Sid Burgess, pastor of Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, AL,

          has a vision of a banner for his church.

                   That banner would be right on the corner, where the traffic light

                             gives drivers a few minutes to read it.

                                      It would simply say “No Condemnation.

                                                Sundays, 9:30 a.m.”

 

He imagines a stranger driving down the street day after day,

          fascinated by a church that would proclaim “No condemnation” –

                   because all the churches he has known about

                             have been full of condemnation – for others.

 

In the 60’s, there was ‘criticism of civil rights leaders,

          peace proponents and liberal “do-gooders;”’

                   in the 70’s, condemnation of “intellectuals and divorcees,

                             women taking on leadership roles.”

 

He figured if the churches condemned all those people,

          sooner or later it certainly would condemn him!

 

But he sees this banner every day,

          and in spite of his continuing experience of churchly condemnation,

                   these days “condemning sex in general and homosexuals in particular,

                             plus drinking and gambling and even Walt Disney.”

 

So he enters the church, curious about the “catch”

          to that “No Condemnation.”

 

Maybe what they mean, if he could read the fine print,

          is “No condemnation of good people.

                   No criticism of folks who can say the right words

                             and know when to stand and when to sit and what to wear

                                      and how to write the big checks.”

                                                [Sid Burgess, Bama Bubba, sermon, October 8, 2000]

 

He enters the church, interested to see that not all the people look alike.

          They are all ages, dressed in everything

                   from high heels and go-to-meetin’ dress, three-piece suits and ties,

                             to jeans, T-shirts, and running shoes.

 

And then comes the time in the service when all the people begin

          confessing their sins.

 

And the stranger thinks “Aha!  I knew it!  There is a catch!”

          But instead of the fire and brimstone he expects from the pulpit,

                   instead the preacher simply says “I declare to you, in the name

                             of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.”

 

And the reader reads from Romans:

          “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

 

And then the preacher speaks,

          and the preacher says

                   The divine intention for Christ’s church is NO condemnation.  NO condemnation

                        of either the self, or the other.  For St. Paul, the church is the place where the

                        world, as God intends it to be, is accessible to humankind.  The church reveals the

                        world as it has been transformed by the Cross of Christ.  The world where there is

                        no condemnation.  Here the prodigal child of God is always welcomed home – no

                        questions asked.  Here we celebrate the grace and mercy of God made known to

                        us in Christ Jesus.  A grace that knows no boundaries.  A mercy that has no

                        restrictions.  A love that always includes, never excludes.

                                                [Burgess, ibid.]  

 

The stranger is overjoyed, but scarcely is able to believe it:

          could it be true that there is no condemnation for him?

                   And as he thought about this place the preacher had described,

                             he realized that if in such a place there were no condemnation

                                      for him, he would have to commit himself

                                                to no condemnation for anyone else!

 

And maybe he’s not ready to do that.

          Maybe he’s not ready to be that inclusive!

                   I wonder:  am I ready to be that inclusive?

                             Are you?

 

And what about that qualification that Paul includes:

          “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

 

Does that mean that only Christians can know no condemnation?

          St. Paul talks of those who are “in the Spirit”,

                   as opposed to those who are “in the flesh.”

          And Paul makes no distinction between “Spirit of Christ”

                   “Spirit of God” and “Holy Spirit.”

          He writes of “the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead” –

                   and he doesn’t place limits on God’s Spirit.

 

Stanley N. Olson, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary professor,

          asserts that Romans chapters 5 through 8 isn’t systematic theology

                   but pastoral theology.

 

He addresses real problems of real people.

          As such, he writes to assure believers that there is

                   no condemnation, either for themselves or others.

         

                                      He has been astounded by God’s infinite grace,

                                                and seeks to widen and deepen

                                                          people’s experience of God.

                             Paul’s pastoral concern is to help people strengthen their faith

                                      to carry them through the rough times.

 

God’s thoughts “are not our thoughts” nor are our ways God’s ways.

          Our capacity for grace, mercy, forgiveness, is limited.

                   But God’s grace is infinite, God’s mercy is limitless,

                             God’s capacity for forgiveness is beyond our comprehension!  

 

Isaiah was also astounded by God’s generosity:

          “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;

                   and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!”

 

Now, we know very well that in the world’s economy,

          if we have no money, we cannot “buy and eat”!

                   “Buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

                             If this is God’s economy, it is certainly very different

                                      from this world’s economy!

 

It was the prophet’s very difficult task

          to preach hope to people in a seemingly hopeless situation.

                   And it was the people’s very difficult task

                             to believe in hope.

 

One might speak of the audacity of hope in a seemingly hopeless situation!

 

And this is the same task we in the church have:

          to speak words of hope to the hopeless,

                   to speak words of grace to a world that seems bent on vengeance,

                             to speak words of love to those who seem consumed by hate,

                                      to speak words of no condemnation

                                                in a condemning atmosphere!

 

It is our task, as the church, to create a place of no condemnation

          where all God’s children know we are loved, and valued,

                   and accepted as we are so that we can imagine

                             growing more and more in God’s image.

 

It is our mission to spread the word that there is nothing

          that anyone can do to stop God from loving us!

                   Come, my friends, for there is no condemnation

                             for those who are living into God’s Spirit!       

 

To God be the glory, forever and ever; Amen.