Chan Willis – C.P.C.

                                                                                                                                                                May 2, 2010

“C.P.C.”

2 Kings 23:1-3; Acts 11:19-26

                A group of faithful believers who stood up for what they believed in.  Other people, who shared many of the same beliefs, yet persecuted their fellow men and women.  One bold leader who particularly held on to his principles would suffer even more than the others.  These differences in belief which would result in separation, division.  This faithful remnant would stick together, persevere, and survive…and, with greater confidence, begin to reach out and draw others into their fellowship.

                The story of the early church that we read about in Acts?  Sure.  But, these words could also be used to describe what happened in this very church back around the turn of the millennium.  Though most of you were not here at that time, you may be aware that this church went through a very painful split in its membership around the year 2000.   Much of the anger for those who wished to remain faithful to the denomination was directed at the late John Hawkins, who ever remained a man of principle and character… much like the ancient martyr Stephen.  In the words of another ‘revolutionary’ figure, one of our country’s Founding Fathers Thomas Paine, these were most definitely ‘times that try men’s souls.’  The sad thing was that, in reality, there wasn’t that much difference between those who left (the “dearly departed”) and those who remained.   Perhaps the greatest difference was in the manner in which they sought to resolve their differences… that there were those who could no longer stand to even be under the same name…

                Like most every other trial that we go through, both corporately and individually, the question is always what do we learn from those difficult experiences?  What do we find out about ourselves that makes us stronger, better?  In the case of that time of division here at C.P.C., there were many things learned.  A big one is the value of working together, not against one another.  To honor the other above oneself.  And, that when we pull together, encourage one another, we will find that we have abilities and gifts that we didn’t even realize we had.  In the midst of that traumatic time for the church body as a whole, there grew a deeper appreciation for the individual members, or parts, of that body… a richer sense of personal identity as a follower of Jesus Christ.

                As I read today’s passage in Acts, I was struck by the fact that this marked the first time that our ‘founding fathers’ (and mothers) of the faith came to be called “Christians.”  There in Antioch this splintered, oppressed religious movement was given an IDENTITY.  That faithful group of persecuted followers of Jesus had a NAME.  In reading about their experiences, which reminded me of ones endured by of this ‘faithful group of followers of Jesus,’ I thought about our ‘NAME’— Covington Presbyterian Church. Or, as many of us like to shorten it to, “C.P.C.”    For us who feel various levels of attachment to this place we call “C.P.C.”, just what does that name mean?  How important is our understanding of what “C.P.C.” stands for… is “Covington Presbyterian Church” relevant to what it means to be a ‘faithful disciple of Jesus Christ?’  Well, let’s look at that name…

                “Covington.”  As far as where we are located re: a physical location, yes, “Covington” is correct.  But how about as to our composition… where we come from?  If you consider our membership rolls, we should be called the ‘Covington/Mandeville/Folsom/Robert/Madisonville/Lacombe/Abita Springs Presbyterian Church’!  Some of you may be familiar with a Communion liturgy that states that the people will come ‘from east, west, north and south to gather at the Table of our Lord Jesus Christ.’  Well here, that is definitely true!  We are definitely ‘all over the map!’  The “Covington” part is probably not that significant … except for those who grew up with that part of the name!

                 “Presbyterian.”  Now, this part of the name probably holds more significance for a broader number of people.  Many of you have deep roots in the Presbyterian church… some go back generations in affiliation with this denomination.  But I would hazard to say that even if your ‘grandpappy’ was an Elder, or your ‘great grandma’  a matriarch of the church, you might be hard pressed to define just what being a “Presbyterian” means!  There are a number of words that are associated with our denomination:  “Confessional” … “Connectional” … “Elders.”  (which is the meaning of the root word that gives us “Presbyterian”—the Latin word ‘presbuteros.’)  Phrases like “priesthood of all believers” and “Minister of Word and Sacrament” are also closely associated with the Presbyterian Church.  But when it all comes down to it, the reason that most of you are worshipping here today likely has little to do with the ‘label’ we wear out on the marquee out in front of the church.

                “Church.”  Now THERE’S a word we can all agree on, right?  All of you are definitely in here this morning because you know the importance of going to church.  OK, then so what IS ‘church?’  A building?  A type/time of worship?  A group of people?  Hmmm… maybe this term is not as easy to define…either as a word, or for us personally… as we might think.

                Sooo, if the term “Covington Presbyterian Church” doesn’t do justice to who you and I are as believers in Jesus Christ, what should we call ourselves?  Well, I would suggest to you that the letters “C.P.C.” instead of Covington Presbyterian Church, might stand for “Committed Powerful Christians.”  As we consider the example of that early church, who persevered under such adverse conditions, we see a group of fellow disciples who were certainly “Committed Powerful Christians.”

                They were ‘committed.’  No lukewarm believers here.  So dedicated were Paul and Barnabas that they stayed a year in Antioch teaching and encouraging new disciples of Christ.

And some of you think that YOU are tied up in teaching for a long time!  Our problem here is not merely the commitment of teachers, but of students!  Sure, we are eager to take our young people to Cross Country, but how many of you adults are involved in weekly Bible study?  And NO, this doesn’t count!

                In the O.T. passage we read from 2 Kings, Josiah stood before the people and “read… all the words of the Book of the Covenant.”  (and you think what I read takes a while!).  He then renewed his promise “to follow the Lord and keep his commands…with all his heart and all his soul.”  The Scriptures then go on to say that “then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.”  Just like in our worship service, where immediately following the “Proclamation of the Word” comes the “Response.”  Friends, I can stand up here and talk all day… which some of you might think I do already… but that doesn’t matter AT ALL.  What matters is what you DO with the Word that has been proclaimed.  To commit yourself “to follow the Lord and keep his commands…with all your heart and soul.”  The best way to ‘follow those commands’ of our Lord is by discussing them with other followers of Christ.

                Not only was the early church ‘committed,’ they were ‘powerful.’  They stood strong under oppression from those who disagreed with their beliefs.  Even in the face of such persecution, they continued to boldly proclaim the gospel.  They spoke not only to those that were like them, but to strangers, foreigners… telling to Jews and Greeks alike “the good news about the Lord Jesus.” 

                When was the last time you spoke to someone about this “Good News”?  When was the last time that you asked someone to join you here to hear about this powerful Savior named Jesus?  You have a perfect excuse to do so coming up in just two weeks!  We will be having a celebration of worship of Almighty God right outside here.  An opportunity to invite all those ‘Jews and Greeks’… those people who are like  you, and not-so-like you… to come to a less-formal, perhaps less ‘intimidating’ gathering of joyful believers in Christ.  ‘What?’ you might say… ‘Me invite someone to church?’ Don’t worry… you can do it!  Not by your own strength, but through the One who dwells inside of you.  You have the ‘power’…

                As members of Christ’s body, the church, we are to be committed and powerful.  But we must never lose sight of where our commitment and power comes from.  It is not of ourselves, but rather, the One whom we worship—Jesus Christ.  Before we can expect to experience God’s awesome power… before we can commit to knowing and following Him more fully… we must FIRST have a loving relationship with the Son, Jesus.  His IS the ‘name above all names.’

                As I pondered the importance of what we call ourselves, a familiar phrase popped into my head:  “What’s in a name?”  You may have heard it before.  Do you know where it comes from?  Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”  It comes at the point in the play where Juliet tells Romeo that a name is an artificial and meaningless convention; that she loves the person called ‘Montague’… not merely the name.  She declares:  “What’s in a name?  That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  Because of that ‘fragrant, sweet-smelling’ love, Romeo vows to deny his old name and be ‘baptized anew’ as Juliet’s lover.

                It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself a member of “Covington Presbyterian Church” or one of those “Committed Powerful Christians.”  What really matters is not whether you call yourself by the name “Christian”… but that you love the person called Christ.  May we all be impassioned by the sweet-smelling aroma of our Lord and Savior.  Each day may we vow to deny our old selves and be baptized anew as those who love Jesus.  It’s all about Jesus…the One whom we can love because He first loved us…

CHARGE

“Church” is not merely something we ‘do’ or ‘go to’… but what we ARE!

“church” fr. Greek word “kyros” = power    As you go out into the world as ‘the church,’ know that you do so not by yourself, but with God’s power!