Readings for Lent 3C:
1Corinthians 10:1-13; Collect [BCP 218]
March 14, 2004
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
During the 16th C in Holland, there was a group of Christians called the Mennonites whose beliefs challenged the institutional Church. As a result, the group was outlawed. When members of this sect were caught, they would often be executed. Dirk Willens was one of those Mennonites. On a terrible day one winter, he was chased across an ice field when his pursuer broke through the ice and fell in. In response to his pursuer's cries for help, Willen returned and saved him from the freezing cold waters. The pursuer was grateful and astonished that Willens would do such a noble thing. But nevertheless, he proceeded to arrest him because he felt it was his duty to do so. A few days later, Willens was executed by being burned at the stake. It was because of his "Christlikeness" that his execution was brought on.
What was it that gave Willens the freedom to choose to do the right thing even at the risk of losing his own life? Do you have this level of freedom in your life? What is freedom anyway? How does one's freedom to act, relate to one's responsibility to others? It is this subject of freedom that I will address in today's sermon. I will use Paul's letter to the Corinthians and the opening collect as my texts.
Paul's letter to the Corinthians was written sometime during the decade of the 50's- that is "50 CE." Corinth was a city located about 40 miles southwest of Athens Greece. It was a commercial city as well as an eclectic religious hub. It prided itself on having a variety of cultic temples as well as many artisans, sailors, and immigrants who flowed in and out of the city. It did not however, have a good reputation. Corinth was known as Sin City; a city of wealth without culture, a people whose behavior was disgusting & course, and a large faction of wretched poor who groveled for morsels of food. It was into this context, that St. Paul started a congregation, whose goal it was to grow into the image of Christ.
As you read Paul's letter to this struggling congregation in Corinth, you will notice that these early Christians were having a difficult time making the transition from self-willed/self-focused individuals, to a transformed people who reached out beyond themselves to serve others. In today's reading, Paul is dealing with the following issue: How does one honor and protect holiness (i.e. being set apart for God), while one lives in the midst of the normal social exchange in Sin City? In other words, how do people live a Christian life when: a) the society around them emphasizes greed, self-absorption, and “every man to himself”; b) the narcissistic ego raises its ugly head?
Since the members of the church in Corinth were young in the faith, they were struggling with living a life of holiness. They had a desire to become like Christ, but they couldn’t seem to make much progress. The membership struggled with concrete problems such as eating food sacrificed to idols, sleeping with one's stepmother, conjugal rights, speaking in tongues, insensitivity to the poorer members of the congregation, grumbling, and other divisive behavior. They wanted to know how to do the right thing when the body wants to do the wrong thing? Why is it so difficult to choose the good especially when hurt, fear, and ignorance are involved?
Throughout his letters, Paul develops a theology that helps his congregations understand the process of sanctification. Sanctification means to become like Christ. It is only when our character is Christ-like that we have the full freedom to choose the good under any circumstance. So, how do we become like Christ and follow the law of holiness in the face of evil and fear? Well, trying to follow the laws of holiness and do the right thing is almost impossible on a daily basis if we rely on self-will alone. That is because self-will is only interested in the self. Sure it is easier to be nice when things are going well but just introduce a little hurt or deprivation into the equation and our immature selves come out in full force (and often times it is not pretty).
Based on personal experience, Paul says that we can not keep the law of holiness or become Christ-like simply by trying. Instead, we must become the kind of person for whom the deeds of the law naturally flow. This means, transformation of the personality. The will is not strong enough to transform the personality because we are basically selfish and have ingrained habits that keep us in bondage. These ingrain habits distort our relationships. Sin is simply a word that refers to our distorted relations with things, ourselves, others, and God. It is only through grace, God's power working within us, which can forgive our sins, enlighten our minds, stir our hearts, and strengthen our wills to choose the good.
So how do we prepare ourselves to receive God's sanctifying grace? Well, there are no magic formulas but there are some clues from Scripture and experience as to the kinds of things we must do.
Now why am I focusing my attention on the process of sanctification? Well first of all, sanctification leads to abundant life and to freedom. These are both high values in the life of a Christian. Why not seek them out for yourselves? But second of all, I believe that we might be headed for some rocky times ahead. I would like for you to be well equipped in the faith, if this were too occur. We need to build our foundation on God if we are to remain intact if and when and difficult times come upon us.
On Friday, I read about the bombing of a commuter train in Spain. Al-Qaida is taking the credit for killing the 200 or so passengers. They are quoted as saying: “We announce the good news ...that the strike of the black wind of death, the expected strike against America, is now at its final stage -- 90 percent ready -- and it is coming soon, by God's will.'' If this black wind of death does come our way, how are we going to react? Do we have the freedom within ourselves to respond to this crisis as Jesus would or will we be overcome with fear and react from a place of violence and despair?
"Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our soul, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thought which may assault and hurt the soul." [BCP 218]
| Updated 3/16/04 |
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