Sermon prepared for Messiah Lutheran Church
—8:30 contemporary and 11:00 traditional services—
10/29/00
by Gregory S. Kaurin, Associate Pastor for Spiritual
Care and Development
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Text:
Romans 3:19-28
Introduction:
483 years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther had no idea what a movement he would
start in the church. The time was
ripe. Churches had finally gotten used
to “contemporary” music coming from that new-fangled instrument in the church:
the organ. The printing press was
putting books (including the Bible) into people’s hands. They were learning to read and study on
their own! There was growing
dissatisfaction against the complicated and priest-oriented liturgy and
hierarchy of the church. People were
looking for more personal religious experiences and involvement.
Martin Luther thought he was offering a normal collegial debate when he posted the 95 theses to the church door – a very normal place to post such things. But it sparked a whole reformation of the church: reforming theology, structure, liturgy, music, practice, etc.
One of the most central messages that came out of the
Reformation was the freedom and empowerment of individual Christians. Every Christian can directly experience God
and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by acting as a member of the “Priesthood
of All Believers.” In that light,
understand that today and each day—by virtue of what God has done for you—you
are a priest, called to live out and show the acceptance that God gave to
you. Each of us is a priest – in our
homes, at school, at work!
The
Sermon--
Super Priests
In some Baptist churches and other denominations members give each other the titles of “Brother” or “Sister.” “Here is Brother Frank, and Sister Sue Ellen!” It’s a title that describes a kind of sacred or religious belonging. It suggests authority, but also accountability and responsibility.
In such churches it’s usually made clear that, if you have a gift or even a learned skill, you use it. If you can sing, you sing, or speak, teach, witness, pray, write, play, and even preach when that is your gift. And let me stop for a second to mention that in Christianity the word “gift” is not the same as “natural-born talents.” When Christians speak of gifts, they can include things that you work hard to develop, skills. “Gifts” are any fruits or results of faith and life.
In some churches the search and development of gifts is understood to be a personal priority. Being a church member is not simply about getting your weekly personal fill. It is a time for rededication to the ministry ahead of you in the rest of the week.
We’ve said it before: when you are out in the community, in someone’s home, at your office, or cruising down Interstate-5 (although someone at the earlier service corrected me: you never “cruise” down I-5), wherever you are, you are Messiah Lutheran Church and you are a Brother or Sister of the Christian Church in that place. We are members of the Priesthood of All Believers.
I was reading a book recently by Lutheran Pastor Michael Foss. He was in his new call and learned that one of the members was going to have a scheduled surgery early the next day. So he arrived at the hospital 5:30 that morning. As he turned the corner to the hallway towards “Shirley’s” room, he ran into a congregation member.
“Why, Pastor Mike, what are you doing here?” she asked
“I’m here to visit Shirley who’s having surgery.”
“Oh, of course. We just didn’t expect to see you.”
They entered the room and there at Shirley’s side was another congregation member. “Pastor Mike, what are you doing here?”
“Well,” he said again, “I’m here to see Shirley before surgery.”
The other two were preparing to leave Pastor Mike and Shirley alone, but he had enough sense to invite them to stay as he lead them through some scripture and a prayer.
While he was on his way home, he had a nagging sense, “What just happened here?” One inner voice assured him that he had just done a fine bit of pastoring early in the morning. But the other voice made him realize how his presence seemed to supercede and replace the ministry that was already happening in the room.
This weekend, as I was going to visit a very ill member and her family, I called one of our parish nurses and she joined me at the nursing home. I can’t begin to tell you how helpful and important her ministry proved to be for that family and for me!
There is a long-standing Lutheran tradition that as part of the whole Body of Christ, we each and all together are responsible to see that the work of Christ gets done in our congregations. All the sacred things done in worship, like Baptizing, presiding over Communion, even me up here preaching—do you know whose responsibility it is to see that these thing get done? All of yours. It is the congregation’s responsibility to see that the Word is preached, the sacraments distributed, and from there: the fruits of teaching, social ministry, charity, prayer chains and parish nurses.
To answer some of that responsibility you priests hire people like me who have been set aside and taught how to preach, teach and administer sacraments. In truth, we pastors are set aside by virtue of nothing more than our baptisms and a sense of call that unites our gifts to a need. But that is the same search that God wants all Christian churches and individuals to seek and develop: to unite your gifts and abilities to a need.
Now, I am not trying to give my job or responsibilities away. You can’t have them! (A bit of personal greed slips out there. It is work I love with all its diversity, challenge and purpose. I would steer anyone with interest to consider it.) But I am trying to be clear that the work, ministry, growth, even the teaching, preaching and sacraments are gifts and responsibilities that lie among the whole congregation—not from the top down. I’m almost starting to sound like a political campaigner: “Responsibility and power belong at the local and individual level.”
For example, as much as I cherish my ordination—it is a moving and powerful memory in my life—both before and after people began to call me “Pastor,” “Greg” was and is the same man. My ordination was a simple affirmation that some congregation off in Pennsylvania felt that I would be able to help them work as a Christian congregation. No matter how many gifts and abilities a person has, the Lutheran church does not ordain seminary graduates until a specific congregation or ministry calls them. You are not ordained until it is clear that your gifts, training and abilities meet the needs of a specific congregation.
It is from that understanding that I believe we pastors are called to do our best to emphasize a “discipling” model of Christianity over a “membership” model. We need to emphasize “discipling” over “membership.” We are in the business of growing disciples, not of growing members.
Just 50 years ago that would’ve been an unnecessary statement. 50 years ago being a disciple and being a church member meant about the same thing. But now, with fitness and health clubs, golf clubs, and such, “membership” implies that you pay your dues and can expect to be served.
Being a “disciple,” on the other hand, describes a relationship that is more give and take. There is a sending and coming back, learning and spreading what you’ve learned. The word “disciple” means “student,” but even while he was with them and teaching them, Jesus would send his disciples out to do ministry, and gather them in to share the experiences, teach more and send again.
I am not asking for a semantic name change from calling ourselves “members” to “disciples.” Just changing words usually isn’t too helpful. But I do want you to have a clear realization of what it means to be a member of a church. It means that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ with all its gifts and responsibilities.
Out from the promises of your Baptism, God is constantly calling you to learn and respond, to glorify your God through words, actions and singing. No matter how poor you think your words, actions, and even your song are, they are fit for the army and choirs of heaven. God has promised that when you do something in faith, no matter how flawed, he will perfect it.
Discipling, being Christ’s followers and doers in the world, that is what we mean by the Priesthood of All Believers. So, whether you are at Boeing, Microsoft, in the grocery line, at school, working under the hood of someone’s car, at home, at the ball game, or getting cut off on I-5, no matter where you are, as disciples, as priests, please remember that there is a much bigger part you play at all times. You are a Christian getting cut off on I-5, and that should make a difference.
Christopher Reeve was at a fundraiser for a research center and he gave this charge to research scientists. He said, “Every scientist should think about the sense of urgency. Research is not made for research alone, but to ease human suffering.”
Those are good words for every one of us as Christians. We can get too focused and develop too many bad habits of trying to be like everyone else that we live and work beside. You are not! You are different!
Like everyone else, you are a sinner. Like everyone else, God offers forgiveness and direction. Unlike everyone else, you know that promise and by its fact you are called to be that promise.
Before, during and in return, God gives incredible assurances. There is no power, no Devil, no death strong enough: the Kingdom’s yours forever. You’ll hear that in Martin Luther’s great hymn: “A Mighty Fortress.” But God has also promised to use every action and prayer, everything you do in faith. I know he will keep that promise.
I said in the sermon title that we are “Super Priests.” The word “super” means, “to rise above.” The results of our prayers and actions done in the Christian faith “rise above” much further than we realize. Jesus once said that whatever we do in his name is as if, is done in heaven.
The things we do “rise above” only because of Jesus who lifts them to a higher level, only because God can reform our actions and us. Only God can take a sinner and reform him or her into a saint and a holy priest. Only God can take a body of sinners called the “Church” and reform it into the Holy Body of Jesus Christ.
What is that power, that great reforming power, that causes us to rise above, that makes us into the Priesthood of All Believers, that gives us strength over evil, death and the Devil? There was a great 20th century theologian, around the time of World War II; at a lecture someone asked him what he thought was the central, most powerful theological statement. What would summarize all Christian theology?
The great theologian paused only a moment and said, “The greatest and central theological statement of Christianity is this: ‘Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so.’”
Let’s sing the first stanza and chorus together: “Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong. They are weak but he is strong. Yes! Jesus loves me. Yes! Jesus loves me. Yes! Jesus loves me; the Bible tells me so.”
That is the assurance and promise around which we gather. It is the deepest, most profound Truth. It is yours, and by it God empowers us, all of us, to be his holy priests. Amen.
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