Pentecost 23

Today's readings: 1 Kings 17: 8-16, Hebrews 9:24-28, and Mark 12:38-44 (sermon text). Although I do have a few minor issues with this sermon, it was good on the whole.

Practically, the widow's mite wasn't worth counting; it could do no useful work. To the eyes of Jesus, however, it was THE most significant. God measures what remains after the gift is given. Her gift was 100% - was it foolish investment? Impractical? A sign of dementia? But her gift mattered to the Master. The legacies of philanthropists fade, but since Christ's words will never pass away, this widow's legacy echoes forever.

Now let's preach Law: you should give 100% too! (Oops...bad theology!) Rather, try the Gospel angle: are we giving from excess (what we can spare, so it doesn't hurt us at all), or from poverty ("giving till it tickles," as Steve Green would say)? Can we spare it? Is it impractical, faith-based/ Is it based on others' expectations? Is it discreet? There's a warning here too, about the ostentatious law-teachers who sought only praise for giving.

We're all like this, for the Old Adam is a first-rate exhibitionist. Yet we have Christ as well, so our motives are for God - we seek no praise from others or from ourselves. Jesus sees faith in action, for which love is the motivation. With her pennies for heaven, the widow's mite points us to Christ, who gave 100% of Himself FOR YOU. His blood was offered to God for your redemption. Through this blood, we have an eternal inheritance! Therefore, we do all out of love.

Soli Deo gloria.

All Saints' Day 2009

At my home church! Today's readings were Revelation 7:9-17 (sermon text), 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12, and Matthew 5:1-12.

Saint John, in the reading, beheld the company of heaven--quite literally, our grandfathers' church. How do they worship there? They gather to stand around God's throne, clothed in white, holding palm branches, and singing hymns that speak God's Word back to Him. No other religion has the salvation promised by God--even Islam, the most similar to Christianity, has a paradise limited to men's sensual pleasure, a legalistic "salvation."

Let us return now to John's first vision: the kingly Lamb standing before candles that are the Church invisible. Sound familiar? It's not a "culturally relevant" way of worship (for pastors are the ordained hands and mouthpieces of Christ). It's your grandfathers' church.

Now to the Book of Life. All the universe didn't have anyone with the qualification, perfection, to open it. Even if we die for the faith, we cannot open it. But the Lamb has come to open the Book. May God grant that He will find your name therein. Those whose names are in it will get the privilege of adoring the one God, of falling on our faces in worship, the chief end of man, what heaven is all about. Christ has placed white robes on those, saints, He calls His children. He will be their light, peace, and comfort.

Soli Deo gloria.

Reformation 2009!

We sang DS setting 5 today! The entourage to the church we visited today was bubbly afterward because of this. Today's readings were Psalm 46, Revelation 14:6-7, Romans 3:19-28, and John 8:31-36 (sermon text, which included my confirmation verse).

The Reformation is about God's gracious forgiveness of our sins - not about anti-Catholicism. Before this Word is spoken, we are possessed and oppressed by our sin, which was brought to life by the Law (Romans 7). Looking into this perfect Law of God, we always see our inability to reach it. No matter how hard we work, how much good we do, we cannot obtain the righteousness of God. The Law's demands - even love of neighbor - we cannot keep.

In this light, look at the Gospel text. Jesus is speaking of slavery to sin, of the heart and conscience, that gives birth to death. From this we cannot free ourselves; it is indeed a body of death, a corpse affixed to us. Particularly: personal sins - unmet spousal demands, a rebellious child - that we bring to God, our shoulders slumped. That is our slavery.

Abide in My word, says Jesus, and we as disciples will know the Truth that frees the conscience. Once this happens, we see "the righteousness of God" not as Law but as a Gospel gift! We don't do it; it is given to us apart from the Law. Christ's atoning sacrifice effected it; we are now sons of God, inheritors of His infinite gift of salvation. Drink now the Blood, the vessel of His mercy.

Soli Deo gloria.

Pentecost 20: something different

Today's readings were Genesis 16:1-16, Romans 4:13-18, and Luke 24:36-49. However, in place of the sermon on this particular Sunday at the particular church we attended, a convert from Islam who is now preparing for the pastoral ministry spoke. During the service:

• He was born in Kurdistan, part of Iraq (96% Muslim intersecting with 80% Arabic), beginning the Islamic equivalent of catechesis at age 7, as is typical. Interestingly, his first exposure to religion was hearing his friends, at age 5, talking about Easter. However, he soon learned plenty about Islam because there is no separation of religion from either state or schooling.
• The more he learned, the more he became skeptical, eventually reading so much philosophy as to become an atheist. This lasted until Hussein invaded, forcing him to evacuate toward Iran along with his neighbors. A turning point occurred when God lowered storm clouds to protect him as he climbed out of reach of the guns of Hussein's army. Subsequently, he escaped to Iran (twice!), got some job experience with a cheese factory, and was granted political asylum in the US.
• Once in the US, he ended up in Wisconsin, where he studied the Bible with a pastor, later comparing it in hindsight with the Quran. What stood out at him was the conditionality of Islam - Allah grants believers paradise only if they do good works and give all to him. Christianity is the exact opposite - God gives us all things and unconditionally has mercy. Christianity is also surety incarnate - since God did it all for you, your salvation is certain.

In the fellowship hall afterward:

• The first step to evangelizing a Muslim friend is not evangelism. It's friendship. Make friends slowly and in-depth, avoiding religious conversation unless s/he brings it up.
• Once you are good friends, ask about his/her religion.
• After you listen, "Now let me tell you about what I believe." Start with the basics: Law (a pane of glass shattered by one pebble) and Gospel; knowing Christ from what is written about Him in the Bible; showing the depth/precision/long-range-ness of Old Testament prophecy; showing the utter reliability of New Testament eyewitnesses; knowing that Christ became man because man sinned, and He is the only perfect substitute.
• Interestingly, one could use the Quranic statement that Jesus was the only prophet who never sinned (i.e. was perfect) as a logical step to show that He is divine (if someone does not sin, that someone is equivalent to God, whose distinguishing mark in this respect is holiness).
• Some things must be taken on faith. If we could prove everything about Christianity, then it wouldn't be worth not believing in (not that it isn't!). Example: Trinity. Muslims generally think of it as 1 + 1 + 1, which logically does not equal 1. But, since the Trinity is in fact not three separate gods, it is rather 1 x 1 x 1, which equals 1.
• Keep in mind that taqiyya is frequently used in Muslim evangelism. One can't necessarily trust that something your friend tells you is actually true. Hard words, yes.
  
• Christianity is the only religion wherein man cannot save himself. God reaches down.

Soli Deo gloria.

Pentecost 19

Today's readings: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Hebrews 3:12-19; and Mark 10:17-22 (sermon text).

Whatever happened to Jesus's evangelism program? Talking about His own death had already lost Him plenty of followers. But the rich young man in today's text seemed like a perfect candidate for membership in any church: plenty of fiscal resources, eager devotion to God's commands, and good societal standing. He sought the Law, something he could keep more than others could. He was completely sincere in this - on his own terms - but completely misguided.

Jesus needs nothing we can give. So He went straight to the man's god: his money. Each of us has gods, which He attacked: lust (6th Commandment), anger (5th), money (9th). Therefore, when approaching God, you must allow 100% of you to be saved, to be controlled by God. This God-planted faith will sprout into works to love God and our neighbor.

Exhort one another to prevent hardening of conscience. Jesus gave all for and to us. We come as beggars to receive His gifts. When we have nothing, He offers not Law but Gospel. He dies our death to make us alive in Him, needing to do nothing to inherit eternal life. God must do all. Give up your Law, receive absolution, and taste sweet Gospel.

Soli Deo gloria.