August 23rd, 2015
Scripture: 1 Kgs.8:22-30, 41-43/Ps.84:1-4, 8-12/Eph.6:10-20/John 6:56-69
“Of the Heart”
Summary: Scripture challenges the believers to be alert-be aware of what’s
going on in the world around us; the evil systems and power structures are very
real. That awareness will lead to vigilant prayer, both in solitude and corporately,
which in turn will lead to the weapons of our defense: incredible attributes of
God.
~
When was the last time that you heard or sang the hymn, “Onward!
Christian Soldiers”? I’m guessing, probably not in a while.
The fact that this hymn is not found in the latest Presbyterian hymnal (1997
edition) hasn’t exactly helped with this endeavor. If my memory serves me correct,
this hymn was last included in our hymnal back in 1972.
Sabine Baring-Gould wrote the text to “Onward! Christian soldiers” in 1865
for children’s procession on Pentecost in the village of Horbury Bridge, England.
The images of war that are heavily prominent throughout this text have provoked
some controversy in past decades. Sadly, this hymn is often seen as promoting
militarism and triumphalism. I suspect this hymn has succumbed to suspicions as
such back in the 1990’s when our new hymnal was being compiled.
Arguably, it is possible to read the text as a call to the church to fight the
forces of evil, which is clearly derived from such scripture passages as the letter to
Ephesians 6:10-20. And this takes us right to the Lectionary readings, especially
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the final section of the Letter to Ephesians by Apostle Paul, on this particular
Sunday morning, the 13th Sunday after Pentecost.
Here, we are urged to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his
power” (Eph.6:10); the source of this lasting strength is located “in the Lord,” who
has been exalted to a position of heavenly dominion “far above all rule and
authority and power and dominion” (Eph.1:21). Paul envisioned life in Christ as
disciples as life facing serious struggles, comparable to waging warfare. We really
can’t blame him for that when we consider the countless number of the faithful
have been martyred for their belief in Christ! Political correctness aside, this
imagery is bold and powerful! Here, the Christian is portrayed as putting on the
gear of warfare worn by soldiers.
Is Paul then promoting a form of Christian militarism and triumphalism? No,
my brothers and sisters in Christ. What we are reading here is Paul’s prayer for the
fledgling Christians to take on the task of ‘discipleship in Christ’ effectively and
properly, to be alert and aware of just what it entails being a Christ’s follower.
First, Apostle Paul exhorts that right up to the day that Christ returns, his
followers will be engaged in conflicts between themselves and “against the
[corrupt] authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against
the spiritual forces of evil” (Eph.6:12). What Paul is saying is that whether we
choose to depict the powers of good and evil this way, disturbing events and
morality entail forces much greater than simple levels of human transactions.
When a gunman goes off on a shooting rampage on a busy train; when social
values and trends appear to normalize infidelity; when the teachings of Christ are
forbidden in just about every public space in our society; when… there are simply
more involved here than mere individuals who promote and carry out acts of
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violence and hatred and distorted moral values. Scripture points out that there are
forces involved that surpass our own human understanding and limitations.
In light of such descriptions of discipleship, The Letter to Ephesians was not
meant plunge the followers of Christ into despair and leave them there! Despite the
presence of the powers of evil/darkness, God is present in their midst; in our midst!
This is the lasting message of Scripture today. While God’s presence in our midst
is not displayed in a grandiose style as it was through Solomon’s magnificent
construction, the attributes of God are nonetheless present for all believers to put
on.
What is striking about the individual pieces of armor, the attributes of God,
is that they symbolize qualities of God, not ordinary human virtues: truth, God’s
righteousness (or justice); readiness to proclaim the gospel of peace; faith, and
salvation; God’s word. No, these are hardly the ‘regular’ concepts of armaments
known to human construct: swords and arrows, guns and bombs, and forced
legislations…etc.
Scripture says that wherever God is present, wherever God’s attributes are
found, it becomes His temple. These pieces of armor point to the attributes
(qualities) that God uses to achieve the divine purpose within the world.
As incredible as these pieces of armor are, Scripture says that we may
discover them in ‘prayer.’ Perhaps the ‘regular’ type of utilitarian pieces of armor
may be constructed and acquired, but not these attributes of God. Scripture says,
only through prayer may they be discovered.
But these aren’t just ‘prayers of request’! Scripture says that we must engage
in prayer which refuses to blame either people or outside circumstances, but opens
the heart to change by God’s Spirit. I suspect we are all familiar with the former
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type of prayer, the one that we blurt out in desperation and in anger! How often
have we prayed for enemies to be thwarted, our complex problems to be whisked
away as a wind would blow away the dirt in our lives, or our problems/conditions
to be simply made right?
Scripture says, when we pray, we must engage in prayers that open the heart
to change by God’s Spirit; such a prayer will teach us to release our need for
control and destroy our own little kingdoms, our castles, before they destroy us.
With regards to the first aspect, we have often heard of the expression, “Let
go; let God.” It is about coming before God to pray; it is ultimately about letting go
of our need for control, even in our prayer.
With regards to the second aspect, chances are many of us have prayed for
things so that we may build our little kingdoms/castles on earth. Here’s a
humorous anecdote: ‘God, help me sell my house for the highest value possible;
God, help me purchase my new home for the cheapest price possible.’
Humor aside, as we pray to God under difficult conditions of our
discipleship-amidst the spiritual warfare-Scripture says that we may equip
ourselves with the armor of God: truth; God’s righteousness (justice); readiness to
proclaim the gospel of peace, faith and salvation; God’s word. And in being fully
armed with these attributes of God, we learn that we are a new temple of God,
where God dwells in us through the prism of our bodies and in our works for
Christ in this world.
Be sure, my brothers and sisters in Christ, that a conflict is raging all about
us, right now, followers of Christ engaged in battles against the principalities of
evil in our times. As Apostle Paul urges, let us engage ourselves in prayer before
God, both in solitude and especially as the church, the body of Christ.
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We used to have in our household at one point a fridge magnet with the
following inscription: ‘Why worry about it, when you can pray about it.’ No matter
what difficulties may come our way, may you find strength in knowing that we
may pray to God in earnest. God longs to equip us with the armaments truth, God’s
justice, God’s peace, faith and salvation; God’s word.
Amen.
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