April 28, 2004

Identity, Impossibility and Independence

Matthew 19:16-30

Sociologists have a label for everything. If you remember World War II then you are part of the "World War II Generation." If you were born between 1946 and 1964 you are part of the "Baby Boomer Generation." If you were born between 1965 and 1973 then you are part of the "X Generation." If you were born after 1974, if you are under twenty-one years of age then consider yourself part of the "Generation Y." How many Generation Y people are here this evening?

Generation Y people are different from the other generations. They are very sensitive to corporate branding. Generation Y people are more concerned with image then quality. That will send a shock through the World War II Generation. How sensation is this generation to branding? Ninety-two per cent of Generation Y people base their purchases based on brand name. According to studies, the average ten year old already knows 300 brand names or logos.

This evening I want to talk about three words, which cut to the heart of this story. These three words have a particular meaning to us as a church and as individuals. These three words can also act as a warning. The all begin with the letter "I."

What is your identity? Who are you? I would guess it would depend who you would ask. Some would say I am the pastor of the Western Reserve United Methodist Church. Some would say I am a preacher. Some would say I am selfish and narrow minded. My neighbors would say I am the guy who always walks the little fat white dog. Kathy would say I am her husband. Sarah and Anna would say I am their father. If you would ask Anna’s friends who I am then they would say Anna’s dad. If you ask me who I am I would say a mess. My mother-in-law would say I am the greatest person in the world. Usually, your identity comes from your possessions, talents or your relations. What is your identity? Who are you?

What is our identity as a congregation? Who are we? When I first came to Western Reserve I discover we had very little identity in this community. In time I discovered there were two reasons for this. One of the reasons is we moved to this spot. Our roots are not in this soil. Our roots were in Cornersburg and the south side of Youngstown. We did not begin in Canfield Township. The second reason was much more personal. The truth is there were many in our congregation, who didn’t like Canfield. Some charter members still don’t. I have heard it a thousand times. People in Canfield are rich snobs. People in Canfield ran out on the once great city. It is my opinion that we didn’t have an identity in this community because many didn’t want to be in this community. The words of Jesus, love your neighbor, were challenging words. It has been four decades since we came to this mailing address, so let me ask you the question again.

On Friday evening when the mothers and daughters are sitting down to eat Kathy, Sarah and Anna and I will be in Atlanta. We will be waiting for a connecting flight to Ft. Myers, Florida. It is our annual trip. It is our annual family reunion. My sister-in-law Sue lives in Naples with her significant other, Dan Tucker. We will see them everyday. We will stay at the same hotel as my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Janine. This year good friends Woody and Jody are coming along. Do you know what we do in Ft. Myers for one week? We do absolutely nothing! I will sit by the pool and get red. I will get in the pool and play with my kids. I will get up early, grab a cup of coffee and look for dolphins. I will walk and hand in hand with my pretty wife and look at the sunset. My brother-in-law will make me look at other pretty girls in their swimsuits. I will never tell a single soul I am a United Methodist preacher to spare them the pain. If asked I will tell them I sell a specialized form of life insurance. I will do things that I will never admit to you. I will spend time with my family. I will spend money. I will think of the words of Jesus. It is impossible for the rich to get into heaven and I will feel a little guilty.

In the past ten years we have seen our church change a lot! God has been good to us! We have added new people and programs. We have added new worship services and ministries. However, the biggest change at Western Reserve in my opinion is our attitude. We have moved away from the survival mode and we feel good about our church. If you don’t believe me, then listen to the words that are spoken during the Lenten series.

The Sunday night Lenten series gives us an opportunity to get into other United Methodist congregations. That is a good thing. The problem is we begin to compare ourselves to them. When I compare them to us I begin to feel better about us! Their buildings are old and in some causes need repair. Our building looks new. Visitors tell me this 40 year old building looks brand new. Their membership is getting smaller and older. We are growing larger and younger. Their choirs are nice but our choir is great! You have even grown accustomed to my preaching! You can take a trained chimp and grow a church in a growing area. That is not too hard. But to grow a church in a dieing area is really something special. I come home from those Lenten series and I feel good about myself and I feel good about our church.