Can The World Change? Can We?

Dr. James Mayfield
Tarrytown United Methodist Church

February 12, 2006

Text: Mark 1:4-8

2006 has begun with a continuation of the quagmire of conflict in Iraq , the leader of Iran making threats similar to those made by Hitler in 1935, physical, financial and emotional wounds from the hurricanes and earthquakes far from being healed, increasing tension, misunderstanding and mistrust between the world of fundamentalist Islam and the Western world, stories about and fears of a pandemic, more stories about influence peddling in Washington , the gap between those with wealth and those in poverty expanding, politicians of both parties more intent on looking good and on blaming others for all that is wrong than on finding ways to work with one another to make things better. These are just a few items on this year's list of what is wrong in the world. And this year's list of what needs changing is not all that different from similar lists year after year, century after century.

Is there hope? Can the world change? Can we? If we cannot change what needs changing in our lives, how can we expect, much less hope, the world will change for the better?

I am convinced this kind of longing for change, this kind of longing for hope is what motivated many of the people who went into the wilderness to listen to the preaching of John the Baptist. Oh, I am sure there were the merely curious and those who went because others were going and there were also probably those who went looking for reasons to denounce John. But I believe that many (if not most) went because they were longing for hope; they were asking the same questions I just asked: “Can the world change? Can we?”

Of course, we who come to worship have heard enough sermons to know that the Gospel we preach and affirm proclaims there is hope; change is possible. The Bible is clear; people can repent. The lives of people can be turned around. New life, new birth, a new creation is possible.

What makes such change possible? There are clues in the passage we read. The passage tells us John the Baptist spoke of two types of baptism: a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin and also a baptism of the Holy Spirit that Christ offers. What was John the Baptist talking about, and how does all this relate to us?

John knew the kind of life change God wants of us and of the world requires both repentance and forgiveness. This is why he proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin.” Repentance is more than regret and apology; repentance goes beyond confession of sin, and includes the beginning of actual change. Repentance has to do with both recognizing something needs to change and also striving to make that change.

John also knew repentance is inseparable from forgiveness. This is why he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin . Forgiveness is necessary for repentance. In fact, repentance is a sign of accepting forgiveness. If I have done you wrong and I believe you will never forgive me, the probability of my repentance -- that is, my confessing my wrong doing and changing my behavior -- is almost nil. It is impossible for there being reconciliation between us as long as you refuse to forgive me. Of course, your forgiving me does not mean I will admit my wrong and change my ways and reconciliation will happen, but without your forgiveness it is almost certain I will neither admit the error of my ways or change my behavior -- that is, repent.

In this world in which justice is all too often understood only as revenge or getting even, there is no lasting healing of relationships or lasting peace Revenge only begets revenge. You get even with me motivates me to want to strike back and get even with you. Until there is an intervention of forgiveness revenge will only give rise to retaliation. Until someone says: “Enough is enough, and it is time to move on to a new and more positive future,” what we will see played out in our lives is what we have seen played out between Israelis, Palestinians and Arabs for decades and even centuries, and what has been going on between Shiite and Sunni Moslems for generations. Can there be change in our lives?
Yes, but it will require both forgiveness and repentance, repentance and forgiveness.

And speaking of forgiveness, I am convinced the place to begin is with us forgiving others. As long as we wait for others to forgive us before we are willing to forgive them, change for the better is not likely to come. Forgiveness has to begin with us.

In two ways forgiveness must begin with ourselves. First, we must forgive ourselves for whatever we need to forgive ourselves for. Otherwise, we will remain enslaved in defensiveness that blocks our ability to admit error, and unable to admit error we are unable to change. Second, we must forgive others for whatever we need to forgive others for. Otherwise we will remain enslaved in our resentments feelings of self-pity, anger and longing to get even. Our forgiveness of others may or may not motivate any change in their behavior, but our forgiving those we need to forgive will set us free from our bondage to resentment, self-pity, self-righteous anger and longing to get even. Our forgiving others sets us free to move on with our lives. When we are no longer in bondage to the pain in our yesterdays, we are set free to face a tomorrow that can be significantly different and better than today. Our forgiving others liberates us, sets us free, from self-pity, self-righteous anger and resentment so that we are able to change our way of dealing with those who have hurt us; that is, we are able to repent. John the Baptist came preaching a baptism of both repentance and forgiveness. From the perspective of the Gospel repentance and forgiveness are inseparable. They can be distinguished from one another but finally cannot be isolated from one another. Forgiveness and repentance, repentance and forgiveness are like two sides of a coin. Without either side, what we have is counterfeit.

But repentance and forgiveness are easier to preach about than to do. This is why the other baptism John the Baptist was talking about is so important. John came preaching a baptism of repentance and forgiveness and also proclaiming the coming of the One who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit.

What is that all about? Whatever else it may mean, it means where positive change takes place, God has been involved. The Messiah, the incarnation of the divine, the presence of the Holy in our midst, is the One who empowers positive change. Just ask members of A.A. who are recovering alcoholics about the role of what they call their “Higher Power.” Whenever, wherever lives change for the better, there is an element of profound mystery involved, the mystery incarnate in Jesus, the mystery of God's grace, the mystery of the Holy Spirit. Change from the way we are to the way God intends calls for a significant change of heart, a significant change of priorities, a significant change of perspective on life, and such change involves something more than rational logic and will power -- much more. This something more is what causes transformation of our hearts. What John was calling baptism of the Holy Spirit has to do with God's Holy Spirit, God's amazing, transforming grace washing over us and washing through us so that whatever has been blocking us from living as God intends is washed away and the living water of God's grace flows through our souls and pours out of us in all we say and do.

Can the world change? Can we? The answer is yes. But this change will involve repentance, forgiveness and the mystery of God's grace (God's Holy Spirit) being at work in our lives.

God, send your Holy Spirit to wash over us and through us so that we will change and be instruments you can use in changing the world. Amen.

Pastoral prayer:

God, when our lives feel like overcast days of chilling drizzle, help us remember the sun does shine - even when it is cloudy. When our calm is shattered by the rumbling thunder of approaching storms, make us aware you are with us and that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love you have revealed through Christ. When because of wrong choices and behavior, we have made a mess of things, help us remember the mercy Jesus showed to those who had made bad choices and teach us how to accept your mercy so we are able to be merciful to ourselves. When we feel all alone with our problems, teach us how to reach out for help. And when all is sunshine and everything is coming up roses, help is enjoy the gift and to recognize the good times as gift so we will be able to experience the joy of gratitude. When we are enjoying the gift of abundance, awaken within us the desire to share and the joy of generously. When we are basking in the delight of friends and family, enable us to be sensitive to those who are alone and feeling isolated. Enable us to live as Jesus was teaching us to live when he taught us to pray: "Our Father ...."