Nation of Legend

This sermon was preached on  July 4th weekend.  July 4 is Independence Day in the US.  Please note the essay alos posted  following this message.

You have heard of Robin Hood and Lancelot, but have you heard of Prester John?

You shouldn’t feel bad if you haven’t.  The story of Prester John belongs to the late middle ages, the twelfth century to be more precise. 

Prester John was reputed to be the king of a nation far to the east of Europe.  His kingdom was said to be one marked by justice and prosperity.  Its citizens displayed the highest moral character.  You see, Prester John was said to be a Christian priest-king who ruled his kingdom by the principles of Christianity.  In the West it was widely hoped that this mysterious and powerful king would come to the aid of his fellow Christians in Europe and help them defeat the Muslims who were threatening to overrun the continent.

Of course, this story of a nation founded upon and operating entirely on Christian principles was a myth.  It was a myth, but many Christians have longed to see what might happen if such a nation could be established. 

This is probably why the image of the United States being born as a “Christian nation” appeals to so many. 

Prominent Christian leaders pose the question:  What if America was a Christian nation again?  Such a question obviously rests on the assumption that America was once a “Christian” nation.

People react to the claim that America was born a Christian nation in a variety of ways.

--Some say, “How wonderful.”  These are those good folks who imagine Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and the others as paragons of piety, men who modeled orthodoxy and Biblical morality.

--Some say, “What do you mean?”  They know enough history to ask for clarification, since it’s clear Jefferson wasn’t an orthodox Christian in any sense of the word and they’ve heard of the number of children Franklin had fathered around the colonies.

--Some say, “No way.”  These folks look at the founding documents, like the Constitution, and find no evidence that Christianity was ever the national religion.

--Some say, “So what?”  They will listen to any discussion of the “good old days” and respond by saying, “that was then, this is now.”

I confess to some sympathy for this last group.  When I hear radio evangelists or even good friends talk about how America was once a Christian nation, I wonder what they hope to accomplish. 

Do they expect the ACLU will suddenly decide to defend those school districts that allow prayer before football games, sponsor baccalaureate services, or begin the school day with Bible ready before the announcements?  Would the freedom from religion group sponsoring the “meet the atheist” billboards around the city change their message to “On second thought, I’ll see you in church this Sunday?”

If it could be proven that America was intended to be a “Christian” nation, the embodiment of the Kingdom of Prester John, many Americans would find it curious but not change their lives in any way.

The Bible never tells Christians to stay out of politics, but it never seems to expect much from the state.  The Bible tells us that rulers with integrity are better than rulers without integrity, but makes it plain that God’s Kingdom doesn’t rise or fall depending on who is in office.

Jesus doesn’t say, Elect the right people and things will change.  Jesus says, Be the right people and things will change.  In a world where there is so much darkness, we are to be “light.”  In a world where there is so much corruption, we are to be “salt.”

That’s not as easy as pushing a button in a voting booth but it is ultimately more effective. 

Don’t misunderstand.  I’m not saying we can be indifferent to our state and its leaders, I’m saying they’re not as effective in bringing change as they would like us to believe.  We should insist the state promote fair and just policies, but a climate where fairness and justice prevail will come when the culture is transformed.

That kind of transformation will come when we are the salt and light Jesus talks about.

Again, that’s not easy.

I’d heard about the “I’m an atheist” billboards before I saw one.  I saw it down of Fifth Avenue.  It had the picture of a young Chinese girl—I’ll call her Lisa.  Lisa was quoted as saying, “Compassion is my religion.”  It then described her as “student, compassionate—atheist.”  The signs are sponsored by a group called “The Freedom from Religion Foundation.” 

I admit when I read Lisa’s  “Compassion is my religion” testimony, I thought, “That’s good because during the past century, atheism has been far from compassionate.”   Even if you take the almost certainly inflated figure of five million dying in the Crusades, the 20^th century death toll in the name of atheism is still many times greater.  The Crusades were spread over several centuries, Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot did their work in less than a century.

The truth is, if this young atheist who makes compassion the hallmark of her religion were to look back one more century, to the nineteenth, she would discover something else interesting.  Lisa would discover the loudest voices, in America and the UK, to protest slavery were the Christians.  In fact, it was the century’s most famous atheist—Charles Darwin—who believed white Europeans were naturally superior and, therefore, other inferior races would eventually disappear. [1]

Still, my aim is not to debate the virtues of theism versus atheism. 

But after my initial reaction to the sign, I began thinking.  Is anyone going to follow this young girl around to observe her?  Will they be there when she sits down with a salad at Panera’s to see if she slips up and prays before she eats?  Will they try to overhear what she tells a distraught friend who has experienced a loss to see if she says, “God loves you and so do I?”  No, they’ll take her profession of faith at face value.  They’ll accept her claims to be able to deduce that you should be compassionate despite there being no God.

Now, suppose a Christian or a group of Christians were to put up similar signs.  Let’s say the next time I’m driving down 5^th I see a new billboard with the picture of a young woman named Sally Shiner.  Let’s say she’s depicted as saying, “I’m a believer” and then is identified as a Christian.

I hope I’m not being paranoid but I suspect that Sally would soon find her friends and acquaintance watching her.  They would want to know if her Christianity made a difference.  Was she the genuine article? 

History shows that if people like Sally live their faith with integrity—really be salt and light—they will do greater good than people like that young Lisa, even if those people are trying to live beyond the implications of their creed.

But suppose Sally does blow it?  Let’s say she utterly fails in some way to behave according to her Christian principles.  Now, I’ve never heard of an atheist like Lisa forgetting that she doesn’t believe in God and saddenly starting to pray.  But sometimes the best of Christians forgets and behaves in a non-Christian way.  I’m not sure how an atheist would handle forgetting there’s no God,  but we Christians can deal with a fundamental failure to live up to our commitment.  We can confess and seek forgiveness.  That’s just not available to the forgetful atheist.

I hope all those folks on the “I’m an atheist” billboards appreciate their freedom to proclaim their faith.  I hope they remember it’s a freedom bought by a lot of men and women who were raised in Sunday school, baptized into their churches, carried Bibles into the war zone, and were brought back home so American churches could help their families grieve over them.

In many nations, those billboards, the real and the imagined, couldn’t be displayed.  The nation born on the Fourth of July was the first to promise that freedom to both believers and nonbelievers.

Whether that nation was intended to be a Christian nation or not, we Christians are intended to be salt and light here and now.

What does this mean for us as Christians who happen to be Americans?

1.  We need to cherish the opportunities we have to participate in our nation’s life.

When I visited Australia several years ago our host, Don Sams, was concerned about a couple of matters.  He believed he was certain to be called before the local city council to explain something he had done.  Don, because he was out of town, had not voted in a recent election.  The law demanded that he vote or have a good reason why he hadn’t.  Don was afraid he would be fined if his excuse for not voting wasn’t good enough.

I hope we never make voting mandatory.  Too many Americans would enter the booth and blindly pull levers just out of spite. 

Instead, I think it would be better if every American, especially Christians, would see the amazing privilege they have in participating in the life of their nation.

Paul never had an opportunity to vote but I’m pretty sure he would have, even if he had to vote absentee while he was on those mission trips.

Voting is a gift which many Christians around the world can only dream about.  When Christians neglect their privilege and responsibility to vote, they are showing contempt for that gift.

2.  We need to give careful consideration to how we respond to situations which challenge our Christian world-view.

American Christians who want to make an impact on their culture can’t forget the call to be civil to those who may disagree with us on crucial issues like abortion.  How we speak our opposition can determine how well we are influence our opponents.

3.  Keep in mind that Christians may sometimes disagree on political issues but they should always seek to avoid being disagreeable.

I believe some political issues are so closely linked to the clear moral mandates found in the Bible that Christians ought to be united in taking the side which supports the biblical principle.  At the same time, there are issues on which Christians may disagree without compromising their commitment to the Bible.  For example, Christians might easily disagree about how best to help the poor. 

When Christians discuss their disagreements they must avoid taking positions which suggest they have abandoned their commitment to Christ.

4.  Be confident in appealing to those laws which protect our rights.

Several times in the Book of Acts Paul had occasion to claim the protection of Roman law for himself.  As a citizen of Rome he had certain rights which he would not allow to be violated.  It’s appropriate for us to do the same.

Sometimes overzealous school administrators have tried to keep Christian students from expressing their faith.  In most cases they’ve overstepped their authority and misunderstood the law.   Even the ACLU has been involved in defending these students.

5.  Be open to the possibility that God may want you to be directly involved in politics.

            Most Christians have concluded that the old notions which said believers can’t be involved in politics are no longer valid, if it ever was in a free society. 

There may be a place for you in local government, serving on local boards or councils.  For some Christians, there may even be a place in state or national government.

Another area of service may be that of advisor to elected officials.  Several years ago, Pat and I got to know a woman named Sharon.  Sharon was injured in a tragic accident when she was twelve years old.  The accident left her partially paralyzed.  She had spent her adult life in a wheel chair, facing the challenges which most handicapped persons once knew.  Then, Sharon had the opportunity to become an advisor to the governor of Texas.  She helped his office create a laws and policies which opened new doors to the handicapped.  She looked upon it as a ministry.

6.  Never forget that the gospel remains the greatest change-agent available to us.

Support the sharing of the gospel.  Share the gospel yourself.  Pray that the church which has the stewardship of the gospel might know real spiritual awakening.  That’s one of the finest ways to have our prayer for God to bless America to be answered.  Remember, C. S. Lewis once said, “He who converts his neighbour has performed the most practical Christian-political act of all.”

Christians, repentant, revived, and led by the Spirit, will change our culture.

---

[1]  Not everyone agrees that Darwin was an atheist.  During his lifetime he sometimes referred to himself as an agnostic.  Yet, in an autobiography, written to be published posthumously, he seems to have denied all likelihood that God exists.  In any case,  given his naturalistic worldview, any “God” Darwin believed in would be so little involved in the world that he might as well be non-existent.  The majority of modern atheists claim Darwin as a hero.  I suspect Darwin’s occasional nods toward belief were pragmatic and designed to deflect criticism.

DEFEATING DISCOURAGEMENT

Acts 18:1-11 and I Cor. 2:3

We are living in what we might call, “Why I remember back when…” times.

You may say to your children or your children may say to your grandchildren something like…

Why I remember when the unemployment rate hit 9% and people were excited about how good things were. Actually, lots of people have just given up—they’re no longer looking for work so they don’t appear in the statistics.

Why I remember when recent college graduates with brand new degrees couldn’t find work.

Why I remember neighborhoods where houses were never on the market for more than two weeks, suddenly saw For Sale signs up for months.

Why I remember when people watched their pensions dwindle after years of looking forward to a comfortable retirement.

An old story tells of how the devil once began to examine his long career and decided that the time had come, at last, for his retirement. Like many about to retire he decided to clear out some things, so he had a yard sale featuring the tools he had used in his work of attempting to thwart God's plan.

A customer was looking over Satan's collection of tools and saw one that was exceptionally worn and exceptionally high-priced. The customer asked, "Why is this old tool so expensive?"

"That," Satan replied, "has always been one of my most effective tools. I hate to part with it."

"What's it called?," the customer asked.

"That," Satan said, "is discouragement. I've found it to be especially useful against Christians."

Satan held the tool for awhile, then he smiled wickedly.

"This tool has a lot of work left in it and so do I," he said as he took down the "For Sale" sign.

That fanciful story reveals one of the solemn truths of the Christian life. Discouragement is one of the perils we all have to face.

The story of Paul's first visit to Corinth is unique because we have his own commentary on his emotional and spiritual state when he came to the city. Listen to what he says,

“I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.”

Another translation renders the verse this way: “...when I came to you I was weak and trembled all over with fear.” And, still another says, “I came before you weak, nervous, and shaking with fear.”

In short, Paul was discouraged; he had been robbed of the courage he needed to keep going. Yet, when we look back with hindsight we realize he had a long and effective ministry in Corinth. Somehow he must have overcome his discouragement. How he got into such a discouraged condition and how God helped him get overcome is a remarkable study.

It reminds us that, with God's help, we can find the resources to keep going when we feel like quitting.

I

THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT

How did Paul come to be in this situation? Several factors combined to generate this state of discouragement in Paul.

1. He was experiencing continuing assault upon his spiritual sensibilities.

1:1: Athens had shocked his religious sensibilities.

1:11 One writer had said it was easier to find a god there than to find a man.

1:12 Acts 17:16 describes his response. He was agitated to the very core of his being. Every idol was a reminder of the spiritual blindness of a world without Christ.

1:2. Corinth shocked his moral sensibilities.

1:21 The phrase "to live like a Corinthian" meant to live without moral restraint. The seaport town was "sin city" of the Mediterranean world. The temple of Aphrodite had more than 1000 temple prostitutes who made nightly forays into the city in the name of the goddess of love.

1:22 Imagine how the man who would write to the Corinthian Christians, "Don't you know the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit" felt has he witnessed this unbridled sensuality.

1:3 Our culture sometimes assaults our sensibilities.

1:31 Most of us aren't so callous that we are indifferent to the stories of violence against children and the elderly, of sexual immorality, of murder in our homes and on our streets. We are shocked by crimes of children against children, students against teachers and parents. We are dismayed that young people turn from the truth of Christianity and embrace the lies of the cults. We are distressed that our children are so filled with despair that they turn to drugs, suicide, or simply make no effort to learn in school.

1:32 Do you ever feel weary when you hear the statistics I quoted or think about the conditions in our cities and our suburbs? Then you can understand how what Paul saw in Athens and Corinth contributed to his discouragement.

2. He was experiencing physical fatigue.

2:1 Paul had been on the road almost constantly, preaching and establishing churches. In Philippi he had been beaten and imprisoned. In Thessalonica he had been nearly stoned to death. When Paul told the Corinthians he was weak, he may have simply meant he was physically exhausted.

2:2 You and I live in an exhausting age. "The Hurry Sickness" has impacted all of us. We were promised the advent of the computer would mean fewer hours on the job—it was a lie. Have you ever noticed if your bouts of discouragement seem to correspond with your periods of intense physical and mental labor? Chances are they do.

3. He was experiencing spiritual fatigue.

3:1 Paul had been constantly giving out, with very little opportunity to take in. There were no books on ministerial burnout in those days but Paul may have been suffering from it.

3:2 He experienced what must have seemed like failure. His recent visit to Athens ended with less than spectacular results. Luke summarizes the response to Paul’s preaching: “When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed.” (Acts 17:32) Note the ever-honest Luke’s word “few.”

3:3 It can be tough to keep giving out, to serve with little or no recognition. Some of you know that experience. Do you ever feel that fatigue?

4. He was experiencing fear for his safety.

4:1 The enemies of the Gospel were in hot pursuit, Paul may have believe they were close behind.

4:2 We don't face physical danger, but we are increasingly aware of the pressure placed on us to be silent about our faith.

5. He was experiencing loneliness.

5:1 Luke, his friend and physician, had remained behind in Philippi. Timothy, the young protégé, and Silas, the man who sang a duet with him in prison, were in Berea.

5:2 He was experiencing some of the greatest stress in his life and there was no one to talk to, no one to pray with, no one to speak a word of encouragement.

5:3 Loneliness seems to be a plague of our time. Busyness and distances conspire to keep us isolated. We can come to believe that we must face whatever the world throws our way without any human support.

II

THE REMEDY FOR DISCOURAGEMENT

In the seemingly disconnected events of Acts 18 God dealt with Paul's problem of discouragement.

1. God provided a change. (3)

1:1 We often think of Paul's "tentmaking" as a means of supporting himself, as a interruption in his important work of preaching.

I think his tent making was probably more therapeutic than economic or detrimental to his work.

1:2 Sometimes it helps to refocus our minds for a while, to take a break from the intensity of our work, whether that is work for the church or at the office.

(ILL) Several years ago, in another place of service, I needed a diversion, something to bring some relief from the pressures of the pastorate. Out of the blue came an opportunity to teach a basic math course for a junior college. Although a few of my high school math teachers would have needed CPR had they known I was teaching such a course, it came at a time when I desperately needed a break.

Have you made a place for something completely different in your life? It may be a hobby, a sport, a class, or anything else which lets you stretch new muscles, use the other side of your brain. Ask God to show you a diversion which will be both therapeutic and enjoyable.

2. God provided companions.

2:1 God led Paul to some new friends who were filled with enthusiasm for the Gospel. (v2)

I believe Aquila and Priscilla were already Christians when Paul found them. They shared something in common. They were different enough to make their friendship interesting. (Was Paul, who had lived so long on the road, now able to enjoy the comforts of a home, including good home-cooked meals?)

2:2 God gave him back some old friends. (5)

2:3 When you feel discouraged, that's the time to start looking for a friend. If you don't have one, make one. When your energy and enthusiasm is low, look for someone energetic and enthusiastic. God still helps us find the friends who can help us.

(ILL) Jon and I were unlikely friends. He was southern-born son of an art professor at a small town college and I the Yankee son of a pipefitter in a big-city steel mill. We had diverse interests and temperaments. The only thing we had in common was the fact we were non-Texans serving small churches in the heart of Texas cattle country. Yet, I believe we helped each other through tough times in our lives and ministries.

3. God provided a challenge. (9)

3:1 Discouragement brings with it the temptation to stop. Perhaps even Paul felt it. So God said, "Don't stop." This was not Paul's call to preach it was a call to keep preaching. Maybe this is why Paul would write to the Corinthians one of the finest defenses of preaching.

3: 2 When you get discouraged one of the first things you will feel is the temptation to stop. Most preachers I know need an occasional call to keep preaching. We don't talk about it much because so many non-preachers seem to think that one call is all you ever need.

You might ask, "Shouldn't I stop and leave it to God to call me again?" It takes a lot of energy to stop and even more energy to get going again. What was Paul doing when the challenge to keep preaching came? He was preaching.

Does this mean you should never take a break from the choir or Sunday school teaching? No. The danger is not in changing the form of your ministry, the danger is in dropping out altogether. And that is Satan's goal when he wields his tool of discouragement.

So when you are discouraged and thinking of quitting, keep your heart attuned to what God may say. He may say, "Change." He may say, "Keep going." He probably won't say, "Stop and do nothing."

4. God provided courage. (9)

4:1 In the midst of the activity of ministry, God spoke to Paul. This seems to have been the final treatment for his discouragement.

In a vision God called Paul to courage and then gave several reasons why he should not be afraid.

> He was assured of God's presence. The God who had provided friends would be by his side too.

> He was assured of his safety. Paul would face danger again but right now he needed a break, God gave it to him. Although Paul was eventually beheaded in Rome, for a while, at least, there were no more beatings, stonings, or other physical assaults. Sometimes God says "enough is enough;” sometimes he calls us to endure. While Paul would face assaults again, this respite was enough to remind him that “every man is immortal until his work is done.” Whatever comes our way, he gives the grace to face what comes.

> He was promised success. Despite incredible odds, including a scandalous moral climate and opposition from the religious establishment, Paul's preaching would touch people and they would be changed. Even in Corinth the Gospel would make an impact.

It is difficult to look at a tough, pleasure-loving city and realize that God has people ready to respond to the gospel; sometimes it is equally difficult to look at the sophisticated, complacent, affluent suburb and realize that God has people ready to respond to the gospel.

But he does. Take courage. Don't give up. Keep sharing the good news.

It might not come to us as it came to Paul, but the message is the same. Throughout the ages God says to the weary laborer in his Kingdom, “Don’t be discouraged, we’re in this thing together.”

Bu what if we’re not talking the work of the Kingdom? What if we’re talking about some other challenge, some other elusive goal? Pursuing it without success can be draining and frustrating—discouraging. You may feel ready do give up. Don’t God wants us to take care of our families, to overcome the persistent habit that controls us, to be better than we ever thought we could be. When we face discouragement in pursuing these good goals, God will be there for us.

CONCLUSION

There are times when God's most effective servants are gripped by discouragement. If you think back to the illustration I used at the beginning, that experience of discouragement may mean that you're so effective in serving God that you demand Satan's efforts to try to stop you.

I know what it means to be discouraged so I don't want to treat it lightly. I know it is discouraging to prepare a sermon and only a handful come to hear it, so I understand if you are discouraged when you prepare a lesson or a special program and only a few show up.

In light of Paul's experience and the fact that every one of us faces discouragement from time to time, let me recommend the following steps in dealing with discouragement. I think the principles apply whether we’re talking about doing the work of the church or building your life, family, career.

1. With God's help find and do something which will exercise some physical, mental, or spiritual muscles that haven't been exercised for a while.

2. Turn to your friends for encouragement and strength. Always be ready to let God introduce you to new friends.

3. Ask God to renew your challenge in an unmistakable way; ask him to help you be clear about how you can best pursue your goal.

4. Boldly seek a new vision, not of what you may do for God, but of what God is doing and will keep doing for you. Knowing that God is at work in your life, perhaps behind scenes, is a powerful antidote to discouragement.

5. Remember that your bout of discouragement may only be the prelude to success and a period of effective service.

*******

Jesus, Lord of the church,

you who appeared to Paul to encourage him when he was discouraged,

speak to those struggling today,

to those who have already drafted their spiritual letters of resignation.

Help them to keep on—

give them new energy for the ongoing challenges,

companions who will cheer them on,

a vision of what you are doing despite outward appearances,

and a sense of your pleasure and presence.

We pray for this in your holy Name.

Amen.

[Some of the sermons which appear on these pages are in a simple manuscript format. This sermon uses a different form. Like all outlines, it is designed to show the flow of thought and the subordination of thoughts in the text.]

Notes on Church Music From Someone You Don't Want to Hear Sing

Years ago, when both my sons were still at home, they would occasionally offer observations about the music at our Sunday services.  Often, there comments would be something like, “Well, Dad, this morning every song was from 18^th century,” or “Today, we didn’t get into the 20^th century even once.”  They’d learned to look at the information at the bottom of the page to find out when a song was composed and were too often surprised to discover that George Washington could have sung the hymn the church had sung that morning. 

Whenever a congregation is comprised of older Christians, I suppose those Christians will inevitably turn to the old familiar hymns and songs to give expression to their faith.  In the early 1990s I asked some church musicians, “What do you think of contemporary Christian music?”  The most outspoken of the group, who had been involved in church music for at least three decades, said, “Oh, I like Andraé Crouch.”  As it happen, I also like Crouch, but his career began in the late 1960s and his earliest album had appeared twenty years before I asked my question.  It seemed an unusual definition of “contemporary.”

I am familiar with most of the old songs.  I know about the lives of people like Augustus Toplady (author of Rock of Ages and such a mean-spirited Calvinist you wouldn’t want him as a pastor) and I know what it means to “raise my Ebenezer,” but I sometimes wish for something a little fresher and I certainly sympathize with the younger members of our congregations.

Church music has been the subject of so many discussions, seminars, books, and magazine articles that it would be hard to keep up with all being said.  I am not a musician but I don’t think the “worship wars” have reached a truce.  Rather, the antagonists have simply entrenched themselves on different strongholds.  Think of the number of church signs you see announcing  a “contemporary service” and a “traditional service.”  This is not the place for an exhaustive look at what the Bible says about music but I do want to make some observations, based on what Paul says in Colossians and elsewhere.

àPaul seems to see the music of the church as a blend of the old and the new, the traditional and the contemporary (from "psalms" to "spiritual songs"). What is important to Paul is the content and character of what is sung. He wants it to be scriptural and spiritual. It should be rooted in scripture and promote spiritual health.

Some have been too narrow in applying this principle.  In the 16" century, Swiss reformer John Calvin decreed that churches should only sing the psalms and for almost two-hundred years the Reformed churches sang only from the Psalter.  In the same century, German reformer Martin Luther was composing hymns which reflected Biblical themes in the language the people.  I think Luther had a clearer vision for what Paul had in mind.  Two centuries later Wesley asked "Why should the devil have all the good tunes?" and church music really began to change.

In any case, we can be thankful there have always been those who have kept us rooted to the Scripture as they have helped us sing out our faith.

à Paul says nothing about style, nothing.  As a consequence the style of church music over 21 centuries has been rich and varied; and often changing. Yet, change is not always easy to accept.

During the 90's there was a conference at a college in Northern Michigan where a number of church leaders met to discuss changes in church music. One group of pastors was particularly incensed by the introduction of what they considered to be "worldly" or inappropriate instruments into the churches. Another group, while appreciative of their denomination's musical tradition, felt these new instruments might help reach a new generation. The conference ended with the participants agreeing to respect one another despite their differences. They allowed the "peace of Christ" to rule in their hearts.

By the way, I should tell you this conference took place in the 1890s and the instruments which caused such controversy were the saxophone, the guitar, and the piano.  As late as 1903 the pope declared the piano unfit for use in a Christian worship service.  We’re so accustomed to the piano in church that some might believe Euodia and Syntyche’s squabble was over who got to play on Sunday morning.  (Philippians 4:2)

Beloved hymn writer Fanny Crosby, author of "He Hideth My Soul" and "To God Be the Glory," originally published her works under an assumed name because some people reacted so negatively to her new style of music.

We can be thankful there have always been pioneers, like Luther, Wesley, Watts, Sankey, Crosby, and others with a vision for celebrating their faith in song.

à In I Corinthians 14:26 Paul mentions those who come to church with "a song" apparently inspired in some way by the Holy Spirit. Although problems at the Corinthian church made is necessary for Paul to limit the number of such songs that could be used in a worship service, what he says, at the least, is reminding us that from the beginning God has "gifted" certain people in the area of music. These Christians, some with formal training and some without, have blessed us with their writing, their composing, and their performance.

But this doesn’t mean church music must be in the hands of the professionals, those who have trained at the conservatory.  God has honored the words of those part-time poets who have put their faith into words in journals or diaries.   In 1873, in the depth of his grief at the loss of his two daughters in a shipwreck, Horatio Spafford wrote a poem to express his faith in God.  That poem became the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.”  He was a businessman, not a professional musician.

àWorship is not about me.  Too many Christians complain because the worship isn’t to their liking.  I’ve heard the proponents of “traditional” worship and the proponents “contemporary” worship opine that only their preferred form of worship is “real” worship.  What they really mean is, “That kind of worship is different, I don’t like it, it can’t be worship.”  Save us from that kind of self-centeredness.  Sadly, I’ve heard church musicians take similar stands.  They like only one form of music so they aren’t going to incorporate any other form in their worship planning.  They should know better.

Do we have to sing to worship?  I don’t know.  I do know that singing seems a natural outflow of our deepest emotions.  Mothers (and fathers) will sing to their infants even if their singing is so bad it would go viral You Tube after they are voted off the first audition show of the new season of American Idol.  They sing, not because they are gifted singers, but because of the way they feel about the squirming bundle they are rocking to sleep or trying to comfort.  Singing is a part of who we are as humans.

Still, any activity, singing, Scripture reading, and even preaching that becomes perfunctory contributes little to worship.  Better not to sing than to sing because we’re supposed to sing at this point. 

I learned recently of a “home church,” where the participants have been meeting for years without singing.  Now, they are beginning to introduce the occasional praise song into their meetings.  Makes sense to me.  These young Christians have long dedicated themselves to looking into the Scripture, discovering what it says about the glory of God and the richness of his salvation.  Now, with those truths planted deep in their hearts, they want some way to express their gratitude and praise.

DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION

Text: Colossians 3:12-17

 In the preceding verses, Paul has talked about those things that Christians are to "put off."  Now he talks about their new wardrobe, what they are to "put on."

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If I were so inclined I might be tempted to believe there was a special detachment of demonic beings sent to hide shoes, Bibles, and keys sometime between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

You know you have at least six pairs of black shoes but none of the six shoes you've found match any of the other five.

Frodo's problems in Lord of the Rings pale beside the task of getting Billy to let you wash his face and comb his hair or convincing your eighth-grade daughter that brushing her teeth is not caving into a male- dominated culture's enslavement.

Sometimes it's a classic Catch-22 situation. You get dressed first so you can then help your children, but by the time you've look under beds for missing Harry Potter shoes or the Princess Fiona sunshades you look like you slept on a park bench.  Or, you can get your children dressed first before you turn attention to yourself; but, then, when you're finally dressed, you discover your children decided to wash the dog so he would look good for Sunday, too.

Getting yourself and a baby dressed for church has a Gothic quality to it. You look perfect in that silk blouse your husband/infant-daughter gave you for Mother's Day—after about two dozen hints—as you dress the baby in an outfit so cute even the stuffiest deacon couldn't resist her. You're ready, she's ready— with just enough time to make it to Sunday school on time for once. Your husband is outside warming up the car so the baby won't get a chill—hey, June mornings in Ohio can be brutal. You pick up the baby, snuggle her close, and start toward the door. At this point she decides she didn't really want the last couple of ounces of formula she had that morning.

Paul was no fashion maven but he wanted the Colossians to be properly dressed for church. He wanted the Colossians to embrace the virtues which would enrich their church life and their impact on the world at large.

What he has to say to them will remind us that worship and witness requires lives which reflect crucial virtues.

Let's join the Colossians this Lord's Day morning as we begin...

GETTING READY FOR CHURCH

When I was in school in New Orleans, we were members of the First Baptist Church. Driving to church from the seminary took us through a neighborhood near the corner of St. Charles and Napoleon where lots of people walked to church. There were little girls dressed in beautiful pleated white dresses, women wearing feathered hats, and men in fine suits. It was evident these men and women took going to church seriously. The South, in fact, may be the last stronghold of the notion that going to church means dressing for the occasion. And, I'm sure, even that is changing.

In our more casual culture we don't divide our wardrobe into "everyday" clothes and "Sunday-go=to-meetin" clothes.  And that’s probably just as well.  Paul would never turn away anyone because of their clothes but he does remind the Colossian Christians that there were certain items which every Christian ought to "wear" to church. (12)

These garments or "virtues" reflect the identity they have through Christ. Such virtues are proper attire for

"God's chosen people"- Those who had been without spiritual identity but now are God's people.

"Holy"-People set apart for God's own purposes.

"Dearly loved"-Those for whom Christ died, for whom the Cross is a continuing reminder of the depth of God's love for them.

How are such people to be dressed?

Just as Christians are to strip off certain negative characteristics, they are to clothe themselves with other positive characteristics. Listen to the elements of this spiritual wardrobe. There is to be...

·                     "Compassion" also described as "tenderheartedness" or "tenderhearted mercy." This describes an attitude toward others. It is an attitude which would keep us from rushing to judgment.

·                     "Kindness" Paul probably has in mind the practical outworking of "compassion." Not "random" acts of kindness but thoughtful acts toward others.

·                     "Humility" Depicts an attitude toward ourselves. It involves "lowliness of mind" toward ourselves. The false teachers did little to promote genuine humility.

•                     "Gentleness" also described as "meekness." This is not weakness but reflects strength under control. Gentleness is displayed by the one who could 'best' another but does not.

•             "Patience" A quality which does not try to rush another on the road to growth and maturity; which does not feel the need to hurry God along in what he is doing.

When these virtues are present we will practice forbearance and forgiveness (13). This is a not so subtle reminder that the folks in the pews are not perfect; we will sometimes hurt others with our words and actions and we will sometimes be hurt by the words and actions of others. The way of forbearance and forgiveness is the way to manage this reality.

Forbearance begins with a willingness to "make allowance for each other's faults," a task made especially difficult when dealing with those who see themselves as having no faults.

The demonstration of this attitude is forgiveness. Paul's indicates this forgiveness is to have a fairly large breadth, "whatever grievances you may have."

McDonald explains how these qualities work themselves out in our lives.

"The forbearing person will remain calm whatever he provocation, and will keep clear of unkind reactions. The forgiving person must go even further, and wipe clean from his heart all bitterness and irritation. Forbearing one another and forgiving one another are then the high charge of Christian duty—the outworking of the virtues put on."

The model for our life of forgiveness is Christ who has so readily forgiven us.

In finishing his directions about what the Colossian Christians are to put on, Paul says, "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

It's hard to imagine Paul listing Christian virtues without mentioning love. Here he gives love a key role in the Christian's wardrobe. Love is like the sash or belt which holds the varied articles of clothing together. Love is the virtue which controls the expression of all the others.

And love is also the virtue which holds the church together.

A jacket and tie might be optional for a properly dressed Christian at church. These virtues aren't optional. If you ever hear of a church spoiled by contention and strife, if you ever hear of a church which has split, you may be sure a significant number of people in that church have abandoned these virtues.

Now that we're dressed we're ready to go to church. Once we've arrived there are some goals to keep in mind as we are...

II

CONDUCTING OURSELVES AT CHURCH

(15-16)

Recent archeological discoveries suggest that the first building actually functioning as a church may date from the end of the first century. That means church buildings were in use about two hundred years earlier than previously thought. Interestingly, that first-century church was a remodeled house.

What Paul has to say to the Colossians and to us aren't instructions for behavior inside a church building. They are instructions for the people who are the church. What does he have to say?

1.  While we are being the church we should make "peace" a priority. (3:15)

We often think of "peace" as inner tranquility, calmness, freedom from worry. Christ gives such peace but that is not the kind of peace Paul has in mind here. This peace is the peace generated by Christ who has brought together such a diverse group of people as the new people of God (3:11).

This peace results from Christ's work and is to be a natural part of being in the Body of Christ.

This peace is to "rule" in our hearts. The word means "arbitrate" or "umpire." Paul is saying that any behavior on our part ought to be weighed in light of its impact on the peace, unity, or harmony of the church. This is not "peace at any cost" for that isn't real peace; this is a spirit which is willing to lay aside personal grievances and resentments for the sake of peace. At times it may even mean surrendering our "rights" for the sake of the church's unity. Paul modeled this when he wrote to the Corinthians that he was willing to give up eating meat if eating it offended his fellow Christians.

Henry links the two ideas of peace when he writes, "We are called to peace, to peace with God as our privilege, and peace with our brothers as our duty."

How can we live like this?

The virtues which Paul listed earlier ready us for the task of making peace our priority.

2.  While we are being the church we should be enriched by the wisdom of "the Word of Christ". The "word of Christ" is probably both the word about Christ and the word from Christ. It is to permeate the church's corporate life. This word is the source of real wisdom, real insight, real understanding. As a church we are to be Word-enriched as we

It would be hard to underplay the importance of the teaching ministry of the church. Unless we pass along what Christ taught and what has been taught about Christ the very future of the church is threatened.

As a church we should seek to make clear what we believe. Too many of Christians are confused about the doctrines of the church. I've known some church members who are so poorly grounded in Christian teaching that they actually believe the distortions of Christian doctrine in the media are accurate. As a consequence, they are ashamed and afraid to declare their allegiance to Christ.

The church has an obligation to each new generation to proclaim and explain what it believes. Only then will we give believes confidence and hope in the midst of challenging times.

As a church we are to be Word-enriched as we admonish.

It maybe just a little arbitrary to separate the tasks of teaching and admonishing because the Bible never shows the church teaching simply for the sake of passing on knowledge, there is always an effort to apply the truth to life.

In any case, I think this is what Paul has in mind here. Some translations render "admonish" as "advise." Ultimately, I believe Paul sees the church drawing from the wells of God's word to challenge and correct God's people.

We need challenge and correction to our erroneous ideas and behavior.

How do the virtues Paul wants us to "wear" to church play a role as the church carries out its ministry of teaching and admonishing believers?

We need patience and forbearance as we deal with those who have had the principles of an erroneous world-view so deeply ingrained into their thinking.

We need compassion, gentleness, and forgiveness as we deal with those believers who have fallen prey to the temptations of an unsympathetic culture.

We need humility as we are confronted by our own erroneous thinking and our own failures. As a church we are to be Word-enriched as we sing.

Throughout the history of the church the faith of believers has found expression in song, songs born out of gratitude for what Christ has done for his people.

The three terms Paul suggest the source and the character of what the early Christians sang.

1. "Psalms "—The Psalms were regularly sung in Jewish worship. Many of those psalms were seen as foretelling the coming of Christ. The use of the psalms reminds us that the church never lost touch with its roots. This also suggests the importance of the content of our songs. They should be scriptural in content and message.

2. "Hymns"— Matthew's Gospel (26:30) refers to Jesus and his disciples singing "a hymn" at the conclusion of the Passover meal. This would have been one of the Hallel Psalms (115-118). So, "hymn" may be synonymous with "psalms" but not necessarily in the context of Colossians. These "hymns" may have been compositions by gifted Christian writers and composers. Some may have even been preserved in the New Testament. For instance, many believe Colossians 1:15-20 was such an early Christian hymn.

3. "Spiritual songs "—These may have been simple musical pieces inspired by the Holy Spirit. They may have been spontaneous expressions of the Spirit's activity in the heart of a believer. F F Bruce defines them as "unpremeditated words sung 'in the Spirit' voicing praise and holy aspiration."

Whatever the source and content of these songs, Paul reminds us that our singing is directed "to God." This is not an excuse for church music to be shoddy or ill-prepared but it does remind us that worshipful singing is not the same as a performance on a stage.

If we are properly dressed for the occasion, when we worship in church, whether we are singing a centuries-old hymn or a chorus fresh from the publisher, we will focus our praise on God, we will rejoice in who he is and what he has done.

And when the song ends, enriched by God's word, we will be ready to step out of the church...

III

INTO THE WORLD

                For each of us there comes a time when we must leave the Bible study, the sweet music, and the fellowship of like-minded people to step back into the world. What do we do then?

One thing we don't do is rush home to change clothes. The same virtues we brought to church we are to take into the world.

Paul puts is so well, "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

This command contains a principle for living in the world.

Every action and word is to be done in the name of Christ. Jesus is Lord both in the church and outside the church.

This command gives us a perspective for seeing what we do in the world.

This new perspective sanctifies a variety of what might be considered mundane behavior while it sets boundaries on behavior which would dishonor Christ.

Some of those to whom Paul wrote would walk away from the Christian fellowship were they were treated with respect and equality and go to places where they were treated as drudges. As they carried this new perspective with them, they would no longer allow the demeaning attitudes of those for whom they worked to make them forget that they were part of "God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved." For that they could give thanks to God.

At the same time, they would approach the most menial of tasks with a fresh vision. No longer were they simply sweeping streets, mucking out stables, selling cheap pottery, they were finding ways to bring honor to Christ.

All of this is a result of our relationship with Christ, the relationship which belongs to all who seek to live their lives "in his name." One writer has summed it up in this way:

"Jesus' Name will hallow every ordinary thing and give significance to the small and meaning to the monotonous.

"As Jesus he belongs to the real world of human concerns. For he worked as a carpenter and lived in an ordinary home. He knows all about the talk and toil of everyday life, and he showed us how life is to be lived and its affairs conducted. It is this same Jesus who in the Christian's Lord. In the everyday world where we labor and love, we place ourselves under the lordship of Christ. To do anything which would bring disgrace on the fair name of Christ is to compromise his sovereignty. Rather, we are to aim every day and in every way to honor the name of the Lord Jesus."

CONCLUSION

There's nothing like putting on a set of fresh, clean, new clothes. It makes you feel great, ready for anything.

Paul invites us to put on a set of clothes which will make us ready for the great tasks which belong to "God's chosen people."

We will be ready to worship and to witness.

Are you dressed for the occasion?