Several weeks ago, when I chose today’s Ephesians text to be my preaching text, I didn’t realize that the text corresponded with the weekend after our ChurchWide Assembly and how absolutely appropriate it would be today to talk about Holy Armor.
Many of you have noticed that our PowerPoint announcements this morning have been filled with slides of pictures and actions of the Assembly. I wanted to make sure we all know that media depictions and idle talk before, during and after the Assembly have been largely inaccurate in their descriptions of what the Assembly was really about. As the ELCA is being battered and bruised and will certainly decrease in numbers before it rebounds, we need our Holy Armor.
Before we come back to 2009, let’s visit Ephesus at the time Paul was writing. Emperor Hadrian had called Ephesus his favorite city, and Roman soldiers were constantly present. In their daily work, these soldiers wore the first three items Paul considers Holy Armor: the belt, the breastplate, and the shoes. The other items were left close by, impractical to be carried with them constantly, but ready if needed for fighting.
The Roman belt served two purposes: first, it was used to keep his robe tied out of the way during battle, and second, other armor was fastened onto it.
Paul tells us to “fasten the belt of truth around [our] waists.” In our holy armor as in Roman armor, things can be hooked onto a belt, but the main purpose of the belt is to keep our pants up. That’s what the truth does in this battle. When we don’t wear a belt, our pants may fall down and we’re “exposed” to the world in what is a pretty embarrassing situation. And the fact is that if we allow anything less than truth to reign in our lives, we will eventually be exposed and embarrassed. But when we always have the truth on our side, no matter how much Satan wants to embarrass us, he can’t, because we have truth protecting us.
When you hear criticism about the ELCA’s recent actions, put on your belt of truth and know that our new social statement is not just us “caving to the culture.” The document doesn’t look anything like the cover of “People” magazine or even the MSN homepage. It is thoughtful and deeply theological, with 57 supporting Scriptural references and quotations as well as quotations from other historical documents of the Lutheran church. The document affirms marriage and speaks against non-marital cohabitation. It specifically speaks against exploitation and harassment, and it acknowledges that Lutherans disagree about some issues and that’s not going change. That’s the belt of truth!
Back in Ephesus, the Roman breastplate not only protected the soldier, it was metal and was shined brilliantly. As a result, when soldiers approached, the glare of the sun’s reflection made it impossible to tell the size of the Roman army. Additionally, they were trained to strike the breastplate with each step so that it would sound like a much greater group.
In our Holy Armor, we are told to put on the breastplate of righteousness. This covers us from the throat to the waist and protects us from the poisonous arrows of sin. There are many ways to interpret this verse. In one way, our previous wise choices are like armor, protecting us against the temptations of today. The more we resist sin, the greater our strength to keep resisting it. That feels good, but it’s not infallible. The stronger way to look at this is to interpret this breastplate as being comprised of the righteousness of Christ (rather than our own righteousness) makes for a very effective defense.
Throughout the ChurchWide Assembly, pastors and laity approached the microphones with their Bibles in their hands. They stopped the debate every 20 minutes for prayer and prayed before the vote on each resolution and recommendation. People on all sides of the issues made mention of our Savior, his earthly ministry, and his sacrifice. That’s the breastplate of righteousness. Wear it proudly.
Roman soldiers wore thick leather boots and would often drive nails through the soles to act as spikes or cleats. In close combat, those nails could keep the soldier from falling backwards.
Paul doesn’t write about boots or nails. He simply says, “as shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.” Our world is filled with peace-stealers. Watching the news or reading the paper can easily steal our peace.
It is interesting that peace is linked with shoes here. Shoes are for walking, for action. When we’re scared, we don’t move. When we’re cynical, we want to retreat back to the “good old days,” whenever they were (but we quickly find in doing that that those shoes no longer fit us). We’re called to move ahead.
It is no small detail that Paul doesn’t tell us what kind of shoes to wear. Wing-tips and pumps, loafers and tennies, sandals and mules are all acceptable as long as they make us ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. If we’re proclaiming that gospel of peace in a boardroom, tennies probably aren’t the right footwear. But at the gym, pumps would be a little out of place.
On Friday, Bishop Mark Hanson stressed the importance of peace. Some of the prayer times of the Assembly involved just stopping and praying with the people closest. For those standing by red and green microphones ready to speak for or against the proposals before the Assembly, that meant praying with those on the other side of the issues. That action was a proclaiming of the gospel peace which allows us to disagree about some issues while praying together to the God who loves us all and whom we all love.
Next, the shield. A typical Roman shield was 4-feet tall and 3-feet wide and was used to protect and push forward. Paul tells us to take the shield of faith. Faith is a piece of armor that we don’t wear, but hold. When we’re in the doctor’s office facing a tough diagnosis, that shield of faith can easily slip out of our hands. When we receive our quarterly financial statements and we focus on how much we’ve lost rather than how much we still have, the shield of faith seems very heavy. Old Testament Job is known for many things, but his faith served as a strong shield. When his wife doubted, Job’s faith remained strong. When horrible things kept happening and he was given bad advice from his well-meaning friends, Job’s faith remained strong. Even when it seemed that Job didn’t have an ally on this planet, his faith remained strong.
The Roman soldier’s helmet protected his head from serious damage. He could still get banged up, but the helmet kept him from losing his head, literally. In our holy armor, we are to wear the helmet of salvation. Remember that Paul was writing this to the Church at Ephesus. These were people who were already saved. For them and for us, the helmet is there to protect our mind, to remind us that we belong to God and that our eternity is sure. Satan will try to push doubts our way, but we can be assured that our salvation cannot be taken away.
The sword was the Roman soldier’s only real offensive weapon. Soldiers would spend countless hours getting comfortable with their swords and using them. Because they were of vital importance, they would keep them sharp and shined.
For us, the sword of the spirit is the Word of God. The sword is double-edged. It is both a defensive and an offensive weapon. When Jesus and Satan were together in the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus, and Jesus rebuked him with the Word of God all three times. As is clear from that story, Jesus knew God’s Word inside and out. But it is also clear from that story that Satan has also read the book. And even though he was up against Jesus, Satan tried to twist God’s words. He does nothing less with us. And if we are not familiar with God’s Word, we can easily be fooled. We all know that Scripture is often taken out of context, and many things are attributed to Scripture that aren’t really there. It isn’t just about memorizing a few key verses, it’s about using the Word as a tool to get to know God. It’s about not letting our swords get rusty.
But the sword is also an offensive weapon. It depicts God’s authority over evil, and we are called to use that authority in our lives as followers of Jesus. Take the sword of the Word of God, carry it and use it to teach and forgive and heal.
If you’re feeling a bit apprehensive about this armor, here’s a story for you: Emperor Napoleon once went to a very skillful workman, and inquired of him if he could make a bullet-proof jacket, one that he himself would feel safe to wear as a protection against bullets.
The workman assured Napoleon he could make just such a garment; one he would feel entirely safe to wear himself. So the Emperor hired the man to make such a jacket.
The workman took much time and pains in its construction. When the jacket was finished, Napoleon carefully examined it. And he asked the maker if he still felt sure a bullet could not pierce it. The workman said he was sure no bullet could penetrate it; that he himself would feel entirely safe with it on in a shower of bullets. The Emperor asked him to put it on, that he might examine it more fully. The maker put the jacket on. Napoleon examined it, stepped back and drew his pistol. The man cried out, "Don’t try it on me!"
But the Emperor said: "You told me it was perfectly safe," and fired. The armor proved itself bullet-proof.
Jesus Christ has made a Holy Armor that renders its wearer perfectly safe against whatever weapon is hurled or fired at us. Jesus Christ himself has tried it on. It could not be penetrated.
Wear your holy armor boldly because it is strong, and wear it humbly because it is gift unearned and undeserved. Holy armor for you, for me, for our church, for Christians around the world.
Amen
