Topic: Everyday people
Scripture: Romans 12:9-14
Introduction
In 1968, the Democratic party was fracturing. President Lyndon B. Johnson was nearing the end of his political run, his national power diminished by civil disorder and Vietnam. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4. Robert Kennedy was assassinated on June 6. On Nov. 5, Richard Nixon was elected president.
There were student riots. There were protests. For all the money, all the power, all the technology and education, there seemed to be so few answers.
Released in November 1968, Sly and the Family Stone's "Everyday People" seemed a welcome rallying cry in those desperate times.
The song is a plea for peace, for equality. Sly and the Family Stone was an integrated band, with black and white musicians. These musicians created incredible music that has passed the test of time. They went to No. 1 on U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with "Everyday People,".
Lyric: "There is a blue one who can't accept the green one / for living with a fat one, trying to be a skinny one.
"And different strokes for different folks / and so on and so on and scooby dooby doo.
"Oh sha sha, we got to live together."
Chris Shields: We do ‘got to live together’! We are such a divisive species. We're tribal, following family paths, religious orders, political parties, etc. We think the purest of our motives and have the greatest suspicion for those who aren't "with us."
Here we are, it's 2022 and things haven't changed much from 1968. It's another election year. Political parties are trying to figure out polarizing factions within their camps. There are protests. There is violence. Race concerns are still prevalent. There is fear of other countries, other religions.
How do we break the cycle? CAN we break the cycle?
"We got to live together."
"I am everyday people."
Life is too complex to cover with one song.
But maybe one song can get us started on the conversations we need to have, to make decisions we need to make.
After all, we are everyday people.
IIl: In the mid 1980’s, when a cold war still divided Communist nations from democratic nations, and when concrete barriers and barbed wire fences divided East Berlin from West, there was a young man who passed through the Berlin Wall at Checkpoint Charlie nearly every day. Driving a pickup truck with a couple of bicycles tied to the top of the load, he would be stopped by the German guards, who would thoroughly search his possessions.
Some days, under the bicycles and under the tarp, he would be carrying pails of sand, and the guards would empty every one of them onto the pavement, looking for contraband. Other days, when the guards pulled off the bikes and the tarp, they found boxes of books, and they would unpack every box and leave them scattered on the ground. Still other days, he would be carrying pallets of blocks, or rolls of sod.
The routine was always the same: stop the truck, inspect the load, and send the man on his way. Now, the guards never found anything illegal, but each day the young man was required to reload his truck, tie the tarps down, and throw the bikes back up on top of the load.
After the Berlin Wall fell in 1988, this young man met one of the border guards at a tavern in downtown Berlin. Over glasses of beer, they reminisced about the loads he carried, and the daily ritual that they now laughed about. Then the former guard got serious, and said “Comrade, we know you were smuggling something, but we could never figure out what it was. Now that the danger has passed” the older man said, “tell me…what were you smuggling?”
And the younger man answered “Bicycles. I was smuggling bicycles.”
Sometimes in this life, the most obvious things are right in front of us, and yet we fail to see them. A promising business opportunity, or a potential marriage partner, or the possibility of an exciting adventure goes unnoticed because we were looking for something else. A current television ad shows a man jogging through a city neighborhood, wondering what kind of car to purchase, and he is oblivious to more than a dozen different Volkswagen Jettas that nearly run over him on his route. It is reminiscent of the proverbial man caught in a flood who turns down a life raft, and a canoe and a helicopter because he is waiting for God to rescue him.
The German border guard was looking for something secretive in the young man’s truck; something hidden to the naked eye that was a threat to Communism. But all along, the illegal import, the bicycles, was in plain sight. And he missed it.
Church,I think many Christians in today’s culture are guilty of the very same thing. We work overtime, debating issues of morality, and theology, and politics to determine which are the Christian positions. Countless books have been written which describe Christian lifestyles, family values, prayer in school, and what real men do and don’t do. Churches spend millions of dollars annually on conferences and workshops learning how to attract visitors, how to be “seeker-friendly,” and how to tolerate other religions. We’re looking for the hidden secret of what Christians are supposed to do, and how Christians are supposed to live. In our lexicon, how to be ‘everyday people’. As if finding the one key element will then dramatically change everything we know and do. And in the process we have complicated the Christian life.
The answer, if you will, to Sly & the Stones' call is here in this scripture. We need to love unapologetically, without fear or discrimination, care for those who need it and finally, embrace those who oppose, hurt or even abuse us. Then we will reflect the Light of Christ and boldly declare like Sly & the Stones that we are indeed ‘Everyday People’!!!
Exposition
Now, notice if you will that Paul wrote Romans from the city of Corinth as he wintered there on his third missionary journey as described in Acts 20:2-3.
ii. When Paul wrote the Book of Romans, he had been a Christian preacher for some 20 years. On his way to Jerusalem, he had three months in Corinth without any pressing duties. He perhaps thought this was a good time to write ahead to the Christians in Rome, a church he planned to visit after the trip to Jerusalem.
iii. As Paul worked to go to Rome, the Holy Spirit warned him about the peril awaiting him in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-14). What if he were unable to make it to Rome? Then he must write them a letter so comprehensive that the Christians in Rome had the gospel Paul preached, even if Paul himself were not able to visit them.
iv. Because of all this, Romans is different than many of the other letters Paul wrote to churches. Other New Testament letters focus more on the church and its challenges and problems. The Letter to the Romans focuses more on God and His great plan of redemption.
Romans 12:1-8 establishes the foundation upon which 12:9-21 is built. Paul appeals to Roman Christians to become ‘Everyday People’ “to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (v. 1). He says, “Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (v. 2). He tells them “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably” (v. 3). He suggests that each is a member in the body of Christ, and all members are uniquely valuable (v. 4-5). He speaks of “gifts differing” (v. 6), and lists a number of particular gifts—prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and compassion (vv. 6-8). Then he says, “Let love be without hypocrisy” (v. 9).
In verses 1-8, therefore, Paul paints with a broad brush, showing us generally what Christian discipleship requires; how we demonstrate that we are ‘Everyday People’. In verses 9-21, he steps closer to the canvas, working with a finer brush to color in detail regarding specific attitudes and actions that must grow out of the ideas established in verses 1-8.
Exegesis
In just nine verses of Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are told how to walk as Christians, in other words how to be ‘everyday people’. There’s nothing in Paul’s list that is new for Church folk; nothing there that Jesus didn’t already say. And yet we tend to gloss over it because it is too simple, too obvious for us to concern ourselves with. And what’s on Paul’s list?
Let love be genuine.
Hate what is evil,
love what is good.
Rejoice in hope.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be haughty.
It sounds like it's right out of the poster “All I Really Need to Know about Life I Learned in Kindergarten.”
But if I could distill all of what Paul says in this 12th chapter of Romans, a few directives would emerge; distinct marching orders for us, that, if we actually did them, it would change the world. Radically change the world. For if you read Paul’s list, he is basically saying this:
· Love without hypocrisy
Be generous to those who are in need, and
· Be kind to your enemies
That’s it. Those are the bicycles on top of the load that we miss as a Christian people – either accidentally or intentionally – as we try to figure out how we are called to live our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.
Now, the first of those commands is a familiar one: “Let love (agape) be without hypocrisy” (anupokritos) (v. 9a). There are four words for love in Greek—agape, philos, eros, and storge. Agape is a high form of love, often used to describe God’s love for people. Paul uses it here to describe our love for each other. Anupokritos means genuine—sincere—not hypocritical—the opposite of the actor who hides behind a mask and expresses feelings that come from a script instead of from the heart.
Genuine agape is love without a selfish agenda—love that seeks what is good for the other person. Much of what the world calls love is self-serving. Consider how much romantic love is oriented to fulfilling one’s personal needs rather than the needs of the other (sex, security, etc.). Consider the salesperson who fakes interest in a person’s family as a way of gaining trust and selling products. Even the pastor is tempted to give too high a priority to filling pews and meeting budgets.
Ill: A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, What does love mean?
The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
-Rebecca- age 8: When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.
So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.
-Billy - age 4: When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.
-Chrissy - age 6: Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your french fries without making them give you any of theirs.
-Terri - age 4: Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.
-Danny - age 7: Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.
-Emily - age 8: Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss
-Bobby - age 7: Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.
-Tommy - age 6: Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.
-Cindy - age 8: During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.
-Elaine-age 5: Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.
-Chris - age 7: Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Brad Pitt.
-Jessica - age 8: You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.
-Nikka - age 6: If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate. We need a few million more Nikka's on this planet
Paul lists love first among the desired behaviors in the text, and love is more than first among equals. Love sets the tone, and the other desired behaviors grow out of love—are natural expressions of love.
Second, Be generous to those who are in need. In other words, learn to share. It’s something we teach our children from the youngest of ages, that they should share what they have with other children. But it doesn’t appear to be working! One of the first words children learn in the sandbox is “Mine!” We don’t like it when other kids play with our toys. We don’t like it when other kids take anything that actually belongs to us.
Ill: during Sunday School class, an instructor told her children that she had brought Krispy Kreme donuts, and then she opened a large box which held one donut. When asked, not a single kid said that they would be willing to share it if she gave it to them. Well, one little boy said he would share. Actually, he said he would first lick the chocolate off the top of the donut, and then he would share it with the other kids!!!
Where do children learn that kind of behavior? Unless it is from us, the adults in their lives. We are willing to share, only after we are certain that there is enough for us. Once we are sure that our own needs will be met, only then are we comfortable in giving our things away. And how much is “enough” for us? Enough is a relative term.
Ill: Billionaire philanthropist John Rockefeller was once asked “how much is enough?” and he answered “one more.” There was enough profit at Enron, but some people wanted more. There is enough food produced in this world every year, but some people want more. There is enough land in Israel for all the people to live comfortably, but some people want more.
Ancient Jews had a saying that said “we cannot laugh so long as there is one person weeping.” That’s a fascinating concept. If we lived by it, we would be a little bit uncomfortable until all people had enough food to eat, and jobs to do, and schools to attend, and houses to call home. But in order to do that, we would have to share.
The final directive of Paul is equally challenging: Be kind to your enemies. If they are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. This is radical, because we are taught to hate our enemies. Loving them would be a sign of weakness, and it would give them the upper hand, or so we think.
Ill: The story is told of a pro-life organization holding a protest outside a Planned Parenthood office on a cold winter morning. The director of the Planned Parenthood office committed a random act of kindness, she bought hot cocoa and cookies out to the group that was protesting her office. At first, the protesters refused to drink the cocoa! “It’s a trick” they thought. And only when the director herself came out and drank some of the cocoa did the protesters pour cups for themselves. But that act of kindness opened up a dialogue between the two sides that helped them see each other as people – not enemies.
Of course, sometimes the gulf between enemies is seemingly too great. When a loved one dies at the hand of another person, it is difficult to love the person who is responsible. Can you imagine who could possibly do it.
In 1960, Adolph Coors III, owner of the Coors Brewing Company, was kidnapped and subsequently murdered by a man named Joseph Corbett. Adolph Coors IV was just 14 years old at the time, and it sent his life into a tailspin that would continue for years. But in 1975, Adolph Coors IV came to faith in Jesus Christ, and one of the first things he did as a young Christian was to travel to the Colorado State Penitentiary in Carson City, Colorado to forgive Joseph Corbett and to ask Corbett to forgive him for feeling intense hatred for him for 15 years. Ironically, Corbett refused to see Coors. What the Apostle Paul said was exactly true: that when we are kind to our enemies, it is like heaping burning coals upon their heads. But by offering forgiveness in a letter, Adolph Coors IV was relieved of the weight of hatred that had shackled him for half of his life.
Close
Finally Church, the challenges I have shared with you today don’t come easily to us. It takes work to love freely and unapologetically. It takes work to freely share what we consider to be our own. It takes work to offer kindness to those who have wronged us, or those whose values are different from our own. But imagine how different our world would be if we began to implement those attitudes — even in small ways — if we became more aware of those who had simple needs, or if we became more considerate of those whom we dislike. Our new attitudes may never change the other people, but I guarantee that these new attitudes will change us. And that is precisely what God wants to do, become Everyday people!!!
THE CHANGE YOU OWE TO JESUS
John Wesley was a popular evangelist in early America and often rode from one church to another to preach. On one such journey, stopped by a highwayman who shouted, "Halt, your money or your life." Wesley got down from his horse, emptied his pockets to reveal only a handful of coins. He even invited the robber to search his saddlebags - which only carried his books. In disgust, the thief was turning away when John Wesley cried "Stop, I have something more to give you." Puzzled, the robber turned back. Wesley then leaned towards him and said "My friend, you may live to regret this sort of life in which you are engaged. If you ever do, I beseech you to remember this: 'The blood of Jesus Christ, God's son, cleanses us from all sin.'" The robber hurried silently away, but Wesley got back on his horse & rode on his way praying in his heart that the word might be fixed in the robber's conscience.
Years later, at the close of a Sunday evening service, a stranger stepped forward and earnestly begged to speak with John Wesley. Wesley recognized him as the robber who had stolen from him so long before, but now he was a well to do tradesman and better still, a child of God. Raising Wesley's hand to his lips he affectionately kissed it and sad in deep emotion, "To you, dear sir, I owe it all." Wesley replied softly, "Nay, nay, my friend, not to me, but to the precious blood of Christ which cleanses us from all sin."
Brothers and Sisters, Paul reminded us that the love we have seen shown in the life and works of those around us is only a glimpse of what is to come when the savior returns.
The joy we have known in this life cannot compare to the joy he has in store for us!
We see people helping others in the neighborhood that's a glimpse through a glass darkly, but when we see Jesus, face to face; that's when we will see perfect love!
When we see caring souls doing great works in the name of the Lord, that's a glimpse through a dark glass, but when we see Jesus, face to face, that's when we will see perfect love!
When we see a believer pour out to others from the depths of the soul, that's a peek through a translucent glass, but when we see Jesus, face to face, then we will see perfect love!
There is a song that says, "I'm happy with Jesus alone." Some don't understand that kind of happiness because they can't see Jesus. But one of these days, bye and bye, we are going to meet him and he will give us a new song.
He's coming back again! That's when we will see him face to face!
When he comes back, he will give strength to the weak!
When he comes back, he will give hope to the distraught!
When he comes back, he will give joy to the saddened!
When he comes back, he will bring victory to the defeated!
When he comes back, he will give us all a new song to sing!
That's when we shall sing, "I sing because I'm happy! I sing because I'm free! His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me!"
I sing because when I'm weak he gives me strength!
I sing because when I'm lonely he comforts me!
I sing because when I'm failing he gives me victory!
I sing because when I'm falling he picks me up!
I sing because when I'm filled with sadness, he gives me gladness!
Even when death has invaded us and our hearts are heavy the saints of God still sing, "To God be the glory, to God be the glory for the things he has done! With his power he hath raised me! With his blood he has saved me! To God be the glory!
Glory, for his life on this earth!
Glory, for his death out on Calvary!
Glory, for his rising Early Sunday morning!
To God be the glory for the things he has done!
