Worship as a way of life
After Phil Robart's amazing survey of the Bible and God's intent for marriage, only one kind of person would follow him, a dumb kind. So here I am. Phil went to Yale, just like Jonathan Edwards, hence his erudition and $10 words, and quotes from Rembrandt and Da Vinci. On the other hand, I graduated from UConn, so you may only hear 10 cent words and quotes from basketball players. I don't have much on my preaching resume but I have a text from the Holy Spirit to share.
First the text, from the NIV
2:21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22"He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth."
23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
We need to begin with Jesus. We need to continue with Jesus. We then need to end with Jesus. Our lifestyle of worship is motivated by what Jesus has done for us. Worship is our service to God in response to his grace toward us. We just finished singing in worship. We worship in prayer. We worship in the reading of the Word of God. We also worship in our actions. Talk is cheap. Jesus did more than talk. He washed his disciples feet and told them to do likewise as the servant is not greater than the master (John 13:16). We are called to a life of suffering. It's not the normal altar call, "Come forward with a lifetime of suffering to look forward to..." but it is what Jesus calls us to. And he left us his example of how to suffer. We need to walk in his steps.
My wife and I have a new date night scheme involving ballroom dancing lessons. Our instructor is a patient older woman who has danced and taught dance all her life. She makes anyone in the room look good as her partner. She shows us new steps every week. And every week all the guys on the Man side of the room look at her feet and grimace, and our wives smirk at us. But eventually, we men start to get it. She constantly reminds the men that they have the easy part. Every week my wife's toes are a little less damaged and we smile more together. That's how I identify with following Jesus' steps. (If you are a man sensitive to that concept, imagine instead rebuilding a motor with Jesus.) Every week, I get a little better with the thing he is showing me, then showing me new steps for the next thing. I'm constantly humbled and at the same time getting better. He is so patient with and kind to me.
What are his steps? No sin and no deceit. He didn't sin in his trial. I know in my trials, I'm tempted to stop living a life of worship and give into the easier thing, the life of sin. I want to retaliate. I want to threaten. I forget that my Father can and does make things right. When I remember that, I am encouraged to pursue worship in the trial. As Paul says we are to overcome evil with good. (Romans 12: 19-21). And that is what I'm saved for. Because of Jesus' sacrifice I can die to sin and live for righteousness. But what a sacrifice. Peter himself probably observed those wounds in the making. Perhaps he saw the lashes of the whips and the spray of blood after he denied Jesus. Theodoret said, "a new and strange method of healing. The doctor suffered the cost, and the sick received the healing." How generous is our Savior. We had gone astray, we were deceived, we were misled until we were found by our Shepherd and Overseer. Peter nods to the diversity of the church whose Jewish members would have appreciated the Shepherd metaphor and whose Greek members the Overseer metaphor. Both metaphors are benevolent. With minimal comment though, I think it important to read Isaiah 53 that Peter is quoting so frequently.
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. [see 1 Peter 3:4 women]
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Before I talk about husbands and wives I think it helpful to skip to vv. 8-15.
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Literally, we are asked to be of the same mind. Harmony isn't a bad translation because it conveys the unity despite diversity. A bass might sing a different note than a tenor, but together with the other voices a beautiful harmony is made that is more beautiful than one voice. We need to avoid gift projection and gift comparing and spiritual talent matches. We perform for one person as an act of worship and have no need to get caught up in what others do or how they do it.
Sympathy is English for the Greek word sumpathes, which is pronounced like the English word. Don't you like it when a foreign language doesn't have a different word for the English. What is sympathy? It's sharing in someone else's feelings. It's Jesus crying at Lazarus' tomb. It's rejoicing with those who are rejoicing and mourning with those who mourn (Romans 12:15). It is an act of worship. It is not an easily detectable trait here in New England. We have a tendency to measure our affection by the degree of ribbing we give each other. We practice loving sarcasm. You know what I'm talking about. But we are called to a new culture, to new kingdom values.
Philadelphia is the Greek name for a city that is supposed to be known for its brotherly love. I have a younger brother and our brotherly love was not adequately expressed as children. He was the unfortunate recipient of many brotherly treatments from me that i would get very upset about when anyone else tried that on him. If someone wants to make trouble with my brother, than he better expect trouble back from me. Brotherly love is the kind that takes care of others because they're family. There are no further qualifications. Jesus told us we will be known as his disciples if we love one another (John 13:35). Caring for each other as well as we take care of our blood is an act of worship. Blood indeed is thicker than water, but the bond of Spirit can be even thicker for worshippers.
Compassion and humility are partners because compassion increases our concern for others and humility decreases our concerns for ourselves. Peter's word for compassion is the feelings deep in our guts, a feeling that can only be subdued with action. In our case the action is an act of worship. Jesus described himself once as gentle and humble giving rest to all who come to him. People can trust a humble person. Humble people aren't frightening.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Why not? Remember we were called (2:21) to suffering as an act of worship. But this suffering is so minimal compared to the eternal inheritance we will inherit so soon. And although the attacks can wear us down, we aren't blessing out of our present abilities but drawing from this heavenly inheritance. It's like using our Father's credit card. It's no hardship out of our abilities to bless our oppressors because we don't need to draw on our own abilities but his abundance. Jesus was the one who made the crazy suggestions to turn the other cheek to those who hit us, and carry someone else's burden for an extra mile, and give our cloak as a bonus to the one who sues for our tunic. What did Jesus do for those who were hanging him on the cross? Pleading with Father to forgive them. We are called to worship by stopping the world's cycle of vengeance. In America, we had two families famous for their generational feuding, the Hatfields and McCoys. For Americans this story is humorous, for most of the world vengeance that spans generations is normal, sad, and tragic. Our act of worship is not only to break the cycle but bless those who are perpetuating it, hopefully arresting their consciences. One example of this is Watchman Nee's...
Chairman Mao’s government was infuriated by the spread of Christianity in China. In order to stop the spread of this “foreign cult,” they had forced out or killed all foreign missionaries and had sent thousands of Chinese church leaders to prison or to “re-education through labor” camps. But the church still grew.
When the police discovered that Nee’s beautiful, powerful letters of encouragement were making their way out of the prison and into the hands of Christians, they doubled the number of guards and never allowed a guard to stand outside Nee’s cell more than once. They shortened shifts to six hours, hoping Nee would not have time to convert the guard.
Nee told the guard about the Father’s love and willingness to give up his own flesh and blood so the guard could live forever in heaven. “Communism cannot get you to heaven,” he said. “Only the blood of Jesus Christ can do that.”
Five hours into the sermon, with tears streaming from his eyes, the guard accepted Christ. Yet another soul was won for the kingdom, and yet another of Watchman Nee’s letters would be safely delivered.
Nee didn't regale his captors with his rights. Instead he blessed them with the good news. He worshipped before his guards and then with them.
10 For, "Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from deceitful speech.
11 He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
There is a good life here and a better life hereafter. It begins with worship by imitating Jesus who didn't speak lies, who not only did good but sought peace. Jesus blesses peacemakers in Matthew 5:9. Jesus is a good Shepherd and Overseer by being the one who sees us and hears us. But if we withhold these acts of worship and turn from him and pursue evil, he is against us, a position that seems a little like hell. This also explains the warning Peter gives to husbands in v. 7.
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
Logically, no one. Realistically, many people. No one did more good than Jesus and he was tortured to death. Some self-serving people view such eager do gooders as doormats rolled out for their exploitation. Indeed we are. But we have a Dad who judges justly and ultimately. Everything always works out well for his children. we live in a culture with the sad expression, "No good deed goes unpunished." But that shouldn't keep us from worship. We worship God for who he is, not for what bad things might happen to us.
14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
Sounds like a beatitude to me (Matt 5:10). J Vernon Magee points out that Jesus invites us to a banquet, not a picnic. But don't be afraid. Those of us forgiven by Jesus have no fear of God's judgment which is the thing the rest of the world needs to fear. They don't have a Dad who can set everything right. Bad things may happen to us, but we have a good Dad who will work things out. Not fearing is an act of worship.
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
Hopefully our life of worship motivated by gratitude and hope and longing to our celestial city will be evident to those around us. It's a worship that testifies and witnesses.
So now I will return to marriages.
1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
"Soul-winning" is a concept originally found in the context of marriage. It's a life of evangelism in deeds. The submission Jesus commends to wives is no more than his submission to all of us. He submitted to us in order that we might be won to him. All believers are called to submit. The lifestyle of worship of believing wives is pure and reverent.
3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
Let's review Isaiah 53:2. Jesus wasn't attractive in form, and we have no contemporary descriptions of him, but we are still attracted to him. But there is a beauty worth attaining that God, who doesn't look on outward appearances but rather the heart, approves. The believing wife will get more mileage from a beautiful spirit than as a place to hang jewelry and wigs and fine apparel. She can worship God in a way that he esteems.
5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
When your hope is in God, there is nothing to fear.
His mother had an idea: "Why don't you send her flowers,and on the card invite her to your place for a home-cooked meal?"
He thought this was a great strategy and arranged a date for a week later. His mother called the day after the big date to see how things had gone.
"The evening was a disaster," he moaned.
"Why, didn't she come over?" asked his mother.
"Oh, she came over, but she refused to cook..."
7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Considerate is a translation of "according to knowledge." A husband can acquire a new way to worship in deed by asking his wife how he could treat her more considerately. In Jesus' kingdom the strong serve the weak. So husbands might need to tie on an apron. Didn't Jesus feed several thousand people at a time? The word the NIV translates as "partner" is actually "vessel." We are earthen vessels carrying heavenly treasure. God has entrusted these precious vessels of his to husbands. These vessels are the husbands' co-heirs. They are God's daughters. They need to be treated like highly valued princesses of the King. No one who courts the King's daughters would wisely treat them in a way that might upset their Father. Unfortunately, not all those husbands are wise and will find God unresponsive to them until they repent. No Christian husband should ever resort to violence or abuse in their marriages. That isn't how to worship. Worshipers act in love toward others out of love to and from God in response to the great love He showed us.
God is good.
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