Christian Maturity (Prop 13B) 5 August 2012

2 Sam 11:26-12:13a; Ps 51:1-13; Eph 4:1-16; Jn 6:24-35

Many of you will have heard various opinions this week about whether or not to eat a chicken sandwich.  Well, the question being less about eating a sandwich and more, do we agree with what the chicken sandwich joint’s owner said? Do we disagree?  And how exercised to do we get about all of this, knowing that in our country we have a right to free speech? 
To be honest, I don’t much want to wade into the debate personally at the moment.  I certainly don’t think it’s my bone to pick in this sermon.  But what the whole dialogue does raise for me is a question about how we live out our Christian faith.  For many people this week eating, or not eating, a chicken sandwich became a symbol of their Christian beliefs. 
My friend Chris Arnold said in response to this that: “If your faith in Christ is urging you to eat a meal, I recommend skipping the chicken sandwich and having some bread and wine on Sunday morning (as our Lord commanded). It's available in any Episcopal Church!”[1]

What this whole debate really raises up for me is: what is it to be a mature Christian?  I think we have several insights in this week’s readings:

One is that love is a verb.  Reflecting on the body of Christ building itself up in love, G. Porter Taylor says, “love is not an emotion; love is an act of the will.”[2]  As we grow and mature as Christians, we begin to love not just because we “feel it,” but because we know it is the right thing to do.  This leads us to seek unity not just to be people pleasers but because it is in community that we find maturity. 

Those of you who have found a sense of unity in many years of marriage, as well as those of you who had to end marriages that were not truly loving, know well that love is often an act of will, that it is hard work, which is not to say that it isn’t also a joy. 

This loving maturity also leads us to be bold.  We must claim our own individual gifts in order for the Body of Christ not to atrophy.  We must find the bit of brilliance God had has claimed for each of us—be it your volunteer job, your employment, or your hobby.  Building up our own individual gifts may seem selfish but actually it builds up the body.   Think of how each athlete at the Olympic Games has given their all and yet in coming together we find such unity and promise, at least for a moment.  Now, expressing our individual gifts, as well as speaking our individual truths, must always be done in love. 

Whatever you feel called to do, be it sing, chomp down on a chicken sandwich, or take a hike, if you don’t do it in love, it won’t be much of an example.  William Sloane Coffin tells of a moment when a student suggested something to him:  “Well Sir,” [he said,] “when you say something that is both true and painful, say it softly.  Say it in other words to heal and not to hurt.  Say it in love.”[3]  What good advice!  A mature Christian is bold in sharing his or her gifts and truth, and always shares them in love.

This all means having a driving force, a hunger that spurs you on, that is more profound than physical need.  Jesus questions those pursuing him in today’s gospel because he says, you filled your belly, but ironically you will need another hunger to keep you coming back to me (especially when things get tough, as they will later in the story), you need to be coming to me for the bread that doesn’t fill the body, but sates the soul.  Otherwise, you really will be tossed about as the Ephesians passage fears.  Your hunger won’t be the driving force you need. 

In our statement we’re working on here for the church profile that says “what we’re about,” we have been including thus far a phrase about how we wish to share the “bread of life, physical and eternal,” with others.  I think it’s really important as Christians to feed people.  Christ does actually command that.  But to be mature Christians, not “rice Christians” who only seek to come to church to fill physical needs, we need to find something deeper.[4]  Sandra Schneiders puts this a different way.  She shows how people here are seeking a “what”, which is bread, and it isn’t even the bread that they need, but that as we get to know the disciples later in John, they seek a “who,” and that person is Jesus. 

Mary, coming to Jesus’ tomb, is asked “Whom do you seek?”  Sandra Schneiders states: “the reader has gone through the transformation from simple religious seeker investigating Jesus among other possibilities to Christian disciple whose spiritual seeking has found its final home in Jesus.”[5] 

It is natural if you are just beginning your journey as a Christian, as many of our youth are, and perhaps some adult seekers in our midst, to be drawn to the “what” of the Christian experience—be they physical needs met or just the sense of community or a hug we get at church!  This is natural and still is part of why I love church!  But what ultimately will draw upon us over and again as mature Christians is our urge to continue to be in relationship with Jesus, to get to know the “who” whom it will take all our lives to know, and perhaps more!  Amen.

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[1] https://www.facebook.com/chrisarnold1549

[2] G. Porter Taylor, “Theological Perspective: Ephesians 4:1-16,” FOTW Year B, Vol. 3, 306.

[3] Quoted in Jaime Clark-Soles, “Exegetical Perspective: Ephesians 4:1-16,” Ibid, 307.

[4] O. Benjamin Sparks, “Pastoral Perspective: John 6:24-35,” Ibid 308.

[5] Sandra Schneiders, Written that you may Believe (New York: Crossroad, 1999), 29.