From the Pulpit-Feb. 12, 2012

How's Your Reputation?
Mark 1:40-45
2 Kings 5:1-14

So, what's the common thread here?  Leprosy, right?  Well, yeah--but also reputations that were at stake.  The reputation of Jesus, the reputation of Elijah, the kings' reputation, and of course, Naaman's reputation.  And by the way, how's your reputation?

Reputations are funny things.  Being that our church is in Ty Cobb's stomping ground, we could talk about his reputation.  He was known to play baseball "all-out"!  He'd go sliding into base with his cleats up, going for broke.  Some people said he played "dirty"!  They hated him.  That was just his reputation.

But some people loved him--loved his enthusiasm, loved his "gusto"!  And after playing baseball, he found the Lord and after talking and listening to managers and investors and other "idea guys", he learned how to make his own investments and did pretty well with it.  In fact, some never realized that he was funding other injured players--actually had them on payroll!  And when he died, his legacy continued in the form of 2 foundations that he had set up.  One for the Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center and one for a trust to support college scholarships. So, you can see that Ty Cobb was a man of mixed reputation.

Not unlike another famous person of history, Alexander the Great, whose family had several reputations of their own as seen in the first minute of this history channel video. His basic reputation was one of hero, if you chose to go with his ideas or villian if you went against him (not many did!).  He, like Ty Cobb, placed an emphasis on hospitals and education.  If as a country's leader, you would let him lead you, you and your society would benefit from this emphasis.  If you went against him, he would most likely take over by force and your society would benefit anyway-but without you.  So, one can see how his reputation was varied, depending on who you were talking to.

And your reputation may be measured the same.  Ever feel like something's just not a good idea--like it might ruin your reputation?  But maybe it's the right thing to do anyway?  How do you decide?  We all know that reputations are hard to control because they are based on someone else's opinions, ideas, or just how they tell the story.  Reputations can be built or destroyed by a good story teller.

Jesus knew this.  When He healed the leper, was He just doing the right thing? or was He trying to get the word out?  You know it was both.  He had a heart for healing, but a purpose for ministry.  All of His healings were done in a purposeful way--a way that would teach and be powerful enough that people would spread the word of God's love and power. 

Naaman, on the other hand, had a reputation for another type of power.  As commander-in chief of the Syrian army, he was known to be the force behind what the king wanted.  A good leader, most often victorious, he was respected and feared with good reason.  But he was not perfect. In fact, leprosy was a terrible flaw--one that most often caused exile to the person.  But the king needed Naaman. Still, the king had to consider his own reputation.  So, when a slave girl knew of the prophet Elijah's reputation for healing, both the king and Naaman were willing to risk entering the king of Israel's territory.

Now, the king of Israel had a reputation of being very fair, but not forceful. So, when he received a letter from the king of Syria, asking him to heal a leper, he was quite aware that he didn't have the ability to do that.  And going on the Naaman's reputation, the Israeli king assumed that it was a set-up and that his country would soon be attacked for refusal of the request.  In today's terms--he freaked!  But enter Elijah to straighten things out.  Actually, enter Elijah's messengers.

And here's where the story shows just how much humans will "jockey" for their positions in order to maintain those reputations that are so hard to earn and uphold.  First, Elijah simply sends messengers conveying that this is a simple case and not worth or needy of a personal appearance.  Then, we see Naaman balk because he has been insulted and a man of his reputation should be honored.  And furthermore, a man with his power from the powerful country of Syria has the ability to do a much harder task than bathe in an Israeli river, in order to be cured.  He has always worked hard and earned every bit of the reputation that proceeds and follows him.  He does not know how to accept the gift of a cure that is simply and freely given without alot of fanfare.  In fact, he almost missed out on the healing because of his anger at the insult. How often do we respond the same way?  Not able to accept that another may know something that we don't. Not willing to try an idea that someone from a "lower position" than ours has offered. Maybe this is where we get the expression "cut off your nose, to spite your face" because leprosy could be severe enough to make body parts disfigured, and Naaman almost let that happen.

But thankfully his officers, who were not as emotionally involved and did not have reputations to uphold, were able to talk some sense into him.  We all need people around us who can give us new perspectives, don't we.  And following Elijah's advice, Naaman was completely and instantly healed through the power of God.  And anyone who has any kind of skin disease, from psoriasis to poison ivy, can relate to the relief that Naaman must have felt--to instantly be rid of the irritation, pain, and embarrassment!  And you know, he probably mentioned the story to more than a few people.  His reputation and the way the healing took place would make anyone want to hear the story!

So, what is the story that you have to tell?  How's your reputation?  What is God calling you to do?  Something simple, like washing in a river?  It might lead to a great healing?  Something harder, like listening to or talking to a stranger or friend about how God has worked in your life?  God is calling you to do a little of this each and every day--to live your life as if you are trying to earn the Christianity Award of Lifetime Achievement. Consider the simple jobs as free gifts. Consider the hard jobs as earning you that reputation for faithful living that will cause others to come to you for fellowship and healing.