Why Armor?

Sermon Ephesians 6:10-20 August 23, 2015 Ordinary Time B

Why Armor?

Battle language! Words about armor! Words like Victory and Conqueror! Strong words, words that perhaps we do not like to hear; perhaps words that we are no longer familiar hearing in the church! These powerful words are the words the Ephesians heard as Paul preached a final word to them in this letter. They were strong words of confidence that filled a vulnerable people with a reality of Christ’s work alive in them and for them.

As 21^st century Christians we don’t like this kind of language. We’ve removed the battle hymns from our hymnbooks. Why? Because as Christians beyond the 4^th century we have done damage to one another in the name of Christ. We have cried heresy at the different understandings of Christ. We have battled against other religions in the name of Christ and maimed and killed. Even today we continue to use the name of Christ in battle for economic and political gain.

We have not understood Paul’s original proclamation to don armor and go forth.

Yet, I believe we should not shy away from Paul, his letters, or his language. There is much we can still learn in a violent and chaotic world that Paul’s passionate and persistent language can guide us and aid us.

Paul was pragmatic, he was a realist, and he knew that the world Christians lived in was a world of “already, but not yet.” In other words, they have already triumphed in Christ, AND they are not yet beyond the battle of the brokenness of this world. Paul points out the battle against the world of pain, strife, suffering, disease, anger, prejudice, inhumanity, chaos, conformity, selfishness, and other ways that demean the ‘other’ and cause continued destruction is still going on.

He reminds those who are in the midst of this battle of life are not wrestling alone but are clothed and fully covered with the confidence of Christ’s triumph.

That is how the armor of God imagery takes hold and provides vivid pictures of how to walk in God’s ways.

‘Be strong’ and ‘put on’ and ‘clothe yourselves’ are reflexive verbs in Greek. They are not words just for individuals but for the whole church. So, the whole church can stand together and create a wall of strength.

We often say there is power in numbers. I’ve done that at crowded street corners when trying to cross. I discovered that cars are less likely to keep driving through a cross walk when a large group is crossing together. We’ve done that crossing bridges linked together arm in arm.

In these verses the church is called to do three things: Be strong, Get dressed and Pray!!

John Bunyan points out in Pilgrim’s Progress, that this armor is defensive armor, it has no back. Imagine putting on those plastic suits for kids and discover it only covers the front of your body. But, that’s how they were in those days.  You see, the purpose was to stand firm and hold the line, there was no turning back or going out on one’s own. Because if someone turns away or goes out on their own the line becomes vulnerable. It is hard work to stand up against all those powers and principalities of chaos and destruction.

Standing firm and standing up however,

is not a call to be stubborn

or controlling

or demanding

or a call to wear armor to go around pushing oneself on others.

When people read about armor and protection it often gets misinterpreted and becomes a weapon of battle to conquer others or to win for ourselves.

It’s tough in a corporate world. And those of you who are there and have been there understand. It’s challenging in a world where it seems that if we don’t go after dreams and visions at a cut throat pace they might not be there. It’s grueling to grasp for basic needs.

I know parents want the very best for their children. Don’t come near a mamma bear and her cubs. I can relate to wanting to growl at anyone or anything that would stand in the way of my children. That protective armor is out in full strength. But I’m worried about a generation of children who have missed out from a confusion over what protective parenting is all about. There are helicopter and lawnmower parents who have put on the armor of protecting their kids and they have gone out to clear huge paths and mowed down territories pushing away all things they find as obstacles all so their child will win and be successful.

THIS is NOT the protective clothing Paul is talking about. These children have been micromanaged and hovered over. They have been pushed into believing the world is all about them that they themselves are left without protection. They have been caught without the protection to know what failure and opposition feels like. They are unable to stand firm along the line with others.

Teachers, counselors, coaches and even churches have witnessed parents making sure their child is the best, the first and at the top. The challenge these children miss is the ability to fight the battle to become human.

Getting dressed in the armor of God makes it so one’s strength is through the power of Christ’s love. Buechner says the battle is not a battle to conquer at all. It is a battle to become whole, to live into the freedom of Christ, it is the battle to become human-to be as bright and beautiful as God originally created humans-complete, whole and fully present with God.

We ‘put on’ and ‘clothe ourselves’ with the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, and we carry the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) as we go into classrooms and courtrooms, as we cross streets and carve new ways. We pray as we go and we keep alert for the sake of others not ourselves. We pray for boldness and courage to become ambassadors for Christ as we spread the gospel of peace.  

How we carry ourselves speaks volumes about who we are and testifies to others about the God we serve. Paul says do not be afraid to speak the truth about Christ, do not be afraid to show love. Do not be afraid to offer the greatest gift of forgiveness because this gift is stronger than any other.

I was speaking with a friend of mine this week and she reminded me of the strength it takes to stand firm and to hold fast. She was in Charleston SC for the baptism of her grandson the week of the murders at the AME Church. She speaks with great emotion because the Presbyterian Church where her grandson (an adopted child from Africa) was being baptized was just one block from Emmanuel AME. She did not know on that Sunday morning if they would be able to get to church. She did not know if Emmanuel was holding services. She did not know what the media was going to make out of this event. What she witnessed was a church and community clothed in the armor of God as they resisted attempts to respond with violence. She witnessed the power of standing up by being bold in forgiveness and mercy. She witnessed much that day as her grandson was clothed with the waters of baptism as the church stood firm to proclaim God’s grace for another generation. Yes, today wearing the armor of God, singing about it and talking about it is as important as it was in the days of Paul.

Let us be about putting on our shoes to get ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. Perhaps we can take Frederick Buechner’s suggestions and put on steel toed shoes since spreading the gospel of peace is really hard work. But, it is clear Paul doesn’t command a particular style of shoe. It could be sandals, or heels or, sneakers, because there is not one style of

shoe that is most appropriate for spreading the gospel of peace.

Christ has won the victory but there is still much work to be done-let us form the line, stand firm and get going. Amen.