The View From A Vantage Point
The View From A Vantage Point by Rev. L. John Gable
September 26, 2021
As perhaps you may know for the past several years, prior to our recent move back down on to terra firma, we lived in a condo on the northwest corner on 16th floor of the Tarkington Tower at 40th and Meridian. From our windows and balcony we had close to a 270 degree view of the city, and we could get the other 90 degrees merely by walking across the hall to our neighbor’s condo. Looking south we could see Lucas Oil Stadium, due west Crown Hill, northwest Butler’s campus and the Pyramids, due north the historic homes up Meridian Street, and northeast all the way up to the Fashion Mall and Community North Hospital in the distance. From that vantage point we were given a perspective on the city we had never seen before and we loved it.
I thought of that as I read our Scripture lesson from Deuteronomy. It is said that on a clear day standing on the top of Mt. Nebo, in modern day Jordan, you can see the entire expanse of the Promised Land. Looking south the Negev Desert and the Dead Sea, due west the Mediterranean Sea, north the Sea of Galilee and mountains lining the border between Lebanon and Israel, and immediately down below the Jordan River valley and the ancient city of Jericho. This is the vantage point God led Moses to after he had led the Children of Israel during their 40 year pilgrimage out of slavery in Egypt to the threshold of their entering in to the land God had promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, centuries before. From that lofty peak Moses was able to see the fulfillment of the promise even though he was not going to enter in to it. From that vantage point he could survey the past, the present and the future and we have been given a similar vantage point today as we celebrate our 170th anniversary. At moments such as these we would be wise to pause and reflect on all that has gone before and all that lies ahead, recognizing God’s hand of leading and blessing to this day.
This moment in time was a turning point in Israel’s history, the end of an era and the beginning of a new one under new leadership. It was Moses, repeatedly called “the servant of the Lord”, who led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, who guided them through the wilderness, navigating all of the challenges and difficulties of their life together. It was Moses who instructed them in the Law, who mediated and advocated on their behalf with God. It was Moses who encouraged them when their energies flagged and reprimanded them when they complained. From this vantage point on the top of Mt. Nebo he could recount all of the times they had followed the Lord’s leading in unerring faithfulness as well as all of the times they acted in utter disobedience, and from our vantage point today we can do the same as we reflect on our church’s 170 year history from its founding in September of 1851.
Organized as Third Presbyterian Church the city of Indianapolis was only 30 years old and the state of Indiana a mere 35. Established first on the NE corner of Ohio and Illinois Streets, we then moved away from the center of the city to the corner of 11th and Meridian, then again all the way out here to the corner of 34th and Central in order to help meet the growing needs of the children of Mapleton-Fall Creek for Christian Education and soon this magnificent building was built with ground broken in September of 1921. I hope you have been reading the articles Ruth McDonald is putting in the monthly Chimes recounting stories from our past. As we enter in to our centennial year on this corner we can look back and celebrate countless acts of faithfulness, including the pivotal decision made in 1966 to remain here when so much of the neighborhood was experiencing rapid change and the white flight north. We have our finger prints on the founding and support of countless ministries and organizations in our desire to be “a light for Christ in this metropolitan area”. But in our review of history we can also cite examples of times when our values and practices reflected more the values and practices of the culture than those of the Kingdom of God. We have, as has our city and state, a history of having participated in practices of racism, bigotry and discrimination for which we must confess and repent. Even in our more recent history we know that there have been decisions made and words spoken in anger even in this sacred space that have torn this body asunder. Looking back is not necessarily an easy or painless task. We, like all people of faith, are an odd combination of sinner and saint, bold in faith and broken in disobedience, ever and utterly reliant on the grace of God.
Standing alone on the top of Mt. Nebo, Moses was also able to look at the massive nation assembled on the Jordanian plain below him. He was able to see evidence of God’s blessing and provision to this people from the motley crew they were as they fled from Egypt to the intimidating force they were as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Look around, we too can see evidence of God’s gracious hand on us. Without any sense of pride or boasting, we can see the many ways that God continues to bless us in order that we might be a blessing in His name to those around us. Sharing the Gospel message, caring for our neighbors, living beyond ourselves in the service of Christ is part of our DNA as a congregation, it is what draws us here and keeps us. Even those who have once been a part of the Tab family but are no longer still speak with fondness of the influence this ministry has had on their faith and life. As I’ve often said, “Once here, you can’t quite get the smell of Tab out of your clothes” and that is a very good thing. It is part of the way we continue to be “a light for Christ in this metropolitan area”. From this vantage point of our 170th anniversary we can see how God continues to bless and use us today in the service of His Kingdom.
And from the vantage point atop Mt. Nebo Moses was also able to look ahead to the future. He could see the land promised to their ancestors centuries before laid out before him, and even though he knew he would not be able to enter there himself, he could see it, and we can too.
In 2016 we asked the question, “Are we still committed to the mission report that was written 50 years before in 1966, the report which led to our seminal decision to remain here, on this corner, doing this ministry, rather than following many of our members as they moved north?” We spent a year examining our commitments and determined that we still believe God is calling us to this mission and ministry in this place. Those findings resulted in our Vision Renewal Report which guides our way forward: Greater Faith, Deeper Relationships, a Stronger Community. This is our vision for the future.
Knowing that he would not be able to enter the Promised Land Moses could have thrown in the towel and said, “I’ve done my part. I’ve had enough”, but he didn’t. He laid out the vision for the future which God had given to him and that people and he did his part to ensure its success. He chose and commissioned his successor, Joshua, who we were introduced to as a young man, years before when he was part of a party of 12 that ventured in to the Promised Land to scout it out. Ten came back saying it was too well protected, the remaining two Joshua and Caleb alone saying, “We can take it”. Joshua became Moses’ assistant, his constant companion and his heir apparent in leadership. From that vantage point Moses made sure that the people clearly understood who they were and whose they were as the Children of God, so the entire book of Deuteronomy is a review and restating of the covenant they had made with God. He was intent on leaving them strong and in good hands in anticipation of all that lay before them, as the Lord reassured Joshua saying, “Be strong and of good courage, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” He gave them the clear reminder that their confidence was not in their leader, but in God and God alone.
Friends, we can move in to our future with that same confidence of God’s faithfulness as we too are called to remain faithful to God and His Word. Will we face challenges and difficulties in the days and years ahead? Yes, of course we will. Will there be times of disagreement and discouragement as decisions are made? Yes, of course there will be. But we can look forward with good hope and courage because we know the One who leads us and He is faithful still.
There is an old saying, “When is the best time to plant an oak tree? Seventy-five years ago. When is the second best time? Today.” Looking back and looking toward the future we can see that there are things which we can and must do today to ready us to walk in to that unknown future strong and courageous. We have all eaten fruit from trees we did not plant and drunk from wells we did not dig. We have all benefited from the good efforts of those who have gone before us, so we must do our part today for the benefit of those who will follow us. “The greatest thing that a generation can do is lay a few stepping stones for the next generation” (Charles Kettering). This is the opportunity and responsibility we are being given from the vantage point on which we are standing now. We are laying down stepping stones for the next 170 years of Tab’s mission and ministry.
Moses knew that he would not be entering in to the Promised Land with the people he had led for 40 years. That must have been a bitter disappointment to him, or perhaps not, because he got to see it. He knew that he had done his part an that he was just one part, one character, in a story of God’s relationship with His people that had started long before him and would continue long after him. Walt Disney died nearly five years before the opening of Disneyland in California. Walking the grounds one of the key engineers of that project said, “I wish Walt could have seen this” to which his companion replied, “He did see it, that’s why it’s here.” We too can have a similar vision of Tab’s future as we commit ourselves to Greater Faith, Deeper Relationships and a Stronger Community, as we do our part today to make that vision a reality for tomorrow.
“Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in our lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we must be saved by love.” (Reinhold Niebuhr) Today is our day to plant oak trees and lay stepping stones for the future.
In his augural address on January 20, 1960 President John Kennedy laid out his vision for America and it was a bold one. He concluded by saying, “All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, not even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.”
Friends, as we enter in to this centennial year, standing at this vantage point of our 170th anniversary, let us remember and give thanks for God’s blessing and provision in days past and present, and pray for our faithfulness in response to God’s faithfulness as we move in to the future. Let us be bold and courageous. Let us begin.
Rev. L. John Gable
Tabernacle Presbyterian Church
Indianapolis, IN