August 29th

Dressed For Success

Ephesians 6:10-20



OK. Honesty check this morning. How many folks here talk to their TV’s? Come on, now! You know you do! How about some of those football games we watch? The quarterback makes a perfect pass—only to have that multi-million dollar butterfingers so-and-so wide receiver drop the ball in the end zone! Oh, yeah! I am just so sure that some of our sisters here just sit there and let that play slide with no comment, right?

And some of our brothers can’t laugh, either! What about wardrobe malfunctions? We will watch awards programs of all types just for the opportunity to comment on the outfits worn by some of the stars! “Now what was she thinking wearing that outfit? You know, I believe in freedom of expression, but there are just some things that are better left to the imagination!”

I did quite a bit of talking to the television over the past month of so. Most of my rants were directed at the talking heads on CNN during the whole Israel-Hezbollah conflict. “Israel is using too much force!” “Well, Hezbollah started it by kidnapping two Israeli soldiers!” I looked at the TV and said, “It doesn’t matter who started it! Innocent people are dying!”

Then came the cease fire agreement. I didn’t hear a lot of positive news there, either. In fact, it seems that all the arm chair military quarterbacks were all over the news discussing the question: “Who won?” The first time I heard that question, I nearly came up off the couch! “Won!?! Won!?! It’s WAR! NOBODY WINS!” Richard just looked at me as if to say, “All righty, then! I think someone has had a little too much CNN.”

So, I guess you can tell I am not a big fan of war. Don’t misunderstand me; I believe a country should defend itself against attack. But some of the stuff that is going on today folks is just insane! Then I start reading the Ephesians passage for this week. Oh, great! More military imagery! Onward Christian soldiers! Let’s just take out our “swords” called the Bible, and slay a few heretics for Jesus!

But then I had to check my attitude and ask myself the question, “Is that really the message of this passage from Ephesians? I don’t think so. So this morning, what I would like to attempt is to give this passage a 21st century “fashion makeover.” The question for today? “As a Christian, what does it mean to be dressed for success in world full of challenges—especially when those challenges are to our faith?”

Now, for some of us, this military imagery might be disturbing not so much because we are personally opposed to war, but more because violence just did not seem to be part of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Sure, Jesus got upset and tossed a few tables in the Temple once. But he also told Peter to put away his sword when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. We also know that the reason some people turned away from Jesus was because he really was not the military leader they were expecting to come and overthrow the Roman government. So, how does a passage like the one we are looking at today fit with what seems to be the teachings of a peace-loving Jesus Christ?

Well, I believe we have to take the context of this passage into consideration. In order to get his message across, the author of Ephesians had to use language and imagery his audience would understand. First-century people would definitely understand all this military imagery, because it was so much a part of their daily lives. In fact, this imagery was carried well into medieval times as the Crusades and other religious wars raged on in parts of the world.

But what about 21st century Christians in the United States? We don’t really relate to full body armor very well; and the images of so-called “holy war” we see on television do little to encourage us to sign up for the Army of God. So, is there anything we can take from this passage for our lives today? Actually, I think there is.

First, as Christians, we can expect that we will be challenged about our faith at times. People may not threaten us physically; but we can expect to be challenged intellectually. For example, we may get the question, “How can you say there is a God? Look at all the pain and violence in the world?” Or, “If you’re such a good Christian, why did God allow you to have this disease?” Sometimes, these attacks do not come so much from individuals as they do from the negative powers and principalities of darkness that are working through them. The difference between the two? Normally, individuals will ask questions with respect and a genuine desire to know more about our faith; the powers of darkness will attack will cynicism and accusation. So again, as Christians, how do we dress for success, as we face these challenges of life?

Well, I am going to start with the feet. We are told to wear whatever it takes to help us proclaim the gospel of peace. So, if what is going on in the world today is any indication of things to come, we are going to be standing and proclaiming for a long time. Amen? So, we cover our feet with the sensible shoes of peace. The steel-toe boots of “We’re right and everyone else is wrong” may protect us; but in the end, we end up crushing a lot of innocent lives and ruining relationships in the process. The sensible shoes of peace are open to the light of God’s love for all people. They are lightweight so we may stand longer and journey farther down life’s road without being weighed down with the certainty of our judgments of other people and their viewpoints.

Accessories are critical for our look, too. Now, the belt of truth is not one that is to be taken off and used as a whip on those who disagree with us. But it is the truth of God’s love for us as God’s children, as well as the truth of our responsibility to live moral, ethical lives that holds up the some of the garments that we may call our actions. For when our actions are held up by the truth as best as we can determine it, there is little chance we will be caught with our pants down. Amen?

The successful look seems to be a layered look, as well. But rather than a heavy breastplate of self-righteousness stuck out for the whole world to see, how about a lightweight jacket of righteousness that surrounds our lives? It is a garment that is attractive. It is a garment that people ask about. The jacket of righteousness made of God’s justice and mercy is a garment people will want for themselves.

What about protection from the sometimes-harsh elements of life? How about an umbrella of faith? Not only can we hold it in front of us when the powers of darkness attempt to splash us with the mud of false accusations and the other lies that evil throws our way, we can also hold it over us when the storms of life threaten to soak us with depression and despair.

Ah, and that ever-important head covering! Now, in biblical times a heavy metal helmet was required to protect a person from serious head injuries. Unfortunately, today, some people tend to wear the heavy metal helmet of salvation in order to block out any views that differ from their own. Sure, their beliefs are kept in tact, but those beliefs can also stagnate in the darkness of that helmet.

Now salvation is critical—no doubt. And yes, people and the powers of darkness will challenge our minds regarding our faith. But rather than closing our minds off with a heavy metal helmet, why not develop those minds that God gave us? When we are challenged by those powers and principalities, a strong and open mind coupled with a strong faith is far more nimble and valuable than heavy metal shields and helmets that weigh us down and block our vision.

And there is another reason why a strong and open mind is so important. A strong and open mind is important for us to be able to use the most important accessory in our wardrobe: The Bible—otherwise known in some church circles as “The Sword.” And believe me, some people use the Bible just like a sword as they slice and dice their way through the lives of people with whom they disagree.

Folks, let me tell you something. The Bible was never meant to be used as a weapon—never. Like a well-worn and often-used wallet or handbag, the Bible contains valuable information we need to get by in this life, as well as some hints about the next life. Oh, and notice I said, “well-worn,” and “often-used.” Just like that collection of wallets and handbags some of us have collecting dust in our closets at home, a collection of Bibles collecting dust on our bookshelves means absolutely nothing to us if we don’t use them. Amen?

OK. So it looks like we’ve got that outfit going on, doesn’t it? Traveling pretty light--umbrella of faith, strong and open mind, Bible for directions, belt of truth and jacket of righteousness, sensible shoes of peace—yep! We are ready to work the runway of life! So how do we do that?

Well, when we are dressed for spiritual success, first we stand. And when we move, we move forward. We don’t turn around and go back. And how do we move forward? We move forward as a community, powered by prayer both with and for one another.

So, let’s drop all that heavy metal armor that weighs us down, and travel light. Let us travel in the light of God’s Holy Spirit, wearing the sensible shoes of peace, our actions held up by truth, our lives surrounded by God’s righteousness, secure in our faith and in our salvation, opening our minds to God’s Word, and then sharing that Word with others.

Besides, full body armor is sooooo Middle Ages!

God bless you and amen.