“Habits of the Heart” (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23)

It is an old illustration that I have used many times over the years, but it still true today.  Snoopy is out for a jog.  As he is jogging various parts of his body start proclaiming that they are the most important part of the body.  The argument is that without them Snoopy could not jog.  As Snoopy is jogging along the argument escalates with all the parts of the body wanting to be the most important part.  The noise from the argument is deafening . . . and, Snoopy trudges on.

 

Then suddenly there is a loud scream.  The voice behind the scream says, “Knock it off!  This is the heart.  Without me none of you is anything!”  Stunned, the argument ceases and Snoopy jogs on in peace and quiet.

 

The creator of Peanuts, Charles M. Schultz, understands.  He understands that it is the heart . . . or at least it should be . . . that leads when it comes to life.  In Proverbs, chapter four, verse 23 it is written: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  In chapter 27, verse 19 it says: “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”  And Jesus said: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)  This is how Jesus understood life to be lived.

 

It was a habit of the heart.

 

So, here is what is going on in our scripture reading this morning.  Some Pharisees and teachers of the law notice that some of Jesus’ disciples are eating food with unwashed hands.  Appalled at the lack decorum and tradition of Jesus’ disciples they question Jesus about whether his disciples are too good to follow tradition . . . that would be washing their hands before eating.  Jesus calls them hypocrites.  He tells them that it is not the washing of the hands that is important, it is doing the right thing for the right reason.

 

Jesus understood that the argument was not in the fact that the disciples were eating to satisfy their hunger, but the fact that they were not following the rules.  Following rules was more important to the Pharisees and lawyers than anything else because it signified power and control . . . as the keepers of the traditions, rules, and dogma rules were important in keeping control and power over the people.  If people didn’t follow the rules it was an affront and challenge to their power and control over the people.  So, they complained.

 

As far as Jesus was concerned, if the heart was in the right place there was no problem.  How the disciples chose to eat did not reflect their love for God or others . . . it meant that they were hungry.  What goes in wasn’t as important as what came out.  Were the words found in Proverbs not true . . . “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”?  “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”?

 

Remember, for Jesus it was not so important what words were said, but what actions were taken.  It was not what went in, it was what came out for the world to see.  As far as Jesus was concerned, the Pharisees and lawyers were hypocrites . . . the words they spoke were not congruent with the way they treated people.

 

This is a sticky wicket when one considers it in the light of the times we are living. There is no shortage of examples in our times that display this contradiction that Jesus is speaking about . . . where words do not equate to the actions that we are witnessing.  A lot of time and energy can be spent debating the issues facing humanity, the world, our nation, and even our communities as we all strive to deal with the issues crippling the world that we live in . . . and, still, nothing is accomplished.  The ills of the world are still there.  Nothing is really getting accomplished for the betterment of all involved.  It all comes down to power and control, just as Jesus understood it for those in charge during his time . . . the Pharisees and lawyers.

 

Jesus wants his followers to habituate their hearts to will of God . . . to love God, to love themselves, and to love others.  Jesus teaches his followers to live a life that is grounded in love.  When the heart is grounded in love . . . centered in love, then the actions that one takes become the habits of the heart.  These are the acts that define our love for God, ourselves, and others.  We are to cloak ourselves in love . . . God’s love.  This is what makes us who God created us to be.

 

In I Peter 3:3-4 the writer tells us: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”  It is the habits of the heart that defines our worth . . . for God, for ourselves, and others.

 

As the followers of Jesus let us not get caught up in the jostling for power and control . . . let us focus on the common good for all.  Let us not waste time in arguing who is right or wrong but let us work together to solve the issues that provoke divisiveness and division.  Let us work on developing those habits of the heart . . . those acts of showing God’s love for us . . . so that all know God’s presence and love.  As the followers of Jesus let us be known by our love . . . and, love is action.  These are the habits of the heart.

 

Without the heart there is nothing.

 

As Snoopy was jogging and the parts of the body were loudly arguing, they got the point when the heart reminded them . . . “Without me, there are none of you.”  Jesus always gives us a lot to think about.  It is our choice.  Jesus is betting on getting the job done . . . habits of the heart.  Amen.

“The Christian’s New Clothes” (Ephesians 6:10-20)

As a child one of my favorite stories was The Emperor’s New Clothes written by Hans Christian Anderson.  Maybe you remember the story.  Two swindlers—con men—arrive in the capital city of an emperor who spends lavishly on clothing at the expense of the empire.  Posing as weavers, they offer to supply the emperor with magnificent clothes that are invisible to those who are stupid or incompetent.  The emperor hires them, and they set up looms and go to work.  A succession of officials, and then the emperor himself, visit them to check their progress.  Each sees that the looms are empty but pretends otherwise to avoid being thought a fool.  Finally, the weavers report that the emperor’s suit is finished.  They mime dressing him and he sets off in a procession before the whole city.  The people uncomfortably go along with the pretense, not wanting to appear inept or stupid, until a child blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all.  The people then realize that everyone has been fooled.  Although, startled, the emperor continues the parade, walking more proudly than ever.

 

Like the people, we know who the fool is.

 

Clothing can say a lot about a person.  Unfortunately, people have a tendency to form opinions about others from the clothes that they wear.  The people in the story didn’t take long to judge the emperor as a fool judging from what he was wearing or not wearing.  The Apostle Paul gets into clothing with the congregation in Ephesus.  Primarily he is talking about the new clothes one gets when becoming a Christian or follower of Jesus.  Though he is using a militaristic image of clothing—the full armor of God, he is talking about the demeanor of the faithful.

 

He is encouraging the faithful to withstand the forces and powers of the world around them that would take them away from Jesus and his teachings.  Using the image of the Roman soldier’s armor he speaks of the qualities of the Christian’s new clothes.  These new clothes are made up of truth, righteousness, faith, peace, salvation, and readiness . . . the attributes Jesus lived.  These are the things that keep one centered on being a faithful follower of Jesus . . . that keep one protected from the influences of the world around them . . . that gives them the confidence to walk through the world and live as Jesus lived.  What better image could the apostle have used than the armor of a soldier?

 

This image of “new clothes” is not new to us.  We have heard it in the scripture.  We have heard it in our hymns.  Upon giving our lives over to following Jesus we see changes in our lives . . . we change.  We change in how we see the world around us, we change in how we see ourselves and others, and we change in how we see our relationship with God.  In our change we do things differently . . . we put on a new image . . . new clothes.  Outside of the fact that the militaristic image Paul uses, I understand exactly what he is encouraging the people to do.  He is telling them to let their lives be cloaked in Christ.

 

As I said earlier, clothing can be a reflection of who we are.  This is probably why I have a tough time with the image that Paul uses . . . I just do not picture Jesus or his teachings in that way.  Paul uses an image of might and power . . . Jesus is an image of love.  Whatever the case, what we wear says a lot about us.  When we gave ourselves over to following Jesus, we made a change in how we live, how we see the world, and how we relate to others.  How others see us has changed.

 

The question is . . . what do they see?

 

For me clothing needs to be comfortable and functional.  I am not big into clothing or making a statement with my clothing.  I am a jeans and sweat shirt sort of guy.  Up until I met my wife, Dana, I pretty much wore clothing that was staunchly entrenched in the working class.  Our first Christmas together she gave me clothing as gifts . . . khaki pants, Oxford button down shirts, flashy socks, and a necktie!  Completely the opposite of what I was wearing at the time.  As nice as the gifts were, I was shocked.  These clothes weren’t me . . . they didn’t reflect me.  She told me that my wardrobe needed to grow up and that I needed to start looking the part of what I was studying to be.  To dress the part.  Well, as you can see . . . she won . . . not completely though—I don’t have a tie on!

 

I’ll tell you what . . . I have known some pretty snazzy dressed dudes in my time, and they have turned out to be some of the meanest and evil people I have ever encounter.  But to see them you would have thought they were the most upstanding citizens in the world.  That’s what they wanted everyone to think . . . but, once you got to know them, they were as naked as the emperor!

 

As we began our journey the new clothing that we put on was a “spiritual clothing”.  It was not so much reflected in the clothes that we wear as the way that we go about living our lives.  It is reflected in our relationships . . . how we relate to God, ourselves, and others.  As the familiar hymn tells us, “They will know we are Christians by our love!”  These are the new clothes we wear as Christians . . . as the followers of Jesus. 

 

As always . . . actions speak louder than words.  Actions speak louder than the props we carry to display our faith.  Actions are what people remember and how they see us.  Our actions reflect our faith . . . reflect what we believe.  Like that little boy . . . they see.

 

In the time that Paul writes his letter the way of Jesus . . . what we call Christianity . . . was new.  It was different.  It was not understood.  It was a threat.  As such the followers of Jesus experienced prejudice and persecution . . . even death.  It was not easy to be a follower of Jesus.  So, it is no wonder that Paul used such language to encourage the faithful in Ephesus. 

 

Rely upon your faith, says Paul.  Let your new clothing do its job.  With faith anything is possible.  Thus, it is that Paul encourages them to take a stand . . . stand your ground . . . to stand, stand firm. 

 

As we stand in these difficult times . . . these divisive times, let us consider the faith we proclaim as the followers of Jesus.  Let us stand firm in what we believe.  Allow ourselves to show our faith not only in the words that we speak, but also in the actions that we take.  Let the people and world around us see our new clothes of God’s love.  As the apostle tells the Ephesians, let us “put the full armor of God” on.  Trust in God . . . trust in your faith.

 

Saint Patrick said it well:

 

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I arise,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

 

This is the “armor of God”.  Amen!