Razzle Dazzle
Originally scheduled for October 27
Throughout military history, people have been
using the art of camouflage. We might take a little bit of a review
of this, for Christians are in the business of making sure
camouflage doesn’t work.
·
One form of camouflage is this: you
know that the object you’re looking for is not there – even when
it’s hiding in plain sight. If you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist.
But this is not the only form of camouflage.
·
Another form of camouflage is that
you do in fact see it — you just don’t identify it correctly. You
see a house where they put a cannon.
·
Perhaps a bit more subtle is this:
you see it, you recognize it correctly but you miss the direction in
which it is headed and how fast it’s moving. That was the purpose of
what was called “razzle dazzle camouflage” in World War I. Ships
were painted in the most outrageous blotches and splotches of color
to confuse the fellow looking through the periscope.
All these forms of camouflage have one thing in
common: they are intended to deceive you. You trust your eyes; your
eyes are lying to you.
In communion the church attempts to tell the
truth — in the deepest and most profound way possible. The elements
of communion are simple and visible, to prevent camouflage.
·
One purpose of communion is to
exemplify the real existence of Jesus Christ. As the elements are
real, so Jesus of Nazareth was a real human being, not a legend.
·
Another purpose is so that you will
identify correctly the intent which Christ had at the cross: the
sacrifice of atonement. We are to identify correctly what it is that
is being portrayed.
·
Indeed, we are also to identify
correctly the direction in which Jesus the Christ is headed.
Specifically, he intends to return at the time chosen by God the
Father. Direction? He’s headed back to us.
True Christians know the Truth — and they live
like it.
At communion we are taught to examine
ourselves. We need to find out: are we really living the truth, or
just going through the motions?
·
Is Christ real in our lines — or is
he just something for Sunday only?
·
Is your life changed by the power of
the resurrection — or do you live pretty much like everyone else
does, unaffected by the fact that Christ rose from the grave?
·
Do you act like he’s returning again
— and soon? Or do you act like you have all the time in the world?
You proclaim the truth in communion; do you live the truth in the
rest of your life?
