitary decisions for the Church.
- God gives each one unique gifts.
- We each come to the meeting with differing life experiences that shape our thoughts.
- Some have more information than others.
Sharing those words under the influence of the Spirit of God is what brings about decisions that benefit the work of God in the world around us.
The person or persons who control the discussion by talking too much or intimidating others; those who make decisions without bringing them to the Monthly Meeting, and those who sit quietly idle in the business meeting but gossip negatively about the decisions later—all hinder the work God has called us to finish.
Problems in the meeting/church are universal. An important aspect of this story is that Paul did not ignore the problem nor did he gossip about Ananias and Sapphira. In what appears to be a quiet way, Paul asked a direct question and revealed the deception.
The outcome in this story is rather extreme. My experience has not included people dropping dead for lying. The point for us today is that God does not tolerate lying, greed or hypocrisy among believers. There are a variety of contemporary ways these behaviors affect our lives and the life of the church.
If we as Friends United Meeting desire God to pour out spiritual blessings and allow our work to have a positive impact on people, we must live lives of individual and corporate integrity before God. I am not talking about the theory that says a Christian will never sin. We all sin—regularly, I imagine. Purity before God is only possible because of grace—the undeserved forgiveness freely given by God through Christ.
To use ones business position or position as an officer of the church for financial or positional gains is serious business. Lying about it only compounds the sin. Such acts are not a game of fooling our friends, it's a lie to God.
We must not—dare not—take lightly spiritual commitments or responsibilities.
God has set before Friends an open door...
For God to bless our monthly and yearly meetings, the internal problems of dishonesty and immorality must be faced and changed. It is the responsibility of the Church of God to confront such behaviors and also to provide the accountability and counsel for forgiveness and healing to take place.
In my experience some leaders confronted were repentant. They were removed from leadership for a minimum period of five years as they strengthened their personal spiritual life under guidance of the Meeting. Today several of these people are in leadership positions of the church. Failure is not final. Remember God's grace and forgiveness.
Those leaders who denied wrongdoing were not struck dead on the spot. But up to today they are bitter individuals no longer involved in leadership of the church. As difficult as it may appear, it is the responsibility of the church to remove from leadership leaders without integrity.
A caution here: The discipline and accountability of leaders is never the responsibility or at the opinion of one or two individuals. The appointed group within your church or yearly meeting must prayerfully consider these matters. These are not matters to be done in haste, but with much pray and consideration of the issues involved. But the church community must address them if Friends are to have integrity.
During the writing and editing process of the Faith & Practice for FUM Friends in Kenya, two gentlemen approached me during a tea break. They pointed out that polygamy had not been addressed in the document. They felt it should be.
We had a lengthy discussion about their interpretation of culture, and they stated that the Christian community in Kenya does not tolerate polygamy. The result of this conversation was the entire group writing language to address this issue within the context of their culture and experience, recognizing it was still an issue within the Kenyan Friends church.
All of the above examples and other behaviors of this type cause division and disunity in the church. This is not new in 2002. When the Apostle Paul challenged the Corinthian church to finish the work it was because the original collection had been interrupted by arguments in the church and criticism about Paul's message.
Does that sound familiar?
Paul calls them back to unity of faith in order to complete the task.
Unity arises out of a shared sense of vision; a shared mission. That takes a lot of work.
What is God asking FUM to do?
The God is not impressed by our arguments, divisions...
By leaders willing to misuse ministry funds.
God blesses when the Church takes care of the widows and
orphans...
When we love our neighbor as ourselves...
When we feed and clothe the poor.
God loves the cheerful giver.
Unity arises from each giving from what he or she has, not based on the amount. Some may be unable to give money but can give time. Others may share produce of their farms or shambas. All are equal in God's sight.
This scripture has another dimension. The Corinthian church were gentiles, giving to Jews who at that time were prejudiced against them. Through Paul's leadership this act would establish cooperation between cultures in order to spread the Gospel.
There are good things in every culture. One culture is no better than another—just different. However, there are things in every culture that are harmful. Excusing behavior because "it's part of the culture" is not consistent with Scripture or experience.
Jesus spoke against culture. Take Zachaeus as an example. Tax collectors earned their salary by overcharging the people. If one was good at intimidation and could force people to pay more, he made more money. Today, police officers or church members collecting more than the required amount is no different.
Paul spoke against culture when he challenged a Gentile group to give to Jewish Christians. Loving your enemies is as relevant today as in Paul's lifetime.
Quakers spoke against culture in 17th Century England in challenging the social systems of their country and later in America when they refused to own slaves. Are we Quakers willing to acknowledge the harmful, dishonest practices of our culture and live lives of integrity before God?
I am aware of harm done cross-culturally even though we
mean well. Early missionaries to Kenya tried to change some of the wonderful
parts of your culture. Introduction of Western clothing because nakedness
was viewed sexually in the West...
...no clapping or piano music
... Marian Baker told me early Friends missionaries taught the banjo was
of the devil. I'm thankful we've progress beyond that bias.
... In many cultures, missionaries banned dancing—which is really
an expression the people.
Friends must be sensitive to culture, but not bound by culture, as together we respond to God's leading for Friends United Meeting.
God has set before Friends an open door...
Walking through that door into future ministry depends upon our personal and corporate commitment to integrity. I repeat: Wherever we go and whatever we do, Quakerism must be synonymous with integrity.
As general secretary of Friends United Meeting, I am encouraging yearly meetings to become involved in peace and reconciliation in a world of turmoil and poverty.
Friends have a 133-year history in Ramallah. One result of this history is a deep concern about the conflict in the Middle East. Friends have had great influence in Palestine through education, but also through the examples of equality, peace and honesty. We are called to strengthen that witness within the culture and conditions of 2002.
Through FUM, opportunities are available to walk with people suffering death and destruction in Palestine and Israel; to be peacemakers in conflict situations by being present; listening.
God has set before Friends an open door...
Return to main Triennial page:
"Friends United Meeting Celebrates Double Centenary—Double
Blessing"