The Social Network: We Do We Will

This is the third sermon in a series on community. This sermon was given on Confirmation Sunday, so it is a little shorter

A few weeks ago, I started a sermon series called “The Social Network.” The inspiration for this series was a couple of quotes from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. In one of his writings he said, “Solitary religion is not to be found [in the gospel of Christ]. ‘Holy solitaries’ is a phrase no more consistent with the gospel than holy adulterers. The gospel of Christ knows of no religion but social; no holiness but social holiness.” In another sermon, Wesley explained that in saying that Christianity is a social religion he means that our faith cannot survive without being with and sharing with other believers. In other words, our faith is dependent upon community. It is dependent upon connection to one another.

We spent a couple of weeks talking about this connection that we call the body of Christ. In the body of Christ, we are connected to one another just as all of the parts of our body are connected to one another. Jesus talked about that connection, too. He said, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” Today is a special day because we get to be a part of and to witness as new branches are grafted onto the vine of Jesus. This morning, we welcome new members into the body of Christ. And we get to witness some others making their first public proclamation of their faith and affirm their part in the body.

Now, I want to talk to our confirmands and those who will be baptized for just a few minutes. I hope the rest of you will listen, too, but I’m going to talk to you guys. Today, you will claim your part in the body of Christ. What does that mean, though? A lot of what it means will be addressed in the questions you’ll answer in just a few minutes. Do you reject evil and wickedness and repent of your sins? Do you accept the gift of God’s grace that allows you to resist that evil? Do you confess Jesus Christ as your savior? Will you be faithful members of Christ’s holy church? Will you support the church with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness? In those questions you see what it means to be a member of Christ’s body. It doesn’t just mean that you say you believe in Jesus. It doesn’t just mean that you come to church on Sunday mornings and maybe Wednesday nights.

Being a part of the body of Christ means that you are committing yourself to live as a follower of Jesus. It means that you are committing to live a life of the Spirit. To do the best you can, empowered by God’s grace, to live a life of holiness. To do good, to avoid evil. You are committing yourself to growing closer to Jesus day by day – by studying, by praying, by worshipping, by serving others. You are promising to be an active part of the body. Not a paralyzed arm, but an active working part of the body of Christ. Sounds hard, doesn’t it?

It is hard, but guess what. You don’t do it alone. First of all, it’s only by God’s grace that we can do good and avoid evil. It’s only by God’s grace that we grow closer to Jesus. But we have more help also.

I saw visual example used last week that I want to share with you this morning. As Christians, one of the symbols of our faith is the cross. In the cross, we are reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. Jesus came to earth, lived as a man, and died so that our sins can be forgiven, so that for us death holds no power. Think about John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only son. So that whoever believes in him won't die, but will have eternal life. The cross reminds us of that gift. The gift of God’s redeeming grace, returns us to righteousness in the eyes of God. So you see that the cross connects us to God.

Looking at the cross, we can think about the vertical part as that connection to God. But the cross has two parts. Vertical and horizontal. This horizontal part is a connection as well. The cross connects us to God, but it also connects us to one another.

Now I want to talk to the rest of the people here, but I want you guys to listen.

As followers of Christ we have a responsibility to one another. Paul writes in Ephesians that, as the body of Christ, we have a responsibility to help one another grow closer to God. By praying together, worshiping together, studying scriptures together, and by sharing our faith stories with one another. In the scriptures that Anna Kate and Claire read this morning Paul and the writer of Hebrews reminded their readers that we are called to encourage one another.

Paul wrote of the Body of Christ again in 1 Corinthians 12. There he says that not only do we help one another grow, but we are also to care for one another. In verse 26, he says "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad." This connection we have through Jesus Christ is more than a common faith. It’s more than believing in the same thing. It is a responsibility to care for one another physically and spiritually. Look around the room, each of us is connected to one another. Each of us has a responsibility to one another. Each of us, through the power of the Holy Spirit is connected by the Love of God and called to share that love.

Each of you in this room has a responsibility to these who will be baptized or confirmed this morning. Not only will they make promises and commitments, but so will you. Each of you will reaffirm your own commitment to live as followers of Jesus. You will also make a commitment to these young men and women. You will promise to proclaim and live the gospel as an example to them. You will promise to surround them with love. You will promise to pray for them. To support them, to help them as they do their best, empowered by God’s grace, as they grow in their faith. To help them become more and more like Christ.

That is what “social religion” is all about. That’s what it looks like to be connected to God and to one another. This afternoon, you, the confirmands, will be given a cross as a reminder of your decision to follow Christ. Let it also serve as a reminder that you are not doing this alone. You are connected to God and we are all connected to one another.