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Scripture, Reason, and Tradition
Simul iustus et peccator
Justification by grace through faith.
Eh?
These are words and phrases that the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America use to describe themselves and their theology.
These words and phrases are “lingo” or “jargon”.
I don’t mean that in a negative or pejorative way,
but it’s all definitely insider language.
It’s hard for people who are not in the church to understand.
It’s hard for people in the church to understand,
but, often, we’ll nod and go along with it because we think we should know what it means!
Smile and nod, smile and nod.
Frankly, it’s a little like our Gospel text for today which is
repeatedly redundant and has
circularly circuitous logic.
We all smile and nod as though Jesus’ words make sense.
After all, they sound holy and smart.
Biblical scholars often call this chapter from John – portions of which we read each year on the seventh Sunday of Easter – the “High Priestly Prayer”. Like that clears things up.
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Those of you who have ever been in classes with me may have been challenged to describe your faith or some important aspect of your faith – say, “salvation” or “justification” – without using ANY “church-y” words.
Even if you give a correct answer, if you use church words, I’ll still buzz you.
This is a HARD exercise.
We are pretty steeped in it. We use words that we don’t always know exactly what they mean, but we know they are the right words and they fit. The problem is, we don’t always know how to explain what we mean without using the lingo or jargon.
For example, “justification”.
Granted, that’s primarily a “Lutheran” example, but, how would you define or describe justification to someone who is NOT in the chuch?
Here’s another one: Sanctification.
Any former Methodists out there? Sanctification is core to Methodist theology
It is also core to our theology (our words about God and what God is up to in our lives) even if we don’t talk about it that much or use that word.
Sanctification and justification go hand in hand. I often use the metaphor of the cart and the horse (justification being the horse and sanctification being the cart). Justification goes first and sanctification follows, because you KNOW that the cart cannot pull the horse!
God justifies (repairs our relationship with God and each other; God forgives, heals and loves) first,
and we are changed by that – transformed –
so that our priorities in life change.
Our choices, our actions, our way of being in the world and connecting with other people, especially those from whom we are estranged, or who are unknown to us.
That changed way of being is called, in churchy language, sanctification.
It’s a word and idea that we don’t spend as much time talking about (in general) in church.
Yes, God loves you. Full stop.
Yes, God forgives you. No exception.
But, then what?
“Yay me” with a little party?
The “then what” is the transformed life bit
the living in sanctification
the sharing with other and the world part
the “being in the world as the people of God” phase of life.
This is what Jesus is building up, what he’s praying for:
that we, the followers, would dwell deeply in the truth of God’s word and love and be in the world laying down our lives as Jesus did, for not just family and friends, but more boldly, for those who are our enemies, or who are not even known to us.
Examples of what this might look like for you:
• I saw a picture of a sign the other day that read “The real test is being kind to unkind people.”
• Volunteering for or advocating for children and education, or children and health care;
• Serving with families, especially single parent families;
• Sitting with and visiting older people who may be lonely and/or in the dying phase of life;
• Praying for folks around the world who are in any of these situations;
• Cleaning up a patch of ground, or not using harmful chemicals in house-cleaning or yard work (but using what my dear momma calls “elbow grease” instead!).
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You have been chosen and are loved by God.
The Holy Spirit gives you the courage to follow this difficult, but transforming, Way of Jesus.
This means work, but not drudgery.
This means paying attention, holy listening, and responding.
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There is the great little story at the end of the first chapter of Acts, after Jesus has ascended, but before the festival of Pentecost: it is a story of the problem of “12” (long before the Seahawks!)
Judas Iscariot was out. He was no longer part of the group after he betrayed Jesus (and later killed himself from the shame). Yet, the group needed twelve people as part of the fulfillment of the 12 tribes of Israel and the connection to their Jewish roots.
They looked at the group of folks who had been learning from Jesus by following, watching, and listening. They had 120 people to choose from and opted for two who fit the need. The group drew lots on these two and Matthias was chosen.
After this moment of choosing, the Spirit continues to be at work through these apostles, but never hear about or encounter Matthias, specifically, again. He’s doing his work – he’s serving and living the transformed/sanctified life; we just don’t hear about him again.
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You are chosen.
You have learned, listen, watched, followed; and you still are.
You are loved, forgiven, and called by God.
You are given courage and passion by the Spirit.
You are invited to live this transformed life in Jesus,
living out what you know deeply –
the love, grace, and reconciliation of God for the whole world.
This is our call.
This is our transformed life.
Amen
