What comfort is there in being right?
Consider. You engage in a knock-down drag out fight with your neighbor. Things are ugly and mean and there is that constant air of hostility. What comfort is it if you are... right? Are things less ugly because you're right? Is that hostility any less... hostile?
What comfort is there in being right?
See, this is the heart of that old bane of fallen man - self-justification. The cry of self-justification is "But I was right!" That is literally justifying the self. And our old sinful flesh things this is just a wonderful thing... but it's empty. If the fight leaves wounds, being right doesn't bring healing. If the fight leaves bitterness, being right doesn't make life sweet again.
Being right, seeing yourself as right brings no comfort.
"So then, do we just not care." No. We care. We care about our neighbor and put their needs above our own -- especially our need to be right. We care. We confess Christ and Him crucified... if they don't like that, well, that's sad. But we still don't need to prove ourselves to be right -- we point to Christ, not our own superior theological skills.
You don't need to prove yourself right.
Ponder what Paul says in 1st Corinthians 4(:3-4): But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
That's freedom. Paul is free from the idea of self-justification. He doesn't judge himself, he doesn't work to make sure that everyone knows that he has passed with flying colors. That is all immaterial. Preach Christ. Let God be the Judge. Preach Christ and rejoice that God is the Judge, for God justifies you in Christ.
There is no comfort if you insist on proving yourself right. There is no peace, no rest. Abandon your own self-justification, and look instead at Christ. He justifies. Focus on Christ, and then you will be a bringer of peace, a comforter of those who mourn, one who gives mercy and love because that is what you have from Christ. God works these things in you and through you, for you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. Beat down your old sinful flesh that would seek to justify itself and claim any worth or merit apart from Christ.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
A Powerful Ugly Creature
(A repost from a few years ago)
Quite often it is easy for those who would be devout Christians to become frustrated with the sad state of the Church -- and by this generally the sad state of the people next to them in the pews (or failing to be in the pews next to them) is meant. And throughout the course of history, no small lack of theological idiocy has arisen as people have tried to come up with new plans to fix this - whether it be pietism where you basically take the "scared straight" approach, or even the approach that seems popular today, where you focus so much on grow-grow-grow in order to just replace those slackers with a hopefully unending supply of new givers. . . um. . . I mean, new members who have full pockets. . . um. . . I mean are full of zeal.
When thoughts and frustrations like this arise, I would suggest that we would do well to remember two things about just who we are in the Church.
1. We aren't the hero, we are the damsel in distress.
What do I mean by this? In the story of our lives, we aren't the hero who comes in swashbuckling and saving the day. We aren't the clever ones who outwit the Devil, we aren't the ones who by our own strength knock down the foes. We are the damsels. We are the ones who are distressed by our own sin, locked in the tower of our wickedness. We are the ones who are rescued when Christ comes being born of a virgin, when He shatters the shackles of sin with His death and resurrection.
As such, we shouldn't focus on how WE are going to do something to make the Church grow. We aren't the ones who do the rescuing - Christ is. As such, let us simply attend to His Word, and let Him rescue people by His Word. Too often the temptation is to think things rely upon us - what are we doing to do to make things right. We forget that we are the ones who are made right by Christ.
2. In and of ourselves, we are some powerful ugly creatures.
(This phrasing is lifted from the show Firefly which you should have watched already by now. . . if not, it makes a lovely Christmas present)
What does this mean? When we start wanting to fix the Church, fix other people in the Church, make them better Christians. . . we forget how broken and in need of healing we ourselves are. Christ speaks to this with that whole speck in the neighbor's eye, ignoring the log in our own. I'll say this -- we are damsels in distress, but the hero doesn't come and rescue us because we ourselves are beautiful -- no, we are some powerful ugly creatures.
The problem is that we can. . . forget this. We can start playing the comparison game. The Christian faith is not a race to make sure you are better than your neighbor - it doesn't matter what your neighbor has done - the question is you and your actions. Are you perfect? And the answer is no, and so you've got plenty to tend to in yourself. You might be the prettiest girl in uglyville, but that still means you're ugly. And we can become filled with pride and just become nasty folk.
The Christian faith isn't our hero tale - it isn't where Christ comes to us because we are so lovely - it is the story of where Christ comes with joy and gladness, and He binds to Himself a powerful ugly creature, and He makes her to be His beautiful bride, without spot or blemish through the washing of the water and the Word.
He is the One who does this for you, and He is the One who does this for any and all. Let Him be the One who is active, let Him be the One who is active even in you.
Quite often it is easy for those who would be devout Christians to become frustrated with the sad state of the Church -- and by this generally the sad state of the people next to them in the pews (or failing to be in the pews next to them) is meant. And throughout the course of history, no small lack of theological idiocy has arisen as people have tried to come up with new plans to fix this - whether it be pietism where you basically take the "scared straight" approach, or even the approach that seems popular today, where you focus so much on grow-grow-grow in order to just replace those slackers with a hopefully unending supply of new givers. . . um. . . I mean, new members who have full pockets. . . um. . . I mean are full of zeal.
When thoughts and frustrations like this arise, I would suggest that we would do well to remember two things about just who we are in the Church.
1. We aren't the hero, we are the damsel in distress.
What do I mean by this? In the story of our lives, we aren't the hero who comes in swashbuckling and saving the day. We aren't the clever ones who outwit the Devil, we aren't the ones who by our own strength knock down the foes. We are the damsels. We are the ones who are distressed by our own sin, locked in the tower of our wickedness. We are the ones who are rescued when Christ comes being born of a virgin, when He shatters the shackles of sin with His death and resurrection.
As such, we shouldn't focus on how WE are going to do something to make the Church grow. We aren't the ones who do the rescuing - Christ is. As such, let us simply attend to His Word, and let Him rescue people by His Word. Too often the temptation is to think things rely upon us - what are we doing to do to make things right. We forget that we are the ones who are made right by Christ.
2. In and of ourselves, we are some powerful ugly creatures.
(This phrasing is lifted from the show Firefly which you should have watched already by now. . . if not, it makes a lovely Christmas present)
What does this mean? When we start wanting to fix the Church, fix other people in the Church, make them better Christians. . . we forget how broken and in need of healing we ourselves are. Christ speaks to this with that whole speck in the neighbor's eye, ignoring the log in our own. I'll say this -- we are damsels in distress, but the hero doesn't come and rescue us because we ourselves are beautiful -- no, we are some powerful ugly creatures.
The problem is that we can. . . forget this. We can start playing the comparison game. The Christian faith is not a race to make sure you are better than your neighbor - it doesn't matter what your neighbor has done - the question is you and your actions. Are you perfect? And the answer is no, and so you've got plenty to tend to in yourself. You might be the prettiest girl in uglyville, but that still means you're ugly. And we can become filled with pride and just become nasty folk.
The Christian faith isn't our hero tale - it isn't where Christ comes to us because we are so lovely - it is the story of where Christ comes with joy and gladness, and He binds to Himself a powerful ugly creature, and He makes her to be His beautiful bride, without spot or blemish through the washing of the water and the Word.
He is the One who does this for you, and He is the One who does this for any and all. Let Him be the One who is active, let Him be the One who is active even in you.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Whose Good Works Ought You Examine
So, whose good works ought you examine?
Seriously, whose works are you evaluating? When you go onto your discussions about how "people" ought to behave, are you sitting and examining your neighbor, or are you examining your own actions, are you striving to drive yourself to repentance?
When you go on a rant about behavior and how things need to change - are they about things *you* need to change, or are they about things you think the other guy over there needs to change?
So, whose good works ought you examine?
Or to put it this way -- do you think your own need to repent is greater than the need for you to shape up your neighbor's life?
Seriously, whose works are you evaluating? When you go onto your discussions about how "people" ought to behave, are you sitting and examining your neighbor, or are you examining your own actions, are you striving to drive yourself to repentance?
When you go on a rant about behavior and how things need to change - are they about things *you* need to change, or are they about things you think the other guy over there needs to change?
So, whose good works ought you examine?
Or to put it this way -- do you think your own need to repent is greater than the need for you to shape up your neighbor's life?
Advent 2 Weekly Meditation
Collect: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Greetings in the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord!
A Christian's service, a Christian's love and purity always begins and is brought about by Christ. When Christ comes with love and mercy and forgiveness, we are made into a new creation by Him, and as His new creation we end up showing forth love and purity, even over and against the desires of our sinful flesh.
We can never emphasize the fact that Christ Jesus is responsible for our Good Works and purity enough. Why? Because your old sinful flesh will want to shift credit and praise from Christ onto yourself. Because Satan does not want you recieving Christ, but rather with dull and indifferent hearts to turn away from Christ and simply assume that you yourself on your own apart from Christ will be... good... pure enough... a decent sort of person.
Dissipation and cares and drunkeness - these all can wear us down, and if we are not focused upon Christ, we can be deluded into placing our confidence in ourselves, on our own strength and power, and Christ is forgotten. Thus, our prayer remains that God stirs us up - that His Word of Law comes and shakes us out of our selfish complacency, and then that Christ comes with healing and power and glory and strength - and that we be filled with His love, that we be made ready to face this day, that we be made to have strength to stand on the day when He comes again.
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith!
Have a great week in and from Christ!
(If you would like to receive these in your e-mail, send me a message at zionlahoma@yahoo.com )
Greetings in the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord!
A Christian's service, a Christian's love and purity always begins and is brought about by Christ. When Christ comes with love and mercy and forgiveness, we are made into a new creation by Him, and as His new creation we end up showing forth love and purity, even over and against the desires of our sinful flesh.
We can never emphasize the fact that Christ Jesus is responsible for our Good Works and purity enough. Why? Because your old sinful flesh will want to shift credit and praise from Christ onto yourself. Because Satan does not want you recieving Christ, but rather with dull and indifferent hearts to turn away from Christ and simply assume that you yourself on your own apart from Christ will be... good... pure enough... a decent sort of person.
Dissipation and cares and drunkeness - these all can wear us down, and if we are not focused upon Christ, we can be deluded into placing our confidence in ourselves, on our own strength and power, and Christ is forgotten. Thus, our prayer remains that God stirs us up - that His Word of Law comes and shakes us out of our selfish complacency, and then that Christ comes with healing and power and glory and strength - and that we be filled with His love, that we be made ready to face this day, that we be made to have strength to stand on the day when He comes again.
Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith!
Have a great week in and from Christ!
(If you would like to receive these in your e-mail, send me a message at zionlahoma@yahoo.com )
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Advent 2 Sermon
Advent 2 – Luke 21:25-36 –
December 9th, 2012
In the Name of Christ Jesus
our Advent King +
I tend to like a lot of heroic movies, a lot of the stories
where you have the damsel in distress trapped, hidden away by the evil villain,
but then the hero comes and storms the castle and rescues her. Just fun types of stories – and there’s a
moment that stands out in each often – where the villain is confronting,
threatening the damsel in distress – and they both hear noise, hear a
ruckus. And at that moment, there is joy
and wonderment upon the damsel – she knows the hero has come. The fear and terror melt away from her face,
and she looks up with hope and gladness.
This same set up is precisely what Christ Jesus our Lord is describing
in our Gospel lesson today. We were
captives, fast bound in Satan’s chains, we were spiritual damsels in distress,
as it were. But what happens? Christ Jesus, our King, our hero comes, and
He comes to rescue us. Just as He came
to win us salvation with His first advent, so too He shall come again to take
us from this vale of tears unto His own side for all eternity. Listen.
“And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the
earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and
the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on
the world. For the powers of the heavens
will be shaken.” The world
should have known what was coming.
Whenever Jesus does something awesome, the world is shaken. Consider Christ’s birth – what do we
see? Signs in the stars – behold the
Wise men have seen it. Distress of
nations – you have Herod freaking out, all Jerusalem terrified with him. Jesus is coming – the signs are clear. And then, when our Lord was crucified, what
do you have? Signs in the heavens – the
sun is blotted out and the day turns to darkness. You have fear and foreboding – the mighty
Centurion falls to his knees and confesses “Surely this was the Son of
God.” Christ came and was crucified,
destroyed sin and death. And it will
happen again – He shall come again. This
season of Advent is not just a time looking forward to our celebrations of His
first coming, but it is the time where we also focus on His second coming – “And
then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Christ the Crucified, God become Man for us
men and our salvation, shall return. And
what is our response? “Now,
when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near.”
We Christians just don’t act or think like the rest of the world. We see signs in the world, reminders that this is a fallen place, that it will not go on forever. Perplexities, violence, terror, weather run amuck – and while we sorrow and grieve for those impacted, we do not give into to utter terror and fear. Why? When you see the news, when you read the papers – straighten up and raise your head – it’s all just a reminder that your redemption is drawing near. It’s all just a reminder that this world is a fallen, sinful place, and that Christ Jesus your Lord and King has promise to return and to pull you out of this life of suffering unto His side.
And no, I’m not exaggerating, I’m not blowing things out of
proportion. Listen. “And He told them a parable; ‘Look at the fig
tree, and all the trees. As soon as they
come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already
near. So also, when you see these things
taking place, you know that the kingdom
of God is near.’” It is obvious, as obvious as the coming of
the summer. There are leaves on the
trees again, I guess it is going to be getting warmer. There is still trouble and chaos in the
world, we see it more and more – I guess Christ Jesus will be coming. As Christians, everything we see in the world,
all the tragedy, all the sorrow, all the pain – it all should be a reminder, it
should all point us and drive us to remember that Christ Jesus, our Redeemer,
shall come again. You see, this is how
and why we rejoice in our suffering, as we are told over and over again in the
New Testament. This is why those who
mourn are called blessed. Not because suffering is fun, not because we like
mourning – but because Christ Jesus has come to you, made you His own in Holy
Baptism, given you life in Him – and all this trouble, all this sorrow, all
this pain… it reminds you that this life isn’t all there is – that this world
isn’t as good as it gets. You have more
– not more now, not some secret bible code to double your income in 2013 – no,
because of Christ you have life in the world to come where there is no sorrow,
you have a resurrection that will undo all mourning. When you see the suffering and sorrow in your
life, it is a reminder that Christ shall come and put an end to that suffering
and sorrow and bring you to His side.
When you hear of wars, that is a reminder that the Prince of Peace shall
come and put an end to all strife. When
you hear of the earth falling appear, that is a reminder that He shall come
again and make a new heavens and a new earth.
When you feel your own body falling apart, breaking down – that is a
reminder that when He comes you will be raised and have a new and glorious Body
that is like His. This is how we see the
world.
Before we move on to the end of a passage, a brief note in
passing. Jesus says, “Truly,
I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken
place. Heaven and earth will pass away,
but My Words will not pass away.”
Sometimes this verse can cause some consternation – Jesus said that that
generation would not pass – well they are gone and where is the second
coming! Part of this is because our text
jumps in the middle of the speech.
Christ has talked about many things, about the destruction of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Temple – indeed, things that many there lived
to see. But what it really boils down to
is this – everything gets done and wrapped up when our Lord is Crucified. What does our Lord proclaim – IT IS
FINISHED. It’s all accomplished, it all
has taken place. The sin of the world is
atoned for, death is swallowed up in death.
Everything is done – now we are just waiting for the passing away of
heaven and earth so that we can get the new one, the new one promised by His
Words which do not pass away. It is all
finished.
But Satan tries hard to make us forget this. Satan tries hard to rob us of the comfort we
have in Christ. Instead of seeing all
these things as signs and reminders of Christ Jesus and His promises to you,
Satan will try to use this world to distract and terrorize you, to rob you of
your comfort in Christ. Listen. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be
weighed down with the dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and
that day come you like a trap.” This
actually is one of my favorite verses – it is just dense and drives to
things. Satan will try to trip you up,
he will try to mess you up, he will attack you in three ways. He will attack you with dissipation. Well great Pastor, if we knew what in
tarnation “dissipation” was we would take the warning to heart. The Greek word is “Kraipale” – it’s the
running around after stuff, after things, after riches. It’s the frantic worrying of trying to make
everything just so and trying to get everything in order and keep up with the
Jones’ – it’s running after mammon that we hear about so often just summed up
in one word. So yes – this Advent
season, do not be frantic trying to make this world perfect, to make the gifts
and dinners and such be just so perfect and wonderful. Why?
They won’t be – we live in a fallen world, things will go wrong. And this isn’t me being a Bah Humbug Scrooge
– no, simply this. Don’t dissipate,
don’t run around so frantic worrying about everything and spread yourself so
thin that you are robbed of joy and comfort.
You are blessed, and when you see things get messed up, remember that in
Christ you have more blessing to come – even if you burn the cookies or so and
so doesn’t really like their gift. Life
is more than this.
And then there is the warning against drunkenness – another
temptation that we can face when confronted with the world. Instead of trying to perfect things, we can
just want to tune everything out – be it getting blottoed or be it what ever
other forms of escapism that we might like – diving into work, into the bottle,
into drugs, into whatever. We can be
tempted to flee from the trials of life.
No, that’s not the way – because again, those trials remind us of what
is to come, point us forward to Christ and His return. And then of course, the cares of this life –
where we see trial and trouble and we get so focused on how they aren’t going
to be fixed now that we despair. The
simple, blunt, honest truth is that in this life, some things are never going
to be fixed. Just the way it is. That sorrow – a piece of it will still hang
with you, even as you get used to it.
The body that’s failing – well, even medicine only goes so far. Heartache, pain, suffering – they are going
to be around us always. Fears and
troubles and tribulations – Satan will send those your way in spades, because
you are a Christian, and he will attack you.
He wants these to overwhelm you – do not let him, do not listen to the
prince of lies – rather remember what Christ Jesus has promised you. He is with you, and you will endure in Him,
even until He comes again. That is His
promise to you – don’t let Satan lead you astray.
“But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to
escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the
Son of Man.” Again, one final bit of comfort. Pray that you may have strength to escape –
let me ask you one thing? Where does
your strength come from? Where does your
escape come from? Is this a matter of
you having to become spiritually buff and clawing your way out? Do you have to take spoon of super-holy good
works and dig your way to freedom? No,
the Son of Man will come with… power and great glory. He is your strength, He is your hope, He is
your escape. That’s why you pray –
because it’s God’s strength that He gives to you. The simple fact is that one day, you will
stand before the Son of Man – and how will you stand? Not on the merit or basis of what you are and
have done – but you will stand as His own beloved whom He has come to rescue,
whom He has sacrificed all for, whom He has come to give the new heavens and
the new earth to. Your King, your
Champion is coming – keep your eyes open, be awake, do not worry about the
rantings and the ravings of that villainous snake – do you hear the sounds of
trouble and strife in this world, do you see the toil and fighting? Satan’s kingdom is crashing down around Him,
and your Lord and Savior is coming to you, to pull you out of Satan’s kingdom
unto His own. Straighten up, lift up
your head – your redemption is drawing nigh.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus! In the
Name of Christ Jesus, our Advent King +
Friday, December 7, 2012
The Sin of Defending Yourself
For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But
how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and
endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is
commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[f] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. - 1 Peter 2:19-25
It the cause, the source, the root of so many arguments and discussions. Person X says something about person Y, and person Y begins to defend themselves. Maybe it's explaining how X is wrong. Maybe it's turning around an pointing out flaws in X to undercut their credibility. Maybe it's telling everyone why Y themselves is really right and good. Maybe it's blaming Z. Either way, some defense is made... and then the argument is on.
Sometimes trying to publicly defend yourself is just wrong.
Simple as that.
Sometimes trying to publicly defend yourself is just wrong.
Simple as that.
Consider this. What are you actually doing when you defend yourself?
1 - I'm just explaining my actions. Why? Why do you need to explain your actions? To justify yourself? To protect your reputation? To prove that you are actually right and the other guy wrong? Why is that a priority... or to put it this way... are you with your words serving yourself or are you serving your neighbor? The later is good, the former is... bad.
2. The other guy is a jerk. Well, that's nice. And yes, sometimes for the good of your neighbors it is good to put a bully down. But here's the thing -- if they are hammering you... are you really acting altruistically? Are you really acting to protect and defend others, or do you take down the jerk because man it feels good to take down the jerk? Again, one of those is bad, and one is good.
3. But it's not my fault. Okay. So some other fellow dropped the ball and things have splashed onto you. How do you serve your neighbor? I mean, let's consider - what sin had Christ committed that got Him reviled and crucified? Oh, yeah, it was some other fellow's -- namely mine. Again, we are called to love our neighbor, even when they cause us undo hardship.
So fine, fine, fine - what then are we supposed to do?
A - Confess - Often the simple fact is that you did drop the ball. Confess. Own up to it. Self-justification's mortal enemy is confession, is the finding of the flaw in what you have done... even if they see a log when it's probably only a speck.
B - Concede - Let the other guy win. Concede the point about you being a _____________, for the sake of something more important, like your neighbor. Often attacks are... spurious. Often attacks are designed to deflect the conversation from where it is going (and should be going) onto something else. Concede the attack, and get back on topic.
C - Cover - Cover your neighbor's flaws - don't reveal them. If you are getting blamed for what someone else has done - protect their reputation. Then, patiently instruct and guide them (and you'll have the moral authority to do so) so that they can grow. The care and compassion that no one but the two of you ever need know.
This is not easy. Our sinful flesh hates this. Why? Because we don't always come out smelling like roses -- we would much rather prove to everyone that what we did is right and good and above reproach (of course, if you have to *prove* that you are above reproach, you by definition are not above it because you have in fact already been reproved... but that's neither here nor there).
I'm sure, if someone was so inclined, they could easily point out, "You hypocrite - you write this, but I've seen the comments you've written - you are a self-justifying ________ jerky poopy-faced bad theologian (or the epithet of their choice).
Yep. I'm sure it wouldn't take me long to go through the comment I have written to find things that don't hold up to this standard. Or even posts. I never said the above was easy or that I had obtained it -- but this is the goal. Everything should serve the neighbor, should defend the neighbor.
Defend the neighbor - protect them. Yourself, don't worry about that so much. You aren't your own protector -- A Mighty Fortress is your God -- let Him defend you. And He will - maybe not as quickly as you would want. But our God works through means - when needed, He will raise up one to defend you -- He already has sent His Son to defend and rescue you for all eternity. Bear Christ in mind, pray for endurance, and show forth love.
1 - I'm just explaining my actions. Why? Why do you need to explain your actions? To justify yourself? To protect your reputation? To prove that you are actually right and the other guy wrong? Why is that a priority... or to put it this way... are you with your words serving yourself or are you serving your neighbor? The later is good, the former is... bad.
2. The other guy is a jerk. Well, that's nice. And yes, sometimes for the good of your neighbors it is good to put a bully down. But here's the thing -- if they are hammering you... are you really acting altruistically? Are you really acting to protect and defend others, or do you take down the jerk because man it feels good to take down the jerk? Again, one of those is bad, and one is good.
3. But it's not my fault. Okay. So some other fellow dropped the ball and things have splashed onto you. How do you serve your neighbor? I mean, let's consider - what sin had Christ committed that got Him reviled and crucified? Oh, yeah, it was some other fellow's -- namely mine. Again, we are called to love our neighbor, even when they cause us undo hardship.
So fine, fine, fine - what then are we supposed to do?
A - Confess - Often the simple fact is that you did drop the ball. Confess. Own up to it. Self-justification's mortal enemy is confession, is the finding of the flaw in what you have done... even if they see a log when it's probably only a speck.
B - Concede - Let the other guy win. Concede the point about you being a _____________, for the sake of something more important, like your neighbor. Often attacks are... spurious. Often attacks are designed to deflect the conversation from where it is going (and should be going) onto something else. Concede the attack, and get back on topic.
C - Cover - Cover your neighbor's flaws - don't reveal them. If you are getting blamed for what someone else has done - protect their reputation. Then, patiently instruct and guide them (and you'll have the moral authority to do so) so that they can grow. The care and compassion that no one but the two of you ever need know.
This is not easy. Our sinful flesh hates this. Why? Because we don't always come out smelling like roses -- we would much rather prove to everyone that what we did is right and good and above reproach (of course, if you have to *prove* that you are above reproach, you by definition are not above it because you have in fact already been reproved... but that's neither here nor there).
I'm sure, if someone was so inclined, they could easily point out, "You hypocrite - you write this, but I've seen the comments you've written - you are a self-justifying ________ jerky poopy-faced bad theologian (or the epithet of their choice).
Yep. I'm sure it wouldn't take me long to go through the comment I have written to find things that don't hold up to this standard. Or even posts. I never said the above was easy or that I had obtained it -- but this is the goal. Everything should serve the neighbor, should defend the neighbor.
Defend the neighbor - protect them. Yourself, don't worry about that so much. You aren't your own protector -- A Mighty Fortress is your God -- let Him defend you. And He will - maybe not as quickly as you would want. But our God works through means - when needed, He will raise up one to defend you -- He already has sent His Son to defend and rescue you for all eternity. Bear Christ in mind, pray for endurance, and show forth love.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Advent Midweek 1
Advent
Midweek 1 – Genesis 3 and Ephesians 2
In the
Name of Christ Jesus, our Advent King +
This year, for our Advent Theme, we will have the topic of Rediscovering Christmas – of taking time out of all the busy-ness of this time of year and focusing on again what actually happens at Christmastime, what really is going on. We will pause and look at the Word of God, and we will rediscover what Gifts actually are, what a Birth actually is, what Feasting actually is. And so tonight, without further ado, let us ponder the idea of gifts.
This year, for our Advent Theme, we will have the topic of Rediscovering Christmas – of taking time out of all the busy-ness of this time of year and focusing on again what actually happens at Christmastime, what really is going on. We will pause and look at the Word of God, and we will rediscover what Gifts actually are, what a Birth actually is, what Feasting actually is. And so tonight, without further ado, let us ponder the idea of gifts.
We all know that Christmas is a
season, a time for gifts. It had better
be – and you had better be shopping for gifts because the economy hinges upon
shoppers flooding the stores and malls and buying and buying – that’s what we
are told. We should all know about gifts
– indeed, how many of our fun Christmas Carols talk about Santa and the gifts
under the tree. But this – this isn’t
really talking about gifts. The hurried
rush of shopping – that’s not about gifts.
The advertisements – no, that’s not about giving gifts… that’s about
selling. And even Santa – You better
watch out, you better be nice, you better be good and I’m telling you why… he
knows when you’ve been sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve
been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake! No, that’s not about gift. That’s about bribing little kids to be quiet using
a reward that you wrap up. If you have
to watch out and behave – it’s not a gift, it’s not something freely
given. It’s something earned. We have forgotten what gifts actually
are. Instead we focus on buying and
selling in Walmart, the Mall, and our other new places of worship – we bribe
and tug and admonish good behavior – we turn gifts into carrots on a stick
leading the horse where we want them to go.
We have forgotten what gifts actually are.
This is the way it has been since the
Fall. Consider our Old Testament reading
tonight. There were Adam and Eve – and
they had received nothing but gifts. The
Garden. Their lives. Each other –
created specifically for the other, to be together. Nothing but gift, nothing but the goodness of
God being showered upon them without reservation. But along comes the Serpent, and what does he
say? Eat of the tree, because then you will
be like God. You won’t be the mere
receiver of gifts, you won’t just be the creature who receives nothing but
goodness from God. You can be in charge. You see, when it boiled down to it – the fall
is this. Adam and Eve decided they
didn’t want God’s gifts anymore. They
didn’t just want to receive, to get gifts.
They didn’t want things to be simply about God’s goodness – rather, they
wanted things to revolve around them.
And so they ate the fruit, and they fell.
It’s the same thing we see today,
especially during the holidays. Make
sure you buy the right gift – the gift that they will love and be thankful
for! That’s not giving a gift – that’s
trying to make someone think well of you, that’s twisted and torn and fallen. Hold the gift over people’s heads – make them
do what you want them to do, or threaten to take the gift away. That’s not giving a gift – that’s a twisted,
fallen idea of what it is to be “like God” – that’s ego and wanting to be in
control. So much of what we see going on
in the holidays isn’t about gift, isn’t about freely caring for the other
person, but it’s about focusing on our wants, focusing on what people think of
us – it’s selfishness.
Now, compare what God does. Immediately after the fall, when Adam and Eve
have been bad little children, what does God do? He gives them a gift – even as they have
ruined creation, even as He has to break the news to them that they have ruined
the garden and given themselves over to Satan and death – He gives them a
gift. “I will put enmity between you and
the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your
head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Even as Adam and Eve have messed
up the world – I will send you Christ Jesus, and He will give you life. Not because you’ve been good – no, you’ve
been bad. Not because you are oh so
thankful and gracious. Not because I
demand praise. No – God sends Christ
because He is the One who gives gifts and gives them freely, and if you mess up
His gift, He’s going to fix things and give them back to you. Creation is messed up Adam – behold, I will
make you new heavens and a new earth.
You are consigned to death, Adam?
Then I will send Christ Jesus, and He will suffer and die and rise, so
that you have life again.
This is the beauty of our Epistle lesson. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Our God knows what a gift is. It doesn’t rely upon you or your strength. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been naughty or nice – because the simple fact is all of us in this room have been worse than naughty – we’ve been dead in our trespasses. But in the face of this, God makes you alive in Christ – and why? So He can keep on giving you gifts freely, gifts that rest simply on who He is, not upon you. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” You are given the gift of salvation – and it is free and from God and not dependent upon you. God isn’t going to take it back. You are given life in Christ – not because of your works, there is nothing for you to boast about, nothing where you can say you’ve been such a good little boy. No, because Christ is good, you have life and salvation. Even indeed your life – it’s nothing but a gift from God. Even your good works – these are a gift from God, designed from all eternity for you. Your place in life, your service, the fact that you are a husband or wife, son or daughter, father or mother, friend, neighbor, one who serves others -- all gift, all given to you by God because God is the One who gives gifts, even before we ask, indeed, who planned for your gifts even before you existed.
Dear friends in Christ – we have a
strange view of gifts in this day and age – we so often add a little selfish,
moralistic twinge to our gifts, to where the gifts are about us, or the gifts
are sticks we use to manipulate people.
But that is not how God gives gifts.
When God gives a gift, He gives it freely. He gives it unconditionally. And even when you fall, when you fail, when
you mess things up – He gives His gifts again – He forgives, He restores. Because our God gives gifts, and He will have
you see and know His gifts – all of them, life, salvation, communion with Him,
for all eternity – and not even Satan and His lies and death will stop God from
being the gift giver He wishes to be. He
sends His Son, and through Him we all are blessed, we all receive such glorious
gifts that we will have eternity to enjoy.
Thanks be to Christ Jesus, our Advent King +
Keeping the Lid Capped on Sin?
Here is something to ponder. When you make a plan, when you come up with a scheme to "fix" things, are you trying to prevent sin or are you trying to lessen its impact. The first is folly, the second is love.
I will often read various plans and dreams, the solutions given on how to fix things -- families, the country, churches, the synod -- and so many of them seem to be focused on cutting off sin, trying to make the rules set up in such a way where sin can't happen. It's like trying to keep the lid capped on sin -- if only we put pressure on the lid this way, sin won't pop out! If only we have the right law, things will never blow up and out of whack.
That's a false dream. When you make a plan you must remember this - in a sinful world things will always mess up. Sin will always happen. No plan can plan away sin.
Therefore, when you plan, don't plan to try to prevent or hinder sin completely -- make your plans so that the ripple effect, the explosions that will surely come are quickly contained, so that they do less damage.
What does that mean? Well, consider the plan you make - is it for how to make things work right, or is it for how to make things easy to clean up? Is it designed to turn a messed up world into someplace that isn't messed up, or is it designed to fix and care for things once they get messed up as they surely will?
Are they focused on forcing folks to play and act nice -- or are they focused on absolution and restoration?
You can't keep the lid capped on sin - if that is your plan, well, it's going to blow up in your face.
I will often read various plans and dreams, the solutions given on how to fix things -- families, the country, churches, the synod -- and so many of them seem to be focused on cutting off sin, trying to make the rules set up in such a way where sin can't happen. It's like trying to keep the lid capped on sin -- if only we put pressure on the lid this way, sin won't pop out! If only we have the right law, things will never blow up and out of whack.
That's a false dream. When you make a plan you must remember this - in a sinful world things will always mess up. Sin will always happen. No plan can plan away sin.
Therefore, when you plan, don't plan to try to prevent or hinder sin completely -- make your plans so that the ripple effect, the explosions that will surely come are quickly contained, so that they do less damage.
What does that mean? Well, consider the plan you make - is it for how to make things work right, or is it for how to make things easy to clean up? Is it designed to turn a messed up world into someplace that isn't messed up, or is it designed to fix and care for things once they get messed up as they surely will?
Are they focused on forcing folks to play and act nice -- or are they focused on absolution and restoration?
You can't keep the lid capped on sin - if that is your plan, well, it's going to blow up in your face.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
What does it mean to be "Open"
My dad has a standard phrase whenever someone asks him if he is looking for a call. He will say, "I am always open to considering a call."
He says this even if he is not seeking one. He says this if asked, even if he doesn't want one and is telling folks not to circulate his name. Why? Because the call is divine - it must always be considered when given.
I have been told that if a person uses contraception, by definition that they are "not open" to having children -- and that has never rung true to me. And I think in many ways it comes out of my dad's way of speaking.
Openness has nothing to do with your plans. It has nothing to do with what you are seeking, whether or want something or don't want something. Openness has to do with reacting when something happens, regardless of your plans or your influence.
And I think this applies to all sorts of things. Calls, children - opportunities. Whatever. In our lives we don't put the thrust and importance on our plans -- as though everything hinges on what we want or don't want. Consider James 4:13-15: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
The fact is, we don't know what tomorrow brings. We make our plans, we strive after the shape and flavor of blessings that we think we would like... but then we receive what the Lord gives, we consider the things He sets before us.
Because what defines reality isn't my desire -- it is what God gives. And God often gives things that we do not plan, want, or desire -- and that is fine. Our lives, our own senses of righteousness are not defined by somehow divining what blessings God is going to send us and wanting those and only those ahead of time. Wherever we live, we live where the Lord wills.
He says this even if he is not seeking one. He says this if asked, even if he doesn't want one and is telling folks not to circulate his name. Why? Because the call is divine - it must always be considered when given.
I have been told that if a person uses contraception, by definition that they are "not open" to having children -- and that has never rung true to me. And I think in many ways it comes out of my dad's way of speaking.
Openness has nothing to do with your plans. It has nothing to do with what you are seeking, whether or want something or don't want something. Openness has to do with reacting when something happens, regardless of your plans or your influence.
And I think this applies to all sorts of things. Calls, children - opportunities. Whatever. In our lives we don't put the thrust and importance on our plans -- as though everything hinges on what we want or don't want. Consider James 4:13-15: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
The fact is, we don't know what tomorrow brings. We make our plans, we strive after the shape and flavor of blessings that we think we would like... but then we receive what the Lord gives, we consider the things He sets before us.
Because what defines reality isn't my desire -- it is what God gives. And God often gives things that we do not plan, want, or desire -- and that is fine. Our lives, our own senses of righteousness are not defined by somehow divining what blessings God is going to send us and wanting those and only those ahead of time. Wherever we live, we live where the Lord wills.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Advent 1 Sermon
On Matthew 21L1-9
The thing is – this is all completely backwards. Hear the Word of the Lord. “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” Yes, oh daughter of Zion, you children of the house of the Lord, your King is coming to you. Do you note how this language isn't about your choice, your wants? It is not “Come oh shoppers, spend your spiritual money at Jesus' discount salvation shack” - no, you are the daughter of Zion – you are a child. Not in control. And it is no peddler of goods who is coming, no merchant. No. Your King is coming. There's a word to rile Americans – we as Americans tend not to like having kings – we took up arms and rebelled against our last one. When it comes to our leaders, we'd still much rather take a vote, thank you very much. Even as we Americans cherish our choice, our vote, even as we have TV shows that encourage us to vote for our idol, call in for our favorite contestant while the commercials call for us to chose brand X instead of brand Y – over and against all of that, we hear these words today. Behold your King is coming. It's not a question of what sort of Jesus you want – the question we should be asking is what sort of Jesus, what sort of King is it that is coming to us?
“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” ” Our King is one who is in charge and knows what He is doing. Oh, that's something that could rile us as Americans, isn't it? Look at what Jesus does here – just sends people off to do errands. Just run into town and go bring some animals to Me. Oh, that sort of thing was one of the reasons we rebelled back in the Revolution – it's why we have it in our Constitution that troops cannot be forcefully quartered in our homes – that's the 3rd Amendment. But Jesus speaks, and He speaks with authority. Go and get the animals, and if anyone asks why, give them My Name. Use My authority, and get what is needed. We have a King is who coming, a King who has authority.
And what is the purpose of this authority? Why does Jesus wield it? To His own fame, to His own credit – to fulfill His own wants and desires? That's what we think of when we think of power and authority – the ability to satisfy our wants, to buy what we want to buy, to do what we want to do and no one can say otherwise. Nope. That's not why Jesus has authority, that's not what He uses it for. Listen to how St. Matthew explains what is happening: “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet.” It didn't take place because Jesus wanted a donkey. It didn't take place because of a whim. It wasn't a random, capricious act. No, it was done to fulfill prophecy. It was done so that the people then, so that we today might know who Christ Jesus is. God had sent His people the prophets so that they would know, that they would know, would recognize the Messiah when He came. This King who is coming is not some arrogant jerk who just does what He wants to do – He isn't some brash and bold dictator satisfying His every whim at our expense. No, He is a good and gracious King who uses His authority to serve us, to serve us with what we need, even if it isn't what we would want.
For that is what our King is. Our King, Christ Jesus, does not come to conquer and hammer us into submission. He doesn’t come trying to meet our expectations that we might set today; He doesn’t try to butter us up. No, He comes humbly, He comes humbly to win us salvation. He's not going to be killing anyone when He gets to Jerusalem; He's not going to be slaying anyone. Instead, He Himself will be put to death, He Himself will suffer and die, all so that salvation may come to us. He comes on a beast of burden because He comes to bear the burden of the sins of the world. Our King comes with all authority on heaven and earth – and He takes it up in perfect and wondrous humility so that He can come and give you not the things your sinful flesh craves, but so that He can forgive you your sins because of His death, so that He can raise you to new life because of His resurrection. He has come to be your head, to make you part of His own body, to give you His own life so that you have life abundantly.
Jesus still works in the same way today. Say to the daughter of Zion, see your King is coming to you today, humble. What happened (is happening) today at Zion? Ciara is baptized. Christ Jesus the King comes as He always does – He comes and by water and the Word He declared Ciara to be His own daughter, to be a daughter of Zion. And He comes to her humbly, comes not in expensive, lavish goods, He comes not demanding some difficult set up or requirements – no, see your King comes to you humbly and simply in water and the Word. No, there will be nothing to keep Jesus from coming to His child – water and the Word, and now there is a forgiven child, a new creation, one given life everlasting and all the benefits of Jesus' own death and resurrection. And why? Because Christ Jesus our King has authority – all authority in heaven on earth has been given to Him – make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. That's what Jesus uses His authority for – to bring people salvation, to seek and save the lost, to suffer the little children to come to Him – to give His blessings of life and salvation to ever more and more people, even before they could think to ask, even before they could think to choose Him, even before they could listen too all the ads telling them what they should want. Because that is who Jesus is – He is your King, Your King who will come to you, not because of what you want or what you desire – but because He is your King who loves you, and will stop at nothing to win you salvation. Or do you not realize that this is what Advent is about. Behold, your King is coming – and how did He first come? Christ Jesus, the Word by Whom all things were made comes down from heaven – as a Child. Weak. Helpless. His power cast aside so as to save the powerless. The King always takes up humility – His birth, His entry into Jerusalem, His death – and all for your salvation. This is the God, this is the King who has chosen you, called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who has made you His child in the waters of Holy Baptism. This is what He has taught you to pray for when you pray both “Thy Kingdom Come” as well as “Thy Will Be Done” - that we would learn ever more to trust not our wants and desires but His good and gracious will, that we would see His authority have full reign in our lives.
Behold, daughter of Zion, your King is coming. That is what we see and learn this Advent season again. Remembering how Christ came, we remember how He Himself has come to us through His Word, through His gift of Baptism. We rejoice and give thanks in that He comes to us today for forgiveness in His Word, in, with, and under Bread and Wine. And we also remember and pray that He would quickly come again, that He would show Himself to be our true and eternal King who will give us for all eternity that which we truly need – the resurrection of our bodies and the life everlasting with Him. This may not be the sort of God or Spirituality that our sinful flesh wants – but Christ Jesus has drowned and put to death your sinful flesh and has given you forgiveness and life now, and indeed, even for all eternity. Thanks be to God that our King is humble and loves us so. In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Advent King +
In the Name of Christ Jesus,
our Advent King +
So, what kind of Jesus do you want? That seems to be the question that most Churches ask of people today – what kind of Jesus do you want? I was in Tulsa earlier this week, and there were two kinds of billboards that I saw most frequently – there were ads for great shopping sales for Christmas, and then there were ads for Churches. What sort of holiday sales are you looking for; what sort of Jesus do you want? Come to Best Buy, this cheap laptop is for everyone – come to Church X, our Jesus is a Healing Jesus. The classy, elegant gifts are at Woodland Hills – come to Church Y, our Jesus will see that you are so blessed you can afford to wear classy, elegant clothes. That seems to be the approach that infests American Christianity – to treat the Church like you would a store selling Jesus, trying to find a niche market to draw in consumers, to draw in church goers. And thus, so often we end up focusing upon ourselves, our own wants and desires, our own felt needs – what sort of Jesus do you want?
So, what kind of Jesus do you want? That seems to be the question that most Churches ask of people today – what kind of Jesus do you want? I was in Tulsa earlier this week, and there were two kinds of billboards that I saw most frequently – there were ads for great shopping sales for Christmas, and then there were ads for Churches. What sort of holiday sales are you looking for; what sort of Jesus do you want? Come to Best Buy, this cheap laptop is for everyone – come to Church X, our Jesus is a Healing Jesus. The classy, elegant gifts are at Woodland Hills – come to Church Y, our Jesus will see that you are so blessed you can afford to wear classy, elegant clothes. That seems to be the approach that infests American Christianity – to treat the Church like you would a store selling Jesus, trying to find a niche market to draw in consumers, to draw in church goers. And thus, so often we end up focusing upon ourselves, our own wants and desires, our own felt needs – what sort of Jesus do you want?
The thing is – this is all completely backwards. Hear the Word of the Lord. “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” Yes, oh daughter of Zion, you children of the house of the Lord, your King is coming to you. Do you note how this language isn't about your choice, your wants? It is not “Come oh shoppers, spend your spiritual money at Jesus' discount salvation shack” - no, you are the daughter of Zion – you are a child. Not in control. And it is no peddler of goods who is coming, no merchant. No. Your King is coming. There's a word to rile Americans – we as Americans tend not to like having kings – we took up arms and rebelled against our last one. When it comes to our leaders, we'd still much rather take a vote, thank you very much. Even as we Americans cherish our choice, our vote, even as we have TV shows that encourage us to vote for our idol, call in for our favorite contestant while the commercials call for us to chose brand X instead of brand Y – over and against all of that, we hear these words today. Behold your King is coming. It's not a question of what sort of Jesus you want – the question we should be asking is what sort of Jesus, what sort of King is it that is coming to us?
“Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” ” Our King is one who is in charge and knows what He is doing. Oh, that's something that could rile us as Americans, isn't it? Look at what Jesus does here – just sends people off to do errands. Just run into town and go bring some animals to Me. Oh, that sort of thing was one of the reasons we rebelled back in the Revolution – it's why we have it in our Constitution that troops cannot be forcefully quartered in our homes – that's the 3rd Amendment. But Jesus speaks, and He speaks with authority. Go and get the animals, and if anyone asks why, give them My Name. Use My authority, and get what is needed. We have a King is who coming, a King who has authority.
And what is the purpose of this authority? Why does Jesus wield it? To His own fame, to His own credit – to fulfill His own wants and desires? That's what we think of when we think of power and authority – the ability to satisfy our wants, to buy what we want to buy, to do what we want to do and no one can say otherwise. Nope. That's not why Jesus has authority, that's not what He uses it for. Listen to how St. Matthew explains what is happening: “This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet.” It didn't take place because Jesus wanted a donkey. It didn't take place because of a whim. It wasn't a random, capricious act. No, it was done to fulfill prophecy. It was done so that the people then, so that we today might know who Christ Jesus is. God had sent His people the prophets so that they would know, that they would know, would recognize the Messiah when He came. This King who is coming is not some arrogant jerk who just does what He wants to do – He isn't some brash and bold dictator satisfying His every whim at our expense. No, He is a good and gracious King who uses His authority to serve us, to serve us with what we need, even if it isn't what we would want.
What
do I mean by that? Hear what the prophet said again. “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a
colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” Christ comes to fulfill
prophecy. Christ comes to be the King, to take up the throne of
David. When Solomon entered Jerusalem,
he entered on a Donkey – this is proclaiming that Jesus is indeed the King, is
indeed the Son of David. But what sort of King is He going to be?
Is He going to be the sort of king we want? What characteristic will sum
up this King? Is it boldness, or brashness, or self-aggrandizing
arrogance? Nope, it is humility. Consider this. The hopes in
Christ's day were that a fierce, warrior leader would arise and drive out the
Romans, a mighty man of Valor who would win Israel her freedom -- like
one of the Judges of old. Not even like Gideon (he wasn't brash enough) –
maybe someone like Samson, all big and buff. Someone who would come
riding into town on a big white horse, someone who would be leading armies
behind him. And yet – there's Jesus. On a... donkey. Now, I
don't know how many of you have ever studied ancient warfare – but have you
ever heard of a warrior riding... a donkey? Even the Polish cavalry rode
horses, not donkeys. Donkeys might work for a supply train – the cook
could come leading a donkey – but no glorious warrior would be caught dead on a
Donkey, because if said glorious leader was caught on a donkey, he would be
killed dead by the enemy very quickly. No, Jesus, while being obvious
about who He is, remains humble. There He is, Christ Jesus, God of power
and mighty, He who is in charge of the heavenly host, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God
of Sabbaoth – legions of angels at His disposal – and there He is. Riding
a donkey. Coming as not a great and victorious champion, but a humble and
lowly servant.
For that is what our King is. Our King, Christ Jesus, does not come to conquer and hammer us into submission. He doesn’t come trying to meet our expectations that we might set today; He doesn’t try to butter us up. No, He comes humbly, He comes humbly to win us salvation. He's not going to be killing anyone when He gets to Jerusalem; He's not going to be slaying anyone. Instead, He Himself will be put to death, He Himself will suffer and die, all so that salvation may come to us. He comes on a beast of burden because He comes to bear the burden of the sins of the world. Our King comes with all authority on heaven and earth – and He takes it up in perfect and wondrous humility so that He can come and give you not the things your sinful flesh craves, but so that He can forgive you your sins because of His death, so that He can raise you to new life because of His resurrection. He has come to be your head, to make you part of His own body, to give you His own life so that you have life abundantly.
Jesus still works in the same way today. Say to the daughter of Zion, see your King is coming to you today, humble. What happened (is happening) today at Zion? Ciara is baptized. Christ Jesus the King comes as He always does – He comes and by water and the Word He declared Ciara to be His own daughter, to be a daughter of Zion. And He comes to her humbly, comes not in expensive, lavish goods, He comes not demanding some difficult set up or requirements – no, see your King comes to you humbly and simply in water and the Word. No, there will be nothing to keep Jesus from coming to His child – water and the Word, and now there is a forgiven child, a new creation, one given life everlasting and all the benefits of Jesus' own death and resurrection. And why? Because Christ Jesus our King has authority – all authority in heaven on earth has been given to Him – make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. That's what Jesus uses His authority for – to bring people salvation, to seek and save the lost, to suffer the little children to come to Him – to give His blessings of life and salvation to ever more and more people, even before they could think to ask, even before they could think to choose Him, even before they could listen too all the ads telling them what they should want. Because that is who Jesus is – He is your King, Your King who will come to you, not because of what you want or what you desire – but because He is your King who loves you, and will stop at nothing to win you salvation. Or do you not realize that this is what Advent is about. Behold, your King is coming – and how did He first come? Christ Jesus, the Word by Whom all things were made comes down from heaven – as a Child. Weak. Helpless. His power cast aside so as to save the powerless. The King always takes up humility – His birth, His entry into Jerusalem, His death – and all for your salvation. This is the God, this is the King who has chosen you, called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, who has made you His child in the waters of Holy Baptism. This is what He has taught you to pray for when you pray both “Thy Kingdom Come” as well as “Thy Will Be Done” - that we would learn ever more to trust not our wants and desires but His good and gracious will, that we would see His authority have full reign in our lives.
Behold, daughter of Zion, your King is coming. That is what we see and learn this Advent season again. Remembering how Christ came, we remember how He Himself has come to us through His Word, through His gift of Baptism. We rejoice and give thanks in that He comes to us today for forgiveness in His Word, in, with, and under Bread and Wine. And we also remember and pray that He would quickly come again, that He would show Himself to be our true and eternal King who will give us for all eternity that which we truly need – the resurrection of our bodies and the life everlasting with Him. This may not be the sort of God or Spirituality that our sinful flesh wants – but Christ Jesus has drowned and put to death your sinful flesh and has given you forgiveness and life now, and indeed, even for all eternity. Thanks be to God that our King is humble and loves us so. In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Advent King +
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