Compliments

Sometimes as a preacher and pastor, I get compliments that I'm not sure what to do with. Usually I just say "thank you", and let it go. But sometimes, the compliments go deeper than usual, which often leads to conversations. I like those.

On Sunday, after preaching on a text from Galatians 4 that is not included in the Revised Common Lectionary, I got quite a few compliments. The one that stuck in my mind as I reflected on the day was the person who said, "Your sermon was very educational today." Typically, I said "thank you", but as I thought about it later in the day, I wondered if it truly was a compliment, or a backhanded way of saying "that was over my head, and a sermon shouldn't require a PhD".

Over the years I've gotten a few compliments on my preaching (and a few complaints) that have caused me some soul searching. Once, at my first church in Illinois, the Associate Superintendent of our conference was visiting with his wife. After the service, she approached me, shook my hand, and said "that was like water to a drowning man." It wasn't until 2 days later that I realized that's not such a good thing. Then there was the time when a parishioner told me that he enjoyed when I preached, as I "didn't say too much." Ouch.

All this got me thinking about what was the best compliment about my preaching that I've ever received. Interestingly, it was given to me by someone trying not to compliment me. A former parishioner of a church I served met with me to talk about why he was leaving our church. As we talked, he said that one of the issues he had with my preaching was that I preached "too much about grace, and didn't point enough fingers at the sins and sinners." He wanted more focus on sin, and less on salvation. More focus on retribution, and less on forgiveness. I was too focused on God's free gift of grace in Jesus Christ.

It wasn't intended to be, but I'm pretty sure that was the best compliment I've ever received when it comes to my preaching.

Maybe the best compliments are always that way.

Stepping Out

Often times I wish the biblical narrative would give just a bit more. It's hard to imagine that after Jesus did some of the things that he did, that the disciples just dropped it. They must have talked about it for hours and days afterwards, either behind Jesus' back, or at times peppering him with further questions. It would be great to know what was said and how it was said.

My guess is that once Peter gets back into the boat after "failing" to walk on the water to Jesus (just for the record, he doesn't fail...he actually does walk on the water, but starts to sink down into the waves once he takes his eyes off of Christ), that there were some serious conversations taking place. A few choice words were probably spoken under the breath..."who does he think he is?"..."Peter's always showing off"..."what a fool".

And knowing Jesus, I can't imagine he let them off the hook that easily. At some point, while they mock and chastise Peter publicly or privately, Jesus must have said to them all, "Yes, but at least he got out of the boat."

That same Peter, when he later sees the resurrected Jesus on the shores of the sea, is so filled with joy, that he again leaps out of the boat (this time naked) regardless of what happens or what it looks like, so that he can be with his savior. They might have laughed or even mocked Peter for sinking once, or swimming naked, but he got out of the boat to follow Christ. He got out of the boat.

We all have our metaphorical boats that protect us from following Christ. Sometimes we even have people in there with us, whose comments and criticisms help us to stay safe inside. But the reality is that Jesus' call to each one of us is simple: "Follow me". And that often means getting out of the boat, even if we get wet in the process.