Reinventing the Wheel -- FPC sermon excerpt
Let us speak the truth to our neighbors. Be angry but do not sin. Let no evil talk come out of our mouths. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven us. Live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.
These are the words of Paul to the Ephesians — simple, straightforward rules for those who want to live a new life as followers of Jesus Christ.
So why is it that we have so much trouble following these guidelines?
Hardly a week goes by that I don’t get news of Christians doing something or other that has nothing to do with these rules for Christian living. One week I get a request from a conservative politician, asking for time in our worship service to make an appeal to support the November “Marriage Amendment.” Then another week I hear about a liberal theologian who has written a book — published by a Presbyterian publishing house — that accuses the Bush administration of conspiring in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
What does this kind of activity have to do with living a Christian life? Very little, I’m afraid. It’s just politics, plain and simple.
The problem is that people don’t take the Bible seriously enough. Sure, they know how to quote Scripture, but they are very selective in the way they pick verses here and there to support their preferred political positions. They don’t seem to think that Paul was being serious when he said, “speak the truth … Let no evil talk come out of your mouths … live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 4:25-5:1).
It seems that so many people, across the political spectrum, want to reinvent the wheel. They look for new and novel ways to package Christianity as a conservative family-friendly lifestyle, or as a progressive political force, forgetting that the Bible already gives us all the guidance we need. Jesus certainly has a political point of view, but it is not right or left, conservative or liberal.
Are Christians supposed to attack their political rivals? Hardly. Jesus says, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Are Christians supposed engage in wild speculation about current events? Not at all. Paul says, “speak the truth to [your] neighbors, for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).
Are Christians supposed to rant and rave at their opponents? Never. Today’s passage says, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up” (v. 29).
Love your enemies. Speak the truth. Say only what is useful for building up. These are the rules of true Christian living, straight from the Bible. They should be put into practice to the very best of our abilities. I love what G.K. Chesterton said a century ago, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”
These are the words of Paul to the Ephesians — simple, straightforward rules for those who want to live a new life as followers of Jesus Christ.
So why is it that we have so much trouble following these guidelines?
Hardly a week goes by that I don’t get news of Christians doing something or other that has nothing to do with these rules for Christian living. One week I get a request from a conservative politician, asking for time in our worship service to make an appeal to support the November “Marriage Amendment.” Then another week I hear about a liberal theologian who has written a book — published by a Presbyterian publishing house — that accuses the Bush administration of conspiring in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
What does this kind of activity have to do with living a Christian life? Very little, I’m afraid. It’s just politics, plain and simple.
The problem is that people don’t take the Bible seriously enough. Sure, they know how to quote Scripture, but they are very selective in the way they pick verses here and there to support their preferred political positions. They don’t seem to think that Paul was being serious when he said, “speak the truth … Let no evil talk come out of your mouths … live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 4:25-5:1).
It seems that so many people, across the political spectrum, want to reinvent the wheel. They look for new and novel ways to package Christianity as a conservative family-friendly lifestyle, or as a progressive political force, forgetting that the Bible already gives us all the guidance we need. Jesus certainly has a political point of view, but it is not right or left, conservative or liberal.
Are Christians supposed to attack their political rivals? Hardly. Jesus says, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Are Christians supposed engage in wild speculation about current events? Not at all. Paul says, “speak the truth to [your] neighbors, for we are members of one another” (Ephesians 4:25).
Are Christians supposed to rant and rave at their opponents? Never. Today’s passage says, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up” (v. 29).
Love your enemies. Speak the truth. Say only what is useful for building up. These are the rules of true Christian living, straight from the Bible. They should be put into practice to the very best of our abilities. I love what G.K. Chesterton said a century ago, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”
posted by Henry Brinton | 12:44 PM
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