The Seven-Day Adventist denomination celebrated their 150-year anniversary in May 1994. Yet, they looked upon it as a failure, for their denomination was founded upon the principle of the immediate return of Jesus. Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, the denomination’s director of education, said, “It’s almost an embarrassment to be celebrating 150 years.” Michael Ryan, a vice-president, said, “In one kind of way it really is a sad event.”
Paul expected the immediate return of Jesus, and this influenced much of his writings. In fact, Paul expected Jesus to return — the Second Coming — the Parousia — in his lifetime. This concept of eschatology — the theology of the end times — guided all his theology. The word eschatology arises from the Greek eschatos meaning “last” and -logy meaning “the study of.” Eschatology is the study of the end times.
Believing that Jesus would return in a few decades, perhaps in a few years, and maybe in a few weeks, Paul did not want anything to interfere with service and devotion to Jesus. Not understanding this, we have misinterpreted much of what Paul wrote regarding society.
Paul did not oppose marriage, but it was unnecessary for the short time we had left before the return of Christ. Yet, Paul understood, if you could not restrain your sexual impulses then it was acceptable to get married. This is also why Paul encouraged widows not to remarry. Regarding slaves — we never read where Paul condoned slavery, but with the immediate return of Christ it was best if slaves focused in their immediate station in life. Regarding slavery Paul wrote, “although if you can gain your freedom, do so.” We also used his words in Romans as a mandate for blind obedience to the ruling authorities of our present age — to our government. Paul was not justifying an oppressive regime, what he was saying since Christ would return shortly, so let us not be disruptive for it will hinder our Christian witness. All of this points to a single fact for Paul the only thing that was important for a Christian was the proclamation of the salvation message in the name of Jesus.
There is also something that we misunderstood that caused and continues to cause countless social ills as we apply Paul’s writings to today’s society. Most of the time in the epistles Paul spoke as one whose authoritative writings were based on his revelation received on his Damascus road experience. But there were other times when Paul was just expressing his opinion, which is the case for today’s lectionary reading. Paul introduced this section of our lectionary reading with the words “I mean.” Paul was putting before the readers that what was to follow was his opinion, his personal thoughts, his personal ethical position, but it was not a direct command — it was not a direct mandate, from God.
How many lives have we ruined because we have failed to place Paul’s writings in the proper eschatological context? How many lives have we ruined because we have taken Paul’s opinion and made it into a legalistic mandate?
In 1844, a group of 50,000 followers expected the immediate return of Jesus. So strongly did they hold these beliefs, that many sold their possessions and others let their fields lie fallow. When Jesus did not return, the aftermath was called the Great Disappointment. Some, sadly, even committed suicide. In May of that year, the remaining followers organized themselves into a church. They called themselves Adventists for they expected the immediate return — the advent — of Jesus.
In our lectionary reading Paul wrote, “the appointed time has grown short.” The time for the return of Jesus may have “grown short,” but we are still waiting. But before we get too complacent let us remember the instruction of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 24:37-39, when he said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
Being a studious servant of Jesus should not depend on whether Jesus is returning this week, this month, this year, this decade, this century, or even this millennia. It should make no difference to us if it be one day or a thousand days. Our calling remains the same — to share the gospel message of salvation. But we should still be cautious, for we still live in the days of Noah.
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in the mid-eighteenth century, was returning home after conducting an evening worship service when he was robbed. The robber took his money and the religious literature that he was carrying. As the robber began to dart off into the darkness of the night, Wesley called to him saying, “My friend, you may live to regret this sort of life. If you ever do, here’s something to remember: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!’”
Years later a distinguish businessman approached John Wesley. He introduced himself as the man who robbed Wesley that awful night. He had repented of his sins and was then an active Christian. The man said he owed his conversion to Wesley. To this remark he replied, “Oh no, my friend, not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin!”
We do not want to regret the sort of life we are living. And we certainly don’t want to live a licentious life thinking we can make a death bed confession. Even though the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the air is cool, we must remember that the days for Christ return have “grown short.” This is the since of immediacy that Paul wanted to instill in his readers. This is the sense of immediacy that Jesus wanted to instill in his hearers when he said “As it was in the days of Noah…”
Realizing Paul was offering us his opinion the days are long enough to be advocates for social justice. Realizing Paul was offering us his opinion the days are long enough so we can be activists for equality. Realizing Paul was offering us his opinion the days are long enough so we can be outspoken against oppression. But the days are too short for us not to be witnesses to the gospel message.
March 25, 1965. The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. led a procession of 25,000 demonstrators into Montgomery, Alabama. Solemnly, the cortege passed the Jefferson Davis Hotel, which had a huge Rebel flag draped across its front. Quietly they stood at Confederate Square, where Negroes had been auctioned off in the days of servitude. Spontaneously, the multitude sang “Deep in my heart, I do believe; We have overcome — today.” The cavalcade lurched forward, proceeding up Dexter Avenue, following the same path as Jefferson Davis’ inaugural parade. These descendants of slaves freely strode to the portico of the capital; the place where Davis had taken his oath of office as President of the Confederate States. Governor George Corley Wallace refused to meet with the Freedom Marchers, nor would he receive their petition demanding the right to vote. The crowd milled in front of the statehouse, as the governor peered anxiously from behind his cracked office blinds.
Positioned below the governor’s window, King stood on the flatbed of a trailer, readying himself to address the gathering. With television cameras focused on his round, intense face, and his body silhouetted against the setting sun, King intoned: “We are on the move now. The burning of our churches will not deter us. We are on the move now. The bombing of our homes will not dissuade us. We are on the move now. The beating and killing of our clergymen and young people will not divert us. We are on the move now. The arrest and release of known murderers will not discourage us. We are on the move now. Like an idea whose time has come, not even the marching of mighty armies can halt us. We are moving to the land of freedom.”
“We are on the move now!” ought to be the battle cry of everyone. We rebuke any organization that promotes racism, sexism, and ageism. We denounce economic and social injustice. We deplore rules that dehumanize people. We condemn autocrats who are self-indulgent. We censure derogatory comments and gossip. We reprimand any individual that demeans or belittles another human being. We confront persons who are callous and insensitive. We sally forth allowing nothing — absolutely nothing — to stave off our protest.”
To besiege the opposing forces in society requires single-minded obedience to the truth of the scriptures. Adhering to the sacred text, Christians must be willing to emulate the steadfast nature of Jesus. There came a time when Jesus of Nazareth realized he could no longer effectively continue his public ministry in Galilee; if the gospel message was to be heard, it must be proclaimed in Zion. The prophet was resolute in his decision, as Luke narrated, “When the days drew near for him to be received up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.” (9:51) The Son of God chose to stand directly before the Sanhedrin, announcing that the year of Jubilee had come.
It was a lonely road that Jesus walked to Jerusalem; the disciples questioned him, Peter denied him, Thomas doubted, and one — Judas Iscariot — even betrayed him; the Sadducees challenged his theology, the Pharisees queried his motives, and the people called for Barabbas. Adamant, immutable, relentless, Jesus continued on his appointed course “to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).
Andrew Jackson avowed, “One man with courage makes a majority.” Empowered by the Holy Spirit, you can make a difference in the life of another person. You are expected to be an advocate for the powerless, a friend to the lonely, and offer hope to the forsaken. From this task you cannot waver.
In 1901, President William B. McKinley visited Niagara Falls. Encouraged by his entourage, he agreed to walk across the bridge connecting the United States with Canada. Great excitement prevailed, until he suddenly halted near the center of the bridge and returned home. McKinley explained that he did not want to be the first president to leave the boundaries of the United States while still in office.
In our calling to follow Christ we cannot go halfway, nor can we turn around. We must persevere, surmounting every obstacle placed in our path. Obliged to our Savior, we are undaunted in our mission.
Scolded and criticized, Abraham Lincoln still insisted on signing the Emancipation Proclamation. Defiant, the president answered his adversaries, “I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” We must go forward, if ever so slow. However small our steps, we must advance the cause of liberty and justice. Take your despondent brother by the hand, embrace your weeping sister and guide them to the promised land.
The journey is trying. Luke reported, “the people would not receive Jesus, because his face was set toward Jerusalem” (9:53). Even though he was ignored and shunned, the Messiah would not relinquish his commission. As futile as it may seem, we must never surrender to debauchery. Persecuted — we continue to chastise demagogues. Ridiculed — we never cease questioning the intemperate. Scorned — we still fervently announce the coming kingdom.
Martin Luther King Jr. stepped down off the trailer. The demonstration was over. It was time for everyone to return to Selma. The black participants, most unable to drive, were in need of transportation. White brothers and sisters from across the nation, Freedom Riders they were called, came to carry them home.
One volunteer was Viola Liuzzo, a mother of five, who traveled from Detroit to protest segregation. Unfamiliar with the roads, Mrs. Liuzzo was given a nineteen-year-old black guide. On her second trip from Selma a car followed behind her; soon there was a high-speed chase on Highway 80. Shots rang out in the night, her windshield shattered, and Viola Liuzzo died at the wheel of her car. Four members of the Ku Klux Klan were arrested for murder, but the district attorney refused to prosecute. President Lyndon Baines Johnson condemned the killing. Addressing the nation on television, the president said Mrs. Liuzzo “was murdered by enemies of justice, who for decades have used the rope and the gun, the tar and the feathers to terrorize their neighbors. They struck by night… for their purposes cannot stand the light.”
The days are short as we are summoned to turn our face toward Jerusalem. The journey is perilous, for it ends at Golgotha.
Amen.