Jesus Christ Is The Life Of The Party!

Many of us who spent the 80's in college, and believe me when I say I spent the 80's in college, my parents thought I was never going to graduate. Well that is what happens when you change your major three times and then realize you really don't want to graduate because then you might have to get a real job. I solved that problem by going to Seminary right after college and managed to get into the early 90's before I finally had to get a job. But anyway, many of us who spent the 80's in college remember the song, "You have to Fight for the Right to Party!" Some of us don't just remember it, it was our theme song. Now admittedly it is probably not a song you would sing in church, or around your parents, or anywhere outside of the shower with the bathroom door closed, but I have always loved the song or at least the music to it. Recently a Christian company and band made a new version of the song, a Christian version, yes I thought that was slightly strange and even, well, radical. They changed the words to, "Jesus Christ Is the Life of The Party!" They also added stories from the gospels about Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana, Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and other miracles he did in public. The main point of the song is that Jesus had a habit of showing up at parties and gatherings and kicking them up a notch. He always ended up being the center and the life of the party.

Many people today think that Christianity and the church are full of a bunch of party poopers. Unfortunately some times they are right. On top of my book case in my office I have an action figure, notice I did not use the world doll, of the church lady which was played by Dana Carvey on Saturday Night Live. This SNL character ticked off many in the church, personally I used to laugh so hard during the skits that I would fall of the couch. I laughed and I think others got angry because we all knew the church lady was true to life. In fact we all know a few of them. There is also a little bit of the church lady in all of us. Even at my young age, oh that's right college was in the 80s, even at my middle age there are certain things that just bug me. But as I read the Gospels I don't find Jesus to be a party pooper at all. In fact as the song sings he was always the life of the party. He shows up at a wedding and they run out of wine. At the time of Jesus it was a horrible social shame to run out of wine in the midst of a party. It would cause a great loss of face for the wedding party. So what does Jesus do? He turns water into wine and everyone rejoices. He shows up at his friend Lazarus' house and finds people gathered from all over mourning because Lazarus has died. What does Jesus do? He raises Lazarus from the dead and the party kicks back in gear! Throughout the gospels you see Jesus bringing salvation and joy to one person and group after another. It was like the Jesus party tour bus.

Even in Jesus' time though there were church ladies. They were the religious leaders who didn't approve of Jesus helping and healing people on the Sabbath. They didn't approve of the sinners and low ranking people that Jesus hung out with. They didn't like his stories about forgiveness and grace. I can hear the church lady in the Pharisee's words when they accuse Jesus of healing by the power of Satan, "Maybe Satan!" They could not stand that Jesus was the life of the party and so like a raid on a college party they arrest him and put him on trial. They convict him too in spite of a lack of evidence. It looked like the party was over. The life of it hanging on a cross and then buried in a tomb, the party broke up and everyone went home, and in the disciples case, into hiding.

Jesus had no intention of letting the party poopers win though and so on the third day he rose from the dead declaring victory over sin and death. This party was just getting started!!! He then appeared to his disciples over 40 days and then ascended into heaven. Before he left though he told them to keep low for a few more days until he sent the Holy Spirit who would be the Spirit of the party. Ten days later Pentecost happened and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the people and party restarted. We have been rocking out in the church for over 2000 years now waiting for the life of party to ride back into town to take us all to the big eternal party in the sky. Yes the church ladies are still among us, they constantly remind us of their rules. If you are a Christian you need to dress like this, look like this, listen to this type of music, don't watch these TV shows and you must vote this way. Maybe the original version was right even about the church. "You have to fight for the Right to Party!" Thankfully the church is Jesus' party and he is not so concerned about our rules as he is about our heart. When the heart is filled with Christ, well it can't help but party, even in church.

Pastor Fred