Dividing Walls or Open Doors?

Dividing Walls or Open Doors? Ephesians 2:11-22 Rev. Michael D. Halley October 5, 2014 Suffolk Christian Church Suffolk, Virginia Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost World Communion Sunday ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ephesians 2:11-22 New International Version Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised by those who call themselves the circumcision (which is done in the body by human hands) remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief 1

cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. The Word of the Lord: Thanks be to God! Page 2 Today we give thanks to God for Shadyside Presbyterian Church 1. It is a large, historic church in Pittsburgh, and back in 1933, the saints of that church began a communion tradition that would eventually became World Communion Sunday. If you recall from your history studies, you will remember that the world was not a real happy place in 1933. It was the middle of the Great Depression, and a Nazi leader named Adolph Hitler was making his conquering moves through Europe. And in the middle of this, a local church of believers in Jesus evidently thought it was time to do away with discord and distrust in the world and celebrate our oneness in Christ. And so, today, all over the world, on this first Sunday in October, Christians are gathering in cathedrals, in modest church buildings, in monasteries and convents, in small wooden churches, and in grass huts, thinking about their sisters and brothers all over the world. Their clergy will lift the bread and the cup of the communion service, and in hundreds of languages the words of consecration will be spoken. And as millions of Christians partake of these simple elements of bread and wine, they will know that they are not alone on this planet. They -- and we -- have family all over the place. But how can that be?, you might ask. How can it be that I can be in solidarity with all those people? Some of them have faulty theology. Some of them have very odd and even disgusting cultural practices. Some of them

Page 3 would probably take up arms against us if they had the chance to do so. And on and on our suspicions rage. But none of this is new. Let me take you back, for a moment, to the early church. They had controversies, too. Listen to how Paul describes it: Christ is the reason we are now at peace. He made us Jews and you who are not Jews one people. We were separated by a wall of hate that stood between us, but Christ broke down that wall. By giving his own body, Christ ended the law with its many commands and rules. His purpose was to make the two groups become one in him. By doing this he would make peace. Through the cross Christ ended the hate between the two groups. And after they became one body, he wanted to bring them both back to God. He did this with his death on the cross. (Ephesians 2:14-14, ERV 2 ) This was a big controversy in those days. The first Christians were Jews, of course, just as Jesus was a Jew. But as the church began to spread out into the world, Gentiles 3 who did not follow Jewish traditions such as circumcision began to become part of the church. Great debates were held over this matter of integrating non-jews into the same church with Jewish Christians. For the Jews it was especially difficult, because they had been taught to dislike -- even hate -- Gentiles and to have nothing to do with them. In Jewish eyes, Gentiles were ritually unclean and to be avoided at all costs. But in Christ both Jews and Gentiles were being made into one body. And that is precisely what World Communion Sunday is all about, celebrating the unity of the world-wide body of our Lord Jesus. We can do so much more together when we are not fighting or disagreeing or jockeying for the number one position. We can show our solidarity in Christ, that despite our differences, we can work together.

Page 4 Once, in a Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demanded that Linus change the TV channel, threatening him with her fist if he didn t. asks. What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over? Linus These five fingers, says Lucy. Individually they re nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold. Which channel do you want? asks Linus. And then, turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, Why can t you guys get organized like that? 4 Why can t we Christians get organized like that? Christians can get organized like that. First, we have be like Jesus. And how are some of the ways we can be more like Jesus? Consider some of these. Jesus offered hospitality to the outsider, the unclean, and the despised of the world.(see Luke 19:1-10; Mark 5:25-34; Matthew 15:21-28). Are there some of these in our own world to whom we could offer Christian hospitality? Jesus admonishes us not to judge or condemn (See Luke 6:37). This may be one of the most difficult of Jesus teachings, don t you think? A judgmental spirit seems to be an innate part of our personality and will be very difficult to get rid of. Jesus risked being condemned by the religious authorities of his day by associating with those considered to be sinners (See Luke 15:1-2). Do you think we can take that same risk?

Jesus had a marvelous way of receiving those who were rejected by society, receiving them with joy and without judgment (See Luke 15:20). How about you and me? Page 5 Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and to pray for those who despitefully use us (See Matthew 5:43-47). Right now, name your enemy. Love that person, love them in the sense that you seek only their highest good. Not easy, is it? Jesus compels us to invite and to associate with outcasts (See Luke 14:12-14). Do you suppose that includes throwing birthday parties for street walkers, as Tony Campolo did? 5 And Jesus welcomes all who confess him as Lord; even those convicted of crimes and dying on an adjacent cross (See Luke 23:39-43). Can we do any less than this? 6 Jesus welcomes all who confess him as Lord. I hope that describes each one of us here today. If your confession of your faith has become stale and outdated and ineffective, I invite you to renew that faith even now. The Lord s gracious invitation is open to you, it has your name on it, and he invites you to come to him. Hear now the invitation to the Lord s Table: And the table will be wide. And the welcome will be wide. And the arms will open wide to gather us in. And our hearts will open wide to receive. And we will come as children who trust there is enough.

Page 6 And we will come unhindered and free. And our aching will be met with bread. And our sorrow will be met with wine. And we will open our hands to the feast without shame. And we will turn toward each other without fear. And we will give up our appetite for despair. And we will taste and know of delight. And we will become bread for a hungering world. And we will become drink for those who thirst. And the blessed will become the blessing. And everywhere will be the feast. 7 And so we come to the table. With sisters and brothers all over the world who are also around their tables. Do you suppose they are thinking of us, even as we are thinking of them? This is the beauty of World Communion Sunday, that we can celebrate our family around the world. Jesus said: I am the bread of life. All who come to me shall not hunger, and all who believe in me shall not thirst. With Christians around the world and throughout the centuries, we gather around these symbols of bread and wine simple elements that speak of nourishment and transformation. Let us pray. Our Father, Jesus prayed that we might be one. One in spirit; one in mission. In union and in communion with each other and with You, dear Lord. Today, O God, we confess fumblings and failures in trying to accomplish our unity, even as we set aside yet another day to remind ourselves

of the task. On this World Communion Sunday, give us eyes to recognize Your reflection in the eyes of Christians everywhere. Give us a mind to accept and celebrate our differences. Give us a heart big enough to love Your children everywhere. We thank you for setting a table with space enough for us all! Amen. 8 Page 7 We remember on the night when Jesus and the disciples had their last meal together. Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, and gave it to the disciples, saying This is my body, which is given for you. Take and eat it, and as often as you do, remember me. (Break the bread) In the symbol of the broken bread, we participate in the life of Christ and dedicate ourselves to being his disciples. In the same way he took the cup, and after giving thanks he passed it to the disciples, saying: Drink this, all of you. This cup is the new covenant, poured out for you and for many. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. (Pour the cup) In the symbol of the cup, we participate in the new life Christ brings. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The body of Christ, bread from heaven. The blood of Christ, shed for you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Let us pray. We give thanks, loving God, that you have refreshed us at

your table. Strengthen our faith; increase our love for one another. As we have been fed by the seed that became grain, and then became bread, may we go out into the world to plant seeds of justice, transformation, and hope. In the name of Christ we pray, Amen. 9 Page 8 +==+==+==+==+==+==+ All Scripture references are from New International Version, NIV, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc., unless otherwise indicated. +==+==+==+==+==+==+ Sunday Sermons from Suffolk Christian Church are intended for the private devotional use of members and friends of the church. Please do not print or publish. Thank you. Suggestions for sermon topics are always welcome! 1. The church s website is www.shadysidepres.org. 2. Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), copyright 2006 by World Bible Translation Center. 3. For an in-depth discussion, see Gentiles, by Jack P. Lewis, in Holman Bible Dictionary, edited by Trent C. Butler, www.studylight.org/dictionaries/hbd/view.cgi?n=2242, c. 1991. 4. Peanuts, created by Charles Schultz. This story is found at Unity, www.sermonillustrations.com. 5. This story was told in his book, The Kingdom of God is a Party: God s Radical Plan for His Family, published by Word Publishing, 1990. There are many versions of this story on the internet. One such is located at www.swapmeetdave.com/bible/agnes.htm. There is also a video

Page 9 of Dr. Campolo telling this story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwlmv-umuem 6. From My Aspirational Resolution, posted on August 27, 2014, by Joanna, at http://spaciousfaith.com/. 7. And the Table Will Be Wide: A Blessing for World Communion Sunday, by Jan Richardson, Jan Richardson, used by permission. Www.janrichardson.com. 8. A Prayer for World Communion Sunday, from the Africana Worship Book, Year B, (Discipleship Resources, 2007), www.gbod.org/resources/a-prayer-for-world-communion-sunday 9. Portions of this communion liturgy were adapted from A Brief Communion Service, written by the Rev. Dr. Jeanyne B. Slettom, found at http://processandfaith.org/resources/liturgy/brief-communion-service. Dr. Slettom is co-pastor of Brea Congregational United Church of Christ in Brea, California.