Who We Are?

I Peter 2:1-10

Introduction:

A transition period in the life of a congregation is a critical time for God's people. The real temptation is to put everything on hold until a new pastor is chosen and is on the job. The ideal, however, is to treat this period as a time of reassessment and renewal. It is a time in which we can take a look at the focus and outreach of our mission. It is a time for us to ask ourselves who we are, why we are, and how we are. Our epistle lesson for today lends itself very well for us to ask these very questions.

I. Who are we?

a. We are a chosen race. God has chosen us to be an international race of Christians. With this title Peter reminds us of the covenant, where of all the peoples of the world God has chosen us. Not because we were great; not because we were or are better than any other people, but simply because God loves us.

One precaution is necessary here, especially for white, American Christians. As soon as the word "race" is mentioned we begin to ask: Does that mean the white race? Some of our Christian brothers and sisters have answered "yes". Not so. Let us never forget that the early church was made up of many races and not all of them incidentally were Anglo-Saxon. Peter is writing to small groups of Christians in Asia Minor which you know is modern Turkey. Peter is trying to tell us that God is calling out a Christian people and their most common characteristic is not the color of their skin, but the quality of their lives.

b. We are a royal priesthood. This passage from Peter is the a premiere passage which expounds the "priesthood of all believers." Do you recall the story, that when Jesus breathed his last on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in half. The veil which separated God behind the veil in the Holy of Holies in the temple was ripped. For centuries God had been veiled in mystery, but no longer. God made all his people a kingdom of priests. All had access to God. Access means that our work -- our vocation-- is an offering to God. One of my mentors in the faith is the former president of Austin College, one of our Presbyterian col1eges in Texas, John D. Moseley. Dr Moseley, a lawyer and an educator, always considered his work a Christian calling. And all his life has been concerned that all Christians consider their work their Christian calling. You are called to be Christian in whatever work you are doing.

As God's royal priests worship is an offering to God. Occasional and casual worship is simply not an option for God’s people. As a matter of fact each of us individually and collectively is an offering to God. "Present your bodies," said Paul in Romans [12:1], "as a living sacrifice to God."

c. We are a holy nation. We have the most difficulty with holiness. When we think "holy" we think of some spotless saint of old times. Moses, Joshua, the prophets -- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea -- now that’s holy. In our own time we think of saints like Gandhi or Mother Theresa or Albert Schweitzer or Dr. Martin Luther King or other worthies larger than life or great souls in remote places who dedicate their whole lives to good works for God. The lives of these persons are an inspiration to us all.

But Peter says, "We are a holy nation." What does that mean? You and I are called to be different -- different from self-seeking, self-satisfied human beings; different because we are called to lives of unselfish service to others.
But not just one nation -- called from Germany, France, Africa, South America, Mexico. Cameroon, Scotland, North America -- but called out from all nations to be holy -- to be different -- different not just for difference’ sake. Different because our agenda is God’s agenda.

d. We are God’s own peculiar possession. Peter recalls Moses going up to the mountain to receive the covenant commandments from God. And God said to Moses:
Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eag1els wings and brought you to myself. Now, therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all the peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. II [Exodus 19:3-6]

Personally, I like this characteristic—God’s peculiar possession. Sometimes we are surprised when people of the world think Christians peculiar. And Peter assures us that those without God will think us peculiar. We understand when people say a person is demon possessed. But what about being God possessed? Possessed by a conviction, a calling to turn away from the will and wants of the world, away from the goddess of success and power -- possessed of an insatiable desire to do God’s will.

II. But why -- why all these wonderful things that God has poured out on us -- a rag-tag, unlikely bunch, like us, around the world? WHY?

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods own peculiar possession in order that you may demonstrate the goodness of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." [I Peter 2: 9]

The best news about the reason we have been given such marvelous gifts is that we are no longer in the dark. Jesus has made it possible for us to stand in the light of God. This is a great opportunity for us as Christians. It is our responsibility to demonstrate to the world the marvelous light into which God has brought us.

You now see WHY God has given us the wonderful gifts. We have these gifts in order to be a public demonstration of God’s marvelous salvation.

Any good salesman worthy of his salt goes out to his customers with a demonstration of his wares. The salesman could talk about the assets and the ability of the client to profit from the salesman’s goods but she would be in the dark until the salesman laid out his "demo" before the skeptical, potential buyer. Then she sees the light, knowing for sure what the product will do for her and her business.

Just so, the darkened world will not see the light until they see it in the faces and lives of those who stand in the light. You are a living demonstration of the faith.

III. How?

My very first sermon was on this text from Peter’s letter to the young churches in Asia Minor. With rather shaky knees and trembling voice, I spoke on the nature and mission of the church. The two basic points of Who and Why are riveted in my mind.

But now years later I perceive that there is another point to be made here. There is the Who and the Why but there is also the How! How are we -- we ordinary Christians -- to be such a demonstration of the Gospel light? The context of the text breaks open the answer. The passage begins with a baptism. In those early days of the Church those who received baptism, promised to "put away all malice, and all guile and insincerity, and envy and slander." They stripped off their old garments and were baptized. Then they put on all white garments - - symbolizing putting off the old self and putting on a new self. Then they drank milk laced with honey, symbolizing that they had entered the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Peter beckons the newly baptized to yearn for spiritual milk that they may grow up to salvation, and be like living stones built into a spiritual house with Jesus as the chief cornerstone.

Get the point? We are not bright shining beacons of light overnight -- we must grow in our faith. We must yearn for spiritual nourishment each and every day. We must more and more taste the kindness of the Lord. Many of us, though mature in years, are still babes in the Lord, and must eat pab1um, and drink milk -- just like new born babies. Then as we grow up in the faith we are able to eat meat -- learning what it means to be chosen by God, develop in our priesthoods, know how to be different and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it - more and more to put God first in our lives. We already stand in the light let us not forget.

Conclusion:

During this transition time I appeal to you not to let your light fade one whit. Sharp, committed candidates will be looking at your program and mission to see if they might fit your strategy. Pray for the PNC that they may not flag in their zeal to find the right person for you to call as your senior pastor.

In the meanwhile, keep your hands to the plow and your minds and wills focused on who, why and how you are God's people in this community - so that when the call comes for new pastoral leadership you will be organized and ready as a demonstration of God's love and light.

A sermon preached on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, April 24, 2005, by Dr. E. Thomas Miller at Georgetown Presbyterian Church.