f CHATAUQUA INSTITUTION
Jucy 2, 4992, 9:15 a.m.

WORSHIP SERVICE

PECULIAR VICTORY

JOHN M. BUCHANAN, SENIOR MINISTER
FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO

SCRIPTURE
MARK 9:30-37

™..-WHOEVER WANTS TO BE FIRST MUST BE

THE LAST OF ALL AND SERVANT OF ALL.”
-MarRK 9:35 (NRSV)

WHATLASBETY : AUTHOR ANNIE DILLARD
CD SAYS, "T ON THE HEELS OF
I eagodientoas CHRIST COME THE Cini IS NO
n a

—_
poole ye esses eregqun. | THE DISCIPLES TURN INTO THE
moder Ayalon Cc
wy os EARLY CHRISTIANS BETWEEN ONE RUSHED
WOVe
we vies rite of VERSE AND ANOTHER. \ WHAT A DISMAYING
eS See a See
| a ‘ad
Lut thay PITY, THAT HERE COME THE CHRISTIANS
; ." [lresrnrrrons-eorremrer
— > Yelieuwe Ww

THEY WERE SILENT, MARK REPORTS,
THOSE DISCIPLES-OF-JESUS-BECOME-EARLY-
CHRESTEANS, || ano IN THE BECOMING LOOKING
SO FAMILIAR, SO VERY_MUCH LIKE YOU AND

ME. \\ taey WERE UNCHARACTERISTICALLY

SILENT BECAUSE THEY WERE EMBARRASSED BY

|

THEIR UTTER LACK OF TACT, SENSITIVITY

AND APPROPRIATENESS. | THEY HAD SHAMED

THEMSELVES AND THEY HAD NOTHING TO SAY.

AND, I THINK, THEY WERE STUNNED INTO

|

SILENCB® BY THE RAW CHALLENGE OF WHAT HE
[oS SSS Se
SAID TO ruen. | IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT
qa ey
RELIGION RISES OUT OF THE PASTEL, GEN-
=a Sea

TEEL_ GARDEN THE WORLD ASSIGNS IT AND
mans

STRIKES OUR SENSES WITH FULL PASSIONATE
eeS=—=

eoom.| But 17 DID THZS DAY AND THEY

=a

WERE ABSOLUTELY SILENT, AS WE_ SHOULD
HAVE BEEN TOO.

WHAT_DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW JESUS?

IS THE DEFINING QUESTION FOR Mark. | AND

FOR ONE-HALF OF HIS SMALL BOOK HE AN-

SWERS THAT IN TERMS OF TEACHING AND
=a Ss

HEALING AND WALKING BEHIND JESUS AS HE

TRAVELS BETWEEN THE SMALL VILLAGES OF
eee re ans
GALILEE. | AND THEN ONE DAY HE ASKS,
Sasa

“WHO DO YOU ale T am?" WHEN PETER

ANSWERS “THE MESSIAH," JESUS EXPLAINS
REE SS

é@
FOR THE FIRST Te THAT BEING THE MESSI-

AH IS A VERY DIFFERENT MATTER FROM WHAT
a

THEY HAD BEEN TAUGHT TO expect. | It
WOULD MEAN REORIENTING LIFE, GIVING LIFE
Sas
AWAY, | POURING LIFE OUT,\ SUFFERING,
=o Sa ee ==
DYING. FOLLOWING HIM TO JERYSALEM WAS

THE EQUIVALENT OF PICKING UP A CROSS AND
fT

CARRYING IT.
Sa
HE CONTINUES WITH THE THQUGHT
WALKING ALONG THE ROAD_IN GALILEE:

FOLLOWING MEANS DENIAL OF secr,| sacrr-
aS SSS =a

—_—,

FICE, \SUEFERING. » +»
THAZ_EVENINGD IN THE COMMON._HOUSE
IN CAPERNAIUM THEY USED AS HOME AND
[a
HEADQUARTERS, HE ASKED: [rear WERE YOU

3

ARGUING ABOUT THIS AFTERNOON?" || IT_HAD

BEEN A PETTY THING AT FIRST,| A SMALL
Sa
DISAGREEMENT,\ THE EXACT NATURE OF WHICH

THEY HAD FORGOTTEN.\ BuT IT HAD ESCALAT-
ED, EGOS GOT INVOLVED ,\ AND AN INCONSE-
[See SiS
QUENTIAL DEsKcReeMENT = eee BECAME COM-
Bat>| SUDDENLY THE REAL ISSUE EMERGES

OVER THE PRIMAL MATTER OF WHO HAD THE
SSS eed

POWER AND AuTHORZTY, | wHO WAS RIGHT AND

WHO WAS WRONG ,\ WHO WOULD BE NUMBER ONE.

— a ————————
WHEN HIS QUESTION FOCUSED ON WHAT HAD

HAPPENED THEY WERE TOO EMBARRASSED TO
==, ‘eae
RESPOND. \\ HERE HE WAS, PATIENTLY TRYING
SSE

TO BRING THEM ALONG, \ TALKING ABOUT

GIVING HIS LIFE AWAY, AND THEY'RE ARGU-
eS , [orc
ING OVER WHO IS NUMBER ONE.
ANNIE DILLARD ED. |{"WHAT A
PITY THAT ON THE HEELS OF CHRIST COME

THE CHRISTIANS. | wito COULD BELIEVE IN
See,
THEM?" 1\

IT IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT HE sITS
ea ey, =

ot
Ope

DOWN - WHICH IS ALWAYS THE SIGNAL THAT

OFFICIAL TEACHING IS ABOUT JQ HAPPEN -
as cad

AND SAYS SOMETHING SO STUNNING THEY

REMAINED IN SILENCE,

"WHOEVER WANTS TO BE FIRST MUST BE

B=

E SERVANT OF au."
The

AMILIES MUST HAVE BEEN THERE
=3

—a

TOO. |. .cuzuoren PLAYING, | TODDLING
SLT [=
AROUND, nozszLy.\\ HE PICKED ONE OF THEM
ee qa SSS ;
UP, HELD THE CHILD IN HIS LAP AND SAID:

“WHOEVER WELCOMES A LITTLE CHILD,

WELCOMES ME - AND THE ONE WHO SENT ME."

GREATNESS MEASURED BY SERVICE. , ,

ARR eR A eos
INTIMACY WITH GOD A PRODUCT OF OPENING
beeen] SS

YOUR ARMS TO THE WEAKEST, \ THE LEAST
INFLUENTIAL, \THE POWERLESS?\\ Irs A
eT =e

Sea,

PECULTAR WAY, TO LOOK_AT THINGS.

ze
IT IS A DIRECT AND DRAMATIC CHALLENGE
Se
TO THE WORLD'S ASSUMPTION THAT GREATNESS
——S SR Sas,

IS A PRODUCT OF POWER AND STRENGTH AND

eer ee Saray

SIZE.
==

AND THAT IS AN ASSUMPTION WHICH IS

DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN OUR CULTURE.
aan

GREATNESS - EQUALS POWER - EQUALS

WINNING - EQUALS BEATING soneone. || Do
—

YOU NOTICE THAT EVERY ATHLETIC VICTORY,

REGARDLESS OF HOW MODEST ELZCIIS THE
Say SS=Sa>

NOW FAMILIAR RESPONSE: {'WE’RE NUMBER

is t
ONE EVEN IF IT S$ A BATTLE FOR LAST
piace? || How CURIOUS THAT LITTLE LEAGUERS
[aa SSS

CONCLUDE THAT WINNING A_GAME_MEANS - WE

ARE NOW NT, IF NOTLOMNIPOTENT..
ATE THAT THERE HAVE TO BE

ES
LES IN PROFESSIO RTS PROHIBITING

Se
WHAT WAS ONCE UNTHINKABLE, NAMELY TAUNT-

ING AND HUMILIATING YOUR DEFEATED OPPO-

WHAT IS IT ABOUT us9|{(vrr SEEMS
——— ——;o

THAT WE NEED AN ENEMY TO DEFINE OUR-

NENT.

pS
setves, "J ossenves PROFESSOR BETSY FLOw-

SS
ERS OF THE UNIVERSITY XAS™TSEE >

JAMES AuTRY, LOVE AND ProFit, P. 103].

a look om

IT MAY BE THAT WHAT WE DID TO RAG WAS
GEO-POLITICA rv AND IF_IT HAD
TO BE DONE, IT WAS GQQD TO DO IT QUICK-
uv, \hur IT 1S A VERY_C KIND OF
PATRIOTISM THAT ATTACHES GREATNESS - AND
FEELING GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES AGAIN - TO
Se
FINDING AN ENEMY TO BEAT.
aaa rr
Ir IS A PATHOLOGY, I wouLp SUBMIT,
THIS COMMITMENTLOGREATNESS THROUGH
OBLITERATION OF ONE'S ENEMIES, AND IT
aS Serre
INFECTS THE CULTURE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.
aa X——
WE MUST BE NUMBER ONE.

JAMES AUTRY, RE@ENPievaRaELRED CE
weeks

OF THE MEREDITH CORPORATION,
Sere SSS ee en
vé ‘
TEN A BOOK THAT sont Sees A LOT OF

ATTENTION, UNDER THE TITLE/(LOVE AND

Prorit.)) AuTRY OBJECTS TO THIS IDEOLOGY

WHICH FINDS ITS WAY INTO C RATE LIFE
Pues

AND SEES BUSINESS AS A BATTLE WHICH
SSS SS

DEMANDS TOTAL COMMITMENT TO YOUR COMPET-
= Se or ae

ITOR’S a AN ESSAY ON "WINNING

REDEFINED" AUTRY TELLS ABOUT RE@HBOING
==, =]

gy? A SALES MEETING HE ATTENDED AND HOW

ONE OF HIS MANAGERS TRIED TO MOTIVATE

WwW ie 4 ee upper " ,
| \le— HER PEERS. I'M INTQ WINNING" SHE SAID,
pe? —_ Saal Ey
Cso LET'S GET OUT THERE AND KICK A
. Ss

AUTRY HAS WRITTEN A VERY DIFFERENT
" ee

BOOK. ("Management IS A MATTER OF Love," A

(13) HE PROPOSES AND ADVISES THAT IF YOU
DON'T CARE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU SHOULD GET
ee ‘ TEN,

OUT OF MANAGEMENT BEFORE IT IS TOO

LATE... \ "SAVE YOURSELF A HEART ATTACK

AND SAVE MANY PEOPLE A LOT OF DAILY
GRIEF."§(17) AuUTRY THINKS THE VICE

PRESIDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES SHOULD BE

CALLED VICE PRESIDENT FOR CARING. (77)

AND JUST 4 WHEN YOU THINK THIS IS SIMPLY A

SENTIMENTAL VERSION OF YOUR GARDEN =
VARIETY HOW-TO-DO-IT MANAGEMENT PRIMER,

AUTRY GOES IN DEEP AND IT SOUNDS AS IF

eS

GOOD MANAGEMENT REALLY IS SERVING THE
Same

—_—_

8

A 4o0e —

w i\\

yO

VERY PEOPLE YOU ARE TRYING TO MANAGE.
Spe sy

“LISTEN” HE aovises. | "PAY ATTENTION.”
eae ae

CARE FOR PEOPLE BY KNOWING WHEN A SON

=e

RECEIVES A.SCHOLARSHIP, OR A PARENT DIES, »

JESUS SAID GREATNESS IS MEASURED
NOT BY THE STANDARDS THE WORLD ALWAYS

USES, BUT BY sevice. | AND THEN DN—GASE
a ——S Se [=a

THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS A HARMLESS AB-

aaa bo ee
STRACTION, HE BROUGHT A CHILD INTO THEIR
. i a 1d
MIDST. ¥ Now HIS HEBRAIC CULTURE VALUED
Ds aay zs

CHILDREN BUT THE LARGER CULTURE DID NOT. ~ @+ hesst Very
—_— www P

InN GRAECO-ROMAN CULTURE CHILDREN WERE

EXPENDABLE, IGNORED, NOT_NURTURED, OFTEN

SIMPLY abanponen. | ONE OF THE FIRST

CHRISTIAN SERVICE PROJECTS WAS THE

ADOPTION OF ABANDONED CHILDREN IN THE

ROMAN EMPIRE. SO WHEN HE BRINGS THIS

SESE Se

CHILD IN AS AN EXAMPLE OF SERVICE HE IS
Es

SAYING SOME G ABOUT THE KIND OF SERV-

ie

- x
ICE HE MEANS NAMELY SERMEGE... LESTEN-
SS - fey

TNG SEO. | PAYING_ATTENTION To.. 4 TAKING
paeecee sd) 25

9

io « delat
+o see Ww duldm

am ved. wih

SERIOUSLY THE NEEDS OF THOSE WHO HAVE .NO.

POWE NO AUTHORITY,\ NO PUBLIC WORTH, NO
omer qa
POLITICAL CLOUT.
St

Anp I FOUND M LF THINKING THAT
YSELF =

MAYRE THAT HASN'T CHANGED MUCH: THAT
WITHIN THE SUB-CULTURE OF PRIVILEGE, -
==) ———

THE ONE WHICH YOU AND I INHABIT - CHIL-
Sa aay
r

DREN ARE anni ale REALLY AREN'T

VALUED AT ALL BY THE CULTURE AT LARGE

WHEN IT EXPRESSES ITS PRI TIES ITI-
SS, ec,
ALLY AND ECONOMICALLY. BE RI-
c CONO O BE AMINO

TY AND POOR AND A CHILD IS TO BE INA
=a ee Fs
LOT OF TROUBLE IN OUR NATION AT THIS
Se
POINT IN our_uzsroat.| Ano I Founp
aS cr
MYSELF MUSING.THAT AUTHOR ALEX KOTLOWITZ

HAS DONE A VERY CHRIST-LIKE THING IN
SS oe

WRITING THERE Are No CHILDREN HERE, BY

BRINGING INTO OUR MIDST CHILDREN
SSS

ACTUALLY, LLY, (LAFEYETTE AND PHAROAH RIVERS
I

WHO, WITH THEIR MOTHER, LaJoe.. LIVED IN

THE HENRY HORNER HOMES IN eine |
Cs

10

WHO - IF WE LOOK AT THEM FOR VERY LONG,
BY READING THE BOOK KOTLOWITZ HAS WRIT-
ESS, | a een ea 2
TEN - WILL STUN US, TOO, INTO AN EMBAR-
ee

2ST Ss
RASSED AND SHAMEFUL SILENCE:
Oe Oe

GROw uP, I'D LIKE TO BE A BUS

LAFEYETTE PUTS IT: Ge,” NOT
a Sas

HEN" I GROW UP, BECAUSE HE HAS MADE
— SS SSS

DRIVER",

THE ADJUSTMENT TO A SUB-CULTURE IN WHICH
Re f
CHILDREN DON’T MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD -
ag ay TRG ey

SOME NOT AT ALL, | AND VERY FEW TO AN

ADULTHOOD THAT INCLUDES ANYTHING SO

SP
GRANDIOSE AND SPLENDID AS DRIVING A_BUS.
==.
LaAJOE GAVE THE BOOK I ITLE BY RE-
SEs EE __"s

SPONDING TO KOTLOWITZ SU@CESPTEON- ABOUT

STUBM@N®G HER CHILDREN AND HOME AND THEN

ess
WRIT ABOUT 11. "BUT YQUKNOW THERE

ARE NO CHILDREN HERE)| THEY™@E_SEEN TOO

MUCH TO BE CHILDREN."— AND LIKE MANY CHA
aE eS Eg Ss
MOTHERS BEGAN TO PAY_$ MONTH FOR
HERS 3808

BURIAL INSURANCE FOR HER TWO_BOYS AND

FOUR YEAR OLD TRIPLETS BECAUSE BY THE
Wee

11

SUMMER OF THAT YEAR, 1987, 57 cyruoRen
ee)
HAD BEEN KILLED IN CHICAGO - FIVE IN

eae
HORNER, INCLUDING TWO WHO DIED FROM
——— Eee

—..

SMOKE INHALATION WHEN FIREFIGHTERS HAD
Ty ee
TO CLIMB 14 STORIES BECAUSE THE ELEVA-
=o SET

TORS WERE BROKEN (Pp. 17).

Let ALEX KOTLOWITZ BRING THE CHIL-
moles j.-”

DREN INTO OUR MIDST: This, jue deat AS ax ho

————
f “LAFEYETTE HAD PROMISED | HIS MOTHER Cag \
- Cle pt -
HE WOULDN'T LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO a

PHAROAL. | BuT FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, HE
THOUGHT HE HAD LOST HIM.

"THREE DAYS AFTER LAFEYETTE'S BIRTH-
DAY, GUNFIRE ONCE AGAIN FILLED THE AIR.
IT WAS TWO-THIRTY IN THE AFTERNOON;
SCHOOL HAD JUST LET our. | As LAFEYETTE
AND HIS MOTHER HUSTLED THE TRIPLETS ONTO
THE FLOOR OF THE APARTMENT’S NARROW
HALLWAY, A DRILL THEY NOW FOLLOWED
ALMOST INSTINCTUALLY, THEY CAUGHT

GLIMPSES THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF YOUNG

12

GUNMEN WAVING THEIR PISTOLS aeour.| ONE
YOUTH TOTED A SUBMACHINE GUN.

“THE DISPUTE HAD STARTED WHEN TWO
RIVAL DRUG GANGS FIRED AT EACH OTHER
FROM ONE HIGH-RISE TO ANOTHER.

“FROM HIS FIRST-FLOOR APARTMENT,
LAFEYETTE, WHO HAD LEFT HIS FIFTH-GRADE
CLASS EARLY THAT pay, ( WATCHED HOPEFULLY
FOR PHAROAH AS THE CHILDREN POURED OUT
OF THE HENRY SUDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
JUST A sock auay.\ PANICKING, MANY OF
THE YOUNGSTERS RAN DIRECTLY TOWARD THE
GUNFIRE. | Lareverte AND HIS MOTHER
SCREAMED AT THE CHILDREN TO TURN BACK.
But THEY KEPT COMING, CLAMORING FOR THE
SHELTER OF THEIR HOMES.

“LAFEYETTE FINALLY SPOTTED HIS

BROTHER, FIRST RUNNING, THEN WALKING,
TAKING COVER BEHIND TREES AND FENCES.
—_
BUT THEN HE LOST SIGHT OF HIM. Cana,
| seni

LEMME GO GET HIM. \ LEMME GO,’ LAFEYETTE

eed

13

pecceo. | HE WAS AFRAID THAT PHAROAH
ee

WOULD RUN STRAIGHT THROUGH THE GUNFIRE.
A atdSrrrEh LC init

PHAROAH WOULD LATER SAY HE HAD LEARNED

TO LOOK BOTH WAYS AND THAT'S WHY HE'D

STARTED WALKING. | MAMA TOLD ME WHEN

YOU HEAR THE SHOOTING, FIRST TO WALK

BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THE BULLETS

mica

ARE COMING,’ HE EXPLAINED. { LAJOE RE-
FUSED LAFEYETTE'’S REQUEST TO LET HIM GO
AFTER HIS sroTueR. | SHE COULDN’T EVEN GO
HERSELF. \ THE GUNS KEPT CRACKLING.

Ed

“MEANWHILE, THE POLICE WHO AT FIRST

THOUGHT THEY WERE THE TARGETS OF THE
SHOOTING, HAD TAKEN COVER IN THEIR CARS
AND IN THE BUILDING’S BREEZEWAY. | Pas-
SERSBY LAY MOTIONLESS ON THE GROUND,
PROTECTED BY PARKED VEHICLES AND A SNOW-
CONE VENDING stanp. | THEN, AS SUDDENLY
AS IT BEGAN, THE BATTLE ENDED,"

[p. 17, 18]

14

\l
JESUS SAID - WHOEVER WANTS TO BE
SS Ss

FIRST MUST BE LAST OF ALL AND SERVANT OF
ALL, AND THEN HE BROUGHT A CHILD IN AND
ES
SAID - THIS IS WHAT I mean: | You WILL
FOLLOW ME‘YOU WILL BE FAITHFUL TO THE ;
SEs Se ee,

Gop IN WHOSE NAME I SPEAK AS YOU SERVE
Sas

aE Se —..

AND RECEIVE AND LOVE AND a Greatness
| AM tA

WEAK AND HELPLESS AND VULNERABLE.
a USS

ervace
ENORMOUSLY GRATEFUL TO THE YOUNG WOMEN )
ee eee

AND MEN OF OUR ARMED SERVICES, AND I
LOVED@RME PARADES,/ BUT I HOPE AND PRAY
FOR A DAY WHEN NATIONAL GREATNESS WILL

=
BE MEASURED BY HOW WELL WE ARE DOING

=== iss oe, Baas)
WITH PHAROAH AND LAFAYETTE..| AND THAT

~~ Clg

WE WILL HAVE A PARADE CHIGAN AVENUE ¢ cow

WHEN THE ELEVATORS WORK AT CABRINI-

GREEN. Rove, Oo jot - ..

IT's a CHALLENGE TO HIS CHURCH
ea
WHICH, WITH EMBARRASSING CONSISTENCY,

MEASURES_GREATNESS JUST LIKE THE WORLD
DOES. |. PURSUING CONVERSIONS AS IF THEY
manana TT

15

CA .¢ | WERE SALES CONT acrs,| PRESENTING THE

ass’. “\peca"1 GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AS IF IT WERE A

we OC er CRUSADE Gatlp JIHAD WINNING BY OVERCOM-
mA Or WA ING THEQLOGICALLY, ECCLESIASTICALLY,
de we ans \ NUMERICALLY - THE OTHER PEOPLE. T
yas oi a c im RCH,
b>) yr f waza-rreagsmunc:T {| THERE IS AN INCI-
ba ——— Xe

DENT IN an -ACBERLL S NOVEL [L'ETRANG-

"A PRIEST, TRYING TO CON-
Lo [Ee

VFINCE AN UNBELTEVER, PULLS_OPEN A DRAW-
==

ER, TAKES FROM IT A SILVER CRUCIFIX, AND
=

BRANDISHES IT TO REINFORCE HIS ARGUMENT.

me =

JESUS, COMMENTS THE TELLER OF THE STORY,
EE ——__ > a =

DID NOT CALL US TO WAVE THE CROSS, HE

CALLED US TO CARRY IT.? { [SEE JOHN V.
Gop, [p. 139]

SO MAYBE ‘CHURCHES DECLINE NOT SO
=—————=

BY

TAYLOR, THE GO-BE

MUCH WHEN THEY ARE UNDER OFFICIAL PERSE-
cutzon, \as WHEN THEY FOR WHY THEY
anes ( See

. LY N
EXIST || Pernars THERE_IS_SIMPLY _ fe)

EARTHLY REASON FOR A CHURCH TO EXIST IF
aes, (Serio

a:

16

IT DOES NOT LIVE OUT THE GREATNESS
a

DEFINED BY JESUS.
as

Jess CHALLENGED THE FUNDAMENTAL
——— es

ASSUMPTION OF, MOST OF THE RELIGIONS OF
: Mor ba e
THE WORLD. | RELIGION ORDINARILY SUGGESTS
Sree, eel” lll

THAT THE HIGHEST AND HOLIEST TO WHICH

MORTALS CAN ASPIRE IS COMMUNION/FELLOW-
| aaa)

SHIP WITH Gop.™ BuT JESUS—TAUGHT THAT
See SS aE FR

WHEN YOU SERVE OTHERS IN HIS name, you
EEE

ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF Goo; | THAT THE
4 sn,

RELIGIOUS LIFE IS NOT SEQUESTERED FROM
a ene eer
THE WORLD \ BUT BUSY _IN THE WORLD, WITH
=o
ITS SLEEVES ROLLED UP, HOLDING IN ITS .
6 —

ARMS =e NO ONE ELSE PAYS ANY ATTEN-
Sasa SS ELT,

Qo Yo 6s 5 TION TO
9 ;
G M wel | ( me A CAUTIONARY NOTE. | EVERY

fe chu MINISTER HAS DISCOVERED THAT IN THE

( wr XU CONGREGATION EWERY=SNBAY-ARE PEOPLE WHO
yaw M

HAVE ALLOWED THEMSELVES TO BE USED AND
eee ay

EXPLOITED AND SOMEHOW THOUGHT THE CHRIS-
ees 9

*

TIAN FAITH WANTED THEM TO SUBMIT TO

ee lowe vA 17
cae

Yo repress “Huis Cun persewst ampada —or May ~
vor safely

mw Ww VG AA 4 SSSVdc q
L~»
i
THAT. WE NEVER USED TO SPEAK ABOUT, SO

MOST OF US DIDN'T KNOW IT EXISTED; BUT
EE

eS

IN EVERY CONGREGATION ARE WOMEN WHO _HAVE

BEEN ABUSED -{ or WHO ARE BEING ABUSED
=

AND WHO RATIONALIZE IT USING PASSAGES
meme LSS

LIKE THIS ONE, \ AND THE ONES THAT URGE
ae

Ee

DENIAL OF SELF, ano SUFFERING SERVICE OF
wea ae
OTHERS AS A RELIGIOUS coon || In THE

C oance OF Awcep) )HanrzeT LERNER CALLS IT
DE-SELFING. [ex HAPPENS WHEN ONE

PERSON, OFTEN A WIFE, DOES MORE GIVING

ej

AND GOING ALONG, AND DOES NOT HAVE A
=e, [a SS

SENSE OF CLARITY ABOUT HER DECISIONS AND

CONTROL OVER HER cHorces."| [WEAVINGS,
May/June, 1991, Pp. 20]

THAT" SwNOL JT. ABUSE OF ANY KIND
==>

IS NOT WHAT JESUS MEANT AT aut | IN

=

FACT, IT WOULD HAVE MADE HIM VERY ANGRY.
SS ao J

SERVICE IS NOT SERVICE UNLESS IT IS
——F eEESEE7Ey

FREELY GIVEN, IN LOVE, WITHOUT ANY
aueeeweee
ars

COERCION AT ALL.

18

Oy wt Sen
Ke i ae vd 9 AND A CAUTIONARY NOTE ABOUT .COMPRO-
Xu | nu ony ISING GREATNESS AND BLAMING IT ON

nevzcron\{-Sesus WAS NOT ENDORSING

" -* cé fare ——
{wl 4 © ET weprocerry.\ In FACT, HE DIDN'T CRITI-
(a REE
4A CIZE HIS DISCIPLE IPLES’ DESIRE TO BI TO BE GREAT.
tvs?

Loy HE SIMPLY REDEFINED IT IN, TERMS OF
SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. \ Acs you_T THINK

yaw _ ABOUT IT THAT IS WHAT GREATNESS RE-

ot QUIRES, WHETHER IT'S PERFORMING HEART
fii / SURGERY, | PLAYING THE PIPE_ORGAN OR
Se

PUTTING A BALL THROUGH A HOOP, GREATNESS
eS Sy ——3

MEANS SELFLESS DEDICATION AND LOTS OF

eS ee

SACRIFICE.

SO - WHAT DOES HE WANT? | waar Is
CO ==
@. HIS PURROSE IN THIS PECULIAR APPROACH TO
Lee
2
aus we dy LIFE?
. Cag
\ asst WANTS HIS FOLLOWERS TO DISCOVER AND
we . ri)
\ \A Lesak DEFINE THEMSELVES IN TERMS OF SERVICE TO

crer Bake ‘ PEOPLE IN neeD.\\ Jesus CALLE OULD“ BE

Pe? qt DISCIPLES TO AN ADVENTURE WHICH BEGINS

<
you rs
Yar P

i

ae \pa see

BY LEAVING BEHIND ALL THE ASSUMPTIONS,
SESE Pag

EVEN ABOUT RELIGION.\ Jesus - AND THIS

TS STUNNING ~- WANTS,US TO F T ABOUT
RSs

EVEN OUR OWN SALVATION SO HE CAN SAVE
ks
OUR_SOUL

@@i_ THAT'S THE DEEPEST MYSTERY OF
mes

ALL: | THAT IN FORGETTING ABOUT OURSELVES
WE FIND OURSELVES;
SS

THAT IN LIVING FOR OTHERS, LIFE
a |

BEGINS TO BE MEANINGFUL;

THAT IN SERVING..THE CHILDREN, WE
Dia)

ARE SERVED;
aap
THAT INDYING, THERE IS LIFE.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF ANYTHING
| 2 ace ds ba Sar.
MORE_INCREDIBLE THAN’ A GREAT GOD WHO

LOVES AND WHO "he SUFFER IN LOVE FPR tf

eo
THE CREATLON,| FOR EACH OF THE CREATURES,
BF renege y ===
FOR EACH OF usif LORDWHO..REACHES OUT
—a———— SS

IN HUMBLE LOVE TO EVERYONE EVERYONE
Eee
WHO IS UNLOVED, | EVERYONE, WHO IS WEAK OR

IN SOME WAY POWERLESS,\ EVERYONE WHO IS

20

IN ANY WAY VULNERABLE? (an AMAZING, LORD,

WHOSE LOVE IS SO BROAD AND BIG THAT IT
[ee Pn

INCLUDES US ALL IN ITS STRONG EMBRACE?

[ "Wo CAN BELIEVE IN THE
[Tae

CHRISTIANS?'# ANNIE DILLARD ASKS.

ARE SMUG AND BUSY, JUST LIKE US...] THEY
os, pi

ARE NOT INNOCENT, THEY ARE NOT SHEPHERDS
—— . iS

AND FISHERMEN IN RUSTIC PERIOD COSTUMES,

THEY ARE MEN AND WOMEN JUST LIKE US, IN
=
POLYESTER .( Adie L ) | WHO COULD BELIEVE
a

Sa

SALVATION IS FOR THESE ROGUES? \ THAT Gop
[=

IS FOR THESE ROGUES?..."

( untess, OF COURSE...

See

~~
UNLE IST'S WASHING THE DISCI-

SSS

PLES FEET, |HIS SERVICE FOR THEM, MEANS

WHAT IT COULD, POSSIBLY, Henn: ff Tua IT

IS ALL RIGHT TO AN.\ THAT Gop
ee
KNOWS THAT WE ARE HUMAN... AND WE ARE
a EE

Gop’S PEOPLE ANYWAY, | AND THE SHEEP OF
ae eee ay

Gop'’s PASTURE. eae i

21

IT IS THE MYSTERY OF OUR rartH.\ It Gan, lak

IS THE CHALLENGE - THE IMPERATIVE - AND 357-932,
THE PROMISE - O

WHOEVER WOULD BE-GREAT ... MUST BE

THE SERVANT OF ALL.
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“Teach US y (e) Gea oe Hust Mw Aivum ovr lives RW
servi tS ots. we de Your Wdill. Teach

US, ove Aud our. f, VA We Leet, hat ia
love, + Corivr fy. Wa weal « Powerless,
Wa @t mM Yovl Vnlessed Precmer,

AWA tech us 0 Gr ML wm d&
Ww or dinar shy Vow + lowk wre fer or
win, Wet fir a wa Sb be greet

ba Your Ce fakin -. |
“Teale Uov ‘- Gm us pes
lw. Yawk Yov Aer Div vs

(ee Cane Wore fy & rere reagan

dy \iw.
DWH SWI has \owrd VS Mm wr Useless °>
Now bless Us Im ouv Wor ..