We Are One In Christ
Sermon
Sermons on the Second Readings
Series II, Cycle C
Someone once said that action speaks louder than words and that is true. When someone reaches out to help a person in need, they have done more than give a sermon. When a person spends time at the soup kitchen feeding the hungry or hammering nails on a Habitat For Humanity house, they are telling the world what they believe is important.
Jesus instructed his disciples to be like salt, flavoring and preserving the world so that it would bring glory to God. He sent them out and told them to let the light of God shine through them so that everyone would see their good works and give praise to God. It is wonderful to see people living out their Christian calling. There is no greater joy than to witness a person's face when they have received a Thanksgiving basket or been the beneficiary of a clothing drive after a fire has destroyed the family home. When you have given yourself to Christian service, you not only glorify God, you also receive a blessing.
Unfortunately, there are too many people in the church today talking about faith and not enough living their faith. I was truly saddened several years ago, when I heard the Supreme Court decision regarding prayer at graduation exercises. It struck me again as to just how ineffective the church is being in society. There was a day when the church was the power in society, looking out for the welfare of its citizens. It was people like Roger Williams, the father of the Baptist movement in the country, who sought to protect people from religious persecution. It was he who gained the charter in Rhode Island that allowed differing faiths to co-exist in peace. The rights of each church were protected as well as the individual.
It was people like Thomas Jefferson who put a clause in the constitution to reflect our faith in God, yet to allow for our diversity. Yet, over the last 200 years, the world has moved on. The church has splintered and fragmented. It has been more interested in debating sociological ideologies and theological positions than in reaching out to the world with good news. While the church has been talking about keeping its buildings heated and preserved for the future, the government has been taking care of the poor and the disenfranchised. While the church has been talking about sin and pointing fingers at those who live in the shadows of society, AA groups and mental health agencies have been providing counseling and support groups to provide a lifeline to those who might otherwise be lost.
It is no wonder society looks upon the church as something frivolous today. The church is a place to have your wedding or a place to go to when someone you know dies. Real life takes place somewhere else. So what happened? What went wrong between the time that Jesus sent his disciples out to be salt and light and today?
Somewhere along the way we started talking about being Christians instead of living as them. After all, Jesus sent us out to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and visit those in prison. He told us that we were to preach good news to those who were oppressed and overwhelmed.
The truth is that there is nothing else in life that has the potential to change the world for the better than a decision by some Christians to follow Christ and reach out to the world around them. Millions of people are dying of starvation on the other side of the world. War is raging in town after town. Disease stemming from basic unsanitary conditions is crippling and ruining able societies.
An example of what can happen is what is taking place in Korea today. In the '50s Korea was a dying nation, but several missionaries entered and brought hope in various ways. Today, it is the home of some of the largest churches in the world and their ministries are worldwide. The church has pervaded the whole society and has changed people's lives.
Now that's exactly the kind of thing that Paul was promoting in his letter to Philemon. While he was in prison, Paul came into contact with a runaway slave named Onesimus. In the course of their time together, Paul shared the gospel with him and Onesimus accepted Christ. Onesimus, who was once a lazy and spiteful slave was changed. He was a new man in Christ and now he couldn't do enough to show his appreciation. He stood by Paul and ministered to others while they were in that prison. He became an example of a changed life.
The problem was that Onesimus was still a slave, even though he now belonged to Christ. Slavery was a part of life and sewn into the fabric of society. Even as Jesus was obedient to the civil authorities, he called his disciples to follow the rules as long as they didn't impede the laws of God. So in due time, Paul sent Onesimus back to his master.
You know, I hear so much talk about oppression these days. I can't imagine anything as bad as slavery. Yet Paul talks about what it means to be a Christian in the context of the social structure. In another of his letters he says that we all have a role to play and we should do our best to serve the Lord in whatever state we find ourselves. In Ephesians 6 he says, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ.... Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord ..." (vv. 5, 7). And he concludes with a word to the masters. He says, "and masters, do the same to them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality ..." (v. 9).
In due time, Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter. In it he encourages Philemon to live his faith. He gives him the opportunity to go beyond talking about what it means to follow Christ and to actually do it in the context of a slave owner and fellow Christian. Paul doesn't suggest to Philemon that he free Onesimus. He simply asks him to be who he claims to be, a disciple of Christ and a Christian brother.
It must have been hard for Paul to look in Onesimus' eyes and tell him he had to go back to his former owner. He had run away from there and was seeking his freedom. He was a different man now and ready to live life in a new estate. The last thing he wanted was to return to the past and the old life. Paul knew that the only way Onesimus could really claim his new life was to face his past and go from there. He sent him back and told him to treat his master with respect and love. It would be a challenge for both men. But in Christ, all things are possible.
Paul could do this because he believed that when one is in Christ at least three things happen. I heard it quoted once that, "Christianity is the power that makes men good." Paul claimed that our faith can make the useless person useful.
It changes lives and gives people a reason for living and loving. It is often said that a person is so heavenly minded that they were of no earthly use. But Paul declared that true Christianity makes a heavenly minded person active and working for Christ.
As a matter of fact, legend has it that Onesimus was later freed by Philemon and became the Bishop of Ephesus. When the first council was gathering to look at sacred writings, Onesimus asked to have this letter preserved to show what Christ could do to someone.
Paul also believed that Christianity gives us power for living triumphantly. It is not an escape from problems. Paul sent Onesimus back to face Philemon. He didn't dismiss the pending confrontation. He used it to help both Christians grow. Christianity forces us to face our trials, as well as our sin, head on. In doing so, he believed Christ guides, strengthens, and empowers our witness. We grow stronger because we stand in Christ. Christianity is not just another idea. It is not a philosophy. It is a way of life, and as we live with Christ, we can begin to change the world one relationship at a time.
Finally, Paul looked at what it means to be a Christian from the other side when he calls on Philemon to forgive. It's awfully easy to be a Christian when somebody else is doing all the work. Being in Christ means accepting people with all their faults and welcoming them in. It means working together to serve Christ more faithfully.
Paul's letter draws in the expression of being one in Christ and making it real. He says in Romans, that with Christ there is no Greek nor Jew, male nor female, free nor slave. He gives us a solid example of what that might look like in this epistle.
It is our job to live that out. Imagine what the world would say if we came together to feed the hungry and visit the prisons. Imagine the difference we could make if we joined hand-in-hand to build shelters for the homeless and care for the widows and orphans. The world would have to take us seriously because our words and deeds would be the same. The love of Christ would shine through us and they would know we were one in Christ. Amen.
Jesus instructed his disciples to be like salt, flavoring and preserving the world so that it would bring glory to God. He sent them out and told them to let the light of God shine through them so that everyone would see their good works and give praise to God. It is wonderful to see people living out their Christian calling. There is no greater joy than to witness a person's face when they have received a Thanksgiving basket or been the beneficiary of a clothing drive after a fire has destroyed the family home. When you have given yourself to Christian service, you not only glorify God, you also receive a blessing.
Unfortunately, there are too many people in the church today talking about faith and not enough living their faith. I was truly saddened several years ago, when I heard the Supreme Court decision regarding prayer at graduation exercises. It struck me again as to just how ineffective the church is being in society. There was a day when the church was the power in society, looking out for the welfare of its citizens. It was people like Roger Williams, the father of the Baptist movement in the country, who sought to protect people from religious persecution. It was he who gained the charter in Rhode Island that allowed differing faiths to co-exist in peace. The rights of each church were protected as well as the individual.
It was people like Thomas Jefferson who put a clause in the constitution to reflect our faith in God, yet to allow for our diversity. Yet, over the last 200 years, the world has moved on. The church has splintered and fragmented. It has been more interested in debating sociological ideologies and theological positions than in reaching out to the world with good news. While the church has been talking about keeping its buildings heated and preserved for the future, the government has been taking care of the poor and the disenfranchised. While the church has been talking about sin and pointing fingers at those who live in the shadows of society, AA groups and mental health agencies have been providing counseling and support groups to provide a lifeline to those who might otherwise be lost.
It is no wonder society looks upon the church as something frivolous today. The church is a place to have your wedding or a place to go to when someone you know dies. Real life takes place somewhere else. So what happened? What went wrong between the time that Jesus sent his disciples out to be salt and light and today?
Somewhere along the way we started talking about being Christians instead of living as them. After all, Jesus sent us out to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, and visit those in prison. He told us that we were to preach good news to those who were oppressed and overwhelmed.
The truth is that there is nothing else in life that has the potential to change the world for the better than a decision by some Christians to follow Christ and reach out to the world around them. Millions of people are dying of starvation on the other side of the world. War is raging in town after town. Disease stemming from basic unsanitary conditions is crippling and ruining able societies.
An example of what can happen is what is taking place in Korea today. In the '50s Korea was a dying nation, but several missionaries entered and brought hope in various ways. Today, it is the home of some of the largest churches in the world and their ministries are worldwide. The church has pervaded the whole society and has changed people's lives.
Now that's exactly the kind of thing that Paul was promoting in his letter to Philemon. While he was in prison, Paul came into contact with a runaway slave named Onesimus. In the course of their time together, Paul shared the gospel with him and Onesimus accepted Christ. Onesimus, who was once a lazy and spiteful slave was changed. He was a new man in Christ and now he couldn't do enough to show his appreciation. He stood by Paul and ministered to others while they were in that prison. He became an example of a changed life.
The problem was that Onesimus was still a slave, even though he now belonged to Christ. Slavery was a part of life and sewn into the fabric of society. Even as Jesus was obedient to the civil authorities, he called his disciples to follow the rules as long as they didn't impede the laws of God. So in due time, Paul sent Onesimus back to his master.
You know, I hear so much talk about oppression these days. I can't imagine anything as bad as slavery. Yet Paul talks about what it means to be a Christian in the context of the social structure. In another of his letters he says that we all have a role to play and we should do our best to serve the Lord in whatever state we find ourselves. In Ephesians 6 he says, "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ.... Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord ..." (vv. 5, 7). And he concludes with a word to the masters. He says, "and masters, do the same to them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality ..." (v. 9).
In due time, Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon with this letter. In it he encourages Philemon to live his faith. He gives him the opportunity to go beyond talking about what it means to follow Christ and to actually do it in the context of a slave owner and fellow Christian. Paul doesn't suggest to Philemon that he free Onesimus. He simply asks him to be who he claims to be, a disciple of Christ and a Christian brother.
It must have been hard for Paul to look in Onesimus' eyes and tell him he had to go back to his former owner. He had run away from there and was seeking his freedom. He was a different man now and ready to live life in a new estate. The last thing he wanted was to return to the past and the old life. Paul knew that the only way Onesimus could really claim his new life was to face his past and go from there. He sent him back and told him to treat his master with respect and love. It would be a challenge for both men. But in Christ, all things are possible.
Paul could do this because he believed that when one is in Christ at least three things happen. I heard it quoted once that, "Christianity is the power that makes men good." Paul claimed that our faith can make the useless person useful.
It changes lives and gives people a reason for living and loving. It is often said that a person is so heavenly minded that they were of no earthly use. But Paul declared that true Christianity makes a heavenly minded person active and working for Christ.
As a matter of fact, legend has it that Onesimus was later freed by Philemon and became the Bishop of Ephesus. When the first council was gathering to look at sacred writings, Onesimus asked to have this letter preserved to show what Christ could do to someone.
Paul also believed that Christianity gives us power for living triumphantly. It is not an escape from problems. Paul sent Onesimus back to face Philemon. He didn't dismiss the pending confrontation. He used it to help both Christians grow. Christianity forces us to face our trials, as well as our sin, head on. In doing so, he believed Christ guides, strengthens, and empowers our witness. We grow stronger because we stand in Christ. Christianity is not just another idea. It is not a philosophy. It is a way of life, and as we live with Christ, we can begin to change the world one relationship at a time.
Finally, Paul looked at what it means to be a Christian from the other side when he calls on Philemon to forgive. It's awfully easy to be a Christian when somebody else is doing all the work. Being in Christ means accepting people with all their faults and welcoming them in. It means working together to serve Christ more faithfully.
Paul's letter draws in the expression of being one in Christ and making it real. He says in Romans, that with Christ there is no Greek nor Jew, male nor female, free nor slave. He gives us a solid example of what that might look like in this epistle.
It is our job to live that out. Imagine what the world would say if we came together to feed the hungry and visit the prisons. Imagine the difference we could make if we joined hand-in-hand to build shelters for the homeless and care for the widows and orphans. The world would have to take us seriously because our words and deeds would be the same. The love of Christ would shine through us and they would know we were one in Christ. Amen.
