Romans 12:9-21
“Oh, This is What Christianity is All About—Very Cool!”
By: Rev. Ken Sauer, Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, Soddy Daisy, TN www.graceumcsd.org
In this post-Christian, post-Modern era we are living in there seems to be an awful lot of confusion in terms of what Christianity is about.
There are a number of new books out which discuss this very issue.
They have titles such as:
They Like Jesus, but Not the Church,
Lord, Deliver Me from Your Followers
And,
Un-Christian: What a Generation Thinks about Christianity--which is put out by the Barna Group.
On the inside cover of Un-Christian it says, “A major new research project, unveiled for the first time in this book, describes the increasingly negative reputation of Christians, especially among young Americans.
The research shows that Christians are best known for what they are against.
They are perceived as being judgmental, anti-homosexual, and too political.
And young people are quick to point out they believe that Christianity is no longer as Jesus intended. Christianity is Un-Christian.”
And it shouldn’t be this way!
The Apostle Paul told the first-century Christians, “You yourselves are our letter…known and read by everybody.”
And how true that statement is.
There can be no doubt that the Christian Church was never intended to be a tidy garden…
…but you know what attracted so many folks to Christianity in the first place?
People were saying, “Look how much they love one another! I want some of that!”
Hate, judgment and close-mindedness are the greatest enemies of Christianity—and thus of all of humanity!
Could Satan enjoy anything else any more?
Let’s stop giving Satan deadly amo!
I was watching a reporter on CNN this past week as he spoke about the political race and the parties, when, in a matter of fact manner…he stated what one of the major parties’ basic platform is: “God, guns, and gays.”
He didn’t appear to be trying to put them down, he said it as “fact.”
Fact or fiction I have no idea.
But I’m afraid much of the world thinks that this is the platform of Christianity as well.
In Romans Chapter 12 Paul gives us an awesome glimpse into what Christianity is to be about—and from this glimpse—if we were all to live this way—Christianity would be seen as the coolest thing in the world—which it really is!!!
Verse 9 begins with the word: “Love.”
Paul says, “Love must be sincere.”
And Webster’s dictionary defines sincere as: “genuine; real.”
Is our love for God and for others genuine and real…or do we just play lip-service?
Are we putting our faith into action, or are we sitting in the bleachers with a pencil and paper creating judgmental lists?
Do we really love other people or just the folks who look like we do; think like we do; believe like we do; smell like we do?
Paul writes, “Honor one another above yourselves…Share with God’s people who are in need…Live in harmony with one another…Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”
That’s what Christianity is about, and that IS COOL!!!
It is my belief that the most dangerous thing in the world is not some weapon made by hands…it’s not the nuclear bomb or disease or famine…
…the most dangerous thing in the world is a closed mind!!!
A closed mind does not like anyone who does not think just like they do.
A closed mind holler’s: “You’re either for us or against us!”
A closed mind causes folks to hate others…and it’s not anything personal…that other person may be the nicest person in the world—willing to give you the shirt off his or her back…
…but if that person holds a different theological or political view…
…a closed mind is capable hating that person!
But we, as Christians are to “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.”
And that love is agape love—the love which God has for every one of us…it is unconditional!
Do we love other people unconditionally?
Or do we pick and choose?
If we pick and choose, we are most definitely being “Un-Christian!”
And that ain’t even close to being “cool”!
That behavior more resembles an immature and insecure self-absorbed middle school child who is trying to decide who he or she can be seen with sitting at the lunch room table!
Recently, partly because of the economy and partly because of our Vision Statement: “We seek people with ‘messy lives’…
…we have been getting lots of calls from folks who need help paying bills…or who need a place to sleep.
Most churches have a benevolence fund that covers this…or part of these kinds of things…
…I was speaking with a pastor the other day about their benevolence fund, and he said they are tapped out…
…but keep in mind that they are in the middle of a 23 million dollar building project…
What is Christianity really about?
What are we doing?
Anyhow, back to the benevolence fund thing, John Wesley instructed all persons to leave money on the chancel rails after taking communion…and that money was to be used solely to help the poor.
That’s where a benevolence fund comes from.
Anyhow, I was discussing our need for such a fund with one fantastic person from the Finance Committee.
The persons reply: “We aren’t even going to be able to pay your salary soon with the paltry dribbles of money folks have been giving this year!”
How sad.
We are growing.
Lives are being transformed.
Things are beginning to shake, rattle and roll.
And we are more than $30,000 dollars under our budget.
We have only taken in 58 or $59,000 this entire year!!!
Paul instructs us: “Share with God’s people who are in need.”
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that we have chosen not to do this.
Do you love this church?
How important is it to you?
These people, this community, our Savior…
…can we give at least 10 percent of what God has blessed us with in order to be able to do God’s work?
Do we care?
Christianity is figuratively and literally about “putting your money where your mouth is!”
“Love must be sincere,” or genuine; real.
Dr. Leonard Sweet of Drew University Seminary shares this story:
“In 1917 in Russia the Russian Orthodox Church had a debate that nearly split the church.
The Orthodox churches trace their roots back to Antioch, where followers of the Way of Jesus Christ were called Christians for the first time.
This predates our roots that go back to Rome, so to have a church split whose roots go so far back is serious business.
The issue that caused so much controversy was the size of the candles in the chancel.
Should they be 22 inches tall or as some innovators were saying, only 18 inches tall?
18 inches was common! How dare they!
The proper suitable size for God’s table is 22 inches!
This nearly split the church in 1917 in Russia.
Do you know what else was going on in Russia in 1917?
Revolutionaries were plotting because in some places in Russia people were reduced to eating human flesh!
The revolutionaries planning to change this situation by murdering thousands of people.
Meanwhile, the church was arguing about the size of candles!!!
Literally millions of Russians died of starvation.”
Dr. Sweet writes: “God help us and forgive us because we get so turned inward while the world suffers, and we fail to show the love of Christ with one another, argue about things that Jesus does not care about, and let the world starve!
God, where was the Church?
Where are we now?”
We are experiencing a mass-exodus from the church like has never been seen before.
People outside the church used to at least respect us…
…now, thousands and millions look at us as the problem!!!
“God, guns and gays.”
That is what comes to many minds when they think of the Christian Church.
Not unconditional love.
Not non-judgmental attitudes.
Not humility.
Not service.
Not hope.
But, hypocrisy, elitism, hate-mongering and ignorance.
People are attracted by sincere love.
“Look how they love one another!”
“Look how they love…even their enemies!”
This is what Christianity is all about!!!
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Now that is cool—very, very cool!!!
