Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the twentieth century’s most influential and imaginative designers, once said, “The architect must be a prophet . . . a prophet in the true sense of the term.  If he can't see at least ten years ahead don't call him an architect.”  Reflecting his visionary style, these words point to Wright’s own fearless expression of new ideas, as he fought more traditional approaches and what he considered the status quo.  Designing over eleven hundred structures in his lifetime, five hundred and thirty-two of which were actually built, this was a man who conceived not only modern buildings but also new ideals, upsetting the architectural world with his brazen designs.  Believing form and function should be one, “joined in a spiritual union,” as he claimed, Wright constantly worked against traditional practices, leading one historian to note that he not only “left behind a rich legacy of beautiful houses and buildings – a truly American style of architecture, [but also] an example of what it means to live life based on your own convictions.”  Indeed.  No matter what we may think of Wright’s groundbreaking designs we can at least appreciate the daring creativity behind them.  Frank Lloyd Wright prophetically shared his visions with a world that was all too content to merely follow the status quo.

Perhaps this is exactly what could be said of the authors of our Scripture readings today.  Both the apostle Paul and the author of Luke were men who defied tradition in order to share a new vision with the world:  a vision of hope and healing as offered by God through Jesus Christ.  Unafraid of judgment and condemnation these two courageously moved from the conventional to the innovative, from what was socially acceptable to what was divinely inspired.  For Luke that meant leaving behind Gentile rules and practices.  For Paul it required breaking away from Judaism and the very authorities persecuting members of this new religious sect.  Like Frank Lloyd Wright each of these men were radicals, envisioning a new age and designing a new way of living.  Like Frank Lloyd Wright both were prophetic architects – not of buildings in the physical realm but rather of structures that would support the love and mercy of God for generations.

Considering these authors as architects, it’s so interesting to note, then, how the form of their discipleship was perfectly aligned with its function.  Of course Luke and Paul didn’t think in these exact terms but it’s what they strived for nonetheless.  Inspired by the One they called their Savior and Lord these early apostles designed their lives to mirror the mercy they’d received from God; they built their ministries on the mission they’d learned from Christ.  Paul says it right here in the letter to the Corinthians:  “no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.”  In their own time and in their own ways these two built the church on that cornerstone, ensuring its integrity of form by designing it to function like Christ.
 
It’s from that very blueprint we find ourselves worshiping today, not simply through these readings but in everything we do as Christians in this modern time.  Living now in the twenty-first century we continue with those first apostles to gather under the cross, standing on the cornerstone of Christ’s redemptive power.  Despite incredible advances in technology, we come together to seek spiritual healing, confessing that we are a people of the resurrection.  Together we carry the cross forward.   Together we are building the realm of God.

And so on this Stewardship Sunday we have an opportunity step back and ask ourselves what kind of architects we have become, particularly as we face transition here and instability around the world.   Marking the first anniversary of the collapse of those seemingly indestructible towers we can wonder, “What is it we now need to build?”  “How are our plans grounded in God’s mission of reconciling love?”  “Does our form echo Christ’s function?”

Assessing how we build upon the Christian story we do well to remember the covenants made when we profess this faith, covenants that ensure integrity of perspective as well as purpose.   Like Luke and Paul we recall that in order for our faith’s form to integrate with its function we must break away from the status quo, making first of all a covenant of personal life.  Committing ourselves to disciplines that will help us grow in faith we become grounded with God through prayer, study, and an attitude of compassion.  We also make a covenant of community life, recognizing that while our relationship with God is personal it must never be private, promising to find a church home in which to worship and serve.  Finally we make a covenant of public life, pledging to act on the Christian hope and creed through all of our political and moral and financial obligations.  In Christianity, a confessing faith is always an active faith, personally, communally and publicly.  For as in Paul’s very own words, we realize, “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2: 20).

It’s from the basis of such covenant that we can better appreciate the meaning of stewardship – stewardship of the gift of life, not just of our giving.  These covenants remind us that most foundationally we belong to God.  That’s the definition of the word, after all:  a steward is one who is in charge of something that belongs to someone else.  As Christians we recognize that we are stewards of God’s many blessings:  stewards of faith and talent, of love and treasure, of hope and many other material resources.  Entrusted with such gifts we commit to using them for the good of God’s world, personally, communally, and publicly.  Jesus told many stories to help us understand this:  the Parable of the Talents, of the Rich Fool, and yes, of the Prodigal Son all point toward our accountability to God, reminding us that as stewards we either build upon the rock of our salvation or set our house in sand.  “Each builder must choose with care how to build” Paul states so clearly today.  How are we faithful stewards of gracious gifts from God?  Is the form of our life fully aligned with Christ’s function?

One way of very tangibly considering these questions is to reflect upon our use of money – a point where attitude in action becomes abundantly clear.  For example, some of us may choose to approach the financial dimensions of stewardship from a “dues paying” perspective, having the outlook that we need to pitch in and pay our fair share.  Grateful for the worship and other services we receive here, we give thanks by pledging appropriately.  That’s one stewardship perspective.  The downfall:  our giving can seem like just another financial transaction, leading us to believe we have to purchase our place in the church and God’s realm.

A second form of giving comes from our desire to support a cause we believe in.  We do this all the time with our other charitable contributions:  we offer gifts – tax deductible – to an organization or cause we want to help sustain.  From this framework we faithfully pledge our donations in order to support the work of the church.  Here our motives might vary.  Some of us may bring our offerings to God because of our commitment to Christian Service and Outreach, others for Worship and Music, others still for programs for youth or Christian Education or pastoral care.  This kind of gift is one of careful prioritization as we give in order to support what we consider to be a worthwhile cause, one we want to be sure survives in challenging economic times.  The danger here:  that we think of the church as just one more organization in need.  The stewardship packet arrives and it’s put in the stack of non-profit appeals behind our many other monthly bills.  We give what we can when we’re able.

Finally there’s the giving of one’s first fruits.  As we know, that’s the Biblical example of stewardship as pledging our offerings more proportionally helps us express our thanks to God for all we have been entrusted.  Recognizing the inseparable nature of our faith from every aspect of our lives we bring such gifts to the altar as a symbol of covenant, promising our loyal and loving service to God.  Our pledges here are not transactions or even contributions but rather signs of gratitude for life itself, for the church and for God’s merciful, benevolent salvation.  Still there exists a potential downfall:  that we perceive this Biblical teaching as some form of spiritual income tax, inspired then to give only in order to quell our guilt and shame.

Money:  it’s not the source of all evil as we have heard for generations.  Rather it’s one of many resources we can choose to use for the expression of our deepest faith.  Giving our gifts to the church enables us not only to support the ongoing ministry of Jesus but it also helps us acknowledge the very source of our life and our living.  We are stewards, after all.  That’s how we’re challenged to consider the offerings of our gifts. That’s how I know my husband, Matthew, and I will pray over our pledge.

It’s clear that everyone’s participation in the building of Christ’s church has never been more crucial than it is right now.  Finding ourselves in an economic time where homelessness is on the rise as prices on stock market continue to fall we are all feeling the strain of uncertainty.  Living in day when we are at war, threats of terrorism and new military action looming constantly before us we are all feeling the pain of insecurity.   Surrounded by the secular seductions of consumerism and technology we may be lulled into thinking we can only take care of ourselves.  But what, then, are we building?  Who, then, are we serving?

You may have seen the New Yorker cartoon last spring that speaks to this very situation.  Two devils, complete with horns and tails, are seated in armchairs, sitting back comfortably, sharing a drink.  One is smugly silent while the other says with admiration, “Love the work you’ve been doing with the Church recently.”

As an institution made up of human beings we are bound to fumble – the tragic scandals of abuse finally coming to light make that so very clear.  But seeing such events as reason to turn and walk away from this Christian faith is another matter altogether.  In these trying times we need turn to God, recognizing the source of our strength and salvation.  As we often reflect – particularly on Youth Sunday – Christianity is always just one generation away from extinction.  How are we helping to build it up?  How are we prophetically looking ahead ten or twenty or fifty or even a hundred years to help sustain Christ’s solid foundation?

The questions are ours to ask, as individuals and families and as the church – here at Old South as well as universal.  The questions are ours to answer, with prayer and hope and thanksgiving.

Let us pray.
Merciful God, recognizing that it is you who entrusts us with what we have and what we are we give you thanks, asking that you lead us to use these resources wisely.  In thought and word, in deed and planning, help us to be architects of your just and loving realm.  For as you first loved us so we seek to now love you, through Christ, our inspiration and foundation.
Amen.
 

SCRIPTURE READING

Luke 6: 43-49

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit.  Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.  The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?  I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them.  That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.  But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.  When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.”

1 Corinthians 3: 10-15

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it.  Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.  For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw – the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.  If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward.  If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.