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The Fearful Investors
by Donne Hayden
Opening
Words
“The owner and CEO of a large corporation was going on a
trip; he chose three of his employees to manage some of his assets while he
was gone. To the first he gave thirty thousand dollars, to the second twelve
thousand, and to the third six thousand, each in relation to his ability,
and then the CEO left.
Immediately the one who had received thirty thousand dollars went out and
put the money to work; he doubled his investment.
The second also doubled his money.
But the third, who had received the smallest amount, went out, bought a
strong safe and locked away the six thousand dollars he had received from
his boss.
After a long absence, the CEO returned to settle accounts with them. The
first, who had received thirty thousand dollars, came and produced an
additional thirty thousand, with this report: “Sir, you gave me thirty
thousand dollars; as you can see, I have made you another thirty thousand.”
The CEO commended him: “Well done. You are a competent and reliable
employee! You have been trustworthy in small amounts; I’ll put you in charge
of large amounts.”
The one with twelve thousand dollars also came and reported: “Sir, you gave
me twelve thousand dollars; as you can see, I have made you another twelve
thousand.”
The CEO commended him: “Well done. You, too, are a competent and reliable
worker! You have been trustworthy in small amounts; I’ll put you in charge
of large amounts.
The one who had received six thousand dollars also came and reported: “Sir,
I know that you drive a hard bargain; you seem to make money without even
trying. Since I was afraid, I went out and locked your money safely away.
Look, here it is!”
But the CEO replied to him, “You timid, incompetent worker! So you knew that
I make money with little effort, did you? Then you should have taken my
money to the bankers. Then when I returned I would have received my capital
with interest. Take the money away from this fellow and give it to the one
who has the greatest sum.”
Adapted from the translation from The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really
Say?
(Rated Pink)
SERMON
The “Fearful Investors” of Clovis, New Mexico
How do you interpret the parable of the Fearful Investor? You may have
recognized it as the Parable of the Talents in the Gospel of Matthew. The
original version is on the insert in the program, in case you’re interested.
In The Five Gospels: What Did Jesus Really Say?, scholars rated this parable
“Pink” meaning they believe Jesus said this or something very like it. I’m
going to use their translation to interpret the message here, and then I’ll
tell you how the truth of this parable is connected to my hometown of
Clovis, New Mexico.
First, keeping in mind the theme of all Jesus’ teachings, let’s identify the
“valuables” in the parable, not as money and goods, but as the riches of
love and compassion. And let’s be clear—love and compassion are not
compatible with judgment and intolerance, which qualities more likely to be
found among spiritual paupers.
In the original version of the parable, using the language of 2000 years ago
in Israel, we have an owner, a Master, someone with plenty, who decides to
entrust it to some of those who serve him while he goes away for a while. He
gives them different amounts “to each according to his ability.” This
implies that some are naturally loving and compassionate; others are capable
of love and compassion though it may not come quite so easily; and some find
it difficult to be loving and compassionate.
Those who are naturally loving and compassionate (like the slave who
received 30,000 dollars) know that investing an asset, putting it to work,
will likely result in growth, “doubling the investment.” The second kind of
person, somewhat loving and compassionate, also recognizes that “love isn’t
love until you give it away.” But the person who is filled with fear finds
it difficult to feel love and compassion for others, and like the fearful
slave, tries to protect what little he has, which he constantly fears to
lose.
When the Master asks to know what the servants have done with his valuable
assets, each reports the way he handled them. The Master is pleased that the
first two servants have put the assets to work and increased them, but he is
disappointed with the fearful servant who merely held on to the initial
amount he was given. In the response of the Master, the message is clear
that it is better to use valuable assets than to hoard them. Likewise, when
we love and are good to not only friends and family but also to strangers,
to those less fortunate, and to those who mean us harm—we are investing the
currency of love and compassion in ways that will result in great profits.
The fearful servant’s response in the parable is intriguing. “Master,” he
says, “I know that you drive a hard bargain, reaping where you didn’t sow
and gathering where you didn’t scatter. Since I was afraid, I went out and
buried your money in the ground. Look, here it is!”
This reference to the Master “driving a hard bargain” seems to me a
reference to the teachings of Jesus—perhaps especially to “Love your enemy”
– Now that’s a hard bargain. Then the timid servant comments that the Master
reaps “what he did not sow” and gathers “where he did not scatter” and the
Master acknowledges this in his response. Doesn’t this suggest that love can
be found in places where the Master (i.e., Jesus) hasn’t spread his message?
Does it not imply that such love is an asset that can be gathered in and add
to the overall increase and profit? To me this means that wherever love and
compassion are found, they are included in the overall profits.
Finally, the timid servant explains that because he was afraid, he buried
the money to keep it safe, and now is returning it to its owner. Afraid?
Afraid of what? Afraid of losing what little the Master had entrusted to
him? So his response is to bury it, hide it, not use it, and certainly not
share it. Apply this sentence to love and compassion—and you have the
response of many today who call themselves Christians, but like the fearful
servant, seem not to understand how to invest the currency of love and
compassion.
I had an experience this past week that is a perfect contemporary
illustration of the truth in this parable—which is every bit as true today
as it was 2000 years ago. I met a group of “progressive Christians” who are
walking across the country, from Arizona to Washington, D.C. to call
attention to the “other” voice of Christianity—the voice that has been
drowned out by the likes of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, James Dobson, and
Karl Rove. In the Phoenix Affirmations I read earlier, we find what these
people stand for – or walk for, as it were.
Here is a brief description from The Clovis New Journal account of their
visit in May to my hometown, Clovis, New Mexico.
Friday, May 19, 2006
From the Clovis News Journal
‘Progressive’ Christians spread message in Clovis
By Tonya Garner: CNJ staff writer
They say they are passing through the area spreading Jesus’ message of love.
Their self-described progressive views on Christianity, however, are not
embraced by everyone.
Six primary walkers of CrossWalk America began their four-month journey in
Arizona and plan to end in Washington, D.C., where they will hold a rally to
“nail their affirmations to the doorway of America.” The 2,500-mile trek is
symbolic of the walking Jesus did during his three years of ministry.
Members of the group, who are encouraging volunteers to join them, arrived
Thursday in Clovis and plan to remain in town through Sunday.
The inclusion of all people — including gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender — to the Christian faith is among the group’s affirmations.
According to CrossWalk participants, their affirmations are referred to as
the Phoenix Affirmations and also include:
• Openness to other faiths.
• Care for the Earth and its ecosystems.
• Valuing artistic expression in all forms.
• Opposing the co-mingling of church and state.
• Promoting the values of rest and recreation and prayer and reflection.
• Embracing faith and science in the pursuit of truth.
Walk co-president Eric Elnes said the team relies on the hospitality of
local churches along the route to provide warm beds and meals. But when
CrossWalk officials approached the Clovis Ministerial Alliance via e-mail,
Elnes said the response was less than welcoming. Clovis Christian
Ministerial Alliance Chairman Lance Clemmons, a Presbyterian minister, was
the recipient of the CrossWalk e-mail.
In return correspondence, Clemmons thanked the group for the invitation to
assist the project but said he was unaware of any churches in the Clovis
area that followed “progressive theology.” Clemmons wished them well and
directed them to seek assistance in another community. In a telephone
interview on Thursday, Clemmons told the Clovis News Journal the Ministerial
Alliance chose not to support the walkers because of their affirmations.
“I agree with some of the points,” Clemmons said, “but when it comes to
excusing behavior that God has clearly condemned as sin, I must agree to
disagree.”
Elnes shrugged off Clemmons’ response. He said he expected to run into some
difficulties regarding his beliefs along the way. “I am not interested in
debating (his specific beliefs),” Elnes said. “I only wanted to extend an
invitation to walk with us and enjoy Christian fellowship.”
The Clovis Christian Ministerial Alliance was formed in 2003 with about two
dozen pastors. Its mission is to work together for community improvement,
members have said. Frank Sherman, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church,
said he is a member of the Ministerial Alliance but rarely attends meetings
since he is nearing retirement as a minister. Sherman said his congregation
might have offered hospitality if asked.
“I can’t find anything in the Bible to support the gay lifestyle,” he said,
“but I wouldn’t condemn them for their beliefs.”
Efforts to contact other leaders with the Ministerial Alliance on Thursday
were not successful.
The nondenominational Llano Estacado Metropolitan Community Church of Clovis
has welcomed the group. MCC includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
members. Clovis’ Llano Estacado MCC member Tino Cordova said his church
plans to provide meals for the walkers and has invited them to preach the
sermon for Sunday morning’s worship service.
“We (MCC congregation) are looking forward to hearing them speak,“ he said.
“Just because you are gay or straight doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have access
to a church.”
Elnes and fellow CrossWalk America co-president Rebecca Glenn said they hope
to show Clovis residents that Christianity is not defined by “radical
fundamentalist” voices alone. . . . “We are walking fully and
unapologetically as Christians,” Glenn said. “Each of us has a
responsibility for our own faith.”
Presbyterian minister Lance Clemmons, the head of the Ministerial Alliance
in Clovis, politely told them they would not be welcome at any church in
Clovis and declined to walk with them or be in any kind of conversation. He
suggested they look for some other community to find hospitality, since in
Clovis none would be forthcoming. In a community of over 36,000 people
Pastor Clemmons was positive no one would resonate with the values of
CrossWalk, nor would they be willing to help CrossWalk out in any way even
if their worldview was different.
One of the walkers, Merrill Davison, a 64-year-old man with grandchildren
and a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Phoenix, decided to
attend Pastor Clemmons church that Sunday. Here is his description of what
happened.
Before we arrived in Clovis we communicated with the Ministerial Alliance of
Clovis asking for hospitality. The minister we communicated with told us
“…not only no, but hell no and further, no church in Clovis would welcome
you….” At least that is my interpretation of his comments. I went to his
church not to confront him, but to experience worship with that community of
Christians. It is a beautiful church. I met several very friendly people
before the service. The woman sitting in the pew in front of me was
especially friendly and I explained that I had walked through Clovis on the
preceding Friday with CrossWalk America. A few minutes later the pastor came
by and we introduced ourselves. When he asked what I was doing in Clovis,
the woman said, “he is one of them walkers.” How I wish I could have
captured his expression with my camera. He did not delay in excusing
himself.
. . . During the sermon which was on “Love from God to Love one another”, we
were told that the “love from God was CONDITIONAL on our loving our
neighbor”. . .
The pastor of the Clovis church gave us a “charge” (you can probably guess
what denomination now) that included a story of how one congregation showed
love of their neighbors by giving visitors hospitality. Obviously not
visitors like CrossWalk America. As for me, I gave him my business card as I
shook his hand after church and told him that I would welcome a visit from
him in Phoenix.
What eventually happened in Clovis is described by the documentary filmmaker
traveling with the group:
Clovis welcomed CrossWalk with open arms in the form of:
+ Llano Estacado Metropolitan Community Church . . .
+ The public school where Meighan and Chris were asked to speak to three
different classes about commitment
+ The Baptist minister who shared his story and his art with us at the
coffee house
+ Two radio stations that interviewed Eric and Rebecca and promoted the
mission of CrossWalk – including KIJN Jesus Radio, a conservative Christian
station.
+ Mike Gardell’s radio sermon about CrossWalk America today on KIJN Jesus
Radio
+ Tonya Garner of the Clovis News Journal who placed the story about
CrossWalk on the cover
+ All the people who honked and waved – particularly after the article ran
The affirmations these people embrace show fearless investment in love and
compassion. To refresh your memory, here is a summary of those affirmations:
“ . . . we pledge ourselves completely to the way of Love. We work to
express our love, as Jesus teaches us, in three ways: by loving God,
neighbor, and self.” The way of Love includes 1) following the “path of
Jesus, without denying legitimacy of other paths,” 2) “studying ancient
testimonies which we call Scripture” (but which other peoples may call
something else, like the Koran or the 8-Fold Path); 3) celebrating the God
reflected in creation, “in the earth and its ecosystems, the sacred and
secular, Christian and non-Christian, human and non-human”; 4) expressing
love in “sincere, vibrant and artful” worship; 5) valuing and interacting
with all people, “regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age,
physical or mental ability, nationality, or economic class”; 6) taking the
part of “the outcast and oppressed,” those who are scorned and afflicted
(like drug addicts, homosexuals, and illegal aliens, perhaps?), and seeking
peace and justice whether or not those around us do; 7) protecting religious
freedom by “resisting the commingling of church and state”; 8) remaining
humble, “acknowledging our own shortcomings” at the same time we seek “to
understand and call forth the best in others, including those who consider
us their enemies”; 9) “basing our lives on the faith” acquired through
Jesus’ teachings that “we, and all people, are loved beyond our wildest
imagination—for eternity”—in other words, God is Love or Love is God,
whichever you prefer; 10) “recognizing that faith and science, doubt and
belief serve the pursuit of truth”; 11) recognizing the physical and
spiritual “benefits of reflection, worship and recreation in addition to
work”; and finally, 12) “Acting on the faith that we are born with a meaning
and purpose” which includes a vocation to strengthen and extend God's realm
of love.”
These affirmations express to large extent my own understanding of the
original message of Christianity—the one taught by Jesus, not the
theologians who came later. If we are, as Jesus instructed, to love even
those who mean us harm—our “enemies,” who then should we not love? A person
who can live by these affirmations has unlimited capacity for love and
compassion. This person will know that loving and showing compassion
generates more love and compassion. Someone once told me, “You have to have
money to make money.” The same is true of love and compassion: as money
begats more money, love begats more love. And for those of us who recognize
the value of these affirmations, even if we can’t always live up to them—our
investment pays off and, when we practice them, we also generate more love
and compassion.
But for those fearful Christians in Clovis, and others like them, any love
or compassion they may feel, they keep to themselves and those like them,
those they approve of, those they don’t fear. These fearful investors lock
away what little love they have—it doesn’t grow and expand, it doesn’t
profit them or anyone else. They are afraid of the Source of that love,
apparently believing this Source is a stingy and demanding God. But
according to the teachings of Jesus, the Source of Love gives us all the
love we can possibly hold and more, and according to this parable, prefers
that we take risks with love and compassion and invest in them. Hoarding is
not a profitable use of those assets—only in practicing them can we realize
a profit; only in using them “joyfully and unapologetically,” can we
increase the overall supply of love and compassion.
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