"Entitlement"
Sermon Presented October 22, 2006
Mark 10:35-45
In my seminary years, I saw many sons of entitlement. They were bright, white, male, masters of divinity students on the fast track to an early graduation and becoming pastors of large congregations. Most grew up in the church and had attended Christian colleges, where they had formed their theology and weren't interested in evaluating it when challenged by professors or fellow students. They patronized second-career students, female students and students of color.
These sons of entitlement pushed hard in the classroom, making their voices and opinions heard. They believed they were entitled to more than the rest of us. My experience with them is why Jesus' response to two of his disciples who could have cloned these seminary students disturbs me. At least Jesus could have scolded them or set them straight with a forceful word. But he didn't! He was annoyingly patient. I would have said: "Who do you think you are?" but Jesus simply said: "That's not in my power to grant." Surely Jesus must have known that these brothers needed to have their values and goals straightened out! After all, their primary concern is where they will sit, what power they will wield, and not whether they can actively pursue a ministry and serve others as Jesus served.
Hear the story in Mark 10:35-45.
You can see where I fit in this story, can't you? I'm one of the other ten disciples who is outraged that the Zebedee brothers dared to approach Jesus with this request. They may have been two of Jesus' first disciples, but how could they be so arrogant as to believe that they should have preferential treatment when Jesus becomes famous and powerful. These brothers are called "Sons of Thunder" elsewhere in scripture, which indicates to me that they were probably impetuous and spoke and acted without thinking. Here, they ask Jesus to give them special treatment that will place them in positions of power when Jesus reigns.
Jesus tells them that they still don't understand what his ministry is all about. He's just told them that he will be betrayed, condemned, mocked, spat upon, flogged and killed and then rise again. Those words must have flown over their heads because their talk of power positions doesn't fit that picture. Later, Jesus asks God to take away his cup of suffering, but these brothers erroneously believe they can manage whatever comes their way. "We are able!" they respond. They don't understand what is to come. Jesus credits them with sincerity, but tells them they will suffer and he can't give them the honored places they seek.
The selfish ambition of these two brothers is out there for all to see. They remind us of politicians, corporate leaders, and religious leaders who vie for power and prestige in their areas of influence. A desire for power is intoxicating and can take control of good people. Our tendency is to demonize James and John for their political ambitions, but Jesus doesn't. Jesus treats their ambition as worthy of redemption.
I wouldn't be so generous! My response would be like that of the other ten. They're angry that these two are outmaneuvering them and angry that the brothers might gain some advantage over them in their common quest for greatness. Maybe they're angry that they didn't think of it first. This conflict causes a rift among the disciples.
It's easy to condemn James and John for their bold act to gain entitlement, but honestly, don't we all feel entitled to have things that aren't really an entitlement? Many Christians believe they have a right to receive preferential treatment over those of other faiths - things like having Christian symbols, slogans and vocal prayers in public places. Many children and youth believe they are entitled to have things others have - like I-pods, cell phones, designer clothes and a private education. Many high school seniors believe that on the basis of their SAT scores, they are entitled to attend any college or university they desire. Many adults face bankruptcy because they can't afford what they believe they are entitled to have.
I believe that all people should be entitled to a good education, health care, affordable housing, food and safety. However, it's only when enough people step forward and demand their rights that rights are forthcoming, as seen in the civil rights struggles past and present. Women had to demand the right to vote - in my mother's lifetime, as did people of color. When goals are worthy, positive results occur when people pursue their sense of entitlement with action that raises public awareness. However, what affects one group of people affects everyone, so we must help one another.
So, in looking at this story from another angle, maybe the greater sin here isn't misplaced ambition but complacency and complete lack of ambition. The brothers really don't know what they are requesting, but Jesus engages them. He knows that their ambition exists; it just needs to be purified and redirected. But when there is no ambition, we get mediocrity and a hardened status quo. Church committees can talk endlessly about methodology and never accomplish anything. It's easy to demonize the brothers, but they did step forward, and that meant more to Jesus than their reason for doing so. Rather than begrudging their ambition, Jesus engages them with respect and love as he works to refocus them toward the cross, the suffering to come, and their need to serve others.
It's easy to get sucked into a desire for power - which is what I see at first glance in looking at the Zebedee brothers! It's prevalent everywhere, because people believe that the world owes us something. We have only to look at the reasons most people run for public office and we see that a desire for power is present. Political parties vie for power in city, state and national legislatures because they want to control the political system. The election on November 7th is largely about either retaining or gaining new power. The desire for power, coupled with the cost of mounting an election campaign, causes politicians to accept money from corporations and people that they know expect something in return for their contributions. Thus the slippery slide toward corruption begins.
Last week I received a call telling me that Barak Obama was on the Oprah Show, and I stopped what I was doing to watch it. Senator Obama said that he won't ride on corporate jets because to do so might compromise him toward the ones providing the transportation. I believe it's time for all political representatives - local, state and national - to make similar choices so that their decisions aren't compromised. Power can positively change the status quo, but if those in power are corrupted by the power, nothing good will transpire!
Because I believe we all have a sense of entitlement, let me ask you some questions. What do you believe you are entitled to - as an American citizen, a Christian, a student, a senior citizen, an employee, a taxpayer? Have you ever stopped to consider whether or not your expectations are based on Jesus' teachings? We may believe we want to use our entitlement for good, but is it for our personal good or for the good of humanity? Does our sense of entitlement promote justice or personal gain?
Most of us believe we deserve some kind of an entitlement because of who we are. In church, ones who believe themselves to be more spiritual - both laity and clergy, more generous in their contributions, or more faithful in attendance or assuming positions of responsibility often try to wield power for their personal agenda. Churches and denominations are fractured by a desire for this kind of entitlement.
Jesus explains that he isn't like other authority figures. Instead of ruling, his followers are to serve. Instead of taking from his subjects, Jesus says he came to give his life for them. "Imitate me!" he tells them. In God's realm, leadership is expressed through service to one another. To serve is to live in a covenantal relationship in community.
In the October 23rd issue of Time magazine, there was an article adapted from the book Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction by David Kuo, former deputy director of the White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives. The impact of the article isn't that 8 billion dollars of new funding promised by the government for the poor didn't materialize, but the impact is the way religious leaders were seduced by White House power and then secretly ridiculed by those inside the government. The religious groups were exploited by dangling a carrot in exchange for the promise to deliver votes. Kuo decided to write the book after he was diagnosed with a brain tumor, because he wanted to clear his conscience.
It's possible to be great or to be number one, but not both, according to Jesus. Those who are really great won't know it because they will be too busy serving others to notice their own greatness. Jesus sets high standards of greatness for his followers!
Our place of entitlement in God's realm comes not through coveted positions but through service to others. Jesus says we must cease seeking honor and seek to serve. If the only reason we serve is to gain honor, then our motives are wrong and our service is to no avail. It is through self understanding that we know when our service is performed as a "great photo opportunity" or for service. Politicians, students, business leaders, church members and ministers can all be guilty of seeking glory. Jesus says we must be slave of "all" which includes the disenfranchised, the immigrant, the prisoner, the handicapped, the poor, the imprisoned, the child and the senior.
So how can we use our sense of entitlement to serve others? How can we go to bat for those who need our help? Well, first, we can't do it all! No one person, church, community or nation can meet all of the needs simultaneously. That's why we must do some self-examination and see where our interests, abilities, people-power, and finances are, and then see where God direct us. We can all do more than we are currently doing to serve others, and we must do something!
Jesus tells us that he's different than other rulers. He tells us that as his followers, we are to be different too, by serving those in need. We are gifted and are called to use our gifts! We are an entitled people, so let's boldly use our entitlement to serve! It's what living in the Realm of God is all about!
