In a word, as God’s dear children, you must be like him. Live in love as Christ loved you and gave himself up on your behalf, an offering and sacrifice whose fragrance is pleasing to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 REB)

Reflections by Keith Funk

Last week, I shared with us that because of Christ’s death on the cross, we are to now see and live in the new reality of a new humanity. Paul wrote that the walls or barriers which formerly separated us have been broken down (Ephesians 2:14). It is this new reality that defines the way we see ourselves, and the way we see the world. Many, today, define themselves by what they are opposed to. Considering Christ, and the new reality of a new humanity, we must define ourselves presently not by what we are opposed to but who we are for and what he has done. From here we are to then see and live accordingly.

As I shared last week, seeing and then living considering this new reality holds enormous challenges for us. Much in our society and culture is shaped by division and vitriol, as I alluded to last week. It is easy to fall into the trap of defining ourselves by that to which we are opposed. When we do so, to be frank, we are colluding with the world and with its penchant for divisiveness. At this point, may we be open to Paul’s counsel to the Ephesians above:

                                 In a word, as God’s dear children, you must be like him.

Paul’s call to be like God, or to imitate him, is preceded by his call to put away anger and slander, to be done with evil, to practice generosity, kindness and forgiveness remembering God in Christ forgave you.  

In all of this, talk about a challenge! Literally, Paul is telling his readers to imitate God! No doubt, you have seen a mime, through gestures and movements, imitating someone washing windows, walking a dog, or carrying a heavy load. Through their gestures a mime reflects people and their activities that we recognize and can resonate with. We can apply this from what Paul expresses to the Ephesians and hear him calling his readers to mimic God, or perhaps more daringly, to become God’s mimes.

With all of this said, and speaking to us where we are, may we be willing to take something with us to begin to practice in our own contexts and surroundings.

Let’s begin with the practice of what I call, “sifting out the bones.” This image comes from eating fish. Sometimes the challenge to eating fish is avoiding the small bones hidden in the meat. Yet a good piece of fish is worth sifting out the bones. In things we hear from others, in what we read, or encounter in social media, we might find ourselves offended and ready to reject what it is we have heard or read. Bone-sifting, otherwise to be known as the practice of discernment, is a principle and practice that may be worthwhile, and ultimately beneficial for us. This may be true even if we are receiving it from a source that in our default mode we find hard to swallow. (Forgive me, I couldn’t resist the pun.) Suffice it to say the practice of quiet and careful discernment offers a way of harmonizing with Christ’s barrier breaking new humanity reality rather than vilifying those with whom we disagree.    

Here is another practice which is far less demanding, make a habit of SMILING! This is my Walmart habit. Broken down barriers, new humanity—come on, we have a lot to smile about! With intention, when I am out and about, I take opportunity to smile. This may seem minimal and even frivolous. But if we are imitators of God, receivers and practitioners of new life in Christ, the least we can do is smile. If we can’t smile, who can?

Finally, and a bit more seriously, may we leave behind our tribal encampments. It is so easy to limit the way we are often inclined to define ourselves by preferred labels and predominant tribal associations. Simply put, our new humanity in Christ doesn’t allow these as options. Because of God, in Christ, we are defined by so much more. We are God’s dear children, now we must be like him. Peace be with you.