James Gilman, November 25, 2007

Give As Good as You Get
Colossians 1: 11-20

[Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation; for in him
all things in heaven and on earth were created…. He is the head of the body,
the church…and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,
whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood on his cross.

Introduction

Today is the last Sunday of the church year. The New Christian Year begins next Sunday with Advent. Typically, this last Sunday of the year honors Christ as King. It is an opportunity for us to contemplate the glory, grandeur, and majesty of Christ’s rule over Creation and over the Church. We don’t have a “Christ the King” Tiffany window here at Trinity, but if we did I’m sure it would be glorious. I suppose the window closest to the Christ the King theme is the Ascension window directly behind the altar.

In our lesson from Colossians, Paul speaks of Christ’s dual role as King. He says  Christ is King of two realms—the realm of Creation and the realm of the Church. As Maker of all things Christ is King of Creation; and as head of the body, Christ is King of the Church. As citizens in Christ’s kingdom, Paul says that we Christians are saints, and as such we “share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” So, what is our inheritance? As heirs of Christ’s kingdom, what do we get? Well, we get certain privileges. We get to enjoy the beauty of God’s Creation and its natural resources provide us with lives of comfort and convenience. And from Christ’s Church we inherit the love and fellowship of believers. But as with any inheritance we must give as good as we get; we not only inherit certain privileges but we also inherit certain responsibilities. As saints and heirs, these responsibilities are not optional. We are commanded to be good stewards of both Creation and the Church. I want to talk about our Christian stewardship responsibilities in those two realms., where Christ is King.

Stewards of Christ’s Creation

Stewardship of creation is the 7th Millennium Development Goal supported by the Episcopal Church. As King of Creation Paul says Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation; …all things have been created through him and for him; …in him all things hold together.”  Even further, Paul says God wants to reconcile  all things on earth and in heaven. That includes creation. As saints we inherit stewardship of Christ’s creation. That means we must care for it, cultivate and nurture it in such a way that both the beauty of God’s holiness is preserved in it and the proper use of it guarantees its healthy future. It’s as if Creation is God’s best artistic work, Christ’s Mona Lisa. As Christians we inherit it, and as stewards of it we have a duty to care for it.

            You know as well as I that modern science and technology, the demands of the marketplace, and cultural habits often exploit and deplete natural resources and animal habitat. We Christians often mimic these bad cultural habits and forget about stewardship responsibilities; too often we thoughtlessly help damage and deface God’s masterpiece.  By doing so we threaten not only the beauty and purpose of God’s Creation but we threaten the lives of many people around the world who struggle to survive.

            So, what can we do?  Of course we can promote and support public policies and programs that care for the welfare of God’s Creation and creatures. But what can I do, now? There are personal, local, grassroots things we can do to care for Creation. A few examples:  
Replace at least five regular light bulbs with fluorescent energy saving bulbs. If every home in American did this, each year we would save energy the equivalent to 21 coal burning power plants. You can buy them in any hardware store.
Select reusable products and recycle. Take a canvas bag to the grocery store instead of using the store’s plastic bags.
Insulate your home. You can save up to 25% in energy use and energy costs.
Walk more, drive less.
Buy energy and fuel efficient cars and appliances. We have a moral and spiritual obligation as stewards to do so.
Don’t leave water running. Turn down your heat at night and when you are away.
Be informed about environmental issues. As stewards of Christ’s creation, it is our obligation. 

Next March, April, and May (2008) the adult Sunday School class is going to focus on the Christian’s stewardship of Creation. Paul Bugus and Nick MacNeil are helping to coordinate the series. As Christians we have a moral and spiritual duty to be informed about the care of creation in both little and big ways, in public and personal ways, in global and local ways. We are to benefit Creation even as it benefits us. We are to give as good as we get.

Stewards of Christ’s Church

            Not only is Christ King of Creation, Paul also says Christ is King and Lord of the church, the Head of the Body.  Just as we are appointed stewards of Creation, we are also appointed stewards of the Church’s welfare. It is through Christ and his body, the Church, that God makes peace, Paul says, both on earth and in heaven. So, how can we be good stewards of the Body of Christ? How can we, as the Body of Christ, help God “reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven”? How can we care for each other? There are plenty of grass-root opportunities, within this one single, local church, to be good stewards of each other, to give to as good as you get from this church community. A few examples:
Pray without ceasing (as Paul says elsewhere); pray for each other. I’ve begun the habit of praying through the Trinity phone book, one page a day. Join the Trinity prayer chain. The Bishop has designated Wednesdays as a day to pray for deacons throughout the diocese. I’m one of those, and God knows I need it.
Or serve on the Vestry or on one of the many church committees.
Help serve lunch once a month to those less fortunate than us.
Volunteer in the church office.
Help teach a Sunday School class.
Help with our youth programs.
Visit the sick and shut-ins; or visit prisoners.
Serve as an acolyte or chalicist.
Serve on the Altar Guild or as an usher.
Volunteer at one of the many local social service agencies supported by this church; such as Habitat for Humanity, Valley Mission, Salvation Army, Sacra, the Food Bank, and VACSI, an organization that house and serve the many mentally disabled in our community.
Sing in the choir.
Become a deacon.

In these and many other ways you and I can be good stewards of Christ’s body, the Church. There are many ways we can give to this church as good as we get from it. As stewards of the Body of Christ we are not simply to absorb the benefits of all the services this church offers; we are also obligated to contribute to its health and welfare.

Conclusion

Too often Christians withdraw from the spiritual bank account of Creation and the Church but fail to deposit funds sufficient to cover the withdrawal we’ve made. We take from Creation, we take from the Church; but we don’t always invest something of our own gifts and resources back into them. As heirs of Christ’s Creation and Church, we are to be good stewards; its not optional. We must give to Creation and the Church as good as we get from then. My challenge to myself and to you is for each of us to promise ourselves and God, that we will contribute every week to the welfare of Christ’s Creation and to the welfare of Christ’s church. Opportunities are endless. Christ is King and as heirs of his kingdom we are given the privilege and power to do so. May God in grace and mercy help us.