Temptation

When I say the word “Temptation” what is the first thing that comes to mind? I asked that question to several people this week and one person was really silent and I said, “don’t think so long – give me your first thought. She said, “I am afraid to tell you what my first thought was – I am afraid you are going to tell me I have to give it up for Lent.”

“Stool of Repentance” I discovered this week that back in the 1600 in Scotland that the Presbyterian church had a certain kind of chair that sat near the front of the sanctuary (like the one I have here). The chair was known as a “Stool of Repentance.” The idea was if you had succumbed to some sort of temptation, you would be brought into the church – usually on a communion Sunday - and made to sit on that stool. You would sit on that stool through out the worship service. Then sometime after the sermon – and back then sermons lasted about an hour – you would be given the opportunity to speak to the congregation and let the church members know just how sorry you were for your succumbing to your temptation. Then the congregation would take a vote and see if they felt your confession was sincere or not. If it were, then you would be welcomed back into the congregation and then would receive communion.

Should We Try that Out? Well does anyone here think we should try this out? Now there is an idea for worship renewal! Just think how much worship attendance might increase on the Sundays someone was in that chair – depending, of course, on who is in the seat – and what they were confessing. Or it might be very small. “Don’t go to that church…they take their religious much too seriously.”

The Meaning of Temptation

Trivial Temptation: Desert

There was obviously a time in the church where it took temptation and sins very seriously. In fact, the early church from the time of the Apostle Paul to about the 5th century, understood that every day we faced a series of temptations to pull away from the faith – to cease to walk the journey with Christ. The further along the faith journey you are – more you grown in your faith – the greater the temptation: small temptations for small people; great temptations for spiritually great people. The struggle for them did not end until death, which was not only an end of life but a graceful end of temptation.

We often trivialize the idea of temptation and I suspect do not give it much thought. You know I mean. She goes out to dinner with her friends and she is determined to eat healthy. When the salads come to the table, hers is just lettuce and tomatoes and a little bit of salad oil and vinegar. When the plate arrives it’s a small dry piece of chicken, broccoli and a lot of rice, half of which she takes off and put on a plate and give to her friend. The waitress comes over, as they are finishing dinner, carrying one of those trays filled with luscious looking delicacy and says those dread words for anyone on a diet: “How about some desert!” “I will have the lemon tart.” “I have the chocolate fudge cake.” “What about you? How about the pralines and ice cream?” “Oh, go ahead (the others say to her)…it’s just one time…besides…what every happened to having a good time.”

Temptation #2 – Friend Keeping the Books

Is that what temptation is? Or is it something more than that? A friend was keeping the books at a midsize firm in Chicago. He likes his job and he is making a good living for his family. But one day her comes across some major discrepancies in the books and the only way he can account for them is that his boss his skimming money from the firm. After a serious of painful, scary, and difficult conversations, his boss breaks down crying and confessing that he has taken the money for some good reason and he is going to pay it back if only he will not tell anyone and help him cover it all up. “Well, he is sincere. I can help him out and no one is going to be harmed. What should I do?” The temptation is more serious now isn’t it?

Temptation #3 – “Just One Hit”

The family is away and he finally has an afternoon to himself. He has been clean for over a year now and the conflict has lessen a bit between his wife and him. But work has become incredibly stressful --- he finds himself more on edge – struggling to get through his day. An old friend drives by while he is out in the yard and says, “hey, I have something for you – ole buddy.” He hands him a small sack and as he drives away he says, “this one is on me!” He stands there now thinking to himself: “what one good hit would do to help him feel better. He can go into the garage – close the door - and no one will ever know and besides it will be just this one time.” Now we are in very serious temptation, aren’t we?

Temptations #4 – IRS – Insurance Companies I do not know anyone who would go into a neighbor’s house and steal their new flat screen TV, but there are plenty of people who will hide away a stash of cash from the IRS. I do not know anyone who will go into a grocery mart and hold it up at gunpoint, but there are plenty of people who will change the story so the insurance claim becomes viable. They will all think: “no one is hurt – it is a little extra money for the family – I’ve pay in plenty to that insurance company.” Now we are into temptation, aren’t we?

The Temptation of Jesus: Real Temptation

Cartoon Temptation

But do you really want to see temptation? You want to see someone who was really put on the hot seat and who had to make a difficult decision? Then look at the story of the temptation of Jesus. Fred Craddock says that the temptation story almost appears to us like a cartoon. I have a painting in my office of the temptation of Jesus that is like that – it is a cartoon of the temptation story. Stand opposite of Jesus is a horrific blazing red figure with fire coming out of his fingertips. Now tell me something – if you had someone looking like that coming to tempt you would you be fooled by him? You may be intimidated and scared and run the other way. I doubt you would be tempted.

Real Temptation: Tempted to do something good

Real temptation is not a cartoon. Temptation comes in the form of the possibility of something that seems to be a real good. In all the stories I have shared with you, each of the people were tempted by something that rationally seems good: who doesn’t want to let go and have a good time? Why not help out a friend who made a tragic mistake? Who does not need to find a way to reduce stress? What is wrong with thinking about a little extra money for the family?

The Nature of Jesus’ Temptations:

Mark’s gospel does not tell us any of the details of Jesus’ temptation. We have only two lines telling us that he was tempted. Matthew fills in the gaps of what Mark does not tell us.

• Matthew says, Jesus fasted for 40 days and was out in the wilderness when he was tempted to turn a stone into bread. Now what could be wrong with that? He is just making sure he is feed so he does not starve.

• He is then tempted to throw himself down from the top of the temple and told the angels will rescue him. Now what is wrong with that? Wouldn’t so many people come to believe in him if they could just see that happen?

• He taken to a mountaintop and told to look at all the kingdoms of the world and promised that he could rule all of them? Doesn’t that sound like a good thing? Would it be great to have Jesus take charge of everything? There would be more fairness and justice and love in our world. Think how much good he could do.

Summary

Jesus is approached and tempted at the point of doing what is reasonable, what is helpful, what is good. The temptation is not about going out and doing something bad but the temptation to do something good. It is always that way or else, we would never succumb.

Overcoming Temptation

Remembering Your Call

So how does Jesus overcome the tremendous temptations put on him? Jesus remembers who he is and what his call is. He stays with what he understands God’s will is for his life. Temptation is ultimately not about the temptation to eat some pie, to tell a lie, to fudge on our taxes – it is deeper than that. True temptation is to forget who we are – the temptation to betray our call to follow Jesus. Jesus remembers his baptism – he remembers God’s blessing of him and his call.

Illustration: Peter

Let me illustrate that from you from a story in the gospels. You remember when Peter was outside the High Priest house – Jesus has been arrested and put on trial and Peter is gathered around a fire to warm him. “You were with Jesus of Nazareth weren’t you?” Peter is tempted. And three times Peter fails that temptation and denies Jesus, his friend. What was Peter’s failure? That he told a lie to a hostile person and saved his own neck and avoided his own crucifixion? That is not a bad thing to do – it is a good thing to do. No – his failure was that Peter betrayed his call to be Jesus’ follower and friend. That was his call and failed his temptation to keep it even at a high cost.

Our True Temptations

That is what we do – when we succumb to true temptations: We allow something put in front of us – to take us away from who we really are and are called to be. When we are tempted we need to ask ourselves two questions: “What kind of person will I become if I do this? And second: “What kind of person will I give up being?” And also, “If by doing this or by doing that, am I moving away or towards God good intentions for my life?”

Illustration: My Temptation

I remember once being tempted by something real good. It was the offer of a job. I was going to be paid an enormous amount of money at a time when I was in real debt from student loans. I was going to be able to work with a good friend. I was going to be home closer to my family. What is wrong with any of that? I tell you what is wrong – it meant going against a clear sense that would take me away from a more difficult path I was being called down to travel. When you have that – no matter how good the temptation – you follow Christ – you follow Christ.

Summary: Lenten Journey – Called to follow Jesus on the road to the cross…

This week we have begun our Lenten journey with one another. We are called to follow Christ on the way to the cross and each of us has a unique call and purpose. That call came to you in the time you were baptized – when God spoke to you the word that were spoken to Jesus: “You are my son, my daughter, the beloved, with whom I am well please.” You like Jesus, then began a journey towards God and a larger purpose for your life.

What is Temptation? It is anything that takes us off our journey with Christ.

Do we need a “Stool of Repentance?” Do we need a way of shaming people into never again succumbing to temptations? No – what we need is to remember that God defines and blesses and gives our lives meaning. We remember who we are and get on that road with Christ again – no matter how far off we have strayed. For walking with Jesus is the path to life. Amen.

Fred Craddock, Cherry Log Sermons, “Tempted to Do Good,” p. 16. Some of the stories ideas and shape of this sermon come from this sermon by Dr. Craddock.

Ibid, p. 17.

Ibid, p. 17.