Since this past Fall we have been preaching our way through the book of Hebrews, a series which will conclude on Palm Sunday. Today we have perhaps one of the most familiar passages of the book of Hebrews, Chapter 12, verses 1-3:
“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, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. “
There is a distinct scent to older churches. Some combination of wax from years of flickering candlelit Christmas Eve services, hymns and Bibles that have been opened and closed by a great many people over a great many years. Even in our Fellowship Hall, which was remodeled 9 years ago into the worship space we have today, there’s a feel of history: the meals that were served here, the community that has grown from this space. When I imagine the cloud of witnesses, this is what comes to mind: that very apparent lived-in feel of a church that has had a great many witnesses. Spaces like these are not often the norm in our day-to-day lives.
In American culture, we are taught that newer is better, more independence is better, owning more things and space and land are better. In learning these lessons, we distance ourselves from our shared past, our neighbors, and the sharing of public space. In our race to live the “American dream” we have left others in the dust.
Other cultures have a much greater deference for their foundations I am reminded of Chinese culture portrayed in Disney’s Mulan and the relationship that she has with her ancestors, praying for them to intercede on her behalf. The Catholic faith lifts up people from throughout Christian tradition as Saints, praying for them to intercede on their behalf, one Saint encyclopedia website I saw even referred to Saints as “extended family in heaven.”
Though in Presbyterian tradition we do not pray to saints or ancestors to intercede on our behalf, we do affirm the “communion of saints.” This can be rather confusing. Though we call them “saints,” we are not referring to the Catholic canon of saints, but rather, the collection of everyone who has, is, and will be faithful to Jesus Christ. In this larger communion of saints we affirm a fellowship united through Christ. We see this greater fellowship with all Christians in our passage today, in the phrase, “cloud of witnesses.” This passage in Hebrews follows an account of the faithful who have willingly and sacrificially served God throughout Biblical accounts.
In our passage today we read: “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.” This word that is most often translated as surrounded, in the Greek also carries the meaning “bound.” In a world focused on being independent, how different does it look then if we are bound to those who share our faith in history, in the present, and in the future?
Lately, I’ve been reading a book called, “Spiritual Care for Persons with Dementia.” I started reading this book primarily to be able to have a bit more insight in how to show specific care towards people with dementia. Though this book does have concrete practical examples of ideas on how to care for people with dementia, it also has many great theological statements on the temporal nature of health and how the Bible frames the worth of all people.
In one particular essay in this book, “To See Things as God Sees Them,” Stephen Sapp writes,
“In contrast to the radically individualistic attitude espoused by contemporary American society, Christianity strongly affirms that human beings are more than merely autonomous beings who exist as separate atoms in discrete moments of time, able to do exactly as they please whenever they please…. God sees humans not as such radically disconnected individuals but as social-historical beings who are undeniably linked with others, living in community and changing over time in ways over which they do not always have control.”
In our baptismal vows we affirm our participation in a greater body of faith. This understanding of each other as Christian family binds us to one another. When we stop seeing one another as competition or a burden, and instead wield to the fluidity of our interconnectedness, we are able to more fully participate in the greater cloud of witnesses.
This is affirmed in scripture by another familiar passage, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27:
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
We are all members of this great body, this great cloud of witnesses. This passage in 1 Corinthians has always challenged me to think about what part of the body that is the church I might be at any given moment. When I really feel like I have it all together, I feel that I just may be the brain, leading the other parts of the church body in the way they should go, reacting to the pain felt by any given part, and making decisions to move things forward. Other times, I feel like I might be the hand, doing the work of the church in the world, reaching out, planting, building. And sometimes, perhaps I’m simply a fingernail, providing some support, some comfort, but largely going unnoticed. As this scripture passage tells us, each and every part of the body of the church is important, not in and of itself, but in the way we all work together as a functioning whole.
When we look back at Hebrews 12:1 and read, “let us run with perseverance this race,” it can at first have the 
appearance of a competition. People running against each other to make sure that they are more faithful than others, or that they are a greater witness than others. But when we look at it in the Greek the word “race” is there, but it can also be translated as “gathering.” Though images of race bring about ideas of competition, bringing in the element of gathering shows this as more of a journey that we’re all taking together. We are not racing by ourselves.
This is one of the reasons I enjoy being a part of a denomination. While some say it is divisive to have denominational affiliations, I see it rather that our denominational group is the equivalent of a running group. These are people who take time out to be together with one another. They set goals together and work our plans of how they may go about achieving them. They support one another through injuries and work together in relays. Most importantly, they run alongside each other. This is how I see our denomination: people who have decided to stick things out together, and run this race alongside one another, surrounded by the larger and greater cloud of witnesses.
Today our congregation is participating in our denomination in a unique way. As the denomination prepares to release a new hymnal in Fall of 2013, they have organized “hymn sings” for various weeks throughout the year. For each “hymn sing” congregations throughout the Presbyterian Church join together in all singing the same song.
These songs are filmed and shared with one another, so we may participate in worship with one another through our common songs. Even within our own congregation we are joining together to sing the same song in all of the services, so we may be united as a congregation as well.
1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “If one member suffers, all suffer together with it.” This causes us to look to the greater body of faith. Who is it that needs help running this race? How can you strengthen them? Perhaps you could help with our youth group or contribute to a growth group. Maybe God is calling you to be more intentional about reaching out to a friend or family member who has not yet formed a relationship with Christ.
We are called to a part of the great cloud of witnesses. We are called to run with one another, supporting one another in faith. It is my prayer that this week you may pay attention to who needs support and to find ways to run alongside them. God calls us to honor the cloud of witnesses from our past, support the cloud among us, and cultivate a future for the witnesses to come.
Offering:
During this season of Lent, several denominations, including the Presbyterian Church, devote a special offering particularly to strengthening and supporting others called One Great Hour of Sharing. This offering supports ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, and community development that help people find safe refuge, start new lives and work together to strengthen their families and communities.
Presbydestrian 