Sermon - Reformation Sunday 2019

Romans 3:19-28                                      

                                                             Moving from Fear to Love

I am never quite sure, on Reformation Sunday, whether to emphasize what is unique about the theological tradition in which we stand or if it is better to talk about what we hold in common with the whole of Christianity. 

Martin Luther wanted to remain firmly rooted in the whole of Christianity.  He insisted that “No one be known by the name ‘Luther.’”   His immediate followers, as well as the folks who currently attend “Lutheran” Churches in Germany, we known as the Evangelischies, or Evangelical. 

Then again, it seems appropriate to spend a bit of time talking history.  More and more of those who find themselves in a Lutheran worship service got there by means of a differing route that baptism in a Lutheran congregation and three years of instruction in Lutheran Catechetical class.  So, maybe we do need to spend some time speaking with the voice which is uniquely ours.

The decision on which way to go came during the discussion a few of us shared last Sunday.  I found myself asking why it is important that there be a Lutheran church at all.  Why should we give of our time, talent, and treasure in order to keep this place running?

The answer has to do with the opportunity to gather each week and practice forgiveness.  You heard me right – practice forgiveness.  The world is not a place where forgiveness is readily offered.  When the world discovers a mistake or a short-coming there is pouncing and exploitation.  Seldom is there understanding and forgiveness.

Lutherans are not unique in that we are the only denomination which believes in and practices forgiveness.  But our history begins there.  And while there are issues which divided the Church during that period of history called The Reformation, it was the centrality of God’s grace which served as the impetus for the Lutheran theological tradition.

The whole of the Reformation can trace its origins to the fear Martin Luther had that he was not going to be saved.  His life story (which I will turn to in just a moment) returns time and time again to the issue of whether God would or could forgive him.   His writings, his sermons, his table talk conversations were all geared toward helping others come to understand that God’s grace is boundless and God’s forgiveness is always at hand.

Luther lived in a time when life was rather bleak.  Some peasants (his father among them) had started scratching their way up out of the pits by means of increased mechanization and an openness to an emerging merchant class.  Hans Luther had great hopes for his son.  He spent a good sum of that hard earned money to send Luther to the Latin School in Esienach and finally to Law School in Erfurt.  But the young Luther was not at peace with himself.  In conversations with his classmates he revealed a disdain for the pleasures and trinkets of the world.  He was drawn to the life of a monk; he expressed a desire to spend his time contemplating the fate of one’s soul.

The crucial point came as he as making his way back to Erfurt from his parent’s home.  A terrible lightening storm had come up and he was frightened.  When a bolt struck close by him he is reported to have considered it an attack from an angry God.  He prayed to Saint Anne to intercede on his behalf, promising that if she were to see to his survival he would enter the monastery.  As one Lutheran historian was quick to quip – “She did; so he did.”

But Luther’s attempts to appease and angry God did not end there.  Even among the monks he was unique in his attempts to demonstrate his dedication to God.  It was reported that he would often throw off his blankets.  He would punish himself with long hours in the confessional booth. 

In the end, it was his confessor, Stauptz, who exposed to Luther his misguided attempt at justification.  After one particularly long and tedious attempt at delineating his sins, Stauptz lost patience with Luther and snapped at him, “Good God man!  All that is required is that you love God!”  “Love God?”  Luther is reported to have replied, “I hate God!”

You cannot love a God whom you believe is looking for every opportunity to condemn you to hell.  You cannot love a God who sets up traps to lead you away.  You cannot love a God who is vengeful and ready to condemn.  The God who is lovable is the God whose grace is abundant and never ending.  The God who is lovable is the God who is more ready to forgive that we are to ask for forgiveness. 

Every Christian denomination in the world would agree with this.  Lutherans are not unique in believing this.  What makes us unique is that we begin (and end) every theological discussion there.  Our history compels us to return over and over and over to the central affirmation that nothing should ever be allowed to cause us to doubt the abundance of God’s grace.

If it has been a while since you read the Augsburg Confession (that is the foundation document for the Lutheran Theological tradition) if it has been a while since you read it, I suggest that you do so soon.  You will find two articles which deal with the issue of Free Will.  These articles lay before us the role of grace in the assurance of salvation.

The first is Article 4 which speaks of the complete absence of free will when it comes to salvation.  Salvation is the gift of God, it is the act of God, and it is totally beyond us and our influence.  This is not an addition to the message of the scriptures – it is what lies at the center of the New Testament.  Read also that Romans text printed in your bulletin.  Or the whole of the book of Galatians – sometimes referred to as the Christian Megna Carter.  We are justified by (God’s) grace as a gift.

There is a second article in the Augsburg Confession which addresses free will with regard to temporal things.  The writings of our church affirm that we do have the ability to choose how we will respond to the goodness of God’s mercy.  Article 20 points out that we can chose to do good or we can choose to misuse our freedom.  Our good works are added to our faith, but it is not a prerequisite.  

Many in our world, in our neighborhood, will abuse God’s unlimited eagerness to forgive.  But their misuse does not change God or God’s attitude toward creation. 

God remains loving and forgiving; compassionate and merciful.

Lutherans are not the only ones who speak of God in this way, but we are among those who speak of it most often and most clearly.  There is not a Christian in the world who would disagree with the Lutheran rally cry of “Justification by grace through faith.”  It just that some of them would emphasis the faith over the grace; or speak of faith in a way which makes it something other than a trusting relationship.  You can make faith as much of a “work” as any other prescribed by the law.

Our observance of Reformation Sunday should not take the form of a celebrations to glorify Martin Luther or the congregations which bear his name.  What this day should be about it a strong and faithful reminder that it is God’s grace which saves us; God’s grace, and nothing else.  Faith, itself a gift from God, is the vessel which makes it possible for that grace to reside in us.  It is God’s grace which saves us, and since our God is a gracious God there is no ending to his salvation. 

There is no fear that it will come to others and skip over us.  And there should never be any doubt that God has forgiven us of our sins.

Amen.

Sermon - 19th Sunday after Pentecost - Year C

Luke 18:1-8

                                                                        An Unjust Judge 

I want to set aside all the techniques and tricks associated with preaching a sermon and say one thing with as much clarity as I possibly can:  In this parable, Jesus is not placing God in a parallel position to the unjust judge.  There are no shared traits between the two and the parable does not imply one.  The only reason Jesus speaks of this unjust judge is so we can see that contrary to his nature and attitude he finally does what it is that God is prepared to do from the very beginning.

Look at verse 7:  “Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?  Will (God) delay long in helping them?”

Jesus’ encouragement to pray always and not lose heart is not rooted in a fear that God is only sometimes listening or has to be worn down through pesky persistence.  It is Jesus encouragement to continue to pray, even when we fail to “find faith on earth”.  Jesus tells us not to lose heart, even when it seems as if there are far too many unjust judges who continue to stand in the way of God’s hope and vision for life on earth.

Have I said this with sufficient clarity?  Anyone still unable to hear Jesus’ words?  If anyone is having difficulty, it is most likely as a result of some exchange in your past in which you were allowed to think that the number of prayers or the repetitions in petitions or the spiritual purity of the person praying make some difference in God’s response.  Shame on anyone who told you this or any preacher who preached this!  Again, that is why the unjust judge is in this parable.  So we will quickly recognize that God operates differently.  God operates much differently.  The Lord (does) keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.

This is most certainly true – but it might not feel this way.  There are many instances in which the way of God is hindered.  There are multiple examples of God’s Word being ignored.  And while the Law of Moses makes it clear how we are to treat others, that law is broken over and over and over again.

The widow in this morning’s reading can be Example A. 

This legitimacy of woman’s case is not the issue.  The problem is the one to whom she must make her appeal.  By this man’s own admission, he has no fear of God or respect for anyone.  He just doesn’t care.  He is flagrant in his failure to abide by the standards of justice for which he now serves as judge.  In the laws of the Jews, widows are given a special place.  It is called a “preferential treatment.”  It means their claims are to be advanced beyond their merit.  Widows (and orphans) are to be treated differently; be treated better.

This was obviously not happening in the “certain city” Jesus speaks of in his parable.  An unjust judge sat in the judgement seat and that judge took his motivation from something other than the Word of God.

Seeing this, perhaps realizing how true this was in far too many cities, the followers of Jesus could easily begin to lose heart.  Why would they bother to pray?  Why should we trust in God - when all around us deception and corruption and self-advancement are winning the day?  They may have been prepared to answer to Jesus’ question as to whether the Son of Man would find faith on earth when he returns.  The evidence.  Their life experiences.  Suggested the answer may very well be “No.”  There are too may unjust judges, and too few able to put them in their place. 

But, thankfully, there are some pesky widows, emboldened by Jesus’ admonitions, and they won’t leave alone those who would deny the justice of which God speaks.

I want you to look at verse 5.  You sports fans will be delighted to hear that there is a sports metaphor here which has been lost in the translation to English.  The encounter, in its original tongue, makes use of a boxing metaphor.  See that phrase, wear me out?  A better translation would be “give me a black eye.”  This judge is worried that this pesky little widow might land a right hook.  Pesky; feisty; not easily dismissed - this representative of Jesus’ disciples will not allow those who disregard God disregard the call for God’s will to be done.  The God who is more ready to listen than we are to pray sends among us those who will not be silent or silenced.

God hears our prayers and does not delay long in helping.  If there doesn’t seem to be evidence of this in the places where we live, maybe it because the pesky/feisty followers of Jesus have abandoned the things for which Jesus has taught us to pray.

There is rarely a week when our congregational prayers fail to mention the beauty of creation and our appreciation for all that God has made.  And yet, our prayers are quickly forgotten when we have reason to discuss environmental protection or global warming agreements.

Every Sunday we ask God to bless and care for the homeless.  Then, during the week, we are silent as refugees are denied entry and deported.

Christians love to feed the hungry.  But questioning why the poor have no bread is considered “political” and off limits on a Sunday morning.

We pray for the sick and those who care for them and then ignore opportunities to provide universal health care.

The parable Jesus tells is very clear – this woman is seeking justice.  “Justice” may have been the last thing this unjust judge wanted to see.  Justice is quite often avoided or skirted or denied by those who have no fear of God nor respect for others.

God will not turn a deaf ear.  God stands ready to see that justice is meted out.  Some of Jesus’ followers will lose heart, precisely because they see the creative and crafty ways that justice is avoided.

But we know not to worry.  When the Son of Man comes he will find faith on earth.  The Son of Man will find faith in us.  And he will see how that faith has motivated us to advocate for a living wage for all workers and a full stop to any tolerance of gun violence. 

The unjust judges are among us.  And in too many instances they sit in the judge’s seat.  But among us too are pesky widows insisting that governing norms do give preferential treatment to the least among us.  God bless you +, in your faithful service to God.  Lift your prayers and do not lose heart as you live out the baptismal calling to see that God’s will is not only done on earth is being done by you.

Amen.

Sermon - 18th Sunday after Pentecost - Year C

Luke 17:11-19

Being Grateful

     I want to thank you for allowing me a week of vacation so soon after starting as your Interim Pastor.  Laura and I spent these days in Chicago.  It was “Homecoming” at the seminary.  We are both graduates of The Lutheran School of Theology.  That is where we met and started our courtship.  It was a great opportunity to see friends, relive fun moments as well as challenging experiences, and to make new acquaintances.

      In making those new acquaintances, we found common ground in those who had been our professors and mentors.  In starting to get to know you, I would learn much about you from the way you speak of your experience in a classroom with Karl Bratton, or Author Voobus, or Frank Senn.  You learned a lot about the person and gained insights to their decades of ministry by hearing to whom they gave recognition for their formation. 

     None of us get to where we are alone.  We are formed by our encounters with others.  All good gifts have an impact on us and they make of us what we have become.  Some recognize this.  Some pretend they got to where they are on their own.

     In returning to thank Jesus, the cleansed leper as acknowledging how this encounter had changed his life.  By giving praise to God, this Samaritan is making it clear that he did not do this on his own.

     None of us get to where we are alone.  All good gifts have an impact on us and they make of us what we have become.  Some recognize this.  Some pretend they got to where they are on their own.

     We are in the midst of our fall stewardship campaign.  There are vestiges of “talking about money” in this sermon.  Let me make sure to be real clear, this preacher has very little interest in talking about something as inconsequential as those folded green things in your purse.  But this preacher has served enough congregations to know that those digits in our bank accounts follow the path taken by our hearts and our ambitions.  It would not upset as many folks if stewardship campaigns were “about money.”  What upsets most of us is being asked to look at what the way we use money says about our lives.

     Some want to assert they got to where they are as a result of their own efforts and hard work.  Others are more prepared to see how God’s good gifts have made possible the good things which have come into their lives.

     Again, I want to suggest this is what we learn from Luke 17.  This story teaches what we might not readily see.  In these verses, it is obvious that the man’s needs were met by Jesus.  It may not be as obvious to us.  If professors and mentors in graduate school have such an impact on how we carry out our professional work, think of the impact an every present and all loving God has had.  The encounter in Luke 17 is a challenge to us – it asks us whether we are aware of the need to offer thanks and praise.

     This morning is the first meeting of this congregation’s Confirmation Ministry Class.  Keeping with the rotation Pastor Miles had established, we are looking at the Apostles’ Creed.  I am sure you ask your pastor to teach the Catechism to your children because you have already committed it to memory and know of its wisdom.  Am I right? 

     As a reminder, we reprinted portions of Luther’s explanation of the first article of the Apostles’ Creed on the inside cover of your bulletin.  Look at it with me:  In Luther's Small Catechism we are reminded that everything we have is a gift from God.  "God has given me and still preserves my body and soul: eyes, ears, and all limbs and senses; reason and all mental faculties.  In addition, God daily and abundantly provides shoes and clothes, food and drink, house and farm, spouse and children, fields, livestock, and all property - along with the necessities and nourishment for this body and life."

     Some may pretend they got to where they are as a result of their own energy or effort.  But we believe and teach that all good things are a gift from God.

     The seminary professor who had the greatest impact on my formation is Phillip Hefner (no relation).  He does his theology from the perspective of the creation.  He sees the workings of God as nudging us toward an as-of-yet undetermined future.  His somewhat overused description of our place in God’s cosmos was to refer to us as “created co-creators.”  Hefner formed us to think of ourselves as God’s agents in making the world the place God would prefer for it to be.  It is for this reason that I lift my voice with regard to climate change.  Seeing myself as a created co-creator leads me to advocate for a society in which education is readily available.  I have had the benefit of others looking out for me and caring for me.  God has blessed me in so many ways.  Aware of how I got to the good place in which I find myself, I will return to give thanks.  That expression of gratitude will involve using all the resources at my disposal to see that others are also afforded the opportunities from which I have benefited so greatly.

     Some – maybe as many as nine out of ten – will scurry on their way.  But the impact of one who returns is profound.  Details about the nine are lost.  For two thousand years the individuality of the one has been lifted up and celebrated.

     Some want to assert they got to where they are as a result of their own efforts and hard work.  Others are more prepared to see how God’s good gifts have made possible the good things which have come into their lives.

Amen.

Sermon - Pentecost 17 - Year C

2 Timothy 1;1-14 & Luke 17:5-10                                                    

                                                Having All That is Needed

This Sunday might be a bit of a let-down after last Sunday.  It won’t take many days (probably won’t even take a few hours) for you to forget what is said in this morning’s sermon, but those who were here last Sunday will long remember the sermons offered by three of our high school seniors.  Am I right?  During the week that has ended, I heard not simply words of appreciation for those three reflections, but the content which was shared. 

Do not be concerned.  I am not offended.  In fact, as an Interim Pastor this is exactly what I hope to hear.  Your comments about the sermons of Anna Rush and John Wallace and Ryan are the perfect affirmation that in this place God has blessed us; God has been good to us; and God has made of us a wonderful community of faith.

     

It is a living experience of Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, where he speaks of guard(ing) until that day what (has been) entrusted.  Each of the three of them told you how you had impacted their lives and how this community of faith had sustained them.  Again, in that letter of Paul to Timothy, we are made aware that faith is not something snatched out of the air, it is something passed from one generation to the next.  We pass on to those who come after us the marvelous gift which we have received.  In order for the good to continue, it is essential that the next in line have the confidence of those who have gone before.

    

Those who have gone before do have a confidence, carried on shoulders which have experienced life’s challenges.  Maybe our minds don’t allow us to recognize what our lives reveal, but the reality is not lost on those who look up to those who have gone before.  This congregation is a re-write of Paul’s words to Timothy in which he says, “I am reminded of our sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.”

            “Faith” is the theme which pulls together each of today’s readings.  The Gospel lesson begins with Jesus speaking of faith in a quantity equal to a mustard seed.  At this week’s Thirsty Thursday, we looked up how tiny a mustard seed really is.  Small.  From one perspective, mustard seed sized faith is frightening.  From another perspective, it is all that you need, and then some.

    

The apostles say to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  They had seen him work countless other miracles; surely, he could handle this one.  He hears their request, I am sure that he does, but he doesn’t meet it.  He does not “increase” anything in them.  Rather, he tells them that what they have is enough.  He assures them that even the tiniest kernel of faith will see them through.  “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea.’ and it would obey you.”  All too often we mis-hear this and think that Jesus is setting some baseline for faith.  We mistakenly think that he is saying, you need to amass enough faith to make trees abandon their God-given location and go to some place where they are no good to anyone and will surely die.  Jesus isn’t setting some impenetrable baseline – he is assuring us that what we have is enough.  It is plenty.

This Gospel story is in that in-between time - the time between realizing that Jesus’ life will end with rejection and crucifixion and that time when they will enter Jerusalem and see all this come to pass.  What the apostles are about to face is going to be tough.  There will be days, many days, when their faith will seem to be too thin to sustain the life they have taken on.  Jesus wants to assure them that their faith isn’t too small, even if it is only the size of a mustard seed.  It is enough.  It is not the amount of faith which one has which matters; what matters is the One with whom that faith connects us.

I was heartened a few years ago with the release of Mother Theresa’s memoir.  She shared what I have so often felt – doubts.  There have been times when I felt as if I didn’t have enough “faith” to carry out my office.  There are times when I have to force myself to find something to say.  At such times, when some sort of a spiritual connection to an unseen heavenly being lags, it is my faith in the work of God’s people which sustains me.  I continue, in those difficult times, because I can see in others the faith which I desire.  Sometimes, my “faith” seems too thin to support the weight of living in the real world.  It seems too thin, but it isn’t.  It may only have the size of a mustard seed – but that will do.

Martin Luther once described the Church as one poor slob in the ditch, trying to help another poor slob out of the ditch.  We are in this constant struggle to find the confidence we need.  Jesus tells his disciples not to worry about amassing enough to do great things.  “The little bit you already have,” he tells us, “is enough.”  This is the true story of what took place here last week – and what will continue to make this place a beloved community of God’s people.  We are a gathering of God’s children in which those who have gone before can testify (sometimes with words, more often with lived experience) that from one generation to the next we will pass on the assurance that God is good, that God is great, and that God is with us.  This too, may seem like a small thing to those of you with many years of life experience.  But it is a gift beyond value to those who are just getting ready to start out in that great big world.  It is the opportunity for interaction between those who have had decades to develop this confidence and those whose lives are barely one-decade old that makes this the ideal place for the uprooting of mulberry trees. 

Amen.