“Walk This Way” (Ephesians 4:25-5:2)

One of my favorite Mel Brooks movies is Young Frankenstein.  If you like wry humor, lots of puns and sight gags, then this is a movie for you.  It is the story of an American grandson of Victor von Frankenstein, young neurosurgeon Dr. Frederick Frankenstein played by Gene Wilder, who is invited Transylvania.  He has spent his whole scientific career attempting to prove that his grandfather was not as insane as people believed . . . while, at the same time, he has spent a lifetime denying he is any relation to the infamous Dr. Frankenstein.  This denial sets up one of the best scenes in the movie when he is picked up at the train station.

Arriving at the station he is greeted by a hooded hunchback.  The hunchback asks, “Dr. Frankenstein?”  To which the doctor replies, “No, Dr. Frankenstein.”  Immediately the hunchback looks at him incredulously and says, “Frankenstein?”

“Yes, yes,” answers Gene Wilder’s character, “Frankenstein not Frankenstein.  Are you Igor?”

Immediately the hunchback answers, “No, Igor not Igor.”

Then after several exchanges of conversation, Igor tells the doctor that they must go.  Picking up the doctor’s suitcase he begins to shuffle away, telling the doctor, “Walk this way.”  Of course, the doctor starts to walk behind Igor.  Then suddenly, Igor stops, turns around and demands that the doctor, “Walk this way!”  This takes place several times before Dr. Frankenstein gets it . . . then he begins to walk as Igor is walking . . . step, shuffle, step, shuffle . . . (See the video at this LINK)

Of course, the humor comes from the literal understanding of the directions that Igor gives Dr. Frankenstein . . . to walk just as he is walking.  In our scripture reading this morning, the writer is telling the Ephesians that they are to “walk this way.”  What is “this way”?  The writer says it succinctly: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly beloved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  That is the way that the writer of this letter expects the children of God to walk . . . like Jesus walked and lived his life.

At the beginning of our reading this morning, the writer rattles off a whole series of moral advice . . . don’t lie, speak the truth . . . do not be angry . . . no stealing . . . no slander or gossip . . . no fighting, bitterness, or rage.  All good moral advice, but it is nothing that is not already found in other places in the ancient world.  There is really nothing original in this part of the writer’s words.  Yet, at the end of the words we hear the radical challenge and difference . . . it is the ultimate exhortation: “Be imitators of God . . .”

What does it mean to be “imitators of God”?

It means that we are called upon to live our lives as God demonstrates God’s love to us through Jesus.  We are to live our lives as Jesus lived his . . . we are to live lives based on and in love.  The type of love spoken in the last two verses that we heard is agape. This word—agape—shows up in these two verses three times in various forms.   Agape is not a romantic or sexual type of love . . . no, agape is the ultimate form of love.  It is the essence of who God is.  And, it is out of this love that God relates to us.  It is who God is and how God expresses God’s self.  Agape is not a feeling, it is an act of will . . . it is a choice.

God chooses to love us, not because of who we are . . . God chooses to love us despite who we are.  We cannot earn this love . . . it is freely given.  It is not based on how good looking we are, how educated we are, how rich we are, or how accomplished we are.  No, God just loves us because that is God’s nature.  This love of God, agape, is unmerited, gracious, and constantly seeks the benefit of the ones who receive it.  Everyone falls under God’s agape . . . under God’s love.  Everyone!  This love is demonstrated through the life of Jesus.

Such is the love we are called upon to imitate.  This is the way we are supposed to “walk” as the followers of Jesus.

Yet, agape love does not come naturally to us.  It is not natural to us because it is not a feeling that we respond to . . . it is an act of will.  True, it might be easy to do for those individuals we like; agape love calls us to not only love those who we know and cherish, but also those who are on the other side.  We are to love those whom society has deemed to be unlovable . . . including our enemies.  Jesus shared such a choice of love when he told the story of the Good Samaritan.  Agape love as modeled by Jesus is not based on a feeling; rather, it is a determined act of the will, a joyful resolve to put the welfare of others above our own.  That is something we are not used to doing.

This is the way that we are called to “walk”.  This is a love that has been given to us by the Holy Spirit.  It is the love that “has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5 and Galatians 5:22) when we became God’s children.  It is demonstrated by Jesus himself as we are reminded in I John 3:16: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Because of God’s love towards us, we are called to and able to love one another.

In the immortal words of Igor, “Walk this way.”  Amen.