Tuesday, September 25, 2018

“Why Do You Go to Worship…” 3rd Article of the Creed with Explanation, Sept. ’18




1.      Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  The message from God’s Word this morning will focus on the 3rd Article of the Apostle’s Creed with Martin Luther’s Explanation that we just recited a moment ago.  It’s entitled, “Why Do You Go to Worship,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2.      A few years ago there was an article that was making its way around Facebook entitled, “12 Reasons Why a Pastor Quit Attending Sports Events.”  This is a parody as to why people don’t go to worship or join a Christian church.  This list raises a number of interesting issues worth some thought and some discussion.  1. The coach never came to visit me.  2. Every time I went, they asked me for money.  3. The people sitting in my row didn’t seem very friendly.  4. The seats were very hard.  5. The referees made a decision I didn’t agree with.  6. I was sitting with hypocrites—they only came to see what others were wearing!  7. Some games went into overtime and I was late getting home.  8. The band played some songs I had never heard before.  9. The games are scheduled on my only day to sleep in and run errands.  10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.  11. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches, anyway.  12. I don’t want to take my children because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.  As I read this list I gave a laugh and saw the truth in the rather weak excuses people often give for leaving a church or the church. There is an important message and insight here.
3.      Martin Luther reminds us in His explanation to the 3rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed.  I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, Enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith...  For many Lutherans these are some of the most beloved words from Luther’s Small Catechism.  These words teach that saving faith in Jesus is not the result of my reason or effort, but the work of the Holy Spirit alone. These words are an outcome of the Reformation’s central insight that sinners are declared righteous before God for Christ’s sake alone, by Grace alone, through Faith alone.
4.      These words teach that even saving faith itself is a divine gift. For many Lutherans, if they remember and can recite anything from Luther’s Small Catechism, it’s these words.  Less remembered, if not often forgotten, is the rest of Luther’s explanation of the Third Article: ...in the same way as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the last day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
5.      Here Luther teaches that the Holy Spirit hasn’t given the gift of faith to me alone, but to the whole Church. Here we learn that the Holy Spirit alone keeps me and all believers in that faith in this Church alone. The fact that the first part of Luther’s explanation is so well remembered, and the second part is so easily forgotten may help us diagnose a perennial problem and provide a solution to that problem as well.
6.      Years ago at KFUO Radio Station in St. Louis, MO, our Church body’s own radio station they had open lines for their listeners asking the question, “Why do you go to church?” Have you ever wondered that?  Why did we go to worship on Sunday? For me some people might say it’s pretty easy from the fact that its my job as a Pastor.  But what about you? Revivalist preacher Billy Sunday is supposed to have said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” This is certainly the wisdom in American Christianity today. And no wonder, by and large, American Christianity doesn’t confess the first half of Luther’s explanation to the Third Article, much less the second half.
7.      For many Christians, saving faith isn’t a gift given by the Holy Spirit, its an act of your will and a decision of your mind. So, maintaining that saving faith is likewise your action and decision. The Sunday morning service is just a convenient gathering place for like-minded Christians. Attending Sunday services is like eating at Chic-fil-A, or shopping at Hobby Lobby. It’s just something Christians do to support a Christian organization. It’s encouraged, but not required, and certainly not necessary.  Ask the average church-goer, “If you stopped going to worship, would you eventually stop being a Christian?” and the answer will be a firm “no.” But is that true?
8.      What does the second half of Luther’s explanation to the Third Article say again? “In the same way as He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.” Luther is describing not only what makes you a Christian, but also what keeps you a Christian. Both are the work of the Holy Spirit alone, and both happen in the Church. You may object, “When Luther uses the word ‘Church’ he’s speaking of the Church in a spiritual sense, the invisible Church, not the church I attend on Sunday morning.” I respond, yes and no. Yes, he certainly is talking about the invisible Church. But where does an individual Christian find that Church? Is that Church an intangible idea, a purely spiritual reality, inaccessible to us? Or is that Church actually found in the church you attend on Sunday morning?
9.      It’s the role of the Church in which the Holy Spirit keeps you in the one true faith and forgives all your sins through the proclamation of God’s Word and the administration of the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Thankfully, it was a listener to the St. Louis KFUO radio program who provided the most important answer to that open lines question, “Why do you go to church?” There were lots of other answers: “I need the company of my fellow Christians.” “I need a spiritual oasis from the world.” “Church is my spiritual family.” “The Bible tells us not to forsake meeting together.” “My presence at Church is my witness to others.” None of these answers are wrong. But none of them is THE answer. Finally, one listener put his finger on it: “I go to church because that is where Jesus has promised to be forgiving my sin. And that is the only thing keeping me a Christian.”   
10.   Think about that with me.  We go to worship because it’s the only thing keeping us Christians.  In Matthew 18 Jesus is telling parables about how He finds lost sinners. He is teaching about the forgiveness of sin. He is talking how that forgiveness is distributed in His Church. Right in the middle of all of it Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” This is Jesus’ promise to be present forgiving sins where Christians gather around His Word and Sacraments. Martin Luther writes in the Smalcald Articles: God is superabundantly rich and generous in His grace and goodness. First, through the spoken Word by which the forgiveness of sins is preached. He commands to be preached in the whole world; which is the peculiar office of the Gospel. Secondly, through Baptism. Thirdly, through the holy Sacrament of the Altar. Fourthly, through the power of the keys, and also through the mutual conversation and consolation of brethren, Matt. 18:20: ‘Where two or three are gathered together, etc.’ (SA, II, IV)
11.   Only in church—where Jesus has promised to be present forgiving sins through preaching, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, Absolution, and mutual witness of other Christians—does the Holy Spirit make you a Christian and keep you a Christian. This is why you go to worship.  If you stopped going to church, would you eventually stop being a Christian? Yes, you would. You cannot remain a Christian without Jesus. And you can’t find Jesus anywhere else than in church.   Why do you need the Holy Spirit to begin and sustain this faith in you?  Because by nature I am spiritually blind, dead, and an enemy of God, as the Scriptures teach; therefore, “I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.”  The Scriptures teach in 1 Cor. 2: 14, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”   Eph. 2: 1 says, “You were dead in the trespasses and sins.”  Rom. 8: 7 says, “The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God.”  Eph. 2: 8–9 states, “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  1 Cor. 12: 3 says, “No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”
12.   There’s no such thing as a lone-wolf Christian. You didn’t become a Christian by your own reason or strength, and you won’t remain a Christian by your own reason or strength. You didn’t make yourself a Christian and you can’t keep yourself a Christian. Stay away from church and you are going it on your own. You are staying away from the work of the Holy Spirit. If you decide to try it all by yourself, you will fail, you will fall from the faith, you will stop being a Christian. This is why a faithful pastor actually cares if you are in church on Sunday. This is why such pastors regularly visit those who can’t come to church on Sunday by reason of health or other circumstance, bring them God’s Word and the Lord’s Supper, and remind them that if they cannot come to church, the Church will come to them. This is why, in the past, such faithful pastors would travel dozens or hundreds of miles on horseback to bring God’s Word and Sacraments to isolated families and villages. This is also why rather than simply “doing evangelism” or “doing mission work” the Church has sent pastors to plant a church—a place of worship with an altar, a pulpit and a font—where no churches exist. This is why the Church has chaplains serving the deployed military and those in prison.
13.   We need to embrace all of Luther’s explanation to the Third Article, not just the first half. If all you confess is that you cannot become a Christian by your own reason or strength, you are still a lone-wolf Christian, relying on yourself to remain so. But when you also confess that you cannot remain a Christian by your own reason or strength, then you have every reason to go to Church. You also have the comfort that it’s not up to you, but up to the Holy Spirit to keep you with Jesus Christ in the one true faith, to daily and richly forgive all your sins, to raise you up with all the dead on the last day, and to give to you and to all believers in Christ everlasting life.
14.   The real reason to go to Church is because Jesus has promised to be there in His Word and Sacraments forgiving your sins, and keeping you in the one true faith. The real reason to go to Church is because Jesus has promised to be there keeping you a Christian. So go to worship. You have every reason to do so.  Amen.  And now the peace that passes all human understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life everlasting.  Amen.


“Taming the Tongue” James 3.1-12, Pentecost 17B, Sept. ’18



1.      Please pray with me.  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.  Amen.  In the message from God’s Word we’re going to be looking at what James the apostle writes in James 3:1-12.  We’ll see that we as sinful human beings are guilty of using our tongues in ways that hurt God, our neighbor and even ourselves.  But, Christ Jesus our Lord used His speech perfectly on our behalf so that through His words and actions we’re saved!  The message is entitled, “Taming the Tongue,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2.      He walks confidently into the cage.  Nervous lions and tigers are on stools watching him, now and then roaring or moving their paws at him.  Then when the lion tamer seems to lose control, he cracks his whip and the beasts settle back or perform tricks on command.  One of the most important things we need to learn as Christians is to recognize situations in which you and I need to crack the whip, and keep that untamed tongue of ours under control.  Take these illustrations into consideration.  One of your friends comes up and says out of breath, “Did you hear about Sally Price?  I understand she…”  You open your mouth, about to tell what you’ve heard—and it’s whip-cracking time!  Gossip is a definite no-no.  Or what about this?  Your spouse has put the dishes in the wrong place in the cupboard, again!  You know he’s trying to help, but this is the umpteenth time he’s gotten it wrong.  You feel yourself getting angry and  open your mouth—when you realize it’s whip-cracking time.  You smile, glad that you’ve got a husband who’s willing to at least try and then remember that men are by nature incapable of figuring out where the dishes belong. 
3.      These are just a few of the situations where that untamed tongue is likely to carry us away before we even think!  Learning to tame our tongue is vital for our growth toward Christian maturity.  That’s why James the apostle writes in James 3:1-8, 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.  How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
4.      James was a great teacher of the faith.  He teaches us that we need to respect the mighty power of the words that we speak.  “Talk is cheap,” people say.  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  Au contraire, according to James.  Although the tongue is just a three inch muscle, wet, floppy and only partially visible, it’s very powerful.  Like a tail that wags the dog, the tongue drives our lives.  James gives the following examples of little things that have big effects.  For example, a bit in a horse’s mouth is a little piece of steel, but when used properly it can control a 2 thousand pound animal.  A rudder on a ship is a little shaped plank that’s mostly invisible below the water, but it enables the captain of a ship to control the course of an immense ship.  Finally, a spark in a forest.  Under control, a spark can make a small fire to warm cold travelers and cook their food.  But, out of control, a spark can cause an inferno that can reduce thousands of acres of mighty trees to smoldering stumps.  We’ve seen this with the fires in California recently. 
5.      James thinks that it’s urgent that people learn to control their mouths.  Not only to avoid hurting other people.  But, an uncontrolled tongue can also turn on the uncontrolled talker, corrupting the whole person, poisoning his mind and plunging the body into the dangers of the fires of hell.  James reminds us that the tongue doesn’t operate itself.  It’s our brain that controls the tongue.  Here’s another example of living out our Christian faith—people who claim to be believers must not let their mouths get out of control.  Faith in our Savior Jesus welcomes the power of the Holy Spirit to bite back lies, sarcasm, ridicule, gossip and praise for evil deeds.  Faith uses the Spirits power to build up other people, speak the truth, forgive and comfort.  Faith also knows when to command the tongue to be silent. 
6.      James teaches us that talk isn’t cheap and that words do wound.  Words can build up or destroy a person’s self confidence.  Words can turn someone’s’ proud achievement into humiliation.  Words can create and destroy a relationship.  Words can spread hate or love.  Words can spread truth or plant lies.
7.      That’s why James continues in James 3:9-12, 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”  Again the apostle teaches us that words are also God’s means to rescue people from hell.  A sermon, a Bible study, a catechism lesson or an evangelism visit over coffee all look tame and useless.  But, God’s power to save people, to create and sustain saving faith, takes place with the power of words. 
8.      That’s why it’s vitally important for all Christians, and especially for those who speak in the church’s name, to let God’s Word control their words. People hate hypocrisy.  Double minded Christians with forked tongues, praising God cursing one another, drive people away from Jesus as their Savior.  James won’t let Christians get comfortable with that.  Christ like minds and Christ like hearts direct the mouth to utter Christ like words!
9.      Yet, after just finishing a sermon series on the 10 commandments here at St. John we realize that we badly sin in this area with our words.  Who can save us from the poisonous words that we use to hurt our neighbor, our God and ourselves?  Have no fear, Jesus is here to do just that!  Let no one ever tell you that words are insignificant.  Martin Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” mentions Satan where Luther writes, “Rage we can endure, For lo! His doom is sure, One little Word shall fell him.”  And one Word has done just that.  For it was through One Word that the course of human history was changed.  When Jesus spoke the words, “It is finished” from the cross we were freed from the tyranny of the devil, the world and our sinful nature.  And those words, “It is finished” were one word in the Greek.  The word “tetelestai.” 
10.   James makes clear to us that we as human beings have no way of taming our tongues.  It’s for this reason that no matter how hard we try we can’t save ourselves.  That’s why only Jesus Christ our Lord spoke no evil.  The charges of blasphemy were false when Jesus stood on trial before the Sanhedrin in Matthew 27.  There was no guile in Him as 1 Peter 2 tells us.  And finally, Jesus was hanged on a tree for our sins.  The truth of the matter is that we as human beings would destroy ourselves were it not for the grace and forgiveness we’re given in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Only the cross on which Christ suffered and died permits us to tame our tongues.  Knowing that God for Jesus’ sake forgives penitent sinners gives us comfort since we know God will forgive us when we come to Him in repentance for the troubles our tongues have caused.
11.   So what does James teach us here in James 3?  That there are only two ways to live by, the wisdom of the world or by God’s wisdom.  James condemns the worldly pattern of selfishness, deception and hurtful words.  We as Christians struggle with such sins and are even tempted to present ourselves as holier than others.  But how different is the wisdom of God.  He’s purified us in Jesus and freed us from the stain of the world.  We now walk in the works He has prepared for us to do.  Please pray with me:  O Lord, purify me so that my words may uplift, strengthen, bring peace where there is strife and bring sincerity where there is falsehood.  Use my lips to speak your glory, to tell of Your wonderful deeds and to proclaim Your salvation in Jesus.  Amen.