Weakling

Rev. Douglas L. Griffin
Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ
Arlington, Virginia
September 14, 2008

Romans 14:1-12
Matthew 18:21-35

(for the complete text of these two lessons see the end of the sermon)

Many of us grew up learning a saying that ended, “…Names will never hurt me.” And, oh yes, it was more than likely recited to us while we were CRYING because…someone called us a name! Now, names are just words. But words are able to touch our emotions. Being called names can hurt, or make us mad.

And yet, what hurts in one generation can be something totally different in another. For instance, I thought I knew what “bad” meant. When someone said “you’re bad” I knew I was bad as in not good – or at least right on the edge of doing something wrong. But, I remember the first time I heard one of my sons tell a friend “Aw, that’s bad!” It meant good!

The really confusing one is the word, “Fat.” Now, I was told never, never call someone fat. And while dating I learned a critical lesson: When asked by your partner, “Do you think I’m fat?” never say, “Yes.” Imagine my confusion and surprise when our boys—as young teenagers—spied an attractive young girl walking past them and one pronounced, “Aw, Bro, look at her: she’s FAT” WHAT? Then it hit me: That was a compliment! Did they call her “Fat”? Maybe it’s “Phat.”

But there seems to be one label that so far as I know, has been and remains an insult. That name is “Weakling.” I hated to be called weak. And, I think it still is one of those labels that upset. Call someone weak and witness what happens next: Either they feel offended, or they lash back—probably at you—to demonstrate that they are NOT weak!

So, it takes no guesswork to assume that when Paul begins his admonition today, “Welcome the weak in faith,” it very well wouldn’t have sat very well with those who were being welcomed! Think about it, how would you feel about a bright smiling welcoming soul announcing in a booming voice while looking at you, “Welcome all you weaklings to our worship this morning”? So it is understandable that when we first hear Paul’s admonition “Welcome the weak in faith but for the purpose of quarrelling about opinions” it’s “Weak in faith” that grabs our attention. “Who’s Paul calling weak?” Who are Paul’s “weaklings”?

Reading on, one might think vegetarians are weaklings. Then later on maybe being a weakling has to do with observing or not observing certain days as holy. But maybe we have NOT effectively diagnosed who Paul’s weaklings are. Maybe the examples have to do with something else than weakness. For example, maybe eating only vegetables is not so much about being vegetarian. Instead, maybe those eating only vegetables are refusing to eat meat sacrificed to the gods of Caesar. If that’s the case, then could we see a group of people who just might be taking a stance of social protest? Maybe Paul was not calling anyone weak, but was quoting some name-calling already going on in the church?

But wait, we didn’t stop long enough on Paul’s admonition. See how easy it is to get distracted? So, we listen again, “Welcome the weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions” Whether or not Paul actually thought of other Christians as weak, or was just quoting social positions and divisions in the Roman church, really doesn’t matter. The point isn’t who is weak. The point is, welcome them. Whom do I consider weak? Whom do you consider weak? Welcome them, period. Stop getting into quarrels over conflicting opinions about what is weak and what is not. Stop trying to change them! Welcome them.

Now that is what hits us so surprisingly. Think about it. Especially now that we’re in an American political election season. A rule of American politics is “find your opponent’s weakness and exploit it.” How excited and animated the press and political junkies get when politicians “go for the red meat” in their opponents. However, it’s not just press and political junkies that are responsible, unfortunately. Political science research indicates that exploiting candidates’ weaknesses has a significant effect on American voters. It’s much more effective than candidates’ focusing on their strengths and qualifications. It’s the negative ads that sway our votes (Oh, God bless America!).

Today’s passage turns this notion and this aggressive strategy on its ear! Do I think you’re weak – in faith, in morals, in following social convention, in literalistic thinking, in simplistic worldview? It doesn’t matter. I am to welcome you, period. My job is not to get you thinking or acting stronger. God has welcomed you. Who am I to exclude you? Instead of seeing the church in terms of weak versus strong, we are to begin seeing our diversity practices and life-styles as offerings to God. You abstain out of devotion to God. I eat in gratitude to God. Our lives, our priorities are living offerings to the Lord. Thus, Paul declares, you don’t live to yourselves nor do you die to yourselves. Whether you live or whether you die you are the Lord’s. Therefore, don’t judge or condemn one another. Live in harmony.

This, Paul proclaims is why Christ died: To shatter the boundaries between weak and strong, right and wrong, living and dead. The cross, that supreme act of courage, becomes our model for living. It compels us to surrender our lust for battle, for exploiting the weakness of our opponents. It invites us to exercise the voice and grace of welcome.

I think, quite serendipitously, the Gospel lesson joins its voice here. Peter, in an earnest effort to set precedent and a generous standard for church behavior, asks Jesus “Lord, shouldn’t we forgive 7 times (a perfect number)?” Why, to forgive 7 times for the same debt is quite liberal! But Jesus replies, “Nope, not enough. If you can count the number of times you forgive then it’s not enough.” It’s not genuinely generous.

Instead, the parable that Jesus tells is one that exposes generosity as the outpouring of gratitude. If we are truly grateful for our freedom from debts then we simply can’t help it: we are generous with others. If we are unable to forgive another’s debts, especially when they are so burdened as to be unlikely ever to get out of debt, then we probably have NEVER known gratitude that flows from being genuinely forgiven. We probably don’t know what it is like to be freed and welcomed without condition.

To be freed and welcomed without condition; THAT is a divine gift. THAT is what Paul means, I believe, by saying that both the weak and strong are welcomed by God.

As we conclude our lectionary readings from Romans today we are left with this charge: We must be more motivated to welcome than to debate or pass judgment; more motivated to alleviate debt and suffering than to balance our books and count our assets.

Amen.