Epiphany 4 B – Against the Robbers
Dear Partner in Preaching,
How long has it been since you’ve told your folks that God stands steadfastly against all those forces that are keeping them down? That God is opposed to anything and everything that robs them of abundant life? That God is prepared to do battle with those who seek to rob them of lives of joy, meaning, and purpose?
I ask this question because I think that’s the promise latent in this week’s reading. Notice that the very first thing Jesus does in Mark’s Gospel is cast out an unclean spirit. We don’t always know exactly how to process “unclean spirit” in modern terms (and certainly want to avoid the way it has been conflated with mental illness over the centuries!), but from other passages in Mark we can easily imagine its impact and effects on the life of the man this spirit holds captive. He has likely become a danger to himself and others. If he hasn’t already, he will likely soon be socially ostracized. And we can imagine the distress of those who love him. Anguish over his plight, fear about his future.
And the first thing Jesus does is free this man from the hold of his unclean spirit and restore him to himself, his loved ones, and his community. The very first thing.
First things matter. I mean, Mark could have told his story about Jesus differently and began by reporting some other action of Jesus. (After all, Matthew, Luke, and John all did!) And so the first thing Mark reports gives us a sense as to what the Evangelist thinks is most important, even offers a pretty strong clue to what he believes is the heart of Jesus’ ministry and mission. Which is why it’s important to note that the first thing Jesus does is free a man from an unclean spirit that robs him, his family, and his community of life.
This, in turn, is why I think it would be powerful for us to remind our people that God, indeed, stands steadfastly against all those forces that are keeping them down. That God is opposed to anything and everything that robs them of abundant life. And that God is prepared to do battle with those who seek to rob them of lives of joy, meaning, and purpose.
But then, please, tell them one more thing: That God is willing, eager, and committed to doing all of this for them…and for all of God’s children.
I add that because it’s so very easy to transform the “direct address” element of the Gospel – what the Reformers described as the pro nos “for us” or pro me “for me” – from an obviously personal message into a private one. That is, “for us” can devolve into “only for us,” or at least “for us and those who think or act or look like us.”
The temptation this week will be to define just who and what function as an “unclean spirit” or, as I described it above, “the forces that seek to rob us of abundant life.” And more often than not, that gets reduced to those for whom you didn’t vote. Against President Trump? Then he’s the embodiment of the forces that rob us of abundant life. For the President? Then it’s his opponents. What’s problematic of this approach is simply that, unless you preach to a very homogenous congregation, you will, whether unintentionally or intentionally, place those who think or feel differently from you in the camp of the unclean spirits.
Look, I know this isn’t easy, and perhaps to some will seem like ducking the issue or refusing to be prophetic. (And, truthfully, I struggle with that question myself.) Perhaps you feel very certain about who is to blame or most at fault for some of the problems that beleaguer us. I know I often do. But I also know that I love and respect some people who feel very differently than I do. In my family. In my community. And in my congregation. And so I come back to the unsavory possibility that my certainty may lead me to label those who differ from me as “unclean” and make it all the more difficult for them to hear and be transformed by God’s love.
Which is why I think it’s both wise and faithful to shift from trying to identify a one-to-one translation of the identity of the “unclean spirit” to persons or groups today to focusing on its visible effects. What are those things that rob our people of abundant life? Addiction? Loss of gainful employment? Belligerent or unsafe working conditions? Situations where power is abused or harassment and discrimination tolerated? Lack of access to housing, education, or medical treatment? Conditions devoid of the hope of a better future? God is not simply against these things theoretically, but calls on the Body of Christ to address them directly and with courage.
Will we all agree on the best means to face these challenges so that more of God’s children experience abundant life? Perhaps not. But let’s have that discussion openly and without (literally) demonizing those who differ from us. Which is why it’s important not simply to promise our folks that God is against those things that rob us of abundant life, but also to remind them (and all of us!) that God is against those forces that rob any of God’s children of the life God comes to make manifest and offer in Jesus.
So how can we get about the business together of diminishing the things that rob us, our neighbors, and communities of life? And how can we be truly counter-cultural and not let all decision-making processes and discussions get reduced to political conversations held on the binary (us vs. them) terms of a culture that feeds on the outrageous and where ideological purity (to the left or right) and gaining airtime via social media or the press is more important that actually making a concrete difference?
These are questions I’d love to have a congregation wrestle with, both knowing that God is unequivocally for them in love and that God also loves passionately and deeply people who look and act and believe very differently from them. Because Jesus still comes to free us – all of us – from the unclean spirits and robbers that seek to diminish the abundant life God has promised all. And we have a role to play in that continuing struggle.
Not easy stuff, Dear Preacher, and I respect that you may come to a different homiletical strategy or conclusion than I have. Know that whatever you may preach this week, you have my gratitude. For I believe that God has entrusted you with sufficient insight, courage, and fidelity to preach with authority what your people need to hear, and I am confident God will bless your proclamation.
Yours in Christ,
David
Thank you, David. I really look forward each week for your insights in my mailbox. So far, the week has been quite chaotic in terms of our national life together. The finger-pointing and blaming represent the saddest form of evil and unclean spirits. The politicians in Washington are so venemous and jaded in their viewpoints, both on the right and the left. I am eager to see some of them out of office soon. I realize that I am also far from perfect and as a preacher I sometimes feel guilty being the one up front trying to proclaim a gospel that I so easily ignore. But then, I read your comments “In the Meantime,” and find your encouragement telling me to “remind our people that God, indeed, stands steadfastly against all those forces that are keeping them down.” I hear you reminding me of that reality as well. Thank you.
I love the comment about the Christ who doesn’t show up theoretically but in reality. Theoretically, even those of us who would seem to preach to a very homogeneous congregation discover that we are not as homogenous as we either think or maybe even hope. How long did people in this town prefer to see themselves this way rather than acknowledge their brother who struggled, and his family? There is no them, only us in Christ. Thank you for lifting up both the good news and challenge of this good news.
I love the way you phrased that, Carolyn: “There is no them, only us in Christ.” Thank you.
Thank you David. I need to preach this, but I also needed to hear it. My identical triplet sister died a few weeks ago and I’ve been finding myself crippled by it and robbed of abundant life. I need to be consciously aware of how God is working to restore my life, and how God will use me to help stand against forces that rob others of abundance of life.
Erin, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Please give yourself time to grieve and heal, and also know you are surrounded by people who love you and will remind you that God is with you even now, especially now, while walking through the shadow of death.
I agree that God stands against those forces that diminish and/or deprive life. But it seems to beg the question, “So why doesn’t God just fix things so that life always wins?” Theodicy issues abound. Having said that, there is the question of authority presented in all the lessons this week, and that is where the public/private aspect (“for us/for me”) becomes apparent. It’s important for me as a preacher to be aware of the source of my authority, which then determines the truth of my proclamation. Given the warnings of Moses, Ezekiel, etc., and the result of Jesus’ authoritative teaching, this is often an uncomfortable place to stand. Elijah’s cave is usually way too far from the sacristy door! But the promise is found in your response to Erin. God is with us, because when we speak and live God’s truth as given to us, God is with us. And the Holy Spirit will reveal that truth to us, hopefully before and during the sermon, and not otherwise after.
What’s robbing us today of what God wants for all people?
I think of the anger, resentment and insults being hurled on both sides of the political issue, not within the church but in most other areas of life. It’s difficult to be in the midst of this division and tension in our country. It’s felt everywhere…in families, in the work place, between friends and especially on social media.
I feel this hatred of the “other” is robbing people of the joy and peace God wants us to have in life. It’s become so intense as to become hatred, not simply anger and resentment.
People are looked down upon for their beliefs and choices. An entire group of people is labeled and thought of as the enemy. It’s become an “us versus them” situation. It’s no longer simple political difference of opinion….it’s become discriminatory, Republicans vs Democrats and the insults are hurled from both sides.
There’s smug superiority, lack of acceptance of the “other”, protests and separation from people who were once close.
People believe what they see and hear even when it’s false, they’re convinced they’re right and know the “truth” because they read it on Facebook or in a well-known print news source and believe it with glee. They’re being fed and drinking from a poisoned well.
What is the truth? Who knows?
Is there evil behind the curtain pulling the strings?
People are angry, upset, confused, verbally attacked and afraid to voice their opinions. Why? Because of who they chose to vote for? Yes.
Anger has been bubbling just beneath the surface for over 150 years from unhealed wounds. Legislative bandages were applied to fix the problems but the wounds underneath continued to fester and grow.
In came a man….a scapegoat, who opened the wounds. All the sins and problems are being pinned on him ….the thinking is, if we can get him out of office, he’ll take the sins away and we’ll all be happy. But we won’t be happy.
How can we heal as a nation?
More legislation?
With humility and care for one another?
By insisting our way is the right way?
By listening to the “other” and honoring another’s point of view?
Can we turn this around? With God’s help we can.
It helps me to remember God stands against the “forces” that diminish life, not against people whom God has created. The forces of evil are not Donald Trump or Chuck Schumer or, or,… The forces of evil are hate, fear, selfishness, insecurity, etc. David, I agree the conversations so need to happen, and I think can only happen with the forces of evil are the topics, not individuals or personalities. Can we stop demonizing people (after all, Jesus didn’t demonize the man possessed) and “demonize” the forces of evil?
Greg, this was really helpful for me. It’s something that I know on some level but forget so easily. Thanks for the well put reminder.
I appreciate your approach in not dehumanizing either side in our preaching. Thank you for the insight and advice!
One question, why not mention mental illness as an unclean spirit that robs us of abundant life? I suffer from depression, anxiety, and OCD, and am no more ashamed of this than someone who has cancer. And certainly have prayed for deliverance and respite from my “demons”.
That’s a super-fair question, Jim, and I was thinking about that as I was writing. I think that it’s fair to say mental illness is something that robs us of abundant life. I am a little more leery of an equation of demon possession with mental illness because of the penchant of some religious traditions to then assume that mental illness isn’t really an illness but instead of possession and something that should be able to be “cast out” or overcome by stronger faith and prayer. Perhaps I was being too cautious. In any event, I very much appreciate you sharing your perspective.
Might the important thing be that we are seeing as separate “the forces of evil” from the person? This seems to be highlighted in the 2nd part of v 24 when it changes from plural to singular: “Have you come to destroy “us”? “I” know who you are…”
So in this discussion regarding mental illness (and I would add in here those who have Alzheimer’s since I work among them as well), no matter if you see it as an “illness” or a “demon”– important to me is that they are still separate from the “child of God” who is also standing before us. This is important to me because with as much time and energy as we use to command the demon to “be silent” (whether by meds or by casting out), maybe it is important for us to also spend just as much time and energy on the “child of God” that is still there too. This then picks up nicely with what David wrote: “…restore him to himself, his loved ones, and his community.” How can we be a part of this restoration with those who have mental illness?– with Alzheimer’s? As we begin to take the time and energy to answer these questions, we might be introduced to a whole and exciting world!
I agree that it is irresponsible and sinful to try and specifically identify the “unclean spirits”, i.e. Trump, Schumer, whomever. But there are larger economic forces at work that in the words of Bruce Cockburn “rob life of its quality”. I think it’s important to name that and to recognize that most of us in the global north, myself included benefit from that system.
The problem of focusing on the man freed from the demon is that the text just doesn’t pay much attention to him at all. I see the focus of the text as a confrontation between Jesus and the principalities and powers of this world, interestingly located in the “church” of Jesus’ day. Jesus is set loose on the world and with only the authority of his Word destroys the power that had the man “in a cage”. The man is freed from the prison of forces that once bound him. We see in this first encounter an attempt by evil to have power over Jesus as it names him accurately as the “the Holy One”. Jesus silences him. Round one, evil loses. But these forces come again and again in other institutions and leaders to silence and ultimately attempt to destroy the Holy one. I think Mark is trying to help his community (and all believers) to trust in Jesus and his authority, manifested in his love for us, a love that had him heal, exorcise and do battle with death itself. When we do, we are freed from the forces at work in the world that are hell-bent on caging us and we are transformed. Yes, Jesus wants us to have abundant life, but I believe our problem is not trusting that his way of compassion and love has real authority over the demonic forces of violence, oppression, poverty, racism, abuse, addiction etc. He taught with authority, he lived his message, may we trust it enough to be transformed and live it too.
Really, really helpful, Carol. Thanks!
Just that this is a really good conversation! (I suppose that means I find it in line with my own thoughts, but ‘whatever’!) I’ve been equating ‘pneuma’ with context – and an unclean context is that which is defined by limits less than life itself, and seeks less than life in its wholeness…
Dear David,
Thank you so much for your ongoing insights and valuable wisdom with the content you provide, I pass this on from not only myself but a number of our clergy that use your material for insight.
If you’re ever in Australia and are looking to come and speak anywhere, I know our Anglican Diocese in Gippsland would love to have you! A little unlikely but still…
Kind Blessings.
Thanks very much, David.
And, really, all I need is an invitation… perhaps next January, when it’s so blooming cold here. 🙂
Take care and blessings on your proclamation.
That would excellent. Where would I email this to?