Why does coming to church matter?

It is becoming much more common for Christians (and that term may be pretty shaky in these instances) to stay away from Church and to tend to themselves.  They cut themselves off from those who gather in the name of Jesus to receive his Word and Sacraments.  When encouraged, urged, and finally admonished about their church attendance, they brush it all off, claiming, "I believe in Jesus.  That's all that's needed."  Translation: "I'm not coming to church.  I don't need/want it."

These people may pat themselves on the back for their great faith.  (Trust me, most do.)  They are convinced that having a cursory knowledge of Jesus and the Bible is great faith.  Strangely enough, the longer they have been away from the Divine Service, the greater they claim their faith to be.  They may even run across other Christians who do the same thing.  Each commends the other for their freedom and wisdom in not merely neglecting Word and Sacrament, but for outright ignoring it.

They are lying to themselves.  As Martin Luther notes below, merely thinking about Jesus does not save you.  You will find no forgiveness in your own ponderings and meditations.  It may not be long before you are pondering and meditating the imaginations of your own heart.  This amounts to creating your own god, who ends up being (gasp!) just like you!

Dear Christians, do not be deceived.  Do not buy the lie.  This is what the Lord said to the Pharisees who knew Jesus better than you do but ignored him anyway: "Whoever is of God hears the words of God.  The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." (John 8:47)  God's people love to hear God's word, and they gather together to hear it read and preached and to feast on his holy meal.  They flock to it because they know how much they need it.  They love Jesus because he has loved them, because he has lived and died for them, and because he pours out his gifts of mercy and forgiveness to them in the word and sacraments.  God's people know that their life is found alone there.

Those who don't come to hear the word and partake in the sacraments make a different confession: They are not of God, no matter how great they insist their faith is, no matter how many works they boast, no matter how much love they ascribe to themselves, and no matter how sincere they seem.  Those who say they bear the name of Christ do not deliberately avoid him.  They betray themselves.  They are not God' people.  And they will find no mercy, for they spurn his love and forgiveness.

So why does coming church matter?

Martin Luther says: “We treat of the forgiveness of sins in two ways.  First, how it is achieved and won.  Second, how it is distributed and given to us.  Christ has achieved it on the cross, it is true.  But he has not distributed or given it on the cross.  He has not won it in the supper or sacrament.  There he has distributed and given it through the Word, as also in the gospel, where it is preached.  He has won it once for all on the cross.  But the distribution takes place continuously, before and after, from the beginning to the end of the world.  For inasmuch as he had determined once to achieve it, it made not difference to him whether he distributed it before or after, through his Word, as can easily be proved from Scripture…  If I now seek the forgiveness of sins, I do not run to the cross, for I will not find it given there.  Nor must I hold to the suffering of Christ, as Dr. Karlstadt trifles, in knowledge or remembrance, for I will not fid it there either.  But I will find in the sacrament or gospel the word which distributes, presents, offers, and gives to me that forgiveness which was won on the cross.” (Luther’s Works, American Edition, Vol. 40, page ___)

Sermon -- Lenten Vespers (March 20, 2013)

EXODUS 39:32-33 / JOHN 1:14

JESUS, OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.

Our Great High Priest Is “Tented” Among Us.

In the name + of Jesus.

     The letter to the Hebrews begins with these words: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets…” (Hebrews 1:1)  God appeared in many ways.  The Lord appeared to Moses in a bush that was engulfed in fire but was not consumed by it.  The Lord appeared to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai in thunder, lightning, and a thick, black cloud.  The angel of the LORD appeared to Joshua before his battle at Jericho and to Manoah and his wife to announce the coming of their son, Samson.  In each instance, the Lord’s glory was veiled.  In each instance, men were terrified in his presence.  Moses hid his face. The Israelites and Manoah were convinced they were going to die.  Joshua fell prostrate in reverence and fear.  The Lord dwells in unapproachable glory.  No one can stand before him.  So, when the Lord does choose to reveal himself, he hides himself behind physical forms—whether in clouds, or in fire, or as an angel.

     Likewise, when the Lord chose to dwell among the Israelites, the Lord did not come blazing in his glory.  When the Lord revealed himself, he hid behind physical things.  He commanded Moses and the Israelites to build a tabernacle.  It was there that the Lord would put his name.  It was there that the Lord would proclaim atonement and declare mercy.  It was there that the Lord would dwell with his people.

     Regarding the tabernacle and all its vessels, the Bible says, “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.  For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ‘See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.’” (Hebrews 8:5)  The Lord had given Moses tremendous detail for the construction of his tabernacle.  And the people of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did.  (Exodus 39:32)  The Lord may use humble things, but the Lord does not do anything on the cheap.  His purposes are always calculated.  All his rites and ceremonies—and even his architecture—teach.  Therefore, the tabernacle and all of its vessels and articles were built to point Israel to the Messiah who would fulfill its usage, its sacrifices, and even its very construction. 

     The Lord had instructed them, “You shall also make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle…” (Exodus 26:7)  When the Israelites entered the larger tent, they stood in a large courtyard which surrounded the Tent of Meeting.  The Tent of Meeting, where the Lord dwelt, was blanketed by a black covering of goats’ hair.  Even though the Lord chose to dwell in the tabernacle the Israelites built, the tabernacle itself was not magnificent or beautiful.  It was humble in appearance.  Some might even say it was unsightly.  This, however, is where God dwelt with his people.

     Our Great High Priest is Jesus Christ.  St. John wrote, “The Word became flesh and dwelt (more literally, “tented”) among us…. (John 1:14)  As the tabernacle was the tent in which God dwelt with his people, so Jesus is the ‘tent’ in which God dwelt with his people.  His tent was flesh.  And as it was in the wilderness, so it was with Jesus.  He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)  He was humble and weak in his appearance.  And just as the glorious, golden, beautiful vessels remained hidden inside the humble tent, so also hidden in Jesus’ flesh is the glory and fullness of God.  This is how our Great High Priest was “tented” among us. 

     Though God hid himself in the flesh, he did not hide or deny who he was.  Jesus confessed freely that he is the Christ, the fulfiller of the Old Testament, the Son of God, and the “I AM.”  The Pharisees heard it, and they understood it.  But they rejected this Great High Priest and became instruments in making him the sacrifice appointed.

     The Pharisees were not the only ones offended by Jesus.  We, too, would rather see our God wrapped in a prettier package.  At Christmas, we like him because he is cute.  But the point is not that God is cute; the point is that God is humble, frail flesh.  At Mt. Calvary, our God is weak.  He receives insults and beatings.  He is a worm and not a man.  He suffers and bleeds and dies.  We do not like a God who is weak.  We want a different God.

     We want the burning bush.  We want the thunder and lightning.  We want the God who opens up the earth and swallows his enemies.  We would prefer a Jesus whose jaw breaks the fingers of those who punch him and whose wrists and feet repel the nails.  We want the God who strikes the wicked with plagues.  We want the God who radiates divine glory and blazes forth in holy power.  And we want it because we believe that we would not be blasted by his holiness. 

     We fancy ourselves as his equals.  Unlike Joshua, we think we can hold our own and stand before him.  But like Manoah, you should fear him.  Like Moses, you do try to hide who you really are.  Like the Israelites, you should fear death.  Though the earth will not swallow you alive, the earth will take you when you die.  For you are sinners.  And if you do not fear God’s holy wrath, it is because you do not feel your sins.  Repent.

    You cannot make God what you want him to be.  That god does not exist.  God is who reveals himself to be.  You are not God’s equal, so God made himself your equal.  And when God revealed himself, he hid behind physical things.  In the Old Testament, he was hidden in the tabernacle.  But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son (Hebrews 1:2), who became flesh and dwelt among us…. (John 1:14)  Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.

In the flesh so that a man would suffer and die and receive all of the punishment of sin;

     God so that his death would count for all mankind. 

In the flesh so that you do not need to be terrified in his presence;

     God so that his word is not mere sympathy but divine mercy and forgiveness. 

In the flesh so that he is our brother;

     God so that, like your brother, you have a place in God’s family. 

Jesus, our Great High Priest, “tented” among us.  He is our true tabernacle, where God has come to dwell with his people, to provide the sacrifice which atones for sin, and to bestow mercy upon you.

     To this day, the Lord hides behind physical things.  He does not come in bare glory and holiness to give you his gifts.  He comes to you through the words of a frail and flawed minister.  He comes to you through the waters of baptism.  His body and blood are given to you in bread and wine.  Here, the Lord reveals his mercy and delivers his forgiveness to you.  This is how the Lord “tents” among us today.

     Soon, you will see him in his glory.  You will not need to hide your face or flee in terror.  You will be set free from sin and death once and for all.  You will be made holy and pure in body and soul, heart and mind.  You will set aside your earthly tent and the Lord will transform your body into a holy and glorious body.  The Lord who was made flesh and tented among us will deliver you to dwell in eternal dwellings in heaven.  And you will hear a loud voice from the heavenly throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more….” (Revelation 21:3-4)

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lenten Meditation

Lenten season keeps us focused on the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ.  His crucifixion, while gruesome and gut-wrenching, is the price he gladly paid for the sins of the world. 

That not only reveals the depth of your wickedness; even more so it reveals the depths of God’s love.

Oh, come, my soul, your Savior see

   Nailed to the cross on Calvary.

Your pains he bears;

   Your thorns he wears

      That yours a crown of life might be.

‘Tis yours, my soul, the sin, the shame,

   The cross, the nails, the thirst, the pain;

In agony

   His blood runs free

      To write in heaven’s book your name.

Oh, sing, my soul, sing endlessly

   The wondrous love that sets you free;

His dying breath

   Brings life from death,

      Makes heav’n your home eternally.

                                    Oh, Come, My Soul

                                    Hymn 99, Christian Worship

                                    Words and music by Kurt J. Eggert (1923-1993)

Sermon -- 5th Sunday in Lent (March 17, 2013)

LUKE 20:9-19

THE MASTER OF THE VINEYARD LOOKS FOR FRUIT.

                                                                                

In the name + of Jesus.

      The prophet Isaiah penned the words to a song.  “My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.  He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.  What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it?  When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?” (Isaiah 5:1-4)

     The kingdom of God is pictured as a vineyard by the prophet Isaiah.  Jesus picks up on that picture in today’s parable.  The vineyard is the Lord’s, and he hired servants to go to work in his vineyard.  The master went away to a far away country, but his absence did not mean he had no expectations.  He wanted to enjoy the benefits of the harvest.  The master of the vineyard was looking for fruit.  But as you already know from the parable, the workers refused to give him his due.  What’s more, they despised, insulted, and assaulted the master’s servants who were sent to get his share of the harvest.

     While some of Jesus’ parables will make you scratch your head, this one is an easy one.  The workers in the vineyard were wicked.  Even though they were chosen by the master for service in his vineyard, they hated the master, they hated the master’s messengers, and they even killed his son.  They will be rejected and put to death for their rebellion against the master.  It is an easy parable to unravel.  Even the Pharisees got it.  The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. (Luke 20:19)  Sadly, they did not heed the warning of this parable.  They fulfilled it.

     When Jesus told this parable to the scribes and the chief priests, he warned them what would come upon them if they continued in their stubborn rebellion and hatred.  Jesus said, “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?  He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” (Luke 20:15-16)  When the master of the vineyard sees that they would not produce the fruit he seeks, they would be condemned and cast out.  The vineyard would be given to others.  And that is you.  You are not Israelite stock, and yet the vineyard his yours.

     Now, your master is a long way off.  He has been for a while.  I don’t know when his return will be.  I pray it’s soon.  But the Lord’s absence does not mean he has no expectations.  The master of the vineyard still looks for fruit in you.  And you may wonder, “Well, what must I do so that I do not forfeit my place in the vineyard?”  The answer is not hard.  God tells you what is good and what is evil.  He wants you to stop sinning against him and to do the good God desires.  But your problem is not that you don’t know what God wants.  If you are unsure, relearn the Commandments.  They tell you the good to do and the evil to avoid.  The problem isn’t that you don’t know; the problem is that you don’t do.  Sometimes you don’t even want to.  You may know that your deeds or desires are wicked, but you just don’t want to give them up.  Is this not defiance against God’s word?  Is this not a rejection of God himself?

     So, if you cannot do the works, what hope is there?  Your only hope is Jesus.  That is always the only hope you ever have.  Your hope is not that you have a place in the vineyard now.  The Pharisees had a place there, too.  That did not keep them from producing bad fruit.  Jesus remains your only hope.

     Jesus told the people, “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’  Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (Luke 20:17-18)  Jesus is the rock that everyone comes up against.  You end up crashing into him and are broken to dust, or he falls upon you and crushes you.  There is no dodging Jesus.  One way or another, he will break you.  Now, no one wants to be broken and shattered.  You would rather stand your ground and watch the Lord submit to you and excuse you.  But the one thing that will not happen is that the rock will give way.  He is the cornerstone on which everything rests.  He is the capstone which holds everything together.  The Lord and his word endure forever, no matter how many join together to oppose it, no matter how belligerent the attack.

     But in mercy, the Lord breaks you.  He shatters your self-righteousness and pulverizes your self-centeredness.  But this is good; for this is what the Lord says: “You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it…. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)  This is the fruit the master of the vineyard is looking for: brokenness.  The Lord destroys your hard heart so that he can plant his seed in it, which is Jesus.  Having planted this sacred Seed into your crushed heart, the Lord brings forth new life, a new spirit, and new fruits.  The master of the vineyard is seeking these fruits.  And what is more, he is the one who produces in you these fruits.

     The master of the vineyard sent his Son to receive fruits from the wicked workers.  The Son went, even knowing that he would be killed for doing so.  We would call that reckless and foolish.  Our Lord calls it merciful.  Our master chooses to associate with those who are full of anger, full of jealousy, and full of themselves.  His love, even for the wicked, compels him to be merciful and to save them.  He sent his Son to sinners.  He sent his Son for sinners—for sinners who would despise him, defy him, and destroy him; and for sinners who think they are better or who think that their sins are excusable.  Jesus came knowing that he would be killed.  But Jesus came; for, his Father sent him.  Jesus came to love and honor and obey his Father.  Jesus came to love his neighbor as himself.  Jesus came to die for all of us—the righteous for the unrighteous.

     Jesus produced the precious fruit which the Lord desires in life and in death.  In life, he obeyed his Father’s will and died for sinners.  In death, Jesus became the fruit that hangs from the Tree of Life, which is the cross.  There, he was crushed in his Father’s wrath.  There, the juices poured forth from his veins.  Blood and water came forth from Jesus’ side by which he gives life to his Church.  You have been washed in those holy waters.  In Holy Communion, you feast on the blood of Jesus which was shed for your forgiveness. 

     Jesus has not only has brought you into the vineyard, he also works in you so that you produce the fruits that God desires.  It is Jesus who has saved you, and it is Jesus who works in you to will and to act according to God’s good pleasure.  This is why you unite yourself to Jesus by continually being nourished by his word and sacraments.  This is where Jesus fills you with all good things so that they can flow out of you to others.  This is how you remain in Jesus and Jesus remains in you.  In this way, you will bear much fruit.  In Christ, your works are pleasing to the Father.  And if you remain in Christ, the master finds exactly what he is looking for.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Local Tourist -- Snow Day!

This installment of the Local Tourist takes us to Mill Race Village in Northville after several inches of snow.  I had managed to get there before they got too much shoveling done.  There are also a few photos from our back yard.  Enjoy, and stay warm.

 







Caleb, what are you doing?  Caleb?!







Pastor, was that aimed at me?!

Occasionally, a pastor preaches a sermon or makes a comment that hits close to the bone.  He speaks so vividly or pointedly about your fears, sins, or worries that you might think he knows your secrets.  You might even feel that the pastor is taking a shot at you. 

Well, yes, that may happen.  Not that the pastor is betraying a confidence or revealing a confession.  That is strictly forbidden.  The pastor has no right to divulge what is said in confidence.  The confessional is no place to gather fodder for sermons.

On the other hand, a pastor also cannot simply avoid topics because they are touchy.  If your daughter is living with a man outside of marriage (or pick a sin, it really doesn't matter which) and the pastor condemns that, he is not saying it just because he wants to pick a fight with you.  The pastor may not even be aware of what is going on.  The pastor is simply proclaiming God's will.  If you or your loved one are violating God's will, the pastor must show you.  You may not like it.  You may not like him for saying so.  Too bad. 

The pastor stands in the stead of Christ.  He is to speak for Christ, regardless of the consequences.  If the pastor, as he speaks for Christ, makes you angry, it is because you don't want to repent.  That is the hard truth.  Even though you might want to excuse it or deny it or lash out against it, it is the truth.  The pastor is obligated to proclaim the truth, even when it is hard.

Ultimately, the pastor's job is to lead you to Jesus Christ for forgiveness, comfort, and salvation.  But there can be no forgiveness or salvation when people cling to their sins.  The pastor can neither aid nor abett the enemy by bringing him comfort.  The pastor proclaims God's word so that you will see Satan's lies, especially when you are ensnared in them.  If you would rather embrace the lie than God's truth, then the pastor must note that you have allied yourself with the enemy.  He must tell you so.  He must tell you that you have made yourself the enemy of Jesus.  He cannot comfort you, forgive you, or suggest that there is salvation for you.

If you are ashamed of your sin, overwhelmed with guilt, or fearful of your place before God, do not avoid your pastor.  While his words may have sounded harsh, that served so that you would finally be terrified at God's wrath and to despise yourself for your sin.  That is a sign of repentance.  And the Lord is most merciful to the penitent.

No matter how bad you think your sins are and no matter how deep your shame runs, the grace of God is greater and the mercy of God runs deeper.  The pastor will tell you that the blood of Jesus purifies you of all sin.  He stands in the stead of Christ.  Through him, you will hear the words of God.  In Private Confession and Absolution, you will hear the words of Christ, "I forgive you."  At the communion railing, you will hear, "For you."  And yes, that is aimed at you.

Papal Names, Update

In a world where people like to bet on everything, not only are people betting on who will be elected the next Pope, there are even odds being given on what name the newly elected Pope will chose for himself.  You can check out the work of Paddy Power from the UK:

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/current-affairs/pope-betting/Papal-Name-of-Next-Pope-4825734.html

Pope Leo is getting the best odds right now.
Some names that have not been given odds but which could be fun would be:

Pope Sickle
Pope Culture
Pope Music
Pope Fiction (that dance with the fingers going across the eyes, optional)
Pope Cecola (credit to one of the commenters on the website linked above)

Any other fun names to kick around?


UPDATE:  Based on the Secret Code Name Generator  in a previous post, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio's new papal name could have been Pope N-strike.  While Francis is unique in the list of papal names, I think "N-strike" would have had more pop.