The Light House Sermon Aug. 31, 2014
Lighthouse Story (from Charles Stanley)
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On a dangerous
seacoast notorious for shipwrecks, there was a crude little lifesaving
station. Actually, it was merely a hut with only one boat, but the few
members kept a constant watch over the turbulent sea. With little
thought for themselves, they would go out day & night tirelessly
searching for those in danger as well as the lost. Many lives were
saved by this brave band who faithfully worked as a team in and out of the
lifesaving station. By and by, it became a famous place.
Some of those who
had been saved, as well as others along the seacoast, wanted to become
associated with this little station. They were willing to give their
time, energy and money in support of its objectives. New boats were
purchased. New crews were trained. The station, once obscure and
crude and virtually insignificant, began to grow. Some of its members
were unhappy the hut was so unattractive and poorly equipped. They felt
a more comfortable place should be provided. Emergency cots were
replaced with lovely furniture. Rough, handmade equipment was discarded
and sophisticated, classy systems were installed. The hut, of course,
had to be torn down to make room for all the additional equipment, furniture,
and systems. By the time of its completion, the lifesaving station had
become a popular gathering place, and its objectives had begun to
shift. It was now used as a sort of clubhouse, an attractive building
for public gathering. Saving lives, feeding the hungry, strengthening
the fearful, and calming the disturbed rarely occurred.
Fewer members were
interested in braving the sea on lifesaving missions, so they hired
professional lifeboat crews to do this work. The original goal of the
station wasn’t altogether forgotten, however. Lifesaving motifs still
prevailed in the club’s decorations. There was a liturgical lifeboat
preserved in the Room of Sweet Memories with soft, indirect lighting, which
helped hide the layer of dust upon the once-used vessel. About this time
a large ship was wrecked off the coast and the boat crews brought in loads of
cold, wet, half-drowned people. They were dirty, some terribly sick and
lonely. Others were “different” from the majority of the club members.
The beautiful new club suddenly became messy and cluttered.
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A special committee saw to it that a shower house was
immediately built outside, away from the club so victims of the shipwreck
could be cleaned up before coming inside. At the next meeting there
were strong words and angry feelings, which resulted in a division among the
members.
Most of the
people wanted to stop the club’s lifesaving activities and all involvements
with shipwreck victims. You see, the newer members were not nearly as
committed as the old members. Besides,
the older members began to die off. Over
time, the rescue efforts stopped altogether, as the membership became more
and more comfortable, just gathering together, and having parties with their
families.
As the years passed,
the light house station club would gather to hear historical presentations
about the “good old days.” But soon,
they stopped telling these stories.
After that, new members never learned of the original purpose of the
light house station club. Once the
light house station stopped risking their lives to save others, the club grew
more popular, and it grew to become the most popular club in town.
Shipwrecks still
occur in those waters, but now most of the victims are not saved. Every
day they drown at sea, and so few others seem to care . . . so very few.
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This
lighthouse story is a parable—a parable people and charitable institutions. But for our purposes this morning, this story
actually summarizes 2000 years of church history.
· As described in last week’s sermon,
the Christian church initially burst into the world with a blaze of
fire—shining the light of Christ’s love into the world
· Rescuing people from loneliness,
brokenness, hopelessness, and purposelessness.
· Early Christians risked their lives
and even sacrificed their lives, just as thousands of Christians are doing now
in Syria and Iraq, where they are facing genocide. Why?
Because the early church knew the same thing that the Iraqi & Syria
Christians know today---that the Light of Christ is more important than earthly
life.
· So, like the rescuers in our story, they
ventured into the stormy seas of violent persecution, so that a few people
might be or just as few saved. They
understood /understand that the fulfillment of a purpose driven life is to
shine the light of Christ’s love into a dark world.
Now 1700
years later: The modern day picture of
Christian scene in America is primarily not that of Christians venturing forth
with the light of Christ into our our world.
Rather, the Christian scene, in too many places, is much more like the
Lighthouse historical club.
The main
reason that some many churches are declining in membership is because they are
no longer rescuing people from the darkness of our world. Thus, the public perception of the church is
that it is a religious club; that the church has nothing to offer them. And most of the time they are correct. Over time, the light of Christ is many
churches has become extinguished. It
became extinguished, because most clergy and congregations do not understand
the light of Christ’s love.
The truth
about the light of Christ’s love is this---you either share it, or it will
die. Reflecting upon today’s
Gospel—Jesus says that you do not hide your light under a bucket. Why? Because the flame will burn up all the oxygen,
and the fire will burn itself out. How
many churches have unknowing burnt out the light of Christ.
No, Jesus
says that you share it—because the people wandering in darkness need to see the
great light.
Now, what
about us at Christ Church Quaker Farms?
· We need to be more proactive in
sharing the Light. Why? Not because we want to grow this church into
a big church. That is not the reason.
· No, we need to share the light with
those in the darkness because so few others churches are doing this. In fact, these churches are giving the rest
of us bad PR. People need what you and I have
been given.
It is
because of this, that we are proclaiming that SEPTEMBER IS CHURCH HOMECOMING
MONTH @ CCQF. Everybody needs a
spiritual home; and we would like to be that home for anybody wishing to share
in the light of Christ’s love. It all
begins next Sunday with the return of our
· Regular schedule of Sunday services
at 8 & 10
· The return of Sunday School
· And our fantastic Homecoming Party,
featuring our free lunch hosted by the Youth Group, and games, and more.
So, would
you please take our the Homecoming Sunday invitation in your bulletin? Has the red heart. As I said last Sunday, I
want to challenge everyone to invite one person to join us for homecoming
Sunday next week. You can use this invitation, if you like. I have already invited my person. He will not come to church, but he will come
to the party. And that is just okay.
· Those of you with us last week will
recall that 60% of all people, who do not currently go to church, claim in a
recent poll that they would go to church if a friend of family mbr asked
them. This is your big chance. Share the light of Christ’s love, and it will
come back to you in abundance. Amen.
The Rev. John Donnelly
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