LIFE IN THE SPIRIT

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Romans 8:5-11

Since the announcement of my new call, a number of people have been in touch with me. I can’t thank you enough for the letters, e-mails, phone calls expressing care and support for my family and I during this time. It’s truly humbling to hear the heartfelt comments regarding how much we will be missed. The same sentiments go for us as well.

A few people have said, “Do you have to leave? Can’t you stay here?” Sure, I could stay if I wanted to. There’s no one kicking me out the door. Lord knows remaining here in Appleton would certainly make life a lot easier.

We have a brand new house that we’ve only lived in for two years. The landscaping was just finished last Saturday and the bulbs Laura planted are starting to bloom. Each room is finally complete with walls painted and necessary furnishings. It’s our dream home.

In addition to a wonderful home, we have good friends at church and in the neighborhood, and Laura’s parents live just across town. We are surrounded by people who love us and care for us. What more could we ask for? Life is good.

Believe me, there is no one who wanted us to stay more than me. I’ve spent many hours in this very sanctuary the last couple of months arguing with God and asking the same questions: Do we have to leave now? Can’t we stay a little longer? With roots already in place and an established routine, staying in Appleton would simplify life.

But as Pastor Jake reminded us last week, if you want God to laugh, just tell God your plans. That was my first mistake – informing God of what I wanted to do. I knew I should have only told Laura.

My feeling is most people, if life was going good, would be content with that journey. We tend to like our comfort. We want a sense of stability in life. We seek to gain a high level of control over our plans. Don’t tell us that life has to change course. The kids have only a couple of more years before graduating from high school; the church is so close to being at full staff for once; and there is just one more year left in completing the doctoral program. We’re not interested in what God wants. We live according to the values and standards of our own desires.

Today the Apostle Paul shares with us some thoughts on this subject. Last week we learned of Paul’s conversion experience on the Damascus Road – from being a persecutor of Christ’s followers to proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God. This morning we hear Paul’s extraordinary words in chapter eight of Romans. Paul is making the argument for Christ and chapters five through eight focuses on understanding what salvation in Christ means. The eighth chapter is the conclusion of Paul’s argument on this matter with a strong emphasis on living “according to the Spirit” and not “according to the flesh.” As he states, For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Paul believes there is a major struggle between humanity’s desires and God’s purposes. And a life that is guided by the flesh, content with the traps and falsehoods of this world, creates an unintended separation in our relationship with God.

Paul names the tension in life, the two ways of thinking that challenge us as human beings in God’s creation. But Paul goes on to affirm God’s Spirit which is present as a result of Christ Jesus, our risen Lord. He writes, You are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. We have life in the Spirit because the Spirit of God is already in us. The Spirit is moving, whether we want it to or not, nudging us, prodding us, shaping us to be the people God intends for us to be. This Spirit is working through us to think in ways that accord with the life of Christ and living God’s call. When we recognize this powerful life in the Spirit, and center our lives in Christ, we will know true peace and assurance in our lives.

I came across this story told by Tom Long, professor of homiletics, regarding Edward Bennett Williams, a distinguished lawyer. You see, Williams and a friend headed up a rather prominent foundation.

One time, Mother Theresa of Calcutta approached them asking for a substantial amount of money to fund a hospital that would treat people living with AIDS. Williams had already made his mind up not to give Mother Theresa any money. He told his friend to listen politely, but that they would send Mother Theresa away with a firm, yet polite no.

So Mother Theresa comes into the office, explains to them the situation and requests funding for this project. Of course, the two guys tell her no. Mother Theresa folded her hands and bowed her head and said, “Let us pray.” The two men rolled their eyes but bowed their heads in prayer. After Mother Theresa said “Amen,” she launched into her request for money again. When she was finished, the two men, again, said no. Mother Theresa folded her hands and bowed her head again and said, “Let us pray.” She finished her prayer again and went right into explaining her appeal for money. “All right,” said Edward Bennett Williams, “let me get my checkbook.”

We are called to live according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh, and the Spirit of God that dwells in us will help us with thinking along the mindset of Christ so that our lives may fulfill God’s purpose. Mother Theresa, one that exemplified life in the Spirit, modeled for Edward Bennett Williams the way to think about life in the Spirit, which eventually moved him to live in accordance with the Spirit. The power of God in Edward Bennett Williams caused something very different to happen than what he had planned.

Brothers and sisters of First Congregational Church, I don’t want to leave here. It would be much easier to stay in Appleton and continue doing what I’m doing. Things are comfortable and stable in my life. All is good. But that’s setting my mind on the flesh, and living according to human desires.

Please don’t hear me wrong, in no way am I trying to prop myself up as some sort of example for living life in the Spirit. God knows I’ve dismissed living according to the Spirit many times because life in the flesh seemed better and easier. The time has come though to set aside the things of the flesh and to set my mind on the Spirit which offers new life.

As much as I’d like to remain at First Congo to officiate weddings for kids that I’ve had in Confirmation, to perform baptisms for friends preparing to welcome a new baby, to be present with members when future struggles arise…the moment for me to answer God’s call in serving a new community of faith is now. It may not feel like the right time based on my standards, but that is life in the Spirit.

After eight years of service, the Lord is sending me out to do a new thing. The gifts and skills and experience graciously nurtured by this church have prepared me for new opportunities, new challenges, and a new life in the Spirit. I believe in order to be faithful it’s necessary that I respond to this new call. Would it have been nice to wait until a new Senior Pastor was on board? Maybe! Would it have been better to wait until after I finished my doctoral program? Of course! Then again, the call of God, life in the Spirit, works in mysterious ways that are not our ways. Is this change going to be hard? Yes! However, as Paul claims later on in this chapter, I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.

That is the crux of our Christian faith, isn’t it? We believe that through death, loss, pain, suffering, and change, there is resurrection, hope, joy, peace and new life. If I were to stay here at First Congo, cling to what I know, do what I want, live according to the flesh, then I’d essentially be saying that death is the final word and that I don’t believe in the resurrection of our risen Lord. But that’s not true. I trust the Spirit of God dwells in me, and that living according to the Spirit, new life and glorious peace will be made known once again.

The same can be said for each one of you here and for the church as a whole. You are in the Spirit [because] the Spirit of God dwells in you. Even though things might have been easier and there may have been less stress had I remained on staff, the Lord is calling you to set your minds on the things of the Spirit, which will help you discern the new life unfolding in your midst. Follow the lead of the Spirit, and God’s peace and assurance will uphold you. God invites you to center your life in the Spirit while at the same time the Spirit of God goes with you to meet and greet those difficult, challenging changes. One thing is for certain, life in the Spirit definitely adds Spirit in the life. The call of God takes us to places we may not want to go, and at times when we may not want to leave. Yet, life in the Spirit is exactly where God needs us to be. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Sermon preached by Reverend Kevin P. Gregory at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Appleton, Wisconsin on April 29, 2007.