Today we celebrate All Saints Day. Most typically I am up here telling you about how your salvation comes into being. But today I get to answer the questions, “So I have been baptized and claimed by Christ and as a result I am one of the saints, now what?” What does the life of a saint look like in today’s world?
But before I answer those questions I need to tell you a story. I have been told by some in the congregation that the experiences that I share with you about the homeless men that helped shape me as a pastor are not relevant to this community however I am going to tell you one today because I think that you will find relevance in it.
My friend Steve was in his fifties when I had first met him. He was a resident at the Bethel Rescue Mission in Des Moines and worked there in exchange for his rent. Steve had tried several times to stop drinking. When I had first met him he was one year sober and was well on his way to turning his life around. He knew the rules at the shelter better than anyone and he actually trained me on how to work the desk which involved filling out reports, enforcing security issues, allowing people access to the building, and even deciding who would not be able to stay that night as a result of a disciplinary action.
Steve fell a month later and returned to drinking and camping along the river. Sometimes we can only ignore our pain for so long by immersing ourselves in our work. He was burned out from working 12 hour days. It seems that he had replaced working with drinking and as long as he stayed locked in the shelter he would not go out and drink. You see unless we invite Christ into and help us to deal with our past hurts and traumas we will never be free from them. The devil knows exactly where your pain buttons are and how to push them. He is a ruthless coward who doesn’t fight fair.
About 6 months later my friend Albert came to the mission and told me we had to do something about Steve. Albert is a hopeless alcoholic in his fifties on the streets of downtown Des Moines. The victim of sexual abuse and mental illness my hope for Albert’s recovery is fading. However I talk to him each week and even took him to dinner a couple of weeks ago; much to the dismay of the restaurant employees. Albert is the perfect example of saint and sinner. He knows Jesus is his savior, in his own diminished capacity, and spend his life caring for homeless people in Des Moines. If only he would use his skills to care for his own needs. But Albert understands that he is a sinner and God loves him regardless. Albert is a saint, he understands the concept of loving and caring for his neighbor more than anyone I have seen. Once he asked me why I looked so stressed and I told him that money was so tight I didn’t know how I was going to buy the baby milk. He took me to a dumpster in an alley where he was living am took out $20 form his hiding place and gave it to me. It was all the money he had. He loves Joey, Ally and Gabby and had met them several times and couldn’t stand the thought of having the money to get Gabby her milk. Let say it again, “HE WAS LIVING BEHIND A DUMPSTER WHICH HE ATE OUT OF BUT GAVE ME ALL OF HIS MONEY BECAUSE HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT MY KIDS.” Albert loves his neighbor, Albert loves my family.
Albert told me that Steve as in a camp and his feet were rotting and he could not walk out to get to the hospital. So I went with him to the camp and called an ambulance helping them carry Steve 300 yards over sand weeds and gravel to the ambulance. After he was treated at the hospital we took him back to the shelter to recover.
This time I thought Steve had the booze licked. He started to talk to me about his childhood and how he had abandoned his son because he didn’t want to do to the son what had been done to him. His heart was pure and beautiful. We prayed and prayed and asked Jesus to come into his past and heal it. Eventually we contacted his son in Ohio and attempted to start a dialogue with him. He was reluctant at first but eventually invited Steve to come out and stay with them for Thanksgiving to meet his 2 year old granddaughter for the first time.
I had lost touch with Steve as I moved to St. Paul to go to seminary. I had heard from Albert that he was back in Des Moines and not doing well. I made a mental note that I would look in on him at his camp one Friday as I was going through Des Moines. Time got away from me and I never made it to see him. Steve was found dead in a weekly rent sleazy hotel in Des Moines last Thursday morning. Steve knew the Lord and professed Jesus as His Savior but he dealt with chronic depression. He had gone to Broad Lawns Hospital in Des Moines to be treated for his depression and as usual they prescribed him lithium and kicked him out. When they found Steve he was black from the waist up which means he had a stroke and had broken every blood vessel in his upper body. He must have overdosed on lithium and alcohol. Why did my friend have to die alone? What must those final hours of his life been like? Staying a in a sleazy hotel room alone unable to call for help listening to his breath get shallower and shallower until it was no more. My heart is broken for Steve and I know that this is most likely how Albert’s story will end as well.
In today’s gospel reading Jesus tells us how we are to live as his called and claimed saints. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” The Kingdom of Heaven is not for the super spiritual that boast about and find fulfillment in their good works and try to set themselves above everyone else as special. NO! It’s for people like Albert and Steve who know that they are broken and know that they only hope they have is in the mercy of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” My heart is broken and I cannot tell you how much I blame myself for not being there for Steve. My rational mind knows that there is no way that I could have known that this would be the night or that this was where I was needed however my irrational feelings are tearing me apart. All I can do in my time of complete and utter turmoil thinking that I failed and lost one which God had called me to serve is to cling with all my effort to the promise that God is merciful and has ended the pain that Steve was in both emotionally and physically. I trust and cling to the promise that Jesus Christ is Holding Steve in His loving embrace was we speak.
“Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” The meek “πραΰς,a \{prah-ooce'}” in Greek meaning: 1) mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. Those who are daily afflicted with the pains and traumas of the past that destroy any hope of a happy future; and know that their righteous and hope for peace and serenity comes not from anything in this world but form the hope in the one who has taken all of their pain and died with it destroying all of the punishment for due to them because of their wretched existence. Faith in JESUS CHRIST!
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied.” Those who know that they do not belong to this world and daily are reminded by the devil, society, and their own sinful desires that are broken, unwanted, and unacceptable. Those who for once in their lives hunger and thirst to be acceptable to someone anyone! JESUS PROMISES HERE THAT THEIR HUNGER AND THIRST WILL BE SATISFIED!
“Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” Jesus promises us that if we show mercy we will receive mercy. Mercy means: “The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected.” If someone angers you and you feel the need to strike out against them in a violent way but rather show mercy and forgive them then your Lord will show you mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Blessed are the “kath-ar-os” in Greek. “Katharos” means: 1) clean, pure 1a) physically 1a1) purified by fire 1a2) in a similitude, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit 1b) in a levitical sense 1b1) clean, the use of which is not forbidden, imparts no uncleanness 1c) ethically 1c1) free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt 1c2) free from every admixture of what is false, sincere genuine 1c3) blameless, innocent 1c4) unstained with the guilt of anything. Who here claims to be katharos? The book of Romans chapter 3 tells us that not one is found pure. However this is the state that the Lord God sees you in on account of the work of Jesus Christ. You may not be pure but Jesus has made you pure in the sight of God because he gave to you His purity by the shedding of His blood.
“Blessed are the peace makers for they shall be called sons of God.” Be the peaceful presence to your neighbors. Like Albert when you find someone afflicted, either physically or mentally, bring them peace by helping them or getting the help they need.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Dallas Willard, a professor of religion and philosophy at USC, wrote a book entitled, “The Divine Conspiracy.” In it he says that the divine conspiracy is the promise that since you have been made righteous through your faith in Jesus Christ all of you worldly troubles are over. Quite the contrary Willard says, now that you are counted righteous all the powers of Hell are coming after you. Jesus promises here that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are persecuted because they belong to him.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” How many times are you called hypocrites or are your actions described as unloving because you profess Jesus Christ as your Savior; or because you hold fast to any type of Christian moral principle?
So in answer to the questions now that I am saved so what and what does a saintly life look like in this world? Today Jesus tells us recognize that we are poor in spirit, to look to Christ in our mourning for comfort, we should approach all situations with meekness, we are to hunger and thirst for righteousness, show mercy, be pure in heart, be peace makers, and rejoice when we are persecute on account of Christ.
But what does that have to do with Steve and Albert? Everything! Because all of these characteristics we are to have and do for one purpose, for the sake of our neighbor. These things matter to your neighbor! Confirmands this is our small catechism. Memorizing the content of this book may not seem worth wile or even entertaining. But the day you sit at the death bed of someone and have these words memorized and can recite tot them the promises of Christ bringing them comfort and peace before death; that is the day when your neighbor doesn’t have to die alone in a sleazy hotel room with no preacher to deliver Christ’s promises. These WORDS MATTER, THEY BRING COMFORT AND PEACE NIT TO MENTION ETERNAL SALVATION. THESE ARE NOT JUST WORDS ON A PAGE THEY ARE THEY POWER OF GOD, HIS COMMANDS HIS PROMISES. AND TELLING THEM TO YOURSELF AND DOING THE GOOD WORKS IN THIS BOOK MAY NOT AMOUNT TO A HILL OF BEANS TO YOU BUT THEY MEAN EVERYTHING TO YOUR NEIGHBOR. Especially in their time of suffering. YOUR ARE ALL PRIESTS, JESUS HAS GIVEN TO YOU THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHENEVER YOU ENCOUNTE ONE WHO ASKS, CONFESSES, ORSHOWS THE LEAST BIT OF INTEREST IN JESUS CHIRST YOU TAKE OUT YOUR KEYS AND LOOSE THEM OF THEIR SIN. YOU PROCLIM TO THEM THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ON ACCOUNT OF CHIRST. So they do not have to die alone or suffer another minute without being reminded of Jesus Christ and His promise. This is what you are to do as a saint claimed by Jesus from Himself. You belong to Him and He has given you the authority to claim others for Him. Let us pray.
Lord Jesus we thank you that you have given us the keys to your Kingdom. Lord we ask that you give us the boldness and awareness to recognize when we are in the presence of one who is in need of your promise. Lord Jesus I commend to you the soul of my friend Steve. Have mercy on him and welcome Him into your eternal Kingdom. Lord I thank you for the lives of each and every baptized saint before me today. Continue Lord to use this congregation and Your Church to further Your Mission in Jefferson County. In the name of Jesus we pray.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Reformation Sunday
“You awake us to delight in your praise; for you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” The Confessions of St. Augustine.
Restless hearts that find peace in God, this is one of Augustine’s most famous quotes. Rest, peace; those are such nice words. Can you imagine an eternity of rest and peace? Right now I can’t even imagine 5 minutes of it let alone all of eternity.
But this is the promise that Jesus brings to us today in our gospel reading. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Abide, Jesus uses the Greek word “meinate” from the root word “meno.” Meno means: remain, dwell, continue, tarry, endure. The depth of the meaning of “meno” is to stay in one place for a extended period of time; to dwell, literally to live. If you live in my “logos,” the word. Do you remember how the Gospel of John starts out? In the beginning was the logos, the word, and the logos, was with God and the logos WAS GOD. Jesus is telling us that if we dwell in Him then we are His true disciples and therefore we will know the truth, the truth the Jesus is not only the word of God but He is God! This is THE TRUTH! Jesus says, and knowing this sets you free. Free from sin free to love the law and follow it.
This is the promise that we heard from Jeremiah in our Old Testament reading today, this is that very promise fulfilled, Jesus Christ the Savior, God Himself addressing us, as He does, with words. And not just words, not just hot air expelled for the sake of something to say. NO! Words from God do something. This proclamation from the very mouth of God Jesus Christ declares to you that if you live in His word you are His true disciples and you will know the truth and you are now free from your own efforts to live up to the law to justify yourself because there is a new way in which God is justifying you and that is through your faith in His only son Jesus Christ. Your faith in His word, not belief in your own efforts to behave yourself rather faith in the promise of eternal life and freedom proclaimed to you by God Himself.
Your heart no longer need be restless; it need no longer cling to whatever lover of God that comes along. You are free from idol worship; you are free from the search to find the truth. The truth is here and the truth is NOW! Jesus Christ is the truth He is God and He is standing right here with us today proclaiming to you through His called and your ordained preacher that you belong to Him!
You no longer have to look to Abraham and the covenant of the Old Testament to see what God expects of you, Jesus dies to end that old covenant and now there is a new one and that new covenant says there is no longer any law for you to live up to to be justified, or righteous before God. He has done it all, FOR YOU! IT IS FINISHED! IT IS DONE! SIN AND YOUR OLD FLESH ARE DEAD AND GONE FOREVER AND NOW YOU CAN SIMPLY REST YOUR RESTLESS HEART, MIND, AND CONSCIENCE IS THE PROMISE GIVEN TO YOU FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD HIMSELF!
“Truly, truly, I say to you everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever.” You have sinned and are a slave to sin. You cannot free yourself from the demands and the accusations of the law. You are in prison and it is a life sentence and the only way out is to receive a pardon from the governor. Your freedom comes not from your love of good nor your love of sinful things but through the proclamation from the one who has the authority to pardon you and set you free by simply speaking it into existence. The walls of you prison, death itself, can no longer hold you because they could not hold your Savior.
On this day we celebrate the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Here is what Luther was told by God Himself through His written word the Bible. Just in case you were wondering and were not for sure. JESUS CHRIST IS GOD! JESUS CHRIST DID EVERYTHING NECESSARY FRO YOU TO BE COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD! JESUS CHRIST ROSE BODILY FROM THE DEAD! THE DISCIPLES DID SEE HIM IN THE FLESH AFTER HIS BURRIL! THIS MOST CETAINLY IS TRUE! THE BIBLE IS JESUS CHRIST THE VERY WORD OF GOD AND YOU DO NTO INTERPRET IT IT INTERPRETS YOU. IT SAYS THAT ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR BAPTISM CHRIST CLAIMING YOU AS HIS OWN YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN! THIS IS TRUE, THIS IS REAL! THIS IS WHAT I WOULD SACIRFICE MY LIFE FOR , THIS VERY PROCLIMATION. I WOULD STAND BEFORE DEATH ITSELF AND SAY, “I AM SCARED THIS IS TRUE BUT I WILL NOT DENY MY SAVIOR! NEVER! DO TO ME AS YOU WILL! BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY TRUTH THAT I KNOW WITHOUT A DOBUBT. I AM NO DIFFERENT THEN THE DISCIPLES BEFORE ME! THEY KNEW IT JUST AS I KNOW IT AND THEY DECLARED IT TO ME AS I HAVE DECLARED IT TO YOU AND NOW YOU KNOW IT! AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!
Restless hearts that find peace in God, this is one of Augustine’s most famous quotes. Rest, peace; those are such nice words. Can you imagine an eternity of rest and peace? Right now I can’t even imagine 5 minutes of it let alone all of eternity.
But this is the promise that Jesus brings to us today in our gospel reading. “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
Abide, Jesus uses the Greek word “meinate” from the root word “meno.” Meno means: remain, dwell, continue, tarry, endure. The depth of the meaning of “meno” is to stay in one place for a extended period of time; to dwell, literally to live. If you live in my “logos,” the word. Do you remember how the Gospel of John starts out? In the beginning was the logos, the word, and the logos, was with God and the logos WAS GOD. Jesus is telling us that if we dwell in Him then we are His true disciples and therefore we will know the truth, the truth the Jesus is not only the word of God but He is God! This is THE TRUTH! Jesus says, and knowing this sets you free. Free from sin free to love the law and follow it.
This is the promise that we heard from Jeremiah in our Old Testament reading today, this is that very promise fulfilled, Jesus Christ the Savior, God Himself addressing us, as He does, with words. And not just words, not just hot air expelled for the sake of something to say. NO! Words from God do something. This proclamation from the very mouth of God Jesus Christ declares to you that if you live in His word you are His true disciples and you will know the truth and you are now free from your own efforts to live up to the law to justify yourself because there is a new way in which God is justifying you and that is through your faith in His only son Jesus Christ. Your faith in His word, not belief in your own efforts to behave yourself rather faith in the promise of eternal life and freedom proclaimed to you by God Himself.
Your heart no longer need be restless; it need no longer cling to whatever lover of God that comes along. You are free from idol worship; you are free from the search to find the truth. The truth is here and the truth is NOW! Jesus Christ is the truth He is God and He is standing right here with us today proclaiming to you through His called and your ordained preacher that you belong to Him!
You no longer have to look to Abraham and the covenant of the Old Testament to see what God expects of you, Jesus dies to end that old covenant and now there is a new one and that new covenant says there is no longer any law for you to live up to to be justified, or righteous before God. He has done it all, FOR YOU! IT IS FINISHED! IT IS DONE! SIN AND YOUR OLD FLESH ARE DEAD AND GONE FOREVER AND NOW YOU CAN SIMPLY REST YOUR RESTLESS HEART, MIND, AND CONSCIENCE IS THE PROMISE GIVEN TO YOU FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD HIMSELF!
“Truly, truly, I say to you everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever.” You have sinned and are a slave to sin. You cannot free yourself from the demands and the accusations of the law. You are in prison and it is a life sentence and the only way out is to receive a pardon from the governor. Your freedom comes not from your love of good nor your love of sinful things but through the proclamation from the one who has the authority to pardon you and set you free by simply speaking it into existence. The walls of you prison, death itself, can no longer hold you because they could not hold your Savior.
On this day we celebrate the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. Here is what Luther was told by God Himself through His written word the Bible. Just in case you were wondering and were not for sure. JESUS CHRIST IS GOD! JESUS CHRIST DID EVERYTHING NECESSARY FRO YOU TO BE COUNTED AS RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD! JESUS CHRIST ROSE BODILY FROM THE DEAD! THE DISCIPLES DID SEE HIM IN THE FLESH AFTER HIS BURRIL! THIS MOST CETAINLY IS TRUE! THE BIBLE IS JESUS CHRIST THE VERY WORD OF GOD AND YOU DO NTO INTERPRET IT IT INTERPRETS YOU. IT SAYS THAT ON ACCOUNT OF YOUR BAPTISM CHRIST CLAIMING YOU AS HIS OWN YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN! THIS IS TRUE, THIS IS REAL! THIS IS WHAT I WOULD SACIRFICE MY LIFE FOR , THIS VERY PROCLIMATION. I WOULD STAND BEFORE DEATH ITSELF AND SAY, “I AM SCARED THIS IS TRUE BUT I WILL NOT DENY MY SAVIOR! NEVER! DO TO ME AS YOU WILL! BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY TRUTH THAT I KNOW WITHOUT A DOBUBT. I AM NO DIFFERENT THEN THE DISCIPLES BEFORE ME! THEY KNEW IT JUST AS I KNOW IT AND THEY DECLARED IT TO ME AS I HAVE DECLARED IT TO YOU AND NOW YOU KNOW IT! AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN!
Luke 18:9-24
Me church; I don’t care who you are that’s funny.
In today’s gospel reading we see this attitude of” it’s all about me” in the prayer of the Pharisee. Bothe men have gone to the temple to pray therefore both men are seeking an encounter with the divine. But which man’s prayer is heard? A better question would be which man’s prayer is not turned inward upon himself?
Our gospel passage for today starts with the setting of the parable. “He (Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt.” No I know that there are no people in this congregation who think more highly of themselves than they should because most of you come here every weekend and hear me tell you that your works count for nothing. Are you tired of hearing that yet? But let’s still see if there is anything that we can learn from this man’s self righteous dissertation on himself.
The Pharisee , STANDING BY HIMSELF, prayed, God I thank you that I am not like OTHER MEN, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” Standing by himself, this shows his utter love for himself separating himself from everyone else. God, thank you; is this really a prayer of thanks or is it an exhortation of himself. He seeks to demonstrate this exhortation by listing his good works. It is clear that this man thinks that he is righteous before God because of these works. But similar to moral of the parable of Unworthy Servant from a couple of weeks ago; when you do what is expected of you there is no reward. This man is clearly under the delusion that he can gain righteousness before God through his own actions. In other words his relationship with God is not a proper one because his relationship hinges upon the works he has done for God and not on trust in the grace that God has given him for his short comings.
In contrast we have the tax collector. You will remember that tax collectors were social outcasts as they were viewed as betrayers of their people. They were residents of their respective community who collected money for the Romans; most were crooked and collected more than what was required keeping the difference for themselves. Keep in mind in this time in history if you could not pay your taxes all of your possessions could be seized. Let me put that in perspective, women and children were considered as possessions. So your family could literally be sold into slavery for not paying your taxes. Do you see the kind of wretchedness that tax collectors represented? Consequently, for Jesus to use a tax collector as the one who was found righteous was scandalous indeed. But in chapter Luke 5:31-32 Jesus says, “31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” And in Luke 15:17 He says, “7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
The tax collector has much different posture about himself than the Pharisee. “But the tax collector, STANDING FAR OFF, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but BEAT HIS BREAST saying, GOD, be merciful to me, a SINNER.” This is a true confession of a true sinner who has been afflicted by the law who realized that he was in desperate need of the grace of God. This prayer is not asking to be judged by the law. This man does not seek justice for if God gave him based upon justice then he would immediately be put to death and sent to hell on account of his sin. No1 this man seeks the gospel, he seeks grace and forgiveness; the tax collector’s pray is the type of prayer that brings celebration in heaven.
I realize that both prayers may seem inwardly focused however they are not. The Pharisee focuses his prayer on his works and the tax collector focuses his prayer on the work of God.
So, what does a parable about two Jewish men praying in the temple? Well let me break it down.
1. This parable shows us that through the law God is just. He doesn’t accept the prayer of the self righteous.
2. It shows us that through the true repentance of sin God is merciful.
3. It illustrates for us that God truly does desire mercy not sacrifice Jesus stated in Matthew 9 & 12 echoing the proclamation of the prophet Hosea.
4. It forces us to ask ourselves if we have the heart like the self righteous man or a heart like the humble broken sinner.
Today I will confess to you that I indeed have the heart of the humble broken sinner. You see it has been brought to my attention that I have failed to live up to the expectations of a few people in our congregation. I publically acknowledge that their expectations were both valid and reasonable and that the failure is totally and completely mine. I am learning each day what it means to be a follower of Christ just like the rest of you and there are times that I will fall short. I simply wanted to thank you for your patience with me thus far and ask for your forgiveness and mercy in the future. I am not trying to exude a false sense of humility here nor am I looking for affirmation. I have been wrestling night after night with how I could make it up to or how I should handle this situation. I am really tired of looking for solutions as it has been impossible for me to rest. While I was writing my sermon the answer to this dilemma came to me, I am not to try to fix it with righteous actions instead I am to simply ask for forgiveness and mercy and go on learning what I can from my mistakes and trying not to repeat them in the future.
Let us pray, Lord Jesus Christ, the mercy and grace of God has been shown to us through Your death and resurrection. Today Lord we acknowledge that you did in fact come to die for us so that we may have life and have it abundantly. An abundant life is one of the easy yoke, one free from worry, guilt, and anxiety. I humbly ask Lord Jesus that you send your Holy Spirit to each and each man, woman and child in this congregation with the purpose of the nurturing of faith. Faith in the promise that Your yoke is the easy on and faith in the promise of everlasting life given to each in their baptism and in the sacrament of The Lord’s Supper in which we are about to partake. I ask all of this in Your holy and precious name. Amen
In today’s gospel reading we see this attitude of” it’s all about me” in the prayer of the Pharisee. Bothe men have gone to the temple to pray therefore both men are seeking an encounter with the divine. But which man’s prayer is heard? A better question would be which man’s prayer is not turned inward upon himself?
Our gospel passage for today starts with the setting of the parable. “He (Jesus) also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt.” No I know that there are no people in this congregation who think more highly of themselves than they should because most of you come here every weekend and hear me tell you that your works count for nothing. Are you tired of hearing that yet? But let’s still see if there is anything that we can learn from this man’s self righteous dissertation on himself.
The Pharisee , STANDING BY HIMSELF, prayed, God I thank you that I am not like OTHER MEN, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” Standing by himself, this shows his utter love for himself separating himself from everyone else. God, thank you; is this really a prayer of thanks or is it an exhortation of himself. He seeks to demonstrate this exhortation by listing his good works. It is clear that this man thinks that he is righteous before God because of these works. But similar to moral of the parable of Unworthy Servant from a couple of weeks ago; when you do what is expected of you there is no reward. This man is clearly under the delusion that he can gain righteousness before God through his own actions. In other words his relationship with God is not a proper one because his relationship hinges upon the works he has done for God and not on trust in the grace that God has given him for his short comings.
In contrast we have the tax collector. You will remember that tax collectors were social outcasts as they were viewed as betrayers of their people. They were residents of their respective community who collected money for the Romans; most were crooked and collected more than what was required keeping the difference for themselves. Keep in mind in this time in history if you could not pay your taxes all of your possessions could be seized. Let me put that in perspective, women and children were considered as possessions. So your family could literally be sold into slavery for not paying your taxes. Do you see the kind of wretchedness that tax collectors represented? Consequently, for Jesus to use a tax collector as the one who was found righteous was scandalous indeed. But in chapter Luke 5:31-32 Jesus says, “31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” And in Luke 15:17 He says, “7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”
The tax collector has much different posture about himself than the Pharisee. “But the tax collector, STANDING FAR OFF, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but BEAT HIS BREAST saying, GOD, be merciful to me, a SINNER.” This is a true confession of a true sinner who has been afflicted by the law who realized that he was in desperate need of the grace of God. This prayer is not asking to be judged by the law. This man does not seek justice for if God gave him based upon justice then he would immediately be put to death and sent to hell on account of his sin. No1 this man seeks the gospel, he seeks grace and forgiveness; the tax collector’s pray is the type of prayer that brings celebration in heaven.
I realize that both prayers may seem inwardly focused however they are not. The Pharisee focuses his prayer on his works and the tax collector focuses his prayer on the work of God.
So, what does a parable about two Jewish men praying in the temple? Well let me break it down.
1. This parable shows us that through the law God is just. He doesn’t accept the prayer of the self righteous.
2. It shows us that through the true repentance of sin God is merciful.
3. It illustrates for us that God truly does desire mercy not sacrifice Jesus stated in Matthew 9 & 12 echoing the proclamation of the prophet Hosea.
4. It forces us to ask ourselves if we have the heart like the self righteous man or a heart like the humble broken sinner.
Today I will confess to you that I indeed have the heart of the humble broken sinner. You see it has been brought to my attention that I have failed to live up to the expectations of a few people in our congregation. I publically acknowledge that their expectations were both valid and reasonable and that the failure is totally and completely mine. I am learning each day what it means to be a follower of Christ just like the rest of you and there are times that I will fall short. I simply wanted to thank you for your patience with me thus far and ask for your forgiveness and mercy in the future. I am not trying to exude a false sense of humility here nor am I looking for affirmation. I have been wrestling night after night with how I could make it up to or how I should handle this situation. I am really tired of looking for solutions as it has been impossible for me to rest. While I was writing my sermon the answer to this dilemma came to me, I am not to try to fix it with righteous actions instead I am to simply ask for forgiveness and mercy and go on learning what I can from my mistakes and trying not to repeat them in the future.
Let us pray, Lord Jesus Christ, the mercy and grace of God has been shown to us through Your death and resurrection. Today Lord we acknowledge that you did in fact come to die for us so that we may have life and have it abundantly. An abundant life is one of the easy yoke, one free from worry, guilt, and anxiety. I humbly ask Lord Jesus that you send your Holy Spirit to each and each man, woman and child in this congregation with the purpose of the nurturing of faith. Faith in the promise that Your yoke is the easy on and faith in the promise of everlasting life given to each in their baptism and in the sacrament of The Lord’s Supper in which we are about to partake. I ask all of this in Your holy and precious name. Amen
Monday, October 11, 2010
Luke 17:11-17
Where do we find a lesson that applies to us in today’s gospel reading? Leprosy isn’t exactly something we see on a daily biases. We do not have camps outside of town where these people are forced to live and we do not require them to cry out “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN” if they come close to us. Do we no longer have lepers in our society or are we just better at hiding them and their disgrace?
As He entered the village he encountered 10 lepers who cried out, “Jesus, Master have mercy on us.” It is interesting that these men knew exactly who Jesus was. They were not just calling out to a passerby for alms rather they knew of Jesus and His power to heal and they desired Him to have mercy upon them.
The term they used to address Jesus here is the word “epistates” in Greek. It means teacher, master, or lord. They only other people in Luke’s gospel who use this Greek term fro Jesus are the disciples. Therefore this story is about discipleship.
They cried out in unison! These men were united in their sickness and suffering. The text doesn’t tell us right away that only one of them is a Samaritan. Because of the specific location of this story, as described in the opening lines of the passage, people who lived in this area were either Jews or Samaritans. So if one was identified as a Samaritan it would serve to reason that they others were not Samaritans. And if they were no Samaritans then they were in fact Jews. So the cultural divide between them had broken down due to their common affliction. There is no difference between a leprous Jew and a leprous Samaritan; they were simply lepers.
When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. In this time in history only the priests at the synagogue had the authority to proclaim a leper healed. This authority was given to them under the law.
Notice it says “as they went they were cleansed.” God’s grace is freely given, this most certainly is true, however it was in their response to Jesus command that they were healed. They could have just as well of laughed at Him knowing that there was no human cure for their disease, but then I venture to guess that their healing would not have come. So it was through their response in faith to do as Jesus commanded that their healing came to be.
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. One of them praising with a loud voice, I imagine it was the same loud voice that he was using to praise God as the one he used to cry out for mercy. He returned to Jesus and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet. This man no longer had a use for the law to proclaim that he was healed. Rather he recognized that he had been healed by Jesus not his own righteousness and adherence to the law. What is also important her is the phrase “when he SAW.” When I was writing my sermon I was trying to deceiver the difference between the nine that did not return and the one that did. The one who returned SAW. What is it that Jesus says, Luke 10:23, “Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!” Seeing is a theme in this gospel. Seeing means that a person’s eyes have been opened to the reality of who Jesus really is, the seeing person has faith. This is confirmed when Christ says to the grateful man, “And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
What about the other nine? Where are they? Are they not grateful? Jesus asks about them he says were not 10 cleansed? Notice Jesus did not say healed rather he said cleansed. They were not only healed of their sickness they were cleansed of their sin. It was common in this time to believe that these men had this sickness because of some sin they had committed. There for their healing was proof of the forgiveness of that sin.
But where were they? My guess is that since they were Jews and they were now healed the cultural boundary between them and the Samaritan had returned. What’s more they sought to comply with the law and have themselves declared clean so that they could be restored to their righteous place in society. They were still looking to the law for their righteousness because they did not see as the Samaritan did that the cleansing came as a gift from the righteousness of Christ and not through the law.
Oh but there is more. This parable of the ten lepers comes directly after the parable of the unworthy servant form last week. Both are instructions in discipleship. For those of you who were here last week you will remember that the parable of the unworthy servant tells us that when we do as God has commanded us to do, not to expect any reward. For we are not gaining righteousness with God by abiding by His commands we are simply doing what is expected of us. SO what of the other nine lepers? Perhaps they knew all along that their disease was not from some sin that they had committed. Perhaps they thought that God owed them their healing. They were wrongfully stricken with this disease so justice demanded that they be healed. For those of you who were here last week, does God ever owe you anything or are his gifts and blessings pure grace?
Gratitude to Christ for the gift of faith and salvation is a sign of the proper response in faith. Gratitude and humility may be the purest measure of a person’s spiritual condition and faith. There are those who have been cleansed in this world who believe that God owed them. They claimed it and named it. The prospered because God promised them they would and He Owed it to them. They can unsin what is clearly called a sin in the Bible, after all God made them that way and he owes it to them, they deserve to be happy and indulge their sinful desires. I am telling you these people are the other nine these are people of a false gospel.
How does this story apply to us today? Jesus is still cleansing people every day; first and foremost at their baptism. Some respond in faith and gratitude some take the gift for granted and feel that it was owed to them by God.
In this story we are the lepers. We may have not been plagued with a physical element but I most certain that we are plagued with filthy minds and spirits. Well, at least I have. But Jesus cleansed me and for that I am eternally grateful and I will spend the rest of my days pointing to the grace and righteousness of Christ for my cleansing and salvation. Join me in pointing that finger where it belongs; pointing to the gospel and the righteousness of Christ for our justification. But looking to the law as a guide, as a task master if you will, one that tells us how we should live our lives in a way that honors God. Jesus said the law is summed up like this, love one another and I have loved you.
Let us pray, Lord Jesus Christ we are sorry that we have taken you gifts and blessings for granted and we humbly ask for Your forgiveness. Continue Father to remind us that we must continue to rely upon You alone for our ever breath. Continue to love and bless the devoted disciples seated before me this day, and continue to bless our congregation and may we always remember that we are blessed to be a blessing to your creation and that we are not blesses because You are in debt to us. We ask all of this in the precious name of You Son Jesus Christ Amen.
As He entered the village he encountered 10 lepers who cried out, “Jesus, Master have mercy on us.” It is interesting that these men knew exactly who Jesus was. They were not just calling out to a passerby for alms rather they knew of Jesus and His power to heal and they desired Him to have mercy upon them.
The term they used to address Jesus here is the word “epistates” in Greek. It means teacher, master, or lord. They only other people in Luke’s gospel who use this Greek term fro Jesus are the disciples. Therefore this story is about discipleship.
They cried out in unison! These men were united in their sickness and suffering. The text doesn’t tell us right away that only one of them is a Samaritan. Because of the specific location of this story, as described in the opening lines of the passage, people who lived in this area were either Jews or Samaritans. So if one was identified as a Samaritan it would serve to reason that they others were not Samaritans. And if they were no Samaritans then they were in fact Jews. So the cultural divide between them had broken down due to their common affliction. There is no difference between a leprous Jew and a leprous Samaritan; they were simply lepers.
When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. In this time in history only the priests at the synagogue had the authority to proclaim a leper healed. This authority was given to them under the law.
Notice it says “as they went they were cleansed.” God’s grace is freely given, this most certainly is true, however it was in their response to Jesus command that they were healed. They could have just as well of laughed at Him knowing that there was no human cure for their disease, but then I venture to guess that their healing would not have come. So it was through their response in faith to do as Jesus commanded that their healing came to be.
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. One of them praising with a loud voice, I imagine it was the same loud voice that he was using to praise God as the one he used to cry out for mercy. He returned to Jesus and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet. This man no longer had a use for the law to proclaim that he was healed. Rather he recognized that he had been healed by Jesus not his own righteousness and adherence to the law. What is also important her is the phrase “when he SAW.” When I was writing my sermon I was trying to deceiver the difference between the nine that did not return and the one that did. The one who returned SAW. What is it that Jesus says, Luke 10:23, “Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!” Seeing is a theme in this gospel. Seeing means that a person’s eyes have been opened to the reality of who Jesus really is, the seeing person has faith. This is confirmed when Christ says to the grateful man, “And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
What about the other nine? Where are they? Are they not grateful? Jesus asks about them he says were not 10 cleansed? Notice Jesus did not say healed rather he said cleansed. They were not only healed of their sickness they were cleansed of their sin. It was common in this time to believe that these men had this sickness because of some sin they had committed. There for their healing was proof of the forgiveness of that sin.
But where were they? My guess is that since they were Jews and they were now healed the cultural boundary between them and the Samaritan had returned. What’s more they sought to comply with the law and have themselves declared clean so that they could be restored to their righteous place in society. They were still looking to the law for their righteousness because they did not see as the Samaritan did that the cleansing came as a gift from the righteousness of Christ and not through the law.
Oh but there is more. This parable of the ten lepers comes directly after the parable of the unworthy servant form last week. Both are instructions in discipleship. For those of you who were here last week you will remember that the parable of the unworthy servant tells us that when we do as God has commanded us to do, not to expect any reward. For we are not gaining righteousness with God by abiding by His commands we are simply doing what is expected of us. SO what of the other nine lepers? Perhaps they knew all along that their disease was not from some sin that they had committed. Perhaps they thought that God owed them their healing. They were wrongfully stricken with this disease so justice demanded that they be healed. For those of you who were here last week, does God ever owe you anything or are his gifts and blessings pure grace?
Gratitude to Christ for the gift of faith and salvation is a sign of the proper response in faith. Gratitude and humility may be the purest measure of a person’s spiritual condition and faith. There are those who have been cleansed in this world who believe that God owed them. They claimed it and named it. The prospered because God promised them they would and He Owed it to them. They can unsin what is clearly called a sin in the Bible, after all God made them that way and he owes it to them, they deserve to be happy and indulge their sinful desires. I am telling you these people are the other nine these are people of a false gospel.
How does this story apply to us today? Jesus is still cleansing people every day; first and foremost at their baptism. Some respond in faith and gratitude some take the gift for granted and feel that it was owed to them by God.
In this story we are the lepers. We may have not been plagued with a physical element but I most certain that we are plagued with filthy minds and spirits. Well, at least I have. But Jesus cleansed me and for that I am eternally grateful and I will spend the rest of my days pointing to the grace and righteousness of Christ for my cleansing and salvation. Join me in pointing that finger where it belongs; pointing to the gospel and the righteousness of Christ for our justification. But looking to the law as a guide, as a task master if you will, one that tells us how we should live our lives in a way that honors God. Jesus said the law is summed up like this, love one another and I have loved you.
Let us pray, Lord Jesus Christ we are sorry that we have taken you gifts and blessings for granted and we humbly ask for Your forgiveness. Continue Father to remind us that we must continue to rely upon You alone for our ever breath. Continue to love and bless the devoted disciples seated before me this day, and continue to bless our congregation and may we always remember that we are blessed to be a blessing to your creation and that we are not blesses because You are in debt to us. We ask all of this in the precious name of You Son Jesus Christ Amen.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Luke 17:1-17
Well, another demanding series of parables from The Gospel of Luke. There are actually four sermons here, the warning against causing a little one to fall, forgiveness of your brother and sister, faith as a mustard seed, and the servant and the master. However I will try not to preach four sermons today as I am currently a seminary student and have compassion for your back sides.
In today’s reading Jesus is specifically addressing the disciples and although it may seem that there are four sermons in this reading it is actually one teaching that falls into four parts; a teaching that is specifically for disciples of Jesus Christ; that would be all of you, so listen up.
The first of the four parts of today’s reading is a warning about causing another, a “little one” to sin. Little ones “mikros” in Greek meaning: 1) small, little 1a) of size: hence of stature, of length 1b) of space 1c) of age: less by birth, younger 1d) of time: short, brief, a little while, how little! 1e) of quantity: i.e. number, amount 1f) of rank or influence. Here Jesus is using “mikros” to mean “less of age,” in other words new believers. From micros comes our English prefix micro, although you might have already guessed that.
If you cause a “mikros” to stumble or “skandalon” in the Greek (where our English word scandal comes from) it would be better for you to have a millstone hung around your neck and cast into the sea. Well now any of you who think that God is only love I ask you this, “If God is only love what’s with this putting a four foot tall solid stone with a hole in the center around someone’s neck and throwing that person into the sea?” It’s because God is not only love, He is also wrath, as our Psalm speaks of today. God is only love when He comes to you masked in Jesus Christ; the unmasked or naked God is a God of wrath as a consequence for your sin.
“Skandalon,” means: 1) to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend 1a) to entice to sin 1b) to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey 1b1) to cause to fall away 1b2) to be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority 1b3) to cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another 1c) since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed 1c1) to cause one displeasure at a thing 1c2) to make indignant 1c3) to be displeased, indignant.
How might one cause another to sin, to stumble, to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey? By false teaching possibly? By teaching that God is only love and that He is pleased with you on account of your good works? If God is only love and is pleased with you for your good works, then where does Jesus fit into the equation? By teaching that one earns their salvation, or any favor with God, through good works is denying Christ’s mission of the cross and encouraging one to turn away from the gospel (the message of Jesus Christ crucified For You!) to the law as the way to salvation. The law being the demands of God made upon His creation, St. Paul says in Romans 3:20, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” NO ONE WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT THROUGH THE LAW. Through the law comes the knowledge that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior.
If you cause a little one to sin through false teaching, it is better to have a millstone around your neck and cast into the sea. This is a severe penalty indeed. A millstone was a round stone about 4” high. After the grain was separated from the chaff the grain was crushed or ground under these stones. The severity of this penalty is the intention of Jesus, to cause another to stumble is a very bad thing.
The second of the four parts in today’s reading is a teaching of forgiveness. If your brother or sister sins REBUKE THEM! That’s point out their sin and encourage them to turn away from it. That’s funny when we as Christians point out the sin of others what happens? We are called names and our integrity is questioned. “Well you’re just a homophobe, you’re so self-righteous, and who are you to rebuke me?” It’s interesting that Jesus uses the term brothers here and not neighbors. Jesus is saying that you should rebuke not unbelievers, rather fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a commandment to be accountable to one another as believers in Christ. If someone claims to be a Christian but then acts in a way that is in contradiction to scripture you should rebuke them. Even if he is the called and ordained pastor, most likely that will be the biggest sinner in the church anyway. Trust me no one in our society likes to have the darkness of their sins brought into the light, so expect some negative response. However if they are truly a believer in Jesus Christ and see that you are obeying scripture then they will eventually come to you and ask for forgiveness. Jesus says you are to forgive them right then and there. When a person asks for your forgiveness the burden then transfers from them to ask to you to act; you are to forgive not judge if nor require them to prove that they are truly repentant just forgive.
The disciples response to these commands of, do not cause another to fall and to rebuke and forgive your brothers and sisters over and over, is a response of shear fear. Fear that they do not have the faith to do what Christ commands. “INCREASE OUR FAITH!” they cry out in desperation. Jesus tells them that if they had the faith of a mustard seed then they could, simply using only words, command a tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea. How many you believe that you have this kind of faith? I mean it’s a mustard seed the smallest of seeds; someone here must have that kind of faith. No takers huh. Well don’t look at me I’m the pastor the biggest sinner remember. Jesus is telling the disciples that they do not have that much faith either. What’s more faith is not something that they find within themselves rather it comes from an external source; more precisely from Jesus Christ. The very act of asking Christ for faith proves that faith is a gift from God and not something that we muster within ourselves.
Jesus tells them this in the form of the parable of the mustard seed so that they will not take the fact that they do actually have some faith and use it to puff themselves up and believe that they are more spiritual them anyone else.
Faith is not something to be measured nor is it to be used to perform magical sings or miraculous wonders. Faith is the element of God that is given to you through the preached word and the sacraments for the purpose of making you useful to the Lord to fulfill His purpose His plan here on earth.
Then we have the fourth lesson the parable of the master and his servant. This master must be a small farmer because he has only one servant who does both the field work and the housework. Jesus never tells us about the desires of the servant rather he tells us what has been commanded of him by his master. And here is the kicker, they servant works in the field all day and them comes in and serves the master supper before he himself get to eat and is not even thanked for his trouble. Why? Because he was only doing what was commanded or what was expected of him to do. God is saying I am the master I command you to do good works. But don’t you dare believe that you gain anything by doing them nor should you believe that I owe you anything for doing what is expected of you. God owes us nothing for our good works, therefore anything that we receive from Him in the form of a gift or blessing is purely given out of grace not obligation. Let me say it a little plainer, if you believe that God blesses you because of all of your good works then you believe that God is indebted to you for them. God owes you nothing and your best works count for nothing before this all powerful righteous God.
Is that hard to hear? That nothing you do pleases God. That’s because the human will doesn’t want an all powerful, almighty, righteous God. What’s more the human will doesn’t want to put the control of their salvation in the hands of a Savior; especially one who shines the light of truth on their sinful ways exposing their unrighteousness.
Well I believe that if I had an almighty God, I would simply profess that He was almighty then deny it in my mind by believing that there was something I could do to earn His favor. Then if He sent a Messiah to tell me that my works counted for nothing and that I had to believe in Him to be saved, well I guess I would sentence that Messiah to death and nail Him to a cross thus doing away with the offense of an almighty God forever. However if that God was almighty He would then raise that Messiah from the dead and then say, “There, in your face sinner, the offense still stands for I AM! I AM almighty indeed and there is nothing that you can do about it.” That story sound familiar.
Let’s sum it up: 1.Do not cause a weaker one to fall away through false teaching, 2. Rebuke your brothers and sisters in Christ when you see them in a state of sin and forgive them as often as they ask, 3. Exercise your faith through simple works for your neighbor, as is God’s will, not through miraculous signs and wonders. 4. When you do as your commanded don’t you dare believe that God owes you anything.
All of this week’s reading is law. It consists of commandments from God regarding how you ought to live in this world. The Law exists to 1. Regulate society and to 2. to make you aware that you are a sinner.
So now that you have been accused by the law and are sitting in the pew felling convicted and writhing with uncomforted as one who has ears to hear should be, let me now profess to you the gospel, You are forgiven and God is pleased With You on account of your belief in Christ. There now you can continue your Sunday knowing that you have been put to death and raised up. But remember this is a daily dying and rising.
In today’s reading Jesus is specifically addressing the disciples and although it may seem that there are four sermons in this reading it is actually one teaching that falls into four parts; a teaching that is specifically for disciples of Jesus Christ; that would be all of you, so listen up.
The first of the four parts of today’s reading is a warning about causing another, a “little one” to sin. Little ones “mikros” in Greek meaning: 1) small, little 1a) of size: hence of stature, of length 1b) of space 1c) of age: less by birth, younger 1d) of time: short, brief, a little while, how little! 1e) of quantity: i.e. number, amount 1f) of rank or influence. Here Jesus is using “mikros” to mean “less of age,” in other words new believers. From micros comes our English prefix micro, although you might have already guessed that.
If you cause a “mikros” to stumble or “skandalon” in the Greek (where our English word scandal comes from) it would be better for you to have a millstone hung around your neck and cast into the sea. Well now any of you who think that God is only love I ask you this, “If God is only love what’s with this putting a four foot tall solid stone with a hole in the center around someone’s neck and throwing that person into the sea?” It’s because God is not only love, He is also wrath, as our Psalm speaks of today. God is only love when He comes to you masked in Jesus Christ; the unmasked or naked God is a God of wrath as a consequence for your sin.
“Skandalon,” means: 1) to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend 1a) to entice to sin 1b) to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey 1b1) to cause to fall away 1b2) to be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority 1b3) to cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another 1c) since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed 1c1) to cause one displeasure at a thing 1c2) to make indignant 1c3) to be displeased, indignant.
How might one cause another to sin, to stumble, to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey? By false teaching possibly? By teaching that God is only love and that He is pleased with you on account of your good works? If God is only love and is pleased with you for your good works, then where does Jesus fit into the equation? By teaching that one earns their salvation, or any favor with God, through good works is denying Christ’s mission of the cross and encouraging one to turn away from the gospel (the message of Jesus Christ crucified For You!) to the law as the way to salvation. The law being the demands of God made upon His creation, St. Paul says in Romans 3:20, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” NO ONE WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT THROUGH THE LAW. Through the law comes the knowledge that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior.
If you cause a little one to sin through false teaching, it is better to have a millstone around your neck and cast into the sea. This is a severe penalty indeed. A millstone was a round stone about 4” high. After the grain was separated from the chaff the grain was crushed or ground under these stones. The severity of this penalty is the intention of Jesus, to cause another to stumble is a very bad thing.
The second of the four parts in today’s reading is a teaching of forgiveness. If your brother or sister sins REBUKE THEM! That’s point out their sin and encourage them to turn away from it. That’s funny when we as Christians point out the sin of others what happens? We are called names and our integrity is questioned. “Well you’re just a homophobe, you’re so self-righteous, and who are you to rebuke me?” It’s interesting that Jesus uses the term brothers here and not neighbors. Jesus is saying that you should rebuke not unbelievers, rather fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a commandment to be accountable to one another as believers in Christ. If someone claims to be a Christian but then acts in a way that is in contradiction to scripture you should rebuke them. Even if he is the called and ordained pastor, most likely that will be the biggest sinner in the church anyway. Trust me no one in our society likes to have the darkness of their sins brought into the light, so expect some negative response. However if they are truly a believer in Jesus Christ and see that you are obeying scripture then they will eventually come to you and ask for forgiveness. Jesus says you are to forgive them right then and there. When a person asks for your forgiveness the burden then transfers from them to ask to you to act; you are to forgive not judge if nor require them to prove that they are truly repentant just forgive.
The disciples response to these commands of, do not cause another to fall and to rebuke and forgive your brothers and sisters over and over, is a response of shear fear. Fear that they do not have the faith to do what Christ commands. “INCREASE OUR FAITH!” they cry out in desperation. Jesus tells them that if they had the faith of a mustard seed then they could, simply using only words, command a tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea. How many you believe that you have this kind of faith? I mean it’s a mustard seed the smallest of seeds; someone here must have that kind of faith. No takers huh. Well don’t look at me I’m the pastor the biggest sinner remember. Jesus is telling the disciples that they do not have that much faith either. What’s more faith is not something that they find within themselves rather it comes from an external source; more precisely from Jesus Christ. The very act of asking Christ for faith proves that faith is a gift from God and not something that we muster within ourselves.
Jesus tells them this in the form of the parable of the mustard seed so that they will not take the fact that they do actually have some faith and use it to puff themselves up and believe that they are more spiritual them anyone else.
Faith is not something to be measured nor is it to be used to perform magical sings or miraculous wonders. Faith is the element of God that is given to you through the preached word and the sacraments for the purpose of making you useful to the Lord to fulfill His purpose His plan here on earth.
Then we have the fourth lesson the parable of the master and his servant. This master must be a small farmer because he has only one servant who does both the field work and the housework. Jesus never tells us about the desires of the servant rather he tells us what has been commanded of him by his master. And here is the kicker, they servant works in the field all day and them comes in and serves the master supper before he himself get to eat and is not even thanked for his trouble. Why? Because he was only doing what was commanded or what was expected of him to do. God is saying I am the master I command you to do good works. But don’t you dare believe that you gain anything by doing them nor should you believe that I owe you anything for doing what is expected of you. God owes us nothing for our good works, therefore anything that we receive from Him in the form of a gift or blessing is purely given out of grace not obligation. Let me say it a little plainer, if you believe that God blesses you because of all of your good works then you believe that God is indebted to you for them. God owes you nothing and your best works count for nothing before this all powerful righteous God.
Is that hard to hear? That nothing you do pleases God. That’s because the human will doesn’t want an all powerful, almighty, righteous God. What’s more the human will doesn’t want to put the control of their salvation in the hands of a Savior; especially one who shines the light of truth on their sinful ways exposing their unrighteousness.
Well I believe that if I had an almighty God, I would simply profess that He was almighty then deny it in my mind by believing that there was something I could do to earn His favor. Then if He sent a Messiah to tell me that my works counted for nothing and that I had to believe in Him to be saved, well I guess I would sentence that Messiah to death and nail Him to a cross thus doing away with the offense of an almighty God forever. However if that God was almighty He would then raise that Messiah from the dead and then say, “There, in your face sinner, the offense still stands for I AM! I AM almighty indeed and there is nothing that you can do about it.” That story sound familiar.
Let’s sum it up: 1.Do not cause a weaker one to fall away through false teaching, 2. Rebuke your brothers and sisters in Christ when you see them in a state of sin and forgive them as often as they ask, 3. Exercise your faith through simple works for your neighbor, as is God’s will, not through miraculous signs and wonders. 4. When you do as your commanded don’t you dare believe that God owes you anything.
All of this week’s reading is law. It consists of commandments from God regarding how you ought to live in this world. The Law exists to 1. Regulate society and to 2. to make you aware that you are a sinner.
So now that you have been accused by the law and are sitting in the pew felling convicted and writhing with uncomforted as one who has ears to hear should be, let me now profess to you the gospel, You are forgiven and God is pleased With You on account of your belief in Christ. There now you can continue your Sunday knowing that you have been put to death and raised up. But remember this is a daily dying and rising.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Luke 16:19-31
Is today’s gospel reading good or bad news? If you are a poor beggar with oozing sores you get into heaven and are comforted eternally. Well who wants to be a beggar with oozing sores? If you are a rich man you dine with the best foods and in the best conditions that this world can offer but you end up in eternal torment. Who wants to be in eternal torment? What are we as neither rich folks nor beggars to do with this parable?
Let’s break it down a little.
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.” The rich man wore purple and fine linens.” In the Roman culture only royalty wore purple. The dye for purple came from Egypt and was very expensive and fine linen was just as expansive and only worn by the extremely wealthy. He had gates in front of his house; hence he was very important and sought to keep out the riff raff like this poor beggar Lazarus.
In stark contrast we have Lazarus; a poor beggar, with oozing sores. YUK! Not a pretty picture. Who desired to be fed, χορτάζω,v \{khor-tad'-zo} 1) to feed with herbs, grass, hay, to fill, satisfy with food, to fatten 1a) of animals. Jesus is showing how lowly this man was by using the Greek word khor-tad-zo which is the word reserved to describe the feeding of animals. He was viewed as an animal. Not only that the dogs came and licked his sores. He is an animal among the dogs. Dogs were not pets in this time; rather they were viewed as scavengers, filthy animals that ate from the garbage. You see Lazarus desired to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. What fell from his table were not crumbs nor scraps but pieces of bread. Rich folks in that time used bread to wipe the grease from their fingers and from their plates and threw it on the ground knowing that the filthy dogs would eat it. Lazarus wasn’t even daring to dream of eating at the rich man’s table he just wanted to eat the dirty bread that fell from it; a very low self esteem indeed.
Lazarus, this is the only parable that Jesus tells us the name of the person in the parable. Lazarus is short for Eleazar which means “God helps.” We gather three pieces of information from the naming of the beggar. 1. God is going to help him and he does as the angels carry him to heaven to eternal comfort. 2. This is not simply a parable told to illustrate a point this event really happened, scary huh. 3. This man’s story will have something to do with the man Lazarus that Jesus raises from the dead.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abrahams’ side, literally bosom. This vision of Lazarus reclining on Abraham is a picture of the heavenly feast. Lazarus is receiving the eternal reward promised to Abraham and his offspring because of his and their faith in God; remember Abraham was counted righteous because God made him a promise and he believed God. And since Lazarus is reclining at the table with the host, Lazarus is the guest sitting in the seat of honor. Much like John was at the last supper.
The rich man dies, is buried, an honor that wasn’t given poor Lazarus, but the rich man goes to hell and is in eternal torment. The rich man sees this beggar in heaven, perhaps part of the torment, and calls out to Abraham, “Father.” He is playing the “I am your descendant” card by calling Abraham Father. “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.” He seeks mercy when he was unwilling to give it himself. What’s more he knows Lazarus’ name. This shows that he knew Lazarus, so when Lazarus was at his gates begging back on earth the rich man intentionally ignored Lazarus and his needs, He INTENTIONALLY REFURSED TO EXTEND MERCY to Lazarus; the rich man didn’t just mistakenly over look him.
Oh but it gets better! Not only does he know Lazarus he expects Abraham to show mercy to him by having Lazarus serve him and administer to HIS needs. As Clarence Jordan is quoted, “Lazarus aint gonna run no mo’ yo’ errands, rich man!”
Abraham has no mercy for this false humility and is insulted that this man would ask for Lazarus to relieve his suffering after he never gave Lazarus as much as a greasy hand wipe on earth.
“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”
First Abraham calls the rich man child confirming that he is in fact one of Abraham’s descendants. Why is this significant? Not all of Abraham’s descendants get into heaven. It takes more than being born into the proper family to receive the rewards of the covenant God made with Abraham.
Abraham then goes on to explain that the rich man received his blessing, his reward on earth and he, like the prodigal son, and the dishonest manager from last weeks sermon, squandered this inheritance by using in only on themselves and for their comfort and ignored the needs of their neighbors; especially the one sitting right outside his gates. Lazarus was not blessed on earth so he receives his reward now.
The great chasm between the rich man and Abraham’s feast is impossible to cross. Once you are dead there is no second, third or fourth chance.
“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Oh ho oh! The rich man now shows all of his cards. Send him to my father’s house, the rich man doesn’t really consider Abraham as his father his concern is still for what would benefit him on earth. And still seeks Lazarus to serve him and his family. Does this jerk just not get it?
“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Abraham is saying that salvation comes from faith in the proclaimed Word of God. Proclaimed by the prophets, Moses, and now the Word has been made flesh as Jesus Christ. And even is a man rises from the dead they will not believe. This is our allusion to the Lazarus that Jesus resurrects and to Christ Himself. Some just won’t believe and therefore will be condemned.
What does this mean for us? Should we be beggars with sores instead of seeking to live comfortably? All rich people go to hell? Not at all! God is saying that the promise of eternal life have been made to you. At your baptism you were given the faith that saves, but you must now preserver and not lose that faith by being generous to those who have less. By not being selfish and squandering your riches rather use them to help others in need. Abraham was a rich man and he didn’t go to hell, so that fact that the man in today’s story was rich was not what condemned him rather it was how he used his wealth or more to the point didn’t use it that condemned him.
Jesus is telling this parable to His disciples and the Pharisees. It is no different than last week; those who have here on earth aren’t necessarily blessed by God. The blessing comes from how they use their wealth.
So get your go going and go into the world, show mercy, love you neighbor, and use your worldly possessions for the benefit of others as well as yourself. Amen.
Let’s break it down a little.
“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table.” The rich man wore purple and fine linens.” In the Roman culture only royalty wore purple. The dye for purple came from Egypt and was very expensive and fine linen was just as expansive and only worn by the extremely wealthy. He had gates in front of his house; hence he was very important and sought to keep out the riff raff like this poor beggar Lazarus.
In stark contrast we have Lazarus; a poor beggar, with oozing sores. YUK! Not a pretty picture. Who desired to be fed, χορτάζω,v \{khor-tad'-zo} 1) to feed with herbs, grass, hay, to fill, satisfy with food, to fatten 1a) of animals. Jesus is showing how lowly this man was by using the Greek word khor-tad-zo which is the word reserved to describe the feeding of animals. He was viewed as an animal. Not only that the dogs came and licked his sores. He is an animal among the dogs. Dogs were not pets in this time; rather they were viewed as scavengers, filthy animals that ate from the garbage. You see Lazarus desired to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. What fell from his table were not crumbs nor scraps but pieces of bread. Rich folks in that time used bread to wipe the grease from their fingers and from their plates and threw it on the ground knowing that the filthy dogs would eat it. Lazarus wasn’t even daring to dream of eating at the rich man’s table he just wanted to eat the dirty bread that fell from it; a very low self esteem indeed.
Lazarus, this is the only parable that Jesus tells us the name of the person in the parable. Lazarus is short for Eleazar which means “God helps.” We gather three pieces of information from the naming of the beggar. 1. God is going to help him and he does as the angels carry him to heaven to eternal comfort. 2. This is not simply a parable told to illustrate a point this event really happened, scary huh. 3. This man’s story will have something to do with the man Lazarus that Jesus raises from the dead.
The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abrahams’ side, literally bosom. This vision of Lazarus reclining on Abraham is a picture of the heavenly feast. Lazarus is receiving the eternal reward promised to Abraham and his offspring because of his and their faith in God; remember Abraham was counted righteous because God made him a promise and he believed God. And since Lazarus is reclining at the table with the host, Lazarus is the guest sitting in the seat of honor. Much like John was at the last supper.
The rich man dies, is buried, an honor that wasn’t given poor Lazarus, but the rich man goes to hell and is in eternal torment. The rich man sees this beggar in heaven, perhaps part of the torment, and calls out to Abraham, “Father.” He is playing the “I am your descendant” card by calling Abraham Father. “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.” He seeks mercy when he was unwilling to give it himself. What’s more he knows Lazarus’ name. This shows that he knew Lazarus, so when Lazarus was at his gates begging back on earth the rich man intentionally ignored Lazarus and his needs, He INTENTIONALLY REFURSED TO EXTEND MERCY to Lazarus; the rich man didn’t just mistakenly over look him.
Oh but it gets better! Not only does he know Lazarus he expects Abraham to show mercy to him by having Lazarus serve him and administer to HIS needs. As Clarence Jordan is quoted, “Lazarus aint gonna run no mo’ yo’ errands, rich man!”
Abraham has no mercy for this false humility and is insulted that this man would ask for Lazarus to relieve his suffering after he never gave Lazarus as much as a greasy hand wipe on earth.
“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”
First Abraham calls the rich man child confirming that he is in fact one of Abraham’s descendants. Why is this significant? Not all of Abraham’s descendants get into heaven. It takes more than being born into the proper family to receive the rewards of the covenant God made with Abraham.
Abraham then goes on to explain that the rich man received his blessing, his reward on earth and he, like the prodigal son, and the dishonest manager from last weeks sermon, squandered this inheritance by using in only on themselves and for their comfort and ignored the needs of their neighbors; especially the one sitting right outside his gates. Lazarus was not blessed on earth so he receives his reward now.
The great chasm between the rich man and Abraham’s feast is impossible to cross. Once you are dead there is no second, third or fourth chance.
“And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers —so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” Oh ho oh! The rich man now shows all of his cards. Send him to my father’s house, the rich man doesn’t really consider Abraham as his father his concern is still for what would benefit him on earth. And still seeks Lazarus to serve him and his family. Does this jerk just not get it?
“But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” Abraham is saying that salvation comes from faith in the proclaimed Word of God. Proclaimed by the prophets, Moses, and now the Word has been made flesh as Jesus Christ. And even is a man rises from the dead they will not believe. This is our allusion to the Lazarus that Jesus resurrects and to Christ Himself. Some just won’t believe and therefore will be condemned.
What does this mean for us? Should we be beggars with sores instead of seeking to live comfortably? All rich people go to hell? Not at all! God is saying that the promise of eternal life have been made to you. At your baptism you were given the faith that saves, but you must now preserver and not lose that faith by being generous to those who have less. By not being selfish and squandering your riches rather use them to help others in need. Abraham was a rich man and he didn’t go to hell, so that fact that the man in today’s story was rich was not what condemned him rather it was how he used his wealth or more to the point didn’t use it that condemned him.
Jesus is telling this parable to His disciples and the Pharisees. It is no different than last week; those who have here on earth aren’t necessarily blessed by God. The blessing comes from how they use their wealth.
So get your go going and go into the world, show mercy, love you neighbor, and use your worldly possessions for the benefit of others as well as yourself. Amen.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Luke 16:1-13
So what do we do with the parable of the Dishonest Steward? Most of the commentaries I read on this parable said the same thing, “Do you think this parable is difficult, well you’re not the only one, good luck.” So much for modern day Christian scholarship.
We talked this morning in our Luther study about what makes a true theologian. Is a true theologian one of the cross or one of glory? A true theologian, according to Luther, is a theologian of the cross and is one that can distinguish between the law and the gospel. So let’s start there.
The Dishonest Steward has been given a job; manage the master’s business affairs. But he was not righteousness in his job therefore was wasting the master’s possessions. We are not told particularly how he was wasting them but he was wasting them none the less. I would imagine that if he was employed he had certain rules to follow and certain things were expected of him. Therefore his wasting of the master’s possessions was breaking those rules and expectations thus he was breaking the law. Thus this is the law part in this passage.
Being caught in his trespasses he was subjected to the consequences of his actions. He was to be fired. Break the law suffer the consequences.
What is unusual about this parable is that when a sinner is confronted with their sin that sinner, the Dishonest Steward, does not repent and receive the gospel. Rather he delves deeper into sin by stealing more form the master by erasing the interest due on the debts owed his master. Seeing that this servant was shrewd in his dealings, in other words he was creative in saving his own neck, the master decided that a man who knows how to manipulate the people for his own gain and thus profit from it is just the kind of man that he wants running his business. For this man is shameless in his dealings and will do anything for a profit.
“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” Who are the sons of this world? The master in this parable is the devil and the Dishonest Steward is a human who has fallen under his influence. The influence the master has on the Dishonest Steward is the love of money and personal security. You see when the Dishonest Steward proved that he truly loved money and not mercy, for if he desired mercy he would have begged the master for it but instead he went on in his sin trying to keep this sense of security. Jesus tells us that satan and those under his influence, the sons of this world, are tricky in their dealing with us. It may seem that they are doing something kind for us but in the end their actions are self serving. They are dishonest with little therefore they will be dishonest with a lot.
Who are the sons of light then? The sons of light are the ones who have heard the gospel and repented of their ways; the ones who have chosen God over money and things of this world. The sons of light have been trusted with little and have done well therefore they are now trusted with much. Here in lies the gospel of today’s parable.
You have a choice to make. Serve God or serve money. Are you here in this planet to accumulate as much wealth and possessions as possible? Or are you here to serve God by loving and serving your neighbor?
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” To be a honest steward is to use your unrighteous wealth, money and possessions, to gain friends so when your money and possessions fail you, when you die and they can no longer serve you, you will be received in to eternal life.
It is not bad to have money and possessions, as long as you use them to love and serve others and do not elevate them over God.
You cannot serve both God and money. Where are your priorities during the week? Where are your priorities on the weekends? During the week are you working for a paycheck to use to party on the weekends? Or during the week are you serving your neighbor through you God ordained profession with the result of a paycheck that allows you to provide for your family and your neighbors? Are you spending Sunday morning loving and serving your neighbors in your vocation or are you elevating work over church because you need the money. Are you at church if you are not working so that you may hear the gospel proclaimed thus building within you salific faith making you more useful for your family and friends? Or are you choosing the lure of money or self serving activities.
Are you serving God or money?
The gospel message in today’s reading is that you have a choice; there is hope, you do not have to be a slave to the devil and the things of this world. If you have been baptized then you are claimed by Christ, you are His. You are free to either squander that freedom or serve him and be rewarded with eternal life. If you have not been baptized then see me soon! We can baptize you anytime day or night. All we need is water, the Word and two witnesses.
You have been called by Christ to love and serve your family and neighbors with all of the resources at your disposal. Money, time, talent, love, kindness, selfless giving the list goes on. If you want to be free, truly free then turn away from the worship of things in this world that are finite and worship Christ who is eternal.
We talked this morning in our Luther study about what makes a true theologian. Is a true theologian one of the cross or one of glory? A true theologian, according to Luther, is a theologian of the cross and is one that can distinguish between the law and the gospel. So let’s start there.
The Dishonest Steward has been given a job; manage the master’s business affairs. But he was not righteousness in his job therefore was wasting the master’s possessions. We are not told particularly how he was wasting them but he was wasting them none the less. I would imagine that if he was employed he had certain rules to follow and certain things were expected of him. Therefore his wasting of the master’s possessions was breaking those rules and expectations thus he was breaking the law. Thus this is the law part in this passage.
Being caught in his trespasses he was subjected to the consequences of his actions. He was to be fired. Break the law suffer the consequences.
What is unusual about this parable is that when a sinner is confronted with their sin that sinner, the Dishonest Steward, does not repent and receive the gospel. Rather he delves deeper into sin by stealing more form the master by erasing the interest due on the debts owed his master. Seeing that this servant was shrewd in his dealings, in other words he was creative in saving his own neck, the master decided that a man who knows how to manipulate the people for his own gain and thus profit from it is just the kind of man that he wants running his business. For this man is shameless in his dealings and will do anything for a profit.
“The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.” Who are the sons of this world? The master in this parable is the devil and the Dishonest Steward is a human who has fallen under his influence. The influence the master has on the Dishonest Steward is the love of money and personal security. You see when the Dishonest Steward proved that he truly loved money and not mercy, for if he desired mercy he would have begged the master for it but instead he went on in his sin trying to keep this sense of security. Jesus tells us that satan and those under his influence, the sons of this world, are tricky in their dealing with us. It may seem that they are doing something kind for us but in the end their actions are self serving. They are dishonest with little therefore they will be dishonest with a lot.
Who are the sons of light then? The sons of light are the ones who have heard the gospel and repented of their ways; the ones who have chosen God over money and things of this world. The sons of light have been trusted with little and have done well therefore they are now trusted with much. Here in lies the gospel of today’s parable.
You have a choice to make. Serve God or serve money. Are you here in this planet to accumulate as much wealth and possessions as possible? Or are you here to serve God by loving and serving your neighbor?
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” To be a honest steward is to use your unrighteous wealth, money and possessions, to gain friends so when your money and possessions fail you, when you die and they can no longer serve you, you will be received in to eternal life.
It is not bad to have money and possessions, as long as you use them to love and serve others and do not elevate them over God.
You cannot serve both God and money. Where are your priorities during the week? Where are your priorities on the weekends? During the week are you working for a paycheck to use to party on the weekends? Or during the week are you serving your neighbor through you God ordained profession with the result of a paycheck that allows you to provide for your family and your neighbors? Are you spending Sunday morning loving and serving your neighbors in your vocation or are you elevating work over church because you need the money. Are you at church if you are not working so that you may hear the gospel proclaimed thus building within you salific faith making you more useful for your family and friends? Or are you choosing the lure of money or self serving activities.
Are you serving God or money?
The gospel message in today’s reading is that you have a choice; there is hope, you do not have to be a slave to the devil and the things of this world. If you have been baptized then you are claimed by Christ, you are His. You are free to either squander that freedom or serve him and be rewarded with eternal life. If you have not been baptized then see me soon! We can baptize you anytime day or night. All we need is water, the Word and two witnesses.
You have been called by Christ to love and serve your family and neighbors with all of the resources at your disposal. Money, time, talent, love, kindness, selfless giving the list goes on. If you want to be free, truly free then turn away from the worship of things in this world that are finite and worship Christ who is eternal.
Julius Diers Funeral Sermon
Joshua 4:1-7 (ESV)
4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
One evening when Julius was in the hospital I had the opportunity to visit with him just the two of us. As I had been taught in Pastoral Class this was the time for the preacher to ask the difficult questions.
You see one of the most rewarding times for a minister to proclaim the gospel to an afflicted soul is when they are near death. This is when they are listening, really listening. They have despaired of their own ability and are searching for comfort. Most of the world doesn’t know where to look for comfort so they look in many different places all of which leave them empty and still waiting for the comfort they seek. The only place to find comfort in this world is the Christian Church. And which church, you might ask, is the true Christian Church? The true Christian Church is wherever sins are being forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now God is omnipresent (present everywhere) so what is the difference between where sins are being forgiven and other places? Well my friends it the difference between God naked and God clothed. The naked God, God not clothed in Jesus Christ, is a God of wrath and is a God present yes but not present FOR YOU! As a matter of fact it is God present against you; this is the God of law, the God that seeks to shine the light of truth on your sins. In contrast God present clothed in Jesus Christ, hence forgiving sins: in confession, preaching, worship and in the sacraments is God FOR YOU! This is a God of grace, a God of love, a God who seeks to reconcile His beloved creation onto Himself at whatever cost. This is the God of the gospel. The God clothed in Jesus Christ, the God FOR YOU, is the God that the minister brings to an afflicted soul when they are near death. Please do not mishear me, I did not say that this is the God that a called and ordained minister of the church brings to an afflicted soul when they are near death; I said this is what a minister brings. You all ARE the ministers I speak of. Yes, for the sake of order, in most cases this task is performed by a called and ordained minister however ordination is not what qualifies you for this task. Baptism and a profession of faith in response to that baptism is what qualifies you for this task. You are the priesthood of all believers! You are qualified to proclaim the gospel!
Anyway back to my story. This was the time to ask the difficult questions. So I asked, “Julius, are you afraid to die?” Then waited for what I believed would be a positive affirmation of his fear thus I was standing ready to proclaim to him that on account of his baptism and his repentance his sins were forgiven. But, he sent me spinning. Seminary does not prepare you for the answer that Julius gave. He looked at me and said, “Pastor, the good Lord will take me when He is good and ready.” I was speechless. Which, for any of you who know me, know that this was a rare occasion.
You see in this world the rebellious human nature is always seeking better words from God. The human will asks, “Could it really be that salvation is found in a first century peasant whom claimed to be God incarnate, and was thus crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, the promised city, next to the sewer of the city in which unclean rotting animal carcasses were thrown?” “Surely not!” they say. “God must be holding back the good stuff from us. His very best must be hidden behind this man Jesus Christ whom John proclaims as the very Word of God in the flesh.” They then seek to get a peek at God in the nude; the naked God. And we have already discussed the result of that sad story.
But not Julius Diers! Julius took God at His word. In 1916, at First Lutheran Church, Jesus Christ claimed Julius as His own at his baptism. That Day Christ promised Julius that he would someday be with His Savior in the promise land, in paradise for eternity. Our reading from Joshua toady is a prelude to that promise. This reading describes Joshua leading the nation of Israel in to the land promised to Abraham and his offspring. Land on this earth was the promise to Abraham the promise of the old covenant. But Christ fulfilled that covenant, the covenant of the law, by his death on the cross and through His resurrection from the dead establishing the new covenant, the covenant of the gospel; the promise of eternal life for all who believe both gentile and Jew.
Julius Diers was a man of His word! When he gave his word he meant it and he did whatever it took to keep it! Julius understood the integrity of keeping one’s word, of keeping a promise. For goodness sake he promised to love Margret until the day he died! A littler thing like her death did get in the way this man of his word from keeping his promise. He was love sick for his bride 13 years after her death. He was love sick for his bride whom he toady has been reunited with for eternity.
Julius also knew how to keep the golden rule. Do on to others as you would have done to you! He taught his children that if you just follow God’s Word, you will never go wrong. He embodied scripture in his love and service to his neighbors.
Jesus made Julius a promise and he knew that if he, being a fallen rebellious human knew how to keep his word, how much more would the creator of the universe keep His. He was not scared to die; he was not scared because he knew whom he was going to meet face to face; his beloved Savior Jesus Christ and his bride who went before him.
In ancient Israel outside the city walls were rocks raised up on end. Each time God did something miraculous for His people they would set a stone on end to reminded them of the event. Jacob did it with a stone when he had the vision of the ladder to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. Today’s reading form Joshua is no different. You see this was an oral culture they didn’t write things down as very few people we literate. It wasn’t until the Babylonian exile that things were written down; when the fear of losing their oral stories their traditions hung in the balance. Before that time they raised up stones. When strangers to the cities came by they would ask what is with the stone, the people would then remember and tell the story of what God had done for them.
In a little while we are going to the cemetery where there is already a stone raised in memory of Julius. This stone means something. It isn’t there to remind us where he is buried; rather it stands to remind us of his life. Each time from now until the end of your days when you pass that cemetery, even if you cannot see the stone from the road, know that it is there and remember what God did for you, what God taught you, through his humble and beloved servant Julius Diers. Amen
4:1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
One evening when Julius was in the hospital I had the opportunity to visit with him just the two of us. As I had been taught in Pastoral Class this was the time for the preacher to ask the difficult questions.
You see one of the most rewarding times for a minister to proclaim the gospel to an afflicted soul is when they are near death. This is when they are listening, really listening. They have despaired of their own ability and are searching for comfort. Most of the world doesn’t know where to look for comfort so they look in many different places all of which leave them empty and still waiting for the comfort they seek. The only place to find comfort in this world is the Christian Church. And which church, you might ask, is the true Christian Church? The true Christian Church is wherever sins are being forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now God is omnipresent (present everywhere) so what is the difference between where sins are being forgiven and other places? Well my friends it the difference between God naked and God clothed. The naked God, God not clothed in Jesus Christ, is a God of wrath and is a God present yes but not present FOR YOU! As a matter of fact it is God present against you; this is the God of law, the God that seeks to shine the light of truth on your sins. In contrast God present clothed in Jesus Christ, hence forgiving sins: in confession, preaching, worship and in the sacraments is God FOR YOU! This is a God of grace, a God of love, a God who seeks to reconcile His beloved creation onto Himself at whatever cost. This is the God of the gospel. The God clothed in Jesus Christ, the God FOR YOU, is the God that the minister brings to an afflicted soul when they are near death. Please do not mishear me, I did not say that this is the God that a called and ordained minister of the church brings to an afflicted soul when they are near death; I said this is what a minister brings. You all ARE the ministers I speak of. Yes, for the sake of order, in most cases this task is performed by a called and ordained minister however ordination is not what qualifies you for this task. Baptism and a profession of faith in response to that baptism is what qualifies you for this task. You are the priesthood of all believers! You are qualified to proclaim the gospel!
Anyway back to my story. This was the time to ask the difficult questions. So I asked, “Julius, are you afraid to die?” Then waited for what I believed would be a positive affirmation of his fear thus I was standing ready to proclaim to him that on account of his baptism and his repentance his sins were forgiven. But, he sent me spinning. Seminary does not prepare you for the answer that Julius gave. He looked at me and said, “Pastor, the good Lord will take me when He is good and ready.” I was speechless. Which, for any of you who know me, know that this was a rare occasion.
You see in this world the rebellious human nature is always seeking better words from God. The human will asks, “Could it really be that salvation is found in a first century peasant whom claimed to be God incarnate, and was thus crucified outside the walls of Jerusalem, the promised city, next to the sewer of the city in which unclean rotting animal carcasses were thrown?” “Surely not!” they say. “God must be holding back the good stuff from us. His very best must be hidden behind this man Jesus Christ whom John proclaims as the very Word of God in the flesh.” They then seek to get a peek at God in the nude; the naked God. And we have already discussed the result of that sad story.
But not Julius Diers! Julius took God at His word. In 1916, at First Lutheran Church, Jesus Christ claimed Julius as His own at his baptism. That Day Christ promised Julius that he would someday be with His Savior in the promise land, in paradise for eternity. Our reading from Joshua toady is a prelude to that promise. This reading describes Joshua leading the nation of Israel in to the land promised to Abraham and his offspring. Land on this earth was the promise to Abraham the promise of the old covenant. But Christ fulfilled that covenant, the covenant of the law, by his death on the cross and through His resurrection from the dead establishing the new covenant, the covenant of the gospel; the promise of eternal life for all who believe both gentile and Jew.
Julius Diers was a man of His word! When he gave his word he meant it and he did whatever it took to keep it! Julius understood the integrity of keeping one’s word, of keeping a promise. For goodness sake he promised to love Margret until the day he died! A littler thing like her death did get in the way this man of his word from keeping his promise. He was love sick for his bride 13 years after her death. He was love sick for his bride whom he toady has been reunited with for eternity.
Julius also knew how to keep the golden rule. Do on to others as you would have done to you! He taught his children that if you just follow God’s Word, you will never go wrong. He embodied scripture in his love and service to his neighbors.
Jesus made Julius a promise and he knew that if he, being a fallen rebellious human knew how to keep his word, how much more would the creator of the universe keep His. He was not scared to die; he was not scared because he knew whom he was going to meet face to face; his beloved Savior Jesus Christ and his bride who went before him.
In ancient Israel outside the city walls were rocks raised up on end. Each time God did something miraculous for His people they would set a stone on end to reminded them of the event. Jacob did it with a stone when he had the vision of the ladder to heaven with angels ascending and descending upon it. Today’s reading form Joshua is no different. You see this was an oral culture they didn’t write things down as very few people we literate. It wasn’t until the Babylonian exile that things were written down; when the fear of losing their oral stories their traditions hung in the balance. Before that time they raised up stones. When strangers to the cities came by they would ask what is with the stone, the people would then remember and tell the story of what God had done for them.
In a little while we are going to the cemetery where there is already a stone raised in memory of Julius. This stone means something. It isn’t there to remind us where he is buried; rather it stands to remind us of his life. Each time from now until the end of your days when you pass that cemetery, even if you cannot see the stone from the road, know that it is there and remember what God did for you, what God taught you, through his humble and beloved servant Julius Diers. Amen
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Luke 15:1-10 09/12/2010 Word of Life
Nelson, you have a cow or two don’t you? Tell me would it be a wise business decieion to risk the safety of 99 of them to save one? Mary Lou, you are pretty good at budgeting money correct? Tell me would you turn all the lights on, sweep the floor, and clean your entire house if you lost a penny in an effort to find it? Most likely not. Well then what is the passage of scripture telling us today? Is it telling us that we should make poor business decisions and waste time looking for something that isn’t worth wasting time looking for? This is a trap that we can all fall into; the trap of believing that Jesus is only an example and that we should literally follow everything her says or demonstrates in his parables. You see Jesus hides the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven in parables so that those who do not have ears to hear do not hear. Jesus is not saying that if you are a shepherd you should risk the safety of 99 sheep for one, nor is he saying that you should spend precious time searching for a coin that is practically worthless. What he is doing is explaining the Kingdom of Heaven in terms of the kingdom of this world.
Luther believed that there are two kingdoms; the kingdom on the left, the kingdom of this world and the kingdom on the right, the Kingdom of Heaven. After a called and chosen Christian is baptized they have one foot in the kingdom on the left and one foot in the kingdom on the right; a dual citizenship if you will both sinner in the kingdom on the left and saint, a new creation in the Kingdom on the right.
Because a called and chosen Christian’s comprehension of the Kingdom of Heaven is limited Jesus uses images from the kingdom on the left to explain how things work in the Kingdom on the Right. So the question is not, “What would Jesus do?” Rather it is, “What is Chris telling us about the Kingdom of heaven in this parable?” If Jesus came to be an example for us to follow then we are saved through the works of the law that imitate His righteousness. This is simply not true. We are saved by faith in the risen Christ.
So, in today’s reading Jesus is not setting up a business plan nor is he telling you who you should spend you spare time rather he is saying that when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven no lost sheep is left unfound and no matter how small the worth of a coin it is precious to God and worth finding, in fact when either is recovered not only God but the entire citizenship of Heaven rejoices and celebrates.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled. They “dee-ag-ong-good'-zo.” deagongoodzo is Greek for: 1. to murmur 1a) either of a whole crowd, or among one another 1b) always used of many indignantly complaining. Luke uses this term to describe the actions of the Pharisees and the scribes many times in His gospel. There is a certain lack of integrity in grumbling. You see they want to discredit Jesus and His actions but they are not bold enough to speak loud enough from Him to hear.
Notice in both of Jesus’ parables today that God is the seeker. God is the shepherd. Shepherds were the outcasts of society the undesirables who roamed the prairies away from others for months at a time. God is also the woman, who apparently lives alone because she has no one to ask to help her search. And when she finds the coin she asks her neighbors, her “ghi'-tone” to come and celebrate with her. Ghi-tone is in the feminine gender here so she asks her female neighbors to come and celebrate with her. This woman does not have a husband if she did she would have invited her neighbor couples to come and celebrate with her. So God is the woman single frail, in this cultural context. But either way God is the protagonist in this story and He searches for the lost. He finds the lost and He brings them back. The coin and the sheep are both in the passive voice in Greek in these parables. They are completely passive to the seeker and the finder. God chooses God elects.
In His introduction to His commentary on the book of Galatians Vol. 26 of Luther’s works if you are interested, Luther explains the difference between active and passive righteousness. In the work of salvation the sinner, the elect, the chosen child of God is completely passive. And since God chooses you to bestow salific faith upon by the power of the Holy Spirit you are counted as righteous; righteous through faith, righteous through a faith that is given not found nor chosen. However after salific faith has been given the sinner is now free to and desires to adhere to God’s law. How well they adhere to God’s law is active righteousness. Active righteousness is for service to the neighbor it cannot save, but a broken sinner is saved by passive righteousness.
Let me ask you this, who celebrates with all of their neighbors when they find a lost animal? Who celebrates when they find a penny? I would be that the answer is few to none. These are everyday activities and do not warrant such a celebration. But when on sinner is given salific faith and they repent of their sins the entire host of angels and the entire citizenry of heaven rejoices.
These are interesting parables. You see most parables call for a sinner to repent of their sins, to see the wrongness of their actions. This parable is spoken to the Pharisees and the scribes. They don nto call for the repentance of the sinner rather they show that the sinner is completely passive in the action of salvation. So what is the message for us who have been baptized and chosen for the kingdom? Christ has already found us, how does this parable apply to us? We are not Pharisees or scribes are we? Well maybe. You see the Pharisees and the scribes are grumbling about Jesus eating with sinners. Sinners whom he has chosen to dine with. Sinners who He has chosen to preach to. And yet the religious leaders grumble about it. Do you know the next parable that Jesus tells in the Gospel of Luke? It’s the parable of the Prodigal Son. Which character in today’s reading are the Pharisees and the scribes acting like? Perhaps the son who stayed and did not wander. The one who was angry because the Father threw a celebration for a son who repented and did not deserve grace. Today’s reading is a warning to us to not be like the Pharisees and the scribes to not be like the older son who was jealous of the younger; it is a warning that you are God’s chosen, and therefore you must celebrate when God has mercy on one who does not deserve mercy. For instance is a MIUer came in here right now and confessed that he or she have received the salific faith given by the Holy Spirit you are not to scoff and say well I have been a Christina for xxxx years they are not as favored in the Lords eyes as I am. Or they do not deserve the grace of God. For if you deny the grace of God to the undeserving then you are not welcome by the grace of God at the feast.
We at Word of Life Lutheran Church exist to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through love and service to our neighbors. We are not to be selective of who we serve and we are not to ask if they deserve it. Yes we will in some instances be taken advantage of. But whether it is fair or not, whether the person deserves it or not, is not up to us we are commanded to serve and let Jesus judge the heart of the person.
Luther believed that there are two kingdoms; the kingdom on the left, the kingdom of this world and the kingdom on the right, the Kingdom of Heaven. After a called and chosen Christian is baptized they have one foot in the kingdom on the left and one foot in the kingdom on the right; a dual citizenship if you will both sinner in the kingdom on the left and saint, a new creation in the Kingdom on the right.
Because a called and chosen Christian’s comprehension of the Kingdom of Heaven is limited Jesus uses images from the kingdom on the left to explain how things work in the Kingdom on the Right. So the question is not, “What would Jesus do?” Rather it is, “What is Chris telling us about the Kingdom of heaven in this parable?” If Jesus came to be an example for us to follow then we are saved through the works of the law that imitate His righteousness. This is simply not true. We are saved by faith in the risen Christ.
So, in today’s reading Jesus is not setting up a business plan nor is he telling you who you should spend you spare time rather he is saying that when it comes to the Kingdom of Heaven no lost sheep is left unfound and no matter how small the worth of a coin it is precious to God and worth finding, in fact when either is recovered not only God but the entire citizenship of Heaven rejoices and celebrates.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The Pharisees and the scribes grumbled. They “dee-ag-ong-good'-zo.” deagongoodzo is Greek for: 1. to murmur 1a) either of a whole crowd, or among one another 1b) always used of many indignantly complaining. Luke uses this term to describe the actions of the Pharisees and the scribes many times in His gospel. There is a certain lack of integrity in grumbling. You see they want to discredit Jesus and His actions but they are not bold enough to speak loud enough from Him to hear.
Notice in both of Jesus’ parables today that God is the seeker. God is the shepherd. Shepherds were the outcasts of society the undesirables who roamed the prairies away from others for months at a time. God is also the woman, who apparently lives alone because she has no one to ask to help her search. And when she finds the coin she asks her neighbors, her “ghi'-tone” to come and celebrate with her. Ghi-tone is in the feminine gender here so she asks her female neighbors to come and celebrate with her. This woman does not have a husband if she did she would have invited her neighbor couples to come and celebrate with her. So God is the woman single frail, in this cultural context. But either way God is the protagonist in this story and He searches for the lost. He finds the lost and He brings them back. The coin and the sheep are both in the passive voice in Greek in these parables. They are completely passive to the seeker and the finder. God chooses God elects.
In His introduction to His commentary on the book of Galatians Vol. 26 of Luther’s works if you are interested, Luther explains the difference between active and passive righteousness. In the work of salvation the sinner, the elect, the chosen child of God is completely passive. And since God chooses you to bestow salific faith upon by the power of the Holy Spirit you are counted as righteous; righteous through faith, righteous through a faith that is given not found nor chosen. However after salific faith has been given the sinner is now free to and desires to adhere to God’s law. How well they adhere to God’s law is active righteousness. Active righteousness is for service to the neighbor it cannot save, but a broken sinner is saved by passive righteousness.
Let me ask you this, who celebrates with all of their neighbors when they find a lost animal? Who celebrates when they find a penny? I would be that the answer is few to none. These are everyday activities and do not warrant such a celebration. But when on sinner is given salific faith and they repent of their sins the entire host of angels and the entire citizenry of heaven rejoices.
These are interesting parables. You see most parables call for a sinner to repent of their sins, to see the wrongness of their actions. This parable is spoken to the Pharisees and the scribes. They don nto call for the repentance of the sinner rather they show that the sinner is completely passive in the action of salvation. So what is the message for us who have been baptized and chosen for the kingdom? Christ has already found us, how does this parable apply to us? We are not Pharisees or scribes are we? Well maybe. You see the Pharisees and the scribes are grumbling about Jesus eating with sinners. Sinners whom he has chosen to dine with. Sinners who He has chosen to preach to. And yet the religious leaders grumble about it. Do you know the next parable that Jesus tells in the Gospel of Luke? It’s the parable of the Prodigal Son. Which character in today’s reading are the Pharisees and the scribes acting like? Perhaps the son who stayed and did not wander. The one who was angry because the Father threw a celebration for a son who repented and did not deserve grace. Today’s reading is a warning to us to not be like the Pharisees and the scribes to not be like the older son who was jealous of the younger; it is a warning that you are God’s chosen, and therefore you must celebrate when God has mercy on one who does not deserve mercy. For instance is a MIUer came in here right now and confessed that he or she have received the salific faith given by the Holy Spirit you are not to scoff and say well I have been a Christina for xxxx years they are not as favored in the Lords eyes as I am. Or they do not deserve the grace of God. For if you deny the grace of God to the undeserving then you are not welcome by the grace of God at the feast.
We at Word of Life Lutheran Church exist to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through love and service to our neighbors. We are not to be selective of who we serve and we are not to ask if they deserve it. Yes we will in some instances be taken advantage of. But whether it is fair or not, whether the person deserves it or not, is not up to us we are commanded to serve and let Jesus judge the heart of the person.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Luke 14:25-33
Hate? Jesus do you really want us to hate our fathers, mothers, wife, children, sisters and brothers? “Miseo,” is the Greek word used here; if you do not “miseo” your family you cannot be my dieciple. Miseo is a Greek term that has many deep meanings, used here in the 3rd person, present tense, indicative mood, singular and active voice, didn’t know one word could have so many categories did you, well that is Greek for ya, it means: to be disinclined to, disfavor, disregard. So Jesus isn’t saying that one should hate their family, to do that would be to break the fourth commandment of honoring your father and mother. No, Jesus is saying I am first; your spouse or parents if you are unmarried are second, your children, if you have any, are third and so on. Jesus is calling you to put Him first.
Since Jesus is commanding something here we call this part of today’s text the law and remember Luther believed that the law has two functions or uses; Luther’s first use of the law declares that the law exists first and for most to regulate society. But in today’ passage Jesus is using the law in Luther’s second use which comes from Romans 3:20 which states:
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”
The second use of the law is to afflict the consciences of poor wretched sinners’ by making them aware that they are, in fact, poor wretched sinners therefore unable to live up to the law. Why would Jesus command something from us that He knows that we cannot perform to God’s satisfaction? For the purpose of putting to death our flesh and there by drive us to the realization that we are all in need of a Savior. Luther is quoted as saying, "It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ."
This is how law and gospel function in our lives. The law is constantly driving the human soul to the gospel by the afflicting of the human flesh, by requiring of that flesh what it is both unwilling and completely unable to do. This is the tension that we live in; the tension between saint and sinner. The good Rev. Dr. Sundberg told us yesterday, “You cannot have the gospel without law and you cannot have a God of love without a God of wrath.” He taught me that form Luther’s commentary on the Psalms.
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Again bear your cross, something that we have the neither ability nor the desire to do. So how does this get done in the life of a disciple of Christ? Through Baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In baptism the washing by means of water is not only a symbol of the washing away of our sins, it is also a symbol of our drowning. In baptism we are buried with Him in His death and then raised with Him in His resurrection. At baptism your sinful flesh is put to death and is therefore dead indeed. In your baptism you become raised as a new creation with Christ for eternity. You see your eternal life doesn’t start at your physical death, NO; it starts at your baptism. If you have been baptized you are new creatures, right now, living eternally. However even though your flesh is dead spiritually it is still functioning right here on earth for one purpose, to love and serve your neighbor thus calling God’s elect on to Him. And since you are both new creation and dyeing flesh you need both law and gospel.
Our lives, after baptism, are just one long drawn out crucifixion. Jesus is saying that if you are baptized into the faith and you respond to that baptism by seeking to follow the law all the while knowing that you cannot and are therefore in need of a Savior thus are saved by faith; then you are Christ’s disciple and you are being put to the cross to die daily and you are resurrected to new life daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who are in the Spirit are in Christ. Luther said a Christian life is a life of constant repentance.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” I have heard sermon after sermon on this passage that encourages people to actually sit down and figure out the cost of following Christ. How misguided is that. How do you think that I would have responded to Jesus if he would of came to me over 5 years ago and said, “you know Jamie I know that you live in a new home and make good money but I want you to follow me so you are going to lose everything even the house, be poor go back to school for 5 years all the while living on food stamps and the generosity of my body. Then I am going to send you to Southeastern Iowa to a small town where you will completely fall in love with the people and do mission.” And still remain financially dependent upon food stamps and the generosity of My body.” Do you honestly think I would have sat down and figured the cost of following Christ and then, in the lust for money and power said Okay doky JC let’s do it. ABSURD! Jesus doesn’t fully fill you in on the full cost of following Him so you can then make an informed choice. So much for decision theology. This parable about the builder counting the cost is a parable of Christ mission to the cross, FOR YOU!
Jesus is the wise builder who sat down and figured the cost of building His new kingdom by dyeing on the cross for the forgiveness of sins then being raise from the dead thus ending the old covenant and establishing a new one. Jesus is the wise builder, the wise king!! Not you and your decision. If it is up to Jesus’ finished work on the cross and then your decision to follow Him then salvation is Jesus plus! Jesus plus your decision. Then if that is the case you can sit around a try to determine if it is 90% Jesus and 10% you or is it 80% Jesus and 20% you? I will bet my life that it is 100% Jesus and 0% me! And I will find comfort in that reality.
The Holy Spirit engulfs us after our baptism both putting to death our flesh and nurturing and raising our soul to new life. For God’s purpose! Not you benefit! Because God chose you. If it has to do with you and your choice then it isn’t about Jesus. You can’t have both complete despair at the crushing accusation of the law and free choice. It just doesn’t work that way.
So where the gospel message in today’s reading? It is in the fact that Jesus has counted the cost and paid the price, built the tower calculated the war, and He is perfect and has not left the most important decision, the decision to follow Him, up to selfish, rebellious, and sinful human will. It too important of a decision for that.
You are sitting in front of a called and now ordained preacher sent to you for the purpose of declaring to you that you are Christ’s chosen and you can’t screw that up. Here is the gospel promise, here is the message today that will raise you up to new life, here is the proclamation that will give you salific faith.!!! Are you ready? Are you listening? Christ died and rose from the dead so that those whom He foreknew and predestined would have eternal life with Him. You are those foreknown and predestined. How do I know? You have been baptized and now sit in front of a true preacher, one who points to Christ alone for salvation, in response to the calling of Christ bestowed upon you at baptism. You are saved, Christ has chosen you and He sent me here to tell you so. AMEN.
Since Jesus is commanding something here we call this part of today’s text the law and remember Luther believed that the law has two functions or uses; Luther’s first use of the law declares that the law exists first and for most to regulate society. But in today’ passage Jesus is using the law in Luther’s second use which comes from Romans 3:20 which states:
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.”
The second use of the law is to afflict the consciences of poor wretched sinners’ by making them aware that they are, in fact, poor wretched sinners therefore unable to live up to the law. Why would Jesus command something from us that He knows that we cannot perform to God’s satisfaction? For the purpose of putting to death our flesh and there by drive us to the realization that we are all in need of a Savior. Luther is quoted as saying, "It is certain that man must utterly despair of his own ability before he is prepared to receive the grace of Christ."
This is how law and gospel function in our lives. The law is constantly driving the human soul to the gospel by the afflicting of the human flesh, by requiring of that flesh what it is both unwilling and completely unable to do. This is the tension that we live in; the tension between saint and sinner. The good Rev. Dr. Sundberg told us yesterday, “You cannot have the gospel without law and you cannot have a God of love without a God of wrath.” He taught me that form Luther’s commentary on the Psalms.
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Again bear your cross, something that we have the neither ability nor the desire to do. So how does this get done in the life of a disciple of Christ? Through Baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In baptism the washing by means of water is not only a symbol of the washing away of our sins, it is also a symbol of our drowning. In baptism we are buried with Him in His death and then raised with Him in His resurrection. At baptism your sinful flesh is put to death and is therefore dead indeed. In your baptism you become raised as a new creation with Christ for eternity. You see your eternal life doesn’t start at your physical death, NO; it starts at your baptism. If you have been baptized you are new creatures, right now, living eternally. However even though your flesh is dead spiritually it is still functioning right here on earth for one purpose, to love and serve your neighbor thus calling God’s elect on to Him. And since you are both new creation and dyeing flesh you need both law and gospel.
Our lives, after baptism, are just one long drawn out crucifixion. Jesus is saying that if you are baptized into the faith and you respond to that baptism by seeking to follow the law all the while knowing that you cannot and are therefore in need of a Savior thus are saved by faith; then you are Christ’s disciple and you are being put to the cross to die daily and you are resurrected to new life daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Those who are in the Spirit are in Christ. Luther said a Christian life is a life of constant repentance.
“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?” I have heard sermon after sermon on this passage that encourages people to actually sit down and figure out the cost of following Christ. How misguided is that. How do you think that I would have responded to Jesus if he would of came to me over 5 years ago and said, “you know Jamie I know that you live in a new home and make good money but I want you to follow me so you are going to lose everything even the house, be poor go back to school for 5 years all the while living on food stamps and the generosity of my body. Then I am going to send you to Southeastern Iowa to a small town where you will completely fall in love with the people and do mission.” And still remain financially dependent upon food stamps and the generosity of My body.” Do you honestly think I would have sat down and figured the cost of following Christ and then, in the lust for money and power said Okay doky JC let’s do it. ABSURD! Jesus doesn’t fully fill you in on the full cost of following Him so you can then make an informed choice. So much for decision theology. This parable about the builder counting the cost is a parable of Christ mission to the cross, FOR YOU!
Jesus is the wise builder who sat down and figured the cost of building His new kingdom by dyeing on the cross for the forgiveness of sins then being raise from the dead thus ending the old covenant and establishing a new one. Jesus is the wise builder, the wise king!! Not you and your decision. If it is up to Jesus’ finished work on the cross and then your decision to follow Him then salvation is Jesus plus! Jesus plus your decision. Then if that is the case you can sit around a try to determine if it is 90% Jesus and 10% you or is it 80% Jesus and 20% you? I will bet my life that it is 100% Jesus and 0% me! And I will find comfort in that reality.
The Holy Spirit engulfs us after our baptism both putting to death our flesh and nurturing and raising our soul to new life. For God’s purpose! Not you benefit! Because God chose you. If it has to do with you and your choice then it isn’t about Jesus. You can’t have both complete despair at the crushing accusation of the law and free choice. It just doesn’t work that way.
So where the gospel message in today’s reading? It is in the fact that Jesus has counted the cost and paid the price, built the tower calculated the war, and He is perfect and has not left the most important decision, the decision to follow Him, up to selfish, rebellious, and sinful human will. It too important of a decision for that.
You are sitting in front of a called and now ordained preacher sent to you for the purpose of declaring to you that you are Christ’s chosen and you can’t screw that up. Here is the gospel promise, here is the message today that will raise you up to new life, here is the proclamation that will give you salific faith.!!! Are you ready? Are you listening? Christ died and rose from the dead so that those whom He foreknew and predestined would have eternal life with Him. You are those foreknown and predestined. How do I know? You have been baptized and now sit in front of a true preacher, one who points to Christ alone for salvation, in response to the calling of Christ bestowed upon you at baptism. You are saved, Christ has chosen you and He sent me here to tell you so. AMEN.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sermon to Word of Life 08/29/10 Luke 14: 1, 7-10
I spent numerous hours pouring myself out over this reading from Luke entitled, “The Parable of the Wedding Banquet.” All of the commentaries I read talked about the social norms of the seat of honor and the hierarchy of the seating assignments given at a traditional Jewish wedding feast. Then they talked about being humble in life and out of your humbleness you will receive your reward in heaven. Well that all seemed like contextual and historical criticism and a lot of works righteousness to me. I could not stop thinking that there was more going on here than historical Jewish edict and a lesson of false humility put forth for the sake of a reward thus earning a prized place in heaven.
I believe that the idea of earning a place in heaven has been referred to as ladder theology. In ladder theology you spend your life climbing up the ladder of good works to God. How did that work for the folks who tried to build the Tower of Babel? Oh yeah! God came down and squashed their best efforts like it was an ant hill on a sidewalk.
Now don’t just take my word for it, you can strive to earn you righteousness by climbing that ladder. Just know that we do not climb up to God rather Jesus comes down to us. And if you try to climb up to Him you will be knocked on your keester by Jesus in His decent to give to you what you do not have the power, the ability, nor the skill to obtain; eternal righteousness, it is a free gift! It is not earned.
Well call me captain oblivious, but this parable is about a wedding banquet and our Hebrews reading for today encourages us to hold marriage in honor and not to defile the marriage bed. Oh! MARRIAGE! This parable is about MARRIAGE. DUH!
I have said it before that Christ is to the Church as a man is to his wife. It is not a mistake that in the Bible Jesus is referred to as the Bridegroom and the Church is called the bride of Christ. So the lesson of humility in today’s parable, “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Is not how you earn a better place at the table of the Lord in Heaven (although that might be true) it is telling us to be humble and seek the lowest position in our marriages so that our marriages may be exalted. Imagine if both spouses sought nothing else but to love and serve their beloveds. What would that look like?
However this is not the reality of Christian marriage in our world today. One in two Christian marriages, in our country, end in divorce; that’s 50%! Our society is one of self seeking, self serving, and indulgence of the sinful nature.
It’s not fair, I give them everything and I get nothing! It’s not fair I never get ME time! It’s not fair I deserve to have fun with my friends! That is a load of festering boils, oozing puss all over a pile of fresh hog crap! It is a lie out of the pit of Hell and a cry of the sinful nature to be gluttonous. Where in the marriage vows does it say that we are entitled to ME time? Where does it say that we are entitled to party with our friends? Those are self indulgent lies coming from the mouth of the great deceiver.
When we are joined in the union of marriage to our spouse our lives cease to be our own and they become one with the other. Married people have no business at a party or in a bar without their spouse. You are just asking for T-R-O-U-B-L-E! If you feel that the spark is gone in your marriage, or that things have become mundane, then get into prayer and the Word of God! Turn to your Savior to give you the strength to carry on in the vows that YOU took before Almighty God and your family and friends!
Adultery: is not just always a physical act. Adultery is any time one spouse gives to a member of the opposite sex what belongs to their souse. For instance if you are a woman and you turn to another man for comfort, support, or encouragement (other than your minister of course) no matter how innocent, then you are committing adultery. If you are a man and you turn to a woman other than your spouse in a lustful way to fulfill your ego, no matter how innocent, its adultery. I didn’t make these rules up people they are right here in the Word of God!
I am angry this morning folks. I have too much time talking with men whose wives have abandoned any hope of staying marriage. I have spent too much time watching as the sacred office of marriage is attacked and destroyed by satan and the sinful flesh. I can’t help you in your marriage when I want to save it far more than either of you
Thank God that there are couples in our congregation who are sold out to their spouses. I am begging you who know that you are still in love with your spouse to make yourselves available to those in this congregation who are fighting to keep their love alive.
When you honor your spouse in this way you are honoring Christ for the office of marriage is a peek into the intense intimacy that is to come with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the next life. If we do not fight RIGHT NOW for the sanctity and honor of the office of marriage then our faith in Christ will be close behind. Abandon the sacred office of marriage for the indulgence of the self and your love of the Savior will diminish as well.
God hates divorce! The Bible says so over and over and over. Do you think that it’s because it breaks His law? Well that is part of it but hate in Hebrew is stronger than just dislike. It is despised it puts a stench in the nostrils of God that is comparable to a pile of boils oozing pussing, well you get the idea. When we divorce the image of the relationship of the Savior to His Church is defiled, defamed, and degraded. This is why God hates divorce.
But keep in mind God hates divorce not divorced people. Divorce is sin divorced people are God’s beloved creation swirling is a pool of pain, agony, and personal distress. In the midst of our pain, yes even in the midst of divorce our Savior seeks us. But I beg you those whose marriages are in trouble. Talk about it with another couple; a couple who perhaps has been where you are. If you do not talk about it or seek to hide or deny it you are fueling the lie and giving your marriage over to satan.
So toady I stand before you my beloved congregation who has called, supported, and provide for Zanny and I and all of our needs. Join me this week in deep and heartfelt prayer for the office of marriage in our world, our country, our state, and yes even our congregation. Prayer and the Word of God heals, I am more than convinced.
I believe that the idea of earning a place in heaven has been referred to as ladder theology. In ladder theology you spend your life climbing up the ladder of good works to God. How did that work for the folks who tried to build the Tower of Babel? Oh yeah! God came down and squashed their best efforts like it was an ant hill on a sidewalk.
Now don’t just take my word for it, you can strive to earn you righteousness by climbing that ladder. Just know that we do not climb up to God rather Jesus comes down to us. And if you try to climb up to Him you will be knocked on your keester by Jesus in His decent to give to you what you do not have the power, the ability, nor the skill to obtain; eternal righteousness, it is a free gift! It is not earned.
Well call me captain oblivious, but this parable is about a wedding banquet and our Hebrews reading for today encourages us to hold marriage in honor and not to defile the marriage bed. Oh! MARRIAGE! This parable is about MARRIAGE. DUH!
I have said it before that Christ is to the Church as a man is to his wife. It is not a mistake that in the Bible Jesus is referred to as the Bridegroom and the Church is called the bride of Christ. So the lesson of humility in today’s parable, “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Is not how you earn a better place at the table of the Lord in Heaven (although that might be true) it is telling us to be humble and seek the lowest position in our marriages so that our marriages may be exalted. Imagine if both spouses sought nothing else but to love and serve their beloveds. What would that look like?
However this is not the reality of Christian marriage in our world today. One in two Christian marriages, in our country, end in divorce; that’s 50%! Our society is one of self seeking, self serving, and indulgence of the sinful nature.
It’s not fair, I give them everything and I get nothing! It’s not fair I never get ME time! It’s not fair I deserve to have fun with my friends! That is a load of festering boils, oozing puss all over a pile of fresh hog crap! It is a lie out of the pit of Hell and a cry of the sinful nature to be gluttonous. Where in the marriage vows does it say that we are entitled to ME time? Where does it say that we are entitled to party with our friends? Those are self indulgent lies coming from the mouth of the great deceiver.
When we are joined in the union of marriage to our spouse our lives cease to be our own and they become one with the other. Married people have no business at a party or in a bar without their spouse. You are just asking for T-R-O-U-B-L-E! If you feel that the spark is gone in your marriage, or that things have become mundane, then get into prayer and the Word of God! Turn to your Savior to give you the strength to carry on in the vows that YOU took before Almighty God and your family and friends!
Adultery: is not just always a physical act. Adultery is any time one spouse gives to a member of the opposite sex what belongs to their souse. For instance if you are a woman and you turn to another man for comfort, support, or encouragement (other than your minister of course) no matter how innocent, then you are committing adultery. If you are a man and you turn to a woman other than your spouse in a lustful way to fulfill your ego, no matter how innocent, its adultery. I didn’t make these rules up people they are right here in the Word of God!
I am angry this morning folks. I have too much time talking with men whose wives have abandoned any hope of staying marriage. I have spent too much time watching as the sacred office of marriage is attacked and destroyed by satan and the sinful flesh. I can’t help you in your marriage when I want to save it far more than either of you
Thank God that there are couples in our congregation who are sold out to their spouses. I am begging you who know that you are still in love with your spouse to make yourselves available to those in this congregation who are fighting to keep their love alive.
When you honor your spouse in this way you are honoring Christ for the office of marriage is a peek into the intense intimacy that is to come with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the next life. If we do not fight RIGHT NOW for the sanctity and honor of the office of marriage then our faith in Christ will be close behind. Abandon the sacred office of marriage for the indulgence of the self and your love of the Savior will diminish as well.
God hates divorce! The Bible says so over and over and over. Do you think that it’s because it breaks His law? Well that is part of it but hate in Hebrew is stronger than just dislike. It is despised it puts a stench in the nostrils of God that is comparable to a pile of boils oozing pussing, well you get the idea. When we divorce the image of the relationship of the Savior to His Church is defiled, defamed, and degraded. This is why God hates divorce.
But keep in mind God hates divorce not divorced people. Divorce is sin divorced people are God’s beloved creation swirling is a pool of pain, agony, and personal distress. In the midst of our pain, yes even in the midst of divorce our Savior seeks us. But I beg you those whose marriages are in trouble. Talk about it with another couple; a couple who perhaps has been where you are. If you do not talk about it or seek to hide or deny it you are fueling the lie and giving your marriage over to satan.
So toady I stand before you my beloved congregation who has called, supported, and provide for Zanny and I and all of our needs. Join me this week in deep and heartfelt prayer for the office of marriage in our world, our country, our state, and yes even our congregation. Prayer and the Word of God heals, I am more than convinced.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Sermon to Word of Life 08/22/10 Luke 13:22-30
Jane, “Do a lot of people like what they hear here on Sunday?” That is kind of a self serving question isn’t it? But it is one that is not too uncomfortable to ask or answer. For instance I am not asking Jane her sole opinion rather I am asking her impression of the larger group’s opinion. And I am not asking Jane if she likes my preaching, nor if the congregation likes my preaching, I am just asking in general do they like what they hear which may be music, scripture, preaching etc... However this question is not really what I am asking Jane is it? The question behind what I am really asking Jane is, “Do you like me?” Now that question is not as safe. It asks for a specific answer about a specific person. The answer to the real question being asked can either uplift and give hope or tear down and bring about despair. In our society we don’t always ask the questions that we intend to ask. This happens today in our gospel reading.
“Lord will those who are saved be few?” On the surface this seems like a great question. It is the desperate question; nay the desperate cry of a sinner looking for reassurance that there will be many called and saved thereby upping their chances of being included in that number.
Nevertheless, as with many questions asked in our society today, this question isn’t the real question. There is a question that is behind this one. The true question that the unidentified person is asking here is, “Will I be among those who are saved?” This question is the crux or the core of the matter. But this question is a scary one. “Will I be among the saved?” Wow, the answer to that question can only go one of two ways, and one of those ways I’m not for sure I would want to hear; What if the answer to this question was no! Talk about taking the wind out of your sails. No, no that question is too tough of one to ask, it may take away all hope. So instead the person asks Christ if it will be many who are saved. The answer to this question is not so definite and doesn’t put one’s personal eternity on the line.
Jesus answers, knowing the real question behind the smoke screen, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” That doesn’t quite get at it but it leaves hope and yet still leaves room for doubt. I think Zanny took lessons from Jesus. I will ask her, “Are you mad at me?” And she will answer, “Not really.” Well which is it?!!!!
“Strive to enter through the narrow door.” What is the narrow door? I asked myself this and assumed all week that it was Jesus. But now I am not for sure. If there is a narrow door this logically leaves the possibility of a wide door. Otherwise Jesus would have said strive to enter through the only door. Jesus says to strive to enter through the narrow door. I believe that Jesus is telling us to strive to enter through the door of the law. He is commanding works of the law from those who seek to follow Him. We are free from the law yes, but that is not a license to be a jerk. Jesus is saying you are now free from the law but you are also now free to abide by it. The freedom of a Christian is not freedom from something as much as it is freedom to do something. You see good works or works of the law come from a saved person not the other way around. Therefore if you are striving to enter through the door of the law then you are among the chosen because your works are coming from a heart of faith.
“When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.” When the master has risen; “eg i ro” in Greek; literally meaning: 1) to arouse, cause to rise 1a) to arouse from sleep, to awake 1b) to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life. “egiro” is the same Greek word use in Luke 24:6, “He is not here, but has risen.” Jesus is not the narrow door Jesus is the Master who when he rises from the dead will close the door. Jesus, when He rose from the dead, shut the narrow door of the law. And when you knock on the door of the law He will say to you, “I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!” As I said last week the judgment has been rendered we are all guilty of breaking God’s law and have been sentenced to death for our sins. And through the door of the law no one gets in. “And for those there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth;” Luther said that a true theologian of the cross calls a thing what it is, so let’s call this what it is HELL!
Yes Virginia there is a Hell for those who believe they can enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the door of the law and not through faith in Christ. It is not an imaginary place made up by early Christians who were too into Greek mythology. Hell is real and it exists for those who are cast out of the Kingdom for their unbelief.
“And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Who is first on earth? Those who are accepting of all beliefs? Those who live and let live? Those who say well there are many ways to God, Jesus is just one of them? These are the ones that Jesus tells us will come and say, “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.” Universalism and antinomianism have become a plague in the main line denominations for too long. Universalism is the attitude that whatever you believe you will be saved. Diane Eck popular Methodist author of the book, “Encountering God” is quoted as saying, “Jesus Christ is no more important than any Hindu avatar.” Antinomianism represents an extreme idea, wherein adherence to the Mosaic Law is considered inessential in the Christian lifestyle. Did you hear that? Allow me to repeat, antinomianism is the idea that as a Christian you do not have to and are not expected to adhere to the law. Does this sound familiar? It should its one of the heresies that Luther railed against. Oh wait you all are no Lutheran historians are you? So how does it sound familiar to you? Are you telling me that today in this day and age there are Christians who believe that the law has passed for those of us on earth and we are now free to go “willy nilly” into sin because we are saved regardless? But I say Jesus told you that you are still to strive to enter through the narrow door even if it is not possible. And St. Paul said in Romans that the gospel is not a license to sin. I think you are in agreement with me that homosexual marriage, homosexual ordination, and sex between two committed unmarried people is a product of this heresy. But you see those who follow this heresy will tell you that history is nothing and the authority of scripture is nothing because we are now “enlightened” and more educated than those silly Bible people. So we need to read the bible and history through the lens of our own conscience because we now know more. You mean through the lens of a fallen, broken rebellious to God conscience? Well I will have none of that thank you very much! And the very fact that you folks are sitting before me right now is proof that you won’t either.
We should and will continue to love and pray for our antinomianism neighbor, our Muslim neighbor, our homosexual neighbor, and yes even our Universalists neighbor. But we are absolutely not to condone their behavior and give them a pass as if their view is just as faithful.
Gabby is my three year old and I love her dearly. But if I saw her playing with razors I would take them away from her, even if it meant that she might be unhappy with me, even if it meant her saying and she has, “Daddy you hate me, your mean and I hate you.” Even then out of love, true love I would openly forbid her to continue in her harmful practices. Who is more loving to their neighbor; one who will let them persist in their sin on to their own damnation or the one who will, even at the risk of persecution, say, “No! I love you but what you’re doing is wrong and I will not condone it nor allow it.” Who is the one who truly love their neighbor?
I say the one who truly loves their neighbor is the one who will be viewed by society as last; as unenlightened, as an adherent to an ancient book in an ancient tradition that no longer applies today.
Jesus says that the last on earth will be first and will recline with Him at the table of the feast of the Kingdom of heaven. This is our gospel promise today. Even if your convictions make you last one earth you will still dine with the King in heaven. Because of your faith and trust in Christ.
Don’t miss hear me, Jesus is the only way to heaven and only through faith in him might one be saved. But in today’s reading the narrow door is the door of the law which we are now free to and asked by Christ to strive to enter for the good of our neighbor. And in today’s reading Jesus is not the narrow gate rather he is the master who will shut the door on those who seek to do good in the eyes of the world, and let in those who have faith in Christ and stand on their convictions for the sake of the gospel and as a example for their neighbor.
Fear not little flock , it isn’t easy but its faithful.
“Lord will those who are saved be few?” On the surface this seems like a great question. It is the desperate question; nay the desperate cry of a sinner looking for reassurance that there will be many called and saved thereby upping their chances of being included in that number.
Nevertheless, as with many questions asked in our society today, this question isn’t the real question. There is a question that is behind this one. The true question that the unidentified person is asking here is, “Will I be among those who are saved?” This question is the crux or the core of the matter. But this question is a scary one. “Will I be among the saved?” Wow, the answer to that question can only go one of two ways, and one of those ways I’m not for sure I would want to hear; What if the answer to this question was no! Talk about taking the wind out of your sails. No, no that question is too tough of one to ask, it may take away all hope. So instead the person asks Christ if it will be many who are saved. The answer to this question is not so definite and doesn’t put one’s personal eternity on the line.
Jesus answers, knowing the real question behind the smoke screen, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” That doesn’t quite get at it but it leaves hope and yet still leaves room for doubt. I think Zanny took lessons from Jesus. I will ask her, “Are you mad at me?” And she will answer, “Not really.” Well which is it?!!!!
“Strive to enter through the narrow door.” What is the narrow door? I asked myself this and assumed all week that it was Jesus. But now I am not for sure. If there is a narrow door this logically leaves the possibility of a wide door. Otherwise Jesus would have said strive to enter through the only door. Jesus says to strive to enter through the narrow door. I believe that Jesus is telling us to strive to enter through the door of the law. He is commanding works of the law from those who seek to follow Him. We are free from the law yes, but that is not a license to be a jerk. Jesus is saying you are now free from the law but you are also now free to abide by it. The freedom of a Christian is not freedom from something as much as it is freedom to do something. You see good works or works of the law come from a saved person not the other way around. Therefore if you are striving to enter through the door of the law then you are among the chosen because your works are coming from a heart of faith.
“When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.” When the master has risen; “eg i ro” in Greek; literally meaning: 1) to arouse, cause to rise 1a) to arouse from sleep, to awake 1b) to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life. “egiro” is the same Greek word use in Luke 24:6, “He is not here, but has risen.” Jesus is not the narrow door Jesus is the Master who when he rises from the dead will close the door. Jesus, when He rose from the dead, shut the narrow door of the law. And when you knock on the door of the law He will say to you, “I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!” As I said last week the judgment has been rendered we are all guilty of breaking God’s law and have been sentenced to death for our sins. And through the door of the law no one gets in. “And for those there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth;” Luther said that a true theologian of the cross calls a thing what it is, so let’s call this what it is HELL!
Yes Virginia there is a Hell for those who believe they can enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the door of the law and not through faith in Christ. It is not an imaginary place made up by early Christians who were too into Greek mythology. Hell is real and it exists for those who are cast out of the Kingdom for their unbelief.
“And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Who is first on earth? Those who are accepting of all beliefs? Those who live and let live? Those who say well there are many ways to God, Jesus is just one of them? These are the ones that Jesus tells us will come and say, “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.” Universalism and antinomianism have become a plague in the main line denominations for too long. Universalism is the attitude that whatever you believe you will be saved. Diane Eck popular Methodist author of the book, “Encountering God” is quoted as saying, “Jesus Christ is no more important than any Hindu avatar.” Antinomianism represents an extreme idea, wherein adherence to the Mosaic Law is considered inessential in the Christian lifestyle. Did you hear that? Allow me to repeat, antinomianism is the idea that as a Christian you do not have to and are not expected to adhere to the law. Does this sound familiar? It should its one of the heresies that Luther railed against. Oh wait you all are no Lutheran historians are you? So how does it sound familiar to you? Are you telling me that today in this day and age there are Christians who believe that the law has passed for those of us on earth and we are now free to go “willy nilly” into sin because we are saved regardless? But I say Jesus told you that you are still to strive to enter through the narrow door even if it is not possible. And St. Paul said in Romans that the gospel is not a license to sin. I think you are in agreement with me that homosexual marriage, homosexual ordination, and sex between two committed unmarried people is a product of this heresy. But you see those who follow this heresy will tell you that history is nothing and the authority of scripture is nothing because we are now “enlightened” and more educated than those silly Bible people. So we need to read the bible and history through the lens of our own conscience because we now know more. You mean through the lens of a fallen, broken rebellious to God conscience? Well I will have none of that thank you very much! And the very fact that you folks are sitting before me right now is proof that you won’t either.
We should and will continue to love and pray for our antinomianism neighbor, our Muslim neighbor, our homosexual neighbor, and yes even our Universalists neighbor. But we are absolutely not to condone their behavior and give them a pass as if their view is just as faithful.
Gabby is my three year old and I love her dearly. But if I saw her playing with razors I would take them away from her, even if it meant that she might be unhappy with me, even if it meant her saying and she has, “Daddy you hate me, your mean and I hate you.” Even then out of love, true love I would openly forbid her to continue in her harmful practices. Who is more loving to their neighbor; one who will let them persist in their sin on to their own damnation or the one who will, even at the risk of persecution, say, “No! I love you but what you’re doing is wrong and I will not condone it nor allow it.” Who is the one who truly love their neighbor?
I say the one who truly loves their neighbor is the one who will be viewed by society as last; as unenlightened, as an adherent to an ancient book in an ancient tradition that no longer applies today.
Jesus says that the last on earth will be first and will recline with Him at the table of the feast of the Kingdom of heaven. This is our gospel promise today. Even if your convictions make you last one earth you will still dine with the King in heaven. Because of your faith and trust in Christ.
Don’t miss hear me, Jesus is the only way to heaven and only through faith in him might one be saved. But in today’s reading the narrow door is the door of the law which we are now free to and asked by Christ to strive to enter for the good of our neighbor. And in today’s reading Jesus is not the narrow gate rather he is the master who will shut the door on those who seek to do good in the eyes of the world, and let in those who have faith in Christ and stand on their convictions for the sake of the gospel and as a example for their neighbor.
Fear not little flock , it isn’t easy but its faithful.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Luke 12:49-53 Delivered to Word of life Lutheran Church 08/15/2010
I was reading an atheist website this week that was commenting on this passage in Luke. The atheist said, “Well, if that is Jesus’ attitude then I don’t want to have any part of Him.”
“I have come to cast fire on the earth, and would that it already kindled!” In this sentence in Greek the wording of this passage would be literally, “Fire I came to cast on the earth!” By putting the word “poor” or fire first in the sentence shows the level of intensity that Jesus intended in this verse. I guess if I were an atheist and heard a passage like this I wouldn’t be interested either. But what if I was an atheist and saw Jesus bringing fire upon the earth? Well I guess, as my seminary professor good Rev. Dr. Sundberg says, I hope that I was wearing brown trousers.
What on earth is this passage all about? What about a God of love a God of peace? This passage is quite contrary to that image. Dennis, you have seven kids, you’re a love machine right? I mean you are a loving father. Did you ever get angry at any of your children? Let me ask them, Liz, have you ever seen you father anger? Did he ever inflict any kind of judgment or punishment on you? Well Dennis as a loving father, you are not limited to the emotion of tender, gentle, make peace not war kinds of emotion are you? Well if you being human are not limited to one nature the how can we possibly limit an eternal being like God to one nature? God is love but He is not only love.
Jesus says I have come to cast fire in the earth. Let’s consider this verse in light of the entire Bible not just one line. Where else in the bible to we hear about fire? How about in Exodus? Did God not lead the Israelites through the desert as a pillar of fire? And what about sacrifices made to God in the OT? Weren’t most of the “burnt” offerings? In 1 Kings 18 Elijah calls down fire from the Lord and it consumes the sacrifice. Then Elijah orders that all the prophets of Baal be slaughtered, and they are. And what about earlier in Luke 3:16, “John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water but He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Baptism, fire, judgment? Is it not completely fitting that we held our first Baptism at Word of Life today? Well perhaps I should explain a little further.
What is baptism? Baptism is the Word of God (Jesus Christ Himself) present in the water of the baptismal font. This Word present in the water permeates the life of the one being baptized making them a light to shine for the glory of Christ. The water alone is nothing rather the Word in the water pronounces to the person that they are claimed for Christ upon hearing this promise the Holy Spirit enters the person and delivers to them all that they need for saving faith. The person being baptized comes up from the water a new creation in Christ. Baptism, while witnessing to those watching does not function solely to witness. The only thing that is needed for baptism is water, the Word and two witnesses that promise to guide and direct the one being baptized. The ritual of baptism is a symbol of what will take place all throughout the life of that person.
What is it that is taking place? Well you can’t have a resurrection without a death. I have asked many people but I have never found anyone who has made it or thinks that they will make it out of this life alive. Everyone dies. During our lives we are creeping closer and closer to our physical death. Why do we die? Because God’s judgment has already taken place and each of us has been found guilty of our sin. As a result of this guilty verdict we have been sentenced to death. No one is innocent, no one gets out alive.
But the guilty verdict is not the last Word we hear from God is it. No! There is another. After we are sentenced to death by the law those who have been given saving faith in Jesus Christ at their baptism and have been nurtured in the saving faith in Jesus Christ thus responding to this saving faith in Jesus Christ are then resurrected as new creations and are given eternal life.
Does anyone know how gold or silver is purified? It is done through fire. Heating the metal up so hot that the sludge rises to the top. The sludge is then cleansed away from the metal and it becomes pure. The refining fire that Jesus claims that He has come to bring functions the same way. After our baptisms we live our lives through the refining fire of Jesus Christ. Why? So that Christ can make us into someone that is useful in the service of their neighbor. Then when the refining process is complete, at our physical death, Christ takes what is left, the purity of the new creation and grants them eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
This sermon may be hard for some of you to hear.
In our gospel reading today Jesus says, “and would that it were already kindled!” Jesus can’t wait until you join Him completely in the Kingdom of Heaven. After a person is baptized they are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. So we live our lives in a duality; completely condemned to death but completely forgiven and eternal. Simual ustes et percator, simultaneously sinner and saint.
“I have a baptism to be baptized with, how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” The Greek word “baptidzo” can mean “to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge 2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe 3) to become overwhelmed by God’s judgment.” Jesus is saying that He is going to the cross to be put to death under the Judgment of God; FOR YOU! And He is a little stressed out about it. As a matter of fact He says, “I will be in distress until IT IS Accomplished.” What are Christ’s last words on the cross? Oh yeah, “It IS ACCOMPLISHED!” There is no doubt that when Christ refers to the upcoming baptism that He will face He is talking about going to the cross.
So what about those who are kindled in the fire of the judgment of God and have not been given saving faith? What about the evil, the arrogant and the evildoers who seem to prosper in this life. Listen close because here is the promise Malachi 4:1-3, “4:1 [1] “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.”
Jesus goes on to say in our gospel reading for today “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” The peace that is promised through Christ is the peace found in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven not here on earth. We will never be at peace as long as evil exists in the world. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be times of peace or that we shouldn’t work for peace but it does mean that evil will always seek to destroy and disrupt peace and there will always have to be men and women who are called to protect the peaceful. Thank you Scott for your service.
This is the division that Jesus is talking about in the last part of this passage. When the Word of Christ, saving faith, really takes hold of a sinner they change. Their lives change, sometimes much to the dismay of their family and friends. What do you mean you won’t go to that movie with me? What do you mean that two beers is your limit, you used to drink with me all night! What do you mean you want to pray before dinner and eat together every night? What are you now some kind of pious Jesus freak? Don’t force your religious garbage on me! Take you Bible and thump it elsewhere I am not interested. And these very words may come from your best friend, your mom, dad or mother in law. But notice Jesus says nothing about husband and wife in this passage. He intentionally leaves out division in marriages because Jesus doesn’t will divorce. What God has joined let no man come in between. If you hear someone say and it is said in this day and age, God wanted me to get divorced may wife and marry my secretary, it is a lie and that person is being deluded by the devil. Now I am not saying that when one spouse turns to Christ and the other doesn’t, that division will not arise. What I am saying is that the division that arises is not of Christ. He came to separate the sheep from the goats not husband from wife. This doesn’t mean that divorced people are bad. I am sure that most of you do not realize that Zanny is in fact my second wife. It does means that even in and through Godly people evil will seek to destroy peace.
In God ordained relationships there is always a way but both parties are not always willing. This is a sad commentary on the state of marriage in our world today. And evil even seeks to pervert this God ordained office by legally bringing together same sex partners. This is against the order of creation, in these kinds of relationships St. Paul says in Romans chapter one God will abandon them to the lust and impurity of their hearts, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!
Let each of us pray for the sacred office of marriage in our world today. May God restore to it the purity, honor, and example of the Christian relationship. As husband is to wife so is Christ to the Church.
So Christ beings with Him the judgment of God however to those who have been baptized, thus bestowing upon them saving faith, there is no need to fear. Remember last week’s gospel reading? “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
“I have come to cast fire on the earth, and would that it already kindled!” In this sentence in Greek the wording of this passage would be literally, “Fire I came to cast on the earth!” By putting the word “poor” or fire first in the sentence shows the level of intensity that Jesus intended in this verse. I guess if I were an atheist and heard a passage like this I wouldn’t be interested either. But what if I was an atheist and saw Jesus bringing fire upon the earth? Well I guess, as my seminary professor good Rev. Dr. Sundberg says, I hope that I was wearing brown trousers.
What on earth is this passage all about? What about a God of love a God of peace? This passage is quite contrary to that image. Dennis, you have seven kids, you’re a love machine right? I mean you are a loving father. Did you ever get angry at any of your children? Let me ask them, Liz, have you ever seen you father anger? Did he ever inflict any kind of judgment or punishment on you? Well Dennis as a loving father, you are not limited to the emotion of tender, gentle, make peace not war kinds of emotion are you? Well if you being human are not limited to one nature the how can we possibly limit an eternal being like God to one nature? God is love but He is not only love.
Jesus says I have come to cast fire in the earth. Let’s consider this verse in light of the entire Bible not just one line. Where else in the bible to we hear about fire? How about in Exodus? Did God not lead the Israelites through the desert as a pillar of fire? And what about sacrifices made to God in the OT? Weren’t most of the “burnt” offerings? In 1 Kings 18 Elijah calls down fire from the Lord and it consumes the sacrifice. Then Elijah orders that all the prophets of Baal be slaughtered, and they are. And what about earlier in Luke 3:16, “John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water but He who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Baptism, fire, judgment? Is it not completely fitting that we held our first Baptism at Word of Life today? Well perhaps I should explain a little further.
What is baptism? Baptism is the Word of God (Jesus Christ Himself) present in the water of the baptismal font. This Word present in the water permeates the life of the one being baptized making them a light to shine for the glory of Christ. The water alone is nothing rather the Word in the water pronounces to the person that they are claimed for Christ upon hearing this promise the Holy Spirit enters the person and delivers to them all that they need for saving faith. The person being baptized comes up from the water a new creation in Christ. Baptism, while witnessing to those watching does not function solely to witness. The only thing that is needed for baptism is water, the Word and two witnesses that promise to guide and direct the one being baptized. The ritual of baptism is a symbol of what will take place all throughout the life of that person.
What is it that is taking place? Well you can’t have a resurrection without a death. I have asked many people but I have never found anyone who has made it or thinks that they will make it out of this life alive. Everyone dies. During our lives we are creeping closer and closer to our physical death. Why do we die? Because God’s judgment has already taken place and each of us has been found guilty of our sin. As a result of this guilty verdict we have been sentenced to death. No one is innocent, no one gets out alive.
But the guilty verdict is not the last Word we hear from God is it. No! There is another. After we are sentenced to death by the law those who have been given saving faith in Jesus Christ at their baptism and have been nurtured in the saving faith in Jesus Christ thus responding to this saving faith in Jesus Christ are then resurrected as new creations and are given eternal life.
Does anyone know how gold or silver is purified? It is done through fire. Heating the metal up so hot that the sludge rises to the top. The sludge is then cleansed away from the metal and it becomes pure. The refining fire that Jesus claims that He has come to bring functions the same way. After our baptisms we live our lives through the refining fire of Jesus Christ. Why? So that Christ can make us into someone that is useful in the service of their neighbor. Then when the refining process is complete, at our physical death, Christ takes what is left, the purity of the new creation and grants them eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven.
This sermon may be hard for some of you to hear.
In our gospel reading today Jesus says, “and would that it were already kindled!” Jesus can’t wait until you join Him completely in the Kingdom of Heaven. After a person is baptized they are a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. So we live our lives in a duality; completely condemned to death but completely forgiven and eternal. Simual ustes et percator, simultaneously sinner and saint.
“I have a baptism to be baptized with, how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” The Greek word “baptidzo” can mean “to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge 2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe 3) to become overwhelmed by God’s judgment.” Jesus is saying that He is going to the cross to be put to death under the Judgment of God; FOR YOU! And He is a little stressed out about it. As a matter of fact He says, “I will be in distress until IT IS Accomplished.” What are Christ’s last words on the cross? Oh yeah, “It IS ACCOMPLISHED!” There is no doubt that when Christ refers to the upcoming baptism that He will face He is talking about going to the cross.
So what about those who are kindled in the fire of the judgment of God and have not been given saving faith? What about the evil, the arrogant and the evildoers who seem to prosper in this life. Listen close because here is the promise Malachi 4:1-3, “4:1 [1] “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.”
Jesus goes on to say in our gospel reading for today “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” The peace that is promised through Christ is the peace found in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven not here on earth. We will never be at peace as long as evil exists in the world. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be times of peace or that we shouldn’t work for peace but it does mean that evil will always seek to destroy and disrupt peace and there will always have to be men and women who are called to protect the peaceful. Thank you Scott for your service.
This is the division that Jesus is talking about in the last part of this passage. When the Word of Christ, saving faith, really takes hold of a sinner they change. Their lives change, sometimes much to the dismay of their family and friends. What do you mean you won’t go to that movie with me? What do you mean that two beers is your limit, you used to drink with me all night! What do you mean you want to pray before dinner and eat together every night? What are you now some kind of pious Jesus freak? Don’t force your religious garbage on me! Take you Bible and thump it elsewhere I am not interested. And these very words may come from your best friend, your mom, dad or mother in law. But notice Jesus says nothing about husband and wife in this passage. He intentionally leaves out division in marriages because Jesus doesn’t will divorce. What God has joined let no man come in between. If you hear someone say and it is said in this day and age, God wanted me to get divorced may wife and marry my secretary, it is a lie and that person is being deluded by the devil. Now I am not saying that when one spouse turns to Christ and the other doesn’t, that division will not arise. What I am saying is that the division that arises is not of Christ. He came to separate the sheep from the goats not husband from wife. This doesn’t mean that divorced people are bad. I am sure that most of you do not realize that Zanny is in fact my second wife. It does means that even in and through Godly people evil will seek to destroy peace.
In God ordained relationships there is always a way but both parties are not always willing. This is a sad commentary on the state of marriage in our world today. And evil even seeks to pervert this God ordained office by legally bringing together same sex partners. This is against the order of creation, in these kinds of relationships St. Paul says in Romans chapter one God will abandon them to the lust and impurity of their hearts, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!
Let each of us pray for the sacred office of marriage in our world today. May God restore to it the purity, honor, and example of the Christian relationship. As husband is to wife so is Christ to the Church.
So Christ beings with Him the judgment of God however to those who have been baptized, thus bestowing upon them saving faith, there is no need to fear. Remember last week’s gospel reading? “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
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