All our Well-Made Plans…

 Genesis 11:1-9 and Acts 2:1-12

I tried all week to write a sermon on the Genesis passage—the tower of Babel.  I sat and banged my head against that story each day.  But each time I wrestled with the text, instead of a sermon rising up, I only felt the rise of frustration.  And then, finally, I realized why.  It was because I was trying desperately to distance myself from the story.  But when I was honest, I had to admit that distance was hard to find.  Because the truth of the matter is that there is something within most, if not all of us, that likes to build a tower.  We like the strength that it represents, the initiative, the success of it, the power.  We like that it says “Look at us!  Look at what we can do!”

 Or, if towers aren’t your thing, think about the walls.  The people of Shinar would have been constructing walls around the city they were building.  There is something within us that likes a strong wall, too.  A strong wall can make us feel safe.  A strong wall can shore up the borders, keep out the chaos, protect our name or our territory that we have so carefully made just right.  Call it a security fence or a protected border or a gated community—whatever form the wall takes.  If we have the chance to get one, we usually will.  We like a tall tower and we like a strong wall.

 Or, what about steeples.  Some of us like tall steeples (or bell towers, whatever the case may be).  We like to be known.  We like for our church to be THE church.  We have this sense that a tall steeple church still has some say in the marketplace of ideas.  Admittedly, these days there are a lot of churches with tall steeples but few people.  But, that steeple is still there, standing as a symbol.  A tall steeple can represent the name and the reputation we spend years honing through long range plans and vision statements. 

 When we are honest, it is hard to deny the fact that, like the people of Shinar, some of us like a tall tower, a strong wall, a high steeple.  We, also, like making a name for ourselves and being known as the ones with a vision, the ones in power, the ones in control, the ones who can protect our folks from the chaos or from the enemy.  All of those things that we make, that we design, that we dream, can give us a sense of identity.  A sense of pride. A sense of security.  Tall towers, strong walls, high steeples can go a long way to keep the chaos out, our people in, and the confusion at bay.  Which is exactly why I got so frustrated with this story in Genesis. 

 I so desperately wanted to point at the people in Shinar and say “Look at them.  Tsk, tsk, tsk.  Trying to make a name for themselves apart from God.  Trying to do it all on their own.  Thinking that their tower or their walled city or their steeple would give them their meaning.”  I wanted to point at them and say “Thank goodness I am so different and have learned so much by their mistakes.”  But I can’t.  Because I am not so sure I have.  I think I have many days on which I spend a whole lot of time making bricks and starting to build small towers in order to make a name for myself.  What about you?  On whom or what do you rely for your name, for your identity, for your sense of safety?  Been making any bricks lately?

 I wonder if those first disciples were making some mental bricks on that walk back to Jerusalem.  They had just left the place of Ascension.  Their heads must have been swimming with the chaos of what had just happened.  But internal chaos would not have been the only chaos they faced that day.  All along their way home, they would have run into teeming crowds.  It was the Jewish festival day of Pentecost, or the Feast of the Weeks.  And so, people were coming into Jerusalem from all kinds of places—from Parthia, Rome, Judea, all over the land.  Different shades of skin, different languages, different ages—a cacophany of noise and smells and colors would have filled the streets.  And as they walked in the middle of all that chaos, I bet at least a couple of them were more than ready to get back into that room with all of their other friends to escape such noise.      

 And since they were so very human, I also wonder if maybe a few of them were making some bricks in their minds—trying their best to think through what needed to happen now that Jesus was really gone.  Did they need to do a survey for popular worship styles?  Should they have some vision groups begin to meet in order to figure out where they went from there?  Yes, they knew Jesus promised the coming of the Spirit, but surely they could go ahead and make some preliminary plans.  They had a lot at stake on the success of this ministry.  This moment could be their chance to finally be an effective voice in the marketplace of ideas.  This was their time to shine.  “Come, let us make a name for ourselves,” they might have been thinking.  Don’t you wonder if any of them were making mental bricks and getting ready to build?

 The people of Shinar were working hard that day, making their bricks and building their city.  With each brick that was laid, their sense of security and power grew.  Whew, they must have thought.  This is exactly what we needed.  This will keep us all together.  This will keep us all safe.  Boundaries in place.  Chaos kept out.  Here, we can be of one mind and one voice and one culture and one language.  Here, we will make a name for ourselves.  And they worked hard. 

 But unfortunately, they forgot something rather important.  Did you notice that you do not hear even a mention of the divine in any of their conversations.  It was all “me, me, me.  This is what we are going to do and how we are going to do it and what we will accomplish for the sake of our people.”  As a matter of fact, even though throughout their history, God had repeatedly told humanity to “Multiply—scatter—fill the earth,” those folks making the bricks had absolutely no interest in being a part of such a divine dream.  No interest at all.  God’s divine dream of scattering would have messed up all their plans.

 Which is, of course, exactly what God did.  God messed up their carefully made plans.  God went down there and saw what they were doing and how they were dead set against being a part of God’s dream of scattering and filling the earth.  And God put God’s foot down.  Not so fast, God said.  I am God. You are not.  And all of this uniformity isn’t good for anybody.  So you will scatter, multiply and fill the earth.  And God’s divine intrusion stopped their brickmaking and their tower building and their wall construction and their steeple designing.  And all the people had to leave and fill the earth, learning to live with difference.  And at least for a while, they participated in God’s divine dream, even though it had not been a part of their original plan.       

 All of those disciples were gathered in that room.  And perhaps a few of them were starting to talk about what they were thinking should be next, and how they needed to start formulating their action plan, when all of the sudden:  INTRUSION!  God’s rowdy and tumultuous Spirit broke down the doors, scattering their mental bricks all around the room.  God’s Spirit blew in, swept in, and tore through the group, creating not just a scene, but pure chaos! 

 The Spirit completely unsettled their planning and their mental building.  And, much to their surprise, all of them began speaking in languages they did not even understand.  They simply could not help themselves.  They had no idea what they were saying, but they could not stop themselves from saying it.  God’s Spirit was causing them to proclaim the Gospel in ways that everybody could hear. 

 And with their mental bricks flying and mental walls crumbling, those disciples made such a racket that people on the outside began to wonder what was going on in that room.  The outsiders started to push through the doors and lean into the windows, captured by what they heard and curious to know what was behind it.  And when they caught a glimpse of who it was, those outsiders were astounded and amazed.  For the Elamites looked around the corner expecting to see other Elamites.  The Parthians expected to find Parthians.  The Libyians thought that for sure they would see another group of Libyians.  But instead, all they found was a bunch of Galilean Jewish Christians. 

 And with that discovery, those outsiders began to experience their own mental bricks starting to crumble in the Spirit-caused chaos. Because nothing was making any sense according to the way the world usually worked.  Nothing was staying in its normal place and order of things.  Everything and everyone was being swept up and scattered about in this Gospel-filled uproar.  It was clear to anyone with eyes to see the Spirit was the only one in control in that chaotic scattering of Good News.  The disciples sure weren’t in control.  And there was not a single thing they could do about it except to go with the Spirit’s flow and enjoy the ride. 

 Which, amazingly enough, seems to be exactly what they did.  Perhaps they thought about their long-ago ancestors in the plains of Shinar and remembered how it had gone for them.  And the disciples quickly abandoned their mental brick making and self-inspired steeple building.  And instead, they received the gift of the Spirit-filled scattering of the Gospel.  And so did the many of the outsiders who were crowding around.  And on that day, though that Spirit-filled scattering of the Gospel, 3000 strangers became family.  Different in language and in culture, but made into one family through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  And at least for a while, they all participated in God’s divine dream, even though it was not in their original plan.

 It is no wonder why I am not a fan of the Genesis story and why the Pentecost account can make me nervous.  I like my towers and my walls and my new steeple, well, belltower.  I like to make plans that keep me from feeling too scattered in ministry. 

 But, I do have to admit that secretly, when I am feeling brave, I also pray for the Spirit’s tumultuous intrusion into our midst.  I pray that the Spirit might scatter our mental bricks and throw our carefully thought-out plans up into the air.  For God only knows what divine dream God has in store for us.  May we, like those first disciples, also be open to Spirit’s flow and enjoy God’s wild ride. 

 Come, Holy Spirit, Come.  Whether we are ready for you or not!