Dirty Hands, Great Sermon, Big Challenge

Heard a great sermon today at St. Andrew’s. I didn’t preach it, however. The preacher was our Youth Minister, Heath Chambers. And the sermon was delivered on the occasion of the youth group’s return from eight days of mission work through Salkehatchie Summer Service. Frankly, I expected the traditional “post-mission-trip” fare in which the youth leader tells a few humorous tales about the week’s events, mixes in a example of some obstacle they had to overcome, and then shares a sentimental story about how everyone had their hearts strangely warmed.

Had that been the case, I’m sure everyone at St. Andrew’s (pastor included) would’ve been satisfied. 
But that wasn’t the case. Wasn’t the case at all.

Instead, what we got today was a good, old-fashioned reminder that Jesus expects his people to be active participants in mission and ministry rather than passive bystanders. Indeed, he expects that the people who bear his name will do the kinds of things he did. Even, of course, if it means getting their hands dirty.

Using the story of the woman caught in adultery from John 8 as the backdrop, Heath focused on verses 6-8 to make his point: Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. (The Message)

The focus, of course, was on Jesus writing in the dirt. Getting his hands dirty as he slammed the door in the face of legalism and proclaimed God’s amazing grace for all to see and hear. This is the kind of thing Jesus wants us to do, Heath reminded us. He want us to get our hands dirty doing his work in the world. Building God’s kingdom. Proclaiming—and living out—the Good News.

Whether it be crawling under a house or up on a roof at Salkehatchie, or preparing and serving food to shut-ins, or delivering cookies and Bible study to prisoners, Jesus wants us to get our hands dirty.
Whether it be sharing the gospel with people of another race or language, educational level, economic situation, political opinion or lifestyle (and then inviting them to church!), or whether it be working for peace and justice and life in a world haunted by war, injustice and death, Jesus wants us to get our hands dirty.

Yep, through our Youth Minister this morning, Jesus issued quite the challenge to his church. I just hope his church is up to the task. Because after all, there’s a lot more at stake here than most of us ever consider.

Speaking of that, this morning before Heath’s sermon, our Men’s Summer Gospel Choir sang an old camp-meeting favorite called “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder”. Some might call it providential, others might simply call it “a God thing”.  Either way, the last line of that old song reminds us that if we’re ever to live with the Lord hereafter, then we’ll have to live for the Lord here. Or, to use Heath’s words, we’ll have to get our hands dirty.

Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
let us talk of all his wondrous love and care.
Then when all of life is over and our work on earth is done,
and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.