"Question Authority" Sermon Sept 28, 2014 Pent. 16, Proper 21

Question Authority...

Sermon by The Rev. Laura Adelia 

Sept. 28, 2014  Pent. 16, Proper 21

Lectionary Readings (scriptures linked here)

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“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you,  O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

“By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?”

How many of us would probably have our feathers ruffled if someone confronted us and asked us this?   

For when it comes to questioning someone’s authority, it is rarely just an issue of observation or objectivity.  Rather, much like the story in Matthew for this Sunday, there are usually ulterior motives in the question.  It is about power and control.  Who has power, who has control, and who does not…  

But here in modern times, it has become normal to question things.  But have we become a people that has issues with authority?  Being rebellious and questioning authority is the thing these days! 

When I was in college, one of my favorite sayings was “Question Authority”.    I even put a “question authority” sticker on one of my bass guitar cases…my Fender "P" Bass, and after all these years….it’s still there! 

The popular little saying “question authority” actually goes way back.  Most recently it was popularized by the counter cultural movement of the ‘60s and Timothy Leary. 

But “Question Authority” goes way further back than the 1960s.  The quote actually is attributed to Socrates! 

And who does not relate to this, especially if you are not the one in the “in” crowd?    (The people with power and authority!)

Many of us who have worked in or for any large organization that has a huge bureaucracy, know the proverbial “they”. 

You know, the faceless, nameless “they” of authority.    “They” said this…. “They” decided that, “they” made a change to policy….”they” decided on budget cuts…  and so on.

With the proverbial nameless and faceless “they”, it is easy to question authority!

In so today’s gospel, (Matthew) we have a story about authority.   Jesus is in the Temple teaching, and is approached by the Temple chief priests and elders.  They confront him and ask, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 

But first, a little background info, which will help us to better understand what is going on here... 

The previous day, Jesus had just “cleansed” the Temple.    You know, the story where he tips over all the tables and chased out all the money changers.  It must have been quite a scene! 

And after he does this, Jesus then heals many people, the blind and the lame.  So the religious authorities of the Temple, were scratching their long beards wondering who this guy was!

And so this is where our story begins.  The next day, Jesus is in the Temple again, but this time he is teaching a group of people.   The Temple priests and elders approach him and ask, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

They wanted to know Jesus’ “credentials”.  Who is this guy?  Is he legit?  And thus, they challenge Jesus.

And in usual Jesus fashion, instead of answering their questions directly, Jesus returns their question with a question, and then tells a story.

Now it’s easy to judge and point our fingers at the chief priests and elders here, for we know how this story goes.  However, it is said that when we point one finger at a person, there are three pointing back at us! 

So let’s pause here for a moment.   First, let’s put ourselves into the shoes so to speak, of the chief priests and elders…  and try to see things from their point of view…  from those in power and authority.

When I first was appointed as a Wing Chaplain in the military, (that’s the chaplain in charge of an entire wing), my new Wing Commander who had just appointed me said, “Now “we” are “them”!    And “they” is us!”       (I gasped!  For I was not used to being a “they”, or one of “them!”)

How differently we view things when we are in a position of power or authority!   And this includes both formal and informal.    For as we know, there is always a informal form of authority in every organization.

So let’s ponder the deeper issues here…   I ask you to contemplate these questions:

On a personal level, how do you deal with change?    For as we know, the one constant in life, is change!    

What happens when new ideas are presented to you or in “your” organization?  Do you resist?  Or are you open to trying new things? 

Or are you perhaps afraid of change?   Or how about right here… in church?  How do you feel when something in the Sunday liturgy, the worship service is changed?    Or, when new furnishings or other items are brought in and incorporated into worship?    

Hmmm.  All of us, have been the “Temple priests and elders” in one situation or the other!

And so, Jesus tells a parable, the story of a man who owned a vineyard, (another vineyard story!) and had two sons.  He told his first son to go work in the vineyard, and the son said he would not, yet changed his mind and went to work in the vineyard.  Later, the man asks his 2^nd son to go work in the vineyard, and the son said he would go.  Yet later the 2^nd son changed his mind, and did not go. 

Jesus asks the chief priests and elders, which son did the will of the father?     (Tricky, tricky!)  They answered, the first.  

And Jesus responds, “Truly the tax collectors and prostitutes are going to the kingdom of God ahead of you!”     (Whoa!  Snarky Jesus!)

So what’s the lesson here?   What is Jesus really saying? 

The parable seems to definitely be a ‘questioning of authority’! 

But Jesus is not about winning arguments or trying to make people look stupid, or poke fun at others…  although it may seem so from this gospel story. 

What Jesus does want for us, his followers and hearers…is to be awakened.  Spiritually awakened.   He wants us to grow spiritually, that is, to be transformed.     And that usually involves change.

But, the question or issue of Jesus’ authority is important.  By what authority does he do these things?  Is it from humans, or God?

If his authority is from humans, then we, “the church” is just another human institution among other human institutions. 

The brother who changed his mind was the hero of the story.  He went and worked in the vineyard, even though he initially said that he would not.  

Jesus is the master of changing minds and hearts…

Why do we do the things we do?  And why do we not do the things we do not do?

Let us think and pray on these things…

Amen.