What parable would make a man with three doctoral degrees (one in medicine, one in theology, one in philosophy) leave civilization with all of its culture and amenities and depart for the jungles of darkest Africa? What parable could induce a man, who was recognized as one of the best concert organists in all of Europe, go to a place where there were no organs to play? What parable would so intensely motivate a man that he would give up a teaching position in Vienna, Austria to go and deal with people who were so deprived that they were still living in the superstitions of the dark ages? The man whom I referencing is the great missionary, Dr. Albert Schweitzer. And the single parable that so radically altered his life, according to him, was our New Testament text for this morning. (Brett Blair. www.esermons.com) He concluded that Africa was a beggar lying at Europe’s doorstep, so he moved to Africa where he founded the Lambaréné Hospital. (George Buttrick, ed. The Interpreter’s Bible. New York: Abingdon Press. 1952. p. 289)

I’m not Albert Schweitzer. I find this parable bothersome, difficult, and hard to hear. These words of Jesus indict our society as being callous and disinterested, and the consequence which the rich man received is not enviable. Depending upon a person’s salary and station in life, this parable speaks poignantly to us. I read recently where the richest 1 percent in America have nearly as much wealth as the entire bottom 95 percent. The rich man in the parable would have been counted in that top 1 percent. But to Lazarus, almost all of us would be considered rich. Comparably speaking, we are wealthy.

Listening to Jesus and seeking to apply what he says sometimes hurts; this is one of those times. When hearing parables by Jesus, or when hearing any story, we often try to find ourselves in the story. With whom do we relate the most? In a Wednesday night Bible Study a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that when we read scripture we are often looking for our name, trying to find the place where the biblical story intersects with our personal story.

Volumes have been written about this parable. The story did not even originate with Jesus; it existed in several cultures and in many versions. The story mentioned by Jesus was unapologetically a Jewish modification of the story, as indicated by the appearance of Father Abraham. (Fred Craddock, et.al. Preaching Through the Christian Year. Harrisonburg, PA: Trinity Press International. 1994 p. 422)

In the parable, the rich man was considered a member of the "Life Is Good" club. Life was so good that he didn’t even consider change. Why change? There was no pressing need. By any and every standard, he was opulently wealthy.

By stark contrast, the beggar lay lifeless at the gate. He needed change. Survival was his biggest need. Those whose stations in life as beggars in need of food and weakened by malnutrition populate our world and die daily because of lack of response. Like Lazarus to the rich man, most of the world’s hungry are faceless, nameless. We see them but don’t always notice them. No doubt the rich man saw the blighted figure, yet no change was considered.

But death, after all, is the great equalizer. Considerations of social standing, race, or wealth are inconsequential in death. Even though the rich man was buried and perhaps had an extravagant funeral, all that Jesus mentioned was that he died and was buried. His funeral did nothing to change the reality and finality of his death.

Jesus then noted a reversal of fortune. Again, note the contrast. Abraham, the father of many nations, the covenant keeper, now received the one who was rejected on earth. While the rich man had everything on earth, at death, he had nothing. While he never considered change as an option, that indifference to what was happening around him, did not profit him in the end. His acceptance of the way he thought it was supposed to be became more important than any effort to notice others. His indifference to Lazarus’ plight, hunger, and needs in general had its own consequence.

Yet even when the tables were turned, the rich man did not change. Seeking to read the text somewhat objectively, I am amazed at the audacity of this wealthy man! Why would Lazarus have pity on him, when Lazarus faced hell on earth without notice? Don’t you just hate it when someone who’s self-inflated importance is flaunted by thinking that they can say anything to anyone? This indifference and rudeness overlook the needs and feelings of others, and it too has its own set of consequences.

The great patriarch of the faith, the one who was promised that his descendants would be as plentiful as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, offered no hope to the tormented rich man. There was a great gulf fixed; a great chasm separated the rich man and Lazarus. That had certainly been the case when they were living. There seemed to be a road less traveled (to quote Scott Peck) between the rich man and Lazarus. During his lifetime, the rich man chose not to go down this road to help the poorest of his society, yet now, all the rich man could consider was how to improve his own plight, how could he get any relief, who could help him.

That attitude of entitlement remains also alive and well today. Some think because of their lineage, their power, their past, or their wealth that they can say anything or do anything. Some think they are above the law or outside the realm of scrutiny, but no one is entitled to that benefit. Not professional athletes, politicians, or even everyday people like you and me. Words hurt. Actions have consequences. We all know that laws apply to everyone, but common courtesy should also apply to everyone too.

The rich man, realizing that there was no hope for himself, began to think about others . . . albeit, the others were his own brothers. He knew that his family shared the same set of values. He realized that his opulent, indifferent lifestyle produced an awful consequence. He suggested if a ghost was sent back to earth, if something supernatural happened, then his brothers would change.

Again, the wealthy man acted with audacity. Because he had been a person of supposed power and influence, he thought that his influence continued after his death. Wrong answer. While he had no concern for Lazarus when they were living, he now wanted Lazarus to leave the comfort of heaven and return to earth to tell his brothers to change. He expected them to believe a divine courier.

Father Abraham reminded the wealthy man of the warnings as found in the scriptures of their day, namely Moses and the prophets. Perhaps, like him, his brothers thought these writings were unimportant. Maybe his brothers considered the sound religious teaching of scripture to be irrelevant. Possibly, people who shared the values of the wealthy man considered the Bible of the day to be outdated. It didn’t meet their needs. They were too busy enjoying their wealth to listen, read or heed the scripture. Sound familiar? Could this be yet another indictment on lagging Sunday School attendance, that too many people see the Bible as unimportant, irrelevant, or outdated?

But the audaciousness continued by contradicting the patriarch Abraham. "No father Abraham. If someone goes to them from the dead, they will change. Just offer them the impossible and get their attention. Everyday signs are not enough." What would it take to change his brothers? It would take a miracle.

For some people to change, it would take a miracle. What would it take to change some individuals? A family member becomes involved in a relationship with a person which everyone knows will lead to disaster. Can’t she see the failure and heartache on the horizon? Hoping against hope for that slim chance that the story will have a happy ending, no matter all the signs of the present indicating otherwise, the woman stays in the unhealthy relationship. Perhaps it would take a miracle for her to change.

An older man begins having one health problem after another. He continues to smoke, knowing the hazards; to eat fried foods, despite his stomach problems; to consume junk food and/or bowls of ice-cream as snacks midway between supper and bedtime. The doctor has warned him about high cholesterol, family members’ medical histories, and the need for exercise, yet the man enjoys his smokes, southern-style food, and snacks. Perhaps it would take a miracle for him to change.

A student hears over and over the importance of a good education. She knows people who didn’t apply themselves for a while and their grades reflected it, thus preventing their entrance into the college of their choice. She enjoys Instant Messaging, texting, and cell phone communication, sometimes to the detriment of completing her assignments on time. She chooses to spend time with friends instead of sinking deeper into the books. Each time, she thinks, "just one bad grade won’t hurt," yet the times become repetitive. Perhaps it would take a miracle for her to change.

All of these are real-life scenarios, times when doing the right thing is already known, when a miracle is not needed to bring change. Unfortunately, the wake-up calls are received too late for many of these situations. Knowing how to do the right thing or when to do the right thing, and actually following through with doing the right thing are not the same thing.

As we see the ones we love make obviously bad decisions, we want to grab them and shake them into reality. Perhaps we even say, "Don’t throw your life away. You mean something to me. Get help for your problem. Listen to the doctors. Be a good student. Make good decisions." But we can’t live someone else’s lives, can we. We can only live our own, and all of us have areas that need changing. Perhaps there are family members or friends bending our ears about making a needed change. Maybe the messengers around us are noticing something as plain on the nose on our faces, yet we refuse to look into the mirrors. What would it take to change us? Hopefully something not as radical as having a ghost come appear to us.

And now to us as a congregation, what would it take to change us? Changes to the church abound. Attempts to provide more structure include a new Personnel Manual, a new Child Safety Policy, new Ushering Guidelines, and new Wedding policies. Yet policies do not change people; individuals change themselves. I can’t change anyone but me. The Personnel Committee cannot change any of the church staff. Our Children’s Committee cannot change anyone who works with our children. Our Chief Usher and Deacon Chair cannot change any of the ushers or greeters, and our Wedding Guild cannot change anyone involved in weddings here. We can set policy and tweak procedures, but the changes have to come with the individuals. What will it take to change us?

This weekend we have heard from Bo Prosser about some great ways to improve our Sunday School. His constant quote merits repeating, "People go, where they know, they are prepared for and they are cared for." His focus on the building blocks for Sunday School growth included vision, balance, leadership, relevant teaching, outreach and inreach, receptivity and inclusion. These principles are foundational for Sunday School growth, but we have to live-out these principles for our Sunday School to grow. Hearing these great tips but not changing what we presently do will not result in Sunday School growth. What will it take to change us?

Most of us have been in church all our lives. We have heard over and over to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and then to love our neighbor as ourselves. We also know that love is more than a feeling; it is an action. Showing that love to other people, especially to those like Lazarus, will continue to require change in all of us. What would it take to change us?

The rich man in the parable indicated that his brothers would change if they witnessed a person who had come back from the dead. And that is the challenge for us today: you and I know that Jesus Christ has come back from the dead and continues to show us a better way. A miracle has already happened, and again the question remains, "What would it take to change us?" Let’s change ... for Christ’s sake.