As Citizens of Heaven; Sermon on Philippians 3:12-21

Rev. George Miller
August 25, 2019
Philippians 3:12-21

If you’ve noticed, over the past few weeks there have been some new faces; people who have heard about the UCC and wanted to see what we are about.

It’s been so wonderful to know that people have been listening, paying attention, and taking note of the messages we are sharing and the work we are doing out in the community.

Last week, I was approached by someone who noted rather astutely that I don’t preach about heaven, so they asked me what I believe.

Well, when you ask a UCC pastor what they believe, you are more than likely to get 3-4 answers or “I don’t know- tell me what you believe.”

The UCC is a rather complex, diverse denomination. We are primarily a branch of Christianity that takes the Bible seriously, but not literally.

Our pastors tend to be well educated, many with a Master’s Degree in Theology.

We place much emphasis on research, history, textual analysis, paying attention to the use of metaphors, word play, and an awareness of how ancient cultures approached faith and storytelling.

As a denomination, we believe in local church autonomy. We have no creed you are required to subscribe to. No doctrine you have to conform to.

Many of us simply have a desire to be a better disciple of Christ, experiencing and sharing the love of God.

Unlike other denominations, we don’t always refer directly to heaven. We are more likely to refer to the Kingdom of God.

Each UCC pastor has their own theology, their own view of heaven.

Some may see heaven as a place; a location you go to when you die.

Some say heaven is a state of being; a way of being eternally close to God.

Others will say that heaven is just a metaphor, an artistic form of word play.

Words like God, heaven, Lord, Creator, Father are all one and the same and that writers used these various words to break up the monotony of saying the same thing over and over again.

Some pastors will say heaven is one or two of these things, some may say it is all of these things.

Then add to the discussion of heaven the fact that ancient Jews did not believe in a heaven or a hell; that when you’re dead, you are dead.

Then, add to that fact the realization that Paul, as a Jew, believed that Jesus was coming back in his lifetime and it wasn’t heaven that Paul was expecting, but that everyone would be resurrected, just as Christ was.

Then, add to that fact after adding to the other fact, that most of our modern-day view of heaven is not rooted in early Jewish or Christian theology, but is adapted from Greek mythology and culture which influenced the churches that were started in those areas.

To go back to the question I was asked last week, I personally believe that when we die, we go back to the source of all goodness, which is God.

What that looks like and what that exactly means, I don’t know, and I am personally OK with that.

Please keep in mind, that in the UCC we believe everyone has the freedom to read scripture on their own and develop their own beliefs. It is not the pastor’s place to tell you what to believe.

So, when I share with you what I believe, it is my belief. You are not expected to agree or to believe the same or change your theology.

With that in mind, here is what I can say- I believe that heaven is a state of mind and a way of being.

I believe that heaven is “already and not yet” meaning that there are times and places in which we can experience heaven here and now, and yet there are still so many opportunities to come.

For me, heaven is experienced every time we gather for worship and our musicians or liturgists or members say or do something that make my spirit soar and skin all goosepimply

For me, that is heaven.

But maybe for you, you see heaven another way, a place, a notion, a goal.

It can be gleaned from today’s reading that Paul saw heaven as an inspiration on how to live.

To recap, Paul is writing, from prison, a letter to one of his favorite churches. He is using this moment as an opportunity to share the Good News with everyone he comes into contact with.

Paul is such an interesting character; an acute observer of the world around him which he uses to articulate his beliefs.

Paul is living during a time in which Rome has a stronghold upon the world, and they have done so in such an impressive way.

The Roman empire has devised a system in which, when their military leaders retire, they are sent away to a spot on the map with certain privileges and opportunities.

These retired soldiers are given titles and an army of men, and wherever they end up, they are expected to continue living as if they are in Rome.

These retired soldiers are to continue wearing Roman clothes, eating Roman food, speaking Roman language, and following Roman laws.

In essence, wherever these retired Roman soldiers go, they are forever to act and to be seen as Roman citizens.

In doing so, they and their company of men help to further Rome’s presence and rule upon the world.

Paul is aware of this political maneuver, and he wisely, and cleverly, applies it to his faith.

What Paul says is this “We are citizens of heaven, and Jesus Christ is our Lord.”

It may seem subtle, but this is sooooo brilliant.

Paul takes a page from Rome, and what he says is that as followers of Jesus Christ, we are citizens of heaven.

Therefor, as citizens, we should expect to always act, speak, live, fellowship, and overall be as citizens of heaven are expected to be.

What this means, is that no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are, hands down a resident of heaven, first and foremost.

Think about that for a moment; let that sink in.

Paul is so brilliantly creating a new way of thinking and being that goes beyond geography or timelines or circumstances.

Paul is saying “No matter what, no matter where- your citizenship is in God’s realm, so act, live, do, speak as if you are from there.”

I love this notion, because regardless if we believe heaven is a place we will go after we die, or a state of being, or a metaphor, or a word play, or a made up idea, we can basically agree that we know…we know what heaven means.

That heaven is to be eternally, wonderfully connected to God and in the presence of the holy.

That heaven is where we are all equals, no slave or free, no friend or enemy.

That heaven is where we all are fed, cared for, heard, seen, respected.

That heaven is where beauty of every kind of level exists and expands and envelops.

That heaven is where love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, justice, equality, and peace prevail.

Heaven is where the light of Christ shines and restores, welcomes and awakens.

Paul writes to remind us that though we may live in Philippi, or Florida, or North America, we are all ultimately citizens of God’s realm.

And as citizen’s we act accordingly.

Perhaps that is how Paul was able to survive all those years in lock down.

Perhaps Paul was able to use this theology as way to confront the daily reality that he was in chains.

Perhaps Paul was able to look beyond his current moment of where he was, and to metaphysically embrace where he came from and where he was ultimately going.

Maybe for Paul the writing of this letter was his way of experiencing heaven.

Maybe for Paul, the remembering of Lydia and all the good people of Philippi was his way of experiencing heaven.

Maybe for Paul, every chance he had to share the Good News with a guard was his way of experiencing heaven.

And perhaps in doing so, the dark corners of the dungeon seemed less disturbing, the hurt of the chains seemed less hellish.

Perhaps Paul found his own way to act, speak, and behave as a citizen of heaven even as he was a captive to the monarchy.

Was it always easy? I doubt it.

Did this make the 2 years in prison fly by? Probably not.

Did it given him the ability to look beyond? Yes.

Did it give him the chance to believe in the future regardless of his past and present moment? Without a doubt.

So, this week, when we face our own prisons, we face our own walls, our own worries and ghosts from our past, may we find our own way to mediate on heaven, and what being a citizen of heaven means.

May we find Christ even in the midst of crisis, may we find God even amongst the godless, and may we find the Holy Spirit even amongst the every day.

Amen and amen.