Sermon Romans 6:12-23

Many of us know the story of Faust ... at least perhaps we've heard variations on the story. Someone who sells their soul to the devil for some gain or benefit. They sell out themselves for
wealth or fame or in one version on the Simpson's ... a donut. We know this story of the Faustian Bargain, where one sells one's self to gain something, only to in the end lose all.

Yet, there are some versions of this story where the seller does not lose out in the end. The last chapter; the last scene ends with the devil laying claim on the soul; telling the poor fool, "You sold it fair and square ... it is signed in blood." Just as the flames are about the rise up, a loved one bursts on the scene declaring, "You can't have his soul, he's already given it to me. Look at this love letter, it says "I give you my heart, my soul." The contract is void; he belongs to me."

We don't often think about our souls being objects of bargains. This is ironic since we live in an age of bargain, where many say, "Everything has a price. Everything is for sale. Everyone is for sale." We live in an age of commerce where our culture asks us, "What is your price?"

We know of companies offering to give schools computers in exchange for advertising time. For the price of your children's minds and pocketbooks, we will give you computers. Are they for sale?

And many of our youth have come to know how we turn people into commodities. At a graduation recently someone was said to say, "You young people, never let anyone tell you that you are our greatest natural resource, for these people want to strip-mine your soul."

I fear one day that I'll drive by a church where the sign says, "Coca-cola United Church". Names are important, and I hope you choose a good name well. I've mentioned to some of you that I feel uncomfortable with churches that choose their community name for their church. I know it is a practical choice, but I fear a subtle sell-out. I fear that these churches think that they are to "serve their surrounding community." No, we are not called to serve them. We are called to serve Christ, by blessing them. It may be subtle, or even seem like word games, however the difference becomes clear when Christ calls us to challenge the community around us. When we are called to serve Christ, by blessing the community with the challenge of the Gospel. Listen, Christ is the master, not our community.

In todays' text, Paul writes about forces that wish to enslave us. The principalities and powers he calls them; which wish to make us slaves to death; slaves to sin. He says, " But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness."

This sounds like strange talk; being slaves of death, we were set free to become slaves of life. Paul seems to be speaking out of both side of his face. How can it be that, in Christ, we gain the freedom to become slaves. Doesn't slavery mean, "lose of freedom"?

We are a culture which values freedom. Mess with people's freedom's and they get militant. "Who are you to tell me what to do?" More and more we are a culture which defines the highest good and being free from all that constrains us. From, tradition, authority, government, etc. More and more, the freedom of the individual has become the highest value in our society. And so it seems very strange for us to talk about forms of slavery that bring freedom.

For we know all about forms of slavery that do lead to death. It was not long ago that some of our families owned slaves; my ancestors may have owned other people ... or been owned ... or both. Then there is the slavery that women experienced formally, and still do informally. It was only just at the start of this century that women were not considered persons; we know about obvious slavery that leads to death. Sinful slavery.

But what about slavery that leads to freedom and life? What about that? If you look at many bibles they use the word servant ... they avoid the connotations of slavery. But if Paul is talking about freedom, slavery seems to fit. He calls us to be slaves of Christ; or better we have been made slaves to Christ.

How about that; just imagine the look we'd get if after baptizing a child we said, "Friends this is the latest slave of Christ ... give thanks for the freedom he will experience with Jesus as his Master?"

But that is exactly what Paul is proposing. Through being baptized into Christ's death you have been baptized into his resurrection. Through the waters of Baptism, the chains of death were removed and new chains of freedom were placed on our hands. Through baptisms, we are hand-cuffed to Christ as slaves to life.

Christ is now your master. Know now that only God owns you. Your boss is not the master of your life. Your government is not the master of your life. Men are no longer the masters of women. We religious leaders are not your masters. Our fathers and mothers are no longer masters of our lives. No one is our master, except Christ ... we are not even masters of ourselves. We belong to Christ.

And here in is liberty. As Christ's slaves we are truly free. We belong to a master who will not sell us out. A God who will not abandon us to death or destruction. And as life's slaves, we are chained in a relationship to a God who desires wholeness and fullness of life. Through the waters of baptism, we enter into Christ's death ... and bound up in the chains of resurrection to eternal life. We know that even though there is much that lays claim to us ... and much that we are tempted to sell our self out too. We know that in the end ... it is God who owns us.

And that makes a difference now ... for when we encounter people who wish to demean us and say we are worthless. When we enter institutions that dehumanize us. We know who we belong to. We belong to a God who was willing to enter into human living as Jesus the Christ. And through God's self giving love, Christ gave all of himself ... taking on the form of a slave ... facing suffering and death ... and on the third day rising from the grave ... free from the forces of destruction ... and ultimately of death ...

Shakespear once said, "And death once dead, there is no more dying then." Fellow slaves in Christ, death is not the end; indignity is not the end; oppression is not the end; For when Christ comes all these things shall come to an end; But we need not wait until then to challenge false masters ... Paul says "So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ."

It is time to begin, with God's help, the challenge of living Tomorrow's life today. For we have been set free as slaves to life, by a Master who was willing to become slaves for us. So that we might begin to experience wholeness and fullness of life.. and the freedom in following the Risen Christ.

316 Praise Our Maker
330 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
690 From the Slave Pens of the Delta
87 I am the Light of the World.