Therefore...

The apostle Paul gave his life to Christ; spent his life preaching and teaching, evangelizing and converting; establishing and nurturing the first churches. His letters were filled with encouragement, advice, instruction and sometimes scolding. His letters were written to congregations who were new to the Christian faith. The apostle Peter was different. His letters were written to people who had been Christians for a while. By the time Peter wrote (in the year 60 or so) – some of those who heard Peter’s letters read out loud – could have been 2nd generation Christians. Scholars agree that Peter’s letters were written to baptized members of churches, who were mostly secure in their Christian identity. We will remember that in Paul and Peter’s day, Easter was the day when – after weeks of study, reflection, and prayer – new believers were baptized. We will remember that then and now, baptism is not the end of road. Once we are sprinkled or dunked…once we are dead to the old and alive to all that is new – the expectation is that we baptized, will continue our biblical study, continue our personal reflection and move deeper into our prayer life. Our lifelong efforts are to be spent maturing in faith and growing more and more into the likeness of Christ. As we have experienced many Lenten seasons and Easter mornings, and as we are –according to the church calendar -- presently in the middle of Eastertide – the apostle Peter has sent us a letter that explores the consequences of that Easter morning for those of us who proclaim Christ’s resurrection. Peter’s instructions are for all of us who are baptized and mostly secure in our Christian identity. You see, for baptized Christians it is not enough to claim Jesus’ death and resurrection strictly as our avenue to forgiveness, heaven, and eternal life…it is not enough to restrict the Easter morning events to one day…not enough to restrict the Easter morning events to some kind of future hope for a world yet to come. Peter speaks to us here and now – encouraging us to live in such a way - that every day – our living reflects and witnesses to all that miraculous Easter morning encompasses. Peter makes it clear that the consequences of baptism, the consequences of a personal confession of faith, the consequences of proclaiming Christ as Messiah…is that …there must be some kind of action…some kind of response..on our part. If God is going to be our God – then in accordance with this covenant into which we have entered - we must be God’s people. If we are going to call Christ our Lord and Savior – that proclamation is replete with expectations and responsibilities. Expectations and responsibilities that are --to be sure – challenging. Expectations and responsibilities that are also a wonderfully rich vision of the privileged vocation we have been given as Christians. A wonderfully rich vision of who the church and her members could be --if we live by Jesus’ example. One commentary wrote that Peter’s letter is a reminder to those who have become a tad too comfortable in their Christian identity…another wrote that Peter’s letter is a bit like Christian Education – a way for us to continue to live into discipleship. The scripture passage this morning was the because part. Because you are Christians, because God is merciful, because Jesus died for our sins and was raised up, because we now have an inheritance and a salvation… Now comes the THEREFORE part - So let me run down a list of just a little bit of what Peter has written to us…what it is – to which we are called. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; for it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ Put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Keep loving one another earnestly; show hospitality to one another without grumbling; humble yourselves, be self-controlled and sober-minded. Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, tender hearts and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary bless for to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ..May it always be so. Amen.

The 3 "P's"

Soren Kierkegaard was a Christian, a philosopher, theologian, poet, writer, and a critic of almost everything. What Soren Kierkegaard did best was question our existence – question the meaning of our existence in a world that is confusing, often meaningless, and absurd. I have read some Kierkegaard and from what I can gather, his philosophy is something of like this: Humanity looks to things on the outside..looks to things in the world - for happiness, satisfaction, recognition, purpose – meaning - we spend lifetimes looking for everything and everyone else around us to validate us and define who we are. And what he wrote in the 1800’s - stands true in 2014. Your car or your truck define you; your neighborhood – the kind of house you live in defines you; the landscaping of your yard defines you; the label on your jeans, the cut of your suit, the leather of your shoes, the brand name of your watch; who you marry; where you work, who you know, your last name, your friends, who you hang out with, your grades, the amount of your paycheck – all define who we are – or who we think we are. We have let other people and other things define our worth. And we have found it wanting. And that is another thing Soren Kierkegaard said - there is more to this life than allowing the world and other people to define who we are – what should define us is our relationship with God – our relationship with Christ - how that relationship is played out – how that relationship generates love, faith, witness, and service – which are the things that should tell the world who we are. On the evening of the very day that Mary and the other Mary found the empty tomb..when they were told to give the disciples the message that he had risen and would go before them…– when fear of the Jews caused the disciples to lock themselves behind the doors of the house – Jesus came and stood among them. And in between the fear and the showing of wounds; in between the shock and surprise, the worry and the waiting, Jesus spoke. Giving those in the house – and through them – giving us - the 3 P’s. The 3 P’s that should define us. Peace, Purpose and Power. The disciples were stunned, afraid, worried, wondering how they were going to sneak out of Jerusalem and get themselves safely to Galilee. And can you imagine how all of those different personalities might be getting on each other’s nerves after all they had been through and now cooped up in a house together? But then, suddenly, Jesus was in their midst and said, Peace be with you. I imagine when we find our lives in turmoil, or when situations arise that cause us guilt or pain or regret…I imagine when we find ourselves scared for the future or worried over the business of the day ahead…and when like humans do – we disappoint or get on each other’s nerves. It is then – that we remember that Christ is always standing in our midst – and that his message to us when we are wringing our hands is Peace be with you. The disciples were clueless as to what to do with their lives now. Though they planned to go to Galilee as instructed – they had no idea why or to what end. Jesus was dead – what would be so special about traveling 70 miles to the region of Galilee – what would be so important that they should risk their very lives to go to the place where they first met Jesus? Were they to go back to fishing – go back to their families – do what they could to pick up the pieces of their lives – open themselves up to the ridicule of the locals – worse would they be pursued for the rest of their lives because they believed that Jesus was the Messiah? In a world that had turned confusing, meaningless, and absurd…when the disciples didn’t know which way to turn – Jesus said, As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. Jesus gave them purpose –(to glorify God and enjoy him forever…?) their purpose – now our purpose is to grow in Christ’s likeness, to live in community with one another, to establish and build up the church, and to serve others. When we feel at loose ends – perhaps feeling lost – not sure where we stand or what comes next = like the disciples in the locked up house – Jesus sends us out into the world to help others. When we get in those places –unable to figure out why we’re here on earth – Know that God has given you gifts to be used to build up God’s kingdom. When what you are doing no longer satisfies – perhaps a look toward the church would help – a book study, a Sunday school class, reading Scripture, sitting on a committee, sharing your thoughts and your vision for Clifton’s future – hey – sign up to host Fellowship, help the youth with Adopt-A-Highway, attend a Presbytery meeting. When we are lonely or need a little moral support – know that there is a church full of people who will listen. What to do with any extra time you might have on your hands - visit our shut-ins, the friends we love who are now in nursing homes – or if you can’t do that send a card. The disciples looked at each other incredulous – what? Jesus is sending us – to carry on his ministry? How in the world can we do that? We don’t know where to begin – and when we do begin – then what, and where, and who? We are not capable. And Jesus breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit – sustainer of life, comforter, sanctifies us, unites us, that which quickens our soul to faith. Holy Spirit, (according to the Brief Statement of Faith in our PCUSA Book of Confession ) the giver and renewer of life, the spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, courage to witness, courage to unmask idolatries, to hear the voices of people long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom and peace – empowered by the holy spirit we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks, and to live holy and joyful lives. Jesus gave his disciples then and gives his disciples now the power to do all that we are asked to do in His name. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us with his Peace, his Purpose and his Power.