“Faith’s Lenten Plea” John 12.20-33, Palm Sunday Series C 2013, Confirmation Sunday

1.                  Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Well, here we are now in our beginning of the observation of Holy Week to remember our Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection from the dead for the forgiveness of our sins.  And today, our confirmands Lindsay & Justin, are making that solemn vow and promise that they believe in this Jesus who was crucified and risen from the dead and they are willing to stake their lives on this belief in Him as their Lord and Savior as Christians have done in the past since the time of the Apostles.  The message from God’s word today comes to us from John 12:20-33, specifically from verses 24-26, where Jesus says, “²⁴Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”  The message is entitled, “Faith’s Lenten Plea,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.                  We live in an age that is conscious of the value of life, at least in some areas. As a result, we have many devices for saving life. We have life preservers, life belts, life rafts, lifeboats, lifelines, life nets, lifeguards, even life insurance, which is a bit of a misnomer since it pays off only at death. And there are also many courses on lifesaving. In all this emphasis upon the saving of life, however, there is probably no instruction as strange as that of the Lord Jesus Christ, who said to the people of his day, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (v. 25). We say, “The one who would save his life must save it.” Jesus said, “The one who would save his life must lose it, for only by losing it can he save it for the life to come.”

3.                  Why should we listen to advice that seems so foolish? For two reasons. First, the One who spoke those words did exactly what he said. He gave up his life, yet in such a way that we can hardly regard his having done so as foolish. Second, by giving his life he was extraordinarily successful; he gained both his own life and also a vast host of followers.  This is instruction that cannot easily be put aside. So, we turn to his words with interest.

4.                  To begin with, our Lord Jesus illustrates a great principle drawn from nature. He said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”   This is the principle of death and denial, the truth that life comes only by death. Here Jesus illustrated the principle by referring to a grain of wheat, which remains unfruitful so long as it’s kept to itself but which becomes fruitful when thrown into the ground and buried there.  Jesus is telling us that there are two kinds of life. There’s what is known as the psychological life, the life of the psyche, life that enjoys the things of this world and finds satisfaction in the gratification of the senses. It’s the kind of life that really whoops it up down here. “He that loveth his life” refers to this physical life that we have. You can really live it up, drink it up, take drugs, paint the town red, but do you know what is going to happen? One day you are going to die. You’ll lose it.

5.                  There was a Pastor in Texas who was asked to preach at the funeral of a rich man of the town who had been a church member but had broken every law of God and man and was living in sin and in drunkenness. This was in the oil section of Texas and a lot of rich people, the fast crowd, the jet set, came to the funeral. This pastor preached a gospel message of Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins! Then he stepped down to the casket and he preached on what sin will do for an individual and that it will finally send a man to hell. The people were getting uneasy. Then when he invited them to view the remains, he said, “His life is past; he lived it up; he is through. He despised God and he turned his back on Jesus Christ.” Then he looked at that crowd and said, “This is the way each one of you is going to end up unless you turn to Jesus Christ.”

6.                  We see this in many areas. The man who works only to put in time and receive a paycheck is not worth much to his employer. On the other hand, the man who gives himself to the work, who is seeking above all to do a good job and to get it done, is invaluable. The family provides us with another application. If a father or mother lives only for himself, or herself the family suffers and the children go astray. On the other hand, if they give of themselves, the family thrives and the children become an honor to their parents and multiply the parents’ joy.

7.                  Only when we say no to ourselves do we become capable of saying yes to God and so receive his fullest blessing. This is what Paul meant when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). He meant that he had died to self in order that he might live for God. Or again, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14). In saying this Paul meant that his identification with Christ in death made it possible for him to live for Christ and by Christian values and not for the world and its values.  FAITH’S LENTEN PLEA THEN IS: death and denial. It is only by death that life comes. We can hardly miss the fact that Jesus demonstrated the principle by his own death and subsequent resurrection.

8.                  For some reason the idea is current today that, because God is gracious and loving, a Christian can enjoy the fullness of God’s blessing without at the same time accepting the lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ in his or her life. This isn’t biblical. Those who have convinced themselves of this flout God’s laws. They disregard his instructions about the permanency of marriage, for instance. So they get divorces or they live together with someone outside of marriage or they get involved in a homosexual relationship. They ignore his instructions about continuing to meet together with other Christians in worship.  They ignore the unbeliever around them, forgetting that Jesus has sent them as witnesses into the world. They don’t live by the highest of moral standards. So they’re not happy, and they don’t know why. Well, this is why. They’ve not died to their own desires in order that they might live for Christ. They have not been crucified with him. They have not obeyed him. Jesus is their Savior, but he is not truly their Lord.

9.                  If this is true of you, I encourage you to learn this lesson. It’s not pleasant to be crucified, I know. But you’ll never truly live in the full spiritual sense until you are. George Mueller could be your example. He lived in England several generations ago and founded many great orphanages, maintaining them solely through prayer. He was extremely effective. But when asked the secret of his effective service, he replied, “There was a day when I died—died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”

10.              To lose your own life in order to gain it unto life eternal doesn’t mean you must do what Mueller did. But it does mean you must be willing to do anything for Christ, if he directs it. It will not be a sad and gloomy thing either. Do not think that. The sad thing is to disobey him. To obey is a joy. Remember that it was “for the joy set before him” that our Lord endured the cross and scorned the shame (Heb. 12:2).

11.              The third element in our Lord’s teaching about life through death is an invitation. He has stated the principle and applied it. Now he invites each of us to put it into practice by following him. He says, “Whoever serves me must follow me.”  How can we follow him? First, you can follow him in the same kind of self-denial about which I have been speaking. That is, you can take up your cross and follow him. Are you willing to do whatever Christ calls you to do? To be poor in his service? To be despised?  To surrender a cherished hobby, sin, or pastime? Will you obey him? Will you serve Christ by following him in self-denial?  Second, you can follow him in service. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40)?  Jesus was talking about those who fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, and visited the sick and those in prison.  Third, you may serve Christ by following him in holiness. He lived a perfectly holy life. If you would serve him, you must strive to be like him in that. To do that you must put aside all you know to be sin, spend time with him in order to grow in him, and then seek to practice what you already know.

12.              Having given his invitation, our Lord Jesus Christ offered two incentives to help us respond. First, he promised that he would be with anyone who followed him; second, he promised that God would himself honor such a one. He said, “Where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”  The first half of this phrase, containing the first promise, may be understood in two ways. On the one hand, it can apply to this life. If we follow Christ here, we can be sure that wherever we are, he will be with us. For if we are with him, then obviously he is also with us. To me this is a great promise. “What is better?”  “To be in the best of circumstances without Jesus? Or to be with Jesus even if being with him means being with him in persecution or suffering?” To be with Jesus whatever the circumstances or whatever the cost. He is worth any cost.

13.              The second way Christ’s promise that we will be with him may be taken is in reference to the fact that he was going to be with the Father. I know that he said, “Where I am,” using the present tense. But this can refer to something in the immediate future and often does. Here it likely refers to his soon return to heaven. It means that if we are with Jesus here, identifying with him in his suffering and sorrow, we will also be with him in glory. It is the equivalent of Paul’s statement, “If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us” (2 Tim. 2:11–12).

14.              This leads to Christ’s second promise: “My Father will honor the one who serves me.”  Jesus tells us that God will honor those who follow him in this life. In this life his way often involves suffering. Sometimes it involves death for his sake. It always involves self-denial. But, says Christ, the suffering will be followed by honor and the self-denial by praise.

15.              Can we not hear it? I think I hear the King’s voice. “Stand back, you angels! Make room, you seraphim! Make way! For here comes the man, here comes the woman, who was with my Son. He was only a poor sinful man. He was born in an ungodly time in the midst of an ungodly people. He did not know much. But he was with my Son. He was like him. He stood by him. Now I will honor him. Come up here. Here, take this crown, and then sit there with my Son on his throne and reign with him. For you shall indeed be with my Son in his glory, even as you were with him in his shame.” God grant that this might one day be true for all of us who truly call upon his name as our Lord and Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil.  This is faith’s Lenten plea, that we would see Jesus and spend the rest of our lives with Him.  Amen.

“We Eat a Holy Supper-The Sacrament of the Altar” Matt. 26.26–28 Lenten Midweek Series 6 ,‘13

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 today comes to us from Matthew 26:26-28 and is entitled, “We Eat a Holy Supper-The Sacrament of the Altar,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ. 

2.            The sun danced through the window and fell on her shoulders. It gave a sparkle to Ruth’s hair that matched her personality. But, today, she’d come with a serious concern to discuss.  Ruth’s first husband had died. Some years later, she’d married a member of a Lutheran congregation and attended adult instruction to learn about the Lutheran Church, but this faithful woman, an eager Bible student, had not been able to bring herself to join. Her grandfather had been a pastor in another denomination. As a small girl, Ruth had been close to her grandfather. Loyal to his memory, she couldn’t leave his denomination.  But, she’d grown to love the Lutheran Church and its teachings. In her heart she knew it was time to join the congregation where she’d been worshiping for more than a few years. The sun gave a glow to her face as she asked again about the differences between the Lutheran church and her grandfather’s denomination. The conversation turned to the Sacraments and to the Lord’s Supper in particular.  The Lutheran pastor explained that Jesus said, “This is my body. This is my blood,” and that Lutherans believe he meant what he said. We believe that his body and blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine.  Ruth looked at the pastor and exclaimed, “This is what I’ve always believed!”

3.            Ruth simply believed the Word of God that she had read in the Bible. Like Luther, she knew that the Sacrament of the Altar “is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.”  Unfortunately, there are many who hear Jesus’ words and refuse to believe them. Their human reason asks, “How can bread and wine be Christ’s body and blood?” (LC V 12). Ruth and Luther knew what these people cannot bring themselves to believe. The bread and wine in the Sacrament aren’t mere bread and wine, such as are served at our dinner table, “but this is bread and wine included in, and connected with, God’s Word” (LC V 9). With Luther, Ruth understood that all human reason is “not as wise as is the Divine Majesty in His little finger” (LC V 12). Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood.” And we know that he can never lie or deceive (Titus 1:2).  In the Large Catechism, Luther says, “Everyone who desires to be a Christian and go to this Sacrament should know” these three points: “What is it? What are its benefits? and Who is to receive it?” (LC V 1, 2).

4.            Understanding and believing Jesus’ words enables us to answer the second question concerning the benefits of the Sacrament. When Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood,” he also says, “for the forgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:26–28).  Luther explains it this way: “For this reason we go to the Sacrament: there we receive such a treasure by and in which we gain forgiveness of sins. . . . Christ asks me to eat and drink, so that this treasure may be my own and may benefit me” (LC V 22).  Because there’s forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament, it can be called food for the soul. In it we receive nourishment to refresh and strengthen our faith.

5.            I’m sure your Christian life is a struggle.  I know that mine can be too! The Bible tells us that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8). He uses every trick he can think of to pull you away from the Savior. When the road is long and the way is difficult, Jesus gives you his Holy Supper to strengthen you for the struggle, to give you courage in the face of discouragement, and to support you for battle.  Jesus defeated sin, death, and the devil by the sacrifice of his body and blood on the cross. His work is done. Forgiveness of sins is secured. He gives you this treasure through his Word. You receive it by faith. He makes it personal by connecting his forgiving Word to the bread and the wine, his body and blood, that you eat and you drink. This is the benefit of the Sacrament.

6.            With Luther, we then ask, “Who is the person that receives this treasure and benefit in the Sacrament?” Does this question sound silly? It does to many people who believe there’s no benefit in the Sacrament, only an opportunity to think about Jesus. It means that not everyone who comes to the Supper receives a benefit.  And, in fact, this is the case. In the Large Catechism we’re reminded, “Whoever now accepts these words and believes that what they declare is true has forgiveness. But whoever does not believe it has nothing” (LC V 35).  Some may come to the Holy Supper but refuse to see what God has offered there. Jesus has placed a treasure on the Table, but some ignore it and walk away without any benefit from the Supper at all. In fact, St. Paul tells us that anyone coming to the Holy Supper without faith “eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Cor 11:29).  This is why Lutherans practice close communion to prevent their neighbor from bringing judgment on themselves.

7.              On the other hand, whoever believes the words has what they declare. Jesus says, “This is my body. This is my blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Here Jesus offers and promises forgiveness of sins. It is received by faith. The benefits and blessings of Baptism can’t be seized with a fist, but this treasure is received and made yours with the heart (LC V 36).

8.            Many years ago, a Lutheran pastor spoke this way about the Sacrament of the Altar. He explained that at the beginning of each service he would pronounce the forgiveness of sins and from the pulpit he would proclaim Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for the salvation of souls. But, at times people may feel that their sins are so great or that their faith is so weak that this forgiveness must be only for the other people around them. Like those people, you, too, may believe that the salvation won by Jesus on the cross is for everyone else, but the pastor really never meant it for you.  But, when you come to the Sacrament and kneel before the altar, when you take and eat the true body of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ given for you for the forgiveness of sins, and when you take and drink the true blood of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, then there can be no doubt that this treasure is yours. It is meant for you. At that very moment there is no uncertainty that you are the one eating and drinking and that the blessings and benefits of the Holy Supper are meant directly and absolutely for you.  Jesus Intends You to Have the Riches of the Treasure: Forgiveness of Sins, Life, and Salvation.

9.            So what have we learned?  What is the Sacrament? It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.  What are its benefits? These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.  Who is to receive it? Fasting and bodily preparation are certainly fine outward training. But that person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”

10.        We’ve come to the conclusion of our midweek Lenten journey through Luther’s Catechisms. I pray that this Lenten walk with Luther has helped to strengthen your faith. We rejoice with the authors of the Formula of Concord that Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms are “ ‘the layman’s Bible’ because everything necessary for a Christian to know for salvation is included in them, which is handled more extensively in the Holy Scriptures” (FC Ep Summary 5). We’ve learned that the message of God’s Word as contained in the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine are meant personally for each of us. Each of us has fallen short of God’s Law, but God in his mercy has sent Jesus to be the Savior. He came into our sinful world to bear our sins on the cross and arise triumphant from the grave. Through his Word and Sacraments, he gives each of us the treasures won on the cross: forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  Join us next week for Holy Week as we allow Martin Luther again to be our guide in discovering the treasure of Christ’s Passion and triumph over the grave.  Amen.

“We Are Forgiven: The Office of the Keys” John 20:19–23, Lenten Midweek Series 5

1.             Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  One TV show that I enjoyed watching while I was growing up was Home Improvement with Tim Allen. One episode in particular comes to mind. Tim Taylor, played by Tim Allen, returns home from doing his Tool Time show. His hands are in his pockets. He won’t take them out. His family suspects something, and they try to trick him into taking his hands out of his pockets. But no matter what they do, he refuses. Finally, something happens, and he reveals what they had suspected. His hands are dyed green up to his wrists. There’s no denying it. His clumsiness is there for all to see.  Here’s a perfect example for us as we consider sin. Sin stains our hearts just as dye had stained Tim Taylor’s hands. There’s nothing you can do to get rid of that stain. What we may try to do is hide it. Hide it from everyone else. Hide it from God. Sometimes we may be so convincing that we even hide this stain of sin from ourselves.

2.             This seems to have been the case with David. David was a man after God’s own heart. David killed Goliath with one smooth stone and a sling. David was the great king of Israel. But, he became involved in the sordid matter before us.  You know the story. David committed adultery with Bathsheba. In modern times, people might say, “What’s the big deal? It’s only sex.” They may have said it back then too, at least in the pagan world. After all, David was the king. He could do whatever he wanted. But David? David, a man after God’s own heart?  When David learned that Bathsheba was expecting a child, he had to find a way to hide his sin before he was found out. Uriah the Hittite, Bathsheba’s husband, was given a leave of absence from the war. David wanted to make Uriah think that this child was Uriah’s, but Uriah would have none of it. His buddies were engaged in battle. He wouldn’t let them down.

3.             David tried everything, but Uriah wouldn’t spend the night with Bathsheba. Finally, David gave up. He sent Uriah back to the front and developed a plan to kill him. His plan was subtle. Uriah would be assigned to the most dangerous spot on the frontline. In an attack, the frontline soldiers were the first to be killed. In this way, David murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites. Then very quickly, David married Bathsheba, and now the baby makes it look like David is on the up and up. He thought he was home free. His sin was hidden. No one would ever find out. Possibly David even started to convince himself that everything was fine.

4.             Have we been there? Are we there? Is there something in our past that no one has discovered? Maybe even a sexual sin? We never ask, and no one should start thinking of anyone but himself or herself, but even in a Christian congregation, it’s not unlikely that there have been extramarital affairs. Or maybe activity before we were married—maybe with the ones we’ve now married, maybe with someone other than our current spouses. Does she or he know? Maybe there was once an abortion even our parents never knew about. Or maybe it’s something everybody knows about, a matter of public record, but we’ve convinced ourselves was never wrong: a divorce. We’ve since gone carelessly on our way, glad to have the world’s okay. 

5.             But, David couldn’t hide his sin from God. God knew what had happened. God was aware of the stain of sin on David’s heart. So God sent the prophet Nathan to David.  Nathan told David this story: There were two men in a certain town, one rich and one poor. The rich man had very large numbers of sheep and cattle. The poor man had only one little pet sheep. He treated it like a daughter. He even let it eat his own food. When a wealthy visitor came to the rich man, he took the poor man’s pet lamb and slaughtered it and ate it.  Oh, how angry David became! How could someone be so heartless? The man ought to die! He should pay 4 times what that lamb was worth. I can imagine that Nathan looked him right in the eye when he said to David, “You are the man!”

6.             You are the man, David. You are the man! Then David’s hands were out of his pockets. He could hide it no more. The crushing weight of sin fell on David’s shoulders as Nathan told him that God would punish him for his sin. I’m going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you. What you did in secret, I will do in broad daylight before all of Israel. David was caught red-handed.  What could he do? He turned to Nathan and said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan now has David right where he wants him. Then Nathan said to David, “You can make things all better by tithing and not missing any more church services.” What a great opportunity for Nathan to lay out a list of things he would require of the great King David. Nathan had it made. But that is not what God directed Nathan to say. Nathan replied, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.”

7.             What a wonderful word rang in David’s ears from the voice of Nathan when he said, “The Lord also has put away your sin.” Those same words ring in our ears, especially when we use the liturgy that reads, in David’s own words from Psalm 32, “I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin” (LSB, p 184). That’s what happened here. We’re remembering this event of God’s wonderful forgiveness to a penitent sinner and know that forgiveness applies to us as well.  Yes, we could keep our hands in our pockets. We could act as if the Sixth, Eighth, or other Commandments are unimportant. But we can’t fool God. John writes in his First Letter, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jn 1:8). You may be able to deceive yourself, but you are not going to be able to deceive God. “But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (LSB, p 151). This is a wonderful, wonderful promise from God.

8.             John goes on to tell us why all of this is true: “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn 2:1–2). This Jesus, nailed to the cross, was nailed there for your sins and mine, so that Nathan, together with pastors though the centuries, is able to say, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Sam 12:13). That’s what the cross is all about. What a great and wonderful thing it is to have the privilege of being your pastor and sharing those words with you.

9.               How often we take them for granted. There was a time years ago when, due to an electrical problem, when a pastor was given the task of announcing on Sunday morning that there would be no Christian Day School on Monday. A cry and cheer went up from the congregation such as was never heard before—at least from those in the 8^th grade and below. This gets us to think.  “Sunday after Sunday, the Pastor says, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ and there’s no reaction.” Forgiveness is just taken for granted. But the release from sin is more valuable to us than a day released from school.  What a wonderful thing it is that God gives us the privilege of sharing forgiveness with one another. Sunday after Sunday, I can say to you as your pastor, “As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit” (LSB, p 151).

10.          From time to time people from a non-Lutheran tradition will come to me and ask, “Who are you to forgive sins? You’re just a man.” Of course, I am just a man. Jesus alone can forgive sins, but he gives that right and privilege to the Church.  On the night of the resurrection, what is Jesus giving away? He’s giving the forgiveness of sins. Jesus came to his disciples, breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven” (Jn 20:22). He gives that right and privilege to the Church. He’s saying, “You have the right and privilege to forgive sins, because I give it to you.” The congregation by calling a pastor has authorized him to fill the Office of the Public Ministry and do this forgiving officially for the entire congregation, but the right and privilege to forgive comes from Jesus.

11.          Luther’s Small Catechism asks and then answers, “What do you believe according to these words? I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.”  Luther has some other interesting things to say about confession. He was very concerned to purge false notions about private confession. Before Luther and the Reformation, private confession was thought to be something you had to do. It was ordered and commanded. Luther explains it with this example that I embellish a little bit:  Imagine there are poor miserable beggars. The authorities order them to go to a certain place at a certain time. For example, maybe the corner of Cleveland Avenue and Glenlord Road. The authorities never tell why or what they’ll find there or what benefit it’ll be for them there. They are just ordered to go. How many beggars would do this? The ones who did would go grumbling and complaining. Luther says this is the way it used to be, but it is not the right way. Rather, imagine the beggars are told that on the corner of Cleveland Avenue and Glenlord Road they will find immense piles of riches. All the food they can eat and wonderful wealth are there for the taking. You can be sure the beggars will flock to receive these great gifts (BEC 23–24).  As I read Luther using this example, I thought of people heading into the Klondike during the gold rush. Amid the snow and ice, people were climbing mountain passes lined up like ants. In the Klondike, they imagined finding gold lying on the ground for the taking. In fact, we do have the gold of forgiveness freely given to us in confession and absolution.

12.          The Bible talks about two kinds of confession. The first is the need to confess our sins to God every day as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. This is a constant ongoing need. We also confess our sins one to another. When we’ve sinned against others, we need to confess our sin to them. Again, the Lord’s Prayer implies this when we pray, “Forgive us our sin (or trespasses) as we forgive those who trespass against us.” That is what’s commanded. Private confession isn’t a divine command but given to us as a rich treasure (BEC 14–15). When you feel sin weighing on your soul, you can come and receive personal consolation and forgiveness. If something is troubling you, maybe in your past, maybe something even those closest to you don’t know about—and maybe they never need to know—but something that’s ever caused you to say, “Those words of forgiveness are for other people; I’m too bad,” or if today there’s something you’ve realized has been wrong all along and for the first time it’s causing you grief, what an invitation to come and hear the words of forgiveness directed personally, to you. Your sin—yes, that sin—is forgiven!

13.          Jesus placed absolution in the hands of his Christian people; we read about it in John 20. I assume that at night or sometime during the day, you ask God for forgiveness. He does forgive, but how many times has he answered you with words you can actually hear: “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die”? This is why God has given us the privilege of coming to the pastor. So that Through Human Lips You Can Hear God’s Word of Forgiveness in Your Ears, whether it be in church on Sunday morning or in confession in the pastor’s office.  In this way you experience exactly what David experienced. David said, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan was privileged to say on God’s behalf, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Amen.

“May This Never Be” Luke 20.9-20 Lent 5C, March 2013

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.  On this 5^th Sunday in Lent we reflect on today’s Gospel reading from Luke 20:9-10.  Here we have words of warning from our Lord Jesus Christ as He speaks in the city of Jerusalem to His followers and His opponents alike.  Jesus warns us here in Luke 20, may this never be that we despise God’s Word (vv. 9–12).  May this never be that we reject God’s love (vv. 13–15), and may this never be that we are crushed by God’s judgment (vv. 17, 18).  The message is entitled, “May This Never Be,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

2.             There’s a story about the comedian W. C. Fields (never noted for his Christian beliefs) reading the Bible on his deathbed. “Getting religious at the eleventh hour?” someone asked him. “No,” Fields replied. “Just checking for loopholes.” There are different reasons for investigating Jesus’ life and works. People can come to him openly and honestly, sincerely wanting to know what he is all about and what it means to be his follower. Or they can come to him like the spies, only looking for something to criticize. God knows everyone’s heart. He knows whether a person comes to him as a seeker or a cynic. Ask him to give you an open, receptive heart to hear his truth.

3.             Jesus spoke the words contained in our text from Luke 20:9-20 on the Tuesday of Holy Week just days before His crucifixion on the cross. He spoke them in the presence of all who wanted to hear him and directly to those who were plotting his death, some of His own critics. While Jesus was teaching the people, his enemies interrupted him and questioned his authority to teach. Jesus kept on teaching. But the thrust of his words now was directed at these chief priests and elders. This was one of Jesus’ last attempts to warn them and to show them the patience of God in spite of man’s disobedience, the sinfulness of rejecting him as the Messiah, and the terrible judgment which would come upon all those who failed to heed his warning. 

4.             Notice here in Luke 20 that even on his way to the cross Christ warned his enemies. They failed to listen. “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (Jn 1:11).  This brings us to our first point from the parable that Jesus told.  May this never be that we despise God’s Word (vv. 9–12).   Is it possible that this very same thing can be happening today, even during these solemn hours before another Holy Week? Sometimes it seems that those who are the loudest in claiming that they’re God’s own people are in the greatest danger of rejecting him through whom alone there is hope of standing before God.

5.             Before the enemies of Christ could leave, he told the parable of our text.  Luke 20:9 says, He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.” Not only were the Jewish leaders present to hear what Jesus had to say, but many of the people as well. The picture of a vineyard was a familiar one. Most people knew of such a garden where grapes were raised and had possibly even worked in one. The owner of the vineyard was patient and fair. He allowed a long time for the vines bring forth fruit. He was not unjust, nor was he unreasonable in dealing with the farmers who worked his vineyard for him. Their payment was a share of the harvest.

6.             In Luke 20:10–12 Jesus says, “At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.”  The owner asked for a portion of the harvest. This was the agreement made with the farmers. But the farmers treated the owner’s representatives in a most shameful manner. Not only did they refuse to give up part of the produce as agreed, but they also abused the men who were simply doing what the owner commanded. The Greek words which tell of this treatment describe especially how cruel their actions were, they uses words with the meaning of “to tear off the skin” & “to wound severely”). The fact that this action was repeated several times shows the great patience of the owner as well as the wickedness of the farmers.  It wasn’t difficult for Christ’s hearers to sense the direction which this parable was taking as far as its application was concerned. The people of Israel were the Lord’s own vineyard (cf. Isa 5:7). In spite of God’s patience in dealing with his people, they remained rebellious. They misused his gifts. They treated the prophets who were sent to them by God in a most shameful way (cf. Mt 23:34; Ac 7:52).

7.             This leads me to my next point.  May this never be that we reject God’s love (vv. 13–15).  Luke 20:19 says, “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’”  Already the owner had shown unusual patience by sending one servant after the other to these wicked people. Now his decision was even more unusual. No human father who loves his son very much is going to send him to people who have already shown themselves to be so cruel. Would a father want to take such a chance? Would he say, “Perhaps they will respect my son”? No, but this was the only possibility that remained.  And, the Jewish leaders were aware of what this implied. They knew very well that Jesus could only be thinking of God, his Father, and that Jesus meant himself when he referred to the “son.” Jesus had often referred to himself as God’s only Son (cf. Jn 3:16; Lk 10:22).

8.             Luke 20:14–16 says, “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never be!”  “How could anyone be so foolish to think he could get away with such a crime?” we ask. Could these tenants really have supposed that the owner would do nothing to them? They had mistreated the owner’s servants in most shameful ways. Then they had even gone so far as to kill the owner’s son and “heir.” 

9.             Jesus was standing before those who were plotting to do this very same thing (cf. Jn 11:47–53). He could not have given his enemies a stronger warning. Yet the blind unbelief of these Jewish leaders led them to attempt this very crime against Jesus.  This is true of every unrepentant sinner who refuses to listen to God’s servants. He is guilty of the death of God’s own Son on account of his sins and yet somehow imagines that he can escape God’s just punishment. “No way!” Jesus says. The farmers will be punished. The vineyard will be given to others.  The people were shocked. “May this never be!” they cried out. Whether or not the Jewish leaders joined in this exclamation in a hypocritical way we don’t know. At this point, however, the people were not aware that their leaders were plotting the death of Jesus at that very time.

10.                     This leads to the last point.  May this never be that we are crushed by God’s judgment (vv. 17, 18).  Luke 20:17-19 says, “Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’?  Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed. The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.”  The teachers of the law and the chief priests showed by their actions that they knew Jesus was speaking against them. They wanted to arrest Jesus at this time. Jesus prophesied correctly. They had persecuted God’s servants, the prophets. They were now about to kill his Son.  Did Team Sanhedrin get the message? Oh yes! They recognized a spiritual slam dunk when they saw one. They understood the parable/allegory and understood its implications. They knew it threatened the giving of the vineyard/Israel to new leadership. They got it—but tragically they didn’t believe it for a second.  As the leaders of Israel stood in the temple, the great golden vine symbolizing Israel gleamed nearby in the light. Before them sat the Lord of the temple, the capstone to the entire structure. Around the temple spread the vineyard-clad slopes of Israel, pleading reinforcement for his words.

11.                     But despite all the reasons to believe they rejected him. Spiritually, they stepped into the gaping abyss below.  What about us? Jesus claims authority in every area of our lives.  Early in his ministry Jesus displayed his authority to forgive sin when he said to the paralytic, “ ‘But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins …’ He said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home’ ” (Luke 5:24; cf. Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:10). He now forgives sin with ease because he bore the unfathomable burden of our sins on the cross.  He also has authority to give spiritual life. As John explained, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right [that is, authority] to become children of God” (John 1:12). 

12.         But where is the gospel in this text? It is there. See it in the patience of God as pictured in the owner of the vineyard. Repeatedly the owner sends servants who are treated shamefully. See it in the love of God as pictured by the owner sending his own Son. This is a love which staggers the imagination. It goes far beyond the limits which we set as human beings. See it in the Son as pictured in the heir who was thrown out of the vineyard and killed. How this reminds us of him who was put to death on Calvary outside the city of Jerusalem (Jn 19:17; Heb 12:2).  Yes, there is a note of hope even in the picture of Jesus as the stone which the builders rejected and which will crush all those on whom it falls.  Jesus has all authority, and he passes it on to all who take his name to the world. From the bottom of the sea to the end of the expanding universe, from the depth of Hell to the heights of Heaven, all authority belongs to Jesus!  What is Jesus to you? Is he an impediment? Or is he your Master? Your Lord? Your authority?  Are you rising or falling?  Amen.

March 2013 St. John Newsletter

St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, LCMS Newsletter                       P.O. Box 162, Baldwin, Illinois 62217-0162 (618) 785-2344             

                                                               Pastor John M. Taggatz,        Jenna Otten, Secretary

March, 2013                             Lela Rehmer, Custodian          Kevin Kahle, Groundskeeper      

                                                                                                                                                                        

                        Church E-mail:  stjohnch@egyptian.net; jtaggatz@yahoo.com

                        Church Web Site:  www.stjohnbaldwin.ctsmemberconnect.net

Serving on the Altar Guild for March are:  Marla Huebner & Carol Wentz 

               

Ushers for the Month of March are:  Gary Huebner, Kyle Junge, Tony Junge, Carl Laufer, Gene Luthy, Corey Roscow, Mark Schoenbeck

CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE…

(618) 785-2344    (or)

(618) 785-2602

-When a member of your family is admitted to the hospital, so a visit can be made by Pastor Taggatz.

- When your group plans to hold a meeting, so it can be cleared and placed on the church calendar.

-When your home or business phone number or address is changed, so church records can be corrected.

- When you are planning to move either out of town or locally.

- When you know you are pregnant so that we will be able to assist you in any way we can with prayers, encouragement and support.

- When a new baby arrives in your family or in the family of another church member.

- When you are planning a wedding or baptism.

  

“A Lie Spread, but the Truth Victorious”

                This month we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead.  Jesus comes and rips away the blanket of death which once enshrouded this sinful world. To all who doubt; to those who deny; to those whose hearts are ruled by cynicism, their minds by skepticism, the Holy Spirit speaks and says, "...Christ has been raised from the dead. Follow Him, believe and be saved."

                The chief priests confront us with the one teaching that truly defines a Christian: What do you believe about the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ? What one believes about the events of the first Easter is the test of faith.  Paul sums it all up in 1 Cor. 15: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . . And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor 15:14, 17).  Matthew 28:11-15 says, “11While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief  priests all that had taken place. 12And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”  

                Good Friday alone doesn’t save. The debt for sin was paid, but there was no victory.  Jesus’ lifeless dead body was taken down from the cross and placed in an empty tomb.  So what does the resurrection show? It shows that God the Father accepted the life of Jesus for our sins. Without the resurrection, this Jesus was swallowed up by death, just like all the rest of humanity from the beginning of time. Without the resurrection, believers who have already died have perished, and so will we. Without the resurrection, this world and our Christian life are without meaning. Once you snip off eternity, what point is there to this world at all? What difference does it make whether you’re a saint or just plain evil, if there’s no moral reckoning beyond this life? If this world is all there is, then we’d better say what the other children of this world say: “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” Right? The resurrection is what gives all of life its meaning. Without it, life is empty, hopeless, and pointless.

                You can’t have it both ways: either Jesus rose from the dead, or he didn’t. The various attempts to ride the fence—Jesus rose in spirit rather than body, and the variations on that theme—are quite stupid and extremely unacceptable.

                Nothing in this world’s past or present is of more importance, interest, or controversy than our Lord Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Critics of Christianity have repeatedly attempted to discredit the resurrection. They’ve done so to protect their position, to deal with their fear of God, and to undermine the confidence of believers.

                The lie of the chief priests in our text, which they told to protect their position, is only the first of many to cast doubt on the resurrection at the first Easter. It’s called the “stolen-body” theory: the disciples removed Jesus’ body so that they could produce the myth of a risen Christ.

                Other theories range from the crude to the elaborate. They include theories about an angry gardener who wanted to keep people out of the garden and moved the body to an unmarked grave, the wrong tomb, or the idea that Jesus didn’t really die on the cross, and that the whole thing was a hallucination. Probably my favorite is that Jesus had a twin brother who remained in seclusion until Jesus’ death on the cross. Then he emerged, giving the impression of resurrection.

                The danger of a lie isn’t that it will destroy the truth, but that the lie makes us uncertain and undermines our belief in the truth. A lie told a million times will be believed as if it were the truth.

                The various lies about the resurrection have one important point in common: they all set down as fact that the tomb was empty! Strange! Wouldn’t it have been a much more effective attack against Christianity to prove that Jesus’ body was never missing, but that it lay in Joseph’s tomb all the while? Amazingly, this argument hasn’t been used, and for good reason: there’s compelling evidence, outside the Gospel accounts, that Jesus’ tomb was truly empty on Easter morning.

Let’s grant the argument of his enemies. If Christ didn’t rise, suppose the disciples stole the body: where is he buried? And you have another problem when you deny the resurrection. Remember what the disciples did on Good Friday? They were very courageous, right? They were more like grade A cowards. They ran! They hid! If Christ didn’t rise, and the disciples all got together and decided to lie about it, can you tell me what changed those 11 men into courageous witnesses of the resurrected Christ? Would you be willing to die for a lie? Because history suggests that all the disciples except one were martyred. Do you follow me? Something changed those people. We know, of course, that the resurrection is the truth, but it would’ve been an awfully obvious lie. If Jesus didn’t rise, and the disciples stole his body and hid it someplace, then they had an awful lot of nerve to die for a lie that size. Instead, Scripture says, “Take God’s Word for it,” and the reality is so obvious. It transformed the lives of those men completely. The reality of the resurrection and the pouring out of the Spirit has the power to transform us too.

The circumstantial evidence for the empty tomb is overpowering. It deals with the question “Where did Christianity first begin?” To this, the answer must be “Only one spot on earth: the city of Jerusalem.” But this is the very last place it could’ve started if Jesus’ tomb had remained occupied, since anyone producing his body would’ve snuffed out the flame of an infant Christianity preaching his resurrection. What happened in Jerusalem 7 weeks after the first Easter could’ve taken place only if Jesus’ body were somehow missing from Joseph’s tomb. For otherwise, the temple establishment, in its confrontation with the apostles, would simply have ended the movement by making a brief trip over to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and unveiling exhibit A. They didn’t do this, because they knew the tomb was empty. Their official explanation for it—that the disciples had stolen the body—wasn’t just a lie, but also an admission that the tomb was vacant and empty.

The chief priests spread a lie, but the truth is victorious! Jesus Christ is alive!  Alleluia! We have a living Lord. And because Christ lives, there is a tomorrow for you, me and all who have faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Because Jesus lives, we have a future and a hope. Not only that, there’s meaning to all our days. We can face each day with the reality that we’re not alone. All our days are changed. All our feelings rest on the foundation of joy in the forgiveness of our sins that Jesus won for us through His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection from the dead. All our behavior is motivated because he “was raised to life for our justification” (Rom 4:25). We live in the reality of Easter as God’s people.

We worship Jesus. We’re not afraid to say that we believe in the living Lord. “[We believe in] the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting” (Apostles’ Creed, Third Article). We stand on the faith given to us, by which we’re saved. Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!  Alleluia! 

See You in Church,

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Pastor Taggatz    

2013 ST. JOHN LENTEN MIDWEEK SERVICES

Following Wednesday Feb. 13^th we will be having our Lenten Midweek services on Wednesday evenings from Feb. 20^th through March 20^th at 7pm.  Please Note:  Due to the Lenten Midweek Series Confirmation & Pre-confirmation will be meeting at different times on Wednesdays.  Pre-Confirmation will be meeting at 4:30pm and Confirmation will be meeting at 5:30 pm…

Here is a description and summary of what the Lenten Midweek series is about.  The concept for this series was inspired by the Book of Concord:

Such matters also concern the laity and the salvation of their souls. Therefore we also confess Dr. Luther’s Small and Large Catechisms as they are included in Luther’s works. They are “the layman’s Bible” because everything necessary for a Christian to know for salvation is included in them, which is handled more extensively in the Holy Scriptures. (FC Ep I 5)

Many people choose to give up something for Lent. Instead, you may want to take on something for your Lenten discipline and our Lenten Midweek series this year is a good time to do this. You may want to read the Six Chief Parts of Christian Doctrine from Luther’s Small Catechism each day according to the following schedule:

Monday—The Ten Commandments

Tuesday—The Apostles’ Creed

Wednesday—The Lord’s Prayer

Thursday—The Sacrament of Holy Baptism

Friday—Confession

Saturday—The Sacrament of the Altar

Sunday—Daily Prayers, Table of Duties, or

Christian Questions with Their Answers

You may also choose to read Luther’s Large Catechism during Lent, focusing on one chief part each week.

Lenten Midweek Series—Taking On Something for Lent: Luther’s Catechisms

1.       Feb. 27^th, 2013—Lenten Midweek 3: Our Father Who Is in Heaven: The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9–13

2.        March 6^th, 2013—Lenten Midweek 4: The Washing of Regeneration: Holy Baptism Matthew 28:18–20

3.       March 13^th, 2013—Lenten Midweek 5: We Are Forgiven: The Office of the Keys John 20:19–23

4.       March 20^th, 2013—Lenten Midweek 6: We Eat a Holy Supper: The Sacrament of the Altar Matthew 26:26–28

5.       March 28^th, 2013—Maundy Thursday: On the Night When He Was Betrayed 1 Corinthians 11:23–32

6.       March 29^th, 2013—Good Friday: It Is Finished John 19:30

7.       March 31^st, 2013—Easter Sunday: Don’t Seek the Living among the Dead Luke 24:1–6a

 “Let Your Gospel Light Shine!”

During a sermon, a pastor told of a man who had taken his unchurched, unbelieving neighbor to Easter service with him.  What a glorious morning!  The sermon was profound, the music was heavenly, and the whole atmosphere was absolutely charged.  On the way home, the man turned to his neighbor and asked, “Well, what did you think?”  After a pause, the neighbor replied, “I think that if I believed everything I heard this morning, I wouldn’t be able to talk about anything but that.”

               

Does that remark convict you as a Christian?  We’re willing to talk about last Sunday’s football game, going over it play by play.  We’re eager to tell acquaintances where we got that chic new hairdo we’re sporting.  We’ll even spend long minutes talking about the weather to complete strangers.  But when do we talk about the Gospel?

1 Peter 3:15 reads, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” There’s nothing wrong with talking about the weather or sports, but, as Christians who have been given the treasure of the Gospel message, don’t we have a more important topic of conversation?

To the church in Laodicea, Jesus said, “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot.  Would that you were either cold or hot!  So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).  Are we lukewarm about the message of the Cross?  Are we grateful for what God in Christ has accomplished for us?  Are we so thankful that we can’t help but speak about it?  Our attitude should be like that of Peter and John, who, when commanded to stop speaking of Christ, said, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

The message is not our own and neither is the heart filled with gratitude toward our Savior.  Both are gifts from God.  He has given us the message of salvation and He, through His Word and Sacraments, works right thoughts, attitudes, and actions in us.  As we avail ourselves of these gifts, we will sincerely say with Paul, “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15), and those words will be accompanied by speech that proclaims the Savior and speaks the Gospel message to those around us.

St John Lutheran Church of Baldwin Chicken Dinner

St John Lutheran Church in Baldwin will be hosting their “All You Can Eat” Annual Chicken Dinner on Sunday March 10th from 11:00 to 2:00pm. Pricing for adults and children ages 4-12. Children under age 4–free (dining room only). 

The menu will be fried chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy, corn, green beans, slaw, drinks and desserts included.  Carry outs will be available. 

St. John Lutheran Ladies Aid will be holding their annual Bake Sale also.

DONATIONS FOR THE ST. JOHN CHICKEN DINNER ARE NEEDED.  There is a sign-up sheet at the back of the Church to donate pies and cakes for the Dinner.   Please bring all the desserts to the gym, that Sunday morning March 10th.  Your generosity is greatly appreciated!  May God richly bless you! 

A BIG THANK YOU FROM THE LYF—The LYF would like to thank our congregation for all the desserts and the support everyone had given during our LYF Chicken Dinner on Sunday Feb. 10^th.  Your kindness is very much appreciated.  We would also like to say a big  "Thank You!!!"  to Mark and Red Schoenbeck, Jeff Rowold,  Jimmy Niemeyer and to Mike Cogar for all the help and time they donated to make Chicken and Dumplings dinner a success.  Again,  Thank You 

LYF Leader Fleta Junge

We remember in our prayers—[If you would like to add to our prayer list please call Pastor Taggatz at: 618-785-2344.] “Pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

In your prayers this month, pray for the Church; For the sanctity of all human life, both young and old and that we as the church would continue to defend those who can’t speak up for themselves; For missionaries who bring God’s Word to the nations, Rev. Tim & Lisa Beckendorf of Lutheran Bible Translators to Botwsana, Africa & Nicole Decker who is a missionary in South Africa.  For those who are underemployed or unemployed, that the Lord would help them find suitable work so that they may be able to support themselves and their families. For those who are ill, awaiting, or recovering from surgery:  We pray especially for: Grandpa Frank Geolat, a grandpa to the Ford family, Sally Fadler, Karen Willis, Linda Nagel, Evan Saldana, & Margaret Dixon, the grandmother of Nicki Buch, & Gene Loucks, a brother in law to the Spier family, and for Hayden Smith, a friend of Christa Poynor, all who are battling serious illnesses.  For Krista Hammel & Jennifer Sievers, the daughter of Geri Stolte, that they would be healed in the midst of their illness.  For Gerald Koester, Julia Kahle, Rhonda Greatting, Jim Buch & JoAnn Wegener, Elaine Hargis, & Verna Zanders, as they continue to heal and grow stronger.  For Floyd Camp, as he continues to be under his doctor’s care.  For  Marjorie Junge and Meghan Webb, a friend of Jessica Otten, who are currently hospitalized.  For those who are in nursing homes or homebound.

We mourn with the families of Roy Falkenheim & Lee Hogandobler, who were called home to heavenly rest recently.  May God give to Roy & Lee’s family comfort and hope of the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ who says in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” 

The family of Roy Falkenheim thanks the member of St. John for all of your encouragement during this time we grieve Roy’s death. Your thoughts, prayers, visits, and cards are greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your Christian love and support to us during this time. (Philippians 1:3-6 KJV)

  BIBLE STUDIES AT ST. JOHN—

Sunday Mornings (8:45 a.m.)  “Martin Luther’s Catechisms”

                Location:  The Church Sanctuary

Wednesday Mornings (10 a.m.) “The Book of Ecclesiastes”

                Location:  In the St. John School   

Remember:  Every 3^rd Sunday of the month we are praying for people who are in the military.  If you have a relative or friend who is an armed serviceman and woman in our Nation’s military please let the Church know so that we may be able to pray for them on the third Sunday of the month.

            

CHRIST OUR SAVIOR LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL 

618-853-7300       www.coslhs.org

Fish & More: Join us for our annual Fish & More Dinner this Friday, March 1 from 4:30 to 7. We will be serving fish, chicken, sides and desserts. The dinner will be held in the COS gym with plenty of room for everyone. Handicap parking is available for this event behind the gym.

Boys Lock-In: COS is sponsoring a lock-in for boys in grades 6 to 8 on March 15. The cost is $10 and permission slips are available by contacting the school office.

Registration for 2013-2014: Enrollment numbers for next year are looking great. Parents of eighth grade students are encouraged to set up a “Shadow Day” for their child. A shadow day gives students a chance to experience a typical COS day. We are accepting registrations for 2013-2014. Please contact the school office for more information.

Zucchini Relish will be available for purchase at Fish & More.

Zuehla Rowold                        Laverna Luthy

Red Bud Nursing Home        Three Springs N. Home  

350 W. South 1^st                             161 Three Springs Rd.    Red Bud, IL 62278                Chester, IL 62233   

Opal & Leland Luthy            

Red Bud Nursing Home         

350 W. South 1^st                             

Red Bud, IL 62278          

Dorothy Junge           Russell Mahan

7555 State Rte. 15      Red Bud Nursing Home

Baldwin, IL 62217       350 W. South 1^st                              

Red Bud, IL 62278

     

	Church Council Meeting Tue. Feb. 12th 7:30 p.m.

Regular Council Meeting                

February 12, 2013

Present:  Pastor Taggatz, Gene Luthy, Gerald Poenitski, Marla Huebner, Debbie Hammel, Dennis Wegener, Marvin Liefer, Tony Junge, Richard Buch, Corey Roscow, Linda Schoenbeck and Fleta Junge.

The meeting was called to order by President Gene Luthy.

Opening devotions were given by Pastor Taggatz.

Minutes from the previous meeting: Were read and approved.

Financial Secretary’s Report:  Total receipts for Jan 2013, $13,952.72.

Treasurer’s report:  Ending balance for the general fund for Jan 2013, $12,215.23. Motion was made and second to approve. Motion carried.

Spiritual Ministries/Elder:

               

Church Properties:  Ladies Aid electric stove is broke. A discussion on repairing or replacing the stove was held. Motion was made and second to purchase a good used electric stove for the Ladies Aid room at a reasonable price. Motion carried.

- Furnace in the school basement has been raised. Thanks to Marvin Liefer & Jonathon Liefer.

- Leaks have been noticed in the shed behind school which is used for frying chicken at our annual chicken dinner.

Social Ministries: Thank you note was received from Operation Blessings.

- Patty Theobald expressed her feelings on wanting to attend the Chicken Dinner in March, but would need a ride from Sparta in order to attend.

- Information was received from World Relief for putting together health kits.

COSLHS:

Christian Education:

Evangelism: 

Sunday School: 

Stewardship:  A request will be made to Thrivent for funds to support the Easter Egg Hunt.  If Thrivent money is not available, a motion was made and second to give $200.00 from the church general fund to support the Easter Egg Hunt. Motion carried.

Lutheran Youth Fellowship:  Thank you to all who supported the Chicken & Dumpling dinner.

- LYF will have a meeting on Mar 3^rd.

- LYF will host Easter Sunrise Breakfast on March 31^st.

Pastor’s Report: 

Pastoral Acts from Jan. 9^th, ‘13 through Feb. 12^th, 2013—

-Regular Saturday & Sunday worship responsibilities

-9 Bible Study class sessions (Sunday mornings & Wednesday)

                -1 Pre-marital counseling session

                -2 Spiritual Care sessions

-13 Homebound visits

                -13 Hospital visits

                -2 Member visits

-S. IL District SWIC Campus Ministry Meeting, Jan. 15^th, ‘13

-S. IL District Pastors & Elders Retreat, Feb. 10^th, 2013

-S. IL District Pastoral Conference Committee Meeting, Feb. 28^th, 2013

-1 R. County Nursing Home Chapel Feb. 23^rd, 2013  

-2 Trinity Chapel Services—Jan. 9^th & Feb. 6^th, 2013

-2 COSLHS meetings—Jan. 10^th & Feb. 4^th, 2013

-Attended Pastor’s Circuit Meeting at St. Peter’s Evansville Feb. 5^th, 2013

-2 Campus Bible Study that I’ve taught at SWIC Belleville Campus, Jan. 18^th & 25^th, ‘13

-Covered calls for Pastor MacDougall Jan. 31^st-Feb. 6^th, 2013

-Preached and led worship at Trinity Lutheran on Sat. Feb. 9^th, 2013 (Pastor MacDougall was sick)

- Pastor will be on vacation on February 14th-18^th.  There will be no Saturday, February 16^th church service. Pastor Young from St. John Lutheran, Chester will lead Bible Study and preach on Sunday, February 17^th.

- Pastor will also be on vacation Sunday, June 11^th -23^rd, 2013.

- Pastor has been asked to be Pastor of the Week at Camp Wartburg from June 30^th thru July 6, 2013.

- Due to the Chicken dinner on March 10^th, there will be no Sunday School.

- Vacation Bible School will be held July 7^th – 11^th.

- Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) has a new Campus Ministry. Pastor Taggatz has taken part in leading the college students in Bible Study at the Belleville campus. Southern Illinois District is looking for Lutheran churches in our district to support this ministry. Motion was made and second to designate ½ of our Lenten folder money to the campus ministry. Motion carried,

- Lutheran World Relief Health Kits Collection will begin the first Sunday of March. A collection of various personal/health items that are collected will be distributed to those in need around the world.

- Folding machine in the church office is not functioning properly. Council authorized Pastor Taggatz to purchase a new machine at the best price available.

- Lenten Services will begin with Ash Wednesday on Wednesday, Feb 13^th at 7:00 pm with Holy Communion. Lenten Midweek Services will be held on each Wednesday evening from Feb 20^th thru March 20^th at 7:00 pm.

- Special Family Night will be held on Friday, February 22^nd from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.

- Pastor Taggatz and Harry Wetzel will be putting something together from the DOXOLGY gather they attended in November to be presented in Feb of 2013.

- Door Offering for Missions at St. John Baldwin for 2013 will be:

                - Operation Blessings in March 2013

                 -SIGHT Ministry Center in May 2013

-Rev Tim & Lisa Beckendorf of Lutheran Bible Translators in Botswana, Africa in

 July 2013

Old Business:  Bids have been received for fixing six windows/Plexiglas. After discussion, only two windows need to be repaired. President Luthy will call the gentlemen from Kentucky to rebid for only two windows. There was also a bid of $733.00 to fix the south windows. No action was taken.

- No action on the tile project suggested by President Luthy in previous meeting.

New Business:  Thank you note was received from Dorothy Linders for the food pantry collection of $1,448.00 and a note from Trinity Lutheran for the praying for our congregation.

- Christ Our Savior Dinner Auction will be held April 27^th.

- Lutheran Older Adult retreat will be April 24^th and 25^th at Pere Marquette State Park.

- Chicken Dinner money has been designated to be placed in our general funds due to the possibility of roof repairs to the church and possibly placing gutters on the gym roof.

Adjournment:  Motion was made and second to adjourn. Motion carried.

The meeting was closed prayer and with the Lord’s Prayer.

President, Gene Luthy

Secretary, Marla Huebner

We Believe, Teach and Confess.

Formula of Concord:  Epitome

Article 7— The Holy Supper of Christ

                                                                                               

Introductory Note:  On the basis of the Word and promise of Christ, Lutherans believe that the true body and true blood of Jesus are actually present (under the bread and wine), distributed, and orally received in Holy Communion. All who commune receive Christ’s body and blood: worthy or unworthy, believing or unbelieving, godly or godless. Reformed Christians, deriving their theology from the teachings of Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, deny that Christ is truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine. They speak of His spiritual or symbolic presence. This article also rejects many false views held by the Roman Catholic Church. When it comes to the Lord’s Supper, the clear Word of God must take captive our human reason. This applies to all matters of Christian doctrine and is a comment that echoes Martin Luther’s famous words in 1521 at the Diet of Worms. When he was ordered to recant his teachings Luther said, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God.” (See also AC X; AC XXII; Ap X; Ap XXII; SA III VI; SC VI; LC V; FC SD VII.)

                                                                       

Concordia : The Lutheran Confessions. 2005 (Edited by Paul Timothy McCain) (487–489). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.

                                                                                               

Status of the Controversy

² Question: In the Holy Supper, are the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ (a) truly and essentially present, (b) distributed with the bread and wine, and (c) received with the mouth by all those who use this Sacrament—whether they are worthy or unworthy, godly or ungodly, believing or unbelieving? Are they received by the believing for consolation and life, but by the unbelieving for judgment? The Sacramentarians say No. We say Yes.

³ To explain this controversy, it must be noted in the beginning that there are two kinds of Sacramentarians. Some are openly crass Sacramentarians. They declare in plain, clear words what they believe in their hearts, that in the Holy Supper nothing but bread and wine is present, distributed, and received with the mouth. ⁴ Others, however, are crafty Sacramentarians. They are the most harmful of all. In part, they talk very fancy, using our own words. They pretend that they also believe a true presence of the true, essential, living body and blood of Christ in the Holy Supper. However, they say that this happens spiritually through faith. ⁵ Nevertheless, under these fancy words they hold precisely the former crass opinion, namely, that in the Holy Supper nothing is present and received with the mouth except bread and wine. For with them the word spiritually means nothing other than the Spirit of Christ or the power of Christ’s absent body and His merit that is present. But for them Christ’s body is in no mode or way present, except above in the highest heaven. They say we should elevate ourselves into heaven by the thoughts of our faith. And there—not at all in the bread and wine of the Holy Supper—we should seek Christ’s body and blood.

Affirmative Statements

Confession of the Pure Teaching about the Holy Supper against the Sacramentarians

⁶ 1. We believe, teach, and confess that in the Holy Supper Christ’s body and blood are truly and essentially present, and that they are truly distributed and received with the bread and wine.

⁷ 2. We believe, teach, and confess that the words of Christ’s testament are not to be understood in any other way than the way they read, according to the letter. So the bread does not signify Christ’s absent body and the wine His absent blood. But, because of the sacramental union, ‹the bread and wine› are truly Christ’s body and blood.

⁸ 3. Now, about the consecration, we believe, teach, and confess that no work of man or recitation of the minister produces this presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Holy Supper. Instead, this presence is to be credited only and alone to the almighty power of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ 4. At the same time we also believe, teach, and confess unanimously that in the use of the Holy Supper the words of Christ’s institution should in no way be left out. Instead, they should be publicly recited, as it is written in 1 Corinthians 10:16, “The cup of blessing that we bless” and so forth. This blessing occurs through the reciting of Christ’s words.

¹⁰ 5. In this matter the ground on which we stand against the Sacramentarians is what Dr. Luther has laid down in his Confession concerning Christ’s Supper (LW 37:214).

¹¹ “The first point is this article of our Christian faith: Jesus Christ is true, essential, natural, perfect God and man in one person, undivided and inseparable.”

¹² The second: God’s “right hand” is everywhere. Christ is placed there in deed and in truth according to His human nature. He is present, rules, and has in His hands, and beneath His feet, everything that is in heaven and on earth ‹as Scripture says in Ephesians 1:22›, where no other man or angel, but only Mary’s Son is placed. Therefore, He can do this.

¹³ The third: God’s Word is not false or deceitful [Titus 1:1–3]).

¹⁴ The fourth: God has and knows of various ways to be in any place, and not only one way, which philosophers call local (localis).

¹⁵ 6. We believe, teach, and confess that Christ’s body and blood are received with the bread and wine, not only spiritually through faith, but also orally. Yet not in a “Capernaitic” way, but in a supernatural, heavenly way, because of the sacramental union. Christ’s words clearly show this, when Christ gives direction to take, eat, and drink, as was also done by the apostles. For it is written in Mark 14:23, “And they all drank of it.” St. Paul likewise says [in 1 Corinthians 10:16], “The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” That is to say: He who eats this bread eats Christ’s body, which also the chief ancient teachers of the Church—Chrysostom, Cyprian, Leo I, Gregory, Ambrose, Augustine—unanimously testify.

¹⁶ 7. We believe, teach, and confess that not only the true believers in Christ and the worthy, but also the unworthy and unbelievers receive Christ’s true body and blood. However, they do not receive them for life and consolation, but for judgment and condemnation, if they are not converted and do not repent (1 Corinthians 11:27–29).

¹⁷ Although they thrust Christ as a Savior away from themselves, yet they must receive Him, even against their will, as a strict Judge. They must admit that He is just as present to exercise and render judgment on unrepentant guests as He is present to work life and consolation in the hearts of the true believers and worthy guests.

¹⁸ 8. We believe, teach, and confess also that there is only one kind of unworthy guests: those who do not believe. About these guests it is written in John 3:18, “Whoever does not believe is condemned already.” And this judgment becomes greater and more grievous, being aggravated by the unworthy use of the Holy Supper (1 Corinthians 11:29).

¹⁹ 9. We believe, teach, and confess that no true believer—as long as he has living faith, however weak he may be—receives the Holy Supper to his judgment. For the Supper was instituted especially for Christians weak in faith, yet repentant. It was instituted for their consolation and to strengthen their weak faith [Matthew 9:12; 11:5, 28].

²⁰ 10. We believe, teach, and confess that all the worthiness of guests of this heavenly feast is and is founded on Christ’s most holy obedience and perfect merit alone. We receive these for ourselves by true faith, and by the Sacrament we are assured of them. Our worthiness is not at all in our virtues or inward and outward preparations.

                                                                       

The deadline for getting articles and reports in to be included in the Newsletter is the 18^th of every month.

Do You Have a Question?  There are tracts in the narthex that may be able to help…  Take a moment as you come into church to check out the Lutheran Hour Ministries tract rack.  These pamphlets are free for you to take home.  You may see one that would be interesting, maybe not for yourself, but for a friend or relative who is experiencing or questioning a particular topic.

Giving through THRIVENT CHOICE  Giving through Thrivent Choice Program for February 2013 has amounted to $843.00. Total amount our church has received from this program for this year of 2013 is $864.00.

***Special notice regarding the Thrivent Choice Program:

                You might have already received notice of a change in the Thrivent Choice program by mail, but just in case you haven’t there is some important information for you to know about.  This year of 2012 all Thrivent members wishing to continue their automatic withdrawal to the charity of their choice will have to let Thrivent know either by mail or phone.  It only needs to be done once for this year.  To continue to direct your Choice Dollars to the charity of your choice call: 800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) and state "Thrivent Choice."

Are you or a family member…coping with grief and loss… stressed out by financial issues… dealing with family or marital problems? Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois’ professional licensed counselors can help. They provide individual, couple, marital and family counseling to help address these types of situations. Insurance is accepted. Call:  800-363-LCFS (5237) to schedule a FREE confidential initial consultation.  LUTHERAN CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES IN SPARTA HAS MOVED With the closing of the Nice Twice Thrift Shop, Lutheran Child and Family Services moved its office to 1107 N. Market in Sparta. 

DEFENDING THE FAITH, TEACHING THE TRUTH…Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL.  Topics include: Did Muhammad Exist?, Simplifying the Abortion Debate, America’s Coming Demographic Disaster, Jesus Seeks the Lost and more.  You can tune in LIVE weekdays from 3-5 p.m. on KFUO, 850 AM in St. Louis.  You can also listen at your convenience at  www.issuesetc.org.

Lutheran Hour Ministry Broadcasts—To listen to broadcasts of the Lutheran Hour Radio Program tune in to: 850 AM KFUO St. Louis, MO on Sundays at 12:30pm and 5pm.  Can’t tune into your radio at this time? You can also listen to podcasts of the Lutheran Hour through your computer or Mp3 player.  Go to this website to find out more:  http://www.lhm.org/podcasts/default.asp

Podcasting is a new and easy way to listen to your favorite Lutheran Hour Ministries programs and resources when you want. Podcasts are audio files you can download automatically, free of charge, to your computer, then transfer to your portable MP3 player.

Lutheran Hour Sermon Schedule in March 2013

March 3—"Great Escape? No, Great Rescue!"
Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz
If you feel imprisoned by any aspect of your life, God can open the doors of faith that bring forgiveness, freedom, and joy. (1 Corinthians 10:1-11)

March 10—"God's Search and Rescue for the Lost"
Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz
If we care about finding lost things, especially precious things, God cares infinitely more. (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32)

March 17—"Be Like Jesus"
Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz
Be ready to love and care for the people God sends into your life. In this, we can be like Christ. (Philippians 2:5-11)

March 24—"The Death of Death"
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour: Rev. Ken Klaus
Pastor Ken Klaus delivers a eulogy for the funeral of Death itself. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

March 31—"The Living Among the Dead"
Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Gregory Seltz
Jesus is alive today and so are all those who trust in Him for their salvation. (Luke 24:1-8)

UPDATE ON LADIES AID— The Ladies Aid will have a Potluck Supper on March 14 at 6:00 p.m. Members, spouses, as well as anyone in the congregation are welcome to attend. Please bring a side dish to share. After the dinner, Beverly Schoenbeck will lead a Prayer Service. Members are urged to bring a bar of soap to be used for making Health Kits and the regular meeting will be held after the Prayer Service.

The Youth Group at Trinity Lutheran Church in Red Bud/Prairie will be hosting a Trivia Night at the School gym on Saturday, March 2nd.  Cost is $100 per table with up to 8 people per table.  Doors will open at 6:30 pm and the trivia will start at 7 pm.  Teams are allowed to bring their own snacks and drinks, but we ask no alcohol please.  There will also be a concession stand to support Trinity’s athletic programs.  To reserve a table, call Rebecca Juelfs at: 618-785-2258.  Proceeds will help fund out trip to the 2013 LCMS National Youth Gathering in San Antonio, Texas.  Thank you for your support.  

The ladies are quilting on Wednesdays starting at 11. Anyone is invited to come quilt and anyone wanting to learn more about quilting is encouraged to come and learn more. If you have any questions please contact Beverly Schoenbeck at 785-2563.

SUNDAY SCHOOL UPDATE—Due to the Chicken Dinner being held her on Sunday March 10^th there will be NO Sunday School that morning.

The 2013 Offering Envelopes are available on the front table in the Church’s nave.

YOU’LL BE BLESSED LISTENING TO THE BIBLE STUDY now studying Luke’s Gospel:  on your Lutheran Radio Station Worldwide AM 850 KFUO, Weekdays from 10-11am CST.  Pastors from congregations across the country give listeners an opportunity to study general and specific Biblical topics.  The pastors explain specific verses and apply Lutheran doctrine to life in today’s world.  Also streaming and archived at www.kfuo.org.  Like and follow us: www.facebook.com/KFUORadio. 

A Notice Regarding Lenten Folders—By now you should have received your Lenten folders for this year.  This is a reminder that when returning your Lenten folder offering back to the church, please be sure to put your name or offering envelope number on the back of the Lenten folder so that we can record your contribution.  Thank you for your offering!

The 14^th Lutheran Older Adult Retreat (LOAR), sponsored by Lutheran Senior Services and the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS, is scheduled for APRIL 24-25 at PERE MARQUETTE LODGE in Grafton, Illinois.  The theme for this year's “Growing in Christ” event is SHINING WHERE GODLEADS YOU!  The keynote speaker for Wednesday is Rev. Dr. John Nunes, president and CEO of Lutheran World Relief.  His presentation is “You Are (STILL!) God's special possession.  The Bible study leader for Thursday will be Lutheran Hour Speaker, Rev. Greg Seltz.  His topic will center on God's choosing “forgiven sinners” to be “reflectors of His grace,” and “beams of His gracious light.”  Participants will have 16 different sectionals from which to choose 4.  Wednesday evenings banquet and entertainment provide an opportunity for fun, fellowship, and inspiration. 

The cost for this retreat is $95 per person.  Registration deadline is April 13, 2013.  Materials for registration and other information concerning the retreat can be downloaded from the SID web site at www.sidlcms.org.   Go to FORMS/REGISTRATIONS. Materials will be found under Lutheran Retreat for Older Adults.

The Youth Group at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Campbell Hill, Illinois, is holding their annual Chicken Dinner on March 3. As always we will feature our delicious grilled chicken (with or without barbecue sauce), and it will be accented with mashed potatoes and

gravy, corn, cole slaw, bread/rolls, and desserts. 1/2 chicken dinners will be $8, and 1/4 chicken dinners will be $6. Dine in and carry outs will be available. Serving will be from 11-1. Thank you for supporting our kids!

Confirmation Questioning & Confirmation Sunday--Sunday March 17^th is Questioning Sunday for the Confirmation Students… & Sunday March 24^th (Palm Sunday) is Confirmation Sunday…

-St. John Baldwin Community Easter Egg Hunt for 2013—the Stewardship Board is once again planning to have a community Easter Egg hunt for the children of Baldwin ages pre-school through 3^rd Grade.  It will be on Sat. March 23^rd at 2pm at the Baldwin Village Park (in case of bad weather we’ll be having it at the St. John School).  There will be plastic eggs with candy, scripture verses etc.  Gifts bags will be passed out to the children and parents with a magnet of our church, a brochure including our church worship times, Sunday School etc… and a pen of our church.  If you would like to volunteer or donate items for this event please talk to Linda Schoenbeck.

DEFEND MARRIAGE LOBBY DAY HELD AT STATE CAPITOL IN SPRINGFIELD, IL

The turnout for Defend Marriage Lobby Day on Wednesday Feb. 20^th, 2012 was beyond our expectations. I thank each and everyone of you who came out to participate in the largest pro-family event at the Illinois Capitol in memory. Various reports suggest that between 3000 and 5000 people converged on the Capitol.  Our presence will reverberate for weeks and months to come.

Showing up was an important first step in the effort to stop the “fast track” effort to redefine marriage. Now we must maintain pressure on our state representatives so they don’t cave in to the homosexual lobby.

The so-called “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,” SB 10 will be presented to the Illinois House on Tuesday Feb. 26^th at 3:00 PM. You can help lobby legislators and fill out witness slips against this anti-family legislation.  (More information on what to say to your elected officials in Illinois and how to contact them can be found at:  http://illinoisfamily.org/  If SB 10 is passed into law, marriage will be redefined for everyone, stripping it of sexual complementarity. Anyone who does not agree with this new definition of marriage will soon find themselves facing legal consequences as has happened in other states and countries. This will include lawsuits, loss of employment, facing disciplinary boards, etc. Individuals, small businesses, churches, and religious groups are all at risk.

To see how many of our “tolerant” government officials would treat dissenting views or speech, just  remember what happened when Chick-Fil-A’s CEO Dan Cathy spoke out in favor of natural marriage. His company was threatened with being blacklisted and forbidden to do businesses in Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel went so far as to say that “Chick-fil-A’s values are not Chicago’s values.” (Contrast that with Emanuel’s recent defense of an offensive “hook-up” billboard in downtown Chicago in which he said, “We do have a First Amendment.”)

Elected officials in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington DC said the same thing: Chick-Fil-A was not welcome because the owner holds a traditional view of marriage. The mayor of the District of Columbia where same-sex “marriage” was imposed by their legislature said, “there is just no place for them [supporters of traditional marriage] in this city.” How long before they tell our churches, our ministries, and our families that our values are not their values?  

Take ACTION:  If you haven’t yet sent an email or a fax to your state lawmakers, it is time to speak up now!  Go to this website https://www.votervoice.net/ILFI/Campaigns/30125/ to let them know what you think.

“Marriage is NOT a Civil Right”

by Laurie Higgins, Director of School Advocacy

There exists no such thing as “same-sex” marriage. Although marriage licenses are being issued by some state governments to homosexual couples, there are in reality no homosexual marriages—never were, are not now, never will be. Marriage is an institution ordained by God in Genesis: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh,” and reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-6.  All societies throughout recorded history have publicly recognized the institution of marriage as a sexually complementary public institution. The government’s obligation is merely to recognize legally what marriage actually is. The government has no business creating an entirely new—and destructive—institution and then attaching to it the name of marriage.

What is Marriage? David Blankenhorn defines marriage as “socially approved intercourse between a woman and a man, conceived both as a personal relationship and as an institution, primarily such that any children resulting from the union are—and are understood by the society to be—emotionally, morally, practically, and legally affiliated with both of the parents.”

Marriage is not solely or centrally about love. It is centrally concerned with children and their connection to their biological parents. The state has no interest or investment in whether couples love each other. If marriage were solely or even centrally about love and had no connection to children, the state would have no interest in or business being involved with marriage.

Adopted children are not being raised by their biological parents and yet society recognizes those families, so why not legally recognize families led by homosexuals?  Adoption historically understood, was not the ideal context for children, but rather a benevolent way for society to accommodate the failures or tragedies in life that leave some children without the nurturance of their biological families. We as a society should not sanction the deliberate creation of children who will not be raised by either their mothers or fathers.

Society allows marriages for couples who are infertile or who choose to remain childless, so why not permit homosexual marriages that cannot produce children.

The government sanctions the type of relationship that has the capacity to produce children. The government is not interested in compelling procreation, but rather in supporting the type of relationship that procreates.

What are the current requirements for government-sanctioned marriage? Except in a very few states in which activist judges have overruled the will of the people, the current requirements for government-approved marriages include the following:

¢ Numbers of partners—marriage is limited to two partners, therefore no polygamous marriages.

¢ Consanguinity—partners cannot be closely related by blood, therefore no incestuous marriages.

¢ Minimum age—partners must be of major age, therefore no pedophiliac marriages.

¢ Sexual complementarity—partners must be of opposite sexes, therefore no homosexual marriages.

What are the justifications for these requirements or criteria? Society has concluded that the requirements regarding numbers of partners, consanguinity, minimum age, and sexual complementarity best serve the needs of children and therefore best serve the needs of society.

Why is the state involved in sanctioning marriage? The state is involved in marriage for two inter-related reasons:

1. The state wants to encourage, support, and sustain that institution which best serves the needs of children.

2. The state is concerned about what institution best serves the needs of children because that which best serves the needs of children, best serves the needs of a healthy society.

Is access to marriage a civil right? No, access to marriage is not a civil right. Our civil rights are very specific rights that are accorded to individuals because of their status as humans. These rights are based on universal characteristics, not on feelings, desires, “orientations,” or volitional conduct.  Our civil rights are the following: freedom of religion; freedom of speech; freedom of press; freedom of assembly; the right to vote; the right to life; freedom from involuntary servitude; the right to equality in public places; the right to due process of law; the right to equal protection under the law. Marriage is an institution, not a civil right. The government can legitimately define an institution and limit its membership in accordance with that definition.

Do current marital requirements violate civil rights?

Current marital requirements do not violate civil rights. Every individual who fulfills the requirements or conditions that society has deemed essential to the institution of marriage has equal access to marriage.  What homosexuals are actually demanding is that they be permitted to redefine marriage—to eliminate one of the conditions that society views as central to marriage: sexual complementarity. Similarly, polyamorous people who love more than one person cannot redefine marriage by eliminating the criterion of numbers of partners. And incestuous couples cannot redefine marriage by eliminating the criterion regarding close blood kinship.  And those who believe they are in love with minors cannot eliminate the criterion of minimum age.

None of these groups of people are being denied their civil rights even though they cannot get married. They are being prevented from unilaterally redefining marriage which is a public institution that affects the civic good.

Is the sexual complementarity requirement equivalent to anti-miscegenation laws (i.e. Are laws that ban “same-sex marriage” equivalent to laws that banned interracial marriage?)  Laws that permit only heterosexual marriages are not equivalent to laws that banned interracial marriage because “sexual orientation” is not equivalent to race. Laws banning interracial marriages were based on the erroneous belief that whites and blacks are by nature different, when, in fact, whites and blacks are not by nature different. Laws that permit only heterosexual marriages are based on the true belief that men and women are by nature different.  Therefore, it is not only permissible, but essential that laws that regulate marriage take into account the very real differences between men and women.

Thomas Sowell explains that “The argument that current marriage laws ‘discriminate’ against homosexuals confuses discrimination against people with making distinctions among different kinds of behavior. All laws distinguish among different kinds of behavior.” A black man who wants to marry a white woman is seeking to do the same action that a white man who wants to marry a white woman seeks to do. A law that prohibits an interracial marriage is wrong because it is based on who the person is, not on what he seeks to do.  But, if a man wants to marry a man, he is seeking to do an entirely different action from that which a man who wants to marry a woman seeks to do. A law that prohibits homosexual marriage is legitimate because it is based not on who the person is but rather on what he seeks to do. Any man may engage in the act of marrying a woman (if she is of age and not closely related by blood).

How would the elimination of the sexual complementarity requirement affect society?  Those who favor legalized polygamy, legalized incest, and a reduction in the legal marrying age will have a precedent to use in their similar quests to be allowed to legally marry the person or persons whom they “love.” Once societies sever marriage from both gender and child-rearing, its cultural value diminishes. David Blankenhorn warns that there will likely be “lower marriage rates, higher rates of divorce and non-marital cohabitation, and more children raised outside of marriage and separated from at least one of their natural parents.”

We need only look at the Netherlands to see the validity of Blankenhorn’s warning: Stanley Kurtz explains that in the years that “the debate over the legal recognition of gay relationships came to the fore in the Netherlands, culminating in the legalization of full same-sex marriage in 2000” non-marital heterosexual co-habitation and out of wedlock births increased dramatically.

Legalizing homosexual unions “would require explicit public endorsement of the idea that a child really does not

need mother and a father” (Blankenhorn).  Public, and eventually private, schools would be required when teaching about families, to include resources about and descriptions of families led by homosexuals Fundamental First Amendment speech and religious rights will be diminished. If same-sex marriage is legal, expressions of disapproval of homosexuality or homosexual marriage will be viewed as discriminatory and will be legally prohibited.