This is my story: Matthias

Acts 1:15-26

 

Opening Words: The Master has touched each one of our lives. Each one of us has a different story. Some stories are quite dramatic, like the Apostle Paul‘s on the Damascus Road. Some stories are quite simple, like mine. This is the truth. The details of the story really doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that at point in your life you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. On this forth Sunday of Lent we hear the story of the last disciple, Matthias. However, what we really hear is how to make a Christian decision. May God give you ears to hear these words from the first chapter of Acts, verses fifteen through twenty-six. May God give you ears to hear.

 

Acts 1:15-26 15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17he was one of our number and shared in this ministry." 18(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, " 'May his place

be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, " 'May another take his place of leadership.' 21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection." 23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

 

Have you ever noticed that life is filled with choices? Perhaps we live in a society that has too many choices? Have you ever gotten tired of making decisions? I have. Let me give you an example.

 

A week ago Friday Kathryn and I went out for dinner. I was using the last of my Christmas gift certificates. I was tired and just wanted to get something to eat. I really didn’t care what I ate. I just wanted something. (I am not picky about what I eat. If it doesn‘t scream when I bite into it, then I am happy.) Anything would have been fine. The hostess seated us and handed us the menu. It was a large menu with large pages. Each page was filled with different options. I looked at all the options and didn’t have a clue. There was a long list of appetizers on one page. The next few pages were filled with entrees. There was a page filled with different kinds of salads. The next page was filled with burgers. There was a smaller menu for beverages. And at the end of the meal the waitress came back with another menu with desert options. It was almost humorous. When I walked into the restaurant I was hungry. I was ready to dig in! However, the longer I sat at the restaurant and looked at the menu the less hungry I grew. I was overwhelmed by all the choices. When the waitress came back to take our order I was tempted to look at her and say, “I am tired. I have had a long day. You seem like a very nice young woman. Whatever you bring me will be fine. Surprise me!”

For years, I have believed that we have too many choices in our society. Has anyone here ever grown tired of making decisions? Life is filled with all kinds of choices. Some of the choices we make are small, like what to eat for dinner. Other choices are big, like what to do with your life. Life is filled with choices!

 

It has always been that way. In the scripture lesson for today the early church is trying to decide what to do. It is impossible to over emphasize how difficult those days were. Look at the timeline of the church. They are in those awkward days between the Master’s ascension and Pentecost. Can you imagine? Everyone is filled with emotions. Everyone is filled with questions. Everyone is filled with the events of the recent past, the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. However, they are afraid to look into the future. How are they supposed to win the world for Jesus? To say the least. They are working with limited resources. They were pre-Pentecost believers.

 

According to the text for this morning, it is Peter who forces the church to look into the future. The author of Acts, Luke, tells us that Peter stood up and addressed the crowd. He reminds them that God’s divine plan for the salvation of the world is being fulfilled. Judas Iscariot’s betrayal was part of the plan. His role in this great drama is complete. The former disciple is buried in a place called the “Field of Blood.” Verse 20 tells us one of the first challenges facing the early church is replacing Judas Iscariot. Peter sets the standard high for the replacement. He is one who had been with the original twelve the whole time, from the times of John the Baptist until the Jesus‘ ascension. Why is experiencing everything so important? Because the early church understood the significance of the resurrection. It was the resurrection of Jesus that defined the early church and it much be proclaimed. So on the bases on Peter’s requirements for apostleship 120 men are qualified to serve. The problem is which one should they choose? It is at this point that the scripture lesson suddenly comes to life. It all boiled down to a simple choice.

 

Today, I want to look at the process the early followers used to select Judas Iscariots’ replacement, Matthias. There is really nothing random about the process. The scriptures reveal to us a set procedure. It is the same procedure we should use here at Western Reserve. I am going to look at the three points briefly. Then I am going to take some more time to apply them to our church today. In our time, we are being forced to make a decision. So if you are ready to decide issues Biblically say, “Amen!”

 

They proposed

The first step when you are faced with a difficult choice is to do your best to make the right choice. The scripture says they proposed two men to fill the void left by Judas Iscariot. Verse 23 says, “So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.” What does that really mean? It means they did their best to select the two best candidates. The process began with 120 men. They had eliminated 118. They would only accept one of the two. When you are faced with a difficult choice do you do your best to uncover all the information? Only a fool doesn’t look at all the consequences. Only a fool hurries an important decision.

 

History tells us Adolph Hitler near the end of the war made military decisions without consulting his military experts. Decisions that should have been made over a period of months, were made in a matter of seconds. He made those choices based on pride and opinions, not on facts. After the war those ignored German military experts called Hitler a fool. Anyone who does not take the time to do their homework before an important decision is a fool. Do you know any fools? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

 

They prayed

 

The second step when you are faced with a difficult choice is to pray. God looks at our world from a different perspective. Verses 24 and 25 say, “Then they prayed, ‘Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.‘” What does that mean? It means that human effort is not enough. In the life of the church we pray to receive God’s wisdom and guidance. In church we pray to obtain an eternal perspective. In the life of the church it is not about our opinions and passions. It is about uncovering our role for God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Sometimes in the middle of a new idea we find God’s will and sometimes we just find personal passion. We pray to discern between the two. Have you ever prayed before you made a difficult decision? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

 

They cast

The third and final step when you are making a difficult choice is to try. There comes a time when you have to do something. It isn’t enough to keep researching. It isn’t enough to keep praying. There comes a time when you have to choose. Verse 26 says, “Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Casting lots is part of the Biblical narrative. For example, in the Old Testament, Joshua cast lots to divide the Promised Land among the tribes and in the story of Jonah lots were cast to discern who was responsible for the great storm. In the New Testament, the guards divided up Christ’s clothes at his crucifixion. In ever decision process there comes a time when some sort of action must be taken. Have you ever met anyone who has taken years trying to decide what to do with their lives? Just do something! God will tell you if you re right or Wong. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

 

If you read the Religion page of yesterday’s Vindicator you will find an article about our newest project. We are attempting to reclaim three silent pipe organs from the city of Youngstown. The heart of the organ is coming from the former First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), next to the Butler. Secondary parts of the organ will also come from the former Pilgrim Collegiate Church and the Epworth Methodist Church. According to Vic Marcillious of the Victor Organ Company, the value of the new pipe organ will be $375,000. We have the opportunity to purchase and install it for approximately $100,000. I am not behind this project because I am a great music lover. It is important that you know I am behind this project for four unrelated reasons.

 

First, I support this project because I value history. The Mahoning Valley has always been my home. We have lost enough of our heritage in this area. It is a time to draw a line in the sand and stop the erosion. If we do not move forward on this project then they will be sold to another area of our country. Or they will remain in the city and fall into ruin. Never to be heard again. We are saving a piece of history.

 

Second, I am behind this project because it is the best economic option we have. The life of an electronic organ is fifteen years. Our organ is 13 years old. It is showing its age. If you have ever heard it hum when it is turned on then you know something is happening. It has been said our organ has a mind of its own. The cost of a new comparable electronic organ is $56,000. (The rage of a new electronic organ runs between $56,000 and $110,000) In fifteen years it will have to be replaced at a cost of more then $56,000. The life of a pipe organ is forty years. I will be 92 years old when it will need major work. I will leave that job to the next generation.

 

Third, I am behind this project because it makes a stand for traditional worship. If I were a real church growth person then I would tell you to scrap traditional worship. However, this is the problem with that line of thought. Traditional worship is what we value. It is our identity. It is where God seems to be blessing us and what we do best. Why would we stop doing what we do best? The shift to contemporary worship would tear our church apart at the seams. (I don’t make that much money!)

 

Forth, I am behind this project because the new chancel design will open up this church to a new generation of public activities and makes it safer. Historically, the greatest challenge facing this church is visibility. We have a high retention rate of welcoming visitors but we have a low rate of first time visitors. This church is still the best kept secret in the area because no one can find us. If you do not believe me then answer the phone the day of a large community event. The people on the other end of the line ask, “Where are you located on Western Reserve Road?” Let me say this. It is too late to change the name but it is not too late to open this church building up to the community. We are only hard to find once. The new chancel design will enable us to become the focus point of this area of the country. I am behind this organ project for those four reasons. Why are you for it or why are you against it?

 

So how do we make such a painful choice? I believe you look to the Bible and look for a time when the church had to make a difficult choice. The church faced no greater choice then when they had to fill the vacancy left by Judas Iscariot’s sudden death. What did they do to make their choice? They proposed. They prayed. They cast. And that is what we will do.

 

I would like to thank the steering committee that has helped me in this process. I know they have been working hard. I know I have been working hard. We are working hard because we want to proposed the best possible option. God deserves our best effort. We have been working on this grant process to pay for this project. In a perfect world the vast part of the money will come from outside of the church.

 

I want to thank you for praying for this project. I not really interested in your opinions. I am interested in God’s will. For once we stop desiring God’s will then we stop being the church. You can be mad at me but it is important that you know that I will still like you. God’s approval is the only thing I desire.

 

Finally, I want to thank-you for your patience. There will come a day when we will vote. I plan on voting when we have all the money in hand. I do not plan on borrowing any money. And when you vote we will not just be voting but we will be casting lots. I expect you to accept the cast in whatever way it goes. Let me end with this story.

 

During World War II, Winston Churchill was forced to make a painful choice. The British secret service had broken the Nazi code and informed Churchill that the Germans were going to bomb Coventry. He had two alternatives: (1) evacuate the citizens and save hundreds of lives at the expense of indicating to the Germans that the code was broken; or (2) take no action, which would kill hundreds but keep the information flowing and possibly save many more lives. Churchill had to choose. What choice would you make? Churchill decided to keep the secret. Hundreds of innocent people died because the Prime Minister decided to do nothing.

 

This is the Good News. No one is going to die! The choice that we have to make is much simpler. The only things it is going to cost is money! It is going to cost some money one way or the other. Either we install a new electronic organic or we install pipe organ. The choice is ours. May we propose, pray and cast. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”