Life in a Fishbowl

This is a sermon that I recently wrote for my preaching and worship class, meant for congregation that is small and trying to grow.  On a day when the nation seems to be more split than it was two days ago, I think that this text and sermon carries a heavy message that applies to this situation as well.  My only prayer is that we can come together as nation, standing firm in our faith and working together to bring our nation back.  Think about what you say before you post on someone's facebook status and think before you post your own- one of the things I love so much about the United States is that we are able to have our own opinion and we should not be losing friends over the way in which we post it (this goes both ways y'all...).  But I digress- here is the sermon.



^"12Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. ¹⁴Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4: 12-16

“You live in a fishbowl”—this is something that has been told to me in warning since my sophomore year of college when I took a job as a Resident Advisor.  Every student that I worked with was watching my every move and would base their actions off of that.  Since taking that job, I have never moved out of my little fishbowl.  Not only do I report to multiple committees now, but I live next to my professors.  At Union, we even have a classroom that is referred to as “the fishbowl” because of its rounded shape and the fact that the top half of the room is all glass and anyone walking around the second floor of the Early Center can look down into the class room and see everything that is going on.

Today’s technology helps no one in this fish bowl situation, and unless you have been one of the lucky few to avoid not just Facebook or Twitter, but any search engine, cookies on your internet browser, or even a smart phone, you live in a fishbowl as well- one where everyone knows everything that you are doing.  Even if you do not post updates on Facebook, people can tell what you are doing (or at least assume) based on what your friends are doing or what organizations you like or even what the basics in your profile say.  When you search for something on Google, you can now expect that product to show up in ads on every other page you visit while on the internet.  There are constant warnings going out about how Company X is tracking your phone and knows where you are and what you are doing in some way or another.

The downside to this fishbowl (as if there is actually an upside) is that we are constantly being judged based on the decisions that we make on a day to day basis.  Just think about the last few months and two big decisions that people were asked to make- Did you go to Chick-Fil-A or boycott when people split because of the company’s stance on gay rights? Who are you voting for in today’s election?  Now, think about how people have responded to your actions.  I imagine that you had people both support you and also those who became very upset with you.

Today’s text takes this fishbowl to a whole other level as we are not only assured that the Word of God is alive and active in the world, but that it is so active that it can judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts- that there is no part of us that is hidden and we are laid bare to the eyes of God.  We are essentially living in a crystal clear, smudge free, and decoration free fishbowl where every part of us is known, not just our outward actions or miniscule thoughts- we have been made vulnerable, a state that no one likes to be found in.  Even further, the text says that there is ONE who must render an account- not two, three, or four.  So now, we are not only laid bare and every little perfection and flaw is made known, but there is no second opinion.  This is not the presidential election where millions have a say in whether or not one person deserves or can do a job, and there is no “like” or “comment” button for all of our Facebook friends to have their say in the matter.

Before we get hung up on the fact that we have no option for a second opinion, let’s look further into the text.  Now that we have been assured that God not only beyond our actions, but sees our intentions as well (something that is both comforting and not) we are reminded that we are not the only ones to be put through these daily tests that may make those intentions not look so great.  Here, we are assured that our high priest Jesus Christ is able to sympathize with us, that he too was tested as we are.  Jesus, too, was laid bare before God’s scrutinizing word but remained faithful, as we are reminded throughout the preceeding text in this sermon to the Hebrews- “He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house” and later “But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house”.

The twist then comes in the way in which we respond to this very vulnerable situation that we are in.  In his commentary on Hebrews, Stephen Long says “True faith must be bold both when it is under attack and when it is not.”  When we look back at the very first verse of today’s passage, we do in fact find words that point to the fact that our faith is being heavily scrutinized and is seemingly under attack- the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword, separating soul from spirit and joints from marrow.  However, this is not saying that God is trying to attack us, but rather that God is looking so much further than any person you meet in the grocery line or in the world of technology. 

This is when our true faith comes out- knowing that we are being so heavily scrutinized, are we able to stand firm?  In knowing that we have been laid bare and examined in such a way, we can find comfort that we can and do find grace and mercy from the single one that is able to render an account on our lives and thus stand firm.  No where in this text does it say that we will be shut out or up, or that we will be told how disappointed God is because of the flaws that are found.  Because of this, we find ourselves able to approach the throne of favor and we can be confident that we too will find mercy and grace for the many ways both known and unknown to us, in which we need it.

In today’s world we are all too eager to render our own account for each situation we come across.  One that I hear all too often is that of smaller churches.  I hear that as a small church, we all talk in a country accent and can’t sing a hymn without an organist.  We have no choir and the pastor is the only one in the office.  I also hear that we have lost hope and are barely hanging on.  I hear this though, from those who do not look at what the church is actually doing, those who do not see every last bit as God does.

Sure, we have our faults- our roof might be a bit leaky sometimes, our parking lot is small, our pews are not filled.  Some might even become upset with us when they hear that we are not purchasing the new hymnals, even though it is because we know that we cannot afford it right now if we are going to make other things happen.  We even make changes to the way that things are run, not necessarily to better preach the Word of God, but to appeal to visitors.

However, when I look at everything else that our church is doing today, I see events like our recent health fair that took place despite the rain- an event that only happened because of the dedication of every person in this room who came out and set-up, manned tents, mingled with visitors, and cleaned up.  I think of the times when people have driven down to Camp Albemarle for the day, to help clean up a camp that is only recently being utilized by one of our youth.  I see the packages of food that show up on doorsteps of those members that are in need, or absent from church for whatever reason.  Finally, I see the love that radiates from the pews every Sunday morning, the love that gathers in the lounge both before and after worship, and the love that circles around the dinner table downstairs once a month.  The incredible thing is that is only what is one the surface- what do you think God would see?

I would beg to argue that God doesn’t care about the leaky roof, small parking lot, empty pews, or choice of hymnals- but rather God simply wants our hearts to be in the right place and our faith to remain strong.  This is why we can find comfort and motivation to keep pushing BECAUSE we are laid bare before God and God sees the reasons behind everything, offering us nothing but grace and mercy the whole way through and that this is the only account that matters.  Being vulnerable is not something that anyone wants to do- especially when they are working so hard to change in a positive way.  It is hard to ignore the opinion of the person who comes through the door and sees the cosmetic flaws and leaves, but we need to remember that what matters is the opinion of the one who sees the heart of every person who is sitting in the pew, as well as those outside these walls.

When we turn our hearts to God, ready and willing to receive God’s unending grace and mercy that is given despite all of our flaws, we are not only admitting that we are not perfect but that we do need assistance.  When we do not give into the tests of this life and give up but rather stand firm in our faith, we are recognizing all that our merciful high priest can and does do for us in our daily lives.

This confident yet very vulnerable turn to God goes two ways though when we move into our daily lives- when we are tested and judged by others, and when we feel the urge to the do the same.  Knowing this, take a moment to imagine that neighbor or friend whose Facebook posts you don’t agree with, who came to the office with a Chick-Fil-A cup when you drove past, or who has the opposing election sign in their front yard.  Think about that person who came through the church doors however long ago that you thought, “Oh, they just won’t fit”.  Now, think about whose account matters--- it is the account of the same one who accounts for you and me.  These people, even though they are not of the same mind, action, or appearance as our own individual selves or as our church, will find grace and mercy from the same God that we find grace and mercy with, the very same God who sees every last bit of our lives and hearts but does not turn us away.

When you leave this place today, do not try to cover up yourselves from others but be your true self, standing firm in what you believe.  Do not fear what is said but find comfort in the fact that these are only earthly opinions and have no claim on any part of your life.  Find comfort in the fact that God knows your true self, your intentions, and your heart and that this very same God who sees what you might prefer to remain hidden, will not push you away or say “tough luck” but rather give you unending grace and mercy- you must only stand firm in your faith and approach God knowing that only God can get you through, just as God got Jesus Christ through.

Thanks be to God, Amen.