Introduction
When we experience truly great things, we hate for them to end. Like for instance a really great book, or a movie or television series. I personally hated to see the TV show Scrubs come to an end—even the abysmal ninth season reboot.
Or what about a glorious season of a favorite sports team—say a team that made it to the playoffs but only got to play October baseball for an hour and ten minutes. Or maybe you have said it about a favorite preacher’s sermon—you just wanted her or him to keep preaching and preaching.
We all want great things to keep going—be it a book, movie, season, vacation, or even a great meal—but would you believe research has revealed human beings actually need for things to end. We need things in life to end because when we are faced with an ending we become stronger, more focused, more productive, and more positive. For example…
A study done of more than 3,000 professional soccer games revealed that 28 percent of goals came in the final 15 minutes of the 90-minute match. The end of the game has a focusing effect, motivating players to summon their strength for a final push.
A similar study showed that deadlines inspire deal-making. An analysis of bargaining experiences found that 41 percent of deals are struck in the final 30 seconds of negotiations before a final deadline.
And then there is end of life. Blog posts by terminally ill patients use language that is exceedingly more positive than the language used by people who are farther from death. The same is true for the last words of death-row inmates. Another study looked at hospice workers and other end-of-life professionals whose exposure to death causes them to “live in the present, cultivate a spiritual life and reflect deeply on the continuity of life.” In a similar manner, people who have near-death experiences report an increased sense of spiritual well-being.
So as we come to the end of life we might think we will hate for it to end, but the reality is we need for it to end because endings are important. They give us motivation, perspective, even hope and joy. And they can even help us see, more clearly, what God is doing.
Move 1
In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul offers a surprising perspective on the end of his earthly life, saying, “For to me living is Christ and dying is gain.” He knows that his ongoing life on earth means “fruitful labor” for the Philippians and for him, but at the same time he admits that his desire is to “depart and be with Christ.”
Paul is writing from prison in Rome as he awaits trial for his work as a Christian missionary, and it is clear Paul is feeling the end is near. And so, like a prisoner on death row, Paul uses remarkably positive language to describe his situation, saying earlier in this chapter, “I want you to know that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ.”
Because Paul is in prison, the Good News of Jesus has actually spread throughout the Roman establishment. In addition, he says, “most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.” (v. 14) Paul’s courage and confidence are actually inspiring others to speak with courage and confidence. Even though he senses the end is near, Paul knows what God is doing. “I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith,” writes Paul, “so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again” (vv. 25-26).
If Paul is allowed to live, he knows God will make him useful to the churches in their work of spreading the Good News of Jesus. At the same time, Paul knows if he dies God will take him to Christ and God will continue to work in and through the Philippian church.
God is at work turning Paul’s affliction from a negative into a positive opportunity for the Gospel to be shared. Other Christians see Paul standing firm, they see he is not intimidated by his opponents, and they are encouraged to make the same kind of stand.
Faced with an ending, Paul becomes stronger, more focused, more productive and more positive. And this is God’s doing.
Move 2
Knowing that the end may be near, Paul offers some advice to the Christians in Philippi, advice that is equally valuable to us today. Live your life “in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,” he writes, “so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the Gospel.” (v. 27)
Paul wants us to live in a manner worthy of the Gospel, always showing the new life Christ makes possible. He wants us to become stronger and more focused, standing firm with one another no matter what kind of opposition we face.
Such strength and unity doesn’t often happen in good times. In fact, it usually happens in difficult times.
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Arlington Presbyterian Church, west of the Pentagon in Virginia, worshiped in a beautiful stone sanctuary for more than 80 years. But in times such as these, the congregation watched its numbers dwindle, and its aging building had become a burden. One option was to sell its $10 million property and build a new church elsewhere. But this church took a bold stand for the benefit of its community.
The cost of housing in Arlington, Virginia is extremely high, and many teachers, cashiers, servers, and the like can’t afford to live where they work. So Arlington Presbyterian partnered with a nonprofit group that builds affordable housing.
The church sold its land to the nonprofit group, that then constructed a six-story building on the site of the church, with five floors of affordable housing above retail space on the first floor.
Also on the first floor, the church rents space for worship and other church activities.
The transformation of Arlington Presbyterian was not an easy process, and there was struggle both inside and outside the church. But Paul’s words to the Philippians provided faithful directions for them— to live in such a way that you are “in no way intimidated by your opponents” (v. 28)
Rev. Ashley Goff, pastor of the church says, “The congregation risked it all for the sake of our neighbors. It’s almost like we became curious about death, the curiosity of how to die well.” But the church did not die. In fact, just the opposite. It lived again. Resurrected to new life.
More than 400 people have moved into the building, and Arlington Presbyterian is now meeting in its new space. The congregation has become stronger and more focused, standing firm in one spirit and striving side by side with one mind. They are experiencing new life after looking death in the face. And this, Paul would say, “is God’s doing.” (v. 28)
Move 3
This is a motivating perspective for the church today. Faced with declining attendance, and seductive Sunday morning alternatives (see last week’s sermon for explanation of that reference and term), the church needs to remember what God is always doing—working to bring forth new life, even when something is seemingly coming to an end.
Which means the church can take comfort from Paul’s words, especially in times of struggle and persecution. Throughout history, persecution has often strengthened the church. The amazing fact that oppression leads to growth reflects the paradox that lies at the heart of the Gospel— namely, that God’s power is revealed through the weakness of the cross and that victory comes through apparent defeat.
God is always at work to help the church live in a manner worthy of the Gospel, stand firm in the spirit, strive side-by-side with one another, and give us the strength to not be intimidated by our opponents.
This must be the way of the Church—to stare opposition, decline, even death in the face, and know God is doing something even when an end is inevitable.
Conclusion
The Christian faith has endings—and thank God it does. Endings give us motivation, perspective, even hope and joy. Endings show us what God is doing. And God’s doing is always that of bringing forth a new beginning.
The Christina faith challenges us to look death in the face, but the Christian faith never stops when something ends—even if it is a life.
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Throughout his life, Jesus showed love and grace to the people around him. He held nothing back, but emptied himself completely.
In the same way, we are challenged to give of ourselves to show the love of Jesus to others. This is a challenge for anyone who wants to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.
Fortunately, such sacrificial service not only benefits our neighbors, as we feed the hungry, house the homeless, visit prisoners and welcome strangers. It also benefits us, as it brings us into the presence of the one who makes all things new
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The Apostle Paul was not afraid of death. While happy to serve the church in this life, he was equally willing to depart and be with Christ.
When we accept that life must end, we join Paul in becoming stronger and more focused, as well as closer to Jesus Christ.
So may we know, today—in the midst of all that is happening—may we know than an end is surely coming, for us, for even the church. But with God, an ending is never the end. There is new life always about to begin.
This is, after all, God’s doing. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer, October 11, 2020
Gracious God, in the 16th century your faithful servant, Ignatius of Loyola, lifted to you a prayer we want to echo today…
Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward, except that of knowing that we do your will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
These words of prayer so long ago are our prayers today because they speak to exactly how we need you to bless us, because, like the Apostle Paul, we know you have called upon us to share the Gospel of Christ, to stand firm in your Spirit, to strive to be side by side with one mind for the faith of the Gospel.
We know this calling will come with a cost; that at times we will have to fight and struggle through adversity; that it will be tiring work; and that no one will give us a prize or trophy for all we are able to accomplish through you.
So make us ever aware of how you are present in us, calling us to be alive in Christ Jesus.
Help us to see you are present all around us, bringing new life out of destruction, hope out of despair, and growth out of difficulty.
Help us to perceive your unseen hand in the unfolding of our lives and to attend to the gentle guidance of your Spirit, that we may know the joy you give, and share it with others.
Loving God, help us to see endings as you see them—the opportunity for something new to begin, for your Good News to be shared and experienced.
So teach us to serve, to give, to fight, to toil, and to labor as Christ has shown us, knowing that as we do, it is you who are doing all that is needed to bring forth resurrection and new beginnings.
We ask that you would listen now to the prayers we have to lift to you, in this time of Holy Silence.
All this we pray in the name of Christ Jesus, who taught us to pray, saying, “Our…”