|
Advent 2 Lesson: Baruch 5:1-9
December 6, 2009 Canticle 16
The Rev. Wallace Marsh Epistle: Philippians 1:3-11
St. James’ Church, Marietta Holy Gospel: Luke 3:1-6
I speak to you in the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
I could not believe there was a class on Philippians in seminary. It is not a complex theological book like Romans, Galatians or Revelation; Philippians is a happy letter, a love letter of some sorts. The fact that they were offering this as a class was too good to be true, and the best thing about this class -- Philippians is only four chapters. The underwater basket weaving of classes…so I signed up. Thinking that this was too good to be true, I went home and reread Philippians to make sure there were no hiccups in my plan. After a quick read, I was reminded again that I had seen verses of Philippians on walls in gymnasiums, on the bottom of emails, in hymns, and even in our liturgy: “May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God.” I felt certain this class was going to be a breeze. Acolytes, college kids, students of all ages – never judge a book by its number of chapters.
On the first day class in the very first chapter (the we have before us today), it became evident that even though Philippians sounds and reads like a letter of joy and thanksgiving, underneath those simple words and phrases are some of the most important and rich theological themes in all of Paul’s writings.
After reading Philippians about ten times this week, I believe it is a letter you could read every day of your life and it would speak to you. As a matter of fact, I encourage each of you to read it sometime this week. It is only four chapters; you can read it before you go to bed, or first thing in the morning with your cup of coffee. It is a beautiful letter that will speak to your life.
One of the things I would like to talk about in the Philippians passage is an important Greek word that Paul uses in today’s passage. The word is “Kiononia,” and it is used to describe sharing. The purpose of the letter to the Philippians is to raise money. Paul is asking the Christians in Philippi to financially give to the Church. He uses the concept of Kiononia, of a community who shares one’s gifts as the basis of his argument.
Paul thinks being a part of Christian community necessitates responsibility; you do not just come and sit; you participate and you do that by sharing your gifts. Time and time again in this short letter, Paul reiterates the importance sharing and giving as a result of following the example of Christ. This is clearly seen in Chapter 2 when Paul speaks his most famous words: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus…” Koinonia is when a community follows the self-less example of Christ; it is when a community has the same mind that was in Christ Jesus.
Now I know you are probably saying to yourself, Fr. Wallace, we know it is the final Sunday of the Stewardship campaign and this is your attempt to preach one last Stewardship sermon. Is Koinonia really a Greek word describing a community that requires financial responsibility, or is this just something I am tweaking for the sake of Stewardship?
As most of you know, I came from Albany, Georgia. Just a few short miles north of Albany is a town by the name of Americus, Georgia. In 1942, just outside of Americus, GA a man by the name of Clarence Jordon established a Christian community he named Kiononia.
About 20 people came together and established this community upon Paul’s understanding of Kiononia. They based it upon the same principles we hear in today’s reading from Philippians. Membership in this Christian community was about working together and sharing financial resources. One of the members who later joined this community was an Auburn graduate with a law degree from Alabama. At 29 he was a successful millionaire with a great business, but failing health and marriage. During this difficult time, this 29 year-old millionaire had a religious conversion that led him to sell all that he had and join Kiononia. That man died last February at the age of 74, and was buried at Kiononia. His funeral brought national attention because his name was Millard Fuller. It was living with the mindset of Kiononia that Millard Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity.
In 1996, former U.S. President Bill Clinton awarded Fuller the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, calling Habitat “…the most successful continuous community service project in the history of the United States.” That it might be, but what it really is, is Paul’s vision of Kiononia…
As your pastor, I want to be honest with you. One of the things we as a church must realize is that we live in a consumer-driven culture. People church shop, and if you do not offer what they are looking for they are not coming back. I cannot tell you the number of newcomers I meet at the back door who tell me they are church shopping – looking for particular services and programs. If St. James’ is going to survive in this culture, we have to adapt, and that takes money and resources. We cannot offer everything, we cannot be all things to all people, but we can and should build upon what we have and who we are.
And that is what I would like to end with – who we are. In my four months here, I have had numerous conversations, lunches and dinners with parishioners from every walk of life. I have asked the old and young one question…St. James’ is the Church that offers what??? Time and time again, the response has been the same — we offer a diverse and genuine community of faith. Here you find friends you share similar interest with, and come to love those you politically and socially disagree with…that is the type of community that exists at St. James’. It is a beautiful community, something we should be proud of. It is what brought Margaret Ann and me here, and it is the good news we share with others.
Christian community is great, it is wonderful to be a part of, but Paul reminds us today that Kiononia is what we are to strive for. Kiononia is what we are to become.
Not far from here a 29 year old millionaire had everything, but when he encountered Kiononia, a community who worked together, and gave and shared their financial resources, his life and many other lives were changed. Kiononia draws people in and changes lives. It is who we are, and with your gifts and support, it is who we will continue to become. Amen.
|
Sermons and Lectionary