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“Living So That the World May
Believe” |
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Do you know any twins or triplets? Are
they “identical?” I mean – are they really “identical” – exactly alike?
Are they exactly the same size – think the same thoughts – make the same
motions – sound the same – so much so that no one can tell them apart? I am the oldest of four children. Sixteen months after I was born, my mother had twins: Allyson and Doyle. While we were still young, my grandmothers used to go to the fabric store and buy several yards of cloth, and then sew little pajamas, shirts, shorts, and pants – exactly alike except for slight adjustments in size. We three older kids were all about the same size. We were all blondes with blue eyes and the same skin complexions. When my parents took us anywhere dressed in the matching clothes that our grandmothers sewed for us, we were often stopped by strangers and asked if we were triplets. We looked that much alike! But of course, we really weren’t. Although we had the same last name and were about the same size, our personalities were very different. We weren’t the same age. We weren’t the same gender. We had different temperaments, likes, and dislikes. Some people say that if you know one Christian you know them all. In other words: all Christians are the same. Some Non-Christians think that all Christians look alike – think the same thoughts – act the same – and if you listen to what they are saying, even sound the same. This week, Jerry Falwell died. He consistently presented a public conservative Christian voice that condemned feminists, abortion, the gay and lesbian community, and same sex marriage. He even “once said that AIDS was God’s way of punishing homosexuals and that gays, lesbians, abortionists and ACLU were responsible for the 9/11 attacks.” (David J. Welch, “Jerry Falwell,” The Kansas City Star, May 17, 2007, p. B10) Do all Christians think and speak like Jerry Falwell? No!!! Although Jerry was – and I am – a Christian, Jerry and I are nothing alike! The Kansas City Star reported this week that Kansas Attorney General, Paul Morrison is investigating complaints that Jerry Johnston, founder of First Family Church, “misused church money.” (May 17, 2007, p. B1) Past church members complain that Jerry raised millions of dollars to build a building that would include a Christian school. The money was raised but the school never happened. They also complain that “Johnston and his son, Jeremy, have used church money and employees to help run their for-profit businesses.” (p. B12) Although this “local Jerry” is – and I am – a Christian, Jerry and I are nothing alike! The public hears one story about a Christian or a church (good or bad), and assumes that all Christians are alike. If you have a Bread of Life bumper sticker on your car, and you drive recklessly, other drivers will judge this congregation. If you help a stranger in the name of Christ, those who see it will have a positive feeling about Jesus. One experience or story – good or bad – becomes a public witness of who we are and who Jesus is. The seventeenth chapter of John’s gospel is a prayer. We are invited to listen in as Jesus pours out his heart to God. At the end of the prayer, Jesus prays for the future witness of the Church – including those who will someday respond to the Church’s witness and become believers. In his prayer, Jesus affirms that the world does not know God but he has introduced his followers to God: “I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26) It sounds to me like Jesus was praying for us: for you and me. Jesus is asking God to let both Jesus and God be in us so that the world may know that God has sent him, and that through us, they may come to know that God loves them as much as God loves Jesus. Unfortunately, all Christians are not alike. The world doesn’t learn much about God’s love from some of our Christian brothers and sisters. What the world learns from some of us is hypocrisy, corruption, hatred, judgment, and prejudice. When that happens, Jesus’ prayer is not being answered. What are we going to do about this negative image of Christianity? We cannot be witnesses to God’s love for the world if we are not yet living that love in our own lives. Our words of Christian hope and about the richness of God’s love are hollow if our lives do not reflect that message. If we try to live moral lives – loving lives – but do not have a deep relationship with Jesus, then our efforts will be futile and our goal impossible to reach. Jesus asks more from us. Jesus asks us to live in such a way that we are “where Jesus is” with our attitudes – with our thoughts – with our decisions – with our actions. In other words, live a Christ-like life. I would like that – wouldn’t you? Jesus asks us to live in such a way that the world sees the glory of God in us. I would like that – wouldn’t you? Jesus asks us to live in such a way that the love with which God has loved him may be in us. I would like that – wouldn’t you? So - - - how are we going to do these things that are Jesus’ prayer? Each spring, we all are invited to make a deeper, more demanding commitment to the way of Jesus. We call it “Covenant Discipleship.” It is the way one is a member of Bread of Life Christian Church. Covenant Discipleship reminds us that our connection to a specific congregation is a spiritual decision that we need to make. It reminds us that following Christ’s way of life is more than putting your name on a church’s membership role and then doing whatever you like. It reminds us that to claim the Christian family as our family means that we have to live differently than others. Covenant Disciples asks more of each of us than most other congregations do. Covenant Discipleship is renewed every year to remind us of the claim Jesus makes on our lives. In a moment, you will be invited to sign a covenant card. When you do, tear off the bottom stub to keep as a reminder of your promises. Whether you sign the card or not, please put it in the envelop so that others in the congregation will not know what your decision is. This is between you and Jesus. Then, you’ll have an opportunity to bring your card forward, and pick up one of the blue glass stones as a second keepsake to remind you of this covenant. The glass stones remind me of water – and Jesus’ claim on my life through the waters of my baptism. I hope that they will remind you of yours. The covenant invites you – challenges you – to commit yourself to make weekly worship a priority in your life. The covenant also invites – challenges – you to give God your energy and spiritual gifts in a Christian ministry to which God calls you. The covenant invites – challenges – you to try to pray privately (or with others) daily. The covenant invites and challenges you work on your personal spiritual growth by participating in at least one Spiritual Life Group in the coming twelve months. And the covenant challenges you to grow in your financial stewardship with a tithe (and more) being your goal. At Bread of Life, we invite everyone to participate in the church at whatever level they can and will. Anyone can be involved in any ministry or activity of the congregation whether he or she is a Covenant Disciple or not. But this morning, I invite you – challenge you – to make this covenant with Jesus to give more of yourself to him. If you will do this, you can help be the answer to Jesus’ prayer: living so that the world may believe! Amen! Let us now spend one minute in silence as we make our decisions and prepare our cards. [The envelopes are brought forward.] Let us pray. Loving God, source of all blessings, give these, your servants, grace and power to fulfill their covenants of discipleship. May they be faithful to serve and willing to grow, led by your Spirit. Through their lives given, may they be living witnesses so that the world may believe. In Jesus’ name we ask it. Amen. |