Sermon No. 2

Blowin' In The Wind

A few years ago we were caught up by some young people called "hippies." They were a culture of nonconformists, a culture of idealists, a culture of social activists.

Unfortunately, about all some people remember is that some of them smoked pot, engaged in "free love," wore vulgar T-shirts. But their priority was to protest violence, war, especially the Vietnam war; not because they were cowards, but because they were pacifists. They protested violence of any kind at any time for any reason.

Those sometime-somehow-somewhere-something-better-must-be-made-of-society idealists, I believe, were a better paradigm for "Christian America" than the majority they opposed!

That majority, I remind you, told us it was right and moral to go to another part of the world and kill people who espoused a political system of which we disapproved! We are doing the same thing again. And we still disapprove of governments where minorities and women are not treated justly, as we should! But to foster reform is no excuse for murder, and our war is murder.

Social activists are not an invention of our generation. Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, Mohandas Gandhi, Lech Walesa, Nelson Mandela, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Without such people we would still have slavery, women excluded from the voting booth, children working in factories instead of studying in schools, miners working for pennies under dangerous conditions.

Those 1960s protesters included Bob Dylan, an anti-war activist who wrote "Blowin in the Wind."

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?

Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly

Before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up

Before he can see the sky?

Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry?

Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows

That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years can a mountain exist

Before it's washed to the sea?

Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist

Before they're allowed to be free?

Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,

Pretending he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

What did he mean by that? Here's how he explained it two months after he first sang it, April of 1962.

"There ain't too much I can say about this song except that the answer is blowing in the wind. It ain't in no book or movie or T.V. show or discussion group. Man, it's in the wind -- and it's blowing in the wind. Too many of these hip people are telling me where the answer is but . . . I still say it's in the wind and just like a restless piece of paper it's got to come down some time . . .

"But the only trouble is that no one picks up the answer when it comes down so not too many people get to see and know it . . . and then it flies away again . . . I still say that some of the biggest criminals are those that turn their heads away when they see wrong and know it's wrong. I'm only 21 years old and I know that there's been too many wars . . ."

Years later, he added, "'Blowin' In The Wind' has always been a spiritual. I took it off a song, 'No More Auction Block.'"

If you've read my story, "Forward March" you know that it was in the 60's that I became a social activist. And you've heard me preach long enough to know that I have very strong convictions in regard to society's values and Christ's values, and how I see them in radical conflict. The theme of "Blowin' in the Wind" is very much the theme of my ministry -- a wake-up call to radical discipleship, social reform.

I want you to know that as long as I am able to preach I will shout out the need for drastic reform, in our lives and in our society. At the same time, I must be compassionate and loving. The prophets of old were often harsh in their demands of God's people. That was a different age, and the mentality of those simple nomads probably called for a more direct, simplistic message.

It is not possible to be a prophet without offending people. I do not apologize for offending any who hold to traditional values, to the "that's-the-way-we've always-done-things" mentality. But dear saints, if and when I seem to be harsh or insensitive, you must let me know it.

I intend always to challenge you, to confront apathy and indifference, but I also intend to be compassionate. Any time you disagree with anything I say, PLEASE come talk to me immediately. I may not change your mind, and you may not change my mind, but let's have a civil discussion.

Without the 60's protesters the Vietnam War Memorial wall would be much longer than it is! And without such activists we would not have several women in the U.S. Senate and even more in the House of Representatives! And the Civil Rights laws would never have made it.

Incidentally, you may have heard that the Episcopal church now ordains women priests. During the debate, someone said to one of them, "God does not want women to be ordained."

To which she replied, "O, yes she does!"

About 2000 years ago a couple of young men appeared on the scene -- first-century hippies, if you please! Social activists. Antiestablishment protesters!

Here is a valuable bit of trivia you Scrabble and Anagram players ought to know: When I was in school, we were told that the longest word in the English language is antidisestablishmentarianism. I knew you would want to know that!

Now -- back to the first-century "hippies." The first to come on the scene was an eccentric, fiery evangelist who came out of the wilderness of Judea, the southernmost province of Jewish Palestine, just west of the river Jordan.

Bible scholars seem to agree that John was taught by the Essenes, who practiced baptism by immersion as a symbol of penitence, repentance. Those of you who come to our Wednesday evening Bible studies remember Paul's use of baptism as an symbol of the new birth, or conversion experience.

John fairly screamed at the establishment that they better repent, or else! Many of them did. They came to his "altar" at the Jordan, repented of their sins and were baptized.

According to Bible historians, John had a larger following than Jesus did! And some of John's followers continued his ministry for at least a generation after he was executed.

The people repented. "Repentance" meant -- and still means -- more than just being sorry for my sins. "Metanoia" means to change direction. Paul described baptism as burying the old person of sin and being raised, resurrected a completely new person. No wonder Jesus called conversion a process of being born again!

The people did not trust the king or the aristocrats or the priests, so they were ready to listen to this new reformer, revivalist.

John seems to have been sort of a spiritual reincarnation of Elijah, an echo of a past era. Like Elijah, he came thundering onto the scene when God's people were apathetic and legalistic, when their religious experience was more ritual than spiritual. John, like Elijah, was a voice crying in the wilderness: Change your attitudes, change your behavior.

John was blatantly critical of the leaders, both the religious leaders and the political leaders. He called the king to task for his immorality -- and lost his head for it! He called the religious leaders a "brood of vipers," sons of snakes! "Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? And do not say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children of Abraham . . ."

Here's another fascinating bit of trivia -- well, not really trivia! John's sardonic, sarcastic challenge to them was a play on words. God can make "children" (in Hebrew, banim) of "stones" (in Hebrew, abanim). Banim of abanim! You see, I'm not the first preacher who likes to play with words!

John went on: "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire . . ."

Winnowing! Do you know that word? In ancient times, the farmer would gather the wheat or barley or oats, and beat the stocks on the floor. Then came the winnowing, throwing it up into the air and letting the wind blow away the chaff, while the kernels of grain would fall back onto the floor.

So John was warning them that the "day of the Lord" was coming, when the "chaff" would be blown away, the unrighteous would be scattered!

Only the grain, the righteous would remain. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah had used the same allegory.

They had no threshing machines! The only way they could garner the grain, to separate it from the chaff, was to winnow it, to throw it into the air and let the wind do its work. It was "blowin' in the wind!" The reason for winnowing is not just to destroy the chaff, but primarily to garner the grain. Winnowing is more positive than negative. We might say John beat the stalks, and Jesus gathered the grain.

So then came Jesus, to continue the antiestablishment movement. John had told the crowds he was only a voice in the wilderness. And he predicted the coming of his younger cousin, Jesus, who would "clear his threshing floor."

We speak of "something in the air" or "it's in the wind." We mean something quite esoteric, mystical. Well, dear saints, there is something "blowin' in the wind." It is the Holy Spirit, preparing us for the Second Coming of Jesus, the Judgment Day, the new heaven and the new earth.

Now it is the Holy Spirit working in us to make us reflections of Jesus Christ to the world. If we are to reflect the image of Jesus, we will live and love as he lived and loved. That means we need to adopt his lifestyle, his priorities, his mission, and be his ambassadors in the time and society in which we live.

That means we absolutely can not be nominal Christians. Rather, we must be salt-of-the-earth, light-of-the-world, blowin'-in-the-wind Christians.

We must be some kind of activists, choosing not to shrug our shoulders, but to become involved in some way to make this a better world.

How many times must a cannonball strike before they're forever banned? How many wars must we fight before we learn that war does not solve our problems? The September 11 attack was a crime against humanity. Have we now evened the score with our version of a crime against humanity -- 5000 Afghans for the 5000 World Trade Center citizens?

How many years must a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea? How many years must global warming exist before we take environmentalism seriously?

How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free? If we were over there to free women and minorities from oppression, maybe we could call this a "just war." And I do praise God that freedom for many Afghans, especially women, is a serendipity. But that is not our justification for the war.

How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry?

How many deaths will it take till we know that too many people have died? The answer is blowin' in the wind. The answer for us as Christians must be to listen to the Holy Spirit direct us in a dedication to follow the way of Jesus, the way of peace and love. Retaliation can never be justified by Christians.

How long will we litter Afghanistan with unexploded cluster bombs that await the curiosity of children?

How long will we drop bombs on Iraq, and chemicals on Columbia?

How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see? We just didn't see enough money in Washington to provide healthcare for all Americans. We just didn't see enough money in Washington for more teachers and better schools. But we found billions to give tax refunds for the rich!

I agree with Bob Dylan, I say that some of the biggest criminals are those who "turn their heads away when they see wrong and know it's wrong." So I say if John were here today he would cry out against those wrongs, just as he did two milleniums ago. And I say if Jesus were to walk into society today, he would not shrug his shoulders "and pretend he just didn't see"!

What can we do? What should we do? I don't know. The answer is blowin' in the wind. Praise God for the Wind, the Holy Spirit, thru whom God will guide and direct us -- if we have open minds and hearts, if we listen. No, I don't know the answers, but I know it is wrong to pretend we don't see the problems.

Grain is a perfect metaphor for the work of the Holy Spirit and for Christian growth. Grain is both seed and nourishment. One can plant it and raise more grain, or one can eat it and sustain life. We need both, don't we! We need to plant the seeds of growth and grace; and we need to live as followers of Jesus, the Christ who came to show us the way.

How many roads must a man walk down

before they call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove span

before she sleeps in the sand?

How many times must a cannonball strike

before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend,

is blowin' in the wind.

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many years must a mountain exist

before it is washed to the sea?

How many years can some people exist

before they're allowed to be free?

How many times can a man turn his head

And pretend that he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend,

is blowin' in the wind.

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

How many times must a man look up

before he can see the sky?

How many ears must one man have

before he can hear people cry?

How many deaths will it take till he knows

that too many people have died?

The answer, my friend,

is blowin' in the wind.

The answer is blowin in the wind.

How many years must poor people live

before they can share in our wealth?

How many tears must the Third World give

before they're allowed decent health?

How many fears must our children endure

before they can grow strong and well?

The answer, my friend,

is blowin' in the wind.

The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Let us pray . . .

Lord, we have come to remember your coming into this world, to celebrate the unique ministry which blessed so many in your day, and which blesses those who espouse your lifestyle today.

Teach us, we ask, to be courageous in the face of evil, faithful in the face of temptation, bold in the face of indifference.

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	Blowin' In The Wind
	A few years ago we were caught up by some young people called "hippies." They were a culture of nonconformists, a culture of idealists, a culture of social activists. Unfortunately, about all some people remember is that some of them smoked pot, engaged in "free love," wore vulgar T-shirts. But their priority was to protest violence, war, especially the Vietnam war; not because they were cowards, but because they were pacifists. They protested violence of any kind at any time for any reason. Those sometime-somehow-somewhere-something-better-must-be-made-of-society idealists, I believe, were a better paradigm for "Christian America" than the majority they opposed! That majority, I remind you, told us it was right and moral to go to another part of the world and kill people who espoused a political system of which we disapproved! We are doing the same thing again. And we still disapprove of governments where minorities and women are not treated justly, as we should! But to foster reform is no excuse for murder, and our war is murder. Social activists are not an invention of our generation. Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, Mohandas Gandhi, Lech Walesa, Nelson Mandela, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Without such people we would still have slavery, women excluded from the voting booth, children working in factories instead of studying in schools, miners working for pennies under dangerous conditions. Those 1960s protesters included Bob Dylan, an anti-war activist who wrote "Blowin in the Wind." How many roads must a man walk down Before you call him a man? Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand? Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly Before they're forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, The answer is blowin' in the wind. How many times must a man look up Before he can see the sky? Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have Before he can hear people cry? Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows That too many people have died? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, The answer is blowin' in the wind. How many years can a mountain exist Before it's washed to the sea? Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist Before they're allowed to be free? Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head, Pretending he just doesn't see? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, The answer is blowin' in the wind. What did he mean by that? Here's how he explained it two months after he first sang it, April of 1962. "There ain't too much I can say about this song except that the answer is blowing in the wind. It ain't in no book or movie or T.V. show or discussion group. Man, it's in the wind -- and it's blowing in the wind. Too many of these hip people are telling me where the answer is but . . . I still say it's in the wind and just like a restless piece of paper it's got to come down some time . . . "But the only trouble is that no one picks up the answer when it comes down so not too many people get to see and know it . . . and then it flies away again . . . I still say that some of the biggest criminals are those that turn their heads away when they see wrong and know it's wrong. I'm only 21 years old and I know that there's been too many wars . . ." Years later, he added, "'Blowin' In The Wind' has always been a spiritual. I took it off a song, 'No More Auction Block.'" If you've read my story, "Forward March" you know that it was in the 60's that I became a social activist. And you've heard me preach long enough to know that I have very strong convictions in regard to society's values and Christ's values, and how I see them in radical conflict. The theme of "Blowin' in the Wind" is very much the theme of my ministry -- a wake-up call to radical discipleship, social reform. I want you to know that as long as I am able to preach I will shout out the need for drastic reform, in our lives and in our society. At the same time, I must be compassionate and loving. The prophets of old were often harsh in their demands of God's people. That was a different age, and the mentality of those simple nomads probably called for a more direct, simplistic message. It is not possible to be a prophet without offending people. I do not apologize for offending any who hold to traditional values, to the "that's-the-way-we've always-done-things" mentality. But dear saints, if and when I seem to be harsh or insensitive, you must let me know it. I intend always to challenge you, to confront apathy and indifference, but I also intend to be compassionate. Any time you disagree with anything I say, PLEASE come talk to me immediately. I may not change your mind, and you may not change my mind, but let's have a civil discussion. Without the 60's protesters the Vietnam War Memorial wall would be much longer than it is! And without such activists we would not have several women in the U.S. Senate and even more in the House of Representatives! And the Civil Rights laws would never have made it. Incidentally, you may have heard that the Episcopal church now ordains women priests. During the debate, someone said to one of them, "God does not want women to be ordained." To which she replied, "O, yes she does!" About 2000 years ago a couple of young men appeared on the scene -- first-century hippies, if you please! Social activists. Antiestablishment protesters! Here is a valuable bit of trivia you Scrabble and Anagram players ought to know: When I was in school, we were told that the longest word in the English language is antidisestablishmentarianism. I knew you would want to know that! Now -- back to the first-century "hippies." The first to come on the scene was an eccentric, fiery evangelist who came out of the wilderness of Judea, the southernmost province of Jewish Palestine, just west of the river Jordan. Bible scholars seem to agree that John was taught by the Essenes, who practiced baptism by immersion as a symbol of penitence, repentance. Those of you who come to our Wednesday evening Bible studies remember Paul's use of baptism as an symbol of the new birth, or conversion experience. John fairly screamed at the establishment that they better repent, or else! Many of them did. They came to his "altar" at the Jordan, repented of their sins and were baptized. According to Bible historians, John had a larger following than Jesus did! And some of John's followers continued his ministry for at least a generation after he was executed. The people repented. "Repentance" meant -- and still means -- more than just being sorry for my sins. "Metanoia" means to change direction. Paul described baptism as burying the old person of sin and being raised, resurrected a completely new person. No wonder Jesus called conversion a process of being born again! The people did not trust the king or the aristocrats or the priests, so they were ready to listen to this new reformer, revivalist. John seems to have been sort of a spiritual reincarnation of Elijah, an echo of a past era. Like Elijah, he came thundering onto the scene when God's people were apathetic and legalistic, when their religious experience was more ritual than spiritual. John, like Elijah, was a voice crying in the wilderness: Change your attitudes, change your behavior. John was blatantly critical of the leaders, both the religious leaders and the political leaders. He called the king to task for his immorality -- and lost his head for it! He called the religious leaders a "brood of vipers," sons of snakes! "Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? And do not say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children of Abraham . . ." Here's another fascinating bit of trivia -- well, not really trivia! John's sardonic, sarcastic challenge to them was a play on words. God can make "children" (in Hebrew, banim) of "stones" (in Hebrew, abanim). Banim of abanim! You see, I'm not the first preacher who likes to play with words! John went on: "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire . . ." Winnowing! Do you know that word? In ancient times, the farmer would gather the wheat or barley or oats, and beat the stocks on the floor. Then came the winnowing, throwing it up into the air and letting the wind blow away the chaff, while the kernels of grain would fall back onto the floor. So John was warning them that the "day of the Lord" was coming, when the "chaff" would be blown away, the unrighteous would be scattered! Only the grain, the righteous would remain. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah had used the same allegory. They had no threshing machines! The only way they could garner the grain, to separate it from the chaff, was to winnow it, to throw it into the air and let the wind do its work. It was "blowin' in the wind!" The reason for winnowing is not just to destroy the chaff, but primarily to garner the grain. Winnowing is more positive than negative. We might say John beat the stalks, and Jesus gathered the grain. So then came Jesus, to continue the antiestablishment movement. John had told the crowds he was only a voice in the wilderness. And he predicted the coming of his younger cousin, Jesus, who would "clear his threshing floor." We speak of "something in the air" or "it's in the wind." We mean something quite esoteric, mystical. Well, dear saints, there is something "blowin' in the wind." It is the Holy Spirit, preparing us for the Second Coming of Jesus, the Judgment Day, the new heaven and the new earth. Now it is the Holy Spirit working in us to make us reflections of Jesus Christ to the world. If we are to reflect the image of Jesus, we will live and love as he lived and loved. That means we need to adopt his lifestyle, his priorities, his mission, and be his ambassadors in the time and society in which we live. That means we absolutely can not be nominal Christians. Rather, we must be salt-of-the-earth, light-of-the-world, blowin'-in-the-wind Christians. We must be some kind of activists, choosing not to shrug our shoulders, but to become involved in some way to make this a better world. How many times must a cannonball strike before they're forever banned? How many wars must we fight before we learn that war does not solve our problems? The September 11 attack was a crime against humanity. Have we now evened the score with our version of a crime against humanity -- 5000 Afghans for the 5000 World Trade Center citizens? How many years must a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea? How many years must global warming exist before we take environmentalism seriously? How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free? If we were over there to free women and minorities from oppression, maybe we could call this a "just war." And I do praise God that freedom for many Afghans, especially women, is a serendipity. But that is not our justification for the war. How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry? How many deaths will it take till we know that too many people have died? The answer is blowin' in the wind. The answer for us as Christians must be to listen to the Holy Spirit direct us in a dedication to follow the way of Jesus, the way of peace and love. Retaliation can never be justified by Christians. How long will we litter Afghanistan with unexploded cluster bombs that await the curiosity of children? How long will we drop bombs on Iraq, and chemicals on Columbia? How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see? We just didn't see enough money in Washington to provide healthcare for all Americans. We just didn't see enough money in Washington for more teachers and better schools. But we found billions to give tax refunds for the rich! I agree with Bob Dylan, I say that some of the biggest criminals are those who "turn their heads away when they see wrong and know it's wrong." So I say if John were here today he would cry out against those wrongs, just as he did two milleniums ago. And I say if Jesus were to walk into society today, he would not shrug his shoulders "and pretend he just didn't see"! What can we do? What should we do? I don't know. The answer is blowin' in the wind. Praise God for the Wind, the Holy Spirit, thru whom God will guide and direct us -- if we have open minds and hearts, if we listen. No, I don't know the answers, but I know it is wrong to pretend we don't see the problems. Grain is a perfect metaphor for the work of the Holy Spirit and for Christian growth. Grain is both seed and nourishment. One can plant it and raise more grain, or one can eat it and sustain life. We need both, don't we! We need to plant the seeds of growth and grace; and we need to live as followers of Jesus, the Christ who came to show us the way. How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man? How many seas must a white dove span before she sleeps in the sand? How many times must a cannonball strike before they're forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind. The answer is blowin' in the wind. How many years must a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea? How many years can some people exist before they're allowed to be free? How many times can a man turn his head And pretend that he just doesn't see? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind. The answer is blowin' in the wind. How many times must a man look up before he can see the sky? How many ears must one man have before he can hear people cry? How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind. The answer is blowin in the wind. How many years must poor people live before they can share in our wealth? How many tears must the Third World give before they're allowed decent health? How many fears must our children endure before they can grow strong and well? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind. The answer is blowin' in the wind. Let us pray . . . Lord, we have come to remember your coming into this world, to celebrate the unique ministry which blessed so many in your day, and which blesses those who espouse your lifestyle today. Teach us, we ask, to be courageous in the face of evil, faithful in the face of temptation, bold in the face of indifference.