A Living Sacrifice
Sermon
A Call To Love
Second Lesson Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost
I had always assumed I understood the word "sacrifice." A recent trip to Mexico City, however, washed away any ideas I previously held. I had gone through life with the biblical language firmly fixed in my mind. I knew that Paul said, "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice." That does not even come close to what I experienced. On my first day of touring Mexico City with Roberto, he began to give me the history of the city, and the 300--year journey the Aztec Indians made to find the place of the eagle and the snake. We walked past the hall of the conquerors to an excavated sight of ruins that dated back to the fourteenth century. As I walked through the museum, I was amazed by the understanding that these Aztec Indians had of the relationship between their gods and human life. One depiction was of the leaders of their people, the chief priest, and the ruler standing atop one of the larger pyramids. Down the face of the pyramids ran the blood of those who had been sacrificed. The blood was a trademark of the total dedication of these people, with the possible exception of those who had been sacrificed. It seemed that these sacrifices were so much a part of the culture that there were those who would face sacrifice from the time of their birth. To sacrifice and to be sacrificed was a way to satisfy the gods. This rite of offering was performed for hundreds of years. It was not only part of the ritual, it was part of life.
A few hundred feet away from the museum was a Catholic cathedral. I suddenly became aware as I walked inside this massive church built out of the Aztec pyramids that there was another image of sacrifice. This one was a large crucifix above the altar. It was that sacrifice that put into focus the sacrifices that had been performed virtually on that spot. As I went away from downtown Mexico City, a keener understanding of Paul's words existed in my heart.
It is with these images of sacrifice that we move to the writing of the Apostle Paul and the sacrifice he challenges us to become. The section of scripture Paul writes here is a movement away from the theological understanding of the Christian faith. It is a movement toward practical Christian living: what it means to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Apostle says here that the clearest image he wishes to use as the description of a Christian life is the act of sacrifice, the presenting of life to God. This is a very lofty view of human life. Most of us think of ourselves as being too low, too wicked, too wrong, or too unworthy. Paul pauses and emphasizes our gifts to God as being able to give our best. Then he pauses again, and writes, "I bid you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think." Notice, he doesn't say what that is, or how high we ought to think of ourselves. Paul seems to be saying not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, but at the same time, to think of ourselves as gifted. The way the whole church will benefit is to let everyone exercise his or her gift.
Yet how in the world can we offer ourselves as a spiritual sacrifice if we do not understand the gifts we offer? In order to appreciate the gifts fully there must be an understanding of our opinion of ourselves. In our culture we talk about self--image and self--confidence. Paul says we are to think of ourselves as gifted. There seem to be three avenues to travel in response to self--image. One is pride, thinking too highly of ourselves. The second avenue is low self--esteem, thinking less than we should of ourselves. The last avenue is a healthy self--image, being able to offer ourselves to God as the right kind of sacrifice.
If we take time to look at two of the three, we will find that they are deadly and will bring personal and spiritual harm. The pride or arrogance in self or religion is hurtful not only to us but to others. Most of the problems that Jesus dealt with had to do with religious arrogance. When he encountered the Pharisees, the questions were not of the well--being of another person, but some law that may have been broken. Jesus' healing of a man recorded in John 5 is a wonderful example of this. The man had been sick 38 years and Jesus told the man to take up his bed and walk. The man was healed, however, on the sabbath. The Pharisees condemned him for carrying his bed and had no concern for his health or well--being. The problem was that they were spiritually arrogant. When Jesus was with people on the outside of Jewish purity, these religious people complained that he was eating with sinners. Jesus replied that he came to save sinners and not to save the saved. This attitude is not found only in Jesus' day. Not only have I known people who have expressed a superior attitude, but I was brought up in a tradition that proudly expressed it.
It was a group who professed to have perfect and complete knowledge of the truth, and who looked with disdain on anyone who was different or believed differently. To claim to speak only absolute truth is to be self--deceived, guilty of both arrogance and foolishness. This problem is a very real problem, and Paul's words here would certainly be a big help. Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought. But do think of yourselves as gifted. These words, "Don't think of yourselves more highly than you ought," are ringing words, but Paul doesn't say how high that is. I find Paul's expression here of a living sacrifice in great contrast with what a few Christians do. Many people have been so afraid of the characteristic of Pride that they have run to the other extreme and joined in the massive put--down in our society.
A survey taken of high school students asked, "What is the worst thing that can happen to you?" The number one answer was: "to be put down in front of my friends." The illiteracy rate in my part of the country is alarmingly high. A friend involved in adult education says the number one problem of educating adults who have limited formal education is the embarrassment factor or the fear that someone might make light of their condition.
Being put down or embarrassed continues to drive the self--image to an unhealthy level. It was just a few days ago that I had to make a trip to a government office. As I walked into the crowded waiting room, there was a sign beside the desk which read: "Take a number. DO NOT COME TO THE DESK BEFORE YOUR NUMBER IS CALLED." While waiting, I watched the people before me take a legal length sheet of paper and struggle to fill it out only to be reprimanded when the form wasn't filled out properly. Finally one elderly lady trying for the third time told the lady behind the desk, "I don't need what you offer so badly as to be treated this way," and she walked out. People will do without necessities rather than be put down.
A fifty--year--old man I know does not have a relationship with his father because his father finds some way to put him down every time they are around each other. So he and his siblings stay away from their father as much as possible. The man says it would be quite different if his father had gotten this way as he got older, but the father has put his children down since they were young.
During the process of life those things that build you up and those things that put you down will stay with you for a lifetime. Entertainer Jerry Lewis was talking about his career in an interview. After he became famous, he was invited back to his hometown and to the school he attended. He said that in the sixth grade he was put back, and the way the school did it was degrading. He said when he went back for his day of celebration, he requested a meeting with the school board to talk about how children are held back. He expressed the way he felt degraded and from that day forward they changed the procedure. He said that was the good part, then very quietly said, "You know, it still hurts. It still hurts."
We seem to get on this thing about humility. What it means for many is to stand and count our shoelaces. We are so afraid that someone will think too highly of himself or herself that we need to keep them humble. In fact, we have an expression that equates being a human being with making a mistake or being weak. Almost everyone knows the expression, "After all, I'm only human." When Grandma burns the blackberry pie and it tastes like tar, she says, "Well, I'm only human." Then she makes her lemon pie so beautifully and delicious. It tastes like the sun just came up. What is she then?
Paul says we are called to offer a sacrifice of ourselves, and that sacrifice is the best that can be offered. To offer the gifts that are the best is what is expected, and there isn't one person who isn't gifted. We come with an array of gifts. Paul says, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."
Maybe it is time to appreciate the supreme sacrifice given for us and allow ourselves to have a healthy attitude and disposition in the sacrifice we give to God. After all, we are the crowns of God's creation. We are created in God's image and priceless in God's sight. Every one of us has something to give to humankind and to God.
A few hundred feet away from the museum was a Catholic cathedral. I suddenly became aware as I walked inside this massive church built out of the Aztec pyramids that there was another image of sacrifice. This one was a large crucifix above the altar. It was that sacrifice that put into focus the sacrifices that had been performed virtually on that spot. As I went away from downtown Mexico City, a keener understanding of Paul's words existed in my heart.
It is with these images of sacrifice that we move to the writing of the Apostle Paul and the sacrifice he challenges us to become. The section of scripture Paul writes here is a movement away from the theological understanding of the Christian faith. It is a movement toward practical Christian living: what it means to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Apostle says here that the clearest image he wishes to use as the description of a Christian life is the act of sacrifice, the presenting of life to God. This is a very lofty view of human life. Most of us think of ourselves as being too low, too wicked, too wrong, or too unworthy. Paul pauses and emphasizes our gifts to God as being able to give our best. Then he pauses again, and writes, "I bid you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think." Notice, he doesn't say what that is, or how high we ought to think of ourselves. Paul seems to be saying not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think, but at the same time, to think of ourselves as gifted. The way the whole church will benefit is to let everyone exercise his or her gift.
Yet how in the world can we offer ourselves as a spiritual sacrifice if we do not understand the gifts we offer? In order to appreciate the gifts fully there must be an understanding of our opinion of ourselves. In our culture we talk about self--image and self--confidence. Paul says we are to think of ourselves as gifted. There seem to be three avenues to travel in response to self--image. One is pride, thinking too highly of ourselves. The second avenue is low self--esteem, thinking less than we should of ourselves. The last avenue is a healthy self--image, being able to offer ourselves to God as the right kind of sacrifice.
If we take time to look at two of the three, we will find that they are deadly and will bring personal and spiritual harm. The pride or arrogance in self or religion is hurtful not only to us but to others. Most of the problems that Jesus dealt with had to do with religious arrogance. When he encountered the Pharisees, the questions were not of the well--being of another person, but some law that may have been broken. Jesus' healing of a man recorded in John 5 is a wonderful example of this. The man had been sick 38 years and Jesus told the man to take up his bed and walk. The man was healed, however, on the sabbath. The Pharisees condemned him for carrying his bed and had no concern for his health or well--being. The problem was that they were spiritually arrogant. When Jesus was with people on the outside of Jewish purity, these religious people complained that he was eating with sinners. Jesus replied that he came to save sinners and not to save the saved. This attitude is not found only in Jesus' day. Not only have I known people who have expressed a superior attitude, but I was brought up in a tradition that proudly expressed it.
It was a group who professed to have perfect and complete knowledge of the truth, and who looked with disdain on anyone who was different or believed differently. To claim to speak only absolute truth is to be self--deceived, guilty of both arrogance and foolishness. This problem is a very real problem, and Paul's words here would certainly be a big help. Do not think of yourselves more highly than you ought. But do think of yourselves as gifted. These words, "Don't think of yourselves more highly than you ought," are ringing words, but Paul doesn't say how high that is. I find Paul's expression here of a living sacrifice in great contrast with what a few Christians do. Many people have been so afraid of the characteristic of Pride that they have run to the other extreme and joined in the massive put--down in our society.
A survey taken of high school students asked, "What is the worst thing that can happen to you?" The number one answer was: "to be put down in front of my friends." The illiteracy rate in my part of the country is alarmingly high. A friend involved in adult education says the number one problem of educating adults who have limited formal education is the embarrassment factor or the fear that someone might make light of their condition.
Being put down or embarrassed continues to drive the self--image to an unhealthy level. It was just a few days ago that I had to make a trip to a government office. As I walked into the crowded waiting room, there was a sign beside the desk which read: "Take a number. DO NOT COME TO THE DESK BEFORE YOUR NUMBER IS CALLED." While waiting, I watched the people before me take a legal length sheet of paper and struggle to fill it out only to be reprimanded when the form wasn't filled out properly. Finally one elderly lady trying for the third time told the lady behind the desk, "I don't need what you offer so badly as to be treated this way," and she walked out. People will do without necessities rather than be put down.
A fifty--year--old man I know does not have a relationship with his father because his father finds some way to put him down every time they are around each other. So he and his siblings stay away from their father as much as possible. The man says it would be quite different if his father had gotten this way as he got older, but the father has put his children down since they were young.
During the process of life those things that build you up and those things that put you down will stay with you for a lifetime. Entertainer Jerry Lewis was talking about his career in an interview. After he became famous, he was invited back to his hometown and to the school he attended. He said that in the sixth grade he was put back, and the way the school did it was degrading. He said when he went back for his day of celebration, he requested a meeting with the school board to talk about how children are held back. He expressed the way he felt degraded and from that day forward they changed the procedure. He said that was the good part, then very quietly said, "You know, it still hurts. It still hurts."
We seem to get on this thing about humility. What it means for many is to stand and count our shoelaces. We are so afraid that someone will think too highly of himself or herself that we need to keep them humble. In fact, we have an expression that equates being a human being with making a mistake or being weak. Almost everyone knows the expression, "After all, I'm only human." When Grandma burns the blackberry pie and it tastes like tar, she says, "Well, I'm only human." Then she makes her lemon pie so beautifully and delicious. It tastes like the sun just came up. What is she then?
Paul says we are called to offer a sacrifice of ourselves, and that sacrifice is the best that can be offered. To offer the gifts that are the best is what is expected, and there isn't one person who isn't gifted. We come with an array of gifts. Paul says, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."
Maybe it is time to appreciate the supreme sacrifice given for us and allow ourselves to have a healthy attitude and disposition in the sacrifice we give to God. After all, we are the crowns of God's creation. We are created in God's image and priceless in God's sight. Every one of us has something to give to humankind and to God.
