Easter Sunday – April 12th, 2009 – John 20:1-18
Christ is Risen – He is Risen indeed, Alleluia +
My dear friends, indeed, my dear brothers in Christ, you who have been bought by Christ, washed in the waters of Holy Baptism, and brought together into His family, united with God Himself and with all the patriarchs, the prophets, the Apostles and saints of all ages, most blessed and joyous greetings be unto you this Easter morning in the Name of Christ our Risen Lord. Did you notice in our Gospel text for this morning, dealing with our Lord’s Resurrection, how everyone’s dire expectations are not met, how what people come expecting isn’t what happens. Mary comes to the tomb, and she expects a dead Body. It’s not there. That’s not what Mary expected that morning. Peter and John go rushing to the tomb – and by rights there should be a Body there. If anything this is probably just Mary being overwrought and confused – there has to be a Body there, John had seen Him die. No Body there. Not what they expected. The resurrection of our Lord turns everything on it’s head. Dead bodies are supposed to stay dead bodies. But not after our Lord’s Resurrection – nothing is as it was before.
There’s a reason why Mary was expecting a Body to be in that tomb. There’s a reason Peter and John don’t make the connection right away with what is going on. They were sinners in a sinful world. They had seen death over and over again. People are born, they grow old, perhaps, and then they die. That was life, or so they thought. But they were wrong. That wasn’t life. That’s wasn’t just nature. That wasn’t what we were created to be, created to do. That wasn’t life, that was death. That was the wages of sin. Sin had turned creation on its head, turned everything upside down. Sin turned people created to live into people doomed to die. Sin turned people created to care for God’s creation into selfish beings who would hurt and harm their neighbors in order to please themselves. And even those who feared God, who trusted in Him, they were still sinners. They might fight against their sin – but they never won completely, and over and over again we see in Scripture how the faithful messed up. We even see this in our own life – the times where we look back and think, “Why in the world did I do that. . . I can’t believe it.” Sin had turned everything on its head – sin had so taken and shaken this world that we had come to expect nothing but death. That’s what Mary and Peter and John were expecting – that’s how the story always ends – and he died. That’s what life in this fallen world had taught us to expect, that’s how twisted, how turned, how fallen we had become.
And Mary walks to the tomb, expecting nothing but death – but there’s no death there. Peter and John run, surely, there must be death, that’s how the story always ends. There’s no death there. Nothing is working like they expect it to be. Peter and John don’t know what to make of it – they wander back to their homes. But Mary, Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. She is still weeping. The story has to be that He’s still dead – she’s so thoroughly turned upside down by life in this fallen world, that that’s just how it has to be. And as she wept she stopped to look in the tomb. Maybe if I look again, the Body will be there, it will all have been a silly mistake. But there is no dead body in that tomb. No, instead, now there is something else – And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the Body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Why are you weeping, woman – do you not see, the World has been made right again – Death has been undone, what is there to weep over! Christ lives – He has risen.
Mary hasn’t seen that yet. She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” She still thinks only of a Body, of an innate, motionless lump of clay – that someone has dragged off, that someone has put somewhere. She doesn’t see, she doesn’t understand that He is not dead, but that He is alive. And she turns, and there He is, standing in front of her – yet she doesn’t see Him yet, not really. Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Mary is so distraught, so caught up in this world of sin and so sure of how things have to work, must work in this world, so ridden with tears that she doesn’t even recognize Jesus. Even when Jesus says to her, “Woman, why are you weeping, whom are you seeking?” – when Jesus says, “Hey, I’m over here, you were looking for me” – she still is so caught up, can’t conceive of expecting anything else, that she carries on, begins to babble quickly. Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where You have lain Him, and I will take Him away.” Just let me be, let me hold on to that dead body because I have nothing more that I can expect in this fallen world.
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” And then the lights come on – then she realizes Who it is there in front of her, what has happened, then she gets the joy, then the wonder is revealed. Christ lives! Jesus who died now lives, to die no more. The Lord is living, and this world of sin, the power of death, the struggles and trials of this life, they are all undone. Christ Jesus has done it – He has undone death. He tells Mary to tell the disciples “go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.” The sin which had sundered us from God, which had cut us off from life, which robbed us of heaven – it’s done, it’s defeated, it is destroyed and is no more. Behold Christ lives. Behold, He is going not just to His Father, but to your Father. Reunited, restored, everything put back to how it should be – for because Christ lives and is with God we too live and shall be with God. That is what Mary finally sees, and that is what she proclaims.
What do you see, this morning, O Christian? What did you gaze upon this morning? It is true that we still live in a world impacted by sin, where things fall apart, where things don’t work right, where decay comes and moth and worm destroy. But did you see the higher reality, did the higher truth shine through the tears of sorrow and pain that this world so often causes? Christ Jesus lives – and all the wickedness of the world, all the sin which clings to us, all the death that threatens us – all of it, is defeated. And it’s not just defeated in general – it is defeated in your own life. Do your tears and trials threaten to overwhelm you, just as Mary was overwhelmed by hers in this text? Jesus calls out to Mary by her name and she understand – guess what, God has called you by Name – there, at the font, in your Baptism, you, by Name, the very Name that is your gift from God, you were called forth by name from this world of sin and death unto Christ’s life. Our Lord has claimed you and united Himself unto you – and nothing tops that. Not even death can destroy that – behold your Lord lives – death can do nothing to Him – it can do nothing to you, for just as God called you by Name at the waters of the font so too at the Last Day He shall call you again by Name and you will answer your Lord’s call. If that day comes before our own death we will turn our heads to Christ and never see our own tomb, if that day comes after we have fallen asleep in Christ we will come forth in risen bodies and shake the dust of our grave off of our feet never to be troubled by it again. Why? Because He lives – and nothing can stop that.
But the world will try to distract us – the fallen world, defeated as it is, will still try to make us miserable, Satan will still scowl fierce and seek our distraction, will try to tell us what Jesus says could surely never be. . . and our Lord continually bursts forth into our lives with His Word, With His Blessed Sacraments and declares to us “I am Here, I am your life, I am your righteousness, I am your forgiveness – and Satan can go burn in hell, you are Mine and I have won you.” And Jesus knows that this world will still try to turn you on your head – and so He comes to us over and over again. What is the preaching of God’s Word but Jesus saying to us once again, “Yes, I see your sins which call out for your death – but I have died and I have risen, you so you shall have My life”? Or consider the Supper? The world sees nothing but bread and wine, but our Lord says, “Behold, this is My Body which is given for you, which has died and risen so that you will rise. Behold, this is My Blood, which I have shed so that you receive my forgiveness and are made clean and whole.” Christ drags our eyes of the chaos and sin of this world, and over, and over again turns us to Himself, holds His love and forgiveness before us, takes the dirges of death in this world off our lips, and places His Body and Blood on our lips so that we might join in the Song of Heaven, the Song of all eternity, singing with Angels and Archangels and all the company of Heaven, our brothers and sisters in the faith who are with Christ now. That is the reality which Christ brings us into, that is the reality which He makes us to see. That is what Christ ensured, guaranteed, that Easter morn when He broke the bonds of death and strode forth from the tomb Alive.
Everything, dear friends in Christ, my brothers, my sisters, you who in Christ are my closest family who will be with me for all eternity, everything is different, everything is more wondrous that it was, more wondrous than we comprehend, because our Lord, Christ Jesus has risen from the tomb, and has undone the fall, and restored unto us life and salvation and paradise. What we have just sung is true:
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
The Sun that warms and lights us.
Now His grace to us imparts
Eternal sunshine to our hearts
The night of sin is ended.
What then remains to us but rejoicing, what remains but feasting this Easter Day on Christ, the very bread of heaven, to celebrate once again the triumph feast of the Lamb who was slain to slay our death? He lives, and so shall we, indeed, so do we. Christ is Risen – He is Risen indeed, Alleluia + Amen.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Jay Hobson Dart Toss
Yes, I've been busy - and I haven't been posting much. I haven't had much time to be leisurely, and some of that time is taken up in what follows:
Jay Hobson, a member of this congregation, is in his 2nd year at Fort Wayne, and God willing will be sent out on Vicarage. We are going to have a dart toss to see who can get closest to where Jay ends up.
I have a map of the US here - I'm pulling push pins out of the board the map is on to get it ready.
Do you wish to play at home? Put in the comments your result for your dart toss.
...
Come on, don't you all have maps at home to throw darts at? Or do something random - open up an Atlas to a random page, close your eyes, and put your finger down. Sometime random. We'll see how you do.
Jay Hobson, a member of this congregation, is in his 2nd year at Fort Wayne, and God willing will be sent out on Vicarage. We are going to have a dart toss to see who can get closest to where Jay ends up.
I have a map of the US here - I'm pulling push pins out of the board the map is on to get it ready.
Do you wish to play at home? Put in the comments your result for your dart toss.
...
Come on, don't you all have maps at home to throw darts at? Or do something random - open up an Atlas to a random page, close your eyes, and put your finger down. Sometime random. We'll see how you do.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lent 5 Sermon
Lent 5 – March 29th, 2009
In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
As a pastor who talks to other pastors, I hear about all sorts of complaints about the Church and its preachers. “You know, churches today are just too mean.” You are of your father the devil. “We should be more understanding of the trials people face, let them deal in their own way. We shouldn’t be so judgmental.” And your will is to do your father’s desires. “Who are you to tell me what is right or wrong, I can do as I please!” He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth. “Well, that might have been how they did things back in Jesus’ day, but things are just too different today.” There is no truth in him. “I don’t know why you are so harsh, we are pretty good people after all.” When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. One of the burdens we face today, dear friends, is the simple fact that this world, at least as we know it in America, is becoming more obviously and openly opposed to Christ and His Church. In reality, this is the way it has always been, but we see it more now. We see people rejecting the Church – and we panic. We think, “What will we do – we have to do something.” This is nothing new. In the 50s the big catch word was “relevant” – we have to make the church relevant to the people, in other words, whatever we think people want. And there have been other things – the 60s and 70s gave us the folk masses set to acoustic guitar, in the 80s there was the big push to make the Church and worship more exciting, in the 90s the big focus was on trying to meet “felt needs”, a few years ago everything was “extreme”, now a big one is being authentic, keeping it real. In a few years there will be some other gimmick. People aren’t coming – *we* have to do something.
All of this is so unneeded. There is a simple truth that we in our vanity, in our salesmanship mentality have forgotten in the US – people don’t reject the Gospel because it isn’t relevant, or it doesn’t hit their felt needs. The problem isn’t that we don’t package the Gospel rightly – it’s something much simpler than that. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. People are terrified of the truth. This is what we see in our Gospel lesson. Jesus is discussing things with the Pharisees, and He has just told them that He is the Messiah who comes to bring truth, that the Truth will set them free from sin. Just prior to our text, our Lord said “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. . . . So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” And the Pharisees don’t want any of that. And Christ calls them on it. Why do they not understand? Why do not they not care? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. This is the simple fact – that sinful folk do not like to hear God’s Word. The Pharisees didn’t like it in the text – they even plan to stone Jesus. People don’t like it today, either.
Why? Why don’t people like hearing God’s Word? A lot of it has to do with the Law. God’s Law is an unpleasant thing. You want an example of God’s Law being unpleasant – look at our Old Testament lesson. Hear what God commands Abraham to do – Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering. . . . That’s a statement of Law right there. Isaac is going to die. And he deserves death. Abraham can’t argue against it – Abraham knows that he himself hasn’t done anything to earn this child – in fact, as we have been studying in Sunday morning bible class on Genesis, Abraham has been doing almost anything and everything but what God wants him to do when it comes to his family and children. Abraham can’t gainsay God here – if God wants Isaac dead, well, that’s the wages of sin.
That’s hard. That is hard to bear – that is a harsh truth. We don’t like the truth. Think about how much work and effort people will put into justifying themselves, into escaping the blame for something – and even when there is no punishment, really, even when admitting that you’ve done wrong only might mean that someone doesn’t think as well of you for a few days. We will duck and dance – it’s not my fault. Oh, how we will dance and dodge. And what about when something doesn’t go right in our life - We will get angry and rail – how can you do this to me God! I don’t deserve this. Eh, that’s not true. Your toil in this life is nothing – you deserve death. That’s what the truth is, that what God says in His Word. That’s what gets the Pharisees so steamed at Jesus.
Abraham trusted the Lord, though; Abraham knew that God’s Word was more than just a word of Law – but also a word of Gospel, a word of mercy. That’s why he’s bold to take Isaac, that’s why he tells the servants who stay behind that they both will come back down the mount – Abraham trusts in God’s mercy – God will provide the lamb for the sacrifice. And we see that God does do so – a ram is given to take Isaac’s place. Imagine the joy that Abraham would have had at being stopped, at looking up and seeing the ram and knowing that his Isaac would live. This is the joy that Christ speaks of in the Gospel – Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. Of course Abraham rejoiced – because God would spare Abraham’s son Isaac at the cost of His own Son, Christ Jesus. This is the heart of the Gospel – not that there are no consequences to sin, not that our sin doesn’t matter or doesn’t deserve death – but rather this – Christ Jesus has come and has born up the weight of sin in our place, that He suffers and dies for us upon the Cross, that with His death and resurrection He sets us free from sin. This is the great and wondrous word of the Gospel – this is what the Gospel truly is – that you are forgiven by God not on account of your works, not on account of your effort, but on account of the precious death and resurrection of Christ Jesus your Lord.
And yet – the Pharisees in the text are still angry, still reject Christ after he explains this. People today still reject it. Why? Because the Gospel truth is this – that Jesus is our Savior. The Gospel makes sense only if we know and believe the Law. Jesus doesn’t get rid of the Law, He fulfills it to be our Savior. If Jesus is our Savior – it means that we need to be saved, it means that we lack, that we sin, that we aren’t good enough, that we aren’t perfectly fine as we are, that we always can and ought to do better. You can’t preach the Gospel without preaching the Law first – because the two go hand in hand. And that is why so many people reject the Gospel – they reject the truth of the Law – and so they reject the truth of the Gospel as well. When do the Pharisees want to stone Jesus – not just when He says that they are sinners, but when He reveals to them who He is – Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. The Gospel is that God gets involved in your life, that God is the one who saves you – and that involvement of God is something that man according to his sinful nature fears – that he runs away from, just like Adam and Eve in the garden after the fall.
So what do we make of all of this? We see that all too many people don’t like the truth of God’s Word. They don’t like the Law rightly preached – calling their sin what it is – sin, and pointing out that it is wrong and deserves punishment – temporal and eternal punishment as we confessed together a few moments ago. They don’t like the Gospel either – the truth that God and God alone is our Savior, without any worth or merit in us. First, we need remember that this applies to us as well. It is not just people out there who do not like God’s truth – your own sinful flesh will rebel against it – your own pride that still clings to you will rebel against it. That is why we have a focus on repentance, that is why we are to daily drown our old Adam and instead be focused upon Christ. That is why we are to come here and hear preaching, hear absolution, receive Christ’s Body and Blood for our forgiveness and the strengthening of our faith – so that we ourselves don’t fall away.
But also this. We are tempted, especially in this day and age, to soft sell God’s truth. To try and make it more appealing to sinful man, to accommodate and cater to people – thinking that if we just get them in the door, eventually, eventually they will learn. We are tempted to put what we think people want to hear over what God says. Then, they won’t be mad at us, or think ill of us. But dear friends – that is not the way. Consider you yourself – you were brought to faith and you have been kept in that faith by what – by God’s Word rightly preached and rightly taught. That’s the same thing the people who don’t believe right now need – the same thing your family and friends need as well. The truth is that they are in need of God’s love – and that God richly loves them and offers them salvation and forgiveness. Speak them the Word, over and over again, even if they don’t like it. That doesn’t mean be a jerk about it, but be honest and truthful, even when the truth is difficult and hard to hear. That’s what Christ does here – and the Pharisees certainly don’t like it. And He speaks over and over again – and some never like it – but because our Lord preaches again and again – some do end up believing. Because the Apostles preach God’s Word in its truth, some do end up believing. Because faithful Christians, Pastors, parents, friends spoke God’s Word in truth and purity to you, you believe. And we are part of that chain now – now we are called to speak God’s Word rightly, so that the people we know might know what God’s truth is, so that the Holy Spirit might work, not through the plans we dream up, but that the Spirit might work through the Word which He places upon our lips.
And we know this, we see this, we understand this when and only when we hear and believe the Word of God in its truth and purity. We have been brought to faith – we know the weight of the Law, even when we don’t like it – and so we know the sweetness of the Gospel – so we cling to Christ in faith because He has drawn us unto Himself by His Word. Let us continue to glory only in Christ and His Cross, His salvation which He won for us – and let us keep this on our lips, so that those we know might not be led astray by the latest trendy fad in the world, but that they might hear the Truth of God’s love for them. In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
As a pastor who talks to other pastors, I hear about all sorts of complaints about the Church and its preachers. “You know, churches today are just too mean.” You are of your father the devil. “We should be more understanding of the trials people face, let them deal in their own way. We shouldn’t be so judgmental.” And your will is to do your father’s desires. “Who are you to tell me what is right or wrong, I can do as I please!” He was a murderer from the beginning and has nothing to do with the truth. “Well, that might have been how they did things back in Jesus’ day, but things are just too different today.” There is no truth in him. “I don’t know why you are so harsh, we are pretty good people after all.” When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. One of the burdens we face today, dear friends, is the simple fact that this world, at least as we know it in America, is becoming more obviously and openly opposed to Christ and His Church. In reality, this is the way it has always been, but we see it more now. We see people rejecting the Church – and we panic. We think, “What will we do – we have to do something.” This is nothing new. In the 50s the big catch word was “relevant” – we have to make the church relevant to the people, in other words, whatever we think people want. And there have been other things – the 60s and 70s gave us the folk masses set to acoustic guitar, in the 80s there was the big push to make the Church and worship more exciting, in the 90s the big focus was on trying to meet “felt needs”, a few years ago everything was “extreme”, now a big one is being authentic, keeping it real. In a few years there will be some other gimmick. People aren’t coming – *we* have to do something.
All of this is so unneeded. There is a simple truth that we in our vanity, in our salesmanship mentality have forgotten in the US – people don’t reject the Gospel because it isn’t relevant, or it doesn’t hit their felt needs. The problem isn’t that we don’t package the Gospel rightly – it’s something much simpler than that. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. People are terrified of the truth. This is what we see in our Gospel lesson. Jesus is discussing things with the Pharisees, and He has just told them that He is the Messiah who comes to bring truth, that the Truth will set them free from sin. Just prior to our text, our Lord said “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. . . . So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” And the Pharisees don’t want any of that. And Christ calls them on it. Why do they not understand? Why do not they not care? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. This is the simple fact – that sinful folk do not like to hear God’s Word. The Pharisees didn’t like it in the text – they even plan to stone Jesus. People don’t like it today, either.
Why? Why don’t people like hearing God’s Word? A lot of it has to do with the Law. God’s Law is an unpleasant thing. You want an example of God’s Law being unpleasant – look at our Old Testament lesson. Hear what God commands Abraham to do – Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering. . . . That’s a statement of Law right there. Isaac is going to die. And he deserves death. Abraham can’t argue against it – Abraham knows that he himself hasn’t done anything to earn this child – in fact, as we have been studying in Sunday morning bible class on Genesis, Abraham has been doing almost anything and everything but what God wants him to do when it comes to his family and children. Abraham can’t gainsay God here – if God wants Isaac dead, well, that’s the wages of sin.
That’s hard. That is hard to bear – that is a harsh truth. We don’t like the truth. Think about how much work and effort people will put into justifying themselves, into escaping the blame for something – and even when there is no punishment, really, even when admitting that you’ve done wrong only might mean that someone doesn’t think as well of you for a few days. We will duck and dance – it’s not my fault. Oh, how we will dance and dodge. And what about when something doesn’t go right in our life - We will get angry and rail – how can you do this to me God! I don’t deserve this. Eh, that’s not true. Your toil in this life is nothing – you deserve death. That’s what the truth is, that what God says in His Word. That’s what gets the Pharisees so steamed at Jesus.
Abraham trusted the Lord, though; Abraham knew that God’s Word was more than just a word of Law – but also a word of Gospel, a word of mercy. That’s why he’s bold to take Isaac, that’s why he tells the servants who stay behind that they both will come back down the mount – Abraham trusts in God’s mercy – God will provide the lamb for the sacrifice. And we see that God does do so – a ram is given to take Isaac’s place. Imagine the joy that Abraham would have had at being stopped, at looking up and seeing the ram and knowing that his Isaac would live. This is the joy that Christ speaks of in the Gospel – Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad. Of course Abraham rejoiced – because God would spare Abraham’s son Isaac at the cost of His own Son, Christ Jesus. This is the heart of the Gospel – not that there are no consequences to sin, not that our sin doesn’t matter or doesn’t deserve death – but rather this – Christ Jesus has come and has born up the weight of sin in our place, that He suffers and dies for us upon the Cross, that with His death and resurrection He sets us free from sin. This is the great and wondrous word of the Gospel – this is what the Gospel truly is – that you are forgiven by God not on account of your works, not on account of your effort, but on account of the precious death and resurrection of Christ Jesus your Lord.
And yet – the Pharisees in the text are still angry, still reject Christ after he explains this. People today still reject it. Why? Because the Gospel truth is this – that Jesus is our Savior. The Gospel makes sense only if we know and believe the Law. Jesus doesn’t get rid of the Law, He fulfills it to be our Savior. If Jesus is our Savior – it means that we need to be saved, it means that we lack, that we sin, that we aren’t good enough, that we aren’t perfectly fine as we are, that we always can and ought to do better. You can’t preach the Gospel without preaching the Law first – because the two go hand in hand. And that is why so many people reject the Gospel – they reject the truth of the Law – and so they reject the truth of the Gospel as well. When do the Pharisees want to stone Jesus – not just when He says that they are sinners, but when He reveals to them who He is – Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am. The Gospel is that God gets involved in your life, that God is the one who saves you – and that involvement of God is something that man according to his sinful nature fears – that he runs away from, just like Adam and Eve in the garden after the fall.
So what do we make of all of this? We see that all too many people don’t like the truth of God’s Word. They don’t like the Law rightly preached – calling their sin what it is – sin, and pointing out that it is wrong and deserves punishment – temporal and eternal punishment as we confessed together a few moments ago. They don’t like the Gospel either – the truth that God and God alone is our Savior, without any worth or merit in us. First, we need remember that this applies to us as well. It is not just people out there who do not like God’s truth – your own sinful flesh will rebel against it – your own pride that still clings to you will rebel against it. That is why we have a focus on repentance, that is why we are to daily drown our old Adam and instead be focused upon Christ. That is why we are to come here and hear preaching, hear absolution, receive Christ’s Body and Blood for our forgiveness and the strengthening of our faith – so that we ourselves don’t fall away.
But also this. We are tempted, especially in this day and age, to soft sell God’s truth. To try and make it more appealing to sinful man, to accommodate and cater to people – thinking that if we just get them in the door, eventually, eventually they will learn. We are tempted to put what we think people want to hear over what God says. Then, they won’t be mad at us, or think ill of us. But dear friends – that is not the way. Consider you yourself – you were brought to faith and you have been kept in that faith by what – by God’s Word rightly preached and rightly taught. That’s the same thing the people who don’t believe right now need – the same thing your family and friends need as well. The truth is that they are in need of God’s love – and that God richly loves them and offers them salvation and forgiveness. Speak them the Word, over and over again, even if they don’t like it. That doesn’t mean be a jerk about it, but be honest and truthful, even when the truth is difficult and hard to hear. That’s what Christ does here – and the Pharisees certainly don’t like it. And He speaks over and over again – and some never like it – but because our Lord preaches again and again – some do end up believing. Because the Apostles preach God’s Word in its truth, some do end up believing. Because faithful Christians, Pastors, parents, friends spoke God’s Word in truth and purity to you, you believe. And we are part of that chain now – now we are called to speak God’s Word rightly, so that the people we know might know what God’s truth is, so that the Holy Spirit might work, not through the plans we dream up, but that the Spirit might work through the Word which He places upon our lips.
And we know this, we see this, we understand this when and only when we hear and believe the Word of God in its truth and purity. We have been brought to faith – we know the weight of the Law, even when we don’t like it – and so we know the sweetness of the Gospel – so we cling to Christ in faith because He has drawn us unto Himself by His Word. Let us continue to glory only in Christ and His Cross, His salvation which He won for us – and let us keep this on our lips, so that those we know might not be led astray by the latest trendy fad in the world, but that they might hear the Truth of God’s love for them. In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
Thursday, March 26, 2009
An appreciation for home
Last night, really for the first time since I have been the pastor here, I officiated at a communion service at a sister congregation. In our Lenten rotation it was my turn (finally, after nearly 5 years) to head to Redeemer, Pastor Hall's congregation, and Pastor Hall thought it would be good to have a communion service for the Annunciation instead of the normal lenten series we had been doing.
As Redeemer does things different than Zion, there were many things that I got to do which I hadn't done since I had been here. I got to chant more than just the intro line to the Gloria in DS III (and Mrs. Hall said I wasn't that far off key - I was at points, but just needed practice), there were kneelers for communion. . . even had two assistants for distrubution, so I only had to worry about distributing our Lord's Body (here I also handle the chalice for anyone who hasn't taken individual as well). A choir sang in Latin. . . cha cha cha! (And I could translate the Latin, which was sort of neat, too) It went very well (only attempted to commune one gal who wasn't confirmed, but she waved me off. . .) and I enjoyed it thoroughly. . . but. . . .
It was. . . different than being here. I've gotten used to the way things are done here. This past 5 years is the longest stretch in my life where I have been at one Church and one Church alone. . . really ever (I had a 5 year stretch that ended when I was a fourth grader). Things have gotten comfortable for me here - and the differences stood out. Redeemer's communion ware is very heavy and nice (the first time I went to lift the chalice, I basically didn't pick it up. . . you have to be careful how hard you pull up lest you slosh!), and their temporary sanctuary during their building project is by far the most well designed one I've seen. Communing 30 or so at a table is different than communing 8 to 10 all huddled up front here.
So what is the response I have?
1. An appreciation for home. It's not that I appreciate my own congregation more now - rather I realize just how much I have come to appreciate the things here.
2. And understanding of the difference between congregations. I had heard over and over from people how another place "just isn't the same." And that IS true - there are differences, and when you have gotten used to something, you've gotten used to something.
3. The importance of the unity of liturgical worship. Yet even as I saw those differences, what I saw was that more wondrous truth that in spite of the local variations and slight differences in custom - it's the same Church, same Lord, they are truly our sister congregation (indeed, come what may in this world of sin, I'm pretty sure that Redeemer will remain our sister congregation) and that there is a unity that is beyond. . . beyond what we are used to talking about. Even though it was different -- if for some reason I had to be there regularly (as a parishoner. . . panic not Hall, I'm not after your job. . . although that wireless mike you have IS nice) it would still be home. And that's something that we in our individualistic country today need to remember.
Just some thoughts for the day.
As Redeemer does things different than Zion, there were many things that I got to do which I hadn't done since I had been here. I got to chant more than just the intro line to the Gloria in DS III (and Mrs. Hall said I wasn't that far off key - I was at points, but just needed practice), there were kneelers for communion. . . even had two assistants for distrubution, so I only had to worry about distributing our Lord's Body (here I also handle the chalice for anyone who hasn't taken individual as well). A choir sang in Latin. . . cha cha cha! (And I could translate the Latin, which was sort of neat, too) It went very well (only attempted to commune one gal who wasn't confirmed, but she waved me off. . .) and I enjoyed it thoroughly. . . but. . . .
It was. . . different than being here. I've gotten used to the way things are done here. This past 5 years is the longest stretch in my life where I have been at one Church and one Church alone. . . really ever (I had a 5 year stretch that ended when I was a fourth grader). Things have gotten comfortable for me here - and the differences stood out. Redeemer's communion ware is very heavy and nice (the first time I went to lift the chalice, I basically didn't pick it up. . . you have to be careful how hard you pull up lest you slosh!), and their temporary sanctuary during their building project is by far the most well designed one I've seen. Communing 30 or so at a table is different than communing 8 to 10 all huddled up front here.
So what is the response I have?
1. An appreciation for home. It's not that I appreciate my own congregation more now - rather I realize just how much I have come to appreciate the things here.
2. And understanding of the difference between congregations. I had heard over and over from people how another place "just isn't the same." And that IS true - there are differences, and when you have gotten used to something, you've gotten used to something.
3. The importance of the unity of liturgical worship. Yet even as I saw those differences, what I saw was that more wondrous truth that in spite of the local variations and slight differences in custom - it's the same Church, same Lord, they are truly our sister congregation (indeed, come what may in this world of sin, I'm pretty sure that Redeemer will remain our sister congregation) and that there is a unity that is beyond. . . beyond what we are used to talking about. Even though it was different -- if for some reason I had to be there regularly (as a parishoner. . . panic not Hall, I'm not after your job. . . although that wireless mike you have IS nice) it would still be home. And that's something that we in our individualistic country today need to remember.
Just some thoughts for the day.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Fort Wayne's Roman Bishop
So according to cnn the Roman Catholic Bishop (of both Fort Wayne and South Bend) is going to skip President Obama's speech at Notre Dame. The reason given is President Obama's recent Stem-cell and Abortion policies. I have a few things.
1. Is this getting any press or play in Fort Wayne?
2. This is brilliant, in my opinion. A lot of people would say, "Don't let him speak." Nope - that isn't a clear statement of disapproval, it just seems mean and harsh. Rather, let him speak, and let your absence be a clear sign of disapproval, and disapproval directly of the specific policies which you name.
1. Is this getting any press or play in Fort Wayne?
2. This is brilliant, in my opinion. A lot of people would say, "Don't let him speak." Nope - that isn't a clear statement of disapproval, it just seems mean and harsh. Rather, let him speak, and let your absence be a clear sign of disapproval, and disapproval directly of the specific policies which you name.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Jeff is Awesome. . . Todd. . . well. . . we don't know yet
I will just have to say that Jeff at Issues Etc is all sorts of awesome, as he for the 2nd time has picked out this blog as the blog of the week. Thus we can conclude that he is a man of upstanding theological and moral character.
This Todd Wilken character. . . I'm not so sure about him, though yet. Jeff I know has good taste. . . Todd. . . well, you know. . . I just probably have a innate lack of trust of anyone with that name as my mom would play "Sweeney Todd" while I was a child growing up.
Still, awesome kuddos to Jeff.
This Todd Wilken character. . . I'm not so sure about him, though yet. Jeff I know has good taste. . . Todd. . . well, you know. . . I just probably have a innate lack of trust of anyone with that name as my mom would play "Sweeney Todd" while I was a child growing up.
Still, awesome kuddos to Jeff.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Another sermon to preach
Lent 4 – March 22nd, 2009 – John 6:1-15
In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
Lent can be a hard and rough time, an intense time in the Church. I know full well that the sermons the past three weeks have been somewhat blunt and intense. That’s what happens in Lent. And I think that the intensity of Lent, the intensity of a focus on repentance can be a bit shocking to us today in America because we have forgotten that there is a cost of discipleship, that there is a weight and burden attached to being a Christian. It shows up in the old hymns. We sing in A Mighty Fortress - “And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife”. We sing in What a Friend We have in Jesus – “Are we weak and heavy laden. . .Do your friends despise, forsake you? These are hymns that are describing the burden, the true burden in this life of being a Christian, of turning your back upon the world. . . and letting the world kick you in the backside. This is something that Christ though is blunt and honest about – we hear Him teach this, but somehow in America our mindset has gotten twisted. We think that because we are Christians we should have things easier, that if we are good little Christian boys and girls that we should get more toys. When we think of Saints, do we think of people who suffered all, even death, for the sake of Christ, or when we think of Saints, do we think of green beer or excuses for flowers and boxes of chocolate, or even a guy in a red suit bringing us presents because, gosh darnit, we’ve just been so good that we’ve earned, earned our presents.
In America we’ve sort of lost the expectation that the Christian life is hard and difficult – and as such, Lent seems insanely burdensome – the concept of giving something up astounding – and as such, we don’t understand what Christ our Lord teaches in the Gospel today – Refreshment Sunday – the pink Sunday of Lent. What we are going to do today is look at the feeding of the 5000, but in terms of burden and relief, in terms of trials in this life and being rescued. It fits well, and it is something we need to hear, need to be rightly focused on.
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following Him, because they saw the signs that He was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain and there He sat down with His disciples. Now, the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up His eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward Him, Jesus said to Phillip, “Where are we to buy bread that these people may eat?” Here is the familiar set up. Jesus has been doing miracles, He has been preaching, and large crowds begin to follow Him. And Jesus sees the crowds, and Jesus asks the disciples a simple question. Where are we going to buy bread to feed these folks? Now, consider this. You’ve been walking all day, following after a person. Jesus had gone onto the other side of the Sea of Galilee, so you may have gone many, many miles following Jesus, eager to hear Him, eager to see Him in action. In a hot, dusty, rugged area. All the day long.
What would these people following Jesus here look like? They would be a mess, they would be tired, they would be hungry. There is a cost, a burden associated with these people following Jesus. Their bodies are worn. They’ve probably missed lunch, if not more meals than that. The money they would have earned that day – never gotten by them. They have made a sacrifice, their life is harder right now because they are in that crowd. Things of this life, they gave up, simply to follow Christ.
Now, as we observed a few weeks ago, Jesus knows quite well what it is to be like out in the desert, tired and hungry. And so we know that Christ will have compassion, that He will seek to alleviate their hunger. However, that doesn’t mean that they weren’t hungry. That doesn’t mean that there was no cost, no burden to the people. It is rough following Christ. Christ doesn’t make things easy – rather this – He will refresh and strengthen them, so that they can recover from this day, so that they can be prepared for the next.
The same is true in your life. Christ knows your life is hard, and He knows that the more you try to live as a Christian, the more you turn away from sin, the more you say no to the people of the world who want to do wickedness, the more you give of yourself so that others can have and rejoice – the more you do these Christ-like things the harder your life is. And so Christ will refresh you. He will bolster you on His Word, He will feed you on His Supper, He will encourage you, He will let you see joys in simple things, simple acts of compassion that the world will never know. But still, we can ask the question. Why the hard stuff in the first place? If Jesus was gonna feed these people, why’d He let them follow Him out around a lake in the first place? If God is going to give us peace and rest, why is there a burden in the first place? This text gives us two reasons, which we will see shortly.
First, listen to what Jesus says to Phillip. “Where are we going to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Jesus knew what He was going to do – but here is the question. Did the disciples know? And the answer is no. Phillip mutters that a mound of cash wouldn’t do much good. Even Peter, top of the class Peter says, “Eh, a boy has five loaves and two fish, but that doesn’t amount to much.” The disciples didn’t know, they didn’t understand. If they didn’t know what Christ would do, how would they be able to be Christ-like, to do things like Christ? One of the things that we forget is that the Christian life is often compared to training, to learning, to improving. And that is hard. If you want to be a better runner you don’t sit on the couch eating bon-bons – you must run and often. If you want to be a better basketball player you don’t play XBOX or playstation, your Coach is going to send you through drills until you are worn out. If you want to be a better reader, you can’t just read nothing but Clifford the Big Red Dog books, you have to pick up harder and more difficult books, learn words you hadn’t known before. Learning math means you’ve got to do homework. Even in the things of this world, we grow in the face of struggle.
The same thing holds true in our lives as Christians. If we are to grow to be like Christ, we have to be put in places, be given opportunities to do Christ-like things. And that means difficulty. That means showing love even to your enemies, that means praying even for those who persecute you, that means making the care of others your top priority, even if it means a lack for yourself. Our Lord says in Luke that “a disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Recognize the trials in your life for what they are – for they are not simply burdens, but they are opportunities which Christ gives you in order for you to grow, to grow in love, to know in knowledge amd wisdom, to grow in understanding of Christ’s love for you. In this world which is full of sin, we will always need growth in Christ, learning how to struggle against sin, and it will remain a struggle, that is the way things must be here.
Then we know what happens in the text. Christ provides, and He provides abundantly. 12 baskets of leftovers are gathered. Christ does provide us with all that we need, the difficulties are endured and conquered, and we rejoice and give thanks. However, there is that verse at the end of the section that is also of note this morning. Perceiving that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. The people have just been fed, have just received this wonderful blessing from Christ – and what do they want to do? They want to do the exact opposite of what Christ wants them to. They want to make Him King, they want more and more blessings, let’s just focus on our bellies and the here and now.
Let me ask a question. Do children who are provided every thing they wish, receive every whim that they desire grow in maturity – or do they become spoiled, miserable brats? The same thing holds true spiritually. You know yourself. If you never had any struggle, any toil, any difficulties, would you grow in your faith? Would you learn to trust God more, or would you rather end up putting your trust in stuff, in blessings? Would you want to see Jesus heal more sick people, show more love to others, or simply fill your belly?
Here is the wonder. Christ provides for us – but he provides what is good for us, what is proper for us, blessings to sustain us, but not blessings to make us lazy and lethargic. He acts in a way that is best for us. Don’t you think that in the text it is best for the people that Jesus withdraws from them there? He didn’t come ultimately to make them tasty bread, He came to win them life and salvation by going to the Cross. But at the moment, the crowd doesn’t see that, they are just focused on their bellies. Christ withdraws because His focus is right. Same thing in our lives now – Christ doesn’t want you focused simply on the pleasures and stuff of this life, this world. This life will never be the end-all be-all of your life, but rather you are being prepared and preserved for the joys of heaven. Christ will bless you, He will sustain you – but He isn’t going to spoil you and He isn’t make you lazy. Rather this – He will sustain you and support you throughout your struggles, indeed for your struggles so that you will conquer them in Him.
This is what we receive in the Word, this is what we receive in Christ’s Supper. Forgiveness strengthens us for life, strengthens us so that we might go out and live. We close this service with the benediction, so that our life in the world this week might be blessed. This is God’s care for us. And it is more than enough, more than we need, and it is given to us simply because He cares for us – but it is the right care, the good care, the proper amount of care, so that we are provided for and so that we also have opportunity to grow. Christ refreshes us, and then He sustains us in our time here in this life, so that we might grow ever more closer to Him. In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
Lent can be a hard and rough time, an intense time in the Church. I know full well that the sermons the past three weeks have been somewhat blunt and intense. That’s what happens in Lent. And I think that the intensity of Lent, the intensity of a focus on repentance can be a bit shocking to us today in America because we have forgotten that there is a cost of discipleship, that there is a weight and burden attached to being a Christian. It shows up in the old hymns. We sing in A Mighty Fortress - “And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife”. We sing in What a Friend We have in Jesus – “Are we weak and heavy laden. . .Do your friends despise, forsake you? These are hymns that are describing the burden, the true burden in this life of being a Christian, of turning your back upon the world. . . and letting the world kick you in the backside. This is something that Christ though is blunt and honest about – we hear Him teach this, but somehow in America our mindset has gotten twisted. We think that because we are Christians we should have things easier, that if we are good little Christian boys and girls that we should get more toys. When we think of Saints, do we think of people who suffered all, even death, for the sake of Christ, or when we think of Saints, do we think of green beer or excuses for flowers and boxes of chocolate, or even a guy in a red suit bringing us presents because, gosh darnit, we’ve just been so good that we’ve earned, earned our presents.
In America we’ve sort of lost the expectation that the Christian life is hard and difficult – and as such, Lent seems insanely burdensome – the concept of giving something up astounding – and as such, we don’t understand what Christ our Lord teaches in the Gospel today – Refreshment Sunday – the pink Sunday of Lent. What we are going to do today is look at the feeding of the 5000, but in terms of burden and relief, in terms of trials in this life and being rescued. It fits well, and it is something we need to hear, need to be rightly focused on.
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following Him, because they saw the signs that He was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain and there He sat down with His disciples. Now, the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up His eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward Him, Jesus said to Phillip, “Where are we to buy bread that these people may eat?” Here is the familiar set up. Jesus has been doing miracles, He has been preaching, and large crowds begin to follow Him. And Jesus sees the crowds, and Jesus asks the disciples a simple question. Where are we going to buy bread to feed these folks? Now, consider this. You’ve been walking all day, following after a person. Jesus had gone onto the other side of the Sea of Galilee, so you may have gone many, many miles following Jesus, eager to hear Him, eager to see Him in action. In a hot, dusty, rugged area. All the day long.
What would these people following Jesus here look like? They would be a mess, they would be tired, they would be hungry. There is a cost, a burden associated with these people following Jesus. Their bodies are worn. They’ve probably missed lunch, if not more meals than that. The money they would have earned that day – never gotten by them. They have made a sacrifice, their life is harder right now because they are in that crowd. Things of this life, they gave up, simply to follow Christ.
Now, as we observed a few weeks ago, Jesus knows quite well what it is to be like out in the desert, tired and hungry. And so we know that Christ will have compassion, that He will seek to alleviate their hunger. However, that doesn’t mean that they weren’t hungry. That doesn’t mean that there was no cost, no burden to the people. It is rough following Christ. Christ doesn’t make things easy – rather this – He will refresh and strengthen them, so that they can recover from this day, so that they can be prepared for the next.
The same is true in your life. Christ knows your life is hard, and He knows that the more you try to live as a Christian, the more you turn away from sin, the more you say no to the people of the world who want to do wickedness, the more you give of yourself so that others can have and rejoice – the more you do these Christ-like things the harder your life is. And so Christ will refresh you. He will bolster you on His Word, He will feed you on His Supper, He will encourage you, He will let you see joys in simple things, simple acts of compassion that the world will never know. But still, we can ask the question. Why the hard stuff in the first place? If Jesus was gonna feed these people, why’d He let them follow Him out around a lake in the first place? If God is going to give us peace and rest, why is there a burden in the first place? This text gives us two reasons, which we will see shortly.
First, listen to what Jesus says to Phillip. “Where are we going to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Jesus knew what He was going to do – but here is the question. Did the disciples know? And the answer is no. Phillip mutters that a mound of cash wouldn’t do much good. Even Peter, top of the class Peter says, “Eh, a boy has five loaves and two fish, but that doesn’t amount to much.” The disciples didn’t know, they didn’t understand. If they didn’t know what Christ would do, how would they be able to be Christ-like, to do things like Christ? One of the things that we forget is that the Christian life is often compared to training, to learning, to improving. And that is hard. If you want to be a better runner you don’t sit on the couch eating bon-bons – you must run and often. If you want to be a better basketball player you don’t play XBOX or playstation, your Coach is going to send you through drills until you are worn out. If you want to be a better reader, you can’t just read nothing but Clifford the Big Red Dog books, you have to pick up harder and more difficult books, learn words you hadn’t known before. Learning math means you’ve got to do homework. Even in the things of this world, we grow in the face of struggle.
The same thing holds true in our lives as Christians. If we are to grow to be like Christ, we have to be put in places, be given opportunities to do Christ-like things. And that means difficulty. That means showing love even to your enemies, that means praying even for those who persecute you, that means making the care of others your top priority, even if it means a lack for yourself. Our Lord says in Luke that “a disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Recognize the trials in your life for what they are – for they are not simply burdens, but they are opportunities which Christ gives you in order for you to grow, to grow in love, to know in knowledge amd wisdom, to grow in understanding of Christ’s love for you. In this world which is full of sin, we will always need growth in Christ, learning how to struggle against sin, and it will remain a struggle, that is the way things must be here.
Then we know what happens in the text. Christ provides, and He provides abundantly. 12 baskets of leftovers are gathered. Christ does provide us with all that we need, the difficulties are endured and conquered, and we rejoice and give thanks. However, there is that verse at the end of the section that is also of note this morning. Perceiving that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. The people have just been fed, have just received this wonderful blessing from Christ – and what do they want to do? They want to do the exact opposite of what Christ wants them to. They want to make Him King, they want more and more blessings, let’s just focus on our bellies and the here and now.
Let me ask a question. Do children who are provided every thing they wish, receive every whim that they desire grow in maturity – or do they become spoiled, miserable brats? The same thing holds true spiritually. You know yourself. If you never had any struggle, any toil, any difficulties, would you grow in your faith? Would you learn to trust God more, or would you rather end up putting your trust in stuff, in blessings? Would you want to see Jesus heal more sick people, show more love to others, or simply fill your belly?
Here is the wonder. Christ provides for us – but he provides what is good for us, what is proper for us, blessings to sustain us, but not blessings to make us lazy and lethargic. He acts in a way that is best for us. Don’t you think that in the text it is best for the people that Jesus withdraws from them there? He didn’t come ultimately to make them tasty bread, He came to win them life and salvation by going to the Cross. But at the moment, the crowd doesn’t see that, they are just focused on their bellies. Christ withdraws because His focus is right. Same thing in our lives now – Christ doesn’t want you focused simply on the pleasures and stuff of this life, this world. This life will never be the end-all be-all of your life, but rather you are being prepared and preserved for the joys of heaven. Christ will bless you, He will sustain you – but He isn’t going to spoil you and He isn’t make you lazy. Rather this – He will sustain you and support you throughout your struggles, indeed for your struggles so that you will conquer them in Him.
This is what we receive in the Word, this is what we receive in Christ’s Supper. Forgiveness strengthens us for life, strengthens us so that we might go out and live. We close this service with the benediction, so that our life in the world this week might be blessed. This is God’s care for us. And it is more than enough, more than we need, and it is given to us simply because He cares for us – but it is the right care, the good care, the proper amount of care, so that we are provided for and so that we also have opportunity to grow. Christ refreshes us, and then He sustains us in our time here in this life, so that we might grow ever more closer to Him. In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Negativity
One would think that it is easy to become negative in Lent. After all, there is that focus repentance, on our own lack, on our folly. I've been looking at America and seeing the vapid nature of our culture. Isn't it thus easy to become negative?
No. Because Christ is bigger than all of this. That's part of the point of Lent. Everyone likes to think that their culture, their time, their place, their life is fantastic (or at least they feel the need to promote their own). But the thing is, the same criticism of people today are true of any day and age. . . every culture has horrid flaws because they are filled with flawed people.
And yet, Christ Jesus and His Church has spread throughout the world. We are part of the Church catholic, the Church in every time and place -- the Church where we have seen our Lord bring His healing Gospel even to the messed up folks of the past living in the messed up cultures of the past.
Is it negative to see your own lack, your culture's messed up priorities? Not at all - it reminds us simply not to trust in earthborn princes or even our own works and to cling to Christ alone - confident in His love for us and our salvation. What could be more positive and truly uplifting than that?
No. Because Christ is bigger than all of this. That's part of the point of Lent. Everyone likes to think that their culture, their time, their place, their life is fantastic (or at least they feel the need to promote their own). But the thing is, the same criticism of people today are true of any day and age. . . every culture has horrid flaws because they are filled with flawed people.
And yet, Christ Jesus and His Church has spread throughout the world. We are part of the Church catholic, the Church in every time and place -- the Church where we have seen our Lord bring His healing Gospel even to the messed up folks of the past living in the messed up cultures of the past.
Is it negative to see your own lack, your culture's messed up priorities? Not at all - it reminds us simply not to trust in earthborn princes or even our own works and to cling to Christ alone - confident in His love for us and our salvation. What could be more positive and truly uplifting than that?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Denials, denials, denials
America needs Lent. We are the land of denials. We are the land where it is never our fault, where someone else is to blame, where our successes are all our own doing but our failures are always due to someone else's meddling or mere circumstance. We are the land where we were shocked when a President actually says, "The Buck Stops Here." That was 60 some odd years ago. . . it was shocking then; it would be unthinkable now.
The nasty, twisted shape that rugged individualism deforms into, the way the myth of the self-made man crumbles is that we become a nation of denial. We can't admit our lack, our faults - because then we might also need to be humble and take no credit for our successes either.
We in America need Lent. I think more often Pastors get frustrated in Advent, with the over commericialization, and all the "why can't we just sing happy carols now on December 3rd" - and with Lent we don't get as much pressure to just jump to Easter hymns just yet. Americans want to blow through Advent - we don't like that season. . . but it is really Lent that we need. Of course we don't think much of the season of waiting - we are in the richest land in the history of the world.
No, Lent is the big one. We need to understand repentance, we need to understand just how much of our life is a denial of our own fault - we need to shout mea culpa, mea cupla, mea maxima culpa. . . but who bothers with Latin anymore? No, we don't confess, we cover up, we deny, we try to explain, we admit only to being young and foolish - never wrong. We are the land of the no-fault divorce, of the win-win conflict resolution. We are never wrong.
And that is why, so, so often, there is no Truth in American culture, for all the people crying Lord, Lord in vain.
We need Lent, so that with repentance we might behold our crucified Lord and receive His mercy. Lord have mercy upon us.
The nasty, twisted shape that rugged individualism deforms into, the way the myth of the self-made man crumbles is that we become a nation of denial. We can't admit our lack, our faults - because then we might also need to be humble and take no credit for our successes either.
We in America need Lent. I think more often Pastors get frustrated in Advent, with the over commericialization, and all the "why can't we just sing happy carols now on December 3rd" - and with Lent we don't get as much pressure to just jump to Easter hymns just yet. Americans want to blow through Advent - we don't like that season. . . but it is really Lent that we need. Of course we don't think much of the season of waiting - we are in the richest land in the history of the world.
No, Lent is the big one. We need to understand repentance, we need to understand just how much of our life is a denial of our own fault - we need to shout mea culpa, mea cupla, mea maxima culpa. . . but who bothers with Latin anymore? No, we don't confess, we cover up, we deny, we try to explain, we admit only to being young and foolish - never wrong. We are the land of the no-fault divorce, of the win-win conflict resolution. We are never wrong.
And that is why, so, so often, there is no Truth in American culture, for all the people crying Lord, Lord in vain.
We need Lent, so that with repentance we might behold our crucified Lord and receive His mercy. Lord have mercy upon us.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Another Sermon - I think I'm coming up on number 250
Lent 3, March 15th, 2009 – Luke 11:14-28
In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
In the face of an unpleasant truth, we like to make excuses. We mess up at work – and we can then tell you all sorts of reasons why it’s not our fault. We upset a friend, and well, they just took things completely out of context and blew things all out of proportion. Our kids get into trouble, and it’s not really their fault, it must be those bad kids they’ve been associating with this. And Pastors are no exception. My wife and I were talking about this – ever wonder why Preacher’s kids tend to be so rotten – because too many pastors say, “Oh, not my little angel, they’d never do that” all the while that little angel is running around like hell on wheels. When confronted with an unpleasant truth, when confronted with our sin, we like to stop up our ears, we like to make excuses, we like to cast blame. This, dear friends, is what happens in our Gospel text today. People make excuses, refuse to see what is actually going on – and Christ calls them on it.
Now, [Jesus] was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. As the text starts we see Christ going about His business – taking the battle to Satan, breaking down Satan’s kingdom bit by bit. The Son of God goes forth to war. Look, a demon, let’s take care of him. This is a wondrous thing – this shows that it is God at work for our benefit, God come to rescue us from sin and death and damnation. Surely, that is a joyous thing, surely all will rejoice over that!
But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test Him, kept seeking from Him a sign from heaven. But some people don’t rejoice over this. They make excuses. Duh, no, He’s not sent by God – He’s casting out demons by demons! Duh, no, He’s not from God, we’d need a sign from heaven to prove that. . . not just this. Excuses. Why? Why these excuses, why these false and idiotic reasons not to believe? Jesus calls them on their stupid arguments – But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.” Jesus calls them to the carpet. We all know Satan is powerful, that Satan isn’t dumb, that his kingdom is doing fine and wicked right now. If he were divided, it would have crumbled of itself long ago. Besides, it’s sort of dangerous to say that I’m casting out demon in the name of Satan, because your own sons are casting out demons in My Name – attack Jesus, you attack your own sons. Quit holding onto the idiotic ideas.
But why are they there in the first place? A key point to note – Jesus knew their thoughts – Jesus knew what they were thinking. There was something that made Jesus doing these miracles leave a bad taste in their mouth. And then Jesus hits the nail upon the head. “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” There it is. There’s the problem. Whose kingdom? God’s Kingdom. You see, there is no neutrality spiritually, there are no undecided – the people who checked off no religion on that big survey that came out this past week aren’t really undecided – “Whoever is not with Me is against Me.” We are not morally neutral – we are either with Christ, or we are against Him.
That says something, doesn’t it? It says something about sin. We like to slough off sin, we like to make excuses for sin, we like to pretend that it doesn’t matter much. It does. Sin is wicked and vile and gross. Your sin is wicked and vile and gross. It’s not just Hitler, it’s not just Stalin who were sinners – you are as well. That is something that Christ comes and shows – because all sin is against the will of God, all sin pleases Satan. When you sin, you make Satan rejoice and cackle with glee.
And this is where too often our defense mechanisms kick in. How dare you say that about me! Why, I’m a good person! How dare you accuse my little angel of doing something! How dare you say it is my fault! We don’t like hearing that. We are like the people of Jeremiah’s time, hearing the Law preached in it’s full bluntness, hearing that we are sinners who by our sin bring folly upon our own head, and all too often we don’t like that. We fuss, we fight against it, we blame the messenger as it were, we cry out kill the preacher, we cry out “that’s just your interpretation”, we cry out “don’t be so negative, we just need to think happy thoughts.”
Know this for what it is. This is your old, sinful nature kicking in. This is the Old Adam, this is your flesh wanting it’s own way – which since the fall is actually Satan’s way. And Christ knows this – He knows the truth that since the fall you, along with every other naturally born human, have been stuck in Satan’s kingdom, fast bound in Satan’s chains. And we hear the Law, and we are terrified, so terrified we try to deny it and avoid it. The Law means by rights we should be destroyed, that we should be cast out, cast down, just like Satan. It means by nature we are on the wrong side and God would be right to smite us! And that’s rough. But listen – “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, He takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.” Christ doesn’t come to smite you – He comes to smite Satan and claim you, to take you back from Satan.
Don’t you realize that Satan with his temptations, with his urging you to sin, is just trying to keep you trapped? Satan is trying to keep you bound to sin, wrapped up in petty thoughts and jealousies, wrapped up in doubt and fear and misery, wrapped up in trying to pretend you’re perfect when you know you are anything but. That’s his kingdom, where the best you can hope for is a vain, smug, false self-righteousness. But Christ our Lord is not content to let mankind linger there in Satan’s clutches. Instead, He bursts in – for He is the Stronger Man, and He takes up the contest against Satan, and He defeats Satan. And you, dear friends, are the prize He seeks, the treasure our Lord would fight to reclaim – and He finds you, dented and bruised and dirty as you are, for being kept in Satan’s kingdom is a harsh thing, and He washes you clean – claims you as His own – takes you and brings you unto His own house.
That is what your Baptism is. It is where the struggle that Christ fought against Satan upon the cross is made real in your life – it is where it is applied to you – where you are washed clean. And dear friends, the life of Repentance, Confessing your sins, is nothing else than saying, “There, at the font, in my Baptism, is where I live. I am Baptized, I am one whom Christ has claimed and washed clean and forgiven.” As part of the baptismal rite, we ask the person being baptized if they renounce Satan and all his works and all his ways. What is confessing your sin but merely once again renouncing Satan and all his works and all his ways, even the works and ways that pop up again and again in your sinful flesh in this life? Confession is a return to baptism – and we need to return to our Baptism, we need to remember what Christ gave us there all of our days. Christ tells us why.
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of the person is worse than the first. The idea of “once saved, always saved” just isn’t Scriptural. People can fall away – people can renounce their baptism – and then things are worse than before. When we abandon our Baptism, when we refuse to repent, when that font is no longer the Truth of our life, of who we are – we open ourselves up to great shame and vice and wickedness. We say, Satan, have your way with me.
Therefore, we are to repent, to see that we continually strive to live out our lives as the Baptized. That is why Christ calls us to the supper. The house in the passage was empty – but Christ calls you to the Supper and He fills you with His own Body and Blood so that you are full, so that you are never empty – so that you are always ready to resist the lure of Satan. This is the reality of life on this earth. If we are not with Christ, we are against Him – but see that He calls you unto Himself, He fought to claim you as His own, and He provides His Word to keep you as His own – that is why those who hear the Word of God and keep it, who remain in the Word and in the blessings of life and salvation and forgiveness that the Word gives are indeed well and truly blessed.
Dear friends, I urge and exhort you – turn away from the false excuses you would raise for yourself. They are false, and they only give Satan joy. Rather this, call out to God for mercy, cry out that you know your sin and need rescue, and our Gracious and Loving God will create a clean heart in you, He will renew a right Spirit with you. He does not desire to cast you away, but our Lord’s delight is in casting out and thrusting down Satan, so that you belong to Christ alone, so that He can restore you and uphold you. This is what Christ does – He defeats sin, including your sin. Do not fear to face down your sin, for Christ faces it down with you, indeed, for you. This is the promise He made you at your baptism – this is His promise to you for life. In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
In the face of an unpleasant truth, we like to make excuses. We mess up at work – and we can then tell you all sorts of reasons why it’s not our fault. We upset a friend, and well, they just took things completely out of context and blew things all out of proportion. Our kids get into trouble, and it’s not really their fault, it must be those bad kids they’ve been associating with this. And Pastors are no exception. My wife and I were talking about this – ever wonder why Preacher’s kids tend to be so rotten – because too many pastors say, “Oh, not my little angel, they’d never do that” all the while that little angel is running around like hell on wheels. When confronted with an unpleasant truth, when confronted with our sin, we like to stop up our ears, we like to make excuses, we like to cast blame. This, dear friends, is what happens in our Gospel text today. People make excuses, refuse to see what is actually going on – and Christ calls them on it.
Now, [Jesus] was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. As the text starts we see Christ going about His business – taking the battle to Satan, breaking down Satan’s kingdom bit by bit. The Son of God goes forth to war. Look, a demon, let’s take care of him. This is a wondrous thing – this shows that it is God at work for our benefit, God come to rescue us from sin and death and damnation. Surely, that is a joyous thing, surely all will rejoice over that!
But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test Him, kept seeking from Him a sign from heaven. But some people don’t rejoice over this. They make excuses. Duh, no, He’s not sent by God – He’s casting out demons by demons! Duh, no, He’s not from God, we’d need a sign from heaven to prove that. . . not just this. Excuses. Why? Why these excuses, why these false and idiotic reasons not to believe? Jesus calls them on their stupid arguments – But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.” Jesus calls them to the carpet. We all know Satan is powerful, that Satan isn’t dumb, that his kingdom is doing fine and wicked right now. If he were divided, it would have crumbled of itself long ago. Besides, it’s sort of dangerous to say that I’m casting out demon in the name of Satan, because your own sons are casting out demons in My Name – attack Jesus, you attack your own sons. Quit holding onto the idiotic ideas.
But why are they there in the first place? A key point to note – Jesus knew their thoughts – Jesus knew what they were thinking. There was something that made Jesus doing these miracles leave a bad taste in their mouth. And then Jesus hits the nail upon the head. “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” There it is. There’s the problem. Whose kingdom? God’s Kingdom. You see, there is no neutrality spiritually, there are no undecided – the people who checked off no religion on that big survey that came out this past week aren’t really undecided – “Whoever is not with Me is against Me.” We are not morally neutral – we are either with Christ, or we are against Him.
That says something, doesn’t it? It says something about sin. We like to slough off sin, we like to make excuses for sin, we like to pretend that it doesn’t matter much. It does. Sin is wicked and vile and gross. Your sin is wicked and vile and gross. It’s not just Hitler, it’s not just Stalin who were sinners – you are as well. That is something that Christ comes and shows – because all sin is against the will of God, all sin pleases Satan. When you sin, you make Satan rejoice and cackle with glee.
And this is where too often our defense mechanisms kick in. How dare you say that about me! Why, I’m a good person! How dare you accuse my little angel of doing something! How dare you say it is my fault! We don’t like hearing that. We are like the people of Jeremiah’s time, hearing the Law preached in it’s full bluntness, hearing that we are sinners who by our sin bring folly upon our own head, and all too often we don’t like that. We fuss, we fight against it, we blame the messenger as it were, we cry out kill the preacher, we cry out “that’s just your interpretation”, we cry out “don’t be so negative, we just need to think happy thoughts.”
Know this for what it is. This is your old, sinful nature kicking in. This is the Old Adam, this is your flesh wanting it’s own way – which since the fall is actually Satan’s way. And Christ knows this – He knows the truth that since the fall you, along with every other naturally born human, have been stuck in Satan’s kingdom, fast bound in Satan’s chains. And we hear the Law, and we are terrified, so terrified we try to deny it and avoid it. The Law means by rights we should be destroyed, that we should be cast out, cast down, just like Satan. It means by nature we are on the wrong side and God would be right to smite us! And that’s rough. But listen – “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, He takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.” Christ doesn’t come to smite you – He comes to smite Satan and claim you, to take you back from Satan.
Don’t you realize that Satan with his temptations, with his urging you to sin, is just trying to keep you trapped? Satan is trying to keep you bound to sin, wrapped up in petty thoughts and jealousies, wrapped up in doubt and fear and misery, wrapped up in trying to pretend you’re perfect when you know you are anything but. That’s his kingdom, where the best you can hope for is a vain, smug, false self-righteousness. But Christ our Lord is not content to let mankind linger there in Satan’s clutches. Instead, He bursts in – for He is the Stronger Man, and He takes up the contest against Satan, and He defeats Satan. And you, dear friends, are the prize He seeks, the treasure our Lord would fight to reclaim – and He finds you, dented and bruised and dirty as you are, for being kept in Satan’s kingdom is a harsh thing, and He washes you clean – claims you as His own – takes you and brings you unto His own house.
That is what your Baptism is. It is where the struggle that Christ fought against Satan upon the cross is made real in your life – it is where it is applied to you – where you are washed clean. And dear friends, the life of Repentance, Confessing your sins, is nothing else than saying, “There, at the font, in my Baptism, is where I live. I am Baptized, I am one whom Christ has claimed and washed clean and forgiven.” As part of the baptismal rite, we ask the person being baptized if they renounce Satan and all his works and all his ways. What is confessing your sin but merely once again renouncing Satan and all his works and all his ways, even the works and ways that pop up again and again in your sinful flesh in this life? Confession is a return to baptism – and we need to return to our Baptism, we need to remember what Christ gave us there all of our days. Christ tells us why.
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of the person is worse than the first. The idea of “once saved, always saved” just isn’t Scriptural. People can fall away – people can renounce their baptism – and then things are worse than before. When we abandon our Baptism, when we refuse to repent, when that font is no longer the Truth of our life, of who we are – we open ourselves up to great shame and vice and wickedness. We say, Satan, have your way with me.
Therefore, we are to repent, to see that we continually strive to live out our lives as the Baptized. That is why Christ calls us to the supper. The house in the passage was empty – but Christ calls you to the Supper and He fills you with His own Body and Blood so that you are full, so that you are never empty – so that you are always ready to resist the lure of Satan. This is the reality of life on this earth. If we are not with Christ, we are against Him – but see that He calls you unto Himself, He fought to claim you as His own, and He provides His Word to keep you as His own – that is why those who hear the Word of God and keep it, who remain in the Word and in the blessings of life and salvation and forgiveness that the Word gives are indeed well and truly blessed.
Dear friends, I urge and exhort you – turn away from the false excuses you would raise for yourself. They are false, and they only give Satan joy. Rather this, call out to God for mercy, cry out that you know your sin and need rescue, and our Gracious and Loving God will create a clean heart in you, He will renew a right Spirit with you. He does not desire to cast you away, but our Lord’s delight is in casting out and thrusting down Satan, so that you belong to Christ alone, so that He can restore you and uphold you. This is what Christ does – He defeats sin, including your sin. Do not fear to face down your sin, for Christ faces it down with you, indeed, for you. This is the promise He made you at your baptism – this is His promise to you for life. In the Name of Christ the Crucified +
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