"Imitate God"
Sermon preached by Rev. Robert Undercuffler
Hanover Presbyterian Church
18th Street and Baynard Boulevard
Wilmington, Delaware
August 13, 2006
(A disclaimer: This sermon was written to be spoken, which does not always translate into correct grammatical form for a document written to be read.)
Imitate God!
Impossible!!!
I hate it when the Bible throws me an impossible task.
It's guaranteed to make me feel guilty.
I mean - Paul had already listed challenging ethical instructions
"Speak the truth
"Don't let the sun go down on your anger.
"Give up stealing (well, that only applies to
thieves)
"Speak only what build's-up others
"Put away all bitterness, and wrath,
and slander, and malice
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgiven you?
All that is tough enough -
But now to top it off - Imitate God!!!
You've got to be kidding.
Imitate God? I'll tell you one way I'd like to imitate God -
I'd like to imitate God's power.
With God's power I'd end this raging festering war -
-- this disrespect for life.
-- this out-look on life that demands an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
Imitate God - Yes sir - I'll reflect some of that Godly power - and make this world a better, safer place to live.
But not so fast - God often balked when it came to using
so-called Godly power -
--so his son, Jesus, was tried and convicted
And died on a cross ---
Not much Godly power there, is there?
But here is different angle to consider ?
The second half of Ephesians chapter 5 - verse 1 -
Imitate God - as beloved children.
Not as enlightened yet cynical adults ?
Not as fearful grown-ups ?
It's so tragic. Too often from that position we
lash out
And pommel - and lob bombs
(both verbal bombs as well as bombs launched by rockets and concealed as liquid in drinking bottles.
Imitate God as beloved children, Paul urges. -
And right here let's pause and lighten-up a little.
Lighten-up, like what happens when we're enjoying the grandchildren. Yes, even when we're enjoying our own children. Or simply enjoying children.
When we're reading and pondering the Bible, we can get a little too serious, and especially when we're reading Paul's letters.
This is difficult - serious -- stuff - our eternal destiny - our salvation is at stake, so we better not smile --
Or so we have been taught.
But sometimes we have to catch the humor in order to be awestruck by the loving kindness of God. Surprised by God's grace. And receive life-changing insights. Insights that can, perchance, reshape the culture. The way we see things and the way we live.
And here is one of those moments - from the normally sober-sided Paul --
Imitate God - as beloved children.
See this - and chuckle -
The prelude is being played
-- and you look over to your side and this little girl
is playing along ? The rhythm seems just about right - but you aren't quite sure
of the notes.
Smile here -- Children are playing football out front - the youngster drops back ? has all the moves of Donovan McNabb - he fakes - he starts to run - stops and lobs the ball. No, it doesn't matter where the ball goes - doesn't even matter if the child has a ball - for a blessed moment, he is Donovan - or the high school quarterback who lives down the street.
See this - and smile deeply - At the beach a child is following parents -- walking in the sand - in mom's ? in dad's footprints. Indeed - almost being swallowed-up.
The sight becomes even more precious when parents stop, turn around, and encourage ?
yea, even demand - hurry-up.
But that's difficult to do when you're a beloved child walking in your parent's footprints.
Note this -- For beloved children, imitation is inevitable
It's the way children learn. At times, adults learn that way, too.
Who teaches children to play? Adults? No, I doubt it.
Rather, children respond to what is around them - they respond to the stuff and the people.
Teach children UNO (I've had some experience with this) With young children we deal-out the UNO cards and explain the rules and the game begins but quickly you find that the children are using those cards in totally unintended ways. And having a great time!
"No - do it this way, you explain. "These are the rules!" But their game - their fun - their play is not bound by adult rules.
Some think of the way of Christ as a system of rules and regulations.
Faith is compliance to a set of laws
And a list of ethical "dos" and "don'ts"
"Good Christians," this line of thinking runs, are those who do good. Who avoid wrong.
But that is only a small portion of Christian faith and life -
Christian living?has much more to do with a relationship with a Holy God and a journey with brother Jesus.
It's like Martin Luther observed, "Those who study the commandments of God are not greatly moved. "But those who listen to God commanding, they are awe-struck by a majesty so great." Awestruck and changed.
And further -- Imitation is joyful
Joy is difficult for us to muster. "Get serious" is a common theme. We have a tendency to emphasize the serious, achievement-oriented aspects of life.
Howard Kuist, one of my seminary professors, told how as a young man, working on a New Jersey farm and seeking guidance and assurance from God?would walk into the field and get down on his knees and beg God for understanding and assurance. And Kuist recalled?I came out of that field only dirtier than I had gone in. Wracked by more guilt?fear... grasped in deeper depression?
Then, one day the words of Paul enfolded me, Kuist recalled, "By grace are you saved, through faith." And I could see clearly now.
Surprised by God's grace.
Overflowing with Joy.
For children, Inevitable Imitation -- Joy too - for children - as well as for adults - is born and grows out of a relationship - a friendship.
And further, Imitation is personal
Children don't just imitate anyone. They certainly imitate people they know - respect - love. ? and people who love them.
Joy for a following of Christ flows from a relationship - a friendship with Jesus. And as that friendship matures, it overflows with joy. Passion. Enthusiasm.
Jesus is more a friend than ruler -
More a lover than lawgiver.
Jesus, the Christ visits us, and takes up the journey with us, not because he is angry with us - nor disappointed
but because he delights in us -
and that he delights especially in all the people of the world. ?despite our flaws.
Jesus says, "No longer do I call you servants?
but I call you friends."
The concept of God as someone who can be known and loved personally was completely foreign to those in the Greco-Roman world. When they heard the challenge,
"Be imitators of God, as beloved children" those words would have sounded strange.
And certainly those words sound strange today. We are not comfortable with a God who loves people personally. We'd prefer to keep God "up there" and "out there". And so too often we paint God as a stern lawgiver or oppressive judge.
Or as an absentminded professor who creates the
world only to go off and leave it bubbling in the
test-tube.
It many ways, children have it easier when it comes to faith; for children respond to God simply - following along in those footprints - Imitating - Naturally - Joyfully -
They naturally seek to imitate God; and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, there is no greater praise they can give.
One footnote. As you find yourself imitating God, check yourself against these guidelines;
n Don't let the sun go down on your anger.
n Speak only what builds-up others.
n Put away all bitterness, wrath and slander.
n Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving
Another as God forgives you.
