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Before Sunday...

Pentecost X

Psalm 34

Deuteronomy 8:1-10

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

John 6:37-51

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

When I was in college I was introduced to C.S. Lewis’ science fiction trilogy, Perelandra, Out of the Silent Planet, and That Hideous Strength. I found them so engrossing that I read them straight through in one night. Fortunately, I did not have classes the next day!

In the last of his trilogy, That Hideous Strength, the organization that represents the anti-christ is called the “National Institute of Co-Ordinated Experiments” (N.I.C.E.). Lewis was on to something.

That Hideous Strength was written in 1945, at the end of World War II, when hope was finally dawning on the British people after a hellish season of conflict, death, and destruction. But Lewis was aware that human nature might run too quickly to a superficial and simplistic world, especially when it came to understanding one’s relationship to God by faith. He was afraid the Church of England (and perhaps Christians everywhere) would turn to a religion of “nice”. So, while Out of the Silent Planet takes place on Mars and Perelandra on Venus, That Hideous Strength with its anti-christ of a religion of “nice” took place on earth. The issue was in our own lap, in our own back yard.

Paul, in his teaching to the Christians throughout Asia Minor through the epistle to the Ephesians, is in the midst of explaining how Christian living is different from life in the (Gentile, or what we might call today the “secular”) world. He has taught in chapter four the great distinction between the Gentile life and the Christian life (see the sermon for August 2nd on this website), and now he is spelling out the details.

We are called to be imitators of God, walking in love, remembering Christ’s sacrifice as a “fragrant offering” to God. This is very nice.

And though the assigned reading ends here, let me continue…

“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among the saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:3-6)

Not so nice, but true.

Abraham Lincoln once called an address as “thin as soup made from the shadow of a starved pigeon.” Such is the religion of “nice”.

Certainly, we are called to embrace a life of compassion, love, and mercy. But such qualities can only bear the divine “fragrance” Paul talks about if we place it in the tougher context of holiness, godliness, and commitment to God.

– Marc Robertson

A Prayer

Almighty God, Who has entered the struggle of human sin and sorrow, Who endured the cross and shame, and Who sent His Son Who did not enter joy but first encountered great pain and suffering: send to us Your Holy Spirit, that our faith may be deepened and our love tested through godliness, so that our testimony to Your love may be authentic, deep, and genuine, reflecting the truth of Your glory. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.