Living the Good News
Life Plans • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Our school kids here in Bellingham just finished their third full week of school. Rhythms and routines are being figured out. School drop off is getting easier…or maybe the negotiations and pacing of getting ready in the morning are getting more difficult…wherever you are…we see you and understand.
But our kids are back in school and getting oriented to a new year.
Part of how teachers and students track with their progress and assess where to best begin each year is through doing some baseline testing of reading and math skills. How much of the previous years’ learning stuck over a summer away from the class room? What took hold, allowing the student to be prepared for the new content and expanded learning of a new grade?
This time of assessment and discovery makes me pause and reminds me of another question, another wondering, that I’ve had as I’ve considered the spiritual formation and growth of our congregation.
If we were to put out a diagnostic, a survey, about progress and growth in faith and faithfulness, where would each of us find our “placement?” I find myself wondering, as a pastor and teacher, “where are you at?” in faith? I am privileged to sit with many of you and hear the stories of your faith journey. If we were each able to articulate and quantify our progress and growth into greater love of Christ, how would each of us “score” or “place”?
Maybe put most simply, I wonder as we approach this new season of the Fall and the onset of new activities and refreshed rhythms, where would you say that you’re at with your faith? How are you growing? How are you struggling? Where might you need help and interventions to assist your growth and are each of us willing to honestly name this?
Our text poses this idea like this: Phil 1:27
Philippians 1:27 (NRSV)
27 Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
Where are you standing? And how do you find you are able to “live the Good News?”
In a moment, I’ll read our full text. And with it, hear the tension that Paul experiences as he reflects on being at a junction in his faith. Hear how he holds the tension of longing to be in the fullness of Christ’s presence AND the need to be a part of caring for his friends, these young followers of Jesus, here and now.
21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. 23 I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26 so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28 and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. 29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well— 30 since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
I am hard pressed between the two. I love that. Aren’t we all? Do you feel that tension, that in between of wanting to find complete fulfillment, while also knowing there is work to be done?
We have to work with the reality that we straddle this tension: we are living in a way that we become more like Christ — where we give up ourselves, where we relinquish our power for the sake of others, where we become week AND where becoming like Christ leads us to places of maturity in the faith in which it is agreeable to say: “God’s love is enough for me, I need nothing else.”
The good news is ultimately about a total reordering of our world unto the goodness of God’s love as the primary motivator and instigator of our actions. But what if we’re not there yet, what if we’re not in the place where we are able to or know how to let go of all that we have to love God. What if we have some reservations? What if we still need some time eating vegetables, like we considered last week, before moving on to a broader omnivore diet?
I love preaching from the lectionary, the common ordering of our texts through the cycle of the year. But sometimes, I want to expand on the readings or adjust them so we understand their context a bit more.
For instance, this morning, I want to back up a few verses to set the stage for this bold statement about being one with Christ in life and death.
Philippians 1:12-21 says,
12 I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; 14 and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. 15 Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill. 16 These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance. 20 It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.
Here, we understand the tension that Paul felt as an imprisoned man, yet at the same time content with his circumstances because of his alignment with the purpose Christ has given his life. In a sense, Paul is torn or maybe ambivalent about what would be better: would it be best to be freed from his incarceration and to be swept up into life with Christ that is beyond our earthly struggles? Or is there yet something for him to do, some way for his bodily presence to fulfill and serve Christ’s purpose here and now?
We need to take this away from our reading this morning: We are meant to actually live out the good news of the gospel with our very practical, every day lives. That is, we are made to love and serve and offer grace to all God brings across our path. And that work is ongoing, expanding, a learning process — we are not perfect at it, we strive towards it, we seek after Christ more wholly with every step. This is what it means to Live the Good News — we have encountered the life-changing work of Jesus and we are compelled to share this good news. Good news that means life in all its complexity and beauty and fullness.
So, where are you at? There are no wrong answers, where are you at? Are you feeling strong, courageous, emboldened to love people and God as you go out into your days? Or are you struggling, gasping for breath? Are you seeking?
An important piece we have to qualify here: If we look at our lives and assess that we are somehow inadequate for the work of loving our neighbors and serving Christ, then the assessment has failed. We have not failed, but the perspective that we must be some sort of expert in order to enter into the life of Christ, that we somehow have to have it all together, it is a fallacy.
What is remarkable and what is incredibly good news for us all is this: By no means other than the abundant grace of God do we achieve any sort of spiritual growth or progress, any sort of alignment with the ways of God or service and sacrifice like Jesus. It is not by our own strength or giftings, but rather by God’s love and acceptance alone that we live and die and find life in its fullness with Christ.
Remember, again, that there are some among us who are new in faith and some who have matured with many years. All are granted this grace of God which welcomes us into this journey of growth and maturity, here and now, in our very flesh and material lives.
For those young in the faith, asking questions, growing in curiosity and faith, the good news is that you, me, we are fellow journeyers with others much like us. You are not alone. Your questions and the need to eat soft food and grow cautiously — this is welcomed as a part of the body of Christ.
AND, for those who may have journeyed along in faith for decades, growing in depth of wisdom and knowledge, we also are welcomed and invited to lay our lives down for others, so that we all might know Christ’s love completely.
A specific word to the young in faith: keep going. Keep pursuing, asking questions, growing in love for your neighbors. And share your process with us, invite others into your growth and challenges. Do not live in the tension of this life alone — find mentors, friends, people who will walk with you to encourage you.
And a specific word to those mature in faith: Your work is not done. Sometimes, when we get further along the journey, we feel the impulse to let up, to relax our pursuit and step aside. Please, rather than fading from active participation in the love of God and neighbor, instead, your work, our work, is to nurture those who are coming along after us. Stand with a friend, mentor a young person, share your story and wisdom. Be like Paul, who though it may be better to be free of the burdens and pain of this life, chooses to stay faithfully alongside the people of Philippi and other church communities who need his support. Stay with us, keep growing, show us what this journey can be like.
For together we serve. Together we sacrifice, together we offer our whole selves, including the desires for freedom AND desire to prepare and push others along in their faith.
One of the things I’m so grateful for in a church like St. James is that we DO have people along all stages of the faith journey. We are truly the body of Christ, many members with many gifts, gathered together to support and serve one another and love our city with all that Christ has equipped us with. Friends, know that you are a part of a cloud of witnesses, a group of saints who are collectively seeking God’s purpose and love in this world. We must do this together, remain in the flesh for a bit longer, sharing in the abundant love of Christ here now. We will live the Good News, together.
Think back to the launch of our kids into a new year. Think of the teachers assessing their progress and helping them see where they are in need of growth and where they are doing well. Think of the classroom community: all of those kids belong and all of them are progressing, learning and growing into knowledge and skill as students. Think, then of the church, and our own process of growth and maturation. All are welcome here, wherever you are at. And we are all challenged to grow, become more fully human, become more like Christ, as we walk together.
Amen.