THE WALLS COME TUMBLING: DOWN

December: 10, 1989

8 8: 30. and 11: 00, a. m. “Worship. Services, :
‘John M. Buchanan a:

4 Fourth, Presbyterian Chureh, Chicago,

“ séripture’ aan
“Jsaiah: 11:1-9°
Matthew. 3:1-6°
“Romans 15: 1-7

“He is our peace... and has broken down the: wall of hostility...
uh = : : ~7Ephesians 2: 14 (RSV).

| received « ae ‘letter from: a friend several: weeks: ago. - He was a
i Snow a Successful ‘travel agent; but still ‘thinks and. sees: the -
world. like a minister. a

© Just a bit | over two. weeks ago; I ‘happened to be in. ‘East Berlin on ne

“you might: just: appreciate the. observations ofva friend: who -was - there

may recall that-on Saturday, November 4,°a huge: gathering of workers;- Pre LoS:

_ students, | retirees. moms, “dads,.kids, teachers, ‘church. leaders, writers and © en

film stars. took place’ in ‘Karl Marx Platz in East Berlin: Believe- itor. eee

“not, as‘ an American: {as always, I was easily ‘detected: as such) I was.

invited: to: join the protest arch and te listen ‘to “the: speeches (28: of
moe them, °as 1: “Fecall). that climaxed the demonstration.

; “Estimates of the size. of the crowd vary, from 500, 000 to one million <
people. oLto was. by’ far the” biggest gathering lever. witnessed - and it: “wa
-- one. of: t “jwost: joyous ones, too. - - There seemed to bean electrifying:
os spirit: of hope and: ‘expectation that ‘a_repressive- government was. about-t

fal l-= and maybe “a wall. was. ‘about. to crumble, toatl! | eave: days. jater, the”

Berlin. Wal vas” indeed | pierced.) - :

“phere are several. insights from that day that I'd like to share with =
- your etn aeat nee : ce RST

7 “Words ‘that ‘sound: like profanity can be va “religious testament. Ast
“very pretty ady,: perhaps’: 35-40 years. old; was in the march. Actually,” shen.
Ne f-strolling alongside the marchers. -She had ia ‘sign in her hands: ae
‘that<she. ‘Lifted ‘high: for: everyone to see. . It°was. ‘carefully printed ins: -
_. darge: bold letters: and’ said "fear down the God~ damned Walls! 1tvhit me

hard that. particular words - do not necessarily. an expletive make; “the: very-
oe Same, ‘words. can be an article of faith. That lady. (and i, too) believes,
“o> that God does damn walls. that enslave and shackle. the. human. Spirit.

"For me, novembedg. “was ‘some. day!! “it just may. well have’ been the
-. beginning of the end of the World War 11 era’ - and maybe a. first step
ce stoward:, the beginning of: the. 2ist. century." .

And so it came down.. The Wall which divided a-city- and: ay

: nation for a generation is ‘down. .A Wall which symbolized a ‘deeply: divided
world for forty years is now open and people are waiking. back and: forth: :
“through it. It was always more than a wall of course. It was a’ ‘symbol,

“for everybody... for people on either side-of it: - for those who can: :

‘Temember its construction: and the events: before it: and the- war: in which

2 “or our relatives fought-and died, the-wall symbolized the. pathos. of..
“uaan history, the illusive goal of peace and reconciliation which seems -

; always out of reach... With-its blunt.ugliness, its cruel barbed wire and
machine: guns, it. represented a tragic. and persistent flaw in: the. human:
character. ~ perhaps a. wall between what is good: and noble about: us. - and

_ what is*mean and violent. - and it has been breached: And while’ the future: oe

pois: uncertain and not. at all without danger and risk something, very:

; -significant is transpiring. . Church bells are ringing. Families « ‘are.

- (together... People who haven't seen each other for. decades are: embracing.
It has entranced us. OTe is. still a powerful - symbol even as. it.

ae a: have found it impossible not to look. to ‘the images and metaphors. of
a ‘Scripture to ‘interpret. ‘what is transpiring... --Tsaiah's -lovely. picture. Of:
God's. peaceable kingdom... angels singing about. Peace. on Ear-th;. good: will,
sete all, -Last. week one -of the. journals =I ‘read. simply ‘printed. without : ae
comment, on its cover, the.stirring words. of Ephesians 2: 44. -- which: d-have-
used as” text: “But. now: in Jesus Christ. you. who. once. -were. far’ off. have: been |
“brought. near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who! has ‘wade: us. :
both one, and has broken. down the dividing. wall of hostilitys® ¢ os :

eon ; “What a ‘wonderfully. relevant image! ‘What an incredible ‘Advent | ‘this
year: to hear again the old. stories: to sing. "Peace on Earth: and mercy

oo mild," all in- .the. context. of ‘a real reconciliation happening: old: ‘enemies
embracing; a literal. ‘wall. of hostility crumbling; ‘or: being. knocked down. =
Oe -ohip and piece at a time by people on both: sides... : wean SD

i ean Tt! s. “not ‘always. that ‘immediate is “4t? In. fact, “sometimes the Sey
Christmas. story sounds a: little tired and whatever meaning. it. has gets. lost.
in the midst of the’ cultural year-end festivities... Richard-Liefei wrote alo:
clever” piece in the; Tribune. last: Thursday. about-the- new. freedom rf religion oe
in the Soviet Union. “They'll know ‘they have real. Western: veligi us) 2
: freedom. when their religion loses its power and cutting edge.; : “when in
: “December. the, Russian people celebrate Christmas. and Hanukkah by. ‘arguing ~
“over. “whether creches, crosses‘and menorrahs may be placed-on: public.
Property.’ ne rane : OTs

we “Soren Kierkegaard, “great Danish theologian in the. last. century si:

“understood. and taught the. difficulty; perhaps. the impossibility: oF : S
“proclaiming the radical: ‘relevance of Christianity in a culture that already”
_ thinks, it. is. Christian. Loe SESE.

“12/10/89

Fred Craddock, one of the best teachers s of - preaching, asks in: “at. poe
intriguing: book -about - preaching which uses the Kierkegaardian dilemma se oF
poses the question, “What is the greatest obstacle. the preacher: must: Facer =
Is it secularism, or materialism, or godless communism, : or scientism,- or:
narcissism? ~Na, ‘says Craddock, the .real obstacle isthe simple fact = o
that. people who-come to: church. have heard it before, all. of it, lots” ‘of | eS

times... "Even. for. the. casual “Tisteners there is a: ‘fair depree - of. nae _ ae
- predictability... the dead air of. familiarity: we° have been here before, eae
and here. we go. again.” ‘(Qverhearing: the Gospel] ” : SURE RISD

“the point: is. well taken. The. message is distinct in-a culture where
it .is‘rarely heard and theréfore novel: The familiar passages have. power
when you. hear. them in new settings.. The angels’ song sounds. different:
when: you're - “in a foxhole,’ --The: ‘Isaiah vision of a peaceable kingdom: ‘is:
‘breathtaking - when your. world.is anything but’ peaceful. Paul's image OF the
; dividing. wall-of hostility. coming down is provocation ‘when your Ttife:i
in by hostility. “But here, in-the midst of this. determined: ‘Merry-~ RET
making. eit: may. be the_ most difficult place in: “the world for the story: to: a

be-heard,. : “PEA ts WD AT SS MAS es . z

My: ‘proposal ‘this. morning is “that the. child's ‘birth 2: 000 years
anid the: opening of the Berlin: Wall-are- about ‘the same ‘thing. And: that) i :
we do give it. a: moment's thought this morning the birth just might regain®
its: power: to surprise us. and-move—us and maybe - even ‘convert us, begin to.
bring ¢ down some very” personal - walls. : "

“Now, let! Ss “do a little theology. When St. paul was hear the: ‘end. of
his life he: wrote a letter to the tiny Christian church in Rome: ‘Actually -
'.Paul was on his way to- Rome, apolitical prisoner. --He had been arrested
for his réligious activities and: convictions. and, because he was a Roman- &
Citizen, dhad™ ‘appealed to the Roman Judicial system. Thus: he was ’on- his: way.
to. the ‘capital | for a trial. ~The: Letter to the ‘Romans is his self- :
introduction: ‘to: a group of Christians he has never seen before.. Tt so
careful, reasoned theology: “it is. the only systematic theology i in-the: New
Testament. ‘we're told and it is not. nearly as spontaneous and situational- as.
his. other. letters. In Romans; Paul delves into the mystery of God's: gift. Os
of grace: in: Jesus Christ; Christ's suffering and: death, and at’ the end, the
difference the whole enterprise ‘isto. make in- the lives of believers: ee
Paul's background is. Jewish:. many of his readers are Jewish. Theirs 2 0.
deepest conviction-is- that religion should be: expressed by unswerving: ©.
obedience:.to.the religious -law.:: Paul tells these Roman Christians, : a
however,: that they are to: live-in the love of: Christianity: _ they are to.
love: and: forgive: one another in ‘the spirit of the ‘love and forgiveness.
shown to them... “May the God ‘of ‘steadfastness ‘and- encouragement grant” you a
_to live-in such harmony with one another. ee

“Paul: “taught that ‘the. plirpose for: which. Christ came. was to’ break« down a
the barriers which divided humankind. - The stirring thing about Paul's os
thought is’ that it-is-so bigs: Paul thinks in global, universal terms: ~~ God
sent: Jesus | ‘Christ not simply to serve individuals, to put men and women
right with God, but to heal. the: whole creation. Ali things will -be. © :
“unified... all divisions healed and the human race will live ina wonderful _
God-given urtty, The goal-of God's act of grace in Christ is unity, vthe:

12/10/89-.. . 3

reconciliation of ali things. Paul knew that religion itself ~ can be a.

' dividing wall that separates people. He Knew it because. he had: been a
religious zealot who believed God's. will was served: by. the: harassment and
persecution of Christians. Paul is an expert on the subject ‘of. ‘religion |

“which divides instead of unites. Religion seems always: to create self-..
ef. righteousness, - and self- righteousness is is by nature’ exclusive : = -including ©

“gome Shutting out the-rest. The mystery of God's. love in Christ, “as Paul

had experienced it and then ‘tholight about it, “was: that it was.

- unconditional: : it-was for-al] people: none were excludéd:— as: Paul “saw “it,

_ not. Jew, Greek, slave, free man, male, female.. Christian people for Paul
{ ~ have the high calling of showing the world what ‘this new humanity,
_Peconciled, cat peace, living in harmony, looks like.

ee “He is our peace: ~ he has broken down the ‘dividing | wall of. vee,
([ nostinity. no - ny
700 years or earlier, the Prophet Isaiah wrote a lovely: poem: about
what: it would be like when God ruled the world: The Christian: Church for
centuries, has been reading the Isaiah ‘passages in Advent.
TS, -ethere shall come forth a shoot fron the stump - of Jesse.. :
The: wolf: Shall dwell with the lamb_and the leopard shall lie down with the
kid, and ‘the calf and the-lion and. the- fatling together. They. shal] not
burt or destroy in ail my holy mountain." mee 5 UST

“Tt. is ‘beautiful. literature, a lovely picture. of a world. reconciled, a -
. world without the old threat the strong pose to the weak. - American artist’ ; ae
Edward Hicks was fascinated by the passage and painted dozens of ‘picture :

of it... The wolf and lamb, leopard and kid, lion and ox. You probably have

‘seen it: the animals have. unique eyes, almost. human, ‘big, round, innocent,
_ they. stare out at us with childlike vulnerability. ee ;

: Isaiah looked out at a real world filled with violence, threat of
war, oppression and exploitation by the frightfully powerful Assyrian
. Empire —.and saw something else, an alternative vision, a peaceable.
. kingdom, a hope for God's: future. ; : fee

It is what Judeo- —Christian religion is ultimately about. - It is-a
_stunning vision of what.God intends, what could be in the world, what it-is
-supposed to be within: the community of God's people. And when we-see. it:
when little bits of it actually come into being in history, when-walls

that divide people actually come down... or when the leaders of nations
meet and actually talk about reducing the number of weapons we have pointed
at each other's population-centers or the number of divisions we. ‘each: have
poised and ready, facing each other - we who know the vision and the -
story. recognize what that's about. We see God's breaking into. our

history. a

We also rec i i its absence. That lovely image of Isaiah
does not accurately describe a world I know about... There are something
like twenty-four civil wars going on - each claiming a minimum of 1,000
lives per year. The grim business of El Salvador is already off the front
page and we will soon forget the relentless violence and murder and our
sponsorship of it,

12/10/89

‘When ‘the. lion and lamb lie down together, ‘Woody Alien seneevees aay
the lion gets up. a ; eeleli st

“the simple fact is that we are far better at building up walls of
separation. and_h ity than we are tearing them.dawn. We -burtd walls.
between rival political systems and nations, we seem to need them. We
build walls between races, and genders. We build walls of fear ‘and
prejudice to keep out people'‘who are different, walls of moralism to. keep
out people we don't. understand, walls of religion. to keep out peoples we.
don't agree with. ; Le

. Bringing down walls, bringing people together | is not a matter of ee
sociology. ‘or. politics. At is a matter of our ue deepest reltpious meee
convictions. -Jes ieve, came to reconcile, to bring’
together,. to heal, to make all of creation a harmonious rity... and So
dividing walls ~ of any kind, are simply not tolerable. We are called. ~~.

.. you and. I-+.to be the ones who breach them, who knock them down, who will .
-not: and do- ‘not tolerate them. It is our vocation. We are to be what God's —
reconciled humanity: looks like. , a Un ee

"May, ‘God grant you -to live in: such harniony with one another in accord

with Christ: Jesus, that together. you may, with: one. voice glorify the God

and Father: of: our Lord Jesus Christ, " Paul “wrote to the Romans.

‘that, 1 believe. is. our. highest calling’ as a ‘church of Jesus christ:

God has come. into the world and. loved the world:and has acted to. save. the
world: but. also to glorify God. by demonstrating. what God has done,. to°be- an
inclusive: community, where: reconciliation has concrete meaning, where. ‘all
are welcome, . none are. excluded, where people, regardless of their ‘station ~
in- life, encounter one: another simply as children. of: God -and brothers. and:
sisters: tobe. the. “place where the ‘dividing walls are all gone, ‘And to.
be the one’ place in this world that needs everyone, that relies « on,

; encourages | and invites everyone to get in on the act.

God, we: believe, is in the business of bringing down the. walls that |
separate people. : . LPS

God is pleased. when political, racial, religious walls are pulled ~
down — or: breached. . on. paeeaeaes

; And: God. is also pleased. when: the walls we construct around. us,-- walls :
which isolate. us from others, are overcome. ; :

Tn Paul's day the wall separated and Gentiles. It was God's
great. jove in Jesus chris which overcame that ancient -and very formidable

tobe a reminder to the ‘city, on this lively corner, not only that the Boies

wall. ‘When people. -know. themselves. loved by. God, Paul had discovered,- “they Be

are disarmed - literally.. To-be loved by the creator God-is such an a

incredible’ thing, such a leveling, gentling thing, that. a man or woman: can.
ease up, can lay down arms, can look at a neighbor or an enemy - or a close”
friend in’ a whole. new light - ~ asa child of God.. . a brother or sister in:

Jesus Chris ste ee

12/10/89 ee 5

- ~ Having thought about universal] reconciliation and political “peace,
we come. full circle back: to. the walls that. divide us from others: -vfrom --

: neighbors, fellow workers, ‘fellow students, parents, chilren, friends,

= spouses: aa ren

: it xéts tough when - it. is. close. In a “wonderfully poignant. sl short
-gtory” calYed Remembering, ute and essayist. Wendall “Berry writes: about. ae
-man-and woman. whose marriage, ‘once strong. and life giving, has |

- disinterg: ated, bi by bit. over the years.

; Now their quarrels. did not end their ‘differences | and bring. them.

~ together, -but were all one quarrel] that had no end... It changed subjects

“but it did not end. it was no longer about duality but about division, an
infinite cold: space that. opened between: them: a : .

ane times in ‘their quarreling: he knew he was: crying “out to. her_ actoss —
: “that. abyss, and he ‘knew she. heard him but would not Pretend. it was. a. call
she. could answer,’ ; aoe

eee Tt seems sometimes: that we love our walls, or the spaces we keep =
- between. ourselves and others. eee : : Ue oy

oe “It. seems sometimes that we need those walls, or: think we, > do, to.
protect our identity. or. individuality. or Something. : :

My guess is that there is not a one of us. who doesn't. live ‘behind |
“some: wall, some of: ‘the time, in relation to some person’ ‘or persons."

ane My guess is _ that there is-not a one of. Us: “who. does. not need. to tear.
down 3 a wall, or reach | across ‘an. abyss, toward someone. fairly important to

Tt! s not difficult ‘to do. Sometimes all it. takes is. - "Tr love
you. or orm SOrry:.. forgive me..." or: “TD forgive yous!

Sometimes the peaceable Kingdom is not just a new era of 7 peace.
between the Soviet Union and the United States, but peace between a husband
and wife, or lovers, or dear friends, or brothers, or sisters, or. parents
and children, employees and employers. a oe es

Sometimes the peaceable kingdom where the walls are all down 3 is
personal and internal. :

“We live most of our lives looking for a peaceable kingdom; a. 1 place

“vs - where: there are no walls, no barriers; a place where. we are: loved and ‘safe

“and, accepted and welcome.

“From the day we “discover that the world ‘is ‘larger than. our ‘mother’ s
arms, we are looking for peace.- peace that: passes all understanding =
peace of heart — peace that stands when all else. fails. :

“Our highest calling as children of God is to extend that peace to one
another. It is so important... so precious, one of the_oldest worship oe
traditions of the Christian Church is the "Passing of the Peace,” the

12/10/89

greeting. with a handshake and the words, "The Peace of. Jesus Christ be
with yours oe ; -

“And: ‘once. a -year we hear a story that rehinds: us that we are loved:
_that- even if we are not loved by anyone else, we aré loved by the God. who. ae

~~ oreated: wis. And that simple story, mysteriously —. inexplicably — almost’

relentless, “begins to stir up-our. longing for peace and to make peace in us” we
and. for Us =: as soon as we hear it. again. : : es

It is ‘a 1 story of a “peaceable kingdom.

. Tt ‘happens: ‘in the city. of David, whose Father was Jesse. It is about. ae
a branch. from those roots. o 2 ens

AItcis: about @ poor, vulnerable young ‘woman: and a man and how ‘they, have
“to. stay 4 in a barn on the night she has her baby. SES

“And. how cows. and “sheep are there, and. if, you. look closely. around the-
edges: there is the lion and the leopard and the wolf: Sa

“te is: a true story. -Recause vulnerability. and. weakness are the. ‘way
- God operates. in this world, and peace is so precious we must hold it: close |
whenever: we encounter it, cand there are moments when we. know ourselves” :
“loved. and: welcomed by the one who created us and even by this infant: who
wild become. a man and: go on loving | us until. he can love no more.

Tt isca true story because as he is being born; / angels are he.
sky, a whole: Sky’ full.of them, and the are singing.. aa

“Glory. to Goa in .the ‘highest.
“and “on: earth peace among
all people.’

So. in “the two weeks of Advent left for. us, hear it again... and
experience ‘the walls around your life lowering a bit. a

Let him love you. .

Let him bring you: peace.-

Let him make a peacemaker. out of you.
He is our Peace. .

All praise to Him.

~]

12/10/89 ©