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  It's amazing to me how active and complex our church has become.

Perfect Forever - Hebrews 7: 23-28 - October 25,2009 - Cicero United Methodist Church­ Everett J.. Bassett

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            It's amazing to me how active and complex our church has become. There is more going on here in any given week than Jack or I could ever hope to keep track of. It takes an amazing amount of people power to keep it afloat - and fortunately, we have amazing people. Our mission statement says that one of our purposes is to 'work together' , and the result of that, I think, is wonderful - a church where caring and teaching and praying and serving and delivering meals and visiting and comforting and worshiping and all those things that can happen in an active and complex church goes on. What a great place to be.

            In such a place it is important to always remind ourselves, in the clearest and simplest way possible, just why we do it. Why does this church exist? Why are we here? It's important to come back to that question often, because what can happen is that when things get busy and complicated, and you pile on a few layers of activities, it's so easy to end up a few steps removed from your real purpose, and get a little lost. I believe that is a hazard that must be vigilantly watched in a busy church like ours.

            Our scripture lesson from the Letter to the Hebrews helps us do that. In fact, in away, the whole Letter to the Hebrews could be seen as a warning against letting religious practices get in the way of your real purpose. The letter talks through and through about religion - especially the religious practices of the Hebrews. It talks about the temple, it talks about priests and high priests, it talks about sacrificing lambs, and so on. Echoing through these pages are the chapters upon chapters in the Old Testament about how to practice religion - how to build the temple, how to conduct yourself if you are a priest, how to bring your offering, prepare the fire, distribute the sacrifice, and so on. We know what grew from those instructions: piled on top of them were a whole system of laws and practices that were too complicated for most people to keep track of. A whole hierarchy of scholars and religious experts grew up, and religious life became a great burden to the common person. It was like a hammer hanging over their heads.

            We would like to think that that kind of religion is long gone in the past. We are no longer enslaved by that kind of religious legalism. But the fact is, religion always carries the danger of becoming complicated and overbearing. To get a glimpse of that, we might look at Christianity the way an outsider would see it. First of all, there is an endless array of different denominations and churches, all with their own practices and rules. In most cases, we can't even keep track of what all the differences are. Then there is an endless array of highly publicized disagreements ­what does the Bible say? who gets to wear what official garb? does God favor the good old hymns or the new ones? what translation should we be using? who gets to have Communion with whom? is baptism for children or adults? All that just looks like hypocrisy and distraction to an outsider. And I suppose that all those conversations are important in some way. But none of them is the key question. None of them is the main deal. None of them tell anyone what we are really about. The Letter to the Hebrews wants to remind us.

            So, our scripture lesson from chapter 7 talks about the need for many priests in the old religion. It talks about the sacrifices that were offered one after another - but then it talks about something, Someone far greater. It talks about Jesus. And here is one of the key verses: "Unlike the other high priests, (Jesus) has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself."

            And just like that, the layers of religious laws and practices are put into perspective. When all is said and done, there is one thing essential- the Saviour who died for us. And that's the main deal. Everything else is window dressing. I've always loved the story, maybe true, of the brilliant, famous theologian, who had written shelves of thick books about great religious matters, and was asked which of all his theological discoveries was the deepest and most important truth. And he thought for a moment, and then replied, "Yes, Jesus loves me/ Yes, Jesus loves me/ Yes, Jesus loves me/ The Bible tells me so." We exist as a church, to show the world about this Saviour, this one who 'offered himself' so that the sins of all people would be forgiven, "once and for all."

            It's a beautiful story, with the essential truth for all humankind. There was a man named John, who was called the Baptist. He had a ministry in an off-the-beaten-path land, and one of those who connected with that ministry was a man named Jesus of Nazareth. From the beginning, it was clear that Jesus was special- he taught and preached with amazing power and authority about a simple love that God had for His people. He performed mighty deeds, healed people, and drove out demons. He seemed to respond especially to those others pushed aside - lepers, children, women, foreigners, sinners. He taught about a new kingdom of peace and hope - and the political and religious leaders began to take notice. You see, the other danger about complicating and layering religion is that those extra layers are used by would-be leaders to hold on to power. And the religious leaders of Jesus' day didn't like the fact that he put aside their rules in favor of the simple and devoted practice of love for God and all people. So they saw Jesus as a threat.

            It was on a vacation trip, to a place called Caesarea Philippi, that Peter, one of Jesus' followers, made the declaration that must have been on many minds - that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus realized that now that this was declared, great misunderstandings about his purpose and teachings could result, so he instantly began to talk about a different course his life was about to take. He was going to stand before the very powers that wanted him gone - and they were going to kill him. And as if to help that happen, he carried his message of love into the city of his destiny. He was arrested, betrayed by a friend. He was tried and beaten, mocked and crucified. He carried his message of God's mercy and love even up on to the cross, and, the story goes, even a Roman soldier was moved to declare him the Son of God.

            He was buried, and the story should have ended. But it turns out it was only just beginning. Because his followers brought an amazing testimony to the world - Jesus had Risen! They had witnessed it. He had spent time with them - one of them who doubted had even touched the wounds; they had eaten meals with him - not as a corpse or a ghost - but as a Man returned from the grave. And so, the message of love and forgiveness was unleashed with relentless power into the world. People were transformed and given new life. Churches began to emerge. One of the first great teachers, a man named Paul, began to teach about keeping the main thing the main thing. He talked about 'living in Christ,' 'putting on Christ', being 'crucified with Christ,' being members of the Body of Christ, and 'keeping your eyes on your high calling in Christ.' And the writer to the Hebrews talked about how Jesus the new high priest put all the layers of the old religion aside - bringing forgiving love to the forefront. And the contrast couldn't be sharper: the practices and practitioners of religion would come and go - because they were imperfect and temporary. So the sacrifice had to be made over and over again, by one priest after another, because it could never last. But Jesus Christ, in the words of Hebrews 7: 28 is 'perfect forever'. No other sacrifice is needed. The one he gave on the cross is sufficient for all time. By it, our sins are forgiven, and we are given eternal life.

            Great religious discussions will grow out of that. In every age, people will debate how to best live out this truth. Theological systems will develop; historic revivals and reformations and arguments will result in many denominations and churches and expressions. But the power of a church is in none of those things - in fact, as I said, they are pitfalls because they can cloud over the true purpose - the true source of power. We are only as effective as the living, transforming presence of the Risen Lord Jesus in our midst, pointing us to the kingdom of God.

            When you boil it all down, this is the reason we're here. We'll hear people describe us in many ways: The church near the Turkey Farm Restaurant. The church you can see from Route 81. The church with the great turkey dinner. The church that cares for each other. The church with the great Sunday School. The wonderful music. The mission trips and youth program. All those things are important. But none as important as, "Oh, how they love Jesus! How they lift up a Saviour in their hearts! How their lives overflow with a divine love that they cherish, and burn passionately to share with others." This is our purpose - to continue to live but that beautiful story of love come to earth, and not so people will say, "What a wonderful church." But so they'll say, "What a wonderful God. What a wonderful Saviour. What a hope for a needy world."

            Churches need to state that main purpose again and again, because the logistics of a busy church can consume us and lose us in the details. And before we know it, we're playing church, instead of loving Christ. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that religious things are fine in their time, but something more primary, more essential, more life-giving is here - Jesus is here. He is the one who is perfect forever, and whose death and resurrection give us hope and salvation.

            And what's true for the whole church is just as true for your individual life. Your life can get complicated and layered over as well. You can get running from place to place, dealing with responsibilities, far from the main thing. Even your involvement in the church can eclipse the basic truth if you are not careful about it. The basic truth? That you are beautifully and wonderfully made by a loving Creator. That you are cherished by the Son of the living God. That your sins are forgiven, and you are a messenger of love in this hurting world, and that God has a plan for you that is eternal. And if you accept all of this as a gift from God to you, your life will be filled with meaning and hope, because of the once-and- for-all offering of the One who is perfect forever. This loving invitation is extended from the heart of God to you and me this morning.

            Maybe you've never consciously accepted that invitation. Or maybe you have many times, but it's been layered over with the concerns and debates and worries of human life and human systems - and it's time to re-dedicate yourself to the main truth in your life. The poet Tennyson once wrote, "What the sun is to this plant, Jesus Christ is to my soul." Maybe it's been a while since you've really connected with the source of your life. So we're going to pray now, and whatever your situation, I invite you to let this be a moment of uncluttered love for your Saviour Jesus. May He be alive and powerful in this place and in your heart. Everything else comes and goes. But there is One who is perfect forever - Jesus the Christ, Son of the living God. Let His love fill us.