Creekside Church Sermon of August 24, 1997 "Buckle Up For a Battle" Ephesians 6:10-20	Rev. David Bibbee
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Now before our Brethren squeamishness with things of the military takes over, let me assure you that our Epistle lesson is not instructing us to assault anyone. We are well aware of the sad, sick chapter of history when military madness corrupted the Christian message and led to killing in the name of Christ. But the military metaphors in this passage are for defensive, protective purposes because if you are at all serious about living for God today, you are going to have a fight on your hands.

What we believe in and live for the world could care less about. It doesn't mean we turn into Christian commandos and attack. As someone said, "There is nothing in Jesus we need kill for, but there is something worth fighting for, and even dying for." If you re going to live for him, you'll be in a battle. Writing from his prison cell to the fledgling, fragile church at Ephesus, it was imperative that Paul teach them survival tactics because they were under siege from a hostile, pagan culture, and we're waking up to the fact that we live in a similar climate.

The battle field today isn't in Bosnia or Rwanda, but on our city streets, in our schools, over the air waves, in peoples' minds. When Scott Peck was a psychiatrist working at the Pentagon during the Vietnam war, he was outraged by our napalming of civilian populations. He went to the office of an official who said he couldn't do anything about it because the decision was an administrative one. He was directed to another office and was told, "We understand your concern, but this is a policy matter that is out of our hands." He went from office to office and could not find anyone responsible, because everyone was responsible. The system was responsible.

We are not contending against flesh and blood. We are up against something much, much bigger...P & P, Inc. Principalities and Powers, Incorporated. It works overtime to influence how we think, what we accept, what we say yes or no to, what version of reality we should accept. The truth Jesus taught will not go uncontested. To live for him, you had better prepare for a battle.

The Wall Street Journal did a story about one institution that is battling with our culture's values. It teaches its inductees to be self disciplined, courteous of elders, physically and mentally fit, to overcome race and class differences, and learn to live and work as a team. Its teachers work at cultural indoctrination. They constantly remind inductees that they have left a culture of self- gratification and have entered a culture of self-discipline. During their training they are denied the typical American diversions of television, cars, cigarettes, video games, music, alcohol, drugs and sex. At home after their initial training, they feel estranged from old friends and society at large.

Coming from a society that elevates the individual, the use of the first person "I" is prohibited. They now live in a world where the group is supreme. One of the instructors who has monitored the attitudes of recruits for 30 years says that their re-entry into society is more difficult than ever. "Today, far too many recruits come in with little moral foundation. It's a fact of life that there isn't a lot of teaching in society about the importance of honor, courage, commitment, and service to others. It's difficult for them to go back into a society of þwhat's in it for me?'"

Do you know this institution I have just described? The headline of the story read, "New Marines Illustrate Growing Gap Between Military and Society." I share this not because I'm interested in promoting the Marines, but to draw a parallel about the growing gap between the Church and society. The Church has its own basic training which teaches new Christians a new language and a way to assess what was missing and wrong from their former lives. At baptism, you aren't you any more. You put on a new set of values. You wear corrective lenses to see life as God intended you to live it. You become a new creation in Christ and are therefore a threat because you are estranged from what's normal. If you are a Christian, you had better be prepared to fight to hold on to your way of life because the principalities and powers are out to undo it.

Need I tell you we live in a time of great greed which teaches us to use people and love things instead of using things and loving people? Have you wondered why, if our economy is so good, the gap between the rich and poor grows greater? Someone observed that people who stand up against the violence of society, will need armor to protect themselves. Make sure your helmet is on straight and your chest protector is buckled, because the powers in peoples' hearts and minds will dilute what you would live for.

Consider honesty. Is the truth always told at your workplace? Have you ever felt pressured into dealing dishonestly with someone? My son found a twenty-dollar bill on the floor at Wal Mart. We talked about what to do and he decided to turn it in to the cashier who looked at him with a curious, confused expression which seemed to say, "What a dumb move?" "What do you want me to do with this?" she asked. She didn't take his name in case no one claimed the money. She didn't even thank him. I wanted to say, "Thank you for the supportive way in which you have reinforced my efforts to teach my son that it's best to be honest."

Consider the values promoted by today's movies. Michael Medved is a film critic and co-host of the PBS television show, "Sneak Previews". A committed Jew, he has written about the Hollywood poison factory, speaking out against the violence and distorted sexuality in today's films. A particular concern is Hollywood's religion-bashing. For Protestants, he cited a film called "At Play in the Fields of the Lord" which is about a group of sick, disgusting missionaries who end up ruining the lives of a wholesome native people. For Catholics there was a film called, "The Pope Must Die" which featured the Pope cavorting with harlot nuns. For Jews there was "Naked Tango" which depicted religious Jews operating a brutal bordello next door to the synagogue and forcing women into white slavery.

The Apostle Paul wrote in chains behind bars to a church under siege. If you are not trapped in a tame, timid sort of Christianity, you know what he is saying. You know what the fight is about.

There was a Methodist bishop from Angola visiting this country who told of the persecution of the Church by his government and the imprisonment of the Church's leaders. When his American audience wondered how the Church could continue under such persecution, he said, "Don't worry about the Church in Angola. It will continue to grow. You should be more concerned about your own Church. It's much more difficult to be a Christian in America. You have so much wealth, so much entertainment, so much violence...there is so much to tempt you and turn you away. We shall pray for the Church in your country."

To be the Church, we will need to battle, but we must be clear about the weapons. The only kind we're justified in using, Ephesians says, is truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, prayer, and a sword which is the word of God. Truth, faith, and the Word against the principalities and rulers of the present darkness. Pennies in a basket for world hunger against the wealth of Wall Street. Decency against the dehumanizing effects of Hollywood. The church ladies' aid against the lottery. It seems like fighting King Kong with a cap gun.

But we must remember whose fight it is. "Be strong in the Lord. Put on the whole armor of God," we are told. Truth, righteousness, the Word and prayer are all we have been given and are all we need for the fray. The Word of God of tells us that once the smoke clears at the end, the victor will be Jesus Christ...not hunger, not poverty, not military might, or politics as usual. The sword shall be beaten into plowshares. Those who have will share with those who have not. Greed will no longer lead, sin shall not hold sway, the kingdoms of this world shall be the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ and He shall reign forever.

Don't you think it's time Christians wake up to help one another and stop fighting amongst themselves over doctrine or whose interpretation of scripture is right? It's time to stop majoring in the minors because there is an onslaught against our families, our values, our convictions, and our churches, which cause us to forget who we are. To fend off the lies and live the truth, we can't go it alone. That's why we come together to worship. That's why we need small groups and Bible study and prayer and mutual support to keep each other to the task.

I want to share an incident which happened to Jim Wallis who is founder and pastor of the Sojourners community in Washington, D.C., a church that is at the forefront of peace and social justice ministries. He was mugged outside his home by four kids. They rushed him, slashed his face and yelled, "Keep him down! Get his wallet!" Wallis writes, "I jumped up quickly which surprised them. Seeing no weapons, I squared to face them. I saw that my assailants were children...three about 15 years old and a little one who couldn't have been more than 13. They backed up a little when they saw that I was bigger than expected. I am a strong believer in nonviolence, but have learned that being a weight lifter often helps in these conflict situations!"

The one who hit him moved into a boxing stance while the others circled. The little guy attempted some karate kicks. "I decided to confront them, not to hurt them, but to fend them off. Instinctively I began scolding these lost young souls. þStop it! Stop terrorizing people! Stop your violent behavior in our neighborhood!' I shouted. þI'm a pastor,' and told them that if they wanted to try to beat up and rob a pastor, they should take their best shot. I knew that invoking the authority of the Church in the street is hardly a sure thing these days.

"Whatever it was that changed their minds, the young muggers turned and ran. I shouted, þGet back here!' then realized it probably wasn't a good thing to say at the moment, but then something happened. The four and a half-foot tall karate kicker turned back and looked at me. With a sad face he said, "Pastor, ask God for a blessing for me." He and his gang had just assaulted me. The little one tried to be a big tough guy, but he knew he needed a blessing. He knew he was in trouble. I think they all did."

If you are going to be a Christian today, if you are going to draw the line, take a stand, and witness for the truth, be prepared for a fight. But remember, the battle isn't with little muggers, or movie producers, or corporate fat cats, the guy behind the desk at the Pentagon, or the cashier at Wal Mart. We are not fighting against flesh and blood, but principalities and powers...the power of ideas that take over peoples' lives and distort and destroy the meaning of life.

Sometimes it feels like we're losing. The odds seems stacked against us. That's why we must encourage one another by worshipping, praying, supporting, and truth-telling and remind each other, clad in the whole armor of God, that we have in our arsenal all we need to win...it's a Word. "The prince of darkness grim, we'll tremble not for him, one little Word shall slay him." The Word is Jesus.

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