Social Health

Apparently there is big important sports event happening tonight. Actually many of the big festivities have already started. Not just today, many of the festivities started a week ago. Of course you may have guessed that I am talking about the Super Bowl. More than 70,000 people are in Phoenix, Arizona to watch the NFL Championship game. Yet, beyond that, there will be countless “Super Bowl Parties” across the nation today. This game is celebrated in the same manner with cookouts and gathering like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day. It is a big social event all across our country!

You may not believe this, but there are two lawmakers in our state working on a bill to present that would make the Monday after the Super Bowl an official Holiday. Seriously, it would be known as Super Bowl Monday. The reasoning behind it is because so many of us are partying with friends and family that many people will call out sick to work on the Monday following anyway. If you don’t watch the game, maybe you like the commercials, or the half-time show? Maybe the Puppy Bowl is more your thing, no shame in that, it is truly adorable. What is undeniable is that we all like to get together with friends and family and share a meal and conversation. Humans will look for any reason to get together with the ones they love and enjoy being around.

As a matter of fact, we need this. We were created to interact with one another. This human need, since the beginning of the human race, is scientific study called Sociology. According to Britannica, sociology is the study of the dynamics of social interactions and how they influence a race, an age group, communities, cultures, and social movements. Sociologist have determined that humans depend on their social institutions and organizations to inform their decisions, define their morals, and their behavioral traits and habits. The church is a social organization. This is why church is important. We gather together with like-minded individuals to support one another, grow in our spiritual health, and influence our community in a positive way. Church, as in we as a social organization, are very important to the overall health of one another.

Pray and Read Ephesians 4:1-16

Ephesians 4:1–16 NRSV

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.” (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

There are four things that Paul says on how we should act towards one another as Christians, or more directly as the church. The first is humility. Not one of us is more important than the other or has more authority. Even I as your pastor, do not seek to be the end all be all of decision making in ministry and administration. I have my place as the one sent to you by God to be your spiritual leader and to guide you and all of us in seeking God’s will. However, I submit my authority to Christ above all things and above all others. Jesus Christ is the head of this church. There is not one person who can or should make all the decisions. We all need to yield to one another in terms of decisions on ministry and administration in order to be sure that everyone is heard and that everyone is able to act and be a part of this church to the best of their God -given ability. Now, I have already talked a lot about Church life. However, don’t you think we should have humility in all aspects of our life, from our workplaces, our friend groups, and even in our families? I think a lot of us could learn to be more humble. Don’t point the finger at others, point first at yourself.

The second thing that Paul speaks on is unity. We must be unified as the body of Christ. When I have seen Satan attack a church, this is typically the first thing that falls apart. People begin to spread rumors about the pastor or others in leadership, then they build alliances based on who believes what. Then you have multiple groups of people working opposed to one another. Jesus said that a house divided cannot stand. If there is not unity in the workplace, or among a friend group, or in a family, the environment can become harmful for those involved. I don’t think everyone who causes division means to, some do it out of some self-righteous determination to have things they way they want them to be without thinking there could be consequences. No situation, no workplace, family or church is ever perfect. Yet as Christians we have something that can unite us. We have one Lord, one belief, and one baptism. The sacraments of baptism and communion are very important in the life of the church. When we take Communion together, it is solidifying our bond as a church of believers in Jesus Christ. When we worship together, we are supporting one another in experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit. When we study His word together we are helping one another learn more about our loving God and the purpose He has for each of us.

The third thing that Paul tells the church is that each of us are given gifts, and yet there are different gifts that we have all been given. Some of us are excellent teachers of God’s word and commands. Some of us are great at telling others about our church and inviting friends to join us. Some of us are good at leading in worship with voice and music to proclaim the Truth in Christ. Others are good at handling the administrative affairs that are needed of every organization. Not one set of gifts is better than the other. We should use our gift to the best of our ability instead of spreading ourselves thin in trying to do multiple things at one time. This is what I mean about encouraging one another to use their gifts. We all should work to know as many of each other as possible and help one another to do what God whats us to do in this season of our lives. We must encourage one another.

Finally, we are to speak truth to one another in a godly, loving manner. Be open when things go wrong. Communication is so important. When you hear gossip about someone, instead of sharing it with someone else, or even allowing yourself to believe it without any proof, go talk to the person who is the subject of the gossip first. Speaking truth in love saves so many families when someone is hurt. Speaking openly, and also defending someone against gossip and rumors actually builds relationships more than sharing the gossip.

If you want unity among your family, friends and social organizations, then you must work with others not against one another. We as a church must come together in our work towards God’s will. We must stop all that seeks to divide and hurt one another. Be humble and gentle to those who God has given you as friends and family in your life. We all share the same Lord, same faith and beliefs. Support one another in our common bonds and in each others uniqueness. Build one another up to be the best they can be and you will be blessed as well. Always and again, communicate to other another. Do not hide anything from those who love and care about. Satan wants to cause division to isolate us. We are stronger together. Together, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’s people are unstoppable.

In the name of God the Father, Jesus our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.