Like a Shrub

Like a Shrub
Mark 4:30-32

Why are our values and the God’s values so often at odds with each other?
You know what we humans like.
We like big, shiny, expensive, lavish, powerful, strong, fast, luxurious.
We’re suckers for celebrities and people who tell us we can get rich over night.
We like our churches and stores to be of the mega variety.

But are these God’s values?
Are these the things God likes?
I have my doubts.
It would seem they are not if Jesus’ parables have anything to say about it.
Jesus’ parables take our values and turn them upside down and over and over again so that we can see them in the light of Kingdom values.

Today’s parable of the mustard seed is no exception.
Jesus says, “God’s kingdom is like the mighty cedars of Lebanon that grow 100 feet into the sky.”
No?
Jesus says, “God’s kingdom is like a giant redwood that’s so big you can cut a tunnel in the bottom and drive a car through it.”
No?
Jesus says, “God’s kingdom is like the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center in NYC, huge and shiny and brilliant!”
No?

What did Jesus say, then?
Like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a what?
Basically an ugly shrub or bush.
Who’s going to go out of their way to see a mustard bush?

I’ll drive to California to see the redwoods.
I’ll take a train to NYC to see the tree at Rockefeller Center.
I’ll fly to Lebanon to see the historic cedars.
But would I go out of my way to see a mustard bush?
Not if I hadn’t heard this parable.

God’s kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed that grows into a bush that gives shelter to the birds.
God’s Kingdom is like a shrub.

We spend a whole lot of our time looking up for the big stuff, the shiny stuff, the towering oaks.
But maybe we should spend a bit more time looking down at the weeds and the bushes and the shrubs.
Maybe they have more to teach us about God’s Kingdom.
You can pave over a weed with concrete and it will still break its way through a crack.
Weeds are really just flowers that are victims of prejudice aren’t they?

Jesus’ parables demand that we reevaluate our values, that we take a second look at what we think is important in this life we’ve been given.
If God’s Kingdom is like a tiny seed that grows into a shrub or a bush or a glorified weed, then what does that say about the things we value?

Sometimes I wish Jesus would stop telling these parables because they ask me to change my thinking.

The parable tells us that God’s Kingdom is about growth, yes, but not massive growth.
God’s Kingdom is about growth with a purpose.
The purpose is shelter and nurture.
The Mustard bush gives shelter and provides a place where lives can be nurtured.
To sum up this parable (which is always a dangerous thing to do) I would say it is about growth and shelter.

My proposition to you today is that Grandview Park is like a shrub.
Two weeks ago Pastor Alfonso led this exercise at prayer group.
When it came time for to pray for the programs of the church he asked everyone around the circle to name a different program of the church.
It was astounding. We went round and round and round the circle at least three times naming the programs and activities of Grandview Park.

We can easily name over thirty activities of the church. Imagine that each program is a branch of God's Kingdom shrub that shoots out of the trunk of corporate worship.
That’s quite a shrub!

An amazing reality is that at least 50% of those programs and activities have come about in the last 6 years since we have become a bi-lingual, multi-cultural congregation.
That’s significant growth in a short period of time.

What’s the purpose of these programs?
What’s the purpose of this shrub, this bush?

Is GP more like a shrub or a giant redwood?
More like a bush or a Rockefeller center Christmas tree?
More like a weed or a cedar of Lebanon?

We are growing into God’s Kingdom.
We are not the Kingdom, but we are tilting toward the Kingdom like a shrub in need of sunlight, warmth and nourishment.
We are growing with purpose.

One of our 6 great ends is the shelter and nurture of the people of God.
All of our programs here – health, immigration, youth, men, women, prayer, tutoring, food, compassion fund --- it’s all about the shelter and nurture of the people of God.

Who are the people of God who find shelter in this shrub?
Well, you of course.
But there are others birds in the neighborhood who take shelter here.
Just visit the summer program this week or the healthy cooking classes and you’ll see birds seeking shelter and nurture who don’t belong here.

One thing about shrubs and bushes and weeds, they’ve experienced enough discrimination that they aren’t likely to practice it.
The shelter of our shrub is available to any and all birds.

The Kingdom of God is like a tiny seed that grows into a bush that gives shelter to the birds.
May our little expression of God’s Kingdom here continue to grow and give shelter.

So redwoods are impressive.
Christmas trees are great.
Cedars smell good.
But it’s the little mustard bush that caught Jesus’ imagination.

Let this little shrub of GP catch your imagination and be a part of it’s growth and shelter.