Download a child of god - Knox Presbyterian Church, Vernon

MINISTER’S MESSAGE
SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2015
KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
“A CHILD OF GOD”
Based on 1 John 3:1-7
Duchess or even a Princess. But
When Kate Middleton married
look again. Look closely. Step back
Prince William almost four years
a moment and give this careful
ago, she was given a new title: The
thought. Because you have been
Duchess of Cambridge. It was a
given the title: “A Child of God.”
title that came with it, much
Like the parent at the back of the
responsibility, as well as many
school gymnasium with the video
rights and privileges. It was
camera, or I-Phone on record, God
speculated by the paparazzi, that
is pointing and whispering to
one of the
everyone in
reasons Kate
the back
NO ONE WHO LIVES IN
and William
row, “That
parted for a
HIM KEEPS ON SINNING.
one there on
while, a few
the left is
NO ONE WHO CONTINUES
years prior to
mine!”
TO SIN HAS EITHER SEEN
their marriage,
was in fact, so
Being a
HIM OR KNOWN HIM.
that Kate might
“Child of
1 JOHN 3:6
more seriously
God” was an
consider what
important
the title of being a Duchess really
distinction for the writer of 1 John. It
meant, and what the role of being
set the Christians firmly in the
married to the second in line to the
social fabric of the day, but it was
British throne might really mean. I
also a rather bold reminder of the
think we would all agree that it was
privileges and responsibilities that
worth the wait: a gracious and
came with that title. The pressures
thoughtful woman who has fit the
of the world in the time of 1 John
title of “Duchess” most
were very different from today, and
appropriately.
also very different from the time of
Jesus. Time had passed, and the
We too have been given a title. At
writer of 1 John was one of just a
first glance it might not appear to
few left, who had witnessed the
be as impressive as being called a
events of Easter morning. For
most, it was stories now, passed
down from a family member or
other Christian leaders who would
gather the believers together at the
kitchen table and begin to
reminisce about “That day, long,
long ago.” There was growing
uncertainty as these final few
elders of the community became
old and fragile. What would happen
to this budding church after they
were gone? Would the church
survive? Would the stories stay
alive or just become storybook
tales? Who would lead this baby
church into a difficult world? (As an
aside, are there not many of the
same questions in the Christian
community today, as churches
close and society shifts away from
regular church life?)
But it was not just the worry of
church leadership that troubled the
writer of 1 John. The longer the
Christian church remained alive,
and most certainly as it started to
grow, the more agitated nonbelievers became; the more stifled
the political arena for freedom of
expression. The Romans did not
want the Christian church to
succeed as it might create further
Knox Presbyterian Church
unrest in the towns and villages.
The Jewish leaders did not want
the Christian church to succeed
because they might have to rethink
their theological foundations. The
believers might be “Children of
God”, but they were going to have
to watch their backs.
And there was trouble brewing
from within the company of
believers as well. Studying the
scriptures was to be encouraged.
Of course! But over analyzing,
dissecting phrases into infinite
possibilities about what Jesus
might have meant and then arguing
over who had the right possibility
and who didn't, did not help the
Christian cause in any way. To all
of these outside pressures pushing
against the success of the early
church, to a church looking
fervently for Christ to return at any
moment, the writer of 1 John
declared loudly:
See what great love the Father has
lavished on us,
that we should be called children of
God! And that is what we are. (v1)
So what does it mean to be a
“Child of God?” Well, I do not think
that the writer of 1 John intended
that we approach our Christian faith
with small minds or superficial
intent, but rather as mature
witnesses with an openness for
learning and listening. As a child is
invited and encouraged to learn
new things, new ideas and new
skills, I believe that as “Children of
God” we should always be willing to
listen to the Master, striving to learn
more, or learn more deeply, about
what the Christian life looks like,
and is lived like.
We should approach the world with
a sense of innocence, rather than
cynicism. Notice I did not say
naiveté, but innocence. “ Be
careful,” said the writer of 1 John,
‘Do not let anyone lead you astray’.
(v7a) Hold fast to the image of
Jesus: “The one who does what is
right is righteous, just as he [Christ]
is righteous.” (v7b). “Do not
approach the world blindly,” the
writer of 1 John might have said,
“But at the same time, do not
become so dulled, or scandalized
or afraid of the world that you miss
the opportunity for God to show you
light and love and laughter.”
Finally, we should be willing to fall
off our bikes, scrape our knees and
get up and try again. The writer of 1
John knew that the world was a
difficult and constantly changing
place of temptations, successes in
faith, and miserable personal
failures. He knew the tipping point
between what he termed a ‘sinful
life’ and a ‘righteous one’ could
change in the blink of an eye, but
he knew that Christ knew that as
well. So, our writer might have said,
“Try. Try again. And keep trying.”
Dear friends, our gracious God has
given us the same title as He gave
those early believers. You are a
“Child of God.” We too have been
given all the rights and privileges
that come with that title: a heavenly
home, grace, a constant
companion and friend. But this title
comes also with responsibilities
and duties, just like for the early
Christians. Take your
responsibilities seriously. Be open
to learning new things about your
Bible or about your Saviour. None
of us know everything there is to
know about Christ. Give the world a
chance to show you something
delightful about God: at play, in
prayer or in patience. And keep
trying. Don’t give up on your faith,
or your Christ. Get back on that
bike and ride!
As a “Child of God,” go, explore,
create. Succeed, fail, and try again.
And at the end of the day, when
you are tired and weary, come
home, safe to the arms of Jesus.
Amen.