That Life Revealed
By Rev. Jonathan Brown
04/07/2024
Online greeting.
Alright everyone we got through Easter good job. Operations team you were amazing. Choir once again you knocked it out of the park. Pastor Ginger preached an amazing sermon and the whole staff was spectacular. Welp……. It is time to get back to normal and I guess we can go ahead and just phone this one in and call it a day….
Except after Easter, there is no normal.
As we linger in the reflective season following Easter, our hearts and minds are filled with the echoes of resurrection. This transformative moment in our faith not only commemorates a past event but also invites us into a profound contemplation: "What now?" As the echoes of joyful hymns diminish and the vibrant lilies begin to wilt, are we expected to simply return to our familiar routines as if nothing has changed? Or does the resurrection of Jesus Christ call us to a radically different way of living? Today, we explore this question through the lens of two pivotal scriptural passages: 1 John 1:1-2:2 and Acts 4:32-35. These texts challenge us to reconsider the notion of 'normal' and invite us to embrace a life that is forever altered by the reality of the resurrection.
1 John 1:1-2:2: The Tangible Reality of the Word of Life
John's first epistle provides a powerful testament to the physical and historical reality of Jesus Christ. He writes, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." John emphasizes the sensory experiences of the incarnation to anchor his community's faith in something palpable and undeniable. This is not merely a recollection of events but a foundational declaration about the nature of their faith.
Authenticity and Witness
John counters any notion that Jesus was merely a spiritual figure or a symbolic myth. By highlighting the tangible interactions with Christ—seeing, hearing, and touching—John underscores that the resurrection is a concrete, historical reality that demands a concrete response. His testimony aims to fortify the believers' faith, showing that their convictions are grounded in real experiences with the living Christ.
Impact on Community Life
This tangible understanding of Jesus’ life and ministry profoundly influences how believers are called to live. It isn't enough to hold beliefs internally; these beliefs must manifest in outward, communal expressions of faith. John’s emphasis on the real presence of Christ compels the community to live authentically, embodying the virtues of Christ—such as love, generosity, and integrity—in every aspect of communal life.
Acts 4:32-35: A Communal Response to the Resurrection
Our Acts passage then exemplifies that communal life. After Easter the people who witnessed Christ and experienced him through the testimony of others there was no normal to return to life and reality had radically changed. The lifestyle of the early Christian community in Acts vividly reflects their response to the resurrection. Luke describes a community transformed: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had." This wasn't merely an idealistic philosophy but a practical outworking of their faith, deeply rooted in the experience of Christ's resurrection.
Radical Generosity and Unity
The unity and generosity exhibited by the early believers were not only radical in their historical context but continue to challenge and inspire us today. These first Christians did not view their possessions and resources as private property to be hoarded or used solely for personal gain. Instead, they saw everything they had as communal goods, entrusted to them by God, to be used for the welfare of the entire community. This radical sharing was deeply rooted in their understanding of the gospel and their personal experiences with Christ's teachings and His resurrection.
The practice of sharing everything they owned was a powerful, tangible manifestation of their new life in Christ. It was a direct response to Jesus' teachings on love, charity, and the breaking down of barriers between people. By living in such a radically generous way, they were embodying the Kingdom of God here on earth, showcasing a community where material needs did not create divisions but rather strengthened the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood. This way of life was a living, breathing example of the gospel in action, demonstrating that in Christ, there is no mine or yours, but only ours—shared freely and generously in love.
Theological Foundations of Communal Living
Their way of life challenges us today to examine our values and behaviors. In a culture often dominated by individualism and materialism, the early Christian commitment to communal living and radical generosity asks us to consider how the resurrection might similarly compel us to live differently. How do our lives reflect the transformative power of Christ's resurrection? Are we as willing to share our lives and resources with our community?
The "So That..." Series: Living the Resurrection
This sermon is part of the "So That..." series, designed to explore the transformative intentions behind the Biblical narratives. The early Christians lived and wrote "so that" others could see and experience the change brought about by the resurrection. They shared everything they had "so that" the world could witness the reality of their transformed lives, which were a direct response to their encounters with the risen Christ.
Implications for Modern Christian Living
A few weeks ago in my Disciple Under the Tree course, we were studying the Gospel of John and reflecting on chapter 12 when Mary covers Jesus with perfume foreshadowing his death. We talked about Jesus' response to Judas who said the money could have been used to help the poor. Jesus responds, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’” One of our award-winning members pointed out how frustrating it was to hear Jesus say that. To just accept that the economic inequity would always just be there. But it is interesting to see that after the resurrection as people’s lives were being transformed by the spirit and radical believers the Church began to live in a way that could end the reality of poverty. Sadly, as Christianity rose in political power compromises on that vision began to be made and normal seeped back into the lives of those assembled around the risen lord.
Imagine if we embraced the same radical communal spirit exemplified by the early Christians today. What if we truly viewed our possessions not merely as our own but as resources entrusted to us by God for the collective good of His people? Envision how this transformative perspective could reshape the upcoming General Conference. If we committed to living out this communal ethos, our discussions, decisions, and directives would be infused with a spirit of generosity and unity.
This shift in perspective would not only affect our personal lives but could fundamentally alter the fabric of our entire community. It would challenge us to reconsider our priorities, urging us to place communal well-being above individual gain. Our budget allocations, mission initiatives, and outreach programs would reflect this ethos, emphasizing stewardship, sharing, and sacrifice for the benefit of all.
As we gather to deliberate and plan for the future, adopting this perspective could lead us to create more inclusive and equitable structures, ensuring that every decision made and every resource allocated is aimed at nurturing the body of Christ. This radical approach could serve as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of living out the gospel in its fullest expression.
Conclusion
As we move forward from the Easter season, let us not merely return to 'normal.' Let us be inspired by the radical communal life of the early church and the tangible reality of Christ's presence that John so powerfully testified to. May our lives bear vivid witness to the resurrection through radical generosity, authentic community living, and a profound commitment to sharing our lives and resources.
In this season and beyond, may we live so transformed that the world around us can see and believe in the power of the resurrection. Let us embrace and embody the new life we have in Christ, demonstrating through our actions that we are truly people of the resurrection. Amen.
