St. Paul’s Church in
Bergen, Jersey City NJ
May 17, 2015
Year B: The Seventh
Sunday after Easter
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19
Not Belonging to the World
Alleluia!
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
This
past Thursday morning a handful of us gathered here to celebrate Ascension Day,
a principal feast of the church that commemorates Jesus’ ascension into heaven
forty days after Easter.
Ascension
Day marks a momentous turning point for us Christians.
Jesus
is no longer physically present here in the world.
Actually…that’s
not exactly true.
Jesus
does remain physically present in the world in and through us –
in through the Church, the Body of Christ in the world.
And,
of course, Jesus remains physically present in his Body and Blood that we
receive each time we gather at the Lord’s Table.
Today’s
passage from the Gospel of John is part of a long section of that gospel called
the Farewell Discourse – it’s Jesus’ long good-bye to his disciples at the Last
Supper.
Jesus
knows he is about to be arrested and killed and so knowing that time is short
he wants to get through to his disciples what’s most important.
The
section we heard today comes from near the end of the Farewell Discourse.
Jesus
prays to God the Father, thanking God for the disciples who have believed that
Jesus came from the Father.
In
his prayer it sounds like Jesus is ascending – or has already ascended.
And,
in Jesus’ prayer there is a lot of talk about the world.
Jesus
says that he does not belong to the world – and in fact is no longer in the
world.
Jesus
says that the disciples also don’t belong to the world – but, of course, they –
and we – are very much still in the world.
We
Christians are in the world but don’t belong to the world.
Or,
at least that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
If
you follow the news, you may know that this past week there was a lot of talk
about the state of Christianity here in the United States.
Christianity
has been in decline in Europe for decades but the United States has remained a
solidly Christian country, at least in name.
For
a very long time a very high percentage of Americans have identified themselves
as Christians and have said they go to church, at least sometimes.
But,
that’s changed – and continues to change.
According
to a report released this past week by the Pew Research Center, 71 percent of
American adults identified as Christian, a decline of 5 million adults and 8
percentage points lower than another Pew study in 2007.
And,
let’s be honest, we know that 71 percent is a highly inflated number.
The
Christian decline is happening across the country in most denominations
especially among young adults who don’t seem very interested in getting
involved with organized religion, especially Christianity.
Instead,
these young people are content to remain unaffiliated – to be spiritual but not
religious.
And,
here’s something else to think about: at least a quarter of the people who were
raised Christian have left the faith. Nineteen percent of all American adults
are ex-Christians.
Needless
to say, this report generated a lot of talk – and anxiety – in church circles.
So,
why are people leaving the church and abandoning the Christian faith?
It’s
complicated – but I think a major factor is that all too often we Christians have
failed to be who Jesus says we are – we have failed to be who we are supposed
to be – we have failed to be who we really are.
All
too often, we have been in the world and we have belonged to the world.
The
truth is that, all too often there has been little or no difference between the
way we Christians behave and the way the world behaves.
And,
I’m not just talking about those so-called Christians with their hateful signs
picketing funerals of soldiers and celebrities – and I’m not just talking about
the fakes on TV offering to heal and bless in return for a donation – all major
credit cards accepted.
No,
I’m not talking about them. I’m taking about us.
In
many ways St. Paul’s is a most amazing church – and you know I love it and I love
you – but the sad truth is all too often there’s been very little difference
between the way we behave here and the way world behaves out there.
All
too often, we have been in the world and we have belonged to the world.
And,
I’m right there with you.
If
I’m honest, I have to acknowledge that all too often I belong to the world, too
– quick to judge and slow to forgive; concerned too much about my own wants,
comfort and security; annoyed by and suspicious of people looking for help.
All
too often you and I have been in the world and we have belonged to the world.
No
wonder people – especially young people who can smell a phony a mile away – no
wonder they ask why in the world they should get up early on Sunday and go to
church – no wonder that people ask what’s the point of our Christian faith if
we live pretty much like everybody else.
No
wonder so many have become unaffiliated – have become ex-Christians.
But…there’s
good news. And the good news is that Jesus hasn’t stopped praying for us – and
never will stop praying for us.
Jesus
knows the world is a dangerous place and it’s so easy for us to get seduced by
its false and destructive values.
Jesus
hasn’t stopped praying for us – praying that we who are in the world will not
belong to the world – praying that we will give generously – that we will
finally remember to bring an item for the food pantry - praying that we will
welcome the stranger – praying that we will be one as he and the Father are one
– praying that we will sacrifice – praying that we’ll quit judging and forgive
easily – praying that we will welcome those in need as if they were Jesus
himself.
Jesus
has ascended into heaven.
We
are the Body of Christ in the world.
And,
with Jesus praying so hard for us, we Christians can, at last, be in the world
but not belong to the world.
And,
then people – including at least some of those ex-Christians and the
unaffiliated – just might look at us and say…
Alleluia!
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Amen.
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