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Sermon - Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (B) - 12th July 2009
St Albans Anglican Church West Epping
Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1:1-14; Mark 6:14-29
Between now and the end of August, we are going to be reading through what is generally known as Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Some experts would question whether Paul wrote it, and more experts would question whether it was written specifically to the church at Ephesus, in what we know these days as Turkey. For what it’s worth, I haven’t been convinced by any of the arguments raised against believing that Paul wrote the letter. If it wasn’t by him, there was a theological giant around that time about whom we know nothing!
But the issue about whom the letter was written to is an interesting one. There are two problems. One is that Paul had a long and close relationship with the church at Ephesus, and yet there is nothing personal in the letter at all. Most of Paul’s letters have very personal references, about his readers’ circumstances and about individuals, and yet there is nothing like that in this letter. Rather strange if the letter is to the church at Ephesus.
And then the earliest manuscripts we have of the letter do not include those words “to Ephesus” in the opening verses. In fact, they don’t indicate where the readers actually were.
One widely held theory is that the letter was written to a number of churches in the area around Ephesus. Perhaps the original was read in Ephesus, and then sent on to another church up the valley. Copies would have been made (photocopiers would have been useful!), so that the apostle’s message continued to be available after the letter had been passed on. If this was the case, it would explain why the letter didn’t include personal details, and also why some copies refer to Ephesus and others do not.
I suggested that the letter was written by a theological giant. In fact, I believe that this is one of the greatest books of the New Testament: not always light reading, but definitely worth investigating. It is not written to deal directly with particular problems, or to respond to a particular issue, but to explore the big picture of God’s purposes, of where we fit in to those purposes, and how we respond to these realities.
It has much to say that we might describe as doctrine, but also much to say about how to live our lives as followers of Jesus. It is full of praise and prayer, and it also explores the significance of the church in a unique and wonderful way.
God’s purpose, according to words from today’s reading is “a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth.” Notice this idea of gathering up . God who is Trinity, God who is love in his very being, brings not only things together, but brings people together. His purpose is not just to bring forgiveness to individuals, but to draw people together, to gather a community. This community we call the “church”: and we shall see and experience it in all its glory and wonder in God’s kingdom. But right now God is building his church, and this reality is a central theme of the letter. The Christian faith is personal, but it is not individualistic. We are called to belong to God, but also to belong to his family, his community. In coming weeks we shall hear more of God’s purposes from this great letter.
But as Paul writes about God’s great plan, he also writes both wonderful and perplexing things. Perhaps you were concerned by some of Paul’s words as you heard the reading. We are glad to be “blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing”. It is a great privilege to be “adopted as God’s children through Jesus Christ”. We have “received an inheritance” and been “marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit”. It’s all good!
But how do we react when Paul says that Christ’s followers have been chosen before the foundation of the world , and destined for adoption as his church. Haven’t we made the decision to be Christians? Didn’t we choose in our different ways and circumstances to follow Christ? Is Paul saying that God simply made the decision for us?
The more one thinks about this idea, the more uncomfortable we can become. Many of us will have heard the term “predestination” as a theological term expressing these ideas. It can sound as if God is manipulating things, playing games with people almost like pieces on a chess board.
Did we become born again, to use Christ’s term, because we had no say in it, no say in it at all - as the song goes? And if we have been chosen and predestined, what about those who are not Christians: do they go to hell simply because they have not been chosen?
It is a difficult issue, and people have handled it in different ways. Some will say that Paul is waxing lyrical or speculating, and that we don’t have to take him too seriously. Others have gone to extremes and come up with doctrine which is harsh and fatalistic, and does indeed seem to make us playthings in the hand of a God who seems to give us no real choice.
I guess I have a slightly different approach. Last week we heard the idea that we might reject some of the supposed sayings of Christ if they don’t fit in with our bigger understanding of him. When I see Christ saying something I feel uncomfortable about in one of the Gospels, I assume that I need to put my thinking hat on. Perhaps there is something about the circumstances or the background that helps me to make sense of it. Perhaps I am reading implications in which are not what Jesus was on about. Perhaps I need to look from a different angle. Perhaps I even need to review whether my assumptions about Jesus are sound!
So I seek to rethink rather than to reject. And I also try to remember that, when I think of God and the way he works, there will always be realities that are beyond my capacity to understand.
And I think that is the case here too. I don’t think that Paul is trying to give a doctrinal explanation of who will be saved and who will not, or why some people are Christians and others are not. What he wants us to see is that God is at work in our lives, and he has been interested in us and concerned for us and even preparing the way for us from eternity. God is there with us, for us, and that has always been the case.
Paul’s purpose is to encourage us as Christ’s followers, not to get us bogged down in theological and doctrinal gymnastics. By speaking of God’s work like this, he wants us to see the depth of God’s commitment to us, he wants to strengthen our faith, he wants to give us reason to keep going. He certainly doesn’t want us sitting back and saying: “It’s God’s work: nothing to do with me!”
But he also wants us to see that we can’t take credit for our faith: as if we could say “I’m a Christian! I’m OK!” We know that we are loved by God, but Paul’s message of God’s care for us reminds us that we are not superior, and it is not for us to pass judgement on those who do not share our faith. Only God knows where they fit into his wonderful plan.
In many areas as we seek to understand our faith, we need to remember that there may be complementary truths: two sides which mightn’t always sit comfortably together in our limited minds, but are both significant. Jesus, who is truly human and yet truly God. The Trinity: God who is one and yet three. And this awkward combination: God who is in control, and us who are responsible for the decisions we make and the actions we take. Both are true in their different ways. Both are vital for our spiritual health.
It is a wonderful privilege to be part of God’s great and gracious plan: we give thanks for that. But there is our side as well: our task is to keep going in faith and love, knowing that God is with us and has included us in his wonderful plan. May our readings in the coming weeks encourage and enlighten us, and challenge us, as we keep going in faith, confident in God’s eternal love for us. Amen.
Paul Weaver