Is the Gospel Side Your Side?

Over the years, one of the topics I have learned that do not consume the congregation's attention is church architecture, unless the church just happens to be beginning a new building project, or remodeling. It is then that a great deal of focus is placed on plumbing and power lines, space, and new seating capacity, and so on. Few even anguish over the theological message their architectural design sends out.

Throughout church history the design of a sanctuary has often revealed as much about its congregation's theology as the hymns and sermons voiced in it. One common feature in many churches is the split podiums placed at the front of the sanctuary. The traditionally smaller, less ornate or lower podium is referred to as the lecturn. From it, lay people, worship leaders, and guests give announcements, pray prayers, sing solos, and read portions of scripture, other than lessons from the gospel.. The other podium, the pulpit, is reserved for those words that shaped the heart of the Reformed tradition: the Gospel reading and the sermon, itself. Because of this tradition, the right side of the communion rail, this pulpit side, has often been referred to as "the" gospel side."

And, so, it has been that the right side is the correct side. Unfortunately, for all left-handers, right-handedness has long been considered the "norm" in human beings. Lefties have been suspect, even considered "sinister," which is the Latin word for left-handedness. The church has always added to the cultural bias for seeing left as wrong and right as, well, right, in part because of its veneration for scripture which abounds in right-handed images of good.

Throughout the history of Israel God was identified as stretching out not the left hand, but the right hand, the right arm, to save the stiff-necked Hebrews. The seat of honor at royal banquets and in heaven, itself, is designated as the one at the right hand of the ruler's throne. In this week's epistle text, we read that Christ is seated at the esteemed right hand place of glorification in the heavenly future. Thus, to be on the right is to be in the right and to know that you are under the protection of the God at whose right side you stand.

Being on the "gospel side," being in the right, brings a sense of peace and security unfathomable to those who flounder out in the left field. No matter how numerous her enemies, Israel was always confident and assured by the image of God's right arm stretched out to encircle and protect her.

The author of Colossians gives two distinct possibilities about God's appearance before humanity at the time of the eschaton. If the believers have followed the writer's counsel and put to death in themselves the vices listed in that scripture passage, then they will enjoy the heavenly vision of Christ -- The Good News, the gospel incarnate, Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of God, surrounded by the angelic host. If however, the readers of Colossians fail to exercise these negative actions and attitudes from their lives, then they will see the wrath of God coming at them.

The gospel side is not some dull and dreary sideline marked with tedium. Once the clutter of such things as anger, wrath, malice, and slander and abusive language has been swept away from our lives there is room for a new abundance of joy, love, and hope.

We understand Christ only if we commit ourselves to him completely. We cannot reduce Christ and God to a small compartment of our lives. Placing Christ and the cross in the very middle of our being is the very center of the essence of Christianity. Jesus did not go to the cross to ornament and embellish our life. If we wish to have him, then he demands the right to say something decisive about our entire life. We do not understand him if we arrange for him only a small compartment in our spiritual life. We understand him either with our complete life orientation or a complete flat "No!" The ultimate question of Jesus to us is: "Will you follow me or not at all?

The faith of Christ is not a tidbit after eating one's bread. On the contrary, it is the bread, itself. So, in fact, as we gather here, today, to celebrate communion, we celebrate the central-ness of Christ in our lives. We celebrate the bread.

Being on the right side of the gospel is explained in the story about a minister. One night he dreamed that he had died and was standing in front of the Pearly Gates. St. Peter told him he needed 100 points to get in.

"Well, I was a minister for 47 years," the minister announced proudly.

"That's nice," answered Peter. That get's you one point."

"One point? That's all I get?" the minister exclaimed. "Just one point for 47 years of service?"

"Yes, that's correct," replied Peter.

"I visited shut-ins every chance I got."

"One point," said Peter.

"I worked with youth, and you must know what that is like."

"One point," said Peter.

"I developed a number of recovery programs for alcoholics and drug abusers!"

"One more point. That makes four points. You need 96 more."

"Oh, no!" the minister cried in a panic. "I feel so helpless, so inadequate. Except for the grace of God, I don't have a chance."

"St. Peter smiled and said, "Grace of God" -- 96 points. Come on in!"