Reverend
Tawana Davis
October
11, 2015
Shorter
Community AME Church
Sermon
Theme: My Inalienable Right to Live!
II Corinthians 1:3-4;
2:1-4 NRSV
Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who
consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who
are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled
by God. So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit. For if
I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have
pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer
pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all
of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you. For I wrote to you
out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you
pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
Focus Verse: For I wrote you out of much distress and
anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you
know the abundant love that I have for you.
In
other words as Desmond Tutu says "My humanity is caught up, is
inextricably bound up, in yours."
Introduction
Out
of distress Paul pens this open, truthful, transparent, heartfelt letter to the
people of Corinth. A reminder of our
inalienable right to live. To love is to live. To feel anguish and distress is
to live. To shed tears is to live. Paul reminds the people of Corinth of his
love for them and his desire for them to live and live life abundantly as he
taught them to do.
Move I ~
Background
Paul,
who at the time moved to Ephesus after ministering in Corinth, heard of the continued
problems in Corinth. The Corinthians
were known for their licentiousness – just wilding out and out of control. Now while Paul was in Corinth, he developed a
love for the people. He wanted them to
experience a conversion to follow the teachings of Jesus the Christ. He was affected by them; he loved them so
much that when they hurt, he hurt. He
was encouraged by them. He stayed for
some time feeding off of their desire to learn and want to change. So when he was in Ephesus continuing his missionary
journey, he received word that the people where in bad shape again.
Therefore,
Paul writes to the people of Corinth ~ he is writing to them not to hurt them
but to describe his level of hurt and disappointment. But evidently this was received by the
Corinthians much differently. So here we
are at the point where Paul in his aggravation, pain and sorrow, writes an
explanation to the Corinthians; an explanation of why he had to stay away and
why he wrote such harsh letters. Paul’s
anguish caused him to act. His hurt and
tears moved him to a place of action, change, forward movement, forgiveness,
accountability, maturity, initiative, and love.
Sometimes the very thing that does not feel good is the thing that moves
us toward transformation, learning, progress, and liberation.
Paul
experienced anguish, tears, hurt and pain.
Which don’t necessarily make us feel good. So why would G-d create feelings that don’t
feel so good? When we were little kids and our parents and/or guardians told us
not to touch the stove because it is hot and what did we do, we touched the
stove, burned our hands and said “Ouch, hot!”
Although the feeling of slightly burning oneself does not feel good it
served as a warning to stay away from the stove. If we did not have this warning in place we
could end up being seriously hurt. Why
would God create feelings that don’t feel so good? When Richard Allen, the first consecrated
Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was dragged off of his knees
in St. George’s church, a Euro-American church, I am sure this was hurtful,
humiliating, and painful. Out of this
pain, Richard Allen decided to never experience that type of pain again and
started African Methodist Episcopal Church. Why would God create feelings that
don’t feel so good? I am sure Jarena Lee
the first female preacher in the AME Church was heartbroken when she was 1st
denied a preaching license and it was this disappointment that fueled her work preaching
to hundreds and thousands traveling thousands of miles to preach the Gospel anyway
and still inspires women preachers to this day!
My
uncle was very ill prior to his death in 2014.
He couldn’t take 10 steps without his oxygen tank due to various health
challenges. When I was in NY I had an opportunity
to spend some time with him. He said to
me “Tawana I have never been happier.
What you see, I did this to me. I
led a rough life and made some crazy decisions in the process. But what you see is not what you get. I am happy.
I am at peace. What you see is
mine (as he pointed around his one bedroom apartment). I have food in my refrigerator and that is
big for me because you know I love to cook.
I have money so if anyone comes to me for help I am in a position to
help. I got my family and my
friends. But most of all I have
God. Despite my choices and what I’ve
done to myself, God still loves me and allowed me to experience peace, love,
and joy. It was in my pain and anguish
that I have come to a place of peace and serenity.” God gave us these emotions
so that we could respond accordingly – G-d gave us the feeling of hurt and pain
so that we could respond differently – a defense mechanism in order to do
better, do differently, and to keep one safe.
Out
of Paul’s distress and anguish came this letter ~ a letter that speaks life
into a dying and dreadful situation. Paul could’ve stayed in Ephesus and
ignored the cries of the people in Corinth.
He could have said my job is done and I am over them. Yet, out of his
hurt he speaks healing and hope to a licentious community. This is what we do,
especially has an African American culture: we make bricks without straw, we
love beyond measure, we create greatness out of pain and distress. Out of pain came amazing musicians, artists,
philanthropist, civil rights leaders, abolitionist, freedom fighters,
legislation, and brilliant pioneers. Out
of anguish Black educational institutions were built during a time when we were
still enslaved. Out of suffering Black churches and business were established. Out
of hurt, despair, frustration, anger came the Black Lives Matter Movement. And
quite frankly (if I may pause right here,) I am not going to argue with you
about White lives matter or all lives matter ~ you can have the
hastag/slogan/movement because truth be told this means that it is your
children that are being murdered by law enforcement, it is your children that
have substandard education, it is your children who are disproportionately
incarcerated in mass number! I pray this never happens as I pray for the
killing of my people, mind/body/spirit, will cease.
Paul
allowed his hurt and anguish to move him out of a space of separation to a
space of reconciliation. Therefore, it
is not what we are dealing with, it is how we respond. Paul is showing us how to be accountable,
compassionate, and exhibit unconditional positive regard for our sisters and
brothers. Paul said “For I wrote you out
of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears…” Accountability –
liable for one’s own actions; I did it and I acknowledge my part in this
situation. “…not to cause you
pain…” Operating with good intention –
What I did is not only on me but my intention was not to hurt you or cause you any
pain. And since messages aren’t always
received the way they were intended – I apologize. “…but to let you know the abundant love that
I have for you.” The agape love of God
and Jesus the Christ – unconditional love – a great deal of love - I love you
even though you are upset with me and I am disappointed in you – I love
you. I love you anyway!
Move II
It
is during the times of pain and distress and anguish we find our purpose,
peace, strength, and creativity. It was
Paul’s anguish caused him to move through his space of hurt into a space of
restoration and reconciliation which is indicative of African Americans and/or
the Black diaspora: When the
Euro-Americans said we could not worship ~ we had to steal away into the brush
arbors and create our own worship experience!
When the powers that be said that we would never be free and Harriett
Tubman, who was beaten and whipped and even suffered a traumatic head wound
when she was hit by a heavy metal weight thrown by an irate overseer, responded
to her pain by freeing slaves and could have freed hundreds more if they knew
they were enslaved. The AME Church and her
struggles since its inception produced the likes of James Cone, black
theologian and professor at Union Theological Seminary in NY; Renita Weems,
biblical scholar, author, and powerful preacher; Hallie Q. Brown educator,
writer and activist; and Jacqueline Grant pioneer in the womanist movement and
theologian. Out of the struggle, hurt, pain, oppression, anguish, pain, tears
we must have the wherewithal to move out of our current situation, be
accountable for our actions, and take the necessary steps toward liberation and
transformation.
(Allow
me to pause again.) I am not waiting for
someone to give me or my people a hand out.
I am not waiting for someone else to honor who we are as beautiful,
creative, brilliant, spirit-filled children of G-d, I am not waiting for my 40
acres and a mule. What I am waiting for
is an opportunity to live! To live and to live life more abundantly. To live as a human being with human rights
with human dignity. I am waiting for the
equitable and fair opportunity to live.
And if I blow it, that is on me.
Yet, when I accept it, flourish, and prosper, I will then live out the statement
promised to me in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be
sacred and undeniable: that all men (humans) are created equal and independent,
that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable,
among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of
happiness:…” And from July 5th, 1776 to date, we have not been
afforded the unalienable right to live!
Move III
Unalienable
~ unable to be taken away from or given away by the possessor ~ regarded as too
important to be interfered with ~ not qualified or diminished in any way ~
never to be broken, infringed, or dishonored (google)
Live
~ to remain alive ~ living not dead ~ the existence of a human being or an
animal (google)
Liberty
~ the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed
by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views (google)
Pursuit
of happiness ~ The pursuit of happiness is defined as a fundamental right
mentioned in the Declaration of Independence to freely pursue joy and live life
in a way that makes you happy, as long as you don't do anything illegal or
violate the rights of others. (your dictionary.com)
From
slavery, to the emancipation proclamation, to civil rights, to Jim Crow, to
mass incarceration – substandard education – unemployment – crime – policing –
according to Justice or else 45.3M people in the USA are living in poverty ~ 2x
Black unemployment is twice that of Whites ~ 60% of people in prison are Black
and Latino ~ 32.4% of Native American youth under 18 live in poverty ~ 28hrs
from now police will have murdered someone Black. From then until now we have
been denied this unalienable right to live!
And
before I move on, please let’s talk about: “Well he should’ve been…” “Well if
she hadn’t…” “We I did it so why can she or he…” I am not excusing bad,
illegal, immoral behavior. What I am
troubled by is the disproportionate penalties levied against our people, the
targeting of our Black and Brown men and women; boys and girls ~ what I am
troubled by is folk telling us to get it together, pull yourselves up by your
own boot straps and my response is “we will but you are maliciously,
intentionally, and deliberately taking and keeping my boots with the straps.” ~
Distress, anguish, frustration, disgust!
Move IV
For I wrote you out of
much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain,
but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
Paul
writes the letter out of distress and anguish through his tears for the people
of Corinth whom he loved dearly. What is
God calling us to do in the midst of our distress, anguish, and tears? Is God calling us to stay separated from
those we may have had a disagreement with?
Is God calling us to stay angry at those who misunderstand us? Is G-d calling us to degrade and demean
others in the name of Jesus? Or is God
calling us to be like Paul ~ to take initiative, to make a change, to be
accountable, to be loving, forgiving, hopeful, and communal. To love beyond measure ~ to exhibit unconditional
positive regard. To live and to live transcending our own biases, egos, and
adverse feelings.
What
Paul does here is a powerful example of how we come to understand and
acknowledge our inalienable right to live for our humanity is inextricably bound
regardless of the situation or circumstance.
Paul also exemplifies the fact that we do not have the power to change
others yet we have the power to change how we respond especially in the midst
of our anger, frustration, and distress.
We must understand that our humanity is inextricably bound in one
another. Ubuntu ~ I am because we are ~ we are therefore I am. This means if
Blacks need to be liberated from oppression then Whites need to be liberated
from White privilege. If the poor are meeting their basic needs by any illegal
or immoral means necessary then the rich are just as immoral, unjust, and
uncompassionate by turning a blind eye. If Public Education is failing and
another school in the area is thriving shame on both for not reaching out to
one another learn and to share so that all might be successful.
Paul
exemplifies this unalienable right to live through the love, care, compassion,
forgiveness, repentance, and hope shown in this letter which is rooted in a
cross bearing relationship. Paul states
this perfectly in the opening sentences of this letter. Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the G-d of mercies and the G-d
of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may
be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with
which we ourselves are consoled by God. Consoled means comfort and if the
Holy Spirit, the paraclete, is our comforter then it is spirit that bounds us
together through our shell of humanity.
As much as you try to ignore it ~ as much as you try to deny it ~ as
much as you try to pit us against them ~ we are all children of G-d and if you
hurt I hurt ~ If you fail I fail ~ If you are dying then I am dying.
This
shift in kingdom building is nothing new nor is it some grand idea I came up
with. We (as in the world) got it
twisted when we began to conform to the ways of this world instead of being
transformed by the renewing of our minds. Paul makes it very plain. When you
hurt I hurt but thanks be to G-d we have a Comforter who will console US unto
reconciliation and liberation from our ailments and free us from our
licentiousness so that we might live!
Conclusion
My
inalienable right to live, then, is rooted in the word of G-d. Not my feelings
which are temporary. Not my damaged ego. Not my need to control others. Not in what others might think of me. Not rooted
in politicians ~ not in the constitution or the declaration of independence ~
not rooted in the 13th amendment that states that slavery by way of
mass incarceration is legal.
My
inalienable right to live is rooted in the word of G-d which states: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more
abundantly. (John 10:10)
My
inalienable right to live is rooted in Psalm 139:14: I praise you, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very
well. (Black
Lives Matter is reminding Black folk of this very fact)
My
inalienable right to live is rooted in Genesis 2:7: then the Lord God formed human from the dust of the
ground, and breathed into the nostrils the breath of life; and the human
became a living being.
My inalienable right to
live is rooted in
the life of my sisters and brothers ~ despite status, race, employment status,
educational prowess…
My
pain and promise
My
hurt and healing
My
worry and worship
My
suffering and salvation
Paul
reminds us of this inalienable right to live by speaking life to what seemed to
be a dying situation ~ speaking love to the unloved ~ speaking hope to the
hopeless ~ showing unconditional positive regard a sister or brother just
because our humanity is inextricably bound.
For
I write to you, Shorter, out of much distress and anguish of heart and with
many tears because our people are dying, our people are unemployed, our people
are receiving substandard education, our people are poor, homeless, hungry, in
despair. I write to you not to cause you
pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. And with this
love I implore you to love the Lord our G-d with all your heart, soul, and
strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
That is your pew neighbor, your community neighbor, your work neighbor,
your Black, White, poor, rich, homeless, gang member, drug addict, lost
neighbor. For it is this love that
speaks life and this life is inalienable.
A
life that is rooted in Jesus Christ ~ Therefore, my inalienable right to live
is rooted in Jesus the Christ ~ G-d’s only begotten son and WHOSOEVER believes
in Him shall not perish but have eternal life! Jesus the one who paid it all ~
the one who died and arose from the dead so that we might live! Jesus the one
who suffered: was ridiculed, ostracized, marginalized, despised, falsely
arrested, falsely accused, could’ve been killed in custody but the oppressor
didn’t want blood on his hands, was beaten, spat on, a victim of mass
incarceration, abused by the enforcers of the law who are called to protect and
serve and not seek, kill, and destroy; Jesus, the one who was forced to carry
His cross to his own execution (a cross that looks like Arizona and Skittles, a
hoodie, the failure to signal, a cross that looks like the color of our skin.) Jesus,
the one nailed to the old rugged cross, hung high, stretch wide, murdered on
Friday, handled his business behind the scenes on Saturday ~ and on the third
day, despite evil, despite the oppressor, despite racism, classism, sexism,
marginalization of poor communities, failing schools, broken families,
increased violence… Jesus got up with all power in his hands so that we might
have an inalienable right to live!!!
#BlackLivesMatter
Never hopeless, forever searching...
Rev. T
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