The Gift of Being Simple
First Congregational Church of Evanston
September 2, 2007 (Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost)
Proverbs 25: 6-7
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Rev. Dr James E. Roghair, Interim Minister
The Gift of Being Simple
This past week I heard on WFMT radio, Aaron Copeland’s “Appalachian Springs Ballet.” One of the folk songs in that composition is a Shaker melody, “Simple Gifts.” We don’t have “Simple Gifts” in our hymn book, although we do have its tune, which we sang last week as “I Danced in the Morning.”
I like the Shaker hymn very much, and I wish that we had those words in our book. But, as a matter of fact, I couldn’t find anything in our book that really expresses the sentiment of the Shaker song. But its poetry expresses quite well the sense of Jesus’ words in this morning’s passage from Luke. So listen to the words of “Simple Gifts”:
'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free.
'Tis the gift to come down
where we ought to be.
And when we find ourselves
in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley
of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend
we shall not be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Till by turning, turning
we come round right.
(www.PracticeGodsPresence.com)
There are probably good reasons why this hymn hasn’t made its place into our mainline Protestant books. Some Christians think of themselves as simple people – it is a part of their self-understanding of – their definition of who they are. Think about the Amish and Mennonites, perhaps the Brethren and Quakers, and certainly the Shakers. These groups often feel that their truest relationship to the broader culture is to be cut off from it. They hang onto beliefs and ways of doing things that are quite out of step.
But Mainline Protestants tend to think of themselves as a part of culture – even the ones who control culture. Jesus was surely more counter cultural. It was a radical relationship to culture. Jesus understood himself to be simple and free – one who came down to where he ought to be – one who came round right. But that is not a part of Jesus’ personality we are inclined to emphasize. And that is why a hymn like the Shaker hymn does not make it into our own book. We would rather Jesus be a part of culture, not over against it.
A Kernel of Wisdom
Where did Jesus get this idea about taking the lower place? Jesus took a kernel of ancient Hebrew wisdom handed down in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, and Jesus molded that kernel of truth it into something all his own. The proverb about not putting oneself forward in the King’s presence (Proverbs 25:6-7), which we read this morning, was originally a word to those in the King’s court – those jockeying for position. It was good advice not to put themselves forward too boldly, lest they be embarrassed! The advice was for them to take a lower place, from which they might be asked to come and take a higher one. Can you imagine anyone with real political aspirations actually doing that? Probably it is as unlikely in our day as it was in the Old Testament time.
Jesus the Beggar Not Model Guest
So, was Jesus one of those tempted to jockey for power? Perhaps. I read an article by William Willimon, in which he clearly identifies Jesus as a beggar (Pulpit Resource, July, Aug., Sept. 2007). You and I tend to use the term beggar as a pejorative. But what else was Jesus? He did not own a business and he did not have land. He did not hold a job or have a pension. Jesus lived from day to day totally dependent on others. He was either a colossal failure or a great success. Which was it?
When Jesus spoke, he spoke as one of a great underclass, a man of poverty and acquainted with the grief that goes with it. But from his underprivileged position, Jesus was also a man of wisdom and freedom that comes from the underside. “'Tis the gift to be simple,/ 'tis the gift to be free,” goes the Shaker tune. Jesus could have sung it.
But simple as he was, Jesus was not afraid to assert himself. No. “Jesus is hardly the model guest.” The meals Jesus got invited to were “important social ceremonies. Little was left to chance...people noticed where one ate ... with whom one ate... whether one washed before eating ... and where one sat to eat. All of these matters determined one’s social position (New Interpreter’s Bible).” But Jesus stood all of these conventions on their head.
Expanding the Proverb
In taking the conventions to task, Jesus took the kernel in the proverb originally applied to a the small segment of society in the king’s court, and applied it to everyone. He made it into something much larger than it was. No longer applied just to those jockeying for positions before the king, but now applied to those who jockeyed for positions in the homes of the wealthy Pharisees – the people Jesus was rubbing elbows with at the table. But then he turned the spotlight on the host as well. Jesus was like the proverbial dog that bites the hand that feeds it.
The parable, which is not a parable at all in the usual literary sense, is structured with Jesus instructing the other guests, “When you are invited...do not sit...lest...but sit...so that...then you will be honored,” followed by a teaching about the upside down idea of the first being last and the last being first. Now, guests are not expected to instruct each other in manners! But Jesus did.
Jesus turns to the host, who may have been secretly enjoying this repartee with the guests. Jesus says to the host, “When you give a dinner...do not invite...lest...but when you give a banquet invite... and you will blessed.” Again Jesus is way out of line in manners. In this teaching, Jesus shoots down all of the reciprocal social things which are the purview of our own advice columnists – those things about giving and receiving Christmas, birthday and wedding gifts – about invitations to parties and celebrations. No, Jesus says, invite only those you know can’t give you anything back. That will be a real blessing.
It is truly wrong to have friends and family with whom you do reciprocal things? Surely not. But the meaning of our lives is not to be bound up in carefully calculating those reciprocities. Rather the meaning of our lives is to be bound up in real giving – to those who can never reciprocate.
Implementation
Jesus’ challenge leads us to radical rethinking of what we do at Christmas time. It leads us to rethinking what we do with all that we own – with how we use God’s gifts to us. It leads us to rethink what is important in our life and our work – what we need and what we don’t need. And to those who have more, the challenge is more difficult than it is for those who have less. “ ‘Tis” indeed, “a gift to be simple,” and “a gift to be free.”
Jesus’ challenge can also lead us to a radical rethinking of what we do as a Church. Whom do we welcome into our circles and whom do we not? Do we primarily welcome the ones who have something to contribute to the church – financially or in other ways? Or do we welcome the truly needy? How do we treat the homeless one who daily camps on our doorstep?
A Communion Scare
I will never forget my first communion Sunday at a former churches. The 12 Tiffany Chalices were set out – not to use – but as a display. And the tiny congregation spread out in the huge sanctuary. But that day, a homeless man marched right up and sat within 10 feet of those priceless silver chalices. And what’s more when it came time to serve the communion, he stood up with the elders to serve. He sat down as I spoke softly to him.
He received communion, and then left the service during the final hymn. But the benediction was hardly, and proper members flocked around me: “What are we going to do about that? We need to block off the aisles so people like that can’t come up like that.” But one elder said, “You know, that could have been Jesus.” And the discussion ended.
Conclusion
“ ‘Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free.” Jesus addresses fellow guests and hosts alike, from the underside of the society. He invites us to humble positions, not prideful ones. He encourages a life of gift, not, obligatory reciprocation.
And when we find ourselves
in the place just right,
'Twill be in the valley
of love and delight.
Amen.
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2008