PEARLS OF PAUL
SAINTS AND SERVANTS
DR. JIM DIXON
ROMANS 12
JANUARY 9, 2000
Jerusalem Syndrome is the name of a psychological malady that afflicts tourists when visiting the Holy Land. According to Dr. Gregory Katz of Israel’s leading psychiatric clinic, 60 to 70 tourists a year suffer from Jerusalem Syndrome. With the coming of the millennium, the incidents, the case numbers, are increasing. Dr. Gregory Katz believes that with the dawning of this first millennial year, there will be a 100% increase in the cases of Jerusalem Syndrome. Jerusalem Syndrome is characterized by a tourist suffering from an identity crisis, a tourist believing that he or she is a biblical character. While they’re traveling in Israel, they suddenly begin to believe that they are Moses or Miriam or David or Bathsheba, Abraham or Sarah, Mary or Joseph or even Jesus. Jerusalem Syndrome only lasts normally for about a week and then the person feels horribly embarrassed that they could have been so confused.
I’m confident that none of you will ever suffer from Jerusalem Syndrome, no matter how many times you visit the Holy Land, but you may, nevertheless, experience a kind of identity crisis. Indeed, most Christians do suffer from an identity crisis. The fact is, most Christians do not really know who they are. Most Christians do not understand who they really are in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Romans, chapter 12, to help us understand who we are—who we are in Christ Jesus. I have two teachings this morning, and the first is this: You are a saint. If you’re a Christian, if you believe in Jesus Christ, you are a saint.
There’s an old joke about a man named Fred who had a hard time making good decisions. Fred inherited $10 million, but the will stipulated that he had to receive his inheritance either in Brazil or in Chile. Fred chose Brazil, and that was too bad, because in Chile, he would have received his inheritance in the form of land upon which gold and uranium would have been discovered. But in Brazil, he had to receive his inheritance either in the form of nuts or coffee. Well, Fred chose nuts, and that was too bad, because coffee rose $2.00 a pound, wholesale, unroasted, but nuts? The bottom fell out of the nut market, and Fred lost everything. He was destitute, and he was in Brazil.
Well, he went and he sold his gold watch so he would have the money to fly back to the states. There were only two flights going to the states, one to New York and one to Boston. Fred chose Boston, and that was too bad, because the flight going to New York was a brand new 747. Fred would have been bumped up to first class, but the flight going to Boston was a 1928 Ford Tri-motor, and one engine fell off flying over the Andes. Another engine malfunctioned. It was clear that the plane was going down. There was hardly anybody on this plane.
The stewardess came up to Fred with two parachutes, and Fred chose the parachute in her right hand. And that was too bad, because as he was flying through the air, the parachute malfunctioned and there he was, just zooming through the air. In desperation, he cried out, “St. Francis, save me!” Suddenly this giant hand just came out of the heavens and grabbed Fred, and he was suspended there in the air. Suddenly a deep, rich voice said, “St Francis of Assisi or St. Francis Xavier?”
It’s only a dumb joke, and it is true that sometimes it’s hard to make good decisions. It’s also true that there is more than one St. Francis. In fact, in the Oxford Dictionary of Saints, there are five individuals named St. Francis. There is St. Francis of Assisi, there is St. Francis Xavier, there is St. Francis of Paola, there is St. Francis of Rome, and there is St. Francis of Sales. In the Oxford Dictionary of Saints, there are 1,100 saints listed, and yet, it’s only a fraction of the number of individuals who have been declared saints. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints only lists those saints who have had some association, in some way, with England. The exhaustive list of saints is found in the Bibliotheca Sanctorum, and it lists thousands and thousands of saints.
How did all these women and men come to be called saints? Well, you know, in the first two centuries of the Christian world, all Christians were called saints. But then in the 3rd century, the word saint was reserved for individuals who were martyred for their faith. Then in the 4th century, clergy began to be given the title saint, so bishops and ecclesiastical leaders were called saints. Then in the 5th century, the Roman Catholic Church took over the process of canonization, and the Roman Catholic Church decided that they would determine who should be called a saint. They determined that heroes and heroines of the faith should be called saints, individuals who had lived particularly holy lives and who had accomplished significant things for the kingdom of Christ. They also determined that if a person were to be declared a saint, then they should have at least two miracles associated with their life—if not in their lifetime, then in their name after their death. The Catholic Church determined that a person needed to be beatified, declared blessed, before they could be canonized and be declared a saint.
Pope John Paul II ascended the papal throne in 1978, the first non-Italian to become Pope in 456 years. He has beatified 805 people. Pope John Paul II has canonized 283 individuals, declaring them all saints. He’s created more saints than any other pope in the history of the church. This does not count the number of saints that Pope John Paul II has patronized. For instance, St. Francis of Assisi was canonized and declared a saint in 1228, but it was Pope John Paul II, in 1979, who declared him the Patron Saint of Ecology because St. Francis of Assisi loved animals and nature.
Now, St. Francis of Assisi was a great Christian, and Pope John Paul II has been a very good pope, but all of this process of canonization is really very sad. It’s very sad because it divides the body of Christ into saints and non-saints, and it was never meant to be that way. The Bible tells us very clearly that all who believe in Jesus Christ, whether they’re Protestant, Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, whoever loves Christ, whoever has committed their life to Christ as Savior and Lord, has become a saint. Every Christian is a saint, and it’s very important to understand what it means to be a saint.
The Greek word for saint is the word “hagios.” This word is used twice in Romans, chapter 12. In our passage of scripture for today, it’s used twice. Both times it describes the whole body of Christ. We’re all saints. In fact, the book of Romans is addressed to the saints—Romans, chapter 1, verse 7. It’s addressed to the saints, and the word is hagioi, the Greek word in the plural. That means ALL Christians. We’re all saints. The word hagios means “set apart”—set apart from the world and set apart for God. If you’re a Christian, then you’re a saint. You’ve been set apart from the world, and you’ve been set apart for God. You should remember this every day of your life. You should wake up every morning realizing you are a saint and you’ve been set apart from the world and you have been set apart for God. This is the meaning of the word saint, the word hagios. You’ve been set apart for God.
Therefore, what you do with your body becomes very important. What you do with your time, what you do with your talents, what you do with your treasure becomes very important because you’re a saint, and you’ve been set apart for God. That’s why, at the beginning of Romans, chapter 12, Paul begins by saying, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice.” You see, it’s because you’re a saint. You’ve been set apart for God, and you are to offer yourself daily. Every day of your life you are to offer yourself to God because you’re a saint, set apart for God.
I love the story of Robert Moffatt who, of course, was the pioneer missionary to Africa. The year was 1815 when he first went into what was then called the “dark continent” with his wife, Mary Smith. They labored together for 50 years in the African continent. It was Moffatt who translated the Old Testament into many African languages. It was Moffatt who translated the New Testament into many African languages. It was Moffatt who translated the great hymns of the faith into African languages. He even took Pilgrim’s Progress and translated that into the African language. It was Moffatt who led thousands and thousands of women and men in the African continent to faith in Jesus Christ. Of course, Moffatt’s daughter wound up marrying David Livingston who became, perhaps, Africa’s most famous missionary.
But, you see, it all began for Moffatt when he was eleven years old in a little tiny church in Scotland. The offering was being taken, and Bobby Moffatt, 11 years old, amazed everyone by taking the offering plate, putting it in the aisle, and stepping into it. The ushers said, “What are you doing?” Little Bobby Moffatt said, “I’m giving my whole self to God.” That was the beginning. He realized he was a saint, set apart for God, and he was to be a living sacrifice, offering himself daily. As a Christian, unless you understand you’re a saint, you can’t live the way you’re meant to live. You’re a saint, set apart from the world, set apart for God and for His use.
This really leads us to the second teaching this morning, and that is this: You are a minister. You are a minister. This is the primary message of Romans, chapter 12. You are a minister. The Greek words for minister, whether “huperete” or “diakonos,” mean “to serve,” “to be a servant.” We have all been called into the service of Christ. We’re all ministers. If you’re a Christian, you’re a saint and you’re a minister called to serve.
There’s an old joke that used to be told in the farm communities about a pastor who was invited to a farmer’s house. This pastor was a very big man, and he had a voracious appetite, as many pastors do. He came with his wife. The farmer and his family knew that this pastor ate a lot, so they made a lot of fried chicken. They made so much fried chicken that they knew they would have leftovers for the next day for their meals the next day. But they were amazed as the pastor began to eat. He ate a leg and a wing and a thigh and a breast, and on and on and on, and he just finished it all. Just when he was finished, a rooster crowed outside the farmhouse. The pastor said, “My, that sure is a proud rooster you have there.” The farmer paused for a second, and he said, “Well, he ought to be. Three of his kids just entered the ministry!”
Now, the truth is we’ve all entered the ministry. A lot of parents are proud if their child enters the ministry. Some, perhaps, are not so proud. The truth is, if you’re a Christian, you’ve entered the ministry. All Christians have entered the ministry. All Christians are called to serve Jesus Christ and to be ministers. Now, many pastors wear robes, but the number of pastors wearing robes is diminishing. Fewer and fewer pastors are wearing robes today. There was a time when I wore robes. If you were part of Cherry Hills Community Church in the beginning, you know that we wore robes in the beginning. The first few years, we always wore robes. I have three robes today. The first robe was given me when I received my ordination. It was given to me by Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora. Then I received my second robe when I attained my doctorate. It was given to me by friends. And then this church gave me a doctoral robe. It’s a beautiful robe. It’s greyish silver, and it has black doctoral stripes embroidered in red. But I have not worn my robes in years. It’s not because I don’t like robes. In fact, I do like robes, and for three reasons.
One, you can gain weight and wear a robe. You see, the one acceptable sin for clergy is gluttony. That’s the one acceptable sin, and that’s why churches used to have potlucks, but they provided robes to cover it up. Then, I also like robes because you don’t have to worry about a wardrobe. I can remember in the early days of the church, on our church picnic Sunday, I actually wore Bermuda shorts under my robe. I mean, it didn’t matter. You didn’t have to worry about your wardrobe if you had a robe. And so, robes are very helpful that way.
The third reason I like a robe is I think they look kind of cool, particularly that third robe that the church gave me. I thought that looked great. But why do I not wear a robe today, and why are so many pastors discarding robes? Because a lot of people feel like it represents clergy elitism, and that a clerical robe is kind of arrogant, and it separates the clergy from the laity and the pastor from the congregation. I understand that. In fact, I think it is time to break down a lot of the walls that separate pastors from their congregation, and clergy from the laity.
In fact, the word clergy comes from a Latin word meaning “learned” or “educated,” but we’re all learned, and we’re all educated. There was a time when only the clergy could read or write. Now, we can all read and write. The word laity comes from the Greek word “laos,” which is used in the Bible and means “the people of God.” But we’re all the people of God, pastors and congregational members. We’re all the people of God. It’s time to set aside some of these terms and realize we’re all ministers. We’re all called to the ministry. I think the problem with the clergy/laity distinction is a lot of congregations think, “Well, it’s the pastor’s job to do ministry.” And that’s not biblical. We’re all called to do ministry. We’re all called to serve, and we need ministers. We’re seeking to mobilize this congregation in the service of Christ. We want to raise up an army of ministers, men and women who want to serve Christ.
Really, the visions God has given us will never be fulfilled unless we’re mobilized in ministry as a congregation. We’ll never transform our community. We’ll never elevate the poor, we’ll never impact the world and our nation unless we’re mobilized. As a congregation, we understand we’re all ministers. We need Sunday school teachers, as you saw in our video. We have hundreds of Sunday school teachers, but we don’t have enough. We need more of you to teach Sunday school.
I read a wonderful story about a man named Steven Palmer. The year was 1886. Steven Palmer was a man living in Oregon. He was on his way to church. This was in the little town of Newberg. Steven Palmer was on his way to church. As he was walking to church in 1886, he saw four boys, about 12 years old, playing around in the street. He thought, “These boys ought to go to church.” He went up to them and he said, “How would you boys like to go to church with me?” Well, they weren’t real excited, but Steven Palmer was 24 years old, and he was kind of a cool young man, and these boys were somewhat interested.
Steven Palmer said, “Why don’t you four boys come with me. We’ll form a Sunday school class. You can be the class.” They said okay. They all went to church together. Steven Palmer talked to the Sunday School Superintendent and said, “You know, I’d like to start a new Sunday school class. I’ve brought these four boys.” The Sunday School Superintendent said, “Fine!” And Steven Palmer began this Sunday school class, and it grew.
In the year 1932, 46 years later, Steven Palmer was 70 years old. On his 70th birthday, he retired, and he received letters from those four boys. Forty-six years later, those four boys all wrote him as he retired on his 70th birthday. The first boy had become a missionary to China. The second boy had become the President of the Federal Reserve Bank. The third boy was the personal secretary of President Herbert Hoover. The fourth boy was Herbert Hoover himself, who, at that moment, was president of the United States.
I can’t promise you that if you teach Sunday school you’re going to have famous students. You might not have any child in your class that grows up to be president. I can promise you this, though: You won’t have to recruit your own class. We’ve got kids all ready for you. They’re just waiting for you. Some of you need to teach. Some of you just need to be assistants in the classroom. We need all kinds of help, and we have a table out in the lobby today where you can sign up if you’re interested in being a Sunday school teacher. We need you.
We need other volunteers, people who are willing to be ministers, because Christ has made us ministers. We’re meant to serve, and we need people to go and serve with Whiz Kids and Save Our Youth in the inner city. We need hundreds of you. We need people to be small group leaders. We need people to sing in the choir. In all kinds of ministries, we need you.
Maybe you’re not sure… Maybe you want to serve but you don’t know what you should do. We have a class that’s prepared for you. It’s in your grace notes. The class is called S.H.A.P.E. You can read about it in your grace notes. This class doesn’t have anything to do with your physical shape. It doesn’t have to do whether you’re an ectomorph, endomorph, mesomorph or whether your body type is an apple or pear. It doesn’t matter. This doesn’t have, really, even to do with your spiritual shape. It’s related to that, but it has to do with your ministry shape, to discover who you are as a minister. It has to do with your ministry shape, so you can understand who you are as a minister. This is a wonderful class. We have classes that are offered this month and next month. You can go to the small group table out in the lobby, and you can sign up for this class, and it will prepare you to serve because you are a minister. If you’re a Christian, you’re a saint set apart for God’s use and you are a minister, called to serve.
You know, in World Magazine, in just the January 8 issue which has just come out, they have an article called “Ministers Behaving Badly.” I had to read that. It talks about how, in this past year, a number of ministers have kind of fallen. Henry Lyons heads the list. He was the President of the National Baptist Coalition U.S.A. He has gone to prison for fraud and income tax evasion. He’s required to repay $5.1 million, which he pilfered from denominational funds. He’s also accused of sexual misconduct. What a tragedy. What a tragic, tragic thing that is. But I promise you, most pastors do not behave like that. I also promise you that you, too, are a minister. How are you behaving? I mean, you’re a minister. How are you behaving? If you’re not offering yourself daily to God, if you’re not stepping every day into that offering plate, you’re misbehaving. If you’re not entering into service, you’re misbehaving.
You see, Jesus spoke about ministry. He called us to serve and to bear fruit. That’s what the parable of the talents is about, the parable of the pounds, the parable of the laborers of the vineyard. That’s what the parable of the fig tree is about. That’s really what the Good Samaritan is about. It’s about serving, bearing fruit for Christ. This is the call of Christ. You are a saint, set apart for God’s use, and you are a minister called to serve. Let’s close with a word of prayer.