Reflection: No Boasting for Spectators (Feb. 10, 2013)

The Transfiguration of our Lord
Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Hebrews 3:1-6; Luke 9:28-36


This year’s Super Bowl is over and the fans of the Baltimore Ravens are just as ecstatic as the fans of last year’s champions … and of the Word Series winning team, the latest Stanley Cup winner, etc. Fans show their joy over their teams’ victories with parades, parties, and, of course, vast amount of championship merchandise. Despite all this revelry and rejoicing over the teams’ victories, fans remain what they are: spectators. As spectators, fans can’t boast about their teams’ accomplishments as their own. Fans can trash talk, shout their praises, scream incomprehensible phrases, and chant their teams’ “war cries,” but only participants can truly boast.

The truth that there is no boasting for spectators shows us something very important about being Christians. Just like in the world of sports, in Christianity only participants have the right to boast. We may think that there is no place for boasting in the life of a Christian at all, but today’s Epistle lesson speaks very plainly about boasting as God’s people. Of course, the boasting that we are called to is not the arrogant and self-aggrandizing boasting of our world. Instead of being self-centered, the boasting of Christians is in what Christ has accomplished for us, or as 2 Cor. 10:17 puts it, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” But we can’t boast in the Lord if we are simply spectators.

Too many Christians in our culture have grown comfortable being spectators of the Faith rather than participants in it. They echo the words of Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration, “It’s good, Lord, to be here” as an expression of their desire to disengage from serving the world, doing the work of the church, and making the sacrifices that being an active disciple of Jesus demands. They come to Sunday services with expectations of uplifting entertainment not meaningful participation. But God breaks through our stubborn inaction. Presenting His Son before our eyes as the fulfillment of all that the Law and the Prophets had revealed about God’s plan for our salvation, He calls us to participate in His work in the words, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!” And when we listen we hear His gracious call to join Him in extending His love to our dying world. The same love that has made us participants in Christ and given us the privilege to boast in Him.

Audio file of the sermon "No Boasting for Spectators."