211205 – Xmas- Circumspect

Yr C ~ Advent 2 ~ Philippians 1:3-11 (MSG)

Today we’re continuing our Advent sermon series about church and culture and Christmas, and how we as people of faith can lovingly navigate a season that says it’s about Christ-mas but is so commercialized and secularized that it rankles our spiritual sensibilities.

Last week we talked about how the Christ part has been ‘cancelled’ out of Christmas, because many, many people celebrate the holiday and never go further than Santa Claus and gift giving. There’s even a movement out there advocating for changing the name of it to ‘Giftmas’ instead of Christmas. Giftmas. Well, at least it’s more honest. I said last Sunday that for many – perhaps the majority of people? – that it’s become all ‘ho-ho-ho Santa’ and ‘no-no-no Jesus’. That’s sad. And it’s frustrating (ok, maybe even infuriating) for people of faith. I also said that it’s not just Jesus who’s been cancelled when it comes to Christmas – but that we, churches/Christians, have been cancelled too, generally speaking.

What might we do about that? Should we care? Should we change something?
Have we been doing something wrong?
Or maybe we’ve been right all along and they’re all wrong and they oughta change?
Or, maybe our time has just passed and the whole Christian movement has withered and just hasn’t fallen over yet?
I don’t believe that’s true – but there are some hard and heavy questions to be wrestled with about how and why we’ve been cancelled by the culture – and in the midst of that wrestling hopefully something new will be born. And there you have the reason why we’re talking about this during Advent. Preparing for the birthing of something new, and wonderful, and life-changing, and holy at Christmastime is exactly what Advent is all about.

Last week we looked at a hopeful and encouraging letter from Paul to the Thessalonian church which was facing hard times. This week we have his letter to the church at Philippi. It opens with his typical greetings of gratitude and praise for the congregation. In Philippians 1:6 we get that great line that goes: There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to…flourishing.

Then verses 7 and 8 are about steadfastness in faith. Paul feels this really deeply. Unfortunately, none of the biblical translations capture the vividness of this. The word he uses actually refers to your inward parts – the internal organs. That’s where the ancients understood the seat of our emotions to be. Not in our hearts, but in our guts! Deep down, gut-wrenching, gut-level, “errrrggggghhhhh!!!!!” Do you feel some things that way? In your guts? That’s how Paul felt about his churches – and it describes some of the intensity of the love he’s about to describe. It’s not a saccharine, hallmark card kind of love – it’s in your guts! “Errrrggggghhhhh!!!!!”

And then he tells us how to do it. I’m going to take this part phrase by phrase – and I’m using The Message translation because the way it speaks sounds like a real person really talking to a real church – like now.
This is all from Philippians 1:9-11. Paul says,

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish

Yes. Flourishing. It’s such a rich, and full, and juicy word. That your love will flourish – will grow luxuriantly. That your love will thrive. That’s the prayer. Say more Paul!

and that you will not only love much but well.

Aha! It’s the classic tension between quantity and quality. Loving much vs loving well. Of course, the ultimate goal is to love much AND well! But if you have to lean toward one or the other, choose quality over quantity – choose loving well.

Learn to love appropriately.

I think that’s fascinating. Learn to love appropriately. Fittingly. Aptly. And notice it’s “learn to love appropriately” – learn – as in maybe it doesn’t just happen automatically? Maybe the typical way the world loves is not what Paul is talking about? Maybe loving the way Jesus teaches is different, deeper, holier? What does that look like? Ask Paul!

You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush.

So if we just let our feelings lead us it may be sentimentality, or surface love that we’re about. But if we use our heads and thoughtfully test our feelings, bringing our intellect into the equation, we may love more deeply and more sincerely. Interesting.

This is the exact opposite problem we have with matters of faith in our United Churches. We come at it predominantly with our intellect, our heads, and sometimes never allow ourselves to engage our hearts or guts – our feelings.

So, in loving, make sure it’s not all heart stuff – and in theology and faith make sure it’s not all head stuff. Gee, imagine that – depth and wholeness and fullness and flourishing comes when we engage our whole selves, balancing (or better yet dancing) our hearts and minds.

Wow, that Paul guy’s pretty good! What more might he say? Let’s find out!

Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of:

A lover’s life! I love how I get to say this just about every single week!
What’s a lover’s life? You know this one inside and out.
To love God, to love people, and to love one another.
A lover’s life is to love, love, love.

And in what manner shall we go about it? This one may surprise you.

Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of:

The dictionary says to be circumspect is to be cautious, prudent, watchful, discreet, considering circumstances before acting. It’s not about fear of doing something wrong – it’s about thoughtfulness of doing something right! The two parts that form the word are circum (like circumference) which refers to ‘around’ – and spect (like spectacles) which means to look. So the idea of ‘circumspect’ is to look from all angles, understand numerous perspectives, looking before you leap.

There’s a strong sense of discernment in this loving that Paul encourages. To be self-aware. To be grounded in love of God SO THAT you can more ‘appropriately’ love people and love one another. Again, as always, this is the inner journey.
Spend time loving God – worshipping, praising, praying, sensing, savouring, soaking in God’s loving Presence. This is where the deep peace, the inner peace, is cultivated!
We must tend to the inner work much more intentionally – the personal work we open ourselves to and commit ourselves to, in cooperation with the Holy Sprit, to deepen in transformation. Remember what Paul said just a couple verses ago:
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to…flourishing.

Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of:
And then we get the big finish. A life that Jesus would be proud of would be…(here’s Paul again)

bountiful in fruits from the soul,

Well, bounteous fruit comes from harvest – and harvest comes from planting and tending to the crop! (Yes, YOU are the crop!) And what do we do with this bounty?

making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

Imagine that! We’re talking evangelism again. Or, as we’ve started to rename it – influencing! In other words, your inner growing, and deepening, and transforming yields love that is intended to be shared in an overall goal to influence others to want to share in that love too.

Ah, but then we remember our word of the day – circumspect! And we’ve come full circle back to how to be a Christian in a culture that celebrates Giftmas but still calls it Christmas. Circumspection is a fruit of the spirit. It comes from maturity and depth. So as we, people of faith, engage the world we need to be circumspect in how we communicate with others – how we share the gospel – how we talk about Jesus in Christmas – how we talk about Jesus anytime!!!

Here’s the message in a nutshell.
The more inner work you do the more at peace you’ll be, and the more comfortable, and natural, and circumspect you will be as you in turn express, in conversation and action in the world, the love that fills you to overflowing.

Your love will flourish, and…you will not only love much but well. (You’ll) learn to love appropriately. You (will continue) to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. You will live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, (influencing those you encounter) making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

This is my prayer.
Amen.