A United Methodist Pastor's Theological Reflections

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory (nikos) through our Lord Jesus Christ." - I Corinthians 15:57


Monday, May 10, 2021

Sermon (May 9) by Rev. Robert McDowell



     My wife, the professional educator often refers to what is known as, “The Schema Theory.” Basically, this theory states that we all have particular ways of interpreting information that we have been given.  This isn’t just related to basic factual information. It also relates to our cultural and ideological assumptions in how we process this information.

     And this is important to recognize because our educational system is meant to help us take what we have already learned and incorporate new information to help us to continue to grow and expand in our understandings. And when that process doesn’t happen, we end up with what is called a “fixed schemata” in which we impede our potential to mature in our thinking process. 

     Now, to put this in my own words based on my own schema of information in trying to understand this educational concept, what I think this is saying is that humans in general are basically closed minded people. 

     OK, that’s a little harsh, so to put it a little differently, education requires that we have an open mind to allow new understandings to come alongside of our past ways of thinking. And when we constantly work at this, take our past ways of thinking and being open to new understandings, this leads to growth and wisdom, and that’s a good thing.

     This approach to education always has me thinking about how I process information. Do I dismiss new knowledge and experiences solely because they don’t square with my past understandings, or do I work at seeing how introducing new information can lead to greater intellectual growth?

     All of this is to say that growth in new understandings depends a lot on how open our schemata is to new information. 

     And this brings me to our Acts scripture reading for today which gives us the tail end of the very long story of when Peter was able to share the good news of Jesus with a non-Jewish man named Cornelius and his household. They embraced the good news of Jesus and received the Holy Spirit.

     What led Peter to do such a thing? The previous information that he had formulated in his thinking throughout his life was for Jewish people to never enter into the house of a non-Jewish person because of strict religious codes that had been taught to him. Jewish people were not allowed to enter any non-Jewish homes or they would be considered ritually “unclean.”

     These strict codes of holiness were there for a reason which were to help set apart God’s people and to make them distinctive from those who were non-Jewish. That information in Peter’s head was deeply embedded in him. It was what he had been taught from an early age and what society expected of him.

     We might wonder how Peter was able to avoid the dreaded “fixed schemata” syndrome that led him to rethink his understanding of faith and who is included in God’s family. Certainly, Peter must have attended a church growth seminar where a popular keynote speaker offered this as a way to increase worship attendance. Or maybe Peter had a temporary lapse in judgment and ended up realizing that those Gentiles aren’t so bad after all.

     What was it that dislodged Peter from an older understanding of his faith that was now outdated, important for an earlier time, but now needed to be reevaluated in the light of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? What on earth led Peter to a new understanding and a new approach to his faith?

     God gave Peter a heavenly vision. And in this revelation, Peter saw heaven opened up and a large sheet came down in which there were several ritually unclean animals. He also heard a voice that said, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

     But Peter, reacting out of his current schemata of what foods are clean and what foods are unclean, protested. This new information made no sense to him. This would be a violation of his religious code of conduct. Everyone knows that certain foods are considered ritually unclean.

     But this voice from heaven persisted and offered him important new information to factor into his thinking. And this voice said, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”

     And I think it’s important to note in this story that the voice said this to Peter three times. They are called fixed schematas for a reason. Our old way of thinking can be so embedded in us that it may take lots of repetition until we finally have that “aha” moment.

     Even when that finally happened, we are told that Peter was still greatly puzzled by this vision. Greatly puzzled. Sometimes, when we are greatly puzzled, that just might be an indication that we are getting closer and closer to a whole new understanding in our faith.

     Our scripture reading today is a word of hope for us “fixed schemata” types. We might be nearing a spiritual breakthrough, a spiritual epiphany that just might turn our world upside down.

     As Peter is greatly puzzled, we are told that some travelers had arrived at Peter’s house asking for Peter to come with them. They had been sent by Cornelius, a Gentile who lived in the non-Jewish city of Caesarea, the “unclean” city of Caesarea. And his vision was to have his men go to Joppa to bring Peter to see him. 

     Which brings us to our Acts scripture reading for today in which we just get the end of this story where Peter then realizes why God had sent him the vision of the unclean animals. That vision was to prepare him to see how the distinctions between clean and unclean were giving way to God’s inclusive welcome to all people, Jew and Gentile.

     Visions are power things. They are even able to break the stones of our fixed schematas so that we will be able to see our faith in a whole new light.

     On this Mothers’ Day, I think of my mom who passed away back in 2012. She was a woman of vision, a woman who always had room for people around our kitchen table. 

     When I was growing up on a farm in south central, Pennsylvania, it was not uncommon for mom and dad to invite people who were visiting us during the later afternoon to stay for dinner.

     When I refer to people, I specifically mean people like our insurance agent, the ice cream delivery man, the tax accountant, the neighbor down the road, the relative stopping by to say hi. As dinner was nearing, mom would always invite these folks to stay for dinner.

     I honestly think that these folks strategically timed their visits as close to our dinner time as possible because they knew that mom and dad would invite them to stay by pulling up an extra chair or two to the kitchen table. When mom would invite them to eat with us, they would always politely decline because they didn’t want to be much trouble. 

     But they always did because, how could you not with the aroma of roast beef, mashed potatoes and green beans being prepared during these meetings!

     Mom’s vision was for the people who stopped by our house to feel welcomed and included. I still have that vision of my parents there in our kitchen being so welcoming to people.


     Sara Cunningham is a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Arkansas. She explains how there was a time in her life where she believed that gay people were going to go to hell. When her son told her that he was gay, her fixed schemata on this issue was suddenly cracked open and it led her to a more inclusive understanding.

     Her new vision and understanding of people’s sexual orientation has led her to begin what is called “Free Mom Hugs.” She wanted people in the LGBTQ community to know that even if their biological parents turned their backs on them, that she was a mother who cared.

    Here is her quote about this new organization that she started called, “Free Mom Hugs.” 

     “If you need a mom to attend your same-sex wedding because your biological mom won’t, call me. I’m there. I’ll be your biggest fan. I’ll even bring the bubbles.”

     Her vision of supporting people in the LGBTQ community has led other mothers to sign up to help. One gay couple who she supported at their wedding said, “We need a million Saras.”

     When Peter saw the vision of the unclean animals and heard the voice from heaven telling him that God’s love is extended to all people, it forced Peter to rethink his previous understanding of who is included in God’s kingdom. Heavenly visions have a way of opening us up to new understandings of our faith, about who we are as God’s people, and God’s all-embracing love for the whole world. 

     Heavenly visions remind us that there is hope for all of us fixed schemata types.


Heavenly Visions

Sermon Discussion Questions
Acts 10:44-48
May 9, 2021

Educators speak of the “Schemata Theory” which states that we all have particular ways of interpreting information that we have been given.  This isn’t just related to basic factual information. It also relates to our cultural and ideological assumptions in how we process this information. A “fixed schemata” is when we do not receive new information especially if it challenges our current understandings.

Share a time when a teacher or professor helped you to receive new information that led you to a greater understanding about a topic. 

Our Acts scripture reading for this week is the story of when God sent the disciple, Peter a heavenly vision in which it there was now no distinction between ritually clean and ritually unclean foods. A voice from heaven had to repeat this new information to Peter three times before Peter finally heard what was being said. This voice was breaking down Peter’s “fixed schemata.” Even so, we are told that Peter was still puzzled by this heavenly vision and what it meant for him. The story continues with some Gentiles, who Peter would have considered ritually “unclean” inviting him to go with them to the ritually “unclean” Gentile city of Caesarea to meet Cornelius. It was there, in this ritually “unclean” Gentile house, that Peter shared the good news of Jesus and baptized Cornelius and his family. This is when Peter finally had his “aha” moment! God broke through his “fixed religious schemata” to a new understanding in how God was breaking down sociological barriers because of the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Do you think that religious “fixed schematas” are more difficult to overcome than other areas of our lives? Why do you think it was difficult for Peter to accept this new information of inclusion?

Sara Cunningham grew up with the religious understanding that gay people were going to go to hell. When her son came out as gay, this new experience broke through her previous theological understanding of this issue. She was able to see how lonely and hurtful it is when people who are gay are shunned and judged by others especially in the name of religion. This led her to start the organization, “Free Mom Hugs,” which provides loving substitute mothers for gay couples whose biological mothers refuse to attend their wedding. One gay couple who met Sara are so grateful for her unconditional love and support. They said, “We need a million Saras!”

Be open to helpful and intentional ways that we can be inclusive and welcoming of all people. Pray our Sunday worship prayer throughout the week to help provide this deeper understanding of just how much God loves ALL people.

Loving God, we come in search of love and in the hope of learning how to love as you love us. Help us to see others with your eyes of love. Help us to forgive and accept forgiveness just as you fully forgive us. Free us from our prejudices and fear of others who are different from us. Empower us to widen our circle of relationships so that we would share your love with others. In your love and grace, we pray. Amen.

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