Self Denial Equals Love

May 7, 2008

Colossians 3:5-11

“Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry.) On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!”

Mecklenburg Ministries is an organization here in Charlotte whose mission it is to bring interfaith collaboration, foster understanding on racial and ethnic issues and address social needs of our county. This morning I represented St. John’s at a breakfast of supporting churches where 82 congregations of innumerable denominations and religious affiliation were represented.

As I watched and listened this morning, I could see how easy it is for us, as humans, to focus on the differences and to see ourselves as separate. Our culture has been given, as long as I can recall, to the celebration of differences. The “look how different/special I am mentality” says that I matter more than you. There is no humility in that perspective. There is no appreciation of the other in that perspective. Those who live out of such a mentality (probably all of us, if we are honest) are people who easily criticize others and believe that things should be a certain way. Have you ever been the recipient of someone’s criticism and especially someone’s unjustified criticism? When you receive such criticism there is a moment as humans that it is so very hurtful. What makes it hurtful is that the person is not appreciating you for who you are but trying to play God and shape you into who they want you to be. How often does that happen to you?

The good news is that we don’t have to accept the hurt. In that moment we can choose to love. We can choose to let that other person be as they are and we can make a conscious choice to extend our compassion to them.

A man who was honored at the meeting today talked about needing to acknowledge our differences in order to find our commonalities. I think that must be true especially for those who start from a place of being human but I would challenge us to start from a place of being spiritual. I think that is the challenge of this scripture.

When we understand ourselves as spiritual beings we automatically have a commonality that binds us in love. We have no need to engage in separatist emotion such as anger, etc. We practice unity. We have no need to criticize others. We just appreciate them for who they are. We are able to humble ourselves and in so doing we find joy.
Paul understands that the old life stems from a human place where the self is cherished but the new life stems from a spiritual place where we find richness in focus on the other—where we find unity—where we find love.

This week, my challenge for all of us, is to conquer the fear that it takes to really be honest with ourselves and to take a self-evaluation. How many people have I rendered any judgment upon? How have I separated my self from others rather than reaching out in unity? What will it take for me to live a life that denies the self and embraces true love?

Mecklenburg Ministries is putting feet to the challenge of embracing our commonalities, may we find ways to do the same. Amen.