How do you know that?
Another question to consider.
As you know by now if you have listened to me preach, or for that matter if you have simply scrolled through sermon titles, you know I ask a lot of questions in my sermon titles. I like to think I often provide answers to questions in my sermons but that is for other people, like you, to judge. This week’s question is an interesting one because it is so open-ended (you are welcome to substitute “vague” for open-ended). Who is “you” and what is “that”? Many things could fit in there but I think most of us have been on one end or the other of that question. If you have ever been around a sleight of hand magician who names the card you have taken from the pack after it is shuffled back in, you have probably said some variant on “How do you know that?” When you are wearing a new outfit or accessory and a friend asks you if you got it at the “Obscure and Vintage Emporium” in another city, you could very well have said, “How do you know that?”
The sermon is about the question in a different kind of way. When was the last time someone someone asked you this question by saying, “you are in a relationship with God, through Jesus, empowered through the Holy Spirit. Aren’t you?” Probably never, unless you ran into me at some point. What you are being asked is the early 21st century equivalent of the early to middle 20th century, “You are a Christian aren’t you?” I say it is equivalent because identifying as a Christian these days is more likely to be an admission of bigotry, or racism, or hate speech, or, or, or, . . . It is a sad state of affairs but those most vocal about their being “Christian” tend to be some of the most appalling people around. There is well-known and unrepentant serial adulterer with multiple felony convictions identifying as a Christian and being lauded as being a Christian by many Christian leaders. There is a meme out there, I’m sure you’ve seen it, “There is no hate like Christian love.” You can see why I avoid the label.
So why all this? It is because Jesus told his disciples and, by extension, us that people should know that we are Christ followers by how much we love each other. He also says we should love the God with all our hearts and minds and souls and our neighbour as ourself. It was his intention that we would be known by love. I am happy to report we can still be known by our love. We might never respond to the question, “You are a Christian, aren’t you?” We might be responding to questions about why we love people the way we do and it’s the same thing in current language. We don’t need any particular label to love people because we love people regardless of our label, or no label.
This is a longer post than some, the sermon is a bit too but still only 16 minutes plus a few seconds so it won’t take up too much of your day. As always, let me know what you think as you are able and inclined.
Blessings,
