Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Sermon Audio-January 17, 2010 by the Rev’d Warren Hicks

Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

I hesitate to even post on this because it’s so NOT worth drawing attention to, however……

In a ‘news’ broadcast on his cable channel yesterday Pat Robertson made the claim that the earthquake in Haiti was just the latest in a series of tragic events to befall the country and that all of those events are the result of a ‘pact made with the devil.’

I simply want to say brother Robertson, you neither speak for God, or the tradition of Jesus handed down over twenty centuries. And in fact your assertion is in direct opposition to the Bible that you so assiduously cling to as the support for your ‘ministry’.

I simply point out that in Genesis after the flood (Genesis 9:1-13) God declares that he will never again destroy humanity because of the people’s infidelity.

Make no mistake, Haiti is not the whole world, but it seems to me, in my limited understanding and experience, that God’s word is to be taken seriously.  Namely, that Covenant is always kept by God.  By human beings, not so much.

I cannot find a way to make the promise of God not to wantonly destroy people conditional upon any ‘pact’ made with an already defeated foe.  Make no mistake, I do believe that evil is real and that suffering is a part of life, but I also believe the Bible when it says that God, “does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.” (Lamentations 3:31-33)

We who take Jesus, God and the Bible seriously need to claim the true nature of God in the face of the spiteful proclamations, faulty theology and scapegoating mentality that seems to be the cornerstone of what passes for ‘Christianity’ in Pat Robertson’s worldview.

What I saw and heard in the aftermath of the disaster on Tuesday night,  was a nation that, in the midst of their shock, grief despair and suffering; took to the streets in some numbers and sang hymns to God.  I have also seen Churches and faith communities across the continuum in our country and around the world rise to the occasion and be the presence of Christ to a suffering people.

With all due respect Mr. Robertson, perhaps you could stand with a bit of a ‘great returning to God’ as you called the nation of Haiti to yesterday.  Have you no human decency, sir?  Have you no shame?

May God continue to bear up the broken hearted in Haiti and throughout this broken world and may we who bear the mark and seal of Christ continue to serve them in His Name and proclaim the Gospel, the Good News, of peace, love and redemption that was the essence of Jesus’ earthly ministry and is an unwavering and unchangeable characteristic of our God and the Father of all of humanity.

–The Rev’d Warren Earl Hicks

I spent a good deal of time praying for the havoc wrought by Hurrican Ike across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico this weekend.  I also hear my own voice (ok, so it’s from the Letter of James!) “Faith without works is dead!”

To that end, I’m going to click on the Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) website today and give something to accompany my prayers.  I respectfully encourage you to do the same with the charitable organization of your choice. I’m designating my contribution to the island nation of Haiti which is desperately poor and has been lashed by 4 hurricanes this season.

I use ERD because their performance in getting high percentages of donations to where they’re needed quickly is outstanding.

Keep praying and give a little to back up God’s care with your action!