SERMON, PROPER 17B, EPHESIANS 6:10-20

Today we come to the end of our little jaunt through Ephesians. I hope you've learned something, gained some insight about the letter and had your interest piqued to maybe delve deeper. As this epistle ends, the author wants to close with words of comfort and a prayer for the people reading and hearing this letter.

The overall thrust of Ephesians, remember, is unity; unity in doctrine and belief, certainly. If you look at Galatians and Corinthians, for instance, you will see that not everything in the early church was hunky-dory, and there was dissention and arguments and such. This letter lays out Christian doctrine and the application of that doctrine in our lives in an almost unemotional way so as better to help believers.

However, besides trying to unite the early Christians in matters of doctrine, I also think that he was trying to unite the people against worldly enemies. The great persecutions had yet to begin, but it would have been easy to see how Rome and the Jewish leaders might try to stamp out this upstart religious sect. And Paul himself used to persecute Christians and was present at the death of Stephen.

What better way to unite people than to conjure up images of a common enemy, visions of a glorious battle and a belief that God is on our side? Our country is no stranger to this. We did it in the Revolutionary War, World War I, World War II and even by President Bush in the early days of Iraq.

Paul is saying, "Be united in doctrine, yes, but also against the world." And he gives us an image of the armor of God so that we may be able to stand fast on that evil day. I could do a little Pentecostal preaching here . . . Put on the armor of God! Fasten the belt of truth and put on the breasplate of righteousness! Take the shield of faith and quench the flaming arrows of the evil one! After all, if God is for us, who can be against us??

A friend of mine found a website recently that sold pajamas made to look like this passage. We had a nice laugh about it, but on some level it works. What with everything going on in the world today, if some little kid feels safe with his own personal set of God's Armor pj's, why not? I would just hope that he grows out of them as he moves from childhood to adulthood.

Kids have alot to be worried about. When I was younger, my friends and I were convinced that the USSR & USA would annihilate each other. We weren't scared so much as simply resigned to the fact that life would end via nuclear holocaust. Then the Soviet Union fell and we didn't have to worry anymore.

That is, until Chechen rebels threatened to take control of a missle silo. Or India and Pakistan started fighting. Or Sadaam threatened chemical and germ warfare. Or people flew planes into buildings. Or terrorists started blowing themselves up in crowded streets. Or . . . the list goes on. And it's gone on for hundreds of centuries.

Humans are very good at finding ways of killing each other. Paul uses military imagery because the people are familiar with it, and it can motivate them.

But look at the other words Paul uses: truth, righteousness and faith, and all to proclaim the gospel of peace. The image is that of a warrior, but we are warriors of peace. This armor isn't used to kill -- not even to kill the evil one. It is to be used to proclaim peace and to quench the flaming arrows; that is, things thrown at you for your beliefs.

The letter wraps up with all of this imagery designed to both motivate and comfort those who hear and read it. Part of the letter's appeal, I think, is its relatively unemotional tone. Things are laid out calmly and rationally, and that allows for more people to look at this and apply it to their lives. But a little emotion never hurt anyone, and so Paul throws in the bit about the armor of God.

But notice that that imagery is not the last thing he says. Above all, beyond the breastplates and helmets and swords, this is prayer. Pray at all times and in all ways. Pray for strength and guidance. Give thanks for your blessings. Pray for unity. Pray on a regular basis and make it as much a part of your life as talking with your spouse, friends or kids. And pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me.

Pray for me as I work with you to rebuild our congregations. Pray for me as I work to minister to the various people in this valley. Pray for my family as they deal with biases about being a priest's wife or kid. Pray for me that I may speak gospel truth that challenges, comforts, heals and draws people into our community.

Ephesians, then, is our letter. We have been adopted into God's family. We have been raised from the dead. We are unified in Christ. We submit to each other in love. And using our individual gifts and talents, we are knit together as one body.

Amen.