"Jesus said, ‘I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!’" (Luke 12:49)

"Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces." (Jeremiah 23:29)

I have been doing a lot of thinking about our texts for this Sunday (12th Sunday after Pentecost).  In Jeremiah there is talk of God’s word being like fire.  In the Gospel text Jesus says he came to bring fire to the earth.  What is in all of this fire talk?  A few things come to my mind.

Fire is an extremely destructive force.  Throughout this summer we have all heard about fires in various places around our country.  Here in Minnesota we were captivated by the fire in the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area).  Some people watched in horror as this so-called devastating fire ran wild through a beautiful piece of God’s creation.  Or how about the Yellowstone fire a few years back (I forget when).  We had fires in California and Florida to name just a few others.  And we could name many more.  When the fires broke out, firefighters responded in force in an effort to contain "the beast" (to borrow a term from the movie Backdraft — remember that movie?)  Anyway…the fire was not going to be allowed to be in control.  It must be snuffed out and extinguished.

But what happened waaaaaaaaay back when there were no firefighters to stop wildfires?  What happened to the forests and the prairies?  No doubt that lightening strikes started many fires, but back before people settled North America who "contained" the fires?  Who stopped them?  Who snuffed them out?  No one…and the forests and the prairies still thrived. 

Why? 

Because fire is needed to purify and needed for re-birth.  Some tree seeds need fire to pop them open so they can take root and grow.  Old under bush will prevent new growth unless it is removed (or burned away).  So before people, fires did their job.  They purified the forests and allowed for new growth (re-birth).  Once again, people get in the way.

And what about a "fire" in the church (I am being figurative here now)?  Imagine what that could do if left unchecked?  Imagine the repentance that would take place if people allowed the Holy Spirit to radically transform their lives by burning away the impurities.  Imagine the growth and re-birth that could happen.  Imagine the transformation. Imagine…

…But…

…we are afraid of "fire".  We are scared silly.  We don’t want to be burned.  We don’t want to be changed.  And I fear that what the Church really wants is a "fire" they can control and predict…not one that controls us.  We want to control whatever can hurt us, change us, or kill us.  We want to "contain" the "fire"… 

…But…

…God’s word cannot be contained.  It cannot be controlled.  It cannot be stopped.  Jesus came to bring fire.  Jesus came to transform the world.  Jesus came to bring life through a new source.  Not the Law, but the cross and the empty tomb.

The Word is here…oh how I wish it were already kindled.  But the firefighter in me — in all of us — keeps the water hose close by just in case the "fire" gets too wild.  Let it burn.  Let it purify.  Let it cause re-birth and growth.  Let it transform.  Basically…we need to get out of the way and let the "fire" do its job.

So…as I reflect on this text…one of my favorite Bible camp songs come to mind.  Maybe you know it.  Here it is:

Light the Fire
I stand to praise you, but I fall on my knees.  My Spirit is willing, but my flesh is so weak.

So light the fire — In my soul — Fan the flame — That makes me whole — Lord you know — Where I’ve been — So light the fire in my heart again

I feel your arms around me as the power of healing begins.  You breathe new life right through me; like a mighty rushing wind.

So light the fire in my heart again.

Amen!
-edh-