A Radical Faith
Romans 5: 1-11
Do you really believe the scripture lesson from
Romans?
Think
about what it says:
“While we were yet sinners Christ died for
us.”
It doesn’t
say when we finally got good enough
Went
to church enough, taught enough,
Went
on enough mission trips,
Kept
our nose clean and
language pure.
It
says: While we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.”
It also says that “suffering
produces endurance,
endurance
produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love
has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit
that has been
given us.”
Again, we
don’t earn it, it has been given us
As a free gift from God.
If we believe this then nothing should be impossible
for us.
If we
believe the saving love of God in Christ then
Our faith shifts from being a duty or
obligation
To
being a joy and response of thanksgiving
To
the God who has given us everything.
It
means that there should be a joy
And
optimistic spirit
In our faith and discipleship.
It
means that people can see the light
Of
Christ in our face and hear the
Joy of Christ in our voice.
If we believe this then we don’t have to give up
On humankind because God hasn’t.
We
can invest ourselves in teaching our youth
Speaking
out against racism,
Standing up against the evil forces in the world.
If we believe this then our faith shift from being
something
Safe
that we do on Sunday morning to
Something
that inspires and informs and transforms
every part of our
life.
We shift from being a safe faith that believes in what
we can do
To
a radical faith in what God can and is doing through us.
Bill
Brewer had such a radical, joy filled,
life affirming,
community building faith.
He was and is an inspiration to those of
us who have gathered to
Remember
his life and ministry this day.
Bill heard the call to ministry and had
to leave his father’s dairy
business, much as James and John left their father’s
fishing business to follow Jesus call.
That
is a radical faith.
Bill heard the call to defend his
country and the world
Against
Hitler and Nazi
The love of his life, Jean- that was a radical faith.
Bill felt the call to invest himself in
teaching young people
Much
the way Jesus taught his disciples.
Bill
approach was that if a young person missed
Confirmation
class, Bill wouldn’t yell at him
But
rather he would go to the student’s house
And
personally teach the lesson.
By
the end Bill had 100% attendance in confirmation.
Young
people who attended this were exposed to
A radical life changing, joyful faith.
Bill wasn’t afraid to lead his
congregation to accept black
parishioners at a time when that decision wasn’t popular. Bill led his people with gentleness,
boldness, humor,
playfulness and courage
in much the same manner of Jesus.
Now Bill faith did sometimes get him in
trouble.
There
was the time when Bill’s sermon got a little long
And
he told the parishioners that if anyone’s roast
Got
burnt they could come by Bill and Jeans
For the
By
the time Bill and Jean got home from church that day
The
cars were parked around the block with
People
from Bill’s church who playfully were
Taking him up on that offer.
That story is not only a testimony to
Bill’s relationship with
His
church but even more of a testimony of Bill’s
relationship to his
wife of 62 years, Jean.
They were definitely partners in
ministry
With Bill out there on the
edge and
Jean
providing the solid center.
They trusted each other, believed in
each other
And shared an amazing belief
and trust
In Jesus Christ who sustained them both.
They
were able to raise children who loved the church
Because
even as Bill was committed to ministry
He
was committed to his family.
He
would listen to them,
They
would spend time with them
on family
vacations,
they were a
part of his life
and
faith journey.
Bill’s
son Dennis tells of spending time in the workshop
With
Bill while they built furniture, tree houses,
Basketball goals.
I
imagine that those were times when Bill shared his faith
much as Joseph would have shared his faith with Jesus
as they spent time together in the carpenters shop.
Bill’s
daughter Marilyn tells of being one of the youngest
Deacons in the church as a
teenager.
It is a real testimony to a pastor when
his children
Who know the real struggles of church
politics are willing to serve on the boards.
Bill’s faith had a playful quality to it
because it wasn’t his
It
belonged to his Savior Jesus Christ.
And
Bill was truly a friend and colleague in ministry
To
everyone of us pastors and lay leaders
who are here
today.
We will miss Bill’s innovations and joy
in worship,
The
cups of coffee we shared with him at McDonalds,
Lunches
shared at the Presbyterian Manor,
Thought
provoking questions in Bible study,
And
a true friend in faith,
The radical faith of Jesus Christ.
Bill wrote or chose most of the litany
we used today.
So
it is appropriate that I conclude with a thought
That
Bill shared at Bob Brewer’s funeral in 2000.
“Imagine stepping beyond the sunset and
finding it to be heaven!
Think of taking
hold of a hand and finding it God’s hand!
Of feeling strangely warmed and finding it is life
eternal! Thank of passing through the
storms of life and finding
an unbroken, peaceful
calm.
Imagine waking
up and finding ourselves home!”
Bill died peacefully on Sunday morning
September 30th.
He
had just finished breakfast, was sitting in a chair,
Reading his Bible.
When
the nurse returned, some would say,
“He
was gone”.
But we know better. He was in his eternal home prepared by God.