Sermon by Herman Kauffman
Installation of Pastor Tim Waits
Rock Run Church of the Brethren
May 4, 2003
The Known and the Unknown
Psalm 23
John 10:11-15a
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8, 10 (paraphrased from The Message)
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith,
is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living.
It is our handle on what we can't see (or know). The act of faith is
what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd.
By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word,
what we see (and know) created by what we don't see (the unknown).
By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown
place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he
was going. ... Abraham (moved forward) to the unseen city with real,
eternal foundations ... designed and built by God.
According to Hart Seely, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield is a poet, but doesn't know it. "Rumsfield's poetry is paradoxical," says Seely. "It uses playful language to address the most somber subjects: war, terrorism, mortality. Much of it is about indirection and evasion...."(1)
Seely has helpfully put together some of Rumsfield's poetic lines which the Pentagon Poet spoke at a Department of Defense news briefing. This one is simply called, "The Unknown."
The Unknown
As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns.
The ones we don't know
We don't know.
This poem of the so-called Pentagon Poet may also hold a grain of truth for the church today. Those of us in the church know there are things we know: God is Creator and God loves us. Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in God's sight.
We also know there are some unknowns: How did/does God create? Why does God love us? Yes, there are some things we know we do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns. The ones we in the church don't know we don't know. Isn't it wonderful to know a God who will continue to reveal to us that which is yet unknown?
I've been reflecting on this poem and these thoughts this week in preparation for today's installation service of Tim Waits as pastor of the Rock Run congregation; at the same time as I've been reflecting on the scripture passages that has been read from Psalm 23 and John 10. As we enter into this new relationship between pastor and congregation; what is that we know we know? What are the known unknowns, that is the things we know we do not know? And finally, how do we prepare ourselves for the unknown unknowns, that which we don't know we don't know?
First, what are the things we know we know? We begin with some common understandings of our Christian faith:
We acknowledge that God is the Creator of this world in which we live. (Genesis 1)
We know, because the Bible tells us it is so, that we are created in God's image. (Genesis 2)
We know that God loves us. John 3:16 begins with the affirmation, "For God so loved the world...."
We also know that Jesus is God's only son sent to live among us that we might have life.
We know that Jesus loved us and calls us to love one another. John 13:34 reminds us of Jesus' commandment: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."
We know, do we not, that as the church we are the body of Christ living in the world today. The Apostle Paul makes that very clear in the 1st Letter to the Corinthians 12:27: "You are the body of Christ and individually members of it." And Paul continues by reminding us of our giftedness and the roles we play within the body of Christ, the church.
We could continue to list the things we know we know - our common understandings of the Christian faith. But let me ask the question in a slightly different way: what are the things we know we know about the relationship between a pastor and a congregation?
We know that a congregation calls a pastor to provide leadership because of specific gifts and training the pastor has that can assist the congregation in carrying out its ministry.
We know that those called to pastoral leadership need to be serious in study, diligent in prayer, and purposeful in the manner of their living.
Likewise, we know that pastors need to experience the support, the encouragement and the prayers of those they serve.
We know that a pastor, by definition, will be a shepherd of the congregation. The word "pastor" is literally translated "shepherd."(2) While the only specific use of the term pastor is found in Ephesians, we find other references to pastors as shepherds.
In John 10, Jesus takes for himself this image of the good shepherd; thereby making Jesus the role model for pastors. Jesus says, "I know my own and my own know me." I believe we can find here a key to a successful pastoral/congregational relationship that involves learning to know each other and thus preparing a foundation upon which to build.
In John 21:15ff, Jesus calls Simon Peter to a new role as pastor of the church calling on him to demonstrate his love for Christ and the Church by: (1) feeding the lambs (ie. nurturing the young); (2) tending the sheep (ie. providing leadership for the church); and (3) feeding the sheep (ie. providing training and discipleship for the individual members).
We know that a pastor, like the shepherd will seek to lead the way to green pastures, still waters, restoring the soul, and leading in right paths for Jesus' sake. But shepherding is more than leading, it also involves caring - walking with us in the darkest times, calming our fears and bringing comfort and wholeness to broken lives. In John 10, Jesus reminds us that the good shepherd not only knows his own but is willing to sacrifice for them as well.
We also know that a pastor will provide a table ministry that includes both fun and fellowship where all are welcome and a table ministry that calls us to share in the ministry of the Lord's table where we are reminded of Jesus' love for us and our love for one another.
We know that in most congregations, including this one, the pastor is paid to enable the freedom of full-time ministry; and yet we also recognize that the relationship between congregation and pastor can never be fully understood as employer-employee. It is rather a covenant relationship based on a relationship of mutual love and trust.
In the passage from John 10, Jesus clarifies the difference between a pastor (shepherd) and a hired hand or employee. A pastor cares about the individuals in their congregation. Unlike an employee who might run away or leave with the first conflict, a pastor cares enough to stay and confront, to stay and protect, to stay and comfort, to stay and to sacrifice to meet the needs of each member of the congregation.
Again, we could continue to add to this list the things we know we know about the relationship between a pastor and a congregation. But we also know there are known unknowns. That is to say we know there are some things we do not know.
We know that over the years there will be times that the pastor and members of the congregation will perceive and understand things differently. We know it will happen but what those issues will be is an unknown.
Likewise, we know that both Pastor Tim and the Rock Run congregation will change as together we continue the ministry of Jesus. What is unknown is what those changes will be. We anticipate they will be good and positive changes as we grow in our faith and discipleship and as new members are added to this church family.
Finally, we know that the time will come when Tim is no longer the pastor at Rock Run. What is unknown is whether that will be the result of retirement, death, resignation, or the 2nd coming of our Lord. While we do not know the time or circumstances of that ending, we do know that now is the time to work diligently and intentionally to make the most of our time together in this common ministry we share.
As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns.
The ones we don't know
We don't know.
There is not a lot to be said in this third category of the unknown unknowns. Our God is a God of surprises and we can only expect that God will surprise us! Be open to the unexpected and to ministry opportunities that you cannot yet begin to imagine.
Today marks a new beginning for both Tim and the Rock Run congregation. Like Abraham, you are venturing forth into the unknown in response to God's call. You begin this adventure with both known knowns and known unknowns, and along the way you will likely be surprised by God with the unknown unknowns.
May you together begin to build upon the things you know you know - those basic foundations of the Christian faith and the relationships between pastor and congregational members (I know my own and my own know me) - so that together, and with God, you will have prepared a foundation with which to encounter the unknowns in times to come.
May God guide and bless you in this time of beginning and in the mutual ministry you share. Amen
1. Christian Century, May 3, 2003 issue, p. 7. Additional information online at http://slate.msn.com/id/2081042
2. The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Vol 3, p. 668.