Another helpful spin on listening to the text comes from just
that, listening to the text. Purchase or borrow a pre-recorded version of
the Bible. This can help make the most of drive time if your vehicle is properly
equipped. The Scripture can sound a little different through another mouthpiece,
and again, you can hear things you missed in the text. A poor-man’s version:
record your own voice onto tape or CD and listen. You might be surprised how
the text comes back to you differently in your own voice, when you aren’t
actively speaking. You’ll be a better listener.
I’m sure the very first verse of this week’s text
has already thrown many readers! How can one actually preach verse 29, “Those
who have wives should live as if they had none?” Perhaps a certain percentage
of husbands would be all too thrilled to obey this command immediately! I’m
sure many married women have wished they had a “wife” instead of
a husband who never helps around the house! And so we find the context and
cultural exegesis to be our interpretive friend. Obviously, the religious
and cultural context of Paul’s time addressed the majority of religious
correspondence to men. It’s not too much of a stretch to understand “wife”
here as “spouse” and apply it to all marriages. However, that’s
the easy part. In what way could a pastor, with integrity, invite married
people to live as if they weren’t?
First of all, the entire chapter is needed to put this text
in the context of a larger discussion on marriage in these “last days.”
The culture tended (and sometimes still tends) to emphasize marriage as owning
another person. Marriage means someone is always there for me, making me feel
special and meeting my needs. This sounds more like a pet than a relationship.
Furthermore, Paul is calling us to put all of our relationships under the
bigger umbrella of our relationship with God and a needy world. Married people
don’t exist for themselves; not even for their spouse. They exist to
help change the world while glorifying God.
Paul tells us that marriage, mourning, happiness, and shopping
are all things of this world. The scripture does not tell us these things
are sinful. It is rather a matter of emphasis.
Sometimes in lectionary preaching you will find that one text
alone does not allow you to preach the gospel fully. This passage makes a
strong point of what to avoid but doesn’t give us a strong positive image
in place of these things. Fortunately, the Gospel lection can supplement the
text. In Mark 1:14-20, Jesus invites His followers to become fishers of people,
since the Kingdom is near. One does not have to unpack every part of this
text to supplement our chosen passage effectively. Evangelism and discipleship
can replace an unholy entanglement with things that won’t pass the test
of eternity.
One important point of contact with our culture is what psychology
calls appropriate levels of “connectedness” in marriage. When couples
get too close, enmeshment occurs. Unfortunately, we see murder-suicides involving
married partners all too often today. Things appear so bleak in a relationship
that one party decides to end life for both. “If I can’t have you,
no one can.” This is an example where a couple is too close to allow
either to be a whole person. Each one is half a person, permanently fused
to the other. When one enmeshed partner attempts to find a healthy distance,
many relationships can’t survive. Independence is another negative model,
with too much distance. It is simply two individuals living their separate
lives under one roof. Inter-dependence allows for both to become whole persons
who are free to give and receive love. That’s not far from the biblical
image of marriage found in Creation (Genesis 2) and other places (Ephesians
5).
This text covers more than marriage, so it doesn’t have
to become a marriage sermon. Marriage can become an example of earthly commitments
that need to be balanced against eternal realities.
Another whole direction could focus on “stuff.” I
love gadgets. I always think technology is going to be my friend. I have even
found it to be of help in preaching. However, just when I get sucked into
trusting it, it finds a way to let me down. Have you ever had the blue or
black screen of death at the key point of a sermon PowerPoint or movie clip?
Then you know what I’m talking about. If we entrust ourselves to a materialistic
worldview we can quickly become empty inside. We can begin to value things
over people and seek to control our environment completely, destroying relationships.
It is so pervasive. Every few minutes during a recent, prime-time sporting
event, Circuit City reminded me they had “just what I needed.” However,
salvation cannot be found in a 20,000-square-foot computer store! People in
our day need an alternative vision of reality. The gospel is just that vision.
Why focus on things that are even now passing away? Jesus points us higher
to a life of service and devotion.
Of course, one will have to deal with grief and marriage carefully.
If a recent death has touched the congregation, be especially careful how
you show the contrast. Whenever you preach, chances are someone is still struggling
with grief, so don’t minimize it. Gently put it in an eternal context
and emphasize hope. You probably noticed I haven’t answered the above
question about living as if one had no spouse. Perhaps it is best interpreted
to say marriage does not excuse us from God’s higher purpose for our
lives. Although many people neglect their families, many others worship them.
In important ways, even our families need to be submitted to Christ’s
authority and the call of the gospel.
This is another opportunity to proclaim a fresh vision of holiness
as an alternative to a materialistic and/or relationship-enmeshed reality.
(For the full manuscript of this sermon
go to www.preachersmagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
As I mentioned above, sometimes in lectionary preaching you
will find that one text alone doesn’t express a very complete message.
This week’s Epistle text works best to set the stage for Jesus’
words in Mark 1:17. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 exposes the inadequacy of many earthly
experiences. We can again tell many stories of those who have lost their Christian
focus in marriage, grief, circumstances, possessions, and the rhythm of post-modern
life. Holiness is a balanced life. It is a life lived with soberness in this
world. It is a life of engagement with the world, but on eternal terms. We
use things and love people. We live to serve, while loving those around us.
In our marriages we seek to pool our resources to love and serve others.
The one compelling need that supplies the proper vision for
our serving is the gospel. We can partner with God to announce a relationship
with Jesus as the one thing in this world that isn’t passing away. We
can demonstrate that in how we live. Even spouses can come to respect and
love their spouse deeply for living out such a beautiful vision. Such a person
will be much easier to live with. Important needs will be met by God and in
service, so they aren’t quite so needy with their spouse. They will also
be free to love with fewer strings attached, because they are living out God’s
plan for life. They will find a fulfillment that sends them back home to love
and serve.
If God leads you to preach on marriage, perhaps enlarging the text to include most of chapter 7 provides the answer. Its larger discussion of marriage provides rich soil in which to grow a meaningful sermon.
