Sermon Tone Analysis

For the last six weeks we have been looking at who we are and what we do or don’t do.

I’ve made the point several times that Christianity is not about a list of do’s or don’ts, it is about living a life that please God.

I know it would be easy to say that I have been talking about do’s and don’ts in a round about way.

I’ll give you that.

I’ve been using our Manual as a starting point.

Even the word “Manual” implies doing or not doing stuff.

If we look at a manual we are expecting to learn how to operate something.

Darlene handed me an instruction sheet for a gadget she had purchased.

She wanted the abridged version of how to operate it without reading the entire thing.

As Christians we can be that way.

We want the short list of things we are supposed to do and the things we are not supposed to do.

The problem is that we become a checklist type of people.

We don’t want to read the entire book.

We don’t want to spend time learning all that God has to say.

We just want the short version.

Our Christian faith is much more than just following a list of do’s and don’t’s.

James who wrote about showing our faith by how we live our life had a great reminder for us.

Last week we began looking at 8 things that the Covenant of Christian Character says that we should avoid as Christians.

Like the Ten Commandments that form the foundation of that list, these sins impact both our relationship with God or our relationship with others.

The writer to the Hebrews says in our text

Hebrews 12:1 (CEB)

1 Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up,

There are two things he is saying there.

The first is the extra baggage.

It may not be sin, but it is extra stuff that we try to carry along with us.

A woman dreamed the Rapture was taking place.

But much to her consternation, while everyone else was zooming up, it was a struggle for her to get even twenty feet off the ground.

Looking down, she saw the problem.

Around her ankle was a rope, the end of which was tied to all her furniture.

When she awoke, she realized the Lord was telling her she was tied down by all her possessions

The writer is saying that we are to get rid of the things which may not be sinful but they slow us down.

If we are consumed by activities or things then we will have little time for God.

He goes on and says to “get rid of the sin that trips us up.”

The first part of that verse is about the extra baggage and here he is writing about that sin.

That sin that trips us up.

That sin could be most anything.

The sin that might trip me up would not be a hindrance to you.

Let’s take a look at the last 5 sins or evils from the Manual that we are especially called to avoid.

These 5 impact our relationship with others as well as our relationship with God.

So if you were keeping track, #4 is

4 - Habits or practices known to be destructive of physical and mental well-being.

Christians are to regard themselves as temples of the Holy Spirit.

When I look at that one I see three issues raised.

Destructive of physical well-being

Destructive of mental well-being

Temples of the Holy Spirit

Destructive of our physical well-being are things that we do or don’t do that impact our physical health.

These could be things like using tobacco or nicotine products.

We all are well aware of the physical impact of tobacco.

Alcohol can impact our physical well-being.

I have several long time alcoholics who’s livers are just barely working.

Destructive of our mental well-being are those things that impact our mental health.

Those things might be the use of alcohol or drugs.

Now before you hope that I’ll quickly move on, I’m not saying that tobacco is sinful, I’m not saying that alcohol is sinful.

Our Manual says

In light of the Holy Scriptures and human experience concerning the ruinous consequences of the use of alcohol as a beverage, and in light of the findings of medical science regarding the detrimental effect of both alcohol and tobacco to the body and mind, as a community of faith committed to the pursuit of a holy life, our position and practice is abstinence rather than moderation.

Holy Scripture teaches that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

With loving regard for ourselves and others, we call our people to total abstinence from all intoxicants.

[1]

Let me also point out that it is not just alcohol or tobacco.

A person can become addicted to caffeine just as much as being addicted to nicotine.

I’ve got lots of statistics that I could quote to you, but they are unhelpful.

I know a number of Christians who are addicted to prescription medications.

They could be prescription pain medications or prescription mental health medications.

They continue to take them without regard to the harm that they are doing to themselves.

Hear what I’m saying.

There is nothing wrong with taking a prescription pain pill or a prescription mental health medication.

The problem is when we take them to avoid having to deal with life.

Jesus came to set us free.

There is healing for physical and mental health conditions.

James Merritt wrote:

I heard about a man that was trying to lose weight, and he went to a drug store and was weighing himself.

He turned to a buddy of his and said, "I'm so discouraged.

I started this diet the other day, but the scale says I am heavier than when I started."

He said, "Here, John, hold my jacket."

He weighed again and said, "I don't understand it.

It still says I'm heavier."

He said, "Here, John, hold my shoes."

He weighed again and said, "i can't believe it, I'm still heavier than when I got started."

Finally, he reached in his pocket and said, "Here, John, hold my twinkies."

Well, if you are going to win you have got to lay aside every weight.

Now a weight is anything that keeps you from becoming everything that God would have you to be.

A weight can be something that, in and of itself, is harmless and a good thing.

But it can become a bad thing if it keeps you from the best thing.

[2]

The important point being that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

What we do to our body impacts God.

What we do with our body impacts those around us.

So, let’s move on from that one.

5 - Quarreling, returning evil for evil, gossiping, slandering, spreading surmises injurious to the good names of others

Some of the best gossipers, the ones that would be on the honor roll if a grade were given for gossiping are people in the church.

I’ve mentioned in the past about a lady in a prior church who was actually proud that she gossiped.

She seemed pleased with herself.

I think that gossip will do more damage in the church than any other sin.

When Sam first came to live with us we were the subject of lots and lots of gossip.

Many relationships were irreparably damaged because of the gossip.

Gossip can lead to slander or spreading surmises that injure a person’s good name.

Number 5 here harms the person who is doing the gossiping, the person being gossiped about and the Church.

I’ve said it many times that the person who made up the rhyme “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” was a lier.

Words do hurt.

Being on the receiving end of gossip hurts.

Listen to what Paul had to say about words.