Sermon- Sexagesmia Sunday 2007
The Rev.Fr. Jeff Reich, Vicaar
The Church of Saint John, Aberdeen MS
“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.”
There floats an enormous, hairy, muddied and muddled, Two Thousand year old Elephant over the face of much of American Christianity. That is to say, that there are many, even and maybe specially those in authority, who deny the real and physical resurrection of the Son of God- of Jesus Christ.
The denial of the bodily resurrection and the idea of a spiritual resurrection came into fashion sometime in the Sixties and Seventies…and it became all the rage to explore and promote new and different ideas about an ancient faith.
Many of these people thought they were exploring new ground, thought they were bringing exciting innovations and ideas that would make the Christian faith relevant to a modern and fast changing society.
The Apostle shows us this morning however, that the idea of the denial of the physical resurrection is as old as Christianity itself. It is the Two thousand year old elephant. And Paul chastises the Corinthians for their denial…and he reaches forward through time to chastise in our day as well.
In our own day, it seems the idea of a body being physically raised from the dead is thought by some to be irrational…and an idea that many in the modern age could not, or rather would not grasp…for them, it seems this whole idea of a physical resurrection only served to place the Church farther outside the realms of science and progress.
And that thread of belief is still very much alive and well in 2007. It seems, and is evidenced in the teachings and preaching of many that the very idea of physical resurrection is something of a myth and that Christianity makes more complete sense without troubling over something that goes against the very nature and purpose of the modern thought processes.
So ‘mainline’ American Christianity shifted its focus to social action and justice. It seems that this is something that more people could agree upon. In truth, it is probably more honest to say that mainline American Christianity lowered its common denominator to attempt to be more inclusive.
So, with that lowered common denominator, with a focus on this life only, and very little talk of a future life beyond the grave…American Christianity pushed on. Focusing primarily on the here and now.
And while I agree with some of this movements basic tenants of faith…things such as Christianity being the realization that we are all made in the image and likeness of God…and that love is at the heart of social action…I find the modern trend to be woefully inadequate.
One has to look no further than the shape and state of modern American Christianity to see its downfall. There is severe and major disagreement within every Church body.
People cannot agree upon moral value, people argue with might over just who God is and what our relationship to Him is…people fight over ideas of how Christ is realized in a person…Some saying that we are Christ and not looking to a higher transcendent God…some saying that it is not possible for Christ to dwell among us in any shape form or fashion.
Basically, it is becoming painfully and woefully clear that ideas of Christianity being primarily about social action and justice…ideas about Christianity being primarily about things only pertaining to this life and this world are all falling short and unable to bring any real and true sense of unity in the Church or in the world.
“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.”
So I think it high time we confront the elephant and ask ourselves a difficult question. What, at its heart, is the point of Christianity? Or why do we come to Church?
If it is for reasons of charity…I am sorry to say that the Church is inefficient in these matters…although She does hold them in highest regard- things such as the feeding of the poor, clothing the naked and the other caporal and spiritual Works of Mercy- it is not Her primary reason for existence and some agency such as the Red Cross stands to show us a thing or two.
If it is primarily for social reasons- I am afraid the Church will only serve to disappoint as well. Because in the Church, you will find all sorts and types of people…from all different classes and political affiliations. You will find within the Church people whom you would probably not wish to socialize with…you will find people whom you might even try and avoid in everyday life.
Although, it is to be sure, fellowship and brotherhood are essential to the life of the Church, and there is indeed a social element to our common life. But, if it is for social reasons alone…you would be better served joining a garden club or a hunting lodge or some other group of like-minded folks.
If it is for reasons of social action and justice…again, I am sorry to say that the Church will only serve to cause disappointment. She is inefficient in this regard as well, though again She holds this in highest regard, and you will find that the people that make up the Church are in disagreement most of the time about courses and causes of action.
One would do much better picking a social activism agency that one feels serves their specific agenda and giving time and effort to that particular cause.
So, again, we return to the question, What is the point of Christianity? Why do we come to Church?
And the short answer is this- to win Heaven and to avoid Hell. We come to Church primarily because of faith in the Resurrection of the Son of God. Because Jesus suffered, died and was buried…and rose again from the dead, Body and Soul, we come so that we may take part in his offer of Bodily Resurrection…we come because of that hope.
“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied”
So, as strange as it may sound to some ears…we come to Church because of our hope, not in this life, but in the life to come.
We come because with all of our heart and soul, we love Our Lord, and give wish to give Him our thanks and praise for overcoming death for us.
For in his overcoming death, we too, through faith, can overcome death. So, we come to Church because of faith in the Resurrection of the Son of God, and our hope in the life to come…we come to win heaven and escape Hell.
Now, it is to be sure, from our love of God and hope of Heaven, all things spring forth. Our desire and obligation to do charitable things, our desire and obligation to engage in social action and justice, our desire and obligation of fellowship and brotherhood.
This reminder of the point of Christianity also has something to say about Evangelism. If we try, and we should try, to bring others from outside into our midst, let us remember that if we do so for any other reason than that we hope Heaven for them…or that we want them to meet Jesus Christ who has risen from the dead…if we bring others to Church for reason other than these…we are bringing them to the wrong place.
The waters of modern America swirling around us will only continue and will at times rage…I can say with certainty that Christianity in America will continue to become more divided and there will continue to be more fighting and disagreement…the elephant is not going to leave us any time soon.
And it is ever important for us to remember why we come here in the first place…it is ever important for us to remember to keep our eyes on the prize…we must continue to look towards hope in Heaven and Salvation in Jesus Christ, risen from the dead.
“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.”