|  | Evangelical Lutheran Congregation | | |
|  | | | | |  |  |
|
„41Those who accepted his message were baptised, and … 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their posses-sions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favour of all the peo-ple. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. “
On the first time, I was hearing this description of the first Christian Congregation I was filled with mixed emotions. On the one hand I felt marvelling admiration; on the other hand it left me frustrated. For ever since I have participated actively in the life of the church, I have dreamed of such an ideal church; and I am defi-nitely not the only one who feels like this. Seeing this ideal of the church in the first congregation in Jerusalem however also confronted me with the reality of the church that I am part of; which is a church that seems to be so far from this ideal. It is a disenchanting effect that Ideals often have; eventually they leave one frustrated rather than with happy admiration. However as I looked a bit closer at this bible word I realised that I would misunderstand this text, if I were to leave it like that; I mean just with this mixed feeling of admiration and frustration. I wouldn‘t take Luke serious in what he tried to tell us when he wrote down this account of the first Christian congregation. Because: Even if Luke wanted to emphasise the distinguishing mark of the first Christian congregation in Jerusalem; and even if he describes the abundant blessing that was upon the first congregation of believers, he actually points out something totally different and more fundamental than that; namely what constituted church right from the very beginning.
Doing this Luke emphasises four details of the Jerusalem congregation: Firstly the teaching of the Apostles, which is nothing else but the Gospel of Jesus Christ; secondly Luke talks about fellowship. Thirdly he mentions the breaking of bread, which is the New Testament term for Holy Communion. And last, but not least, Luke points out to prayer. These are the things to which the members of the first Christian congregation already devoted themselves to. Miracles happened in addition to these things. Joint property, or the so called Christian Communism as well as communes were fruits of these fundamental things rather than anything else. They were ‘bonus’ gifts of the Holy Spirit, who enabled the Christians in Jerusalem to share all their belongings, and thus to live literally as brothers and sisters. One can find such spiritual effects and ‘bonus’ gifts until to-day; maybe not always quite so evident, but more rudimental. But one can find them, even in our congregation: beneficent donations for needy people outside our congregation; maybe unnoticed prayers of congregants for the protection and healing of others, which are miraculously heard; brothers and sisters who talk about their faith and thus get strengthened in their faith and the knowledge of the truth. All this, one can defi-nitely find in our congregation. But all this is a bonus gift of the Holy Spirit. One cannot determine if an assembly of people are a church or congregation by means of these things. They aren‘t attributes of the church. Because the only true attributes of Christ‘s church are those four things: the preached Gospel of Jesus Christ; the fellowship of believers; the Lord‘s Supper and prayer. Only through these four things church can be what she truly is: the fellowship of baptised believers, the communion of saints with God. And why is this so? Firstly, because we can only be sure that God is really talking to us, if we listen to His word, especially the message of His Son Jesus Christ. Dreams or visions or other spiritual revelations are so uncertain that one can‘t rely on them 100%. Secondly, because only in an evangelical life we experience what it means when God‘s word and God‘s love are put into practice in a mutual understanding and acceptance, a mutual forgiving and helping in Jesus’ name. Most evident it happens however in the participation in the Lord‘s given body and blood, for whenever we come to His table, He unites as those who eat and drink. Last but not least is prayer the most consequential response to such a living relationship with our Lord and one another. Christ‘s church has much freedom and scope of development; also our congregation. But no matter how the church exploits this freedom, it must remain faithful to these attributes, if she wants to call herself church of Christ rightfully. We as a Lutheran congregation do this by making these four attributes a fundamental a part of our confession. The Augs-burg Confession for instance, which is an explanation of our faith and part of the Book of Concord; it says about the church that it is „the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.”
If we understand Luke‘s account this way, it won‘t result in dreams of a better church or in frustration, but will rather do us good. Because: Then Luke encourages us with his account to look at our congregation over and again on the basis of these four attributes. And thus it will firstly be a warning for us. For if we don’t listen to God’s word anymore – be it as a church or as single Christian –, and if we do not try to deal with each other in His love anymore, or avoid His Holy Communion and prayer, something is severely wrong with our faith. At the same time Luke’s account encourages us to use all the ‘bonus’ gifts of his Spirit, in order to support His Church. How do we want the church to look like? How can it look like? There is no actual ideal of church, but based on the foundation of these four attributes, described by Luke, many different ideals are possible. May we therefore use, what God has given unto us on the foundation of His word, his fellowship, His sac-raments and prayer, through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
|
|
Picture a hyena! Do you like hyenas? Do you think they are beautiful animals? My wife does! I, on the other hand, think they are quite ugly, and seeing these funny and filthy looking animals leaves me with the same uncomfortable feeling when hearing their mad laughter. Although I know that hyenas have a lot of good qualities: They are for instance very effective in hunting. They are very social. They have incredible powerful jaws, even more powerful than those of lions. And they play an important role in the ecosystem as they feed on all debris carcasses. They are the so called garbage cleaners of nature. Still I can’t understand how someone can like these animals. But, as the saying goes, ‘Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder’. And it is something very similar that Paul points out in today’s word for the sermon, when he writes in his 1st letter to the Corinthian congregation:
“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the dis-cernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.”
What Paul emphasises with these lines is the following: God’s wisdom and the way, which HE has chosen in His wisdom, to save humans from eternal death and damnation, is the humiliat-ing death of His Son Jesus Christ on the cross. In last week’s sermon I said: “We are not in the position to say: this person will go to heaven, and that one to hell; not even about non Christians. We simply can’t tell, because we do not know, and we do not decide either.” After the service, someone approached me asking if the Bible, if Jesus isn’t clearer about what will happen to people who do not believe. That’s right, for He says: ‘Whoever does not believe will be condemned’ and ‘No one comes to the father except through me’. So I could have been more clearly as to what we can say as Christians, for we can say: ‘Whoever does not believe in Jesus, can be certain of damnation.’ Yet we still cannot make the final decision on behalf of God, and thus we cannot tell someone, or say about him or her that this person goes to heaven or to hell. But we can point out what Paul points out to his con-gregation: That it is Jesus and He alone as the crucified, who de-livers us and reconciles us with God. And it won’t change anything, if someone is not able to make any sense out of this, or if someone does not like this way of salvation. It is the humiliating and cruel death of Jesus that saves us; just like the Hyena remains a Hyena, no matter whether we like this animal or not. God’s way of salvation, His wisdom remains the same, not matter if people like it or not, or if people see any sense in it or not. And there always have been people who refused to believe in Jesus, because His death was in no way acceptable and compatible with their idea of salvation. Paul uses the Greeks just as an example. Their idea of God, as the epitome of all good things, was incompatible with the message of someone, who suffered the hu-miliation of the cruelest punishment of that time, which was actu-ally reserved to the most despicable criminals. How can it be something good, if someone suffers humiliation? How can it be something helpful, if someone powerful becomes helpless? In the same way Jesus didn’t fit into the Jewish idea of the Mes-siah. They expected the Saviour to be someone, who would free Israel and found the new kingdom of David with divine power and miraculous signs. So many Jews despised Jesus, who actually showed them that God’s word has to be understood and lived on a far deeper level than just politics. There are people like the Greeks and the Jews until this very day: People who either simply fail to believe, because they cannot fathom what God achieved by slipping into our role and suffering our fate and punishment. Or people fail to believe, because the humiliated Jesus on the cross simply doesn’t fit into their image of God. And thus the message of the cross becomes foolish for them, because they measure it with their own standards.
Those however, Jews and Greeks, meaning Israelites and heathens in the same way, who trust in God’s word and promise, see in Jesus at the cross the most powerful and beautiful manifestation of God’s wisdom and might. For God enabled them to see with an uncovered heart. In faith God enabled us to realize that only in this humiliating death, He could make up for our iniquities by entirely sharing our weakness and thus taking care of it downright.
The message of today’s Bible word for us is therefore very much the same as last week: Any God given talent or potential should be used to support the spreading of this Gospel. However: If we at some stage rely more on our talents than on the message, we have lost the right track. Because: It is not a particular methodology that creates Christians. In the same way it is not a particular type of music that creates faith within people; neither the music Johann Sebastian Bach nor any particular modern or African Style of music. And if music is the reason why people come to church, then something is not right. We should beware of this, never putting more emphasis on our talents than on what we are actually trying to support with them. In the same way we should be aware of splitting up the Gospel of Jesus, just telling the nice part with His resurrection, the Gospel of glory. This is it, what Paul also points out by means of today’s word for the sermon, when he says: “we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.” Unfortunately one can find it very often in contemporary churches that they just preach the powerful and glorious Jesus and that he takes care of you and will manage everything. This is not wrong, but often people haven’t been told, why Jesus is able to take care of us, and that He wants us to trust in Him, meaning His sacrifice for our sins. People often haven’t been told that Jesus had to die, because we are simply not able to help ourselves. But only if we share THIS message, people will be able to see Jesus on the cross together with us as who He really is: The ONE and beautiful God, who humbled himself, in order to share our fate, and thus to care for us in the most loving and thoughtful way. May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our crucified and risen saviour!
|
|
It is very sad that Bafana Bafana is out of the tournament, isn’t it; although they played in a very promising and respectably manner. But they leave us with positive memories and expectations. France on the other hand, which is the one of the great European teams, which I actually favour the most after Germany, left the tournament in disgrace, and us without any positive memories or expectations. I am pretty sure that many of you are far better informed about the details of the awkward incident, but what happened was – to summarize it very roughly – the following: For some reason a player disobeyed the orders of his coach and started to argue with him in an inadequate way. The coach reacted to this misbehaviour by sending him home. The team protested against this form of punishment and caused a team wide quarrel. One can‘t prove that the whole thing influenced the performance of the team, but it is more than likely that it did, for the result was not only a poor delivery of the French equip in view of the playing. The team gave a bad impression to the South Africans as their hosts. The preliminary end of the story is: The French team had to return home in shame, and Thierry Henry was summoned into the Elysee Palace to give report to the French President Sarcocy. With it the whole incident has reached a political dimension, as a reporter from SABC NEWS put it, two days ago.
And why all this fuss? I think one of the reasons is the following: As a member of a national team, a person – be it a player or a coach – no longer just portraits himself, but together with the whole team, represents –his country. Most consequently, such a person should live and behave on behalf of the country, and according to its values, principles and maxims. Because: Every misbehaviour or poor performance has an immediate effect on the reputation of the country, and with it – as we can see – awkward consequences: for the team, the single players, and the nation. Not only that South Africans will most likely think of the French as rather unfriendly people in the future. There might be other effects, far worse. It is something very similar that Paul explains about Christianity to the Christians in Rome, and thus to us as well, for his thoughts are the bible word for today’s sermon, taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 14.
“We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." 12 So then, each of us will be accountable to God. 13 Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another.”
The first thing, which Paul points out, is the fact that we through baptism in faith are part of Christ’s team. Thus we do not live to ourselves anymore. We live to Christ, our Lord, and we are bound together in and through Him. This is a fact. In faith, Christ is our Lord, we accept His principles, we have the desire to live according to His values and maxims. And these values and maxims are those of God’s love and compassion. This is the reason, why Christ died in the first place. Love is the reason, why God sent Christ into this world, in order to free us from our sins, from death, and from the power of the devil. This is it, what Christ himself practised and preached in his earthly days and His public ministry. This is what He taught His disciples, and what He ordered them to teach others, in order to become new disciples. Secondly and most consequently we should live and behave according to these facts. Because: In faith they aren’t a matter, which is left to our discretion anymore. In faith we voluntarily accept Christ’s values and principles as true and desirable, and make them ours. Unfortunately, and this is the reason why Paul actually had to write these lines, we Christians repeatedly fall back into a selfish, or self-righteous behaviour. We judge others, we look upon them in despise, we give up on them etc. It is an Attitude or behaviour that is in marked contrast to the principle of Christ’s divine love and compassion, because it doesn’t try to help others, but claims a divine prerogative; but we aren’t judges. We are not in the position to say: this person will goes to heaven, and that one to hell; not even in view of non Christians. We simply can’t tell, because we do not know, and we do not decide either. The only thing we have is the definite certainty of salvation that is given unto us through faith in Christ. And whenever we dare to judge others and thus to put ourselves in God’s position, it will destroy things, will keep people away from the Gospel rather than to invite them or to help them in their faith. It is for this reason that Paul emphasises that we should behave and live in a way that reflects God’s compassion, that He has shown towards us. For we expect God to judge us by taking into consideration Christ’s sacrifice, knowing that we over and again make new mistakes, knowing that we cannot merit His mercy in any way. But God deals in the very same way with every other person, who trusts in Christ. No matter, if we like this person or not. Not matter, if this person’s spirituality or way of believing and trusting in God is exactly like ours, or different.
Most consequently it should be our desire to help people to come to, and to remain in this liberating knowledge of faith rather than to give them short shrift.
But how can we do this in a good way? Well, there are lots of ways and, as I said two weeks ago, God has given unto us lots of gifts and talents to contribute in the spreading of this liberating message of the Gospel. But I think one very important thing we need to remember always is to take notice of the people, to have an impartial perception, and to take our neighbour seriously before making any quick whipped comments or headily giving advice. To take some one serious is the trait we can discover in Jesus over and again. When He for instance approaches a sick person. He asks: What can I do for you? What is it that YOU want? Jesus never ignores someone’s personality and freedom. In the same way we shouldn’t take ourselves, our spirituality, our traditions etc. as the ultimate norm of how to live in faith. We should rather be open for the distinction of others, and then try to understand each other. For only then we will be able to avoid destructive consequences, awkward situations, and to help each other in faith in an appropriate, meaning loving, caring and compassionate way. This doesn’t necessarily mean to deal with each other with velvet gloves. But it means to deal with each other in accordance to the principles of Jesus’ divine love and truthfulness. And thus we will honour our Lord, and contribute to the wellbeing and good performance of Christ’s team. AMEN
|
|
It is the picture of God’s general invitation that accompanies us throughout today’s service. It’s the picture of God, who wants all people to be saved and to participate in His feast of eternal life. In today’s Gospel reading, which we just heard, Jesus however tells us that people also do refuse this great invitation. Jesus firstly hints with His story at God’s chosen people Israel, for the Israelites were the first to be invited to God’s heavenly feast, and many of them refused this invitation, which was presented to them by Jesus Christ. However this also applies to many of our contemporaries, who are not Jews. But anyway; because Israel refused His invitation, God extended His invitation to others as well, heathens. Those people, whom Jesus describes as people who wander around, who are blind and lame. Because: In contrast to Israel, who knew God’s word, the heathens didn’t see nor did they knew the true God, and thus they couldn’t walk in His ‘right’ ways. At least, it was like this, until they met God’s servant, Jesus Christ, and accepted God’s invitation, which was presented by Him. The acceptance of God’s invitation however led to the situation, which is addressed in today’s word for the sermon. It is the Epistle reading for this Sunday taken from the letter to the Ephesians, chapter 2, where we can read:
„He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. “
The congregation, which is addressed with these words, was a congregation of former Jews and heathens. It was a community of people, who would never ever have been together before or outside the Christian community. Because: for a Jew it was strictly forbidden to be in contact with any heathens – and we do have such cultural barriers until today. But faith in Je-sus Christ united all those people in one congregation. However it was a unity, in which people, due to their different spiritual upbringings, due to their mixed cultural backgrounds, also emphasised different aspects of their now common Christian faith; united and “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone … to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit”. And exactly this is the situation, which applies also for us. Not, that there is a party of former Jews and another one of former hea-thens in our congregation. Nonetheless, we are people from many different places, cultures, social and religious backgrounds. And this is the reason, why we, too, emphasise different aspects of our common Christian faith in different ways. We can find the same phenomenon by the way in many other Christian congregations all over the world. And looking at the various different denominations and churches all over the world, we can see even more that they, too, display this fact. The various Christian confessions resp. denominations differ very much when it comes to particular questions of faith. However, all of them are part of this unique temple, built and joined together by the Lord. Not, because they, or we could create this unity. It is solely, be-cause in faith we all are built on the ONE cornerstone Jesus Christ. In all differences, and in all their strife for the truth, Christians are built on the ONE foundation, which is Jesus Christ, our Lord, who also sustains us in faith. Because – and this is the core message of today’s bible word –: It is Jesus, who builds and sus-tains His Church on earth. It is not we, not our control, not our regulations or anything else. He builds and sustains His church. He also put us into His temple, by calling us through His word, and by giving us his Spirit. He has made us parts of his body by merging us into His body, the church, through Baptism. It is there-fore no wonder that in spite of all the differences which separate the major Christian denominations from each other, they – except for one – recognize this fundamental Christian Sacrament of Bap-tism, no matter if one has been baptized in a Roman Catholic Church, or a Methodist Church or a Lutheran Church. Because: by Baptism each person has become a member of Christ, and is invited to God’s heavenly banquet; “no longer as a foreigner or alien, but as a fellow citizen with God's people and a member of God's household”. Seeing this fact, it should be most consequently our aim – as Paul says – to live this unity, which is built on Christ. But how could this happen in the best possible way? It is the picture of the temple, the building and its cornerstone, that shows us how it should happen: In order to build a steady house with bricks, the bricklayers need to do a certain thing over and again. Do you have any idea what this is? They need to use a perpendicular in order to see, whether they have built an upright and straight wall on the foundation. Because: What happens, if the wall isn’t perpendicular, meaning not straight and upright, not built in a vertical line with the foundation? It is instable, and thus in danger of collapsing. What Christians, both the various Churches and denominations in the world and also we in our congregation, need to do to live the unity, which is based on Christ is therefore the following: As members of God’s household, as bricks of Christ’s temple, we need to align ourselves over and again to our foundation, which is Jesus. This means that the churches and denominations should constantly strive for a right understanding and teaching of Christ’s word and the right administration of His sacraments. We as single Christians should moreover strive to follow Christ’s example in our daily, and especially in our congregational life: Firstly by trusting in God’s care and forgiveness more than any-thing else; and secondly by serving each other in this love and forgiveness, in which God served us through Christ. And Paul points out very clearly in several of his letters, what this loving service means, and what it doesn’t mean: It does not mean any kind of selfishness or judging each other because of the various differences, in which we live our faith. For those things edify no one. On the other hand helping each other in the right understanding of God’s word, and convincing each other by means of words and deeds, which are based on, and motivated by God’s word; this is what edifies us in faith. To serve each other in this way includes – according to Paul – everything that helps people in faith and brings them closer to Christ. Every gift or talent for instance, which God has given unto us, and which is useful to tackle this aim. Every such talent should be used to do so! Otherwise it would be a wasted talent: If one of us for instance is good in storytelling, and this person is not yet Sunday School teacher, he or she wastes a God given talent. If one of us is good in playing the organ or another instrument, or in singing, and this person is not sharing this gift with the brothers and sisters in this congregation, he or she wastes this talent. If one is good in organizing functions and events, or with secretary work, or with designing or public relation work and is not yet involved in our congregation, or any outreach project, he or she wastes a God given talent. We are united in Christ despite all differences, in which we live out our faith. Christ has brought us together and He has built this congregation by means of His word and sacrament. However we are, just like the Ephesians, being built together in Him in order “to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. “ And we are constantly tempted to loose and detach as members in God’s household, as bricks in Christ’s temple. We are constantly tempted to drop out and to smash because of selfishness, or laziness or doubts etc. And thus we are constantly tempted to refuse God’s great invitation to become united in Christ, because we take other things, take ourselves more important than God’s invitation.
Let us therefore over and again align ourselves towards Christ, our foundation. Let us listen to his word and receive His sacrament in order to be fastened as members of his household, and in order to be strengthened to serve each other according to His example. So that we may celebrate the feast of eternal life with and though Jesus Christ, our Lord, now and here, and also in eternity! Amen
|
|
Liebe Gemeinde,
Sprache ist immer und überall auch Barriere. Entweder, man spricht nicht dieselbe Sprache oder Mundart, so wie ich für viele von euch das in diesem Augenblick tue. Oder man spricht dieselbe Sprache, doch die Mehrdeutigkeit der Worte, ihre Betonung, und die Gestik, deren man sich bedient, sorgt für Missverständnisse. Dear Congregation: Language is always a barrier between people, as some of you just have experienced. Either you don’t speak the same language or dialect, which leaves you without any understanding of what is being said at all. Or you do speak the same language, but the ambiguity of your words, your pronunciation or gesture can lead to misunderstandings. Much of our daily communication fails, because of these things, meaning pronunciation, gesture, accentuation etc. You know what I mean, don’t you? Although language is an amazing means of communication, it is unfortunately marked with this stigma of not being barrier free. From the biblical point of view, we have to understand this fact as a punishment. Because: The bible tells us – as we have heard in today’s Old Testament reading – that people once where one, and they shared one common language using the same words. However forsaking God as the core issue and landmark of their lives, they tried to supersede Him with something self-made: a tower “with its top in the heavens”. This tower should serve them as a reputation of their own power and abilities, as some kind of protection against others, and also as some kind of orientation and bonding point to hinder them from being “scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” In order to prevent that they continue to rely on themselves instead of trusting in God, the Lord came down from heaven, confused their language, and thus scattered them, away from their tower. Ever since, humans have to live with the barriers of language, and the consequences of its misunderstanding. However God didn’t leave it there. On the day of Pentecost, He continued taking care of this language matter in a new and very different way. Because:
„When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? – Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine." Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”
On the day of Pentecost, God broke down the barriers of lan-guage. He took care of the disorientation that had been caused by human distrust in Babel, and which dominates human communication ever since. Because: Firstly we learn from today’s bible word that on the day of Pentecost people through faith in Jesus Christ voluntarily turn towards God as the core issue and land-mark of their lives. Secondly we learn that people – empowered through God‘s Spirit and influence – are enabled again to talk to each other in such a way that they definitely and without any form of misunderstanding, understand each other in spite of different languages, and in spite of all other forms of reservation or intended misinterpretation. We learnt that on the day of Pentecost there was such a deep understanding of what was said, that more than 3000 people came to faith and thus built the first Christian congregation ever. Today, we celebrate the day of Pentecost as a special festive day to commemorate this wonderful doing of God. And this way we also remind ourselves of the fact that God works in people through his Spirit until this very day: Not only by means of ena-bling people to speak in other tongues, which certainly happens in some Christian congregations. At least this is what one can hear every now and then. And even though we might, along with those God fearing Jews in Jerusalem, look a little sceptical at such things, because we can’t assess them properly – which is no won-der, taking into account their extraordinary character, and know-ing that some people even fake them in order to create a hype. More important is that God works in another way through His Spirit amongst us in the same way as He did on the day Pentecost: Namely in a way that people from so many different countries, and so many different language and social backgrounds, are led together by God’s Spirit. And this happens in order to learn through faith in Jesus Christ, how to understand and to bear each other without misunderstandings and without barriers. Because: By hearing and believing the Good News of Jesus Christ God’s Spirit enters us. And by entering us, He starts to ‘shepherding’ our way of thinking. God’s Spirit makes us talk and do things in a way that avoids any false, ambiguity, and mistaking. Thus God eventually creates a community, in which people can be cer-tain of things, in which they can feel safe, and in which they are able to trust each other.
Now, one could object: But, are we there already? Is our congre-gation such a barrier free place without misunderstanding? Or don’t we still talk, think and behave in a way that causes lots of misunderstandings, even if we share the same faith and use the same language? Yes, we do! However it shouldn’t deprive us of our motivation and hope in faith. Most of all, it shouldn’t deprive us of our certainty that God is already at work amongst us. Because: Even on the day Pentecost it was not the whole commu-nity of Jerusalem that believed in what Peter told them. And I am pretty sure that after Peter’s sermon, some of them continued with their jokes or sceptical comments – just as people do today.
Those however, who heard the message, and were cut to the heart and turned to Jesus Christ as their saviour, got baptized and de-voted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, as they spent much time together in the temple, breaking bread and prais-ing God and having the goodwill of all the people. (Acts 2:45-47). It is no different to we have and what we do in this congregation!
I don’t know, how you feel about this, but I get frustrated very often because of all the misunderstandings and the way, in which Christians, in which we talk to, or about each other. And some-times I long for God to work and to change us and all people in a more noticeable way. If you feel the same way, let us first of all continue to listen to God’s word. For God gives His Holy Spirit through word and sacrament, as through instruments. And it is his Spirit, which works faith in those who believe in Jesus Christ. And let us always ask our heavenly Father in prayer that He may fill us with the power and the gifts of His Spirit, so that we may experience over and again, and God willing increasingly noticeable, our own days of Pentecost, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN
|
|
Do you know what to do, if you are in an open terrain and you get caught in a thunderstorm?: One should look for and go to the place which is the deepest possible level in the surrounding area and hide there; but not by any means seek cover under a tree or something like that. If there is no deeper lever available, you should kneel or even lie down, in order to avoid becoming the highest point, because lightning normally strikes the highest point. And to know this could save one’s life, because it enables one to realistically evaluate one’s own situation in a lightning, and then to behave in an appropriate way.
It is a prayer for exactly such kind of saving knowledge, which we have in today’s word for the sermon, even though not in view of lightning. It rather talks about and involves our whole existence and the question of how to persist. It is taken from the letter to the Ephesians, chapter 3, and reads as follows:
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Being “strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” is what people, what we need in order to be saved, in order to persist rather than to perish. For as soon as one believes that in Christ, God himself became human to destroy the blinding power of the devil, and thus to redeem us from the debt of our error, and to lead us into a new life that trusts in God and follows his word instead of being sunk into the vicious circle of sin; as soon as one trusts in this Jesus Christ, one is enabled to apprehend, how things really are, how this world really works: It is a world that was made by God; everything was created by Him; every family in heaven and on earth takes its name from Him, as our Bible word puts it. And that means that everything and everyone eventually has to answer to God about their own existence, no matter if one likes it or is aware of it, or not. And to realize this is nothing else than to realize the own position and situation; which is obviously not powerful or mighty, or able to put forth any claims. For everything we are, and everything we have, is given unto us by God. It is lent to us, according to the riches of His glory, in order to make something out of it in re-sponsibility towards God. We however, together with all humans, out of mistrust and hubris, mistrusted God and tried to make something of ourselves. We try to be independent. But behaving like this, we are causing great damage, which is everywhere around and within us. It is this, which the blinded world is unable to realize, while we are enabled to see and to understand it clearly in faith; the same faith that frees us from all this by giving us the knowledge of sal-vation in Christ. It is this, what today’s word for the sermon means, when it talks about understanding the full breadth, width, length and depth. It is all about realizing one’s own situation, and thus how to ‘behave’ appropriately in order to be saved. And the guideline in faith is somehow very similar to that of how to act in a lightning, for it says: It is fatal to extol oneself just car-ing about the own advantage. One should rather follow Christ’s example in becoming low and humble by loving and serving each other; or as today’s Bible word prays: “that you may … know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God ... as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” By trusting in Christ, we do not only accept our position as God’s creatures, his loved creatures, which are nonetheless accountable for what we have done in life. By trusting in Christ we also try to follow his example in serving each other in brotherly love. And whenever we do this, we behave and handle earthly things differ-ently than other people; namely in a new way that is in accordance with our sincere knowledge of our salvation: We don’t devout ourselves for instance to earthly things; be it money, the career, fame and fortune, our property or whatever. Because in faith we know that all these things will perish, so we rather use them along with our talents and gifts in a way that pleases God. In faith we use all these things as instruments to take care of our loved ones, or to help those in need, or to support the spreading of the Gospel. Because: Thus we may help to produce fruit that won’t perish; people who will come to the saving faith and thus be saved together with us.
I have another question in view of the picture that I used as an example at the beginning of this sermon: If you should really get caught in a thunderstorm and lightning is everywhere around and very close: Do you always remember ex-actly what to do, and how to behave appropriately according to your knowledge? Or isn’t it also very often possible that, because of the terrible fright that one gets, one forgets about all this? It is, isn’t it? And the same unfortunately applies for our faith. We very easily get distracted or anxious in life, and then we panic and hold on to earthly things rather than to trust in God’s promise. Financial crisis, health problems, relationship lows or things like these are often the reason why Christians ignore what they actu-ally believe in. It is for this reason that today’s word for the sermon is a prayer. For it is God, from whom everything comes, who planted faith in our hearts in the first place. And it is He alone who is also able to sustain us in faith and to keep us on the right track. We should therefore join this prayer – if possible every day – in order to be strengthened in our inner being with power through his Spirit, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, as we are rooted and grounded in love, now and forever. AMEN
|
|
Before I read today’s word for the sermon, let me ask you some-thing: What is it that people usually pray for? What is it that you normally ask God in your daily prayers? [Collecting answers] Thank you.
Now, having collected a couple of things, let’ see how St. Paul advices his co-worker Timothy and all other Christians how to pray. For Paul writes in today’s Epistle reading, taken from his 1st letter to Timothy, the 2nd chapter, as follows:
“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
There are three things, which I would like to emphasise in view of Paul’s words: Firstly the fact that he encourages all Christians to pray for everyone. What does this imply?
Secondly I would like to ask why Christians should pray espe-cially for those in authority, and what this implies in view of our present political situation and responsibility. And thirdly, I would like to follow Paul’s encouragement to pray in a ‘fourfold’ way.
So, let’s look at: What it implies, that Paul encourages all to pray for everyone. It implies two very important things, namely that prayer is and should be a part of the spiritual life of every single Christian, for prayer is the expression of a living faith that ad-dresses God in expectation of his answer, trusting in his promises.
As a relationship is in danger to die, when there is no communica-tion, our faith is in danger to die, where we neither listen to God’s promises nor answer them in trusting prayers. But what is at least as important as the fact that prayer is a vital part of faith, is that we as Christians shouldn’t pray just for our-selves. Paul says, Christians should pray for everyone, which means literally every person on earth. However reading between the lines it points out that we should pray for all the people we know, no matter, if they are family or friends, or people, whom we don’t like, even enemies. And the reason, why Paul encourages us to do so, is very simple: We are Christ’s disciples; and our Lord died for all people, not just for us or those, whom we like. He died for everyone, no mat-ter where this person comes from, what he looks like, what her income is, or their social status. Jesus especially died for those, who are lost in sin and guilt, outcasts, unrighteous people. And to trust in this Lord therefore means to trust in his love for every single person on earth. It also means to trust that God can help, or change people, even if we have given up on them. To pray for all people means to express our trust and hope in God, who loves all, and who is capable of saving even the most notorious sinner.
But why should Christians pray especially for those in authority, and what does it imply concerning our political responsibility? To find a reasonable answer to this 2nd question, it might be help-ful to know that in Paul’s days the political imperial Roman au-thorities dealt rather harshly with Christians. Christians refused to participate in the emperor’s cult and to worship him as a God. This rejection was however esteemed by the Romans as subversive and hostile to the state. And this was crucial, because for the Romans a functioning state was the highest good, for it guaranteed peace, prosperity and order. Something that even Christians had to admit – as Paul’s words show us. It is for this reason that Paul encourages Christians to do what is in their power to support and influence the policy of the empire in a way that pleases God: which was – because of the imperial structures – prayer. There was no other way of influencing the absolute sovereign of Rome. To pray for the emperor and the empire was therefore the only possible sign of loyalty, without renouncing one’s faith in Christ, the only true king of the world. And by praying that God may influence the decisions of the mighty in a way that peace and harmony may prosper, Christians also expressed their hope for practising their faith undisturbed. We in South Africa on the other hand live in a democratic society that guarantees us to practise and live our faith in peace. We also have the chance to influence the government by actively taking over political responsibilities. However a political career is not meant for every one of us. So we are left with our right to vote; and prayer. For until this very day people can’t take it for granted that governments secure order and peace and conditions, in which people can practise and live their beliefs, and in which Christians can invite others with the Gospel of Jesus, who died for all.
It is for this reason that Paul encouragement to support and to pray foremost for the authorities, and to ask God to give them wisdom and faithful hearts, addresses us, too. Because: Only if politicians come to the saving faith in Christ, they will do their job in responsibility to God, and according to his will for the welfare of all people. And this is so important, that Paul encourages to pray for it not just in a simple, but in a fourfold way, namely in requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving.
I would like to follow Paul’s advice therefore at the end of this sermon in the style of Martin Luther’s private prayer, the so called fourfold garland, which Luther describes as follows: „If I have time and opportunity to go beyond the Lord’s prayer, I deal ... [for instance] with the Ten Commandments [as follows:]… taking one part after another [I] make a gar-land of for strands: ... first of all, I take … [it] as a teaching ... and reflect on what our Lord God earnestly demands of me here. Secondly, I make a thanksgiving of it. Thirdly, a confes-sion. Fourthly, a prayer.“
So let us pray: Lord, you have installed all governments on earth, because hu-mans over and again just look for their own advantages, forgetting about others. Governments however are meant to secure peace and order for the welfare of a whole nation and the social safe-guarding of all people in a society. In this way you instructed Saul, the first King, to rule over your people, and in the same way it is the commission for all Govern-ments on earth until this day: be it a kingdom, a democracy, a province, a community, or the authority of parents over their fami-lies. It is your gracious will that all people in power put themselves out for those who are entrusted to their care. And you want us to support them in respect and loyalty in this strife. It is for this reason that we give thanks to you, for you have blessed us with a Democracy that allows us to influence and par-ticipate in politics for the welfare of this country, and that gives us the freedom to live and share our believes without retrenchments; which we shouldn’t take for granted. Forgive us therefore, where we have just criticised and talked badly about those, who try to work for the benefit of all, without showing any sign of support for these people. We ask you to for-give us also, where we have lived at the expenses of others; where we have followed the selfish model of this world rather than to reflect your love and care for all people. It is true, how shall we reflect your light, if we as Christians evade taxes, just because our colleague does the same? How can we expect that the social stan-dard of this country will increase, if Christians live at the expenses of others, just because they follow their friend’s example? Lord, how can we expect this country to become a safer place, if Chris-tians even don’t abide to the rules – for instance of traffic –, be-cause everyone does it? What is the future of this country, if Christians keep out of politics, just to say afterwards: We have known it all along? Forgive us, where we have erred. And help us, that we may support those who have to take care of our wellbeing, by using our rights and by fulfilling our obligations, by engaging ourselves and giving constructive criticism, but most of all by praying for them.
All this we ask in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives, and reigns, one God, now and forever. AMEN
|
|
|
|
| | | | | |
|
