Biblical text: Song of Solomon Ch 1:15-17, 2: 3-7.

Introduction

The practice of idolatry was universal in biblical times. The prophet Isaiah mocked it, basically a man cuts down a tree, burns half to make bread and “the rest he makes into a god, his idol; and he falls down to it and worships it, he prays to it and says ‘Deliver me, for thou art my god’.” (Isa 44:7). We can smile about all this, we are children of the enlightenment and idols make even less sense to us than they did to the prophet Isaiah. We dismiss idolatry as primitive superstition or as a precursor to monotheism. Centuries later in the New Testament there was a shift to a more spiritual understanding. St Paul said, “There are many ‘gods’ and many ‘lords’.” (I Cor 8:5).

When we have ‘eyes to see’ we swim in an ocean of idolatry. I believe idolatry is ubiquitous in modern life. In my last sermon I looked at the idolatry of youth in our culture and I proposed an understanding of idolatry as an over-valuing of something less than God. First, my favourite cartoon from the 1980’s. A temporary teacher is taking the roll, “Is Jody McNulty here?” “Yes, teacher.” “I had a Freedom McNulty yesterday.” “Yes, that is my older sister.” Someone in the class asked “What kind of name is that?” The teacher answered, “Freedom was born in the 1960’s and her name reflects the values of that time.” Then a boy said, “Boy am I glad I wasn’t born then.” The teacher continued with the roll, “Megabucks McDermont here?”

I want to use a less obvious example of idolatry than money. Currently, there is a lot of thinking about the financial system in the Catholic Church and articulated by Pope Francis. I know a group of Christian economists who want to think through issues of faith in this context. I could use other examples such as celebrity culture, current ideologies, or nationalism. The list is almost endless. One of my idols has been academic recognition. The challenge is to begin to recognise the spiritual dynamics and to see how idolatry might present roadblocks to spiritual maturity. In this sermon I look at the idea of romantic love.

Text: Psalm 135:15-18

Introduction

What comes to mind when you hear the term idolatry? Primitive ‘natives’ bowing before a wooden image? Perhaps this might seem faintly ridiculous (though in a post-modern world we are quick to affirm indigenous knowing). I want to encourage us, as the people of God, to think about current issues from a theological and biblical perspective. I will argue that it helps to return to biblical concepts such as idolatry and to see a contemporary relevance. In the next three sermons that I preach, I will look at the natural human attribute of overvaluing (youth), attempts at personal salvation (romantic love) and making leaders divine (politics). Each will reveal a different dynamic, which I think can subvert mature spiritual understanding.

Rather than idolatry, you might prefer a different term. Scott Cormode in his book The Innovative Church talks about the “big lies” which prevent people hearing the gospel. This might be another way of talking about idolatry.

Texts: Acts 5:27-32; John 20:19-31

So today we have heard two stories directly about belief.

We got the story of Thomas, sometimes called doubting Thomas, who declares that he needs proof to believe in the resurrection. And while he receives it, he is told that others’ will be rewarded for believing without this.

And we have a declaration from Peter to the high priest – the disciples committing themselves to faith in Jesus despite pressure to do otherwise.

And it could be simple to surmise from the pairing of these readings that the lectionary, and whoever wrote it, wants us to remember to be better than Thomas, and have the declarative, certain, faith of Peter.

And I guess I have very deeply held feelings about that, because saying it makes me a bit uncomfortable. And on a shallow look at my discomfort, I would say it’s because there’s a certain type of person who first comes to mind when I think about declarative, certain, faith. A certain type of Christian. And they’re generally a Christian that I’m a bit mad at, really.

By the end of this sermon I hope to convince you that God is not good at maths. With God 1+1 will always =3! Let’s think about three mathematical equations: 1+1=1, =2, =3. Even with primary school maths two of the three seem wrong, but I think we will discover all are true to life.

Text: John 20: 14-18 Mary turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. He said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni” (which means teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold onto me, because I have not yet ascended to the father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I’m ascending to my father and your father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”.

In this encounter, Mary was surprised, to say the least. I am astonished that the gospel writer John chose this account to be foundational for the Christian church. Who is the primary witness? A woman who has low status in Jewish society (hardly qualified to be a witness in a court of law). In some traditions of the church Mary Magdalene was a woman of uncertain morals. There are lots of surprising details about her confusion of Jesus with a gardener. If you were a gospel writer, surely you would want to provide more convincing evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

But something very surprising happened 2000 years ago. I think we can agree that none of us were there. Maybe we can also agree that it speaks to our human experience. But, how does it fit the three mathematical formulas I have suggested? We will see.