Rev. Paul Wrightman, Pastor

Independent and United Church of Christ

July​​ 12, 2020

Dear Friends,

For a brief while there it seemed like things were improving to the point where we could make plans to resume Bible Study in the Library, with masks and social distancing. ​​ That window has now come and gone. ​​ It’s getting to be too long without our weekly discussion of Scripture. ​​ I’ve decided to offer Bible Study via Zoom. ​​ My goal is to begin on Wednesday evening, July 22nd. ​​ We’ll go back to our regular time of 6:00-7:00. ​​ St. Paul, whom we were studying before Covid19 interrupted everything, just isn’t strong enough (in my opinion!) for the incredibly challenging times in which we find ourselves. ​​ So we will go back to Jesus, which means restudying one of the Gospels. ​​ I think it’s time to look at Luke again.​​ ​​  ​​​​ 

To​​ access the visual element of Zoom you will need to use a computer with a webcam. ​​ If the visual part isn’t all that important to you, the audio component can be accessed by any computer with a mike and speakers. ​​ I’ll be providing a complete set of instructions in this letter next week.

We continue our sermon series on the most important texts in the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. ​​ We’re in that part of the Old Testament which Christians call the Ten Commandments. ​​ Today we look at Number Nine: ​​ “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Stay safe and take care. ​​ And remember that Jesus is Emmanuel – God WITH Us!

Paul

WORSHIP SERVICE FOR JULY 12, 2020

INTRODUCTORY READING  ​​ ​​​​ Jalaludin Rumi (1207-1273)

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Translated by Robert Bly

And you, if you have no feet to leave your country, go

Into yourself, become a ruby mine, open to the gifts of the

 ​​ ​​​​ sun.

You could travel from your outer person into your inner person.

By a journey of that sort earth becomes a place where you find

 ​​ ​​​​ gold.

SUGGESTERD MUSIC  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ I Would Be True – SVA at Andrews Choir Fest 2016

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ You Tube

OPENING PRAYER  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Alan Gaunt, Contemporary

God, you are no idol of our making, but the living God,

coming, going, revealed or hidden – as you decide.

Give us the capacity to be surprised into new understanding.

Break through our traditions and set phrases,

and show yourself alive –

the strength of our present and the promise of our future.

Give us the capacity to be surprised by each other;

to recognize truth in words spoken and unspoken,

seeing new dimensions in each other.

Help us to be startled by grace where we could see none,

by kindness where we could see only coldness,

by the need of love where we could see only arrogance and ingratitude.

Meet us, Lord, in unexpected places;

speak to us through unexpected voices;

and do not let us refuse to see or hear you anywhere.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING: ​​ Exodus 20:16

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

SERMON

TRUTH-TELLING HAS MANY DIMENSIONS

Rev. Paul Wrightman

(The underlinings represent what would be emphasized if delivered orally.)

The relationship between a movie​​ actor​​ and a movie​​ director​​ can​​ make​​ or​​ break​​ a movie. ​​ Susan Wloszczyna, a​​ USA Today​​ film critic, writes, “In some directors’ hands, an actor​​ remains​​ a lump of​​ coal. ​​ In others, that​​ same​​ performer will​​ metamorphose​​ into a shining​​ diamond​​ on screen.”

She says Katherine Hepburn did her​​ greatest​​ films with director George Cukor. ​​ When Hepburn matched up with a​​ different​​ director, Stuart Millar, her films​​ suffered. ​​ Cary Grant was at his​​ best​​ with director Howard Hawks, but couldn’t​​ bear to watch his own performance in​​ Arsenic and Old Lace,​​ which he did with director Frank Capra.

What is the​​ key​​ to a​​ consistently​​ winning​​ pair?

Richard Brown, Professor of Cinema Studies at New York’s New School for Social Research, says, “It is only about​​ one​​ thing –​​ trust.”

A​​ director​​ must​​ trust​​ that an actor​​ has​​ the character inside him or her and that it is​​ within​​ that actor’s​​ range. ​​ And the​​ actor​​ must​​ trust​​ that the​​ director’s​​ decisions​​ will​​ bring out the very​​ best​​ in the performance.

Something rather​​ similar​​ to this director/actor relationship took place in God’s giving of the Ten Commandments, or ten life-giving words, to the recently freed Hebrew slaves.

In this parallel the​​ director, of course, would be​​ God, and the​​ actors​​ would be the people who originally received the commandments, and all those who followed in their footsteps, including ourselves.

Just as​​ trust​​ is the main issue in the relationship between an​​ actor​​ and his or her​​ director, the main​​ issue, the main​​ event, in the relationship between​​ people​​ and​​ God​​ and, more specifically, between​​ us​​ and​​ God​​ is also TRUST.

We have it on the very good authority of the Jewish people, an authority which is based on more than three thousand years of​​ experience​​ with​​ God, that the Ten Commandments, far from being attempts by God to​​ curb​​ human freedom, are actually​​ gifts​​ from God, gifts given from the fullness of God’s​​ love, gifts which make human freedom​​ possible.

Like the signs posted along some of the beaches in our area – especially “Monastery” beach, which to all too many unwary tourists has become “Mortuary” beach – signs that​​ warn​​ of a strong undercurrent and the​​ danger​​ of rogue waves, the Ten Commandments can be seen as guidelines from God to keep us from​​ danger, to keep us from​​ self-destructing, both as individuals and as a society.

Today we look at the ninth commandment, or ninth word, which states “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Eugene Peterson, in his contemporary version of the Bible, renders this simply as “No​​ lies​​ about your neighbor.”

The original wording​​ of this commandment reveals its ancient origins as part of a​​ legal​​ system, a legal system which worked for​​ good​​ or​​ ill​​ depending on the​​ truthfulness​​ of those who gave official​​ testimony.

The same holds true​​ today: any system of law is​​ only​​ as​​ trustworthy​​ as those who are part of that system.

Very early on, we find the province of this life-giving word​​ expanding,​​ spilling​​ over, as it were, into the day-to-day, give-and-take relations among people.

We find extrapolations about not bearing false witness making their way into the​​ marketplace, and find many admonitions in the Hebrew Scriptures to use standard weights and measures and not to practice any kind of deceit in business dealings.

In our own culture,​​ deception​​ rather than​​ truthfulness​​ in business and government has become​​ standard​​ operating​​ procedure.

The Great Recession was brought about by the​​ false witness given by Wall Street operatives and major banks.

The food industry in this country has recently taken to labeling highly processed food​​ as “natural,” in an attempt to​​ trick​​ consumers into thinking that “natural” is the same as “organic.”

Deception has become so rampant in our culture that, sadly, we​​ expect​​ to be lied to: to be lied to in advertising, to be lied to by salespeople, to be lied to in the news, to be lied to by organized religion, to be lied to by politicians, to be lied to by the government itself.

All of this strongly underscores the destructive consequences which inevitably​​ follow​​ when we jettison God’s life-giving word not to bear false against our neighbor.

We live in a culture that is characterized by a pervasive​​ lack​​ of​​ trust​​ in our​​ institutions, in our​​ neighbors, even in​​ ourselves. ​​ And this ubiquitous lack of trust​​ overflows​​ into our relationship with​​ God: for​​ many​​ in our culture​​ God​​ cannot be trusted​​ either.

Rather than howl at the moon about the shortcomings of our society in​​ general​​ , I would like to use the bulk of this sermon to wrestle with two specifically​​ personal​​ dimensions of bearing false witness, or lying, two personal dimensions which have immense destructive impact on both our neighbors and ourselves.

These areas are​​ gossip​​ and​​ denial, denial in the Alcoholics Anonymous sense of refusing to acknowledge a​​ truth​​ about​​ ourselves​​ that we would rather not face.

First, gossip.

The earliest rabbis recognized gossip as part and parcel of bearing false witness against one’s neighbor.

“The gossiper,” the rabbis taught, “Talks in​​ Rome​​ and kills in​​ Syria,”​​ dramatically calling attention to the fact that gossip grows not by the relatively​​ slow​​ process of​​ addition, but by the alarmingly​​ fast​​ process of​​ multiplication.

In Hebrew, gossip is called​​ lashon hara, “the evil tongue,” and the rabbis believed it to be one of the​​ worst​​ crimes against another person, and against society as a whole.

According to the Talmud, “Anyone who speaks the evil tongue, God says of him:​​ he​​ and​​ I​​ cannot​​ live​​ in the​​ same​​ world.” ​​ 

Pretty strong stuff, that. ​​ Equally strong stuff can be found in the Christian Scriptures.

I tend to​​ idealize​​ the early church as being an idyllic, close-knit community where everyone got along splendidly with everyone else, and where adult dialogue and respect were the​​ norm.

How shocked I was, then, to find James, the brother of Jesus, leader of the earliest church in Jerusalem, and author of the earliest book in the New Testament, to find him basically issuing the​​ riot​​ act​​ to his brothers and sisters in the Jerusalem church.

The following rendering, also by Eugene Peterson, captures the force of the original better than most translations. ​​ James writes:

“We get it​​ wrong​​ nearly​​ every​​ time​​ we​​ open​​ our​​ mouths. ​​ If you could find someone whose​​ speech​​ was perfectly​​ true,​​ you’d have a​​ perfect​​ person, in perfect control of life… ​​ A word out of your mouth may​​ seem​​ of no account, but it can​​ accomplish​​ nearly​​ anything​​ – or​​ destroy​​ it!

“It only takes a​​ spark, remember, to set off a​​ forest​​ fire. ​​ A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. ​​ By our​​ speech​​ we can​​ ruin​​ the​​ world, turn​​ harmony​​ into​​ chaos, throw​​ mud​​ on a​​ reputation, send the whole world up in​​ smoke​​ and go up in smoke​​ with​​ it, smoke right from the pit of​​ hell.

“This is​​ scary: …with our​​ tongues​​ we​​ bless​​ God our Father; with the​​ same​​ tongues we​​ curse​​ the very men and women God made in his​​ image. ​​ Cursings​​ and​​ blessings​​ out of the same mouth!... ​​ My friends,​​ this​​ can’t​​ go​​ on!”

(James 3:2,5-7,9-10. ​​ Eugene Peterson,​​ The Message.)

For James to have had to use such strong language in terms of controlling the tongue speaks volumes about the extent of the associated problems of angry, belittling, hateful, and cursing words being hurled by one person at another;​​ the use of half-truth and​​ exaggeration in everyday speech;​​ and the raging, destructive presence of gossip and slander with the earliest Christian community in Jerusalem.

Indeed, dilemmas associated with the​​ misuse of speech have been so​​ prevalent​​ throughout the histories of Judaism and Christianity that both traditions have developed what are called the spiritual​​ disciplines​​ of “taming the tongue” and “truth-telling” as antidotes. ​​ 

Both Judaism and Christianity have such a horror of​​ misusing speech because both traditions believe that God​​ created​​ the world through​​ speaking​​ it into being. ​​ God’s word is​​ creative, not​​ destructive, and human beings, created​​ in​​ the​​ image​​ of​​ God, are to model​​ their​​ behavior and speech on​​ God’s​​ behavior and speech.

God acts out of​​ love,​​ compassion, and​​ forgiveness, and calls human beings to​​ do​​ the​​ same.

Every time we act or speak out of​​ anger,​​ envy,​​ hatred, or​​ resentment, we are turning​​ God’s​​ world, we are turning​​ our​​ world,​​ inside​​ out​​ and​​ upside​​ down.

God​​ spoke​​ creation​​ out of​​ chaos. ​​ We​​ human​​ beings​​ have a strong tendency to speak​​ chaos​​ out of​​ creation.

As I mentioned earlier, Judaism and Christianity have authored the spiritual disciplines of “taming the tongue” and “truth-telling” as​​ antidotes​​ to our human propensity to denigrate and destroy God’s life-giving word. ​​ These spiritual disciplines are attempts to help us​​ live-out​​ the ninth commandment, or ninth life-giving word, “You shall not bear false witness.”

The discipline of “taming the tongue” is aimed at curbing gossip and slander. ​​ The discipline of “truth-telling” is aimed at the many ways in which we can deceive ourselves with lies, including the dynamics which twelve step programs know by the names of denial and rationalization.

The spiritual discipline of “taming the tongue” is based on the desire that each of us has to turn the​​ destructive​​ ways in which we use words into​​ authentic,​​ loving, and​​ healing​​ speech.

Let me suggest some concrete ways of doing this. ​​ I encourage you to​​ try​​ on​​ one or more of these suggestions, see if any of them​​ fit, to​​ put them into​​ practice.

First suggestion: ​​ Imagine that​​ all​​ the words you speak are​​ picked​​ up​​ and​​ stored​​ in a receiver somewhere out in outer space. ​​ Then imagine all​​ your words being​​ played​​ back​​ to you. ​​ What do you hear?

If you don’t like what you hear, then follow the​​ next​​ five​​ suggestions!

Second suggestion: ​​ If you are not good at expressing​​ thanks, giving​​ praise, admitting that you’re​​ wrong, or asking for​​ forgiveness, take a standard piece of paper, fold it twice, and write one of the following in each quarter: “Thank you,” “Wow – great job!,” “I made a mistake,” and “I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

Then in each quarter write the names of persons you need to thank, praise, admit you’re wrong to, or ask forgiveness of. ​​ Then​​ do​​ it!

Third suggestion: ​​ Before you​​ jump​​ to​​ conclusions​​ about what someone​​ means,​​ check​​ out​​ their meaning with a phrase like, “What I​​ hear​​ you saying is…” ​​ Keep using this phrase until you have the meaning right.

Fourth suggestion: ​​ Never use words like “You​​ always…” and “You​​ never…” ​​ These are​​ fighting​​ words.

Fifth suggestion: ​​ Devise​​ small​​ strategies that can give you the​​ space​​ to​​ gain​​ control​​ of your tongue. ​​​​ For example, you might count to ten, take a time out, or leave the room​​ before​​ you lose your temper. ​​ When you notice you are about to yell, take a deep breath and say quietly to yourself, “Turn​​ down​​ the volume.” ​​ Small strategies like these can offer you a moment to refocus on what​​ really​​ matters and​​ how​​ you want to say it.

Sixth suggestion: ​​ Studies have shown that it takes at least​​ three​​ weeks to​​ break​​ an​​ old​​ habit. ​​ Choose a habit of speech you wish to break. ​​ Consider what​​ new​​ habit you want to​​ replace​​ the old one with. ​​ When you sense yourself​​ moving​​ into​​ the speech pattern you wish to​​ change, say “stop!” to yourself. ​​ Learning to​​ recognize​​ a​​ trigger​​ to a speech pattern and then actually saying “stop!” is a huge step in addressing and changing your bad habit. ​​ Finally, ask God to help you put your​​ new​​ habit into practice.

The ancient spiritual discipline of truth-telling​​ complements​​ the spiritual discipline of “taming the tongue.” ​​ The two disciplines go hand-in-hand.

Truth-telling involves making a commitment to God, to others, and to yourself to speak and to think in a way that does not​​ exaggerate,​​ minimize,​​ deny,​​ rationalize​​ or​​ manage​​ the truth. ​​ Depending on the particular areas in which you are broken as a person, a commitment to truth-telling might involve​​ any​​ or​​ all​​ of the following: ​​ 

Refusing to​​ spin​​ events and experiences in order to impress others.

Not exaggerating.

Not cheating.

Keeping promises and following through.

Saying what you mean and meaning what you say.

Refusing to slander another.

Refusing to gossip or pass on gossip and rumor.

Not taking​​ your​​ bearings on the truth from what our​​ culture​​ finds acceptable.

Getting in touch with the​​ lies​​ you tend to tell yourself about​​ who you​​ are.

Getting in touch with the​​ tapes​​ you play in your​​ head​​ that make you feel​​ worthless,​​ inadequate, and​​ unloved, and​​ replacing​​ those lies with the​​ truth​​ of what​​ God​​ says about you, which will​​ always​​ be the truth that you are​​ accepted, that you are​​ loved, that you are​​ forgiven, and that you are a​​ precious​​ and​​ irreplaceable​​ child of God.

I have to admit that when initially approaching the Ten Commandments, I had no idea how much​​ content​​ each of them would hold, or how​​ challenging​​ each commandment would be. ​​ I thought I pretty much had them down pat. ​​​​ Now I’m realizing that in this area, as in so many areas of my life, I’m just a beginner.

But, hey, our Zen Buddhist friends tell us that what they call “beginner’s​​ mind” is the only way to make a real​​ start​​ in​​ any​​ discipline…

So let’s be beginners​​ together. ​​ That’s what the “Community” in “Community Church” is all about!

A scuba diver told me that he had been in water so​​ deep​​ and​​ dark​​ that it was almost​​ impossible​​ to keep from becoming​​ disoriented.

What a terrifying feeling –being underwater, unable to see your hands in front of your face, not knowing which was is up, panic engulfing you.

I asked him “So what do you​​ do?”

“Feel​​ the​​ bubbles,” he said.

“Feel​​ the​​ bubbles?” I asked.

“That’s right. ​​ When its​​ pitch-black​​ and you have no idea​​ which​​ way to go, you reach​​ up​​ with your hand and​​ feel​​ the​​ bubbles. ​​ The bubbles​​ always​​ float to the​​ surface. ​​ When you​​ can’t​​ trust your​​ feelings​​ or​​ judgment, you can​​ always​​ trust the​​ bubbles​​ to get you​​ back​​ to the​​ top.” ​​ 

The Ten Commandments, if you will, are “bubbles,” or​​ signposts​​ from​​ God. ​​ These signposts enable us to get our​​ bearings, to​​ know​​ which way is​​ up,​​ safe,​​ life-giving.

Sometimes in life we get​​ disoriented​​ and​​ desperate. ​​ At other times we find ourselves​​ drifting​​ aimlessly.

God​​ knew we would need​​ advice​​ and​​ instructions​​ about​​ how​​ to​​ live.

In the books of the Bible we have a​​ reality​​ library – stories, histories, letters, guidelines, and examples from God that tell us what is​​ true​​ and​​ good​​ and​​ real.

That’s the reason our Jewish brothers and sisters and we ourselves are sometimes known as “people of the book.”

May God bless our efforts to use that book for both personal and societal transformation.

AMEN.

CLOSING PRAYER  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Adapted from the book​​ People Praying

Loving God, we put ourselves in your hands.

Help us to face what it is in us that deadens our souls,

and cuts us off from you.

Help us to face what it is in us that causes ill-feeling in our homes

and strife at our work.

Save us from wasting time blaming ourselves for things that went wrong

when you have forgiven us and are giving us a clean start.

Save us from passing on the blame to other people,

when we should be seeking to redeem the situation.

Save us from holding on to our sense of grievance against others,

when we should be forgiving them even as we have been forgiven.

We pray now for all those who have wronged us,

those who have gone out of their way to hurt us,

those who have hurt us without meaning to,

those whose ideas are very different from our own.

As you have borne our brokenness, and have risen above it,

so teach us to forgive them, and to rise above past differences.

When situations arise that tempt us at our points of weakness,

may your Holy Spirit of love be our strength.

When we are challenged with problems too big for us to tackle,

may your Holy Spirit of strength uphold us and equip us to face them.

Enable us, as individuals and as a congregation to bear witness

to your Gospel of forgiveness and new life.

Amen.

SUGGESTED MUSIC  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

 ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Dallas Christian Adult Concert Choir  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ You Tube

BENEDICTION

Patiently and persistently, God loves.

Relentlessly and unconditionally, God loves.

Now and forever, God loves. ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​​​ AMEN.