Sermon 1st August 2021 – 10th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Ephesians 4:1-16 –Divided we fall
Usually in times of adversity human kind rallies
together to tackle the issues. Think of our recent responses to things like
overseas humanitarian issues – floods, fire, drought, hunger– and our
outpouring of help to assist. Or think of previous disasters like September 11
when vigils were held around the world with
prayers and candle lighting. When disasters like Black Saturday happened
we had more money donated than we knew what to do with. As firefighters from
around Australia and even from overseas came to help. What I don’t understand
is why this current pandemic has instead
of uniting us that it is has divided us.
This week was another example of that division
when Premiers were asked if they would assist NSW by donating some of their
vaccine supplies to which a resounding NO was heard. How different is that to
what Paul calls from us today: Paul calls for humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the
unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He says, there is one body and one Spirit,
just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in
all.
I think if there is one learning that comes from
this pandemic is how quickly we became divided as a nation and the result of
that division that has not just created great hurt in our relationship but
scars that will last in our memories. When we act as one body we act in a way
that promotes health and growth according to Paul: He says we grow up in every
way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and
knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is
working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
Paul regularly uses the human body as an example
of how we work together – in good times as we rejoice together – and in times
of suffering. When ONE part of the body hurts, the entire body hurts. The hand
cannot say to the eye you don’t belong. Sadly that is NOT what we are seeing at
present, and until we do we will continue to see ourselves working against each
other rather than with each other. How does the old saying go – united we
stand, divided we fall. In fact Jesus once said something similar. A kingdom
divided against itself will fall.
As negative as this is and as discouraging as this
is, maybe there is a message for us as the church to look at how we might
sometimes appear to the wider community. Do we always present ourselves as one
united body in Christ as we regularly confess? I believe in the one holy
Christian and apostolic church. I believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of
sins. It’s interesting that Paul links our basis of disunity to what he calls
being tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's
trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. I’m not sure which
doctrine Paul may have been referring to but I think we all know how easy it is
for our churches to be images of division rather than unity because of our
disagreement on certain matters of doctrine.
Doctrine is the teachings of our church’s
foundation. And doctrine is important as Paul says to Timothy – watch your
doctrine closely. But sadly doctrine often becomes the source of division
rather than unity. It is good that we can have different opinions but it’s when
those differences cause the body of Christ to become disjointed that we are not
longer promoting our body’s growth in building up in love. And I know that I,
myself, have at times been guilty of that, arguing over matters that seemed to
cause division, but I have quickly come to learn how much we need each other as
we face further disruptions to our gathering together in the future. I have
learned how much we need each other and that our time is too short and too
precious as we live with this cloud hanging over us not knowing when the next
snap lockdown will be upon us.
Church growth in number and spirit come through
oneness. In our Gospel reading today Jesus refers to himself as The Bread of
Life – one of those 7 “I AM” statements that I referred to last week – I am the
Bread of Life. In Holy Communion we acknowledge that oneness that we have
together in that at the Table of the Lord we are all one in unity. No one is
greater or lesser. We all receive the one bread and the one cup – which we know
in this time of Covid it doesn’t appear that way. But that is the reality.
It is the same in our Baptism – we are brought
into the one family of God whether we are Lutheran, Uniting, Roman Catholic,
Anglican, Orthodox. We are Baptised in the name of God the Father, God the Son
and God the Holy Spirit.
Which is why Paul was so saddened when he heard
that the Corinthian church had such great division caused by the very doctrine
that was to unite them - Baptism – Paul appeals to them: I hear that there are
quarrels among you. One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow
Apollos”; another, “I follow Peter”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is
Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of
Paul?
I know that there are people who have left the
church, and not just the Lutheran Church, over matters of doctrine. That is not
the unity that Paul calls for. And sadly if someone leaves over a disagreement
on doctrine then the next church they attend may create that same temptation. What
if I go from church A to church B because I disagree with something and then I
disagree with something at church B? We can be such a powerful example of
unity. A unity that has been given to us by God through Jesus Christ. And Paul
doesn’t just ask us, he begs us: He says: I beg you to lead a life worthy of
the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness,
with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to
maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We have the perfect opportunity to shine at this
time in our community. To be the place where people feel connected in a world
that is disconnected. In a community that helps and supports one another in a
nation where it’s every man for himself. Let us be the Bread of Life – the well
of living water to a world that is hungry and thirsty for meaning. That even
when our church buildings are locked that we are still open for business by
sharing the love of God and the hope that God offers. And we can all have a
role to play regardless of where we fit in God’s plan. Some are called to
apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip
the saints for the work of ministry, But
we are all called for building up the body of Christ, because we all have the one hope of our calling, one
Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and
through all and in all. And each of us
has been given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.
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