Citizens of the Kingdom

I preached this sermon a couple of years ago.  I thought it appropriate on this election day.  The text is Romans 13:1-10.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It was difficult to watch the warzone now known to the world as Ferguson, MO.  It was difficult for me because Ferguson is a community of the greater St. Louis area – the place I consider home.  Businesses looted at will, fires, general mayhem – throw military vehicles into it, and it just doesn’t look or feel right at all.  It’s all wrong.  This isn’t the way daily life in America is supposed to be.  That’s probably why every form of mass media invaded Ferguson – which, in reality, only made it worse and fueled the fire even more.  A police officer who happened to be white shot, and killed a young man who happened to be black.  And tensions and issues about government, race, and justice exploded.  Everything was exploited.  Everything was a mess.  “No justice, no peace!”  “Hands up, don’t shoot!”  The privilege to peaceably assemble and the right of government to keep order and peace all collided, and we’re still trying to sort it out.  But graciously, the media has moved on.  The media is no place for a trial.  The media doesn’t bring peace and order.  So now - if everything works the way it’s supposed to - the governing authorities and the citizens of Ferguson will do the hard work of putting the pieces back together, make sure justice is served righteous manner, and find a way to live in peace.

Government.  That’s almost become a dirty word in America today.  How big should government be?  How small should it be?  What programs should government run or not run?  How do we deal with corruption?  How much function, or dis-function is right?  Taxes – how much and for what?  I wouldn’t call this a national “conversation” right now – more like an argument.  Why is Pastor Jon talking about this from the pulpit?  Because Paul is saying something about government in our text for today.  But he doesn’t answer any of those questions.  Paul doesn’t talk about the structure and machinations of government.  But he does talk about the authority and purpose of government – and our responsibility to the government.  All authority is God’s.  No matter what we think – which being the sinners we are, we think we have all authority – all authority over creation is God’s.  In fact, Jesus is the one who has that authority.  End of the Gospel according to Matthew: “All authority under heaven and earth has been given to me.”  So Paul writes:

“For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”        

Do you get what Paul is saying here?  Government has been instituted by God.  Not just one, or a few, special nations – ALL governing authorities around the globe have been instituted by God.  And remember when Paul is writing this – during the rule of the Roman Empire.  Nero was probably the emperor at the time – hardly an example of righteous, benevolent governance!  What about tyrannical governments today around the world?  Are they instituted by God?  Yes.  But those given the authority of government are not exercising their office in a just, lawful manner.  Despite all this Paul says, “Be subject to the governing authorities.  They are instituted by God for your good.  Whoever resists them, resists God himself – and if you do resist, expect judgment.  So you don’t want to live in fear?  Do what is lawful and good, and the government will leave you alone.  Are you doing something against the law?  Be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain.  Government carries out the wrath and vengeance of God.” 

Let’s apply all of that to the real world in Ferguson.  Our constitution gives its citizens the privilege to peaceably assemble.  Peaceful demonstrations against our own government are permitted.  This is a good thing!  But what if they aren’t done in a peaceful way?  Paul says, government has the right to maintain peace and order.  It is their God-given right, in fact duty, to maintain peace and order, and those that do wrong – arson, looting, etc., should expect to be punished.  I talked to my parents, who live in the St. Louis area – much closer than we are.  The vast majority of the looting and general mayhem and chaos was committed by thugs and gang members from outside of Ferguson.  They were just taking advantage of a bad situation and making it much worse.  In fact, some citizens were standing in front of businesses ready to defend them!  Now we can question the tactics used by Ferguson police.  But however poorly, and despite appearances, government was trying to work in its God-ordained way.  And if it does work properly, then investigations will continue, and hopefully, there will be a conclusion – with justice properly executed for everyone.

What do we do?  What’s the Christian response?  Our response is one of thanks, love, and service.  Christ is risen from the dead.  He has died and has risen for the sins of the whole world including you.  In baptism and by faith, you have been connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus – dying to sin and rising to new life.  By the authority of Christ, you are declared a new creation – something you cannot do by your own choice or will.  You are now a citizen of his kingdom – his rule and reign – which is a kingdom of grace and love.  And at the same time, you also live as a citizen in another kingdom – the kingdom of this world – you have been placed by God to live in this time and this place.  And in appreciation and in response to what God has done for you, the believer in Jesus strives to conform to the will of God – love for God and love for neighbor.  God has graciously given us government so that we might live in peace and civil order.  So what are we to do with government?  Paul just told us.  Live peacefully, orderly, doing good, pay taxes that are due, pay honor where it is due, and government will approve and leave you alone..  

In other words, be a good citizen!  Live a life of love for your neighbor.  Love – that’s a challenging word for us.  It’s not always easy to love.  Look at Ferguson!  But we are bound by the debt of love even in cases where the government does things that we do not agree with.  That’s not easy to do.  But exercise your vocation of citizen.  Vote!  Participate!  And as a Christian, we have an additional duty – to be a prophetic voice – a correcting voice – where the actions of government don’t conform to the order God has given us in his creation.  Where government does wrong – truly against the Word of God, we are to speak up.  And many before us have been martyred for being such a witness – for example: dying rather than worship the Roman emperor as God.

Is all of this easy?  Absolutely not.  We live tension – the tension of being a responsible citizen in TWO kingdoms – by grace, a citizen of the kingdom God in Christ; and at the same time, a citizen of the society in which we have been placed by God.  But despite the good or the not so good that happens, we live this life in hope – hope for the final and total manifestation of the kingdom of God that will be revealed when our Lord comes to make all things right and just and new.

Until that day, be good citizens – work, serve, and love where you have been placed – as a living witness of the one who has all authority under heaven and earth – Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.      

     

Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare

When most people think of demon possession, their thoughts immediately go to images from the movie, "The Exorcist."  Hollywood has a way of making lives and events and history more fantastic and extraordinary than they really are.  But that's Hollywood.  What about reality?  Is demon possession real?  What does it look like?  Or can it be explained through our knowledge of science and medicine and psychology?

There really hasn't been much written on the subject, particularly in Lutheran circles, until recently.
Robert H. Bennett has done some work on the subject.  He is the Executive Director of Luther Academy, and Adjunct Professor of Missiology and International Missions Specialist at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  Bennett has written two books exploring this topic.  The first is I Am Not Afraid - Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare, True Accounts from the Lutheran Church of Madagascar.  Published in 2013, the book is an account of his time spent among the Malagasy Lutheran Church - where demon possession and spiritual warfare are a nearly everyday reality for the Church. He also included helps for recognizing the work of demonic forces in our world and aids for the conduct of our own warfare against the demonic - the focus of which is upon Christ - His power, not ours.

Bennett also wrote a follow-up work: Afraid - Demon Possession and Spiritual Warfare in America.  Using real-life stories and examples, Bennett shares demonic encounters happening here in these United States today.  Most important, he provides the remedy: God's grace in the Word of God and the power of Jesus Christ over the forces of the devil.  Satan is our old evil foe.  But the Father of Lies has been defeated through Christ's death and resurrection.  He is a fallen foe.  And Christ's victory is ours.

I found both works very enlightening, and very helpful - both for myself and for my ministry among God's people.  I have already encountered a case of what was likely "demon oppression" (I stop short of calling it demon "possession.)  And Bennett's guidance with respect to what exorcism really is and how it works (Biblical and entirely unlike the Roman Catholic Rite) was pivotal in the care of that individual.  Bennett pointed me towards hymns of an exorcistic nature within our own hymnal (ever heard of "A Mighty Fortress is our God"?), the liturgy as exorcism, Scripture readings that are exorcistic, and prayers as well.  Between both books, we Lutherans have the beginning of a "manual" for exorcism.  I highly recommend both books for both pastors and laypersons.  

Sermon at Sunrise

Resurrection of our Lord c Sunrise

“He is Risen Indeed”

John 20:1-18

March 27, 2016

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The man that Peter and John and the other Apostles followed had done great things.  The man that Mary Magdalene and a number of others followed had done great things.  Jesus of Nazareth did things, miraculous things, things that only God can do.  He preached with authority and not like the scribes and Pharisees.  He talked about the coming of the Kingdom of God and all that it meant.  He talked about himself as the way, the truth, and the life.  He talked about himself as the resurrection and the life.  But now, he’s dead.  Their leader is dead.  Now what?  What’s next for us?  Are they going to come looking for us too?  Are we going to be flogged and crucified just like Jesus?  We just don’t know.  And that’s just it, isn’t it?  The “not knowing,” the uncertainty.  It’s just the worst.  Now, there’s the good kind of uncertainty: uncertainty and suspense of a book or a movie – that kind of uncertainty we can live with – even find some pleasure in it.  Then there’s the uncertainty that doesn’t feel so good – the unknowns in our lives that aren’t so pleasurable.  Financial uncertainty: we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future with the stock market or the price of oil.  Am I going to have a job next year?  Next week?  Political uncertainty: Who is going to be the next president?  Relationship uncertainty: What’s going to happen to my children?  Are they going to do well in school and get a decent job?  Are they going to make it home safely tonight?  Is my relationship with my spouse going to stay strong for years to come?  Is my relationship going to get any better at all?  Is my health going to improve?  All these uncertainties in our lives.  Then there’s those big picture uncertainties: How long do I have?  What happens when we die?  Is there even a God at all?  What does he think of me?  What does all of this uncertainty do to us?  We really don’t like not-knowing-what’s-next in our lives.  Uncertainty can fill us with anxiety and fear – leading to despair: “What am I going to do?  What next?”

And that’s where Mary was on that Sunday morning – filled with uncertainty and in despair about it all.  She’s in such a state of uncertainty and despair, she can’t really see what’s really going on.  In John’s account, Mary Magdalene is the first to return to the tomb.  She’s sees the tomb has been opened.  But what does she think?  Does she remember the three times Jesus said he would die and then rise from the dead?  No!  She runs away.  She can’t see clearly.  She’s blinded by her uncertainty.  She tells the others her own interpretation of what she just saw: "Somebody has taken our Lord away!" It must be a tomb robber.  Peter and John go and check it out.  Our text says that John “saw and believed.”  But believed what?  The next verse says, “for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.”  They leave – still uncertain of what had happened.  

Mary sticks around – sobbing – looks into the tomb again and sees two angels!  That doesn’t happen very often!  That should have told her something amazing and divine was happening right now.  But she still thinks Jesus is still dead and his body has been stolen.  She turns away from the tomb and sees Jesus standing right in front of her.  Again, her fear and uncertainty causes her to misinterpret again: this guy must be the gardener.  Maybe he knows what happened.  But Jesus says a word, her name, and all the uncertainty goes away.  She finally sees correctly.  She sees Jesus for who he really is – her Lord risen from the dead.  And that fact – that indisputable fact changes everything.  With a word to Mary, Jesus brings certainty to all the uncertainty and misinterpretation in her life.  Jesus isn’t just risen.  He is risen indeed!

So what now?  For Mary Magdalene and the disciples, their lives were transformed by the resurrection of Jesus.  What about your life?  Is your life transformed by the resurrection of Jesus?  What about that laundry list of uncertainties I talked about earlier?  What about all the uncertainties in your life?  You know what you’re uncertain about.  So, what difference do the words “Christ is risen indeed” make in your everyday life?  

John writes these words at the end of this chapter:

“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The words of this text, the whole of John chapter 20, the whole the four Gospels, even the entirety of the Holy Scriptures are a word from your God to you to bring certainty to your life.  Because with that word, we know beyond a doubt, that Christ is risen from a dead.  And because he is risen from the dead there IS certainty in your life.  Because Christ is risen from the dead, you know that all his promises are true, because they have already come true.  He really is the Son of God.  Because Christ is risen from the dead, you know that Christ is victorious for you over sin and death itself.  You know that there is a God who actually loves you.  And because Christ is risen from the dead, you know that, because he is risen, you will also rise from the dead.  It’s as good as if it has already happened.  And it has already happened.  In your baptism, where your Lord has called you by name, there you have already died and risen from the dead in Christ.  Because Christ is risen from the dead, you are already living your eternal life – a life that never ends with your savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The uncertainties of our fallen world will continue to plague you and me.  We have no crystal ball.  We can’t see what’s going to happen later on today or tomorrow or next year.  We can be blinded by uncertainty, misinterpretation, and lack of trust.  But because we are fallen creatures in a fallen world, there is a certainty that does stick with us: death.  I heard a story a long time ago about a graveside “ceremony” in the former Soviet Union.  There was no clergy – officially.  But a former Russian Orthodox priest was there.  People eulogized the deceased person.  But that didn’t do much.  There was no real comfort to be found in memories.  The talking about the deceased slowed to a stop and then – silence – everyone was about to walk away.  Then that priest spoke just three words – illegal words in the Soviet Union – but just three words that actually brought comfort, peace, and certainty to those in mourning surrounding that casket.  He boldly said, “Christ is risen!”  And that was enough.  Everyone understood and took comfort in the certainty of those words.

There are many uncertainties in our lives, but there is an even greater promise in your life: the fact that Christ is risen.  When facing all the uncertainty and suffering and pain in our lives - and even death, those three words are enough.  Those three words are a confession of faith – a trust – a trust in what your God has already done for you and even more importantly, hope in what He will one day do to you.  They are life changing, cosmos shaking words – a rock on which we can stand in the middle of our lives of uncertainty on shaky sand.  We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but one thing we do know with unshakable certainty: Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed!  Amen.   

        

Christmas Proclamation

John 1:1-14English Standard Version (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to becomechildren of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

“Are You Ready for Christmas?”

John 1:1-14

December 25, 2015

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“Are you ready for Christmas?”  I heard that question asked a number of times in the office hallway by various folks during the past two weeks.  I myself have been asked that question a number of times.  It’s a curious question.  A question that gets asked a lot during this season.  It’s not really a serious question.  More of a pleasantry during the time of Christmas.  It’s sort of on the same level as, “How are you?”  But I think the answer being sought – on the surface – is something like this: “As you finished preparing everything for the celebration of Christmas?”  In other words, are you finished decorating the house?  Are you finished with all of the baking you planned to do?  Are all of your Christmas gifts purchased?  Do you have all the food lined up for your Christmas feast?  Or maybe it’s something more like this: Something like: “Are you ready for some football?” ala ABC Monday Night Football title sequence.  One is preparation, the other is the excited expectation for what is about to happen.  We probably don’t think much beyond those types of responses for that question.  But is there more to this than first meets the eye?  Could “Are you ready for Christmas?” mean something more?

Israel wasn’t ready for Christmas.  They weren’t ready to receive their Messiah for who and what he is.  Because he wasn’t the kind of Messiah they were looking for.  They were ready for a strong and powerful Messiah who would come to do mighty works – saving them from political oppression - and make Israel a great nation and world power again – like in the days of King David and King Solomon.  A man, a prophet, John came to get the people ready by –as another John wrote in our Gospel lesson – “Coming as a witness, to bear witness about the light”  That is, the light shining in the darkness of our world – the Word who was with God and who was God.  John was to bear witness about the light so that all might believe.  But they did not.  They weren’t ready.  And when that true light came into the world – born in the flesh in Bethlehem – Israel didn’t receive him.  In fact, not long after Jesus’ birth, King Herod even tried to kill Him.  He through whom the world was made – the word of creation – had come into his creation and took on the flesh of creation – tangible, real, touchable, hearable, seeable – in other words – knowable by humanity.  And He came to His own, His own people, the chosen people of God – Israel.  But His own people didn’t receive Him.  It was like: Here’s the guest of honor at the party – but no one knew who He was – and most ignored Him – and then threw Him out.  No, Israel wasn’t ready.  They weren’t ready for Christmas.

But Jesus was ready for Christmas.  The light, the Word, Jesus of Nazareth was ready.  He came to do the will of the one who sent Him.  He came ready for the mission – the mission given him by His Father.  He came ready to be the Christ and all that being the Christ means – all that was foretold by the Prophets.  Not to be a glorious king like David or Solomon – making Israel a great nation and a world power again.  His was to be a different kind of glory.  THE GLORY OF THE CROSS – the reason for his coming – the reason for Christmas.  That glory doesn’t look at all like the kind of glory anyone would expect.  He didn’t look much like light shining in the darkness while dying on a cross.  But this was the will of the Father – that He come to pay the price for our refusal to know him.  He came to die for those who rejected him, those who hated him, those who killed him.  He came to die for a world that isn’t ready for Christmas at all.  And his glory – the cross is the glory of the only Son from the Father and full of grace and truth.  That, my brothers and sisters in Christ, is Christmas – the coming of our Savior to save the world – a world that rejects its Lord and God.

So are we ready for Christmas?  Being ready for Christmas isn’t what we usually think.  Christmas isn’t about getting ready by decorating and baking and gift purchasing and the like.  If not, then how do you and I get ready?  The season of Advent that we just finished was a season of preparation, of introspection, of repentance, of expectation.  All in preparation for the one who has come.  Those sorts of things are preparation – getting ready for Christmas.  But I really don’t know that we can be fully ready for Christmas.  How can we be possibly be ready for the King of kings and Lord of lords?  We poor miserable sinners have too much standing in the way for us to prepare for Him.  No, we can’t really prepare for Christmas.  No, we ARE PREPARED by Him.  We are prepared by Jesus.  

Are you ready for Christmas?  Listen again to John:

“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.  Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

He must prepare us.  We must be born of God.  Our Lord must prepare us by ending our lives as we know it and raising us to new life in Him.  We must die with Christ in baptism and be born to rise to new life with him just as he rises from the dead.  Christmas preparation is done TO us.  Being ready for Christmas began, not with decorations and cards and cookies, but in baptism – God’s Christmas gift to you.  Belief in the one who has come – in the flesh – and tabernacled, or tented among us – belief in Him is being ready for him – being ready for Christmas.  That’s the gift of God to you in Christ.

Are you ready for Christmas?  In Christ, you have been made ready for His coming, and His second coming.  He has come to bring you and me a Christmas gift – a precious, priceless gift – the gift of forgiveness, the gift of eternal life in His kingdom.  And that fact, is the true joy of Christmas – not just on December 25th, but for eternity.

A most blessed Christmas to each of you.  Amen.

 

    

Can There Be Righteous Anger?

Is there such a thing as righteous anger?

Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs of Concordia Seminary very recently posted an essay on the subject.  He begins with thoughts worth quoting here:

"Finally, I am quite convinced that the United States of America in the twenty-first century is a profoundly angry culture, and in contemporary discourse anger (often labeled “outrage”) is almost regarded as a virtue. When someone with whom we agree “goes off on” someone with whose position we disagree, we applaud the anger, the belittling, the demeaning words. One factor that seems clearly (at least to me) to be at work behind the distressing number of shootings and mass murders in our country is the generally angry and violent tone of significant aspects of our culture. As Christians, if I am correct about this, we find ourselves living in an angry culture, and there is a great danger that the culture’s catechesis about anger will affect and infect the church."

Gibbs studied both the Old and New Testaments to find how the term "anger" or similar words are used, the context for their use, and the character exhibiting anger.  In nearly every case, the one exhibiting the anger is the Almighty God - and rightly so.

Gibbs' conclusion:

"I might highlight only one thing about this remarkable exhortation, and it is this: There is a place for anger, and for vengeance. But it does not belong to the disciples of Jesus; that prerogative belongs to God alone. As I heard someone say long ago, vengeance is too dangerous a weapon to be placed into the hands of sinners. This contrast is utterly consistent with how anger is portrayed, described, and mentioned in both the OT and the NT. Anger belongs to God, not to us humans—and especially not to the disciples of Jesus."

I commend his essay for your study.  Click here for the link

Weakness is Strength

After the Supreme Court decision regarding so called, "same-sex marriage" was released, there were many voices speaking from all sides of the decision.  Some called the decision a victory.  Others called it a travesty.  Our own Synod President wrote an eloquent response.  Read it here.  While there will likely be continued legal challenges to the law, what is done is done.  Pandora's Box is wide-open.  The question for the Church is not, "How can we undo this?"  The question for the Church is, "Where do we go from here?"

The Church has enjoyed the favor of society for over 700 years.  The Roman Emperor Constantine ruled in Edict of Milan in 313 A.D..that Christians could freely and publicly practice their religion. And ever since, Christianity grew to dominate the Western World.  But since the 20th Century, that pride of place has slowly eroded - first in Europe - and we have watched that erosion continue in the United States.  Many call the SCOTUS decision the beginning of the end of the Church in America.  But I would say the Church has been on a slow slide downhill for decades.  It's just that now, that slope has gotten a lot steeper.

So, where do we go from here?

The Church should continue being the Church.  Our status in society has changed, but the mission of the Church has never changed.  We are to make disciples by baptizing and teaching.  Is that task going to be more difficult?  Absolutely.  But difficulty has often been a good thing for the Church.  The Church thrived and grew by leaps and bounds while she was being tortured and killed for sport in the Roman amphitheaters.  The Church is an enigma - she grows while suffering through hard times and she fades while enjoying peace and prosperity.  But that's the way the Kingdom of God works - when weak, it is strong.  Just as when Christ was weak and dying on the cross, he showed the power of God to the world.

I think the time of speaking to the entire society as a whole with a recognized authority is over.  The Church will now have the task of doing what she does best, speaking the truth in love with humility. Speaking law and Gospel, proclaiming Christ crucified for sinners to the individual - one at a time, even to those who would destroy her.

We can take comfort in our Lord's words:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.