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Pentecost 16A -- August 31, 2008 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. The first thing I did when I read the headline: “IRS to audit pastor; church” Was to pray, “Lord, don’t let it be a Lutheran, Don’t let it be a Lutheran, Please God, don’t let it be a Lutheran!” And then I heaved a sigh of thanks when I read that it was not. Sad isn’t it? It’s sad that any clergy person should have to say such a prayer. One would think that if one is a leader in the church, one would have a basic understanding of how to live in harmony with all the rest of creation; To not run afoul of secular institutions, To build such a strong relationship with God that one would not be tempted to do anything that would dishonor his name. What this particular pastor had done was to break the rules governing the separation of church and state. From the pulpit he told people who to vote for in an election. You cannot do that in the United States. You can only urge people to vote, you cannot tell them who to vote for. Of course, scandal is nothing new to the church, the body of Christ. One would think that to be a follower of Christ would be the easiest thing in the world, But, as it turns out, it is one of the hardest. Even Peter, who spent three years of his life literally living with Jesus, 24/7, couldn’t get it right. Last week in our Gospel Lesson, Peter made his great confession of faith. When asked by Jesus who people were saying that he, Jesus, was, The disciples put forth a variety of answers . . some say a prophet, some a teacher, some say John the Baptiser come back from the dead. And when Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am,” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.” Now, one week later we read that when Jesus explains what the Messiah must do, Peter says “Heaven forbid!” “No way!” And Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Hey, this is going to be hard enough without you telling me not to do it, not to fulfill my mission.” “Get behind me Satan. Such talk is in my rear view mirror.” And it’s hard to say which comment shocks us most, Peter’s, which exposed for all the world to see how misguided and befuddled he was, Or Christ’s, telling Peter that he was more than wrong, that he, the rock upon which Christ was going to build his church, was acting and speaking as if he was against the very thing that Jesus came to accomplish. Peter’s expectations for Messiah were different than the reality of the situation. To Peter’s way of thinking, things were going great. He knew he had a winner in Jesus. Up until now, Jesus was drawing huge crowds, people were coming from all around to hear him teach, his message was sort of the variety of “I’m okay, you’re okay” thinking. Peter had a decidedly first century Palestinian view and expectations of what God’s anointed was sent to do, and that was to return Israel to its fabled former glory under the reign of King David. Peter expected that Jesus would soon give the order to take up arms and begin the war of independence against the Roman oppressors. Jesus was destined to sit on the throne and rule with justice and righteousness. Here’s the passage where Jesus bursts that bubble. Jesus says I came to die. And with those words, Peter’s dreams of power and riches dies. Peter was not the only one who was misguided in his thinking about Jesus. Later In the book of Matthew, we have the wonderful story of James and John, the sons of Thunder, arguing about who Jesus was going to pick to sit at his right and left hands on the throne of Israel. They even get their mother to ask Jesus about this. Only to be told that (a) they truly didn’t want that position and (b) that Jesus wasn’t going to pick those key men, but that God would pick them. Of course, two thieves got those places of honor as Jesus came into his kingdom. The mindset of the tiny nation of Israel in regards to the function of God’s anointed was that the number one job would be to restore Israel to a position of power in the region. As if they would be able to overthrow the super power that was Rome! I think perhaps Peter stopped listening after Jesus had uttered the first phrase, “I will be handed over to the Romans and be killed.” Because he missed the good news of “and after three days, I will be raised” that concluded the sentence. Peter seems to have tuned back in time to hear the part about if anyone wants to follow Jesus, that that person will have to take up his own cross and follow Jesus. Okay, let’s be honest. This part about taking up our own crosses is a key part of what most of us are trying to avoid. We stink at taking up a cross and truly following Jesus. This is due partly to the fact that we live in a country of religious tolerance. None of us fear for our lives because we regularly attend Christian worship services. We are blessed with a government that allows us to worship anyone we choose. We are not required to bend our knee and confess that Caesar is Lord as residents of first century Palestine were required to do. Our constitution guarantees us the right to worship in our own kind of pew. But we are citizens of two kingdoms, as Martin Luther puts it. We are citizens of a nation . . with duly appointed or elected officials who are to work for the common good of all the inhabitants of this land, And we are citizens of Christ’s kingdom . . where we are governed by God and his thoughts on what is right and just. However, that does not exempt us from taking up our crosses and following Jesus, in being tuned into what our God says is right and just. We just have a really watered down idea of what bearing a cross is all about. To some degree, we followers of Jesus gladly bear crosses. We especially do those things that are not too dear. We serve on boring church committees, bearing our cross without complaint. We give more than we think is financially prudent and hope it doesn’t put a dent in our lifestyle. We help out those people who annoy us, thinking we are bearing a burden. However, to take up the cross is to deny one’s self, not to safeguard one’s way of life. Jesus demands more. Okay, we don’t want to hear that. We like being comfortable. We like the way we live. And believe it or not, to some extent, that’s okay. We are human, and we are operating in the default mode. Jesus is calling us out of this default setting. Jesus is asking us to change. And now the good news. If we follow Jesus we will be seriously called to bear certain crosses and lose hold of our lifestyle. Yet, in all our weakness and human mindedness, it is Jesus’ own death on the cross that enables us to do what we cannot. God’s power is revealed not in walks through the porticos of power, but through the alley ways of weakness and misery. That is where Jesus walked. That is where he gives us the strength to bear the burdens of discipleship. We can do nothing on our own, but he can do much through us. Without Jesus, Peter was no rock, he was a stumbling block. With Jesus, Peter became the church. With Jesus, we are not powerless because he is our power, to help us see what needs to be done, and than, he is the strength to do what needs to be done, to bring in his kingdom of justice and righteousness, so that all may see and hear, all may live with dignity and honor, all may enjoy the bounty of our God. Now, I don’t propose to tell you how to improve on your discipleship. I have found this congregation to be caring, generous and faithful. I can’t even begin to list the activities this congregation is involved in. I am always amazed at the number of causes that this congregation supports. I see and hear of acts of kindness and generosity, in almost every conversation I have. I know many members here are ministering to fellow members in extraordinary ways. The wise use of resources is evident in the deep feelings of unity and can-do attitudes. The servant attitude is displayed in the abilities of leadership and the willingness to work for justice for those inside these walls and those outside these walls. As a new chapter opens in the life of Church of the Cross, As you welcome your new settle associate Pastor, I am sure that this congregation will rise to even higher and deeper levels of discipleship, Bringing honor and glory to God. Amen. Rachel Flogstad-Heise,
Pastoral Assistant |
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