Perfection
Among the Imperfect
1
Corinthians 12:12-20
Opening
Words: Next
week I begin a new sermon series, Judgment Day. We will be looking
at Jesus’ parable that deal with the final judgment. I will
admit I intended to start that sermon series today but I am still
emotionally hung over from my mission trip to Russia. So today’s
message is a combination report, sermon and refection on my last two
weeks. I will admit I am preaching more from the heart then a
manuscript. Let me call this message this morning Perfection
Among the Imperfect. Our
primary text is 1 Corinthians 12:12-20- May God give you ears to
hear.
1
Corinthians 12:12-20 12
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts
form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by
one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles,
slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now
if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not
belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be
part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am
not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that
reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an
eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an
ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has
placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted
them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
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Webster
defines perfection as, the quality of something that is as good
or suitable as it can possibly be. Historically Russian society
has been a society that demands perfection. Mistakes or
imperfections will not be tolerated. It is difficult for us to
understand as Westerners. We champion the down and the out. We
protect individuals rights, even if it hurts the whole. Easterners
are more concerned about what is best for the whole, even if it
hurts the individual. It is this reasons that children born
imperfect are sent to orphanages to live with others “imperfects.”
A
collection of those imperfect children can be found in Dmitriv,
Russia. That is where I have spent the last two weeks. The Renewal
Orphanage is home for 120 handicapped children. (We only saw 58.)
There is a wide range of disabilities represented. Some have
deformed hands, arms and legs. Others have no hands arms or legs.
Sometimes their problems are physical. Sometimes their problems are
psychological or emotional. The only thing that these children share
in common is a questionable future and a sad past. They are
dismissed by their own society because of their imperfections but
the Christian faith refuses to let us tolerate such behavior. They
are not just handicapped, they are children of God, who deserve to
be loved.
At
this point let me say four things about these trips. I hope you hear
each one clearly.
First,
when you are in the presence of these children politics disappears.
I was raised during the Cold War. I know the tension that exists
between the United States and the former Soviet Union. Politics is
important when you are here but when you are surrounded by loved
starved Russian orphans it suddenly does matter. The only thing that
matters is making them happy at that moment.
Second,
when you are in the presence of these children their disability
disappears. I do not work naturally with the disabled. There have
been times I have been intimidated by the disabled. However, the
longer you are with the child, the more the disability disappears
and their personality emerges.
Third,
the finest people I have ever known have gotten involved in a
Volunteer in Missions trip. The reason is people who go on these
trips are consumed with human need. The are overly concerned with
programs or budgets. They are concerned with people, who are in
need. They go to help those in need and have the time of their
lives.
Forth,
these trips are addicting. These trips are not easy, this was really
not a vacation. You don’t speak the language. You eat Russian
food and sleep in a lumpy orphans bed. You are not trusted by some
because they can’t forget about politics. I came back once and
announced that I would never go back. Kathy and Sarah are still in
Russia. (They get home tomorrow night.) I emailed her when I get
home. I was emotionally and spiritually charged. I asked her the
question, when are you planning the next trip? I want to be the
first one to sign up. Why? Because the children in the Russian
orphanage system live for the moment and appreciate everything. They
don’t complain, suggest or demand. They really don’t
care who doesn’t like them. They aren’t even aloud in
the kitchen. They have nothing but they are positive about live.
What do they know that we have missed?
Every
night the group gathered for devotions and talked about that day’s
activities. Everyone took a turn. One night a woman from The
Ridgewood United Methodist Church in Parma lead our devotions.
Claire read the passage you just heard from First Corinthians. When
you are sitting in a Russian orphanage filled with disabled children
it is a powerful piece of scripture. It was common not to have a
hand or a foot. Paul is talking about unity. The city of Corinth was
diverse, boast a population of 650,000 free men, plus women and
slaves. So the church at Corinth was diverse. He said that some how
the church had to learn how to function as a single unit. Clare has
been involved in her church her entire life, she knew the struggles
of the local congregation. The observed the children in the
orphanage and discovered a unity and team work that is rear in this
world. Clare couldn’t have been more correct. In the ten day
we had the privilege of living with them they taught us about unity
and the real meaning of community and fellowship. fellowship.
I
want share with you today the things I learned from the children of
the Renewal Orphanage in Dmitriv. I hope you can learn from them as
well. I think we could use these lessons here at Western Reserve. So
if you are ready to learn from imperfect Russians who live in a
perfect community say, “Amen!”
Use
what you have been given.
The
first thing they taught me was to use what you have. Wouldn’t
it be nice to go to a church where every used what they had? Would
it be nice to go to a church where everyone was permitted to use
what they had? Have you ever served on a Nominating Committee and
everyone says, “NO!”?
There
was a boy by the name of Philip. He had no use of any of his arms or
his legs. He was a quadriplegic, who loved to put together jigsaw
saw puzzles. He would pick up the pieces with his teeth, spin them
into position with his lips and push the pieces into place with his
chin. He was the poster boy for the theme: USE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN
GIVEN! Are you using everything that you have been given? And all of
God’s people said, “Amen!”
Share
what you have been given.
The
second thing they taught me was share what you are given. Wouldn’t
it be nice to go to a church where people cooperate with one
another? Would it be nice to go to a church where there was no mine
or yours? Would it be nice to go to a church where everything was
ours?
In
Russia New Years Eve is the most anticipated night of the year. The
cook of the orphanage, Rosa, went all out for the night. She set up
two long tables of food for the occasion. She made everything
including all kinds of fish, wine and Champaign. The American sat at
one table the older orphans sat at the other. They wheeled in a
television and at midnight their President, Dmitry Medvedev, spoke
to the nation. Their national anthem was played and those that were
able stood up. some beautiful photographs were shown of their
nation. Many went downtown for the fireworks display but I stayed be
hide. I sat at this long table alone and watched the teenagers
celebrate the New Year. One of the young men by the name of Victor
sat with his friends. I remembered him from the previous trip
because he had an outstanding attitude about life. His attitude is
amazing especially when you consider the fact that he is a
quadriplegic.
The
only reason he was able to eat the feast was that his friends feed
him. They would feed him the greasy meat, a piece of cheese or a
smelly fish delight. And when he wanted a slip of wine (I don’t
want to shock you good Methodists) his friends held the glass up to
his lips. I will never celebrate New Years Eve the same way again.
They taught me to share what you have been given. What do you have
to share? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”
Serve
with humility
The
third thing the orphans taught me was to serve with humility. In the
scripture lessons every part of the body had a different function.
Every part did the best they could because every part understood
they made up one complete body. The total was more then the sum of
the parts. Would it be nice to go to a church where the total was
more then the sum of the parts? Wouldn’t it be nice to go to a
church where others were more important then yourself?
The
routine was the same everyday. We gathered a team every night at
9:00 and did devotions. By that time the younger children where down
for the day. The teenagers would stay up later. As devotions the
Americans would just sit and talk. In time some of the teenage boys
would show up to go to bed. Four of the boys lived in room 35. They
were sort of odd room mates. One boy had no facial expression. Two
of the boys were quadriplegics. The forth boy was named Andre. He
was a thin as a rail and had no muscle tone on one side of his body.
Andre became the care taking for the two boys in the wheelchairs.
The four of them would file into room 35. Every night the door would
shut behind them. Every night Andre was walk past us with two
pitchers of urine from his friends. Without an ounce of pride Andre
was walk by the Americans to pour the urine down the toilet. She
never seem embarrassed. We are matter of fact he would laugh. Andre
could have lead a workshop on servant evangelism. He was an expert.
He reminded us we need to serve in humility. And all of God’s
people said, “Amen!”
One
afternoon went down to play with the youngest children. They were
four, five and six years old. Kathy and I were sitting on a sofa
side by side when a little girl jump between us. Her name was Ollie.
She was perfect except for one obvious problem. Her head was too
big. She had a big smile on her face and threw herself against Kathy
and hugged her. Then she said something that haunts me in the middle
of the night. She smiled at Kathy and said in perfect Russian, “MY
MOMMY.” There is only one problem with that story. Kathy
couldn’t be her mommy. I can’t be her daddy. The best we
can do is make her happy for a few days with a new hoodie and a
plastic bags of small gifts. I wish we could do more but we can‘t.
I will never forget her.
On
the days that I feel tired and defeated, when everyone is upset and
giving me suggestions on how to do my job, I am going to remember
Ollie. And for a moment I may feel a little jealous of her because
she lives in a real community. A community where everyone is
encouraged to use what they have been given. A community where they
share what they have been given. A community where everyone serves
in humility. Wouldn’t it be nice to go to a church like that?
And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”
