i see you in a different way

so take my eyes to borrow

A sermon on baptism from Romans 6:1-11

This would be the point in the sermon when I would ask folks who’ve seen the Netflix makeover series “Queer Eye” to raise their hands.

…Have you seen it? It’s not bad.

It’s more Amanda’s thing. But sometimes I would catch episodes. 

In fact, one episode last season was about a music teacher from Quincy! So I saw that one.

This season, though, Lutheran social-media was abuzz. An ELCA pastor from Philadelphia, whose regular attire was baggy cargo shorts and loose-fitting t-shirts, was going to get the fab-five’s makeover. 

So of course, I watched that one, too. 

I’ve caught a few more episodes since thing. And while I probably couldn’t win any trivia contests, I think I have a handle on the show. 

The reason I’m thinking about Queer Eye is, aside from the ways we could follow their lead about how to spruce up a sanctuary, is the show’s formula.

Now, I’m guessing here, but I suspect most makeover shows focus on grooming tips and tricks. And while that is a part of Queer Eye, it isn’t all the show’s about. 

One personality, Karamo, is the “culture” expert. I'm unclear what exactly that means, but what he does do, probably has the most significant impact on the lives of the makeover recipients. 

In each episode, Karamo sits down with the person getting a makeover, and digs into why they got to the spot where they need one in the first place. 

As it always turns out, the real problem for the folks getting the makeover isn’t any lack of fashion sense. It’s that something else in their lives is out of whack, and it’s affecting other areas in their life, too. 

Which we can all relate to, can’t we? 

Even if we know how to sport a bespoke blazer, we all have areas in our lives that are out of sorts. Out of sorts and affecting the rest of our lives. 

…For the pastor from Philly, it was because he suffered from what many clergy describe as “im-pastor” syndrome. He worried there was some standard he wasn’t; he couldn’t measure up to.

The irony being that, by trying to gin up to some target he thought he should, he was sabotaging himself in other areas of his life!

The real problem wasn’t any failure, imagined or otherwise. The real problem was the whole scheme the pastor was trying to fit his life into! 

Frankly, it fit about as well as those dumpy old cargo shorts…

And, believe it or not, this is precisely what Saint Paul is talking about in today’s scripture, too!

Now, I know it can be tricky to follow Paul’s logic, but you will go a long way once you realize your Bible has some typos. Whenever you read “Sin” or “Death” in Paul, you must read them capitalized. Capital-letter “D,” Death, and capital-letter “S,” Sin.

In other words, when Paul says, “Death,” he isn’t talking about the lower-case letter “d,” deaths individuals like you and I experience. No, Paul is talking about capital-letter “D,” Death, as a force. An empire. A kingdom, even.

It is because of this kingdom of Sin and Death, by the way, that you and I experience our lower-case “d” deaths. Because this is what happens to citizens of the kingdom of Sin and Death.

…The problem Paul is trying to makeover for the likes of you and me is that we have taken lousy fashion advice. We’ve been dressing as if we still live in the fading empire of Sin and Death. As if we belonged to it!

How many of you are still wearing that drab getup of Sin and Death? I know I can be guilty of thinking all I have to wear before God is my sin and shame…

Yes, Paul will grant that at one time, that was all we had in our closets. But that’s not the case anymore! 

In baptism, Jesus has launched a new fashion line. And in our baptism, we have received it all! 

Paul tells us something more than an initiation ritual takes place in our baptism. In baptism, a sort of clothing-swap takes place!

At our baptism, Jesus took all our shabby garments of Sin and Death and wore them himself. In return, he gave us his immaculate gown of righteousness!

It’s a good deal! But that’s not all he has to give.

Like Karamo, Jesus isn’t happy to give you new duds, but leave the part of you that always goes back to that out of fashion clothing of Sin and Death untouched.

In baptism, Jesus hasn’t just given you the clothes of eternity, he’s taken your place in the kingdom of Sin and Death! Better still, he’s given you his passport to the Kingdom of God! 

More still, he’s sent poachers to get this message to you. And technology to get it under your eyes! 

Even more, he’s sent the Holy Spirit to give you the faith to cling to these words! Embolden you to go rummaging through Jesus’ closet!

That’s why Jesus gives you all access to his wardrobe! So you will look like you belong in his kingdom. Because you do! And what’s more, he wants everyone, especially the minions of Sin and Death to be able to see it, too!

By his resurrection, Jesus has undone that old empire of Sin and Death. And by your baptism, he invites you to take a walk in this new kingdom! To strut around in it, even!

Wearing the old, ratty garments of Sin and Death anymore is like wearing white after Labor Day, or making the faux pas of buttoning that last button on your blazer. You just don’t do it. It doesn’t look good.

That’s what Paul means when he answers his rhetorical question, “should we continue in capital-letter “S” Sin in order that grace may abound” with a “By no means.” Or, as Tan might put it, “Let’s try a french tuck, instead.” 

Paul is telling you, you don’t live under the reign of Sin and Death anymore. And dressing otherwise, just doesn’t suit you now. 

Don’t let your kicky gown of righteousness collect dust in your newly remodeled walk-in closet of baptism!

So, you who have your own places in life that are in desperate need of a makeover, get ready: 

At the cross, Jesus gave you so much more than a makeover! He undid Sin and Death. And in your baptism, he gave that new life lived on the other side of their demise to you!

He even gave you a fresh wardrobe for this new stage in your life!

That old Adam or Eve in you who wants nothing more than to wear the frumpy, old garments of Sin and Death, Jesus left their corpse in the tomb two thousand years ago. He drowned them on the day of your baptism.

So don’t listen to their terrible fashion advice anymore! 

Instead, walk in newness of life Jesus premiered when he took those first steps out of the tomb! 

And sashay in this new life, look good while you do it! Those bedraggled rags of Sin and Death aren’t doing you any favors. Wear the high fashion of the kingdom! You have the entire ensemble!

What’s more, it goes with everything. It’s always freshly pressed. It washes away all Sin and Death, too. It’s made of everlasting fiber. And, frankly, it suits you. 

You look good in it. 

It turns Jesus’ head every time.

Rummage through Jesus’ closet. It’s why he gave you the keys to the kingdom! Try on that snazzy gown of righteousness, I bet you’ll like how you look in it.

Heaven knows Jesus does.