Do you take notes during the sermon? Some folks do and some don’t, and either choice is fine. I find that it does a couple of things for me: it helps me to concentrate on what’s being said and it gives me something to reread during the week to think about the sermon again. As I reread my notes from Sunday’s sermon, I was struck by Paul’s constant struggle to teach his churches HOW to follow Christ. We continue to struggle with much the same things all these millennia later. The details of the challenges that Paul faced with his churches are different than many we face nowadays, but the underlying causes of the problems remain the same. That’s why Paul’s letters continue to teach us important lessons so many centuries and millennia later.
The birth of Christianity caused a big change in the way that people thought about religion. Following Christ wasn’t like anything they’d ever experienced before. Jesus’ teachings were a radical way of thinking about, well, everything! Human nature puts “self” about “others”. Human nature is survival-based, whereas Jesus taught that we were to think of others first and to put God above all else. That’s almost the exact opposite of what had ever been done before. Putting “self before others” is called narcissism. Narcissism is defined as “selfishness, involving a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration”.
- - Selfishness
- - Sense of entitlement
- - Lack of empathy
- - Needing admiration
You don’t have to look far (in the news, especially) to see narcissism in action, do you? I could add “spiritually pompous” to that definition when it comes to narcissism and religion. The Pharisees were extremely guilty of that, back in Jesus’ time. That’s why He constantly admonished them. The Pharisees were party within the Jewish religion who believed that God could and should be worshipped even away from the Temple and outside Jerusalem, which constantly put them at odds with the Priests of the Temple, who wanted everyone to worship ONLY at the Temple, and buy their sacrifices (also only at the Temple). To the Pharisees, worship consisted of prayer and studying God's law. So far, that sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Here’s the thing though… They were full of greed and self-indulgence. They acted self-righteous because they were the scrupulous keepers of the law but were, in fact, not righteous: their mask of righteousness hid a secret inner world of wicked thoughts and feelings. Jesus knew exactly what they were, and often was found debating with them when He was in Jerusalem.
Today, we would call the Pharisees narcissists. Pastor Gabriel asked a question in the Sunday Sermon: “Is narcissism the cause of the division in the church today?” I can see many instances where it likely is a part of it, at the very least. More and more, we find ourselves in a “me first” kind of world. It’s up to each one of us to remember the teachings of Jesus and those of Paul and put others first.
Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, warns: “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” (Romans 16:17-19)
In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul said: ”So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:1-5)
Jesus warned: “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” (Luke 20:46-47)
Submitted by Jackie Garrison
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