You are welcome to reflect on this message
From the First Baptist Church in America pulpit
October 29, 2006
“Motivation”
John 12:27-36
Dr. Dan Ivins, preaching

I’ll be glad when November 8^th arrives. The mid-term election cycle will be over; all the mud slinging; bombarding us with negativism -- visual and spoken, debates and commercials, all in an attempt to persuade us to do something. We’re Americans and they can’t make us do anything. But they’ll spare no quarter or million to try to buy the rules of engagement more toward their liking.

Nor are churches immune to it. Religious apathy means part of a pastor’s call is to motivate people to sacrificial service. It’s an insurmountable responsibility, because like voting, church-going is not mandatory. It's one of life’s extras, something you have to want to do, which is why motivation has to do with our “wanters.” It can be negative like politicians -- fear-based issues like terrorism and gay marriage.

Churches have prompted constituents by preaching on hell. Or threatening them with excommunication if they don’t toe the company line. Negative attacks, whether factual or fake get results.

The Bible has all kinds of motivation/manipulation. Delilah used all her female-wiles to stimulate Samson. Ambition moved Judas to betray his best friend for 30 pieces of silver. Out in the wilderness, somebody tried to tempt Jesus to be a magical and powerful Messiah. Sex, money, manipulation have always been effective, if not ethical, ways to get something done. “My O my we sure know how to arrange things!” croon the Eagles.

The nominating committee can testify to the lack of motivation in taking on responsibilities for service. Because churches are made up of congregation A and congregation B. Congregation A does most of the serving and giving. Congregation B is only peripherally involved, gaining the benefits of congregation A's commitment, without having to lay much on the line. So how do you get congregation B to become as dedicated as the A team? Getting people to do what we want is in every walk of life. You get a paycheck at work. The military has a hierarchy. My Mamma used a “hickory switch!” All are ways to motivate. But church involvement has to come from within. If you don't want to learn the Bible, I can offer a midweek study. But I can't tie a chain around your neck and drag you. If you don't want to drop an offering in the plate, I can't make you give a dime;or force anybody to pray or come back to worship. It’s something you have to want. And I can’t motivate anybody, but me. All I can do is set a climate in which y'all motivate yourselves.

All preachers have at their disposal are the stories of Jesus, “high and lifted up; drawing all people to himself.” Jesus was always wanting something good to happen to others more than they wanted it for themselves. Parents are aware of it. Marriage partners know it. Pastors for sure know it. Jesus wept over it. One of the two times he was moved to tears, had to do with unmotivated people. “O Jerusalem, who stoneth the prophets! How I would gather you in like a mother hen does her chicks. But you were not motivated.” Jesus would; they wouldn't. And as long as they wouldn’t, he couldn’t. Jesus was a preacher not a commander, who had personal power but no political clout. He could rely on influence, which takes a lot of time. That isn't a valued commodity in our world of instant gratification. So a pastor can set an example, by being enthusiastic, try to persuade and create an environment of excellence, by elevating Jesus on a cross, not a throne, so that we can all motivate ourselves. Jesus was always lifting up folks we wouldn’t give the time of day: Mary from the dirt, Peter from the sea, a paralytic from his pallet. Levitating them with love. People will respond to that! Who wants to go to church to listen to somebody put them down with the guilties? But if our witness is winsome, attractive, genuine...they’ll come back.

The Fourth Gospel mentions the word "lifted up" five times. In Chapter 3, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." In Chapter 12, "And I, if I be lifted up, I’ll draw them all." Isn’t that the purpose of the church? To draw people to Christ? Tempting people to do good. “Go ye therefore and motivate disciples?” Persuasion is all a preacher has. It's no good if you have to threaten somebody. As a carpenter, Jesus used force on wood. But with people, he relied on persuasion. "If I am lifted up, I will draw them." That magnetic appeal -- that’s how he motivated, and I don't think we can improve on it. 

Compare Jesus' way with Rome's. In the first century the Roman Empire was the greatest military power on earth. Matthew tells how a Roman Centurion motivated: "I tell one man to go and he goes; and another to come and he comes!" The chain of command--one man's in chains, the others are in command! Authoritarian motivation ought to be familiar to all of us. But what a contrast when it comes to Jesus! The power of the sword vs. the power of persuasion. "I tell one man to go and he goes!" said the Centurion.

One man? Jesus could’ve called 10,000 angels, but wouldn’t. Talk about motivation! Stand him next to a guy who “knows the ropes,” how the world works, a mover and shaker. “I tell people to go and come.” And they’d better do it! You can’t drive them, you have to draw them. "If I am lifted up, I will draw ... them unto myself," said Jesus. That’ll do it. Lift him up. Make visible his kind of commitment. And they’ll respond. Lift him up. And in the long run more people will respond to that than any puppet dictator on earth. "Lift him up” and let him provide the harvest.

How could Jesus trust so deeply in voluntary persuasion in a world that only respects brutal power? And his way proved to be right. Human freedom allows us to respond to persuasion, or revolt against coercion. War never convinces anybody, which is why it never ends. Jesus reminded us there’ll always be “wars and rumors of war.” If you have to turn to violence to motivate anybody, you’ve already lost the war; even though you might win the battle. Because we still trust more in intimidation than persuasion. Jesus’ way is not followed, not because it won’t work, but because it never gets tried. Only a few brave souls have dared to do that, like Stephen and King. What still gets the world's attention is not persuasion, not dialogue, not cooperation; but manipulation, control, intimidation and always winning. Extremism is what gets our attention, which is why negative ads work.

Will the church be bold enough to remain Christian through it all? Or will she lose sight of the truth Jesus died to give, "If I am lifted up, I will draw all people to me?" John is talking about dying, of course. And death feels a lot like losing. That’s why Jesus has to be saved from his disciples. What earthly good is a dead messiah?

Think with me about a few things today about motivation. All that’s good and noble in your life; all that makes you a better person--how did it get there? You can't beat goodness into somebody. I know, I've raised two kids who once were teenagers! Wielding “the rod” won’t make them good. Goodness comes another way. It has to be drawn out of us. Jesus was always pulling goodness out of people, which was already there in the first place. All the nay-sayers see is the bad. Who wants to be around somebody like that? Because everybody’s a mixture of both, including the anti’s. "Lift me up," Jesus said, "and I’ll draw it out!"

Back in the 60's when I began dating my wife of 45 years, I didn't know her very well. But I could see. And she was a beauty! Yeah there was a definite attraction! But no coercion. I’ve got a little sense! Maybe some flattery and bribery. But no force. That’s before you’re married! Relationships are not built on pressure, but love. Where there is power, there can be no love. And where there is love, there’s no need for power.

Persuasion is the name of the dating game. How can I get that pony-tailed-cheerleader to be my sweetheart? It ain’t easy. But to find intimacy in life you have to treat people right. If you want to die alone, treat people bad. But anything lovely in your life--how did it get there? Your family, friends, church, our pets. Will we ever learn that we can't make things grow with a sledgehammer?

Guys try it in marriage and only 50% stay married. Use one at school and see how much kids learn. Sledgehammer tactics in church won't bring anybody back. Neither will the control-freaks. Too often we get Jesus confused with the Centurion in church. Still living by the sword instead of faith. Exploitation won’t do it, but persuasion will. That’s why I’m more convinced than ever that the kind of character that can move this world 1 inch forward comes only as voluntarily persuaded, inwardly drawn, willingly responding people are captivated by something high and lifted up.

Ever notice how we use game terminology in church, like "winning people to Christ?" I grew up on that one. But it took mea while to realize Jesus was more interested in loving people than winning them. What was it King Herod Agrippa said to the Apostle Paul? "Almost, you persuaded me to become a Christian." Almost, but not quite. Paul couldn't make him! He tried his best to persuade him. So what’s the big deal? If anybody doesn’t want it, they can always refuse; like the “rich young ruler, and go away sad.”

Triumphalism has made it hard to keep faith with Jesus' method of persuasion. That’s why the Church is more familiar with stake burnings, inquisitions, and crusades, than convincing. In a world that justifies force, we know “a more excellent way,” said Paul (I Cor. 13). “Jesus Christ high and lifted up, drawing people to himself.” Never pushing. Always attracting. That’s the way.

There’s a story about a famous golfer, with a generous spirit, who had just won a tournament and been awarded a hefty check for his skill. On the way to the parking lot a woman approached him and said, “Sir, I understand you’re a compassionate man. I have a daughter dying of cancer and we have no insurance. Can you help me?” So moving was her sincerity that he pulled out a pen, endorsed the check he’d just won and handed it to her. Later one of his buddies who witnessed the transaction said, “We checked out that woman, and found there is no little girl with cancer.” “No little girl with cancer?” “Yep, I’m afraid so.” The golfer replied, “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time!” Now if that can happen in the world of sports, surely the church can do better.

There you have it. Two ways to get results: all the power and money on earth, versus the stories of Jesus. What’ll it be? If we could keep lifting him up here in Providence, I believe it will set an atmosphere of inspiration for self-motivation, that’ll reach down deeper, take hold harder, and last far longer than all the force this world can muster.

Pastoral Prayer (10-29-06)

Lord we gather in this sanctuary as the seasons change, to thank you for sending Jesus to us, who demonstrated how You are enmeshed in our lives like yeast in bread; as fruitful as a great bush from a mustard seed. Even death, which seems to signal God’s absence, is only a portal to “a closer walk with Thee.”

We pray for our nation and all whose families are sacrificing to keep us free. We pray for ourselves as individuals, each with our own special needs, and for our church, that your spirit will descend upon us and remake us from the inside out. Lift the scales from our eyes so that when we look upon a world full of diverse cultures, we will see there is good in all of them.

Heal our Land, O Lord. Heal the paralysis of our times. Remold our values, from jumboism, and consumerism, to character and integrity; so that somehow those around us will feel a need of you. And may this old church be here in this new day, strong and vital, to be “a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path.” Help us to have more compassion for those going thru a hard time. And when we see persons in need, any need, we will offer care.

We thank you O God, that Christ was “lifted up, so he can draw all people unto you.” Soften our hearts in this worship, so that we will hasten the global reunion of all your children. Amen.