Sermons

“Universalists are often asked to tell where they stand. The only true answer to give to this question is that we do not stand at all . . . we move.” — Rev. Lewis B. Fisher

READING
Lewis B Fisher in Universalism in America, A Documentary History of a Liberal Faith, edited by Ernest Cassara. Boston: Skinner House Press, 1971. pages 252-253.

from the document “Which Way? A Study of Universalists and Universalism” Boston, 1921.

Universalists are often asked to tell where they stand. The only true answer to give to this question is that we do not stand at all, we move. Or we are asked to state our position. Again we can only answer that we are not staying to defend any position, we are on the march. ....

We do not stand still, nor do defend any immovable positions, theologically speaking, and we are therefore harder to count or to form into imposing bodies. We grow and we march, as all living things forever must do. The main questions with Universalists are not where we stand but which way we are moving, not what positions we defend but which way we are marching. ..................

Nothing is clearer than the fact that the old definitions do not meet the needs of the new day, or that the old theologies do not function for the new occasions. Our worn phrases are always losing their old meanings, and must forever be finding new meanings in the light of new experiences.

All good men and women to-day want a gospel that functions for the individual and for society, but the gospel that functioned for these yesterday fails to-day, and the gospel for to-day will have to meet the enlarging knowledge and experience of to- morrow.

READING
No. 591 I CALL THAT CHURCH FREE (SINGING THE LIVING TRADITION)

SERMON
There are basically two positions. At rest or in motion. We remain still or we move. We stand, or we march. There is a time for each.
As the Hebrew scripture reminds us,

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

......
a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak

How do we know what season we are in and what we need to do?
The whole world just now seems to be a hot mess.
This is neither the first time nor, sadly, will it be the last time people will find themselves living in troubled days. But I must admit, these days feel as troubled as any I have lived through. Having been born after the Second World War, I know that my life has been relatively privileged and uncomplicated compared with prior generations, but even so, I cannot say, “God is in God’s heaven and all is right with the world.”

For guidance and reassurance, I turn to sources of wisdom. Faith. If my faith is valuable, it must have something to offer me in all the times and seasons of life. Our faith, Unitarian Universalism, must be a source of wisdom and reassurance as well as a call to action if it is to be a faith worthy of our loyalty.

I believe that ours is a worthy faith; imperfect and incomplete, but worthy.

One of the attributes of Unitarian Universalism that I most appreciate is our reluctance, even our refusal, to rely on or appeal to fixed doctrine and dogma to provide that much-needed wisdom and reassurance. Even our sincere sympathy with the timelessness of sacred scriptures from across human experience comes with a disclaimer about the ongoing requirement for contemporary interpretation. We are stronger because of our willingness to move, and to keep moving as the ever-revealing truth is made know to us. We do not stand still, cowering behind centuries of religious certainty, we move; often into unknown and unchartered territory. We move toward the things that we do not yet understand. We move toward the things we know in our hearts and in our minds to be mistaken, misguided, or just plain wrong. We move toward the things that scare us because of our inadequacy as we seek to make our world better.

Yes, there are times when we ought to stand, or sit, or lie down; to plant our bodies in front of injustice and refuse to yield to the powers and principalities of this world. We get the strength and confidence to plant ourselves on the side of justice because our faith and our understanding keep moving. Our faith constantly responds to the refresh button of experience when we side with love.

How did we get this far?
Heretics and Free-thinking mystics.
Servants devoted to justice.

Let me take you back to an earlier time in our history; a time when it was imperative that our faith not stand still, but move.

In the 1920s Universalism in America was in flux. At the end of the 19th Century, Universalism was thriving and was considered for a time to be one of the major religions in America. So inviting is the theology of universal salvation that many Protestants accepted it and incorporated it, though always unofficially, into their own faith and belief. That meant that the singular most distinguishing feature of Universalism was no longer unique to the religion that bears its name. The tradition began to decline in the middle of the 20th Century and we know that finally, the Universalists merged with the Unitarians in 1961. For a more complete lesson on the history of our Chosen Faith, I would recommend the UUA book by that name –A Chosen Faith.

During that mid-century time of decline, Universalists contemplated joining ranks with Unitarians and also with Congregationalists. Religion and religious viewpoints filled the public square and many ordinary people were looking for definitive answers to life’s persistent questions. What, Universalists wondered, did our faith bring to these conversations. It is into that set of circumstances that The Reverend Dr, Lewis B. Fisher made his declaration of faith: We Move.

In 1521, a young Martin Luther was called to appear before a council of the leaders of the Christian Church in Germany to recant his own writings and teachings. The common story is that Luther refused to recant with these words: "Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me." For Luther, it was a time to stand.

Four hundred years later, in 1921, Lewis Fisher was also asked to declare the content of his faith. For Lewis Fisher, it was a time to move.

Recall what he wrote on the subject of our Universalist faith.

Universalists are often asked to tell where they stand. The only true answer to give to this question is that we do not stand at all, we move.

We grow and we march, as all living things forever must do. The main questions with Universalists are not where we stand but which way we are moving, not what positions we defend but which way we are marching. ..................

All good men and women to-day want a gospel that functions for the individual and for society, but the gospel that functioned for these yesterday fails to-day, and the gospel for to-day will have to meet the enlarging knowledge and experience of tomorrow.

Fisher was convinced that what set apart Universalism from many other traditions, even in the more liberal wing of religion, was not necessarily its acceptance of universal salvation, but rather, its flexibility in its theology and the practice of its faith in the world.

Then, as now, theologians and faith leaders were pressured to declare for themselves and their followers the position taken on a number of questions and issues of the day. Once having done so, to modify or update an interpretation invites criticism and accusations of relativism or fake faith. Fisher, however, was comfortable and confident that standing still was far worse for faith than remaining in motion.

We move. Think about that for a minute.

It is a wonderful thing about our Unitarian Universalism, I think, that we are always in motion. Sure, perhaps there are times when we might long for some sort of anchor to throw into the raging seas that would find solid ground and hold us firmly in place. But, then what? Would we happily stay in that one place, thinking that we are safe and secure while the sea continues to roil around us and we watch helpless as those who move pass us by, often to calmer waters and more protected ports? No, I do not envy those whose theology and interpretation is fixed. Certainty is not safety. Certainty is not durable for a changing world. Wisdom requires flexibility.

Long ago—you know, back in the 20th century—the Universalists and Unitarians determined that faith could not be based in doctrine and dogma, but must be based in human experience and a willingness to engage with life and continuing revelation.

A couple more examples of our moving faith.

Vincent B. Silliman lived from the end of the 19th century through most of the 20th century. He died in 1979 at age 85. During his life, he served as minister of First Parish in Portland and First Universalist in Yarmouth. He wrote poetry and hymns, five of which are in our Singing the Living Tradition book. Our opening hymn today are the words of Vincent Silliman. He also wrote the words for Faith of the Larger Liberty. There is one reading in our book from Silliman at #466. It is an affirmation of liberal religion and begins with these words: “Let religion be to us life and joy.” This is no fixed catechism that preaches ancient doctrine. Take a look at #466 if you want to read his declaration of our religion. It is moving.

James Luther Adams was a pillar of Unitarianism until his death in 1994. I call that church free ... we just read and spoke aloud his words. He speaks about the practice of faith. He speaks about ongoing revelation and changing interpretations. The church he envisions is on the move, never satisfied to stand still and never asking the faithful to settle for past truth or expired authority. I love all this about Unitarian Universalism.

This is what matters . . .
What we do.
Who we are together.
How we serve the world.
These are the defining attributes of our faith as we have inherited it from those who went before us.

Lewis Fisher. Vincent Silliman. James Luther Adams. These are three of the many leaders who helped to give form and shape to a faith that moves.
It moves with the breath of life and
it moves with the winds of continuing revelations and
it moves with the waves of changing culture and knowledge.

It will not have escaped your notice, however, that I have paid homage to three men – three white men – three white men of privilege. Like so much of the history of America, these are the people who by and large shaped our national and religious identity. We have inherited their legacy, good and not-so-good. I’ve talked about the good inheritance. I do not deny the fact that we also inherited from them an identity that is white, male, and privileged. Let’s not take away from our ancestors the value of their contributions and let’s not diminish the challenges they felt in their own time to be more inclusive and welcoming. We can see in their writings a determination to widen the circle of understanding and inclusion. We have inherited that determination as much as the residual racism, sexism and classism.

On July 8th I will take up the subject of our moving faith from the vantage point of now. We will hear from contemporary Unitarian Universalists.

May we take with us today the confidence that our faith is worthy of our loyalty. It requires of us the courage to move when movement is necessary. May we be as steadfast in our practice of faith as those who came before us.
May we move in directions that bring us ever closer to our vision of peace on earth. Blessed Be. I Love You. Amen.