People earn a license to drive or a license to practice architecture. These licenses take practice, education, testing, but our 'license' as Christians is a free gift from God. With that 'license,' we have privileges as well as responsibilities.

What's with this license thing in today's sermon title? Without a children's sermon, how will we find out? Maybe we'd better dig in our backpack anyhow. If you haven't been here the last two weeks, until Lent, we are wondering what we would put in a backpack to help us be God's people in the world? Sort of like packing a Christian backpack instead of a student's backpack. The first week we found a "new garment," the baptismal symbol of the fresh start and second chance God gives us. Last week we found a nametag with the new name given us at our baptism, "Child of God." This week we are supposed to find a "license." All we've got here is a license to practice architecture. No, wait--we've got a driver's license, too. Does this make sense? Neither of these licenses is cheap, let alone free. Rick studied to be an architect for years, then he served an extended internship and had to pass a rigorous test. A driver's license requires a test, too. To get my driver's license, I had to pass a test about the laws of the road, and then I showed I was able to drive safely. Both of these licenses require some degree of competence in order to be able to exercise the privileges that go with them. And both licenses imply that you will now follow a certain course of action.

But that's not the case with the kind of license we get as Christians. Being a Christian isn't about passing a test. God claims us, names us-and it's a free gift. But then what? That was my question when I read this week's Jonah passage. The Ninevites hear Jonah, take his message seriously, they repent, God relents. And then what? It just felt as if things were left hanging. As if you heard a musician and are so impressed by the beautiful music that you wish more than anything that you could play like that! Then what? Do something about your longing! Or sitting alone at lunch every day, you notice another person eating alone, who looks nice enough. Then what? What would "do something" be here? Or one of the kids at school has a disability-she talks weird and uses funny crutches-and the other kids call her names and imitate how she walks and talks, and you feel really uncomfortable. Then what?

Like Jonah, Jesus has a message he proclaims. He's more direct than Jonah about the call to repentance, because he says in so many words that it's time to repent. But Jesus' call to repentance is followed immediately by a call to action-a "then what." So you believe the kingdom is at hand? Then do something about it! He uses language that these fishing folk can understand: "I will make you fish for people." He might not use the same image for you, but by gum he's making the same demand of you. So you believe God's kingdom will come? Then make a home for faith! Then plant and grow faith in others! Then be part of the web of a faith community! Then be a shepherd (or cattleman or animal trainer) for Jesus. Repent and then do something.

For the really hard-headed, such as myself, Jesus' call has to be more persistent. I resisted so much the call to deeper discipleship. I was way too busy. I felt I could spend 10 minutes a day in Bible reading, and then God needed to let me get on with my life. Besides, I didn't think of myself as a religion geek. I was a construction person. You've heard these stories. How, when the church needed help from a construction person, I could give it. And the church honored what I could give, God took me where I was. For me, this was the equivalent of "I will make you fish for people."

If Jesus needed to be that clear with me, perhaps he's doing the same thing for you. Repent, OK. God relents, then what? God always expects a "then what" from you. It was never God's intention that we remain in the stuck places of our lives. It is for the purpose of our growth that God gives us another chance. It is God's heart's desire that we grow into who we were created to be. Remember how you were 16 and you could hardly wait to your driver's license? It was like the state certifying you as an adult. Responding with a "yes" to Jesus' call to discipleship is the faith equivalent of being licensed to drive. It's the faith certification to be a grown up. It's a call to action. Discipleship is not a "driver's license" so much as it is a "Christian license."

There are Christians who choose not to use their "license." How does that happen? It's not like God makes you take a test or go through an internship. But why would God let a person get away with that? For one thing, God is extremely respectful. If we want to make excuses, God will let us. Not that God doesn't see through them. But if we want to believe the excuses, God isn't going to shove us out of the way to clear our brains. As the Queen of Avoiding God's Call, here are some of the excuses I've used. Maybe you'll recognize yourself in them. "I didn't hear you" (but then, who could, over the roar of my booked-every-minute-of-the-day life!). "I didn't understand what you wanted" (that's easier to do if you avoid covenant group faith experiences, if you avoid praying in community, and avoid reading scripture as if it is intended for you). "It's too hard" (the less you exercise your faith and the more you think it all depends on you, the easier this will be to believe). "You don't understand what you are asking" (as in, "you are asking too much from me"). When parents hear these excuses, they see the excuses as being more about "I'm busy with something else and don't want to be bothered" or "I don't want to do that."

For Christians, the excuses often mean, "I'm afraid." So many times we are afraid of what God is asking us to do. Afraid of looking foolish, afraid of failing, afraid of getting hurt, afraid of not being loved. Underlying these fears is almost always lack of trust. More than being the Queen of Avoiding God's Call, I am the Queen of Not Trusting God, the Queen of Let Me Steer Because I'm Not Sure Where We're Going. My friends have been known to say I'm a control freak. Under every control freak is a person afraid of looking foolish, afraid of failing, afraid of getting hurt, afraid of not being loved.

Do you recognize yourself anywhere? Good news: You are already loved. That is the most important thing in the world to remember. It is the basis of getting your license and taking baby steps in discipleship. It is the basis of knowing you are named, claimed, and licensed to proclaim, free and ready for the "then what" of faith, the "do something" of discipleship. Because there always is a "then what" for Christians. It's part of getting the license.

This morning we are going to ordain and install new elders. They are going to make some big promises today. As they do so, you are going to be part of that covenant -a set of promises that they, we, and God make. We are all going to remind each other about our baptismal promise to try to be like Jesus. As you do so, listen for Jesus' very personal "then what?" for you.