"COMMENCEMENT"

Dr. Glen A. Thorp June 26,2011
I Peter 3:13-17, Act. 2:42-47 (All Rights Reserved)
“COMMENCEMENT”

INTRODUCTION: What is the earliest Graduation you remember?
Mine was 8th Grade. I loved graduation of my pervious Church’s Day Care. Children, some who had been with us since their infancy, graduated from Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten in the public schools. They wore robes, mortar boards with tassels and received diplomas that was almost as large as they were, definitely larger than anyone I received. Diplomas seem to get smaller at each level of education. My graduation, from 8th grade was low key. There were no robes or diplomas. It was a boarding school, in Guatemala, C.A., with 8grades and only 3 students in my class. My Dad said: “This is more than graduation, it is a commencement a beginning.” For me it truly was. The week after my graduation my parents put me on plane to Houston, Texas were I was met by a host family, I had never met. The next 24hrs were a real cultural shock for me. Leaving everything I knew and adjusting to the new culture was truly a commencement

In California, this is time for completing education and commencing another. Even those who have completed their formal education are commencing into the work force, if they are lucky to find a job. Many of us are beyond the years of “formal education.” Yet the lessons of commencement still apply to us.

In addition to my academic studies, I learned about the Bible, had music lessons and was a Boy Scout leader. Each was invaluable in my 8th grade commencement and 9th grade in Minneapolis.

The Apostle Peter wrote:
Be ready at anytime to give a quiet and reverent answer to anyone who wants to know a reason for the hope that you have within you. (I Peter 3:15)

In Peter’s day, Christians suffered persecution because of their decision to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Some were “banned from their families,” others were whipped, thrown into prison or placed in arenas with tigers and lions. Today Christians, every day in some part of the world, experience similar treatment for making the decision to follow Jesus, making him Lord of their lives.

Christians suffered not because they placed their trust in Jesus, but because their faith permeated every area of their lives and Christ was in control. Roman Emperors were threatened because a Christian’s first allegiance was to God/Jesus Christ and then Caesar who saw himself as “ultimate” and accountable to noone, let alone a god.

“If you as Christians suffer,” Peter writes, “you should know why you chose to follow Jesus. You ought to take every opportunity of explaining why you are not afraid of human power or death and the hope within you.”

The Apostle Paul used every occasion to tell his story. Christians knew there was nothing too loose. The worse was death and that meant joining their Lord in Heaven.

Few us suffer because of our faith. Some of our friends and colleagues may not know we are Christians. Some, who know we attend church, may tease or harass us. At some point they will ask “why are you different?”
Will we be ready to answer? If we apply what the early followers of Jesus did in Acts 2:42-47, we will be ready. They “Learned, Fellowshiped and Prayed.”

Peter gives Two Characteristics of good and effective responses to the hope within us.

The First Characteristic is Reasonableness. “Reverence.”
Use language and illustrations understood by the person asking us. Theological and Philosophical terminology may impress but not clarify. Unless you know the names of the different knots, used by scouts; a bowline, half-hitch or square knot, mean nothing to you. Most know what a square knot is even if they do not know how to tie one. If you can name the knots and tie them, but never use them for their determined purpose, of what use it. Scouts learn to tie the knots while camping in the wilderness. More importantly they learn to follow instructions, set goals, work in teams, lead as well as many other interpersonal skills to assist them in being ready/prepared for various situations. It sure helped me.

Using words like “Born Again.” “Saved,” “Grace”
even “Sin” in today’s world, have very little meaning.
If you have experienced the meaning of those words, you can Reasonably, Intelligently and Temperately tell your story and give explanation of the hope in which you live.

You can only do that if you know and live what you believe. That comes from Learning - what Jesus taught. It is one thing knowing Bible stories, reciting creeds and even answering the questions of Shorter Catechism, which at one time was required for church membership. It is another, understanding what you are saying and have reflected on its implications. You say “Jesus is Lord.” Is Jesus truly Lord of your daily life?
Are you following implementing his teachings?

Unfortunately, some are not ready when challenged in College or at Work. They find themselves tongue-tied or exasperated. In Scouting, one learns not only what to do but why. So too with our Christian faith, if one never wrestles with the why, one will not comprehend the what.

Experience is the best teacher. Scouts learn about camping from a handbook and set up tents in a church. But if the scout never goes camping, all the knowledge will be of little use. Scouts need the experience of setting up camp in the dark, rain and wind to truly appreciate and put to test the skills they have learned.

So too with our Christian Faith. “We need a first hand discovery not a second hand story.” (William Barclay) The tragedy is that many of us don’t know what we believe let alone why we believe it so that we may ...
Can others see our hope in Christ? Are we prepared to tell others what Christ has done in our lives?

Give a reasonable/logical explanation of the hope in us.

The Second Characteristic is Gentleness.
Teachers instruct in a clear and sensitive manner.
Arrogance, belligerence or trying to cram something down their student’s throat will back fire.

Amazingly, some Christians try “sharing their faith” in an obnoxious manner. They think, “anyone not believing as I do is a fool or knave.” Throughout history people have been forced to accept their conqueror’s beliefs.

Jesus taught: “You are light and salt.” Light brings clarity to what is hidden in darkness. Salt heals, purifies, enhances, preserves and causes thirst. A friend of ours who had a battery of tests, including colonoscopy and endoscopy for cause of nausea, dizziness, dehydration learned that her sodium was low. I wonder if part of the what is affecting our nation is a lack of “Salt”.

Treating those with whom we are sharing our faith with love, gentleness, and in appropriate manner, may open opportunities of giving account of our hope. Bludgeoning closes opportunities of explaining our faith.

A Christian Barber, convinced he needed to share his faith in Christ with others, decided that next Saturday he would tell one of his clients about his faith in Christ. Throughout the day opportunities arose but he froze and was unable to say anything. As the day drew to a close the tension was building. He said: “hook or by crook I am going share my faith with the next person who comes in.” In walked a man asking for shave. The barber thought: “this is the one!” Preparing himself mentally and winding up the courage, he lathered up the man’s face, picked up the razor and sharpened it on a leather strap. Walking to the front of the chair, his voice quivering and his hand shaking he blurted out:
“Brother are you prepared to die?” The man jumped up and ran right through the plate glass window, tearing down the street screaming.” (D. Roper)

Fortunately, that is not the way of sharing our faith. Sometimes we may come across too forcefully or argumentatively and scare people away.

We may not be able to keep people from slandering us for sharing our faith. We can stop supplying them with ammunition. As long as we are
“light” and “salt” living as Jesus taught their accusations will be empty and embarrass them. Let us keep our conduct above criticism remembering:

Gentleness opens doors for us to give a logical reason for the hope within us that enables us to live without fear.

CONCLUSION: Even as scouts learn, practice and experience first hand what being ready means, applying it when necessary, so we as Christians can do the same so we are ready when called upon to explain our faith.

When you are confident of what and why you believe you may be an instrument of God’s love. The Holy Spirit will enable you to respond in a reasonable and gentle manner. If you are not ready you will likely stutter and become argumentative.

"A Godly conduct will silence slander disarming criticism."
The only un-answerable argument for a Christian is a life that is light and salt consistent with Jesus’ teachings, causing an eagerness to believe in God.

That life is one securely anchored on knowledge and experience of the saving activity of Jesus Christ.
How we live, How we handle difficulty and
How we treat others will say more than all our words.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law...Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23,25)

Two Illustrations:

To a Weaver who did more talking than work:
“He needs to let his Christianity come out
through his fingers rather than his mouth.”

A Woman got into a shouting match with her husband. Enraged, stormed through the kitchen swearing under her breath – opening all the cupboard doors then slamming them shut. Walking by an open kitchen door – she was startled to see a neighbor on the other side of the screen door. Terror raced through the woman when she recognized the neighbor as one for whom, for two years, she had been praying and was seeking a way of telling her of her faith in Christ. She thought: “I have really blown it this time.” She invited the neighbor to come in, apologized for her behavior, admitted her own weakness and of the Lord who forgives and gives fresh starts.

Her neighbor was so impressed with the woman’s honesty. courage and certainty of God’s forgiveness that she invited Christ into her life that day. It was a commencement, start of a new life and new chapter.

Learning, Fellowship and Praying.

It is not failure that discourages us – it is not being ready to give a reason for the hope within us. May that be so!

May our commencement be one where we:

Continue Learning, Worshiping faithfully, Praying and keeping in step with the Spirit who reminds us of all we have learned about Jesus and assist us in telling others of the hope within us, that enables us to live with joy and without fear in a time when it is risky talking about our faith in Jesus Christ who is the Lord of our lives.