June 6 Message- A Christian Looks and Loves Like You; 1 John 2:7-14

 

Rev. George Miller

June 6, 2021

1 John 2:7-14

 

What does a Christian look like?

 

If we were to ask you, what does an Irishman look like, you might say “red hair.”

 

If you were asked what does a Swedish woman look like, you might say “Blue eyes.”

 

If you were asked what does a citizen of Botswana look like, you may say “as if they were kissed by the sun.”

 

If we were asked what does a Rastafarian look like, you might take out your Bob Marley CD and say “Ya, man.”

 

But what does a Christian look like?

 

For a Christian is neither short nor tall, neither black not white.  Neither is a Christian male or female, old or young, wearing dreads or bald as they day they were born.

 

What does a Christian look like?

 

If it’s not in the color of their skin, or the shade of their eyes, or the twist in their hair, is there some way to say “There, over there- that’s what a Christian look like!”

 

What does a Christian look like?

 

According to the author of today’s letter, a Christian looks like someone who knows they are loved, and therefor shows love in return.

 

A Christian looks like you; a Christian looks like us when we are at our absolute best doing justice, being kind, and walking with the Lord.

 

What does a Christian look like?

 

A Christian looks like love.

 

Plain and simple, short and sweet- love.

 

Today’s portion of our letter is not meant to wag fingers, it’s not meant to judge, to shame or condemn.

 

Today’s reading is not so we can pat ourselves on the back or assume we are better than anyone else.

 

Today’s scripture is so we can know, we can really know, what a Christian look like.

 

This reminds me of the earth, it reminds me of God’s nahalah, it reminds me of a garden.

 

I don’t know about you, but since COVID I’ve taken to gardening like never before.  I’ve now created 3 flowerbeds were once there was only dirt and crabgrass.

 

The soil is a cocoa brown, made up of compost, cow manure, coffee grinds. 

 

But this week I noticed something- when the ground gets wet, when it is well water and nurtured, the earth is transformed from a dull cocoa brown to a rich ebony hue.

 

The soil becomes a deep rich black, a sign that it has been well watered.

 

This will sound like common sense to some of you, but do you know that when soil is well watered, cared for, given sun and nutrients, it does more than change color?

 

Did you know that when the earth is loved, things begin to grow?

 

Things like turnips and tomatoes?

 

Did you know that when the earth is loved, things begin to grow, like hibiscus, plumbago, and sunflowers?

 

Did you know that when the earth is loved, it begins to bear fruit like pineapple, mangos, and mandarins?

 

That when sweet potatoes are planted in the cocoa soil, they grow vines filled with lush green leaves that cover the ground, and when left alone they sprout purple flowers that brighten your view?

 

But, when the earth does not receive enough water, when the soil is not given great care, those same green, lush leaves quickly curl up and start to turn a burnt yellow?

 

In many ways we are like those sweet potato leaves, and in every way, God wants us to blossom, grow, and be lush.

 

In today’s letter, the author encourages us to live in the light.  He invites us to embrace the gifts that have been poured out by the Holy Spirit.  He extols us to choose the things that lead to life.

 

Those things, according to today’s author, are rather simple- to remember the most ancient of commandments- to Love God, and to love neighbor. 

 

To not let hate wear you away.  To accept the gifts of forgiveness.  To not confuse the ways of the world with the ways of Heaven.

 

This is a reading that seems so simple, so clear.  The author’s whole answer is basically this- love.

 

And what is this kind of love that waters the soil of our soul and makes our lives lush and green?

 

It’s the love that caused our Creator to say “Let there be light!”  The love that is the basis of all the commandments.  The love demonstrated by Jesus Christ.

 

Love is what the author encourages.  Not hate.  Not holding onto resentment.  Not withholding forgiveness.

 

Not refusing to believe that we are forgiven.

 

Love.

 

The basic of nutrients.

 

Last week we heard Paul remind the Galatian church that the fruits of the Spirit are joy, peace, and patience, gentleness, and generosity.

 

These are the same fruits today’s letter is encouraging us to nurture.  These are the same fruits the author is hoping to water.

 

See- the challenge for us, as we continue to rebuild and restore, is how do we act and what do we do while recovering from the trauma of COVID?

 

Today’s reading lays it out- don’t be so quick to judge, don’t go looking for a fight, try your best not to create controversy, but to LOVE.

 

To shine, to live in the light, to move as one, to forgive, to encourage, to cheer on, to water with grace upon grace upon grace.

 

To live as so when someone sees us, not only can they say, “They are a Christian” but also “They are Emmanuel.”

 

What does a Christian look like?

 

It’s not red hair, blue eyes, dark skin, or dreads, a Christian looks like someone who is loved and therefor loves in return.

 

A Christian looks like you.

 

A Christian looks like us when we are at our very best- praising God, welcoming the stranger, sharing a meal, doing justice, loving being kind, and walking humbly in the garden with our Creator.

 

For that, we can say “Amen.”

Note- The very beginning and rhythm is humbly borrowed from Alice Walker's bold masterpiece "Possessing The Secret Of Joy" in which the main character is asked to describe what an American looks like.  Perhaps no one or nothing else has influenced my writing, theology, and womanism than Mother Alice.  May this message be a tribute to her.