The Honest Truth

Reverend Philip Stringer

Luke: 14:25-33

LET US PRAY: We ask, O Lord, that the words which we hear this morning, and the worship which we offer, may bear fruit in our hearts and be acceptable in your sight, our strength and our redeemer. AMEN

Some quotes from Mark Twain:

Note that venerable proverb: Children and fools always speak the truth. The deduction is plain: adults and wise persons never speak it.

The most outrageous lies that can be invented will find believers if a man only tells them with all his might.

The glory which is built upon a lie soon becomes a most unpleasant incumbrance . . . How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.

While I’ll make the assumption that we can all agree that honesty is a virtue, the fact is — the truth is — that much of daily life is built upon fantasy; the false notion that we are in control, that we have earned what we have and deserve it. We live within a fantasy that where we stand —individually, at this moment — is the center of the universe. We choose which myths we will believe and which truths we will deny. Consciously or unconsciously, we shape a perspective from which we view and judge the world, other people and even ourselves — presumably to make ourselves feel safe, secure and good.

Our readings today are an invitation for us to live honestly -- to be honest with ourselves, honest with God and with each other. It is an invitation that is harder to accept than we want to admit.

There are truths about ourselves that we don't want to face, but until we do, we can’t have authentic community -- here as the church, but even in our families and the other circles we move in. It can be hard to be honest with others, but it can be just as hard to be honest with ourselves.

In our gospel reading, Jesus is being followed by crowds of people -- not people whom he has chosen to be his disciples, but people who have come to him; People who are claiming him as their lord and are following him by the strength of their wills.

Jesus turns to them and forces them to face the truth: You can’t do it. You do not have the strength to follow me all of the way. And even more importantly -- you do not have the right to lay hold of me and claim me as your own.

Those words are spoken to you and me, also. It is a truth that is hard for us to face. But face it we must, if we are to live honestly and fully. The people following Jesus were mapping out their lives according to their own wills and strength -- denying to themselves the truth that they aren’t capable of finishing what they dream of being and doing.

In what ways are you doing the same thing? What are you claiming as your own? In what ways do you tell yourself that by your loyalty, commitment and hard work, you have earned the right to call something or someone your own? Your children? Your spouse? Your career? Your country? Your property?

Today you are invited to let go and to relinquish your claims upon these. To live honestly, instead. It is a much better way, actually -- a relief -- to be honest and to see people, things and accomplishments for what they actually are in Christ: blessings. Gifts of God given through no merit of our own, but solely by the grace of God.

To be honest about this is not so bad. To be honest in matters of grace always results in joy and fullness of life. To acknowledge the truth that everything that we have and are is a result of God’s grace, is to be honest with ourselves and God and each other. It is to live authentically with each other. Another way to phrase it is to choose to live thankfully.

What are you being invited to be honest about? How could choosing to be thankful improve your life?

Jesus is honest with us. The first part of that honesty -- that we have neither the strength nor the right to claim anything of ours by works -- can be hard to take. But we need to hear it so that we may hold it together with the other part of Jesus’ honesty -- which is shown to us on the cross -- and shared with us at the font -- and at this table. Because in true honesty, Jesus -- who has both the strength and the right -- chooses to share his whole self with you. Through him, God lays claim to you. That is the honest truth: We are saved by grace and not by our works.

I have a saying: “half of the truth is a lie.” That is true in this matter, too. The grace of God is cheapened and dead to us without a knowledge of our sin and weakness. But equally true, it is a lie to look at yourselves apart from being the beloved of God. To see yourselves only as sinners and unclean is not the whole truth of who you are.

Luther acknowledged, “I am maggot food” -- mortal, and destined for nothing more than the grave. “But!” he added, “I am a baptized child of God!”

To live honestly -- to live an authentic life -- is to see ourselves for who we are, and to know that in spite of it we are loved by God and held safely in God’s arms. That leaves nothing else but to be thankful.

In what ways do you need to face the truth of your own weakness and vulnerability?

In what ways are you not allowing the truth of God’s grace to shine upon you and set you free?

To live honestly with ourselves, with God and each other -- can be harder than we want to admit. But this place -- this table -- is a place of honesty.

The challenge when you come to this table is to come to it honestly — to come to it with thanksgiving, knowing that you have not earned a place at this table --

•not by your good works,

•not by your commitment to the ways of Jesus

•not even by your honesty.

It is by grace that even people like you and me are welcomed here and served by the Almighty.

And when you are out there in the world -- it is your challenge to remember in the face of hardship and failure and things you fear -- to remember you are not alone. To remember that by God’s grace you can endure all things. For God has laid claim to you and made you God’s own forever.

To live honestly is perhaps one of the greatest challenges we face. So great that -- to be honest -- it is beyond our strength to do it. But do not be afraid. With God, all things are possible.

And that’s the honest truth.

AMEN