As I was changing our sheets this morning, (my wife had stripped the bed and I wasn’t ready to start my day yet, so I intended to lay down a few more minutes after breakfast) I began thinking about our life together as the “People called Methodists.” Lately it’s been quite a ride. Some of us have decided to part ways over issues that seem insurmountable between us.

For some, I think it’s like when the sheets get dirty but you just don’t want to go to the trouble of changing them yet. I mean it’s a big task, isn’t it? You have to commit to going ahead and getting them off the bed, which means you can’t get back on the bed until fresh sheets are available. That may mean washing, plus drying, plus struggling with the fitted sheet (kind of a personal Lenten suffering), and if you are by yourself, having to do these tasks without any help. Who’s going to know if your sheets are dirty? Just you. Maybe you and a spouse.

Theology is something that helps us sort through the sordidness of our lives. God calls us to live a life that is holy to Him. That means getting out of the pattern of sin that makes our lives unhealthy and fosters laziness and lack of ambition. In fact good theology calls us to get out of bed and get on with the tasks of our day. “Awake, thou that sleepest, and Christ will give thee light!”

Fresh sheets give us a feeling of accomplishment. The bed is refreshed. Our slumber becomes more restful. You know those dirty sheets held our shed skin, plus microbial creatures (critters is the Appalachian word for it), and who knows what all else. Remove that and clean the mattress and vacuum the carpet and dust the furniture and soon the environment where you rest is refreshed. Rest has a purpose, you know. It is to renew our energy so we can go forth and do the Kingdom work God calls us to. Dirty sheets negate that purpose. It brings us down and even eventually destroys our health and prosperity. Experts say that making your bed each day is the best way to be a success. Renewing the bed is even better. It energizes us for God’s plan for us in the world.

Lazy theology tells us to just stay exactly as we are. Wallow in the filth of life. Do what you want to do. In fact, kick the sheets off the bed and just sleep on the mattress. What’s the use of making a bed anyway?

No, Child. The bed must be clean so that rest and rejuvenation can occur. That means that we must do the hard work, even when we don’t feel like it. Even when we just want to lay down.

The hard work is the work of holiness. A new creature in Christ Jesus is one who works against the wind of the storms of life. Going against the trends of culture to stand for teachings of God in the Bible is the only real work we can do. It isn’t easy. There are many who oppose us. But we must do the work. Even if it means separating from friends who choose a different path. God will reward us one day. Watch and see.