“Turning the Tide”
Ephesians 6: 10-18
First Presbyterian Church
The Reverend Donald Ray
November 11, 2007
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In the 1950’s--that was a half century ago—Walt
Kelly penned a comic strip featuring an assortment of animals he called
“nature’s schreechers” that lived in
Kelly’s animals bore an uncanny resemblance to human characteristics. There was a turtle named Churchy La Femme who wore a pirate hat and had a keen eye for the ladies; A porcupine named Porkypine had a knack for seeing the dismal side of things and being disappointed when the worst didn’t happen; Deacon Mushrat, a sever, bespeckled muskrat wore a black morning coat, and black string tie, spoke in Gothic script, smiled only when receiving the collection plate, favored kindness to the needy so long as they were abjectly grateful.
Wiley Cat is Kelly’s character that leads us to
where I am going with this. Wiley Cat seeing sedition if the roses had red
petals or if he found a red hen in the farm yard, bore an astonishing
resemblance to Joseph McCarthy. McCarthy, for those of us old enough to remember
was the junior Senator from
Pogo, who gave the strip its name, was a level headed, pure-hearted possum, overflowing with good will. With Pogo, I’ve arrived. In Pogo’s oft repeated line for which I remember the comic strip, he said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
That key verse from the Gospel according to Pogo helps us understand our text from Ephesians. “Wiles of the devil, cosmic powers of this present darkness, spiritual forces of evil” (Ephesians 6:12) we like to think are some spooky, other worldly, demonic menace. It’s the stuff science fiction fantasizes the weaponry and strategies to defeat. It’s the stuff of religions to demonize as works of the devil to be fought at every turn.
When I was a child in Sunday School—I’m really dating myself now, the teaching tool was a ‘felt board.’ For those who can only guess what that is, it was a board covered with felt material which cloth cut-outs would stick to. I remember our teacher depicting this Ephesians image, decking out the warrior on the board with breastplate, shield, boots, wide belt with his sword in its scabbard, and of course the helmet and shield.
It was an awe inspiring, impressive figure, there on the felt board. But it was all wrong. Stand firm, truth, righteousness, peace, faith are the key words of the text, not the armament images. Cosmic powers, dark shadows, and demons are not the enemies we must gird against, but the insidious detractors of character and faith and spirit. They are the bitterness and hatred, the failure of integrity, that arrogance of egotism, the vengeance for unforgiven hurts. They are Pogo’s observation: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”
“We have met the enemy and he is us” was likely
Kelly’s take on Commodore Oliver Hayward Perry’s famous quote after the
Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. Perry sent the message, “We have met the enemy
and he is ours,” signaling the victory over the British fleet. The dramatic
quote became famous. The battle had been won. But after two years, the War of
1812 ended in a stalemate. It further confirmed the independence of
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the
eleventh month, 1918 the armistice was signed between
I would not for a moment depreciate the respect and compassion for all who have served in the military forces and for their families that Veterans Day represents. The demanding regimentation, the horrors for those who have first hand experience of war stretches far beyond my imagination. I pray for the care and safety of those now in the zone of conflict and for the minds and spirits of all who are and have been there.
Civil War General, William Tecumseh Sherman, famous for supposedly saying, “war is hell” though he himself questioned whether he ever actually said that he recorded as making this apparently impromptu statement to the cadets of the Michigan Military Academy:
“Cadets of the graduating class—Boys, I’ve been where you are now and I know just how you feel. It’s entirely natural that there should beat in the breast of every one of you a hope and desire that some day you can use the skill you have acquired here.
Suppress it! You don’t know the horrible aspects
of war. I’ve been through two wars and I know. I’ve seen cities and homes in
ashes. I’ve seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces
looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is hell!” Whether
The war in
Where bitterness and hatred brew, there is no peace. That is where the battle goes from guns and bombs to powers of darkness and spiritual forces of evil. “We have met the enemy and he is us.” And here it is that we need truth and righteousness, faith and Spirit.
Jesus used no sword to defend himself. He had no enemies for to have enemies one must be an enemy. Others hated the Romans, Jesus found amazing faith in one of their army officers. Samaritans were ostracized. Jesus found one who took care of the victim by the side of the road.
I’ve been in this position of facilitating worship long enough to not question the Spirit. When I learned that “Give Me Jesus” was the choir anthem scheduled for today, even before I had settled on the topic and text, I believed that it needed to be part of the sermon.
At first, I was concerned that this traditional old song was so simple in text and tune that the choir’s rendition would receive more attention than the music if it were just the morning’s anthem. But as the sermon skeleton took shape, I realized that its only possibility for life in its bones `is in the breath of the God of love and peace. Our world cannot much longer survive a culture of war and terrorism. I thank Cindy for her urging the choir Thursday evening to sing this like Jesus is the last thing we have to hold on to.
This rendition of an old spiritual that I was wanting to rescue becomes the prayer that can turn the tide of war to the river of peace. Let it be our prayer together as the choir leads us.
“Give Me Jesus” Traditional—Arr. L. L. Fleming
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Peacemaking is participation in who Christ is. It is more than armistice and treaty; it is not in annihilating the enemy. Peacemaking is battling the powers and darkness of evil within that breed enmity, bitterness, vengeance and distrust.
Archbishop Anastasios of
Jesus said, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44) Prayer is an invisible binding together. The moment I pray for another person, there is a connection, I have taken that person into myself. As soon as that happens, my view of that person or community of people is changed. You look differently at a person you are praying for. You listen differently. You may not agree. You may disagree more than ever. But you struggle more to understand and find solutions and ways to live in peace.
Jesus said, “whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25) Forgiving is tough—individually, on a world scale-“Give me Jesus”- Spirit of God, come and help me forgive.
“We have met the enemy and he is us.” No small foe. “Give me Jesus” might be and has been offered as an easy escape. Yet, if we seek to live in Christ’s mercy, love, forgiveness, and peace, it can turn the tide of warring to God’s kingdom of love and peace.
Amen.