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Let me know what you think. The church Email is: SLUMC@att.net, Phone: 480.895.8766

March 6, 2005

Sermon: “Choose Life”

Scripture: Ephesians 5: 8-14

Reverend Larry Gerber

Kickball dodgeball, and whiffle-ball are now making a comeback among adults, and the rules are clear because the games are ... shall we say ... intense.

Getting your kicks.

That’s what people care about when they gather on Saturdays in Prospect Park, near the picnic house, in Brooklyn, New York. They set up a field using old records for bases, pump up a red ball, and then play a fierce game of kickball.

Whiffle-ball is serious business as well. In fact, leagues across the nation are so intense about their game that they have developed “Whiffle rules.” For example: When you get up to bat and smack the plastic Whiffle ball with your plastic bat, any fair ball that touches on, or beyond the pitching line, is a single.

Any fair ball that touches on, or goes beyond the double line on a fly, is a double.

Any fair ball that hits the fence on the fly is a triple.

Any fair ball that goes over the fence is a home run. If an outfielder touches the ball, it is still considered a home run.

Whiffle rules. You never know when you’ll need them.

In today’s passage from Ephesians, which is situated in the ethical or imperative section of the letter, the apostle Paul challenges us not only to play the “game” but to play it right.

He draws a line on the court of life and says that if you hit the ball here, it’s a home run every time.

It’s intense. So he lays down the law by introducing three iron-clad rules or principles which will help us to play the “game” right.

The rules are explained in terms of contrasting dualisms. The first is light/darkness, the second is good/bad, and the third is pleasing/unpleasing.

Light/darkness. The rule is, “Live as children of light,” (5:8). What does it mean?

What would it mean to live in darkness?

• You’d have no sense of direction.

• You’d have no sure footing.

• You’d stumble and bump into things.

• You’d be hesitant and fearful.

• Your eyes would eventually cease functioning — you’d be as blind as a mule in a mine.

• Productivity would decline, if not cease altogether.

• Anything you might try to do would very possibly be futile, and perhaps might do more harm than good.

Most people do not like to live in darkness. We’re irritated and upset, and scared when the electricity goes out, or when the phone line goes down, or when the internet is disrupted. It is a time of darkness.

We want to be in the light. In the light, we have a sense of direction. In the light, our footing is sure. In the light, we’re not as likely to bump into things and make a mess. In the light, we have no reason to be fearful. In the light, our eyes can see. In the light, we can get our work done. In the light, we can do good and what we do can have meaning.

Living in darkness — bad things happen. Paul lists a few more notorious examples in the verses preceding the text: sexual immorality, impurity, greed (5:3-5).

The first Whiffle rule of Christian living is to live as children — of the light. Live as though we have been raised in the light, nurtured, loved, disciplined, trained — in the light of God in Christ Jesus.

Good/bad. The second Whiffle rule is the fruit of the first (5:9): Do what is “good and right and true.”

This is so self-evident that it’s a commonplace in natural law. We know at some level we are here to increase the supply of human happiness and well-being.

We do this by doing what is good — i.e., it is an action grounded in right intention, and an action that bears a good outcome.

We do this by doing what is right — i.e., it is an action that is not self-serving, but other-serving, even if our own “rights” suffer.

We do this by doing what is true — i.e., it is an action that is pure and seeks no glory for itself, but is done for the most altruistic of motives, to the glory of God.

To do what is bad, is to turn this ethical template inside out. In this case, our lives would be full of actions grounded in ulterior or sinful intention, actions that could not possibly have a positive outcome, actions that are self-serving, actions that insist on our own rights, actions that are sullied and polluted by the stain of lust, sloth and pride.

This is bad. Children of light do what is good.

There is nothing more important than focusing on what is good and right and true, because without this vision we can quickly lose our sense of purpose and peace. Our personal focus is what gives us direction in life, and it is what keeps us in right relationship with God and with each other. If we are not concentrating on what is good and right and true — whether it is compassionate health care at a community hospital, or quality car care at the corner Jiffy Lube, or quality home care with the spouse and children, then we are missing a central component of a committed Christian life.

Pleasing/unpleasing. Whiffle rule No. 3: “Find out what is pleasing to the Lord” (5:10).

What does this mean?

Simple. Do what brings pleasure.

Pleasure. Not to yourself, but to the Lord. We are created for his good pleasure. So the rule here is that we judge an action by whether or not the action could possibly bring pleasure to God. One that does is called “pleasing.” One that doesn’t is called “unpleasing.” Simple as that.

This recalls Eric Liddell, an Olympic runner from Britain who won a gold medal in the 1944 Paris Olympics and whose story was told in Chariots of Fire more than 20 years ago. Although he intended to be a missionary, he knew God had given him a special gift to run. He often said, “I feel God’s pleasure when I run.”

So he ran — as long as his running gave pleasure to God. When it didn’t, he didn’t.

So these are the rubrics: Darkness or light? The bad or the good? The unpleasing or the pleasing?

But rules only get you so far. The game is learned best by practice.

Whether you are a member of the Brooklyn Kickball Society, the U.S. Dodgeball League, your local whiffle-ball team or this particular Christian community, the same truth applies: You become a good player by playing.

The essence of Christianity is more than following rules — instead, it is the imitation of Jesus Christ. Just as you learn to be an excellent kickball player by copying outstanding kickballers, you discover the secrets to faithful Christianity by imitating Jesus.

To do what is good and right and true is not so much adhering to a check list of do’s and don’ts as it is learning how to behave in a way that copies Christ’s love and peace and justice.

Live in light. Do the right. Bring pleasure to God.

Do it.

Participation Pointers:

• Have three whiffle balls with you, and as you develop each section or move of the sermon, toss one of the balls to the congregation. Inscribe each ball with the appropriate verse from Ephesians. “Live as children of light,” for example. Whoever catches the ball can take it home. This will be a sermon they remember. Caution: Don’t hit grandma on the head.
````````````````````````````````````````````````Sources:

Miller, M. Rex. The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004, 157-158.

Telling, Gillian. “Hot revival: Kickball, dodgeball and whiffle-ball are in, and not just for kids.” Rolling Stone, August 19, 2004, 94.

Let me know what you think. The church Email is: SLUMC@att.net, Phone: 480.895.8766