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Sermon 48

A Sermon by John Metcalfe on Sunday 19th November 2006

At St John the Baptist Wonersh

 

 

Lets be Contagious Christians

 

Readings:                    Bible Gateway Lookup - 1 Peter 3: 1-8 & 9-22                  

 

As we sit, let’s pray… "Lord, we thank you for Peter, who felt called to write to those who needed to be reminded what Christian life was all about.  As we listen to your words this evening, we pray that you will speak to us and remind each of us afresh what it is that you want of us.  Amen"

 

Good evening.  Tonight we’re looking at chapter 3 of Peter’s 1st Letter, that he wrote to the Christians living in the region that’s now Turkey.  James introduced this series a couple of weeks ago, and explained that these new Christians had been suffering all kinds of difficulties, and this letter was sent to encourage them, and also to challenge them.  I had intended to focus on the early verses of chapter 3 – the ones that tell wives to be submissive to their husbands – but my wife told me not to!

 

This chapter is all about how we should behave as Christians.  And I want to start with a story that you probably all remember from recent press coverage.  A member of British Airways check-in staff created a fuss when she insisted on wearing a crucifix on a necklace with her uniform?  She argued that Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs were all allowed to wear items that reflect their faith, but she wasn’t allowed to wear a cross on a chain, and that amounted to discrimination. … How many remember that story, just 3 or 4 weeks ago?  And how many thought she was right, and did suffer discrimination?  I think many Christians instinctively took her side, but I have to say that I’m not sure I sympathise with her.

 

That woman, as with all BA uniformed staff, had signed a contract agreeing to abide by a dress code which permits all sorts of approved items of clothing to be worn – skirts, trousers, blouses, pullovers, cardigans, suits, etc – as well as some alternative items that meet certain religious requirements.  But the policy bans the wearing of personal jewellery – the whole principle of a uniform look would be negated if staff could wear whatever broaches, and other jewellery that they wanted.  Just think of the variety of necklaces that could appear – possibly thick and chunky, or fitted with lockets or any form of charm or precious stone – yes, even a crucifix.  The whole point of a uniform is that it should be just that – uniform.

 

I believe that Christian lady was firstly wrong to insist that a crucifix was a necessary part of her uniform, given that she’d signed a contract accepting the BA uniform code, and secondly, was a vital demonstration of her faith.  Of course, it’s appropriate for us to wear a cross, or a dove, or some other emblem, at appropriate times and places, but the Scriptures are also quite clear how we should demonstrate our Christianity – not by wearing jewellery, but by how we live and behave – what we say, and don’t say, what we think, or don’t think, what we do, and what we don’t do.  That’s why Peter is reminding us in this letter how we should behave as Christians.

 

Look with me at verse 8:  “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”  And verse 13:  “Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  ‘Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.’  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”  We are to set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts.

 

Have you read any books by Lee Strobel?  He was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and he began to attend the Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago in the early 80's in an effort to appease his newly converted wife, Leslie.  In one of his books, you might have read it – “Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary” – he recalls, “When I walked into church as a sceptical unbeliever, my 'hypocrisy antenna' was scanning the place for signs that people were playing at church.  In fact, I was aggressively on the lookout for phoniness, opportunism, or deception, because I felt that if I could find an excuse for rejecting the church on the grounds of hypocrisy, I could feel free to reject Christianity as well.”  It’s obvious, isn’t it, that if we see people saying one thing and doing another, we’re not going to believe anything they say – an absence of authenticity or a lack of integrity among people who claim to be Christians will be a barrier to others following their beliefs.  But the good news is that in that church, Lee Strobel did find integrity in the Christians he met, and they led him to Christ.  Do you think you could manage that?

 

Most people won’t be interested in believing our message about a risen Christ, or will want to commit themselves to him, unless they observe the living Christ in us.  Perhaps you can think of a neighbour or friend who’s been turned off Church by the behaviour of a Christian they know – perhaps it’s happened to you.  It puts a great onus on us all to behave appropriately all of the time, especially when we’re amongst non-Christian friends or work colleagues.  We’ve got to be good news before we can share the good news.  Verse 8 says: “live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing”.  

 

Live in harmony – but what does ‘harmony’ mean?  It’s a similar word to integrity.  Harmony or integrity is when your thoughts, your words and your actions are integrated – they’re all at the same place, everything about you is consistent, in sync and saying the same thing – the modern definition might be “joined-up living”.  And what’s humility?  Humility is not denying your strengths, but admitting your weaknesses – being honest about your failures, about your sin and your need of a Saviour.

 

Bill Hybels, the pastor of Willow Creek church, says in a book called “Becoming a Contagious Christian”: “So many pretenders are walking around the corridors of our culture these days that genuine, sincere people wind up creating quite a stir just by being themselves.  People who are investigating Christianity don't expect perfection from Christians.  They are too smart for that.  What they do hope to find is someone with the courage to confess their blunders and make things right.”

 

Simply put, authentic confession is a powerful witness to the transforming power of Jesus Christ as Lord in our lives.  We are seeking to please Jesus – not our boss, not the vicar, and not ourself.  It stands out in stark contrast to our culture, in which nobody admits to getting things wrong – has George Bush said “Sorry – we got it wrong in Iraq, let’s learn from those mistakes and take a different tack”, or has Tony Blair said ”Sorry – I thought it would be OK to take money as loans, but I misunderstood the situation”.  People – all of us, not just politicians – instinctively rationalise their shortcomings, cover their tracks, and hire successful lawyers to get them off the hook.  No one wants to own up and take responsibility anymore.  So how about it?  Do you ever come clean by admitting you’re wrong?  Or do you work overtime to present an image of infallibility to everyone around you, fearing that if they knew you were imperfect, all would be lost?  We mustn’t underestimate the power of a sincere apology – only the influence of the living God will prompt a person to say: “It was my fault and I’m sorry.”

 

An admission like that might be the most compelling manifestation of true Christianity that your friends have ever seen.  We draw people to the Father or repel them by the way we live.  So how can we become a Contagious Christian, prompting others to want to learn more about our Saviour?  Surely it has to do with our manner – being ourselves, being realistic, being honest, learning to live “in harmony with one another ... and in our hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”  That’s the ‘how’ – now for the 'when'.

 

Peter tells us when in verses 15-17: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”   The time to be contagious is always – the moment is NOW.  We’re never off duty, always on show – that's why it’s important to be ourselves and relax.  Every encounter with another person created in the image of God can become a divine appointment.  At any moment we are either prepared or not prepared.  Can you give an answer for the hope within you?  You might want to grab a copy of Bill Hybel's book “Becoming a Contagious Christian”, and think about how you might respond to a question from a friend or colleague. 

 

That question might be as simple as “What sort of a weekend did you have?” which for me could result in an answer about going to a Cliff Richard concert in Birmingham – sad, eh? – or could relate to spending time preparing a sermon for a service in church, either of which could result in follow-up questions which could allow me to talk about my faith and my hope. 

 

If God has prepared the person who you’re speaking to, then a simple line can revolutionise the life of that other person.  But we have to be prepared with our answers.  Are you ready?  Can you give an answer for the hope that’s within you?  Until you can explain something, you don't really understand it.  So what is our hope? Good old Peter not only tells us about how to become contagious and when.  He also tells us what to be contagious with.

 

Look at verse 18: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."  This is our hope – a living relationship with God as our Father through the death of Jesus Christ in our place.  Through Jesus, and on the authority of His Word, we know that all our sins are forgiven and that we have eternal life.  A place in heaven – that’s our hope.  People around us don’t have that hope.  Stephen Hawking, Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge and author of A Brief History of Time gave a lecture not so long ago at the Royal Society in Edinburgh.  From his wheel chair and using a computer voice box, Hawking said that an accident or global warming would wipe out life on earth – he feared the human race would not survive for another thousand years.

 

One of the greatest scientific minds in the world is worried and frightened about the future.  It may in part be because he has rejected belief in a Creator God.  With no certainty about his origins, he has no hope for the future.  In verse 14 Peter says, “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”  Concerns are one thing – fear is something else.  We have nothing to fear with Jesus at our side.  Perfect love casts out fear.  Our past is dealt with and our future is secure.  This is our hope.  This is the message we are to be ready to share when people ask us why we are different.  God is in control.  He will create a new heaven and new earth. That’s our hope. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” (v. 18)

 

That’s our message. We mustn’t fudge it, or change it, or soften it, or deny it, or replace it.  Instead we must live it and explain it when asked.  Seekers have little respect for weak Christians – they’re looking for somebody who will step forward and proclaim the truth and live it boldly.  Why can't that be us?  We have the Holy Spirit, we have the Word of God, and we have the church.  Let’s be contagious Christians, the sort who people want to be like.  Let’s be authentic and grapple with what ever life throws at us.  Let’s admit errors when we make them, and let’s stand up boldly for what we believe.  Let’s declare it, without apology and see how contagious we can become.  Contagious Christianity takes place friend to friend, person to person, and neighbour to neighbour.  The plan is biblical, it’s logical, it’s strategic, and it was proven by Jesus, his friends and many others since.  If God gives us the opportunity, lets give it a try this week.

 

Let’s close with some words from Bill Hybels: “Lord, help us to be Contagious Christians, to understand that the most important business in the world is the people business.  Help us to live differently, pray differently, love differently, work differently, give differently, and serve differently, and to be preoccupied with people and their needs.  Amen”

 

 

 

 

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