The Hebrews Hall of Fame

August 11, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

This past Saturday, in Canton, Ohio, seven men were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The inductees included the all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns (Jerry Rice), the all-time leader in touchdowns and rushing yards (Emmit Smith), the defensive tackle with the most sacks in a career (John Randle), and a member of the greatest linebacking corps in history (Rickey Jackson). Several sportswriters have suggested that this may be the greatest induction class since 1971, when Canton welcomed legends Jim Brown and Vince Lombardi. It’s an impressive group of players, to be sure.

The buzz surrounding the Class of 2010 caused me to reflect a bit on our cultural obsession with individual achievement. There’s a Canadian Cartoonist Hall of Fame, an Insurance Hall of Fame, a Military Intelligence Hall of Fame, and even – get this – a Shuffleboard Hall of Fame (in my hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. Go figure.) We espouse persons who are larger than life, elevating them to celebrity status beyond the margins of community and camaraderie. As the saying goes, there may be no “I” in “Team.” But there is certainly one in “Celebrity.”

It’s timely that the Lectionary this month directs our gaze toward the book of Hebrews, which offers a most formidable – and significant – group of honorees, memorialized in Hebrews 11. This “Hall of Fame” of Israelite tradition is a veritable highlight reel of risk, courage, and faith. There’s Abraham, who packed up on command, without even a hint of his destination. There’s Elijah, the greatest prophet; Samson, the follicly-gifted judge; and Rahab, the heroine from the unlikeliest of occupations.

Their stories comprise our new sermon series during August, called “The Hebrews Hall of Fame,” and we begin with a trio of playmakers I’m calling “The Forerunners of Faith:” Abel, Enoch, and Noah. I have to admit, however, that I’m a bit puzzled. Hebrews, for some reason, groups these three together from the beginning, though there is no clear connection among them. The best I can figure, Abel is known for how he died, Enoch is known for how he didn’t die, and Noah for how he kept people from dying. I can see why Noah is on the list. He took a leap of faith unlike any prior or since. But Abel? And Enoch? (Who in the world is Enoch?)

We run into some trouble, then, when we try to treat the Hebrews Hall of Fame as a barometer for individual achievement, as we soon realize that there is no easy set of criteria to define great faith. To get into Canton, for example, you need the statistics to back you up: score enough touchdowns, gain a lot of yards, win championships, make it to some Pro Bowls, make a name for yourself. Achievements like these help separate the great players from the truly special. But there are no such objective measures for the life of faith. There are no statistics kept for the number of hours you pray, services you attend, or souls you save. So when we encounter a list of “Who’s Who” in the faith, beginning with a trio of persons who don’t seem to fit the same criteria, we wind up scratching our heads.

That is, until we get to the end, in Hebrews chapter 12. We come to understand that the reason for this “Hall of Faith” is not to celebrate individual achievements or personal triumph. Instead, it is to draw our attention to the power of community.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

If you saw the induction ceremonies, you may have seen the speech given by Rickey Jackson, who paused during his speech to look at the sea of all the Hall of Famers in the audience. And perhaps thinking of the all 270 inductees who form a hallowed community, he said, "Football has always been my life. I see that in these guys here, man. These Hall of Famers here, I just seeing how these guys carry themselves, the love they had for football."

For the next few weeks, we’ll study how all of these great heroes carry themselves, and look to find ourselves in them. We’ll discover that we are not truly alone, and that as we live out their example, we will reaffirm our part in a community that stretches beyond time, across relationships, and throughout the body of Christ.

See you Sunday!

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org


Hebrews 11:1-7
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and ‘he was not found, because God had taken him.’ For it was attested before he was taken away that ‘he had pleased God.’
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

August 15
Abel, Enoch, and Noah: The Forerunners of Faith
Hebrews 11:1-7

August 22
Abraham: Faith Takes a Journey
Hebrews 11:8-22

August 29
Moses: Faith into Freedom
Hebrews 11:23-28

September 5
Rahab, Barak, and Gideon: Legions of Faithful
Hebrews 11:29-40

September 12
Having a Hall of Fame Faith
Hebrews 12:1-2, 13:1-8