What Does It Mean to Live By Faith?

My wife and I went to Game Two of the ALDS between the Indians and the Yankees Friday afternoon at Jacobs Field. What a game! I guess you can really see my love for theology and sports intertwine in this message.


“…but the righteous will live by his faith…” Habakkuk 2: 4


If you are a sports fan, you will understand. Even if you’re not, chances are you’ve heard the term, “fair-weather fan.” You know the type. When the team is winning, beating up the competition, going far into the playoffs, the fair-weather fan is front and center. They’ve got the latest merchandise, they talk about how cool the stars of the team are, they’ve got the hot ticket in town and they know it.
But then, when the winning team begins a slide into mediocrity, star players are let go or traded, and the glory days are in the rear-view mirror, the fair-weather fan backs away pretty quickly from the team they used to love, quote-unquote. The fair-weather fan might complain about how bad things have gotten, or they might just bag up the t-shirts and send them to the thrift store.
That is, until the home team starts to put a few wins together again.
LeBron James got in some hot water last weekend when he declared his fan loyalty to the New York Yankees. Regardless of how you feel about that, does it really surprise you that someone would root for the front runner? It’s human nature to attach yourself to a winner. We want to identify with success. The truth is, the fair-weather fans are in the majority, and that’s just the way it is. And so I got on my little sports soapbox today in order to ask you this question. It’s not an easy question to ask or answer. The important questions never are. So here it is:
Are you a fair-weather fan of God?
When you are chalking up wins in your life it’s easy to be God’s fan. However, it’s also easy to start believing that much of the success you’re experiencing is really a result of your talent, determination, and hard work. When you’re on a tear, it’s easy for God to become the coach standing off to the side—yeah, he’s there, he’s watching, he gave me some tips, but I’m the one scoring the points. God is good because he’s helped me win the game of life.
But one loss comes, then another, and as the numbers in the loss column start to climb, we want to look for someone to blame. Heaven knows it can’t be me, since I was the one responsible for all the past victory, so that leaves—oh yeah—the coach. Of course! He should’ve seen this coming! If God was really so great, he would have kept my winning streak alive. Maybe this coach needs to get canned.
Could it be possible that we have been fair-weather fans of God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?
Six hundred years before the time of Christ, a man named Habakkuk took a look around at his society and all he saw were losses. He saw a culture crumbling in corruption. He saw the courts of law perverting justice. He saw the powerful crushing the weak and the rich abusing the poor. He saw wicked, godless people prospering and good people suffering. His reaction to all this was to say, “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen?”
You know that prayer, and I know it, too. It is the prayer of the faithful person trying not to be a fair-weather fan of God, but having a hard time. If you haven’t prayed this prayer from the depths of a shattered heart yet—just know that the time will come. And if you have, no further description is necessary.
In response to Habakkuk—and to you in your struggles—the Lord says this: “The righteous will live by his faith.”
In response to the person who says, “I am lonely and heartbroken,” the Lord says: “Live by your faith.”
In response to the person who says, “My health is going downhill,” the Lord says, “Live by your faith.”
In response to the person who says, “I’ve lost my job and I don’t know how to support my family,” the Lord says, “Live by your faith.”
In response to the person who says, “There is so much evil and injustice and suffering in the world—Why?” the Lord says, “Live by your faith.”
But what kind of answer is that? What does it mean to live by faith? Does it mean that we bury our heads in the sand? Fiddle while Rome burns? Whistle “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” whenever we feel stressed? Or what?
Living by faith is, first and foremost, a kind of stubborn insistence that what God says is true, and there’s no changing it. If God has said, “I love you,” then He loves me. If God has said, I want to bless you, then he’s going to bless me. If God has said, “I know the plans I have for you—plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future, then hope and a future is what I’m looking forward to. Living by faith is allowing God the final word in all matters of life, with no “buts.” Living by faith is the being sure—absolutely certain—that despite the circumstances staring me in the face, God is going to work in my situation to my good and his glory. And part of living by faith is accepting God’s timing over our own. It’s no secret that we usually want things done yesterday. That may not be God’s timing at all—God told Habakkuk, “Wait for [my help. Living by faith means learning to wait on God, and, oh boy, does this hurt, surrendering control of everything to Him, even our beloved schedule.
Again, living by faith is a kind of stubborn insistence that what God says is true, and there’s no changing it, and that means we remember what God says. It means that even throughout the worst kind of torturous trial we consciously remember that God has said an eternal “Yes” to us in Jesus Christ, His Son, sent to this world to put on our humanity. He said an eternal “yes” to you by dying on the cross as your replacement. He said an eternal “yes” to you by coming out the tomb with the gift of endless life to give. He said an eternal “yes” to you by ascending into heaven, where he stands as your advocate. He said an eternal “yes” to you when you were baptized and connected to Christ. He says an eternal “yes” to you in his body and blood at the Lord’s Table. He says an eternal “yes” to you in the promise of his eventual return. And his “yes” will continue on forever when you take your place at the celebration feast of heaven. Living by faith means stacking up God’s eternal “yes” to you, made possible by Jesus, next to the problems and concerns you wrestle with. What is going to define you? What’s your bottom line going to be? Your circumstances, or God’s “yes,” spoken in Jesus’ name?
And here might be the best news of all. Living by faith is not up to you. The source of your faith is not you. Faith is a gift. God is the Giver. Faith is a tool God gives through the combination of His Word, His Spirit, and His Washing, and by using the tool of faith you are able to live holding onto God’s “yes.” The very ability to live by faith comes from God—and that relieves an enormous amount of pressure on us. Here’s the difference it makes. On our own, we think, “If God loves me, he’ll change the circumstances that trouble me. I’ll try to persuade him to change my circumstances by being as good as I can.” With the gift of faith, we are able to believe, “No matter what my circumstances, I know that God loves me, thanks to Jesus.” On our own, we are fair-weather fans of a God we cannot control. With the gift of faith, we are able to believe that God is always working “behind the scenes” to bring us great good. No wonder St. Paul was moved to write that there is nothing in all creation that is able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God has given you the righteousness of his Son to wear like a robe. Wrap yourself in what Jesus has done, and live by your faith. God has made incredible, generous promises to you. Hold him to it. Live by your faith, and live in God’s “yes” today. Amen.

Contentment: the Lost Value

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6: 6

There once was a rich industrialist who was disturbed to find a fisherman sitting lazily beside his boat. "Why aren't you out there fishing?" he asked.
"Because I've caught enough fish for today," said the fisherman. "Why don't you catch more fish than you need?' the rich man asked. "What would I do with them?"
"You could earn more money," came the impatient reply, "and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch more fish. You could purchase nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money. Soon you'd have a fleet of boats and be rich like me."
The fisherman asked, "Then what would I do?" "You could sit down and enjoy life," said the industrialist. "What do you think I'm doing now?" the fisherman replied.

Can you relate to that fisherman? Or do you find yourself on the rich man’s side? Today we have the chance to think about one of the lost values of the Christian faith. That “lost value” is contentment.

In our Epistle lesson, Saint Paul is writing to a young pastor named Timothy, and near the end of his letter, the topic turns to money—specifically, those who think godliness is a means to financial gain. In direct opposition to such a mindset, Paul writes that “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith.” So writes the Apostle Paul.

“Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” Paul holds up contentment as a key value for us to live by. God would like for us to be happy with what we have and to enjoy the blessings we’ve been given. But are we happy— do we enjoy our blessings—or is there something always pulling towards more, more, more?

When you live in a culture that issues slogans like: “He who dies with the most toys wins,” you know you’re going to have a hard time living a contented life. You know you’re going to be challenged when you get e-mail like I got this week. The subject heading read: “The more you buy, the more you save.” The more you buy, the more you save. You are being asked to believe that you are saving money as you spend more and more. Contentment is counter-cultural. Have you ever heard an advertisement or a sales pitch that begins by saying, “You know what? What you have right now is OK. You don’t really need anything else”? Of course not! We are immersed and submerged in a consumer culture that is constantly trying to convince you that you won’t really be happy, you won’t really be fulfilled, you are just going to be the world’s biggest outside-looking-in loser if you do not buy this product immediately. What you’ve got isn’t good enough and people will think you are way behind the times (and what could be worse) unless you purchase this item as soon as you possibly can. Keeping up with the Joneses. Chasing the “American Dream”. All are clichés and all are absolutely real forces that influence our thoughts and motivate our actions. We have been trained to want more and our sinful human nature happily complies.

In today’s Old Testament lesson, Amos was warning Israel, but it’s like he was thinking of 21st century America when he said: “You lie on beds…and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.” God is crying out through Amos, “Do you realize that you are teetering on the edge of spiritual ruin? Or are you too busy eating, shopping, and entertaining yourself to care?” Who’s he talking about? Israel? Or us?

Contentment may seem like a totally foreign attitude to you, and if it is, you’re not alone. To simply be happy with what you’ve got is like swimming upstream, it’s like refusing to play the game. People just won’t understand if you say, “I like what God has given me.” If your car costs more than my house, the culture of man says: “You’ve got the juice. You are the coolest. You’ve got it made.” But all you have to ask is: “Is that God’s culture? Is that what God values in a person?” The answer simply is “No.”

God knew that we needed to be saved from ourselves and our own out-of-control desires for more. That’s why Jesus became one of us. That’s why he lived perfectly (and remember: his perfect life was totally devoid of huge houses, fancy cars and a mountain of junk). That’s why he sacrificed his life on the cross—because no bigger and better payment we could come up with would work to pay off the debt of sin. That’s why he came back to life—to give you real life—life that never ends—life that is free from the exhausting, ongoing chase after more. In Christ, you truly have all things. Through the adoption of baptism and the gift of faith you become a family member and friend of the Almighty God. He shares his riches with you, and unlike worldly wealth, his are eternal. His riches do go with you out of this world when nothing else does. He gives you identity. He defines you as His own child. You no longer have to define yourself by what you buy and how new it is or how expensive it is. Instead of running after those things, you are free to run after Christ! Content with what you have and who you are, you can run after godliness and faith! Content with the identity God has given you, you can pursue love, endurance and gentleness. It is good and right for you to want more of these things, because they will actually fill you up! Pursue the way of Jesus, and you will find a peace that the world, with all its “bling,” has no ability to give. Let Christ break the cycle of more that controls your thinking. Enjoy the life that flows from Him, and you may just learn that contentment is right under your nose.

Take, for instance, the man who became envious of his friends because they had larger and more luxurious homes. So he listed his house with a real estate firm, planning to sell it and to purchase a more impressive home. Shortly afterward, as he was reading the classified section of the newspaper, he saw an ad for a house that seemed just right. He promptly called the realtor and said, "A house described in today's paper is exactly what I'm looking for. I would like to go through it as soon as possible!" The agent asked him several questions about it and then replied, "But sir, that's your house you’re describing."

In God’s great design, you may already have what you thought you wanted. Let him take off the “more goggles” and take a new look around at your life. What riches you have! What love you’ve been shown! What forgiveness you’ve been given! All of it given in hopes that you will be drawn to the Giver—that you will be overwhelmed by his generosity—that you will be awestruck by a God who pours out blessing after blessing on people who don’t deserve it. That’s grace, my friends. That’s your Father, Savior, and Friend. Can you not be content with Him?

To be sure, contentment is not always easy to maintain. Paul calls the pursuit of contentment and righteousness—the pursuit of God’s way of life—“the good fight of the faith.” And it is a fight. It’s a spiritual struggle and a war of the will. We will sometimes lose the battle and surrender to the current of more. When that happens, don’t hide it; don’t deny it; return to the Lord, be honest in repentance, and be refreshed by God’s forgiveness, bought and paid for by Jesus. Then, recharged and content in Christ, take up the good fight again.

For God himself fights by our side with weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house, goods, honor, child, or spouse,
Though life be wrenched away, They cannot win the day.
The Kingdom’s ours forever!

September 29 and 30 + Pentecost 18

Will You Read to Me?

I wrote the following as a lead article for our preschool newsletter.


Do you read to your child?

Studies have shown that just fifteen minutes a day of reading can do wonders for a child’s ability to learn the skill for themselves. It can become a special part of your daily routine. There’s nothing else like having a little person snuggled up next to you, hanging on every word of a good book.

But do you do it? Do you read to your child?

Has reading to your child been put on that infamous list named “Someday”? Of course, there are days when there aren’t even five minutes to spare, let alone fifteen. But it’s no secret that if you consistently show your child that reading is important—not to mention fun—then they will pick up on your example. Neither is it a secret that if your child learns to love to read, they will have the tools to succeed in nearly all they do.

One of the best gifts you could give your child is a love for reading. Make use of your local libraries—Ohio has some of the best in the country. Mix in some Bible story books as you go. (The Arch Book series by Concordia Publishing House is excellent for small children.) Share the most important words there are—the words of Jesus, God’s Son—with your child.

When you read to your child, you give them the world. When you read to your child about God, you give them even more than that.


“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119: 16

God and Money

“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Luke 16: 13

Pastor Wilson was going about his Monday morning routine when the phone rang. It was loyal church member, Abagail vonLutheran. The conversation began pleasantly enough, with Pastor asking Abagail about the green bean casserole she had brought to the last potluck.
“Could my wife get the recipe for that?” he asked.
“Oh, that was just something I threw together at the last minute,” Abagail said.
“I sure liked it,” Pastor said.
“Well, thank you.” The line was quiet for a few moments. “Pastor, I wanted to ask you something.”
Pastor Wilson took a deep breath and said, “OK.”
Abagail continued, “I was confused by the gospel lesson yesterday. You know, that one about that manager. It sounded to me like Jesus said it was okay for him to be dishonest.”
“Well, I can see that,” the Pastor said. “It is kind of an unusual story. But the point of the whole thing is not so much that it’s OK to be dishonest, but that we ought to be wise with our money.”
“Hmm,” said Abagail. “But that manager didn’t tell the truth! Is that any example to follow?”
“No, of course not,” said Pastor Wilson. “Jesus’ point is that the manager was smart, in that he used money to make friends, since he had just gotten fired. Those friends might come in handy, now that he was unemployed. Even his former boss had to agree that was a shrewd move.”
“OK,” said Abagail, not sounding all that convinced.
“But remember how Jesus wrapped up the story?” the pastor asked. “He said, “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves.” He also said, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” This whole discussion is really about how we use our money.”
Abagail said, “Well, I know Christ ends up saying, “You cannot serve both God and Money.”
“Exactly,” said Pastor Wilson, “and I think Jesus is asking some hard hitting questions of us. Are we wise in how we use our finances for the sake of God’s kingdom? Do we use our money to “gain friends,” so that the good news of Jesus is heard? Do we even think of using our money that way? I think Jesus might have some serious issues with the way his modern disciples are using money.”
There was silence on the line for a few seconds. Then Abagail spoke.
“Pastor, why didn’t you preach on this reading yesterday?”
Now it was Pastor Wilson’s turn to be quiet. Finally he said, ‘Well, Abagail, you know no one wants to hear another stewardship sermon. It turns people off. Did I tell you the story about my cousin? He and his wife were church-shopping, and the first church they went to, it was Stewardship Sunday, and the sermon was all about what you ought to give to the church. So they decided to try a different church the next Sunday, and guess what? It was Stewardship Sunday there too, and they quickly got the impression: the church just wants our money. So now they don’t go anywhere.” Pastor Wilson paused. “I guess I do tend to shy away from talking about money from the pulpit,” he said. “I just don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea, like I’m some kind of televangelist or something.”
“Oh, no one’s going to think THAT,” Abagail said. Pastor Wilson wasn’t quite sure how to take her comment. She continued, “I think people need to hear it. If the Bible has something to say about money, tell us what it says! Why should we pretend it’s not part of our life with God?”
“You’re right, Abagail, in fact, did you know that if you total up all the quotes of Jesus from the gospels, do you know what he talks about the most in his teachings?”
“Let me guess, Pastor. Money.”
“Bingo. No pun intended. He talks about the proper use of money. Over and over Jesus says that how we use money is a direct reflection of our faith. He also points out that money and possessions, the stuff that we love so much, can quickly become a god of its own, like in yesterday’s reading, “You cannot serve both God and Money.”
“That’s true,” said Abagail. “Just look at all the foreclosures happening—little mansions sitting empty because people thought they had to have the biggest and best. Where are they now?”
“I know,” said Pastor. “But we have to be careful, in thinking that the problem is all out there. We have to ask ourselves if we’re being wise in our spending for the sake of the gospel. I mean, think of all the creature comforts we enjoy. Do you have cable?”
“Ah, satellite, actually,” Abagail said.
“Oh, good for you!” Pastor Wilson thought, “Wow! Sounds nice,” but didn’t say it. “What package do you get, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Oh the premium, but I don’t know why. There’s never anything good on anyway.”
“Well, since that’s the case, have you ever though about dropping down a tier? Think of the money you’d save in a year’s time. And think of what you could do with that money for the sake of the gospel! I’m sure there’s some mission organization that you know about that could really use it. Or what if you dropped just one magazine subscription, and used that money to help fund a student’s tuition in a Christian school?”
“This may sound strange, Pastor, but I never thought of that before.”
“Well those are just couple ideas, and they don’t even really get at the heart of faithful giving.”
“What do you mean, Pastor?”
“I mean, we should not be giving God our leftovers. I just heard a presentation on the prophet Malachi that got right at the heart of giving. You know, back then, God expected his people to bring the very best as offerings. He expected them to bring the best and healthiest animals. But do you know what they were bringing? Blind, diseased, and crippled goats. The leftovers. What do you think God thought of that?”
“I can’t imagine he appreciated that very much,” Abagail said.
“You’re right,” said Pastor Wilson. “But we’ve all done it, at one time or another. We bring God our blind goat and keep the healthy one for ourselves. We give God the leftovers and act as if we’ve done Him a favor. I confess I’ve done it myself.”
Another pause, and Abagail then said, quietly, “So have I, Pastor.” She took a deep breath. “But times are tough for a lot of people.”
“Believe me, I know that’s true, Abagail. But here’s the thing: in Malachi and elsewhere, God says, “Test me. Try it. Give me your best, and just see if your needs are not met.” It’s almost like he’s saying, “I dare you to try to outgive me.” Wait, here’s the verse, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…Test me in this…and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
“Pastor Wilson let those words hang in the air.
“That takes a lot of faith,” Abagail said.
“It does,” the pastor said, “but it’s more about thankfulness.”
“By the way, Pastor, what about the tithe? Are we bound to that?”
“I’d ask a different question, actually. Are we limited by ten percent? The answer to both questions is no. St. Paul wrote that we are free to give what we think is appropriate, after giving honest consideration to what Jesus has given us by his passion, death on the cross, and resurrection.”
“Well, when I think of it that way, I want to give him everything!” Abagail said.
“Now you’re onto something,” Pastor Wilson said.
“But there are practical considerations…”Abagail replied.
“I know there are,” the pastor said. “God’s not asking you to bankrupt yourself. Just remember the great sacrifice he made for you and respond by giving what you think is right. Test him and see what happens when you give freely. Try it out and see if you lack anything when you give generously back to the Lord.”
Abagail was silent. Pastor Wilson could hear the smile in her voice when she finally said, “I still think you should have preached about this yesterday.”
“Don’t worry, Abagail. You’ve helped me to see that I should, and I will, very soon. Now about that casserole recipe…”

September 22 and 23 + Pentecost 17

Excruciating Love

Chances are you have heard someone describe pain they are experiencing as “excruciating.” You may be familiar with excruciating pain yourself. It may not surprise you, then to learn that the word “excruciating” comes directly from the Latin word excruciates which means, “out of the cross.” When someone describes pain as excruciating, they’re really saying that it is like being crucified.
It’s hard to imagine a more painful way to die than crucifixion. And yet, one thing I fear is that Jesus’ death on the cross has become a type of Christian cliché. You hear it so often: “Jesus died for your sins.” Those words can be spoken so easily. Are we becoming numb to the crucifixion of Jesus? I pray not. The greatest act of love is displayed by the man on that cross. In Jesus’ bloody death lies our salvation. In Jesus’ crucifixion lies our escape from the pit of hell. Let’s not be in a hurry to leave the scene of the cross.

Although the Romans did not invent crucifixion, they perfected it as a means of capital punishment. It was designed to produce a slow death with a maximum of pain and suffering. In some places, it was customary to tie the crucified to the crossbar with ropes. The Romans preferred to use nails. Archaeological digs have indicated that these nails were tapered, square-shafted iron spikes about 5 to 7 inches long. With arms outstretched, but not taut, the wrists were nailed to the crossbar. The driven nail would crush or sever the large median nerve, producing bolts of fiery pain in both arms.
The feet were usually fixed to the front of the cross, and again, the Roman practice was to use an iron spike. The knees would be bent. The spike was placed on top of the leading foot between the second and the third toe, and the blow was delivered.
The major effect of crucifixion, beyond the blinding pain, was a tremendous interference with normal breathing. The weight of the body, pulling down on the outstretched arms and shoulders, would fix the muscles in an inhaling state. In order to exhale, one would have to push up on the feet and flex the elbows and shoulders. That move would put the entire weight of the body on the feet and cause searing pain. The wrists would also pay a terrible price for that maneuver. Each effort at breathing would become more agonizing and exhausting and would eventually lead to asphyxiation. If the crucified lingered on too long, the executioners could speed the process considerably by breaking the legs below the knees, which is what happened to the thieves on either side of Jesus.
This is what we mean when we say, “Jesus died for your sins.” We’re talking about iron spikes, forged in the fire of human sin, causing catastrophic damage to Jesus’ body. We’re talking about his muscles straining beneath the suffocating weight of our disobedience. At the moment of Jesus crucifixion and death, all of the righteous anger of God was focused on his Son with laser precision. The nails became agents of God’s justice.

How can the believing heart hear all of this and allow it to pass into the realm of “ho-hum, Jesus died for you, yeah, we know, we’ve heard this a thousand times before”?

How can the believing heart hear of all of this and not grieve? Grieve for Jesus, sure, but even more so, grieve the fact that my sin caused this horrible event? Our sin nailed him to that cross.

How can the believing heart hear all of this and not be moved to say: “It should have been me. I deserved this punishment, not Jesus. I know what I have done—the temptations I’ve given into; the terrible ways I’ve treated people; the greed and the lusts that consume me. I know what I haven’t done: I haven’t loved my neighbor as I do myself; I haven’t fulfilled my responsibilities to my family; nor have I put God first in every area of my life or come close to serving him as I ought. It’s only right that I should pay for those sins; for all my sin. It should be me.”

And God says: “No. My Son will pay for you. He will be your substitute. He will stand in for you on this cross. He will know what hell is really like; so that you will never have to know. Though you deserved punishment, I will punish my dear Son instead. You are spared. The price is paid. You are free.”

The relief and gratitude that you feel at the hearing of this news is nothing less than the stirring of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ, powered by the Holy Spirit. Yes, this is what we’re talking about when we say, ‘Jesus died for your sins.”

Honesty with God

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15: 10

He was a religious zealot, well-trained in the holy writings of his people. He took pride in the traditions handed down to him, and when Christianity began to entice people, he went into attack mode. He went after Christians, imprisoning them when possible, trying to frighten them out of their faith. He was even present at the brutal homicide of a Christian who dared to speak to the truth, giving his approval to the execution.
Who am I talking about? Without any context, one might guess that I’m talking about some radical Muslim in Afghanistan or Africa. But I’m not. This is a description of Saul of Tarsus, better known to the world as the Apostle Paul.
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he writes openly about his past. He says, “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
Imagine—our congregation and countless others are named after a man who attempted to stamp out the Christian faith, only to be given a second chance by Christ. The mercy and grace given to him through Jesus changed him so profoundly that he began promoting the faith he once persecuted. Reading his letter to Timothy, it’s obvious that Paul was very up-front about what he had done, and what Jesus had done to him. In fact, what Paul seems to be saying here is, “Hey, look, I was the worst sinner I know, and if Jesus can change me and turn me around, he can do it for anybody. He can do it for you.”
Our church is named after a man who tried to destroy Christianity, only to be given a second chance by Christ. We are worthy of the name St. Paul’s only if we continue to be a place where Jesus offers second chances; and third chances, and fourth chances. We’d better change our name if we start putting on airs and thinking we’re better than other people because we know the truth. Paul’s example shows us that being a Christian is not a show, it’s not playing pretend, it’s not a mask or a crutch. Being a Christian means living a life of repentance.
In today’s Gospel lesson we have two examples of the type of stories Jesus told to get his point across. The ones we heard today are ultimately stories about repentance. These parables are among Jesus’ most well-known tales. The plots are simple. A sheep goes missing. The shepherd goes looking. A woman loses a coin and turns the house upside down to find it. But here’s what I want you to notice today: the stories end exactly the same way. Both the shepherd and the woman, having found their lost objects, call their friends and neighbors and say, “Rejoice with me! I have found my lost sheep! I have found my lost coin!” Jesus uses that to say, “…in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent,” and “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” According to Jesus’ words, heaven does not erupt in celebration when people believe that they’re basically good, based on some good stuff they’ve done. The rejoicing happens when sinners repent.
Do you see things lining up here? First we meet Paul, who, with his past and his second chance, is a model of repentance and faith. Then Jesus tells us stories about the joy in heaven over the sinner who repents. Are you getting the point that repentance is a crucial part of your life with God? But do you wonder, what is repentance, really?
Well, there are a number of ways of trying to describe repentance. Going for a literal meaning, it is a turning around—a change of direction in life. I’ve heard repentance described as admitting your sins, feeling sorrow over them, and asking God for forgiveness. More and more I have come to think of repentance simply as honesty with God.
If I am honest with God, then I will be forced to admit that even as I am serving Him, there are evil thoughts and feelings that well up from my heart and mind. If I am honest with God then I have to admit that my love for Him is far from full and complete, and I don’t love my neighbor as I do myself. If I’m honest with God then I have to tell him where I have done far less than I am capable of, that I have nursed grudges, that I have been unfair and unloving in even the most important relationships. It’s this type of honesty that repentance is made of.
Remember Paul’s example of honesty. Writing to Timothy, he admitted, “I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man.” He confessed to being the worst of sinners. He wasn’t trying to fool anybody. Just the opposite. He was telling the truth about himself. “Lord, here’s who I am and what I do. Save me. Forgive me. Change me.”
Do you have this kind of honesty with God? Are you just beginning to discover it? Are you at a point in your life where it is painfully obvious that sin is ruining your life? If so, then rejoice, because heaven is rejoicing. Take heart, because you’re being honest with God, and that’s what he wants. Listen to and believe this: your sins are forgiven before God through Jesus Christ. The Son of God himself took our death sentence upon himself at the cross, releasing you from the penalty of your sins. Your record is clean. There are no charges against you. A life of ongoing honesty with God keeps you plugged into the freeing power of forgiveness. Paul was not afraid to talk about his past, because it meant he would also be talking about Jesus, the giver of undeserved blessings. We do not have to be afraid to talk about our sins, either, because the same grace and mercy—the same do-over--given to Paul is given to you. Honesty with God allows us to enjoy the benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his triumph over death on Easter. It is dishonesty about our sin that prevents us from living in the gifts of Christ. My friends, go with repentance. Go with honesty. And when you do, you can live knowing that you have a God who feels this way about you, from Ezekiel 34:
“I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. I will rescue them from all the places they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will tend them, and they will feed in a rich pasture.”
And, again, quoting Paul: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
Christ was patient with Paul, and Paul is proof that Christ can forgive and change anyone. He patiently loves you. He has made forgiveness and a new way possible for you, too. Let’s make heaven ring with rejoicing, today and throughout our lives, with our honest repentance and our faith in the one who gives eternal life, Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Partnership in the Gospel

I've had the privilege of preaching at my father's installation not once, but twice. Since today is his birthday, I thought I would post this sermon from his installation at Zion Lutheran Church, Painesville as my tribute to him. Happy Birthday, Dad!

God’s Word comes to us from Paul’s letter to the Christians in Phillipi, where he writes: “I thank my God for all the memories I have of you. Every time I pray for all of you, I do it with joy. I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had with you in the Good News from the first day you believed until now. I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.” This is the word of the Lord.

“Every time I pray for all you, I do it with joy. I can do this because of the partnership we’ve had…” It’s that word “partnership” that I’d like for us to focus on today. In a way, that one word gives us a complete picture of the relationship that exists between pastor and people when it is centered in Christ Jesus. May the Lord of the Church demonstrate his grace by leading you, people and pastor, into a true partnership in the Gospel.
Dad, I never thought I would be doing this again. And I really never thought I would be doing this here, at a church four miles from my own! Our God has truly shown us His loving kindness in making us not just neighbors but also partners in ministry.
You know, some funny things have happened before when we’ve been partners. Playing partners, that is. I’ll never forget the times we went to Myrtle Beach and the two of us were paired up with other twosomes, and we start playing as a foursome, and the guys that we’re playing with hit a bad shot and…speak their mind, in a colorful way…and that would go on for a while and then in the course of the usual small talk we would get asked, so what do you do? And you would say, “I’m a Lutheran pastor and my son is studying to become one.” And in the moment of silence that followed you could actually see them ticking down the list of everything they’d said. It was like a bubble that appeared over their head. And for the rest of the round, the language was amazingly G-rated. A lot of rats! Nuts! & Oh No! I guess respect for the pastoral office is not dead, after all.
As excited as I am that you’re here, though, today is not about me or even about us—it’s about your call to serve the people of Zion. This is a congregation with a wonderful history of being greatly blessed by God, and in turn, being a great blessing to this community. Through them, the Lord has called you to be their pastor, their shepherd, one who will help them write new chapters in their story of faithfulness. It’s God’s will that you would now form a partnership in the good news with them. Now that all sounds very good and churchly, but what does a God-pleasing partnership really look like?
Well, first of all, take another look at the way the apostle Paul talks to the Philippian Christians. He thanks God for the memories he has of them. He prays for them with joy. He sees God at work in them. This is a partnership built on Christ-like love. This partnership was born in Christ and established through Christ. It is the partnership that develops when a group of people recognize themselves as sinners, as people who would be utterly lost without Jesus, people who would be sliding down the path to hell were it not for Christ. That’s humbling! That levels the playing field, doesn’t it? But then, we also share in the same Savior when the same Spirit points us to Him. None of us deserve heaven; all of us who trust in Jesus receive it. Faith that trusts in Jesus’ sacrifice and risen life also enables us to see Jesus at work in each other—remember how Paul put it: “I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.” How could there not be love among God’s faithful people, when this is the gift that we share? This is where a partnership in the gospel begins.
Another thing that characterizes a true partnership in the Gospel is when the partners play to their strengths and gladly accept their roles. Certainly there are tasks that are peculiar to the pastoral office--after all, the pastoral office is God’s idea. Paul told the elders in Ephesus, “Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you guardians, to feed the church of the Lord which he acquired with his own blood.” The Good Shepherd has given undershepherds—pastors-- to his Church as his representatives. But part of being a good partner on the pastor’s side means using this authority wisely and dare I say, lovingly. As Dr. James Bollhagen of Concordia Theological Seminary writes,

After spending several months teaching the truths of God’s Word to an adult confirmation class and demanding their undivided attention, it was inevitable that one of the neophytes to the Lutheran Church would ask, “Just how shall I address you?” My stock answer was: “You can call me Your Holiness.” After a brief flash of panic in the questioner’s eyes, a smile would creep across his face. In a sense, a healthy pastoral relationship was established in that moment. The confirmand knew that when I was dealing with the business of Word and Sacrament, utmost respect and ears open were essential; but my self-deprecation also led him to see a man who could play softball with him (and strike out), a man who had cars that stalled, who actually had a sense of humor, who got sick, who could say some mighty stupid things about the business world or gardening. Here was a man just like him. On one hand, I was always known to him as “Pastor.” On the other hand, I was human and everything that goes along with that designation.

On the other side of the partnership is the congregation—the people—the priesthood of all believers. You should rightly expect your pastor to be a servant—to serve you with the gifts God gives through his Church. But that, in turn, will create the desire to be a servant in you, as Jesus himself comes to live in you through Word and Sacrament ministry. Can I really say this? Part of the fun of being in a partnership in the gospel is exploring together—pastor and people—what we can do to serve our neighbors. Identifying your strengths as a congregation, playing to those strengths, considering the Scriptural advice of a pastor who loves you and has your best interest in mind. Respecting the fact that your shepherd will have to give an account for his ministry to the Chief Shepherd—and that you play a part in that. This is serious, exciting, life or death stuff here. Supporting, encouraging, serving each other in the roles the Lord has chosen for us—a partnership in the good news has these qualities
I would be remiss if I did not also mention that a partnership in the gospel, since it’s about THE GOSPEL, assumes that genuine forgiveness will be given and received between both parties. Forgiveness in Christ is what holds the partnership together. As a friend of mine once said, “The church is not a place where people are granted forgiveness only if they can first prove that they don’t need it.” Did you get that? I’ll repeat it. A partnership in the good news puts the good news to work. It lives the good news of Jesus’ forgiveness. It has to, or the partnership will crumble.
And so it is my sincere prayer, and I’m sure I echo the sentiments of my brother pastors and visitors from your sister congregations, that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ would cement a true partnership in His good news between Pastor Gerald Matzke and the gathered saints of Zion Lutheran Church, for your mutual growth in faith and for the praise of His name in our community. And if you don’t mind, before I wrap things up here, there are a couple more things I’d like to tell my Dad. You can listen in, too.
Dad, you’ll be developing a number of relationships and partnerships in the months ahead, and I just wanted to give you a head’s up on a few of them. First of all, the one person who will probably become your closest partner in ministry is Vicar Jim Riley, and I think the two of you are going to make quite a team. You know I’ve had the privilege of working with Jim in his DELTO training and…are you cringing yet, Jim?...you’re entering a partnership with one of the most passionate, knowledgeable, and truly humble Christians I’ve ever met. That’s what I was supposed to say, right? I think you will be a blessing to each other and an example of the type of partnership I’ve been talking about.
You will also have the opportunity to partner with Our Shepherd Lutheran School. I think it would be fair to say that if it were not for the Lutheran educational system neither one of us would be doing what we’re doing today. I can’t wait for you to get to know everyone involved in this exceptional teaching ministry. Sue and I like to call Our Shepherd “Andy’s school,” even though that’s a couple years away at this point. But that’s the kind of investment we have in its success. My suspicion is that you will bring a similar level of interest to this special partnership.
Finally, with all the changes going on right now for you, with all the hopes and expectations that you’re dealing with, your partnership with your Lord Jesus is being tested. Especially at the beginning of a new call, we pastors are reminded of how utterly dependent we are on Jesus just for the ability to do the job. And there is a tendency to wonder about: will I be able to do this? How will I be able to do that? When I find myself asking those sort of questions, I find great relief in these words, “Not I, but Christ in me.” This is what God is calling you to give the people of Zion. You can’t fix their problems, but Christ can. You can’t heal their diseases or broken hearts, but Christ can. “Not I, but Christ in me.” That’s the partnership you have with Jesus, and I’m convinced that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it through to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.

People of Zion; Pastor Matzke. Pastor Matzke; people of Zion. Let the partnership begin! Amen.

Now may the God of peace himself grant you peace at all times and in all ways. The Lord be with you all. Amen.