Scripture Lesson

From Romans, Chapter 7:

¹⁵I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. ¹⁶Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. ¹⁸For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. ¹⁹For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

²¹So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. ²²For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, ²³but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. ²⁴Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.

"The Cure for the Struggle Within"

A Communion Meditation Preached by
The Rev. Jean Niven Lenk

at the First Congregational Church of Stoughton

United Church of Christ

Two hundred and thirty two years ago, five men were charged with the responsibility of writing what we now know as the Declaration of Independence. On that committee were inventor and perennial statesman Benjamin Franklin, as well as John Adams, who would later serve as Vice President and President of the newly-formed United States. But the task of writing the first draft of the document was assigned to a man who was a lawyer, agronomist, musician, scientist, philosopher, author, architect, inventor, and statesman – Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson spent three weeks alone in a rented room putting to good use his masterful command of the written word to declare America’s independence, and in doing so, he lay the foundation of our society: “We hold these truths to be evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

These words have long inspired people in this country and throughout the world in their quest for political freedom. At the time they were written, these words were truly revolutionary, for they shifted the focus of attention from the government to the individual. Jefferson believed that government was to be a servant of the people; that it should rule by the consent of the people; and that it was responsible for governing in such a way that the rights of the people were protected. These ideas are still fundamental to our principles of government, and the basis of the holiday we celebrate this weekend.

Jefferson based his famous words on his optimistic view of human nature. He believed that God had endowed humankind with the physical, emotional and intellectual gifts and abilities to live a virtuous life, and he believed that living a virtuous life would result in happiness. At the same time, Jefferson was also a realist. As he stated in his Second Inaugural Address, “the weakness of human nature and the limits of my own understanding will produce errors of judgment sometimes injurious to [the nation’s] interests.”

In other words, despite his optimistic view of human nature, Jefferson also knew that humanity, including himself, was not perfect. Weakness lay within the heart of every man and woman, and this character defect could prompt us to make bad choices.

In this morning’s epistle lesson, this weakness of the human heart is conveyed by the Apostle Paul in the form of this vexing statement: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate to do.”

In his words, Paul simply and eloquently captures the different forces that are at work in the human soul. I imagine that most of us gathered here this morning can identify with Paul’s description of his own experience. We know what we’re supposed to do. But knowing does not make it happen.

How many of us have great intentions; we make wonderful plans, but for one reason or another, we just cannot seem to bring our good intentions to fruition. Whether it’s reading the bible or praying more regularly, being more patient or giving, saving more money or eating more healthily or exercising more often, we know what we should do, but we just cannot seem to do it. I’ve had the schedule of local Weight Watchers meetings sitting on my desk for over a month now.

Paul says the only hope for his predicament – our predicament -- is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the solution to the internal struggle that wages inside of us. We ourselves can make a commitment to change, but our transformation will come about only when we are willing to place our total and complete trust in Christ, when we are able to surrender to Christ.

For some this may see like a simplistic solution to a complicated problem. That’s what many of the experts told David Wilkerson when, 50 years ago, he started a drug rehabilitation program in New York City known as Teen Challenge. We are familiar with Teen Challenge through its Brockton Chapter, and the young men and women who have shared their testimonies here at this church. Over and over, David Wilkerson heard medical experts state, “There is no known cure for a drug addict. He is psychologically and physiologically hooked. The best we can do is offer methadone as a substitute drug.” But Wilkerson believed in something greater than medical experts. He believed in the transforming power of Christ.

This message became the basis of Teen Challenge, which is now a worldwide organization with an 85% success rate. As the website states: Teen Challenge centers are places where hope is reborn, purpose restored, and families made whole. These men and women were not delivered from their addictions by good intentions or by vast amounts of information and knowledge about the damaging effects of substance abuse. They were delivered from their slavery to drugs by the message of freedom through Jesus Christ.

Listen to this poetic testimony one Teen Challenge blogger posted, saying “This is something I wrote while in rehab; hope it helps someone.”

From life I always tried to hide;
Never able to see past my walls of selfish pride
Falling deeper and deeper into my addiction, I couldn't see
That my life had become the opposite of what God planned for me
Deep down I'd stuff the things I didn't want to face,
Making it harder and harder to receive God's grace.
Without it, my morals and values were easily compromised;
For when I'd look in the mirror, I'd see someone I despised.
It seemed no matter how much I tried to be a better person,
My addiction’s plan was for my life to worsen.
Until I tried everything I thought I could,
Except the one thing in my heart I knew I should.
By giving my heart and soul over to God's loving care;
from my life of chaos and pain I was spared.¹

Paul laments, “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do... Who will rescue me from this body of death?”

What war is waging in your heart? What is it that you want to do but just cannot seem to make happen? On this Independence Day weekend, let the power of God through Christ rescue your soul and bring you hope, freedom, transformation, and new life. “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Amen.²

¹ http:/teenchallengeusa.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=50&sid=ub4c3454e33690797fbce5618e814e5f, "hope for all" by stayinoptomistic on Fri May 23, 2008 6:27 am.

²I am grateful to The Rev. Dr. John H. Pavelko, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, Walled Lake, MI, for his sermon “The Struggle Within,” which inspired much of this sermon.