Holy Week Greetings from Matthew Harrison, our Synod President

See the Holy Week greetings below from LCMS President Matthew Harrison.

Remember our Holy Week Schedule, beginning with Maundy Thursday.  God's Blessings!

April Newsletter - Love does not rejoice in wrongdoings.

In light of some conversations with friends from my younger years, I have been pondering lately what the word “love” really means.  It seems that in our world today, the common understanding of love is extreme “tolerance”.  To show love is to tolerate the things another person is doing, no matter what the thing is, or whether it is “good” or not.

We see this in a variety of issues today.  We have talked about abortion, with many people tolerating it in the name of “loving” women.  I have even had a conversation with a friend in the last month who said it was more loving to abort a baby than to let it live in poverty. 

However, even besides the logical fallacy this argument presents, this is not really love.  Real love doesn’t just “live and let die”, but has genuine concern for what happens in a person’s life. 

Think of parents who love their children.  When a child wants to go to a party, the parent asks for details out of love.  “Who will be there?  What time will you return?  Will there be a chaperone?”  These questions are asked out of love, because the parent doesn’t want the child to end up in a bad situation.  Or think of a parent whose child uses drugs or who has a toddler that runs into the street.  A loving parent does everything in their power to stop these events from happening to their child, to keep them safe. 

This is the same way Christian love works.  We as the church ask questions about what is happening in a person’s life and show true concern for a person, even when it is not popular.  We can’t, and won’t, just let people assume their actions are ok when it is not in their best interest in the long term, or when it goes against God’s Word. We love them too much to let others continue in their sin and destructive habits.   As St. Paul writes in his famous passage, “love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” (1 Corinthians 13:6)

So when a person falls into a sinful action, we in the church are to show love – true love.  This means we don’t just stand by while sinful actions go on.  It means we can’t say “It’s ok, they were born that way and they can’t help it”.   That answer cannot excuse true love.

When we stand up and say something, we show real love.  “Abortion is killing a baby, no matter how you justify it.”  “God’s Word proclaims the truth: it is not ok to live together outside marriage.”  “Scripture is clear: homosexuality is a sin.”  “God wants more for your life than for you to drown in a bottle of liquor.”   As we say these often unpopular things, we actually show love behind them. 

The way we say these things is important too.  If we were to say these things harshly and derogatorily, they are not said with love.  We must speak these truths in such a loving way as to not lose our platform to speak to the person.  We have all had a discussion in which the other person got so angry at us that we no longer spoke to them at all.  We should strive to avoid this, all while understanding that we cannot control how the other person responds to our words of love.

Love is not always easy.  Sometimes it is not popular.  Sometimes it hurts us immensely to do the loving thing, to tell our loved ones what is best for them.  Yet, that is the very message of Christianity. 

For this is love, “not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10).  Christ came and died for all our sins.  He takes away guilt for each of those sins above, and for countless more that you deal with.  He did this all by His own death on the cross, which we celebrate in only a few short days. 

So, dear friends, what do we say to these things?  St. Paul tells us in Romans, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

“For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.  We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  For one who has died has been set free from sin.  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” 

We are forgiven, and so cannot continue in our sin any longer.  We no longer can “live and let live”.  Instead, let us leave our sin behind, and dwell in the love that Christ gives to us.  It’s a cross-defined love that shows real concern about us and what goes on in our lives. 

So in conclusion, I would encourage you to show true love to those around you.  It’s a love that forgives wrongs, even while we admit that they are wrong.  It’s a love that does not begin with us at all, but begins with the grace and mercy earned on the cross of Christ.  That is true love. 

In Christ,

Pastor

Lent 5 - G - 2012 - We Don't "Get" Glory

The Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 18, 2012 - Pastor Adam Moline

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today comes from the Gospel lesson, especially these words, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ, Jesus tells the disciples exactly what was going to happen.  “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴ And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”  Dear friends, it doesn’t get much clearer than that.  Jesus is entering his glory.  Jesus is going into Jerusalem to begin his reign, to be crowned with thorns, enthroned upon a cross, the king dying for sin. 

And yet, even as Jesus tells his disciples this is what is happening, they miss the point entirely.  That’s not the type of glory that they are used to.  They have seen kings enter Jerusalem before, they have heard of the way a Triumph was truly celebrated, and it didn’t involve crosses. 

In ancient Rome, when a king came into his glory, he rode a chariot in a parade into town.  Before him went all his troops, and all the spoils of war.  He entered through a special gate in the city, used only for showing forth the glory of a king.  He rode through the town as all its citizens came out to cheer and the trumpets blasted as they hailed this king, this Caesar as God on earth. 

That is the glory the disciples wanted.  They wanted Jesus glorified.  They wanted him shown as almighty.  They wanted him paraded around, and they wanted a piece of the action.  In our text, James and John come to Jesus and say, “O great teacher, may you live forever, give to us what we ask.  Let it be that one of us may sit on your right and one at your left in your glory.”  In other words, let us share with you in fame and wealth and praises.  Let us be a part of your power and kingdom.  Let us sit in the place of honor.  Let us share, because Lord, we have earned it.  We have followed you since the very beginning.  We were some of your very first disciples.  We have left all we have, and now, Jesus it is time for payback, especially if you expect us to support you when you enter Jerusalem.  We want reward, and we want it now.

Jesus, who had to have been disappointed by the question, responds, “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink, the cup of God’s wrath?”  Can you take the brunt of God’s punishment for sin?  Because that is the glory of Jesus – to save sinners.  And you disciples of Jesus are no longer to live in the glory of the world, the parades, the pats on the back, the accolades.  But instead, you are to serve.  For “whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.”

Dear friends in Christ, to be great in the church, you must be a servant.  To have glory, you have to turn everything upside down on its head, and take up your cross and follow Jesus.  But yet that is not what we want.  How often do we want the glory associated with Christianity?  I am a Christian, and so I am holier than you?  I am a Christian, so I deserve some sort of payment here on earth!  I am a Christian, so Lord give me a little more money, a nicer home, a faster car, and a healthier family and life.  Give me what I want here, and now!  Give me worldly power!

And yet in reality, we have nothing worth talking about.  We have nothing to glory in, for our lives are full of sin.  They are full of failures.  Even those small glories that we do have fade away with time.  Yes Caesar may have had his parades, but he is dead now.  Yes we may feel glad at one we have done, but it doesn’t save us.  Even with all the glory-full things we do, we are left without hope if we only look at ourselves. 

We want people to notice when we do something good.  We want someone to notice us, hoping that we will be elevated in their eyes.  To give us just a touch of glory here on earth.  And yet, when we look inwardly like that, when we seek to glorify ourselves in our neighbors eyes, to receive the rewards of this world, we lose sight of the glory of Jesus.  We take our eyes off the cross and eternity, instead looking at something that seems closer, more attainable, but fleeting. 

“You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you.”  No, it shall not be so upon you, for you have no glory on earth to be found, your glory is greater.  You already have something more wonderful.  And to see it, you can’t look at yourself, your own desires, your own wants and goals, to see the glory that awaits you, you must look to Jesus. 

He explains it all, The Son of man must be lifted up, he must be turned over, spat upon and killed, and then, crucified.  In that, and only in that is true glory, revealed in the Son of God.  For as Jesus dies on the cross, he takes your sin away.  As Jesus is lifted up, he glorifies you.  As Jesus is pierced with nails, you are given new life and hope. 

You are glorified in Jesus.  IN him alone, you have something to look towards.  

Midweek Lent 4

Wednesday of Lent 4

21 March 2012

Fifth Commandment:  You Shall Not Murder

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need. 

Bible Narrative:  Genesis 4:1-16

4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten^[a] a man with the help of the Lord.” ² And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. ³ In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, ⁴ and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, ⁵ but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. ⁶ The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? ⁷  If you do well, will you not be accepted?^[b] And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for^[c] you, but you must rule over it.”

⁸ Cain spoke to Abel his brother.^[d] And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. ⁹ Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” ¹⁰ And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. ¹¹ And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. ¹² When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” ¹³ Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear.^[e] 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” ¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. ¹⁶ Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod,^[f] east of Eden.

You shall not murder

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need. 

Anatomy of a murder.

You’re minding your own business and then all of a sudden …

News alert!  It’s scrolls along the bottom of the TV screen. Before you can read it brunette bombshell anchor Mona Cohen interrupts regular programming:  “This just in to Paradise Lost Network!  We have received disturbing news!  It comes from one of the western farm fields.  We’re hearing unconfirmed reports that one of Adam’s sons was found dead a short while ago.  Let’s go live to our ace on the spot reporter Biff Bernstein.  He’s there with the latest.  Biff, can you confirm what we’re hearing?”

“Mona, yes the dead body has in fact now been identified by officials as Abel.  Mona, this is a grisly scene.  I’ve never seen any thing like this!  It’s sickening!  I can’t believe this has happened!  This is no accident!  It is criminal!  Abel’s head has been crushed in!  It is the goriest and most gruesome incident I’ve ever covered… [Biff gags].  As you can tell Mona, I’ve lost it.  Who could have done this?  Who could have done this Mona? Back to you.”

“Thanks Biff.  For those who have just joined us, we have confirmed that Abel, the younger twin brother of Cain, has been found dead from substantial blows to the head.  It is a gruesome criminal scene.  A massive manhunt has now begun for the world’s first ever killer.  More breaking news as it happens.”

While you’re still in shock – still is dismay – another breaking news alert from Mona Cohen of Paradise Lost Network!    “This just in!  More dreadful news!  Authorities have confirmed that Abel’s killer has been apprehended!  The killer is … are you ready for this ladies and gentlemen? … Abel’s older twin brother Cain!”

Double tragedy!  Double punch to the gut!  Not just the world’s first murder!  Not just a homicide -- BUT FRATRICIDE!  Abel, viciously slaughtered by his very own brother! 

The very brother we all believed to be the ONE! The ONE to bring back the paradise Adam and Eve lost by their rebellion.  The ONE to put an end to all the pain and agony that Satan brought into the world by our parents’ sin.  Cain!  Cain!  Cain! 

Cain’s no messiah!  Far from it!  We were all foolishly mistaken on that one!  We just all assumed! 

Cain had us all fooled.  Both boys went to church.  Both heard sermon after sermon.  Both offered their sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise.  All the neighbors said Cain was a quiet boy.  A good neighbor.  Always on time.  Reliable.  A hard worker.  What went wrong?  Why would he do such a heinous deed?

Then another news flash!  “Mona Cohen here again with more breaking news.  We have been told that Cain was a very angry young man.  He had a very, very dark side.  Hated his brother Abel!  Had something to do with their offerings at church.  His intense anger appears to have begun when the LORD favored Abel’s offerings but not Cain’s.  Here to give us some perspective on why all this happened is doctor Ruth Bernbaum.  Dr. Bernbaum, what triggered all of Cain’s anger and the savage attack of his brother?  Why couldn’t Cain master the sin that was crouching at his door?”

“Well, Mona, it could be a number of factors.  One, perhaps God likes ranchers more than farmers.  Another explanation may be the way Eve potty-trained these boys in combination with Adam’s laissez-faire attitude.  That probably didn’t go so well. One more factor could be that Cain skimped with his offerings.  Maybe the grain he offered wasn’t the best or possibly he only offered chaff instead of wheat.  Or, and this is the most likely explanation, you did this to him! The pressure was too much for him!  All the messianic expectations you all put on him led him to this!”      

And with that you shut off your TV.  You’ve had enough of this rubbish!  There’s got to be some other explanation! 

Well, there is.  I’ll tell you.  It’s called sin.  Both brothers were sinners.  But the difference between the two was spelled:  F-A-I-T-H!  Cain doesn’t believe that he is a sinner. He’s full of himself!  First-born and all that!  Cain doesn’t fight against his anger and hatred.  Cain, therefore, doesn’t believe in God’s promise to send the Savior.  Cain refused to believe the sermons that the LORD is gracious and merciful.  Cain does not and would not repent!  No wonder the LORD DID NOT look with favor on Cain’s offering.  No wonder the LORD DID LOOK WITH FAVOR ON ABEL’S! 

If you doubt any of this Hebrews 11:4 clearly explains the discrepancy between the two brothers.  Listen.  “By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.  By faith he [Abel] was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.  And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”  Again, the difference between the two brothers was FAITH!

Cain’s unbelief, his impenitence, fed his hatred.  Hated his brother.  Hated God!  He did not fear, love, or trust in the LORD.  His heart was at odds with the LORD.  Therefore, his heart was also at odds with his brother.  “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15; Matthew 5:21-22)! So Cain did what was in his heart.  He lured Abel into the field with a hypocritical act of brotherly love.  When Abel turned his back Cain bashed in the back of his brother’s head!  Calculated, cold-blooded murder!  Colossal carnage!

When Adam sinned the ground was cursed (Genesis 3:17).  Now here Cain, for the spilling of Abel’s blood, for just standing there and letting Abel bleed out, is directly cursed!  He has desecrated the ground with a murderous blood bath!  Cain refused to be his brother’s keeper!  So the earth opened up its mouth to receive Abel’s blood from Cain’s hand.  Cain can only be a restless wanderer now because the earth will refuse to bear any crops for him!  He can till and till and till – plant, plant and plant – BUT THE EARTH WILL GIVE HIM NOTHING!  For Abel’s “blood cries out the LORD from the ground!”  

In addition, Cain must live the rest of his life with eyes in the back of his head.  He won’t be able to sleep very well at night.  After all, everyone is outraged!  It is highly probably that someone will try to avenge Abel’s murder!  Therefore the LORD puts a mark on Cain to show that he’s off limits to a human executioner – an avenger of blood!

Life in any stage is a gift from the LORD.  The LORD wants your neighbor’s life protected.  Always!  Thus the Fifth Commandment!  The LORD forbids the taking of life in any way.  From abortion to euthanasia!  From shooting someone in cold blood to slitting someone’s throat or putting poison in their food!  The LORD forbids the taking of your own life too.  Judas did that, you remember, when he despaired of the LORD’s forgiveness. 

You shall not murder!  That’s God’s categorical personal address to you!  No “ifs,” “ands” or “buts!”  Do not hurt or bring harm to your neighbor in any way!  Instead help and support him/her in EVERY physical need.

And we have failed!  Our tongues are instruments of death!  We ruin reputations!  We destroy lives with our angry words and hate-filled discrimination. 

We sit quietly and do nothing when our neighbor needs help.  We care about ourselves first.  Our needs.  Our wants.  Our desires.  Our hopes. 

We stand by and do nothing as our neighbor drinks himself to death, starves herself to death, forces his child to live in a cage like an animal, or as 1.2 million of unborn innocent lives are cruelly destroyed each year in this country. “Am I my brother’s / sister’s keeper?” we ask!  With that question we incriminate ourselves just like Cain!

So it is time to repent!  It is time to “love one another” and “not be like Cain who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother,” (1 John 3:11-12) It is time to give up something during this Lent and all of our lives!  And what is that?  Your sin!  Time to confess your sin.  All sin against God’s will to protect and preserve life.  Life that He alone gives.

Abel’s murdered blood cried out to the LORD for revenge!  But the Blood of Jesus – that’s different!  A whole different ball game!  His Blood speaks and proclaims just the opposite:  FORGIVENESS!  For sinners!  For you.  For me.  “Father, forgive them – they don’t know what in the world they’re doing!” 

Exactly!  We sure didn’t!  We falsely believed that we were doing God a favor!  That everything would be so much better if we would get rid of Blasphemer Jesus!  He can’t be God!  We are! (At least we pretend to be!)  So we too shouted:  “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!  Be rid of Him!  We’re in charge here!  His Blood be on us and our children!”     We “killed the author of life” (Acts 3:15)!

“Father, forgive them!”  Yes, Jesus’ Good Friday, Lamb of God, Mount Calvary Blood for your forgiveness pleads!  His sacrificial Blood shed on the cross atones for all your sin!  For His life – His divine life is given in, with and under His Blood!  Bloodied – sacrificed on the cross Jesus – sprinkles His Blood on you!  That Blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.  Abel’s blood cried out for revenge!  The shed Blood of Jesus proclaims FORGIVENESS!  “But the blood of Jesus for our pardon cries!”  (Hymn #433 LSB stanza 4).

So here’s the truth!  You, the sinner, are redeemed!  You, the sinner, are sanctified!  For the Blood of Jesus is on you and your children.  In a saving way:  FORGIVENESS!   You, like the murderer Barabbas are set free!  Jesus, the Holy One, willingly gives His life and allows His divine Blood to be shed!  Your sin is His!  His holiness is yours!  The Blood of Jesus purifies you from all sin! 

It is His Good Friday Blood that He puts into your mouths in the Sacrament for your cleansing.  For your purification!  For the forgiveness of all your sin.  In the Lord’s Supper the Blood of Jesus speaks!  It says:  “given and shed FOR YOU!  FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR SALVATION!” 

Faith trusts this Word from the Good Friday Jesus!  Now He has good use for you in this world as His instrument.  He now uses your body in this life to help and support your neighbor in his/her body!  And that is quite a sacrifice or offering of thanksgiving and praise in response for all that Jesus’ Blood has given you!

In the Name of Jesus    

Lent 4 - E - 2012 - Dead Man Walking

The Fourth Sunday of Lent
March 18, 2012 - Pastor Adam Moline

Numbers 21:4-9          Ephesians 2:1-10         John 3:14-21

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.  Our text today comes from the Epistle lesson just read, especially these words, “it is by grace you have been saved.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  We have all heard of the phrase, “Dead man walking.”  It’s a phrase reserved for those who live on death row, awaiting their turn to be punished for their crimes of murder and rape.  They are dead men walking, because though they are still alive, in fact they are as good as dead, and will never see the outside of a prison again. 

Dear friends, St. Paul says the same thing about you in our text today.  You were once dead in your trespasses.  You were once a “dead man walking.”  You once were judged, found guilty and deserving of death.  Only your judgment was even worse than that of a man on death row.  For your punishment, your judgment of death wasn’t just the ending of your earthly life, but eternal death, death beyond this world, death that means the fires of hell, with weeping and gnashing of teeth, and where the worm does not die. 

That was your verdict.  That was your judgment.  So the question arises, what was your crime?  Why did you deserve such a sentence?  For the trespasses and sins in which you once walked following the prince of this world, Satan.  Your sin was great, your trespasses were enormous, and you did commit it, by your fault, your own fault, your own most grievous fault.  As our text today says, you “lived in the passions of your flesh, carrying out the desires of your body and the mind”.  That means you gave in to all those lusts of your body.  You wanted more drinks than your body could handle and became drunk in a stupor.  You wanted more money and things that you could use.  And when you got something, it was yours, you didn’t want to share it with fellow members of the body of Christ, but selfishly took it for yourself.  You wanted porn, sex, and excitement because of the way it made you feel for a few minutes, even as it damaged you for your whole life. 

Oh and there is more.  You have hated someone who was your neighbor.  You spoke poorly of them to your friends, and laughed at their faux pas, making sure that everyone knew about them.  You have held a grudge, you have acted with rage and malice, you have failed to forgive and love as God would have you do.  And when the table’s were turned, you have complained and whined, you have grumbled against them, vowing to get your “just revenge”.

Oh by the way, this is just the tip of the ice berg.  For you know that if God could read your thoughts and follow you around all day, that He would not like what He sees.  He would be ashamed of some of those things that you have done.  He would know about you hurting yourself in the quiet of your own room, and your drowning your sorrows in a glass.  And so you are judged.  You are guilty.  Guilty as charged, and the punishment is death forever in the fires of hell.  And you are nothing more than a “Dead man walking” awaiting the fulfillment of your punishment. 

But God so loved the world, that he gave his only son so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved! 

And this is not your own doing.  It’s grace!  Grace means freely given to you.  Grace means you didn’t earn it.  Grace means you didn’t do anything to appeal your verdict.  But rather you were forgiven without any merit or worthiness on your part.  But it was given to you – a great big Christmas present that you didn’t deserve – all to set you free from the punishment you deserve.

Yes, a Christmas present, for unto you a child is born, unto you a Son was given.  All for your forgiveness.  All for making you alive.  All to set you free from you prison.  For this Christmas present was the gift that keeps on giving.  Even today, as we stare woefully at the cross, at Golgotha.  Even today as we examine the old rugged cross, cleft for our own sin and punishment, we see that gift hanging upon it.  For Christ has come to save you by Grace.  Christ has come to go to your death.  To go to your cross, to shed his blood in your place.  He saves you, not by works that you have done, but by the ultimate work, the death of God for you. 

So all those sins are forgiven.  All those crimes which you committed are gone.  The verdict of death is thrown out, and instead a promise of life is given.  As the text says, “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  You are not a criminal in God’s eyes, but a citizen of heaven receiving grace and richness. 

Dear friends in Christ, you are no longer a dead man walking.  You are alive in Christ.  Sanctified by his blood.  You are saved by Grace, and now receive all he has to offer.  Amen.
  

Lenten Midweek 3

This years Lenten Midweek Sermons are adapted from sermons prepared by Pastor Brent Kuhlman, of Murdoch, NE. We are working our way through the Ten Commandments.

Sixth Commandment:  You Shall Not Commit Adultery What does this mean?  We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.  

Joseph.  Coat of many colors Joseph.  Favored by his father Jacob.  Who had dreams about the future with his brothers bowing down to him Joseph.  Who, without regard for the consequences, naively shared the dreams’ content with his family Joseph.  Envied and despised by his brothers Joseph.  Hated him so much they wanted to kill him Joseph.  Instead, they serendipitously sell him to Ishmaelite traders.  Eventually, insufferable Joseph ends up in Egypt sold into slavery.  Slavery!  Bought by captain of the guard Potiphar.  Can you imagine?  The heartache?  The pain?  The despair?  Forcibly betrayed!  Devastatingly separated from father Jacob and from the God of his fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!

And yet through all that happened to Joseph the words repeat:  “The LORD was with Joseph.”  Not just in Canaan.  The LORD crosses the border!  Joseph is not alone.  The LORD is with him even in this foreign land of pagans and idol worshipers!  Even in his darkest hours.    

The LORD’s gracious presence garners results.  “The LORD gave him [Joseph] success in everything he did.”  Joseph’s master notices this.  Consequently, Potiphar gives Joseph control of his entire estate!  “Joseph you’re in charge of everything!  It’s all in your hands!  I trust you!  You’re like a son to me!”   Potiphar has nothing to worry about with Joseph in charge.

Then Moses adds quite a line in this history.  One that might surprise you.  One that you might have missed.  “Now Joseph was well built and handsome.”  In other words, he was an ancient Brad Pitt. And the hottie Joseph hasn’t escaped Potiphar’s wife’s eyes!  She’s taken notice.  Pronto!  She’s scoped him out! 

But hear it again, Joseph hasn’t escaped Potiphar’s wife’s eyes.  Joseph will soon learn the meaning of the phrase:  Real Housewives of the Egyptian Nile!  She’s a cougar on the prowl!  In America Mrs. Potiphar could have her own prime time reality TV show on TV Land!  Do a couple of one-night stand cameos on How I Met Your Mother and Three and A Half Men!  Get a gig on Dancing with the Stars!  Go on the interview circuit with Matt Lauer, Bill O’Reilly, and Barbara Walters!  Make millions writing steamy tell-all books!  And then receive a number of one-on-one party invitations from Ashton Kutcher and Charlie Scheen!  Why?  Because she loves to sleep around!  Especially with hot, Brad Pitt or Matthew McConaughey types! 

“And after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, ‘Come to bed with me!’”

“Come to bed with me.  I’ll show you a good time!”  The more things change the more they stay the same.  Did I mention that Mrs. Potiphar’s married?  Oh, yes, I did, didn’t I? She is wife to Potiphar! 

Fear, love, and trust in God above all things?  Not even on her radar screen!  Remain faithful to her husband?  Totally irrelevant!  Leading a sexually pure and decent life?  Downright laughable!  Honor and love only her husband?  How incredibly Victorian!  So prudish!  So 1950s-ish!  That’s so Leave It To Beaver!  Even in ancient Egypt! 

The woman has needs.  And she wants to fulfill them.  Not with her husband!  But with the new young hunk, Joseph! 

Joseph could pull a one-night stand or an extended relationship.  And who would even care?  Everyone does it!  Everyone hooks up!  What one does in the privacy of one’s own bedroom is nobody else’s business anyway!  It would be his and Mrs. Potiphar’s secret!  So what if Potiphar finds out?  He’ll get over it! 

So she applies her sultry Egyptian Mary Kay makeup. Straps on her crocodile high heels.  Slips into her sexiest see through Nile Cotton nightgowns.  Saddles right up to Joseph in her most seductive Walk Like An Egyptian moves. Puts on her bedroom eyes.  Twirls her fingers through his curly hair.  Blows into his ear and whispers: “Come to bed with me.”  What an enticing temptation!  What a thrill!  What an amazingly opportunity for a young male slave! 

And what does well built and handsome slave boy Joseph do?  Are you ready for this?  You won’t believe it!  The text says:  “BUT HE REFUSED!”   REFUSED HER I TELL YOU!  No adultery for Joseph!  Ever!  He will not adulterate holy marriage in any way!  “Here’s the deal Mrs. Potiphar!  I’ve got a secret for you!  With me in charge,” he says, “my master does not have to worry about a thing.  He trusts me.  I suppose I could do anything I wanted.  I suppose I could have you.  But I won’t.  You’re a married woman!  I will not commit adultery with you!” 

Cougars usually don’t take No for an answer.  Mrs. Potiphar tries to wear Joseph down.  Men are weak!  They’re all matrixed a certain way.  There’s always one thing on their mind.  So day after day she offers herself to him!

And day after day Joseph refused.  He even looked for ways to avoid her.  After all, to commit adultery – to have sexual relations with a woman you’re not married to – is a “wicked thing and [a] sin against God.”

Joseph has learned from God’s Word that a sexual relationship is a gift from God.  However, he also knew and believed that sexual activities in the bedroom are to be used properly – in the way that God intends it. 

Now I hope you’re not rolling your eyes and turning the preacher off right now.  Why?  Well, because Joseph offers you and I a wonderful God-pleasing example to follow.  To fear, love and trust in God even in our sexuality.  A man and a woman are supposed to have a sexual relationship.  That’s God’s intent.  A one-flesh union.  To be fruitful and multiply.  To even enjoy it!  But only after they are married. 

Marriage first.  Then the honeymoon!  The way it was from the beginning.  In Genesis when God brought Eve to Adam and married them.  Adam and Eve were both naked together and they were not ashamed.  Why?  Because they were married!  Because they were husband and wife! 

Here we all have loads to repent of!  And it’s time we had a serious talk.   

But I fear that some of us, including myself, do not want to talk.  Don’t want to hear God’s Word on this matter.  We would rather ignore the Sixth Commandment and God’s will for our life on this matter.  We would rather sin against God and continue live wicked lives on purpose!  After all, everyone else does it.  And it’s legal!  I’m afraid we talk like this:  “Joseph did what he did.  That was his choice.  That’s fine for him!  But don’t expect me to be like Joseph!  It’s my life and no one can tell me how to live it.”     

But God has!  And it is clear.  The Sixth Commandment.  Addressed specifically to each one of us:  “YOU shall not commit adultery.” 

Now you can shift the blame or spin it this way:  “Pastor mind your own business.”  Or “Mom and Dad don’t approve but they’ve gotten used to it.”  Or, “I’ve been married before!  It was such a disaster – so painful -- that I promised myself that I’d never marry again!”  But the facts are the facts.  Sin against God is sin against God. Instead of holy living, I fear that we entrench ourselves in the most wicked of all living.   

To disregard God’s Word here on this is very dangerous.  Eternal life or death dangerous!  When any sin is held outside of forgiveness, then there isn’t any forgiveness for any other sins.  Forgiveness comes entire or not at all!  No fractions!  Would you purposely hold on to your sin?  Would you dare to take back your sin from Jesus and say:  “I’ll keep them thank you!  I’ll deal with them!”  If that’s the way you want it, then sadly, you will!  Impenitence will end hellaciously! 

So tonight it is time to repent.  Time to hear God’s Word and to confess our sin that adulterates marriage in any way.  Time to repent of how we have failed in whatever way to lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do.  

Why?  Because Jesus has come for sinners.  All sinners.  He was always going after Sixth Commandment sinners.  In order to … forgive them! In order to purify and cleanse Sixth Commandment sinners with His holy word of absolution! 

Jesus is the friend of sinners!  He does not avoid you.  He wants to be seen with you as His forgiven brother or sister.  He willing and completely obeys the Sixth Commandment for the entire world – for you – and every sinner!  His perfect obedience annuls our disobedience.  Jesus flawlessly does what God expects in the Sixth Commandment.  And He does it for you!  What He did counts for you! 

At the same time, Jesus does not shrink from taking all your sin and dying for it on the cross! He eagerly and categorically announces:  “I’ve got your sin!  It’s mine.  I died with it all soaked up in My body!  I buried it in the black hole of my tomb!  I forgive you!  Entirely and completely!”

The Lord’s forgiveness for all your sin is the forgiveness that counts.  So that you can begin to fear, love and trust in Him above all things.  So that you begin to fear and love in Him in order to lead a sexually pure and decent life in what you say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other. 

Faith in Jesus the Sin-Bearer, the Sin-Forgiver.  Love for those in your life. 

In the name of Jesus.       

Basement Progress at Belford

The work being done at St. John's Belford continues.  We have seen progress with the addition here and here, and now I wanted to show you how the basement is coming along as well.  Yesterday the first part of the new cabinets and countertops were installed.  And a crew has also been hard at work finishing the ceiling  and lights.  The kitchen will be ready for our Easter Sunrise breakfast and its inaugural use! 

Please enjoy this update, and mark your calendars for the dedication April 22, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.   

Below we have a panoramic view of the basement.  (not a great panorama, but gives you an idea.) click for a larger view.

Lent 3 - G - 2012 - The Temple of Bloody Sacrifice

The Third Sunday of Lent
March 11, 2012 - Pastor Adam Moline

Exodus 20:1-17           1 Corinthians 1:18-31             John 2:13-25

This weeks sermon written was extremely different than sermon preached - just was in the preaching mood I guess, but here is the written sermon:

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Our text today comes from the Gospel lesson just read, especially these words, ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  Thus far our text. 

Dear friends in Christ.  The Jewish temple was the place forgiveness of sins happened, because that is the place where God dwelt.  There, animals were slaughtered.  There, blood was spilled – gallons of it.  There the priests daily offered countless sacrifices, burning them on a giant altar.  It was a huge 34 acre complex, covered with gold and jewels and a vast market place.  In that market place, animals that were to be sacrificed were bought and sold. 

It is there, that you bought and paid for your forgiveness of sins.  You bought the sacrifice necessary for your guilt before God.  You paid for the coins to give the priest for the temple tax.  It is there, you used your own hard earned money, to get forgiveness from God – all of it through the blood of countless animals killed every day. 

The forgiveness of sins was not cheap in the Jerusalem temple.  And what made it even worse was the way you got it.  For through the hundreds of years that Jewish people went to the temple to get forgiveness of sins, inflation ruled supreme.  The temple had its own currency, its own coins you had to buy.  It was almost like Chucky Cheese, you went to the temple, and used the real money to buy the temple coins, or tokens which you used to buy the other sacrifices.  And as if buying forgiveness wasn’t bad enough the cost rose and rose and rose, for the priests in the temple were taking advantage of the people. 

The dwelling place of God had become a den of robbers.  The holiest place in Israel was no longer a place of forgiveness, but a house of trade to barter for forgiveness.  How very like us.  For we too try to bargain with God to get the things we want in the way we want.  “God if you will heal my uncle, I swear I will come to church more often.  Lord, I am going to sin just this one time, you’ll forgive me anyways, right?  I mean, I do believe in you, so just let me sneak by this time – it will only happen once I swear!”

We ourselves become the thieves and robbers.  We ourselves steal from God in this way, and in so doing lose sight of the blood that must be slain for our forgiveness – the true cost, the true price. 

In our text, Jesus walks right into the midst of this situation, and gets righteously angry.  “How dare you make my house a place of trade?  How dare you spend so much time and effort worrying about the price that you must pay for forgiveness?  How dare you defame the place where God chooses to dwell?”  So Jesus makes a whip, and runs through the temple whipping and driving out sin from the Jewish temple. 

For Jesus knows the truth, as we have mentioned, that blood must be shed.  For in blood is the life of a creature.  And since we sinners deserve death, lifeblood must be poured out on our behalf.  And it must be done before God to count for our guilt, for our bargaining, for our downright shamefulness. 

For that is why Jesus came.  In our text today, there are two temples.  The Jewish temple, the majestic building built by mere man for God to live, and the Jesus of Nazereth, where God chose to dwell.  Jesus would be the temple where the ultimate sacrifice would occur.  He would be the temple where all sin would be forgiven now and forever – all yours, all mine, the entire worlds.  It is there that not you at all, but God would purchase your forgiveness. 

Jesus tells the Jews in the temple as much in our text.  “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”  No, not the buildings built by man, not the place in Jerusalem.  But the created human flesh where the uncreated God dwells.  For as Jesus drove sin out of the temple building in Jerusalem with whips in our text, so too would Jesus drive the sin out of the world as whips struck his own flesh.  In the temple of his own flesh, Jesus would spill the blood necessary for your forgiveness.  The very temple of God, the place where the second person of the Trinity dwelt among his own people, would be destroyed.

It’s on the cross that this all happens.  This season of Lent that is where we look, to a cross, where all our guilt, all our shame, all our lust and hate and angriness is covered with blood from a sacrifice.  The life of Christ pours out from his hands and side for you so that no longer do you need to bicker and steal, but instead that you might receive freely from God and share with those who are around you. 

You are washed in the blood of Christ. You are covered with his righteousness.  You belong to him, as you freely receive the gifts from Christ – baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and his holy word. 

The cross also means a promise for you.  For as the temple of Jesus’s body was destroyed, so too did it raise again.  On the third day following the crucifixion, the tomb of Christ was empty.  And this is the promise.  Covered in Christ’s blood through baptism we have already died to our sin, and we are raised into eternity with him, raised into the place where there no longer will need to be atonement – where there will be no sin, not hurt, not pain.  Raised to be with God – with Jesus forever and ever. 

Amen.

Lenten Midweek 2

Wednesday of Lent 2

7 March 2012

This years Lenten Midweek sermons are adapted from Rev. Brent Kuhlman's sermons on the 10 Commandments

Seventh Commandment:  You Shall Not Steal – what does this mean? We should fear and love god so that we do not take our neighbors money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.

Bible Narrative: 

1 Kings 21:1-16

MF Global!  Bankrupt!  $1.2 billion of investments just goes missing!  Everyone knows it’s been stolen!  But John Corzine, the head of it all, would only say before a Senate hearing on the matter: "I simply do not know where the money is, or why the accounts have not been reconciled to date."  I.E. that’s legalese for:  “Don’t you know who I am?  I’m the great John Corzine!  Former United States senator and New Jersey governor!  I can do whatever I want.  I am above the law!  Now let’s get this sham over with so that I can carry on with my billions and steal more billions from someone else!”

Sinners do not fear and love God.  And so they brazenly rob their neighbor’s money and possessions.  And they’ll do it in any dishonest way that they can!  Even if it means that they have to rig the legal system by making robbery permissible – through legislation.  Or by greasing judges’ palms or buying off lawmakers!  Whatever it takes!

Help folks improve and protect their possessions and income?   Look out for your neighbor?  Do what is best for him?  For her? You’ve got to be kidding!  Yeah right! John Corzine.  $1.2 billion! Gone-di!  Pulls a Bernie Madoff and gets away with it!

Oh, and by the way, there was another incident!  Did you hear about it?  It didn’t get any headlines on CNN or Fox News.  You didn’t read about it in the Hankinson News. But it is recorded in 1 Kings!  Yes, that’s right, it’s in the Bible!  And it involves another bigwig politician!  This time it implicates the king of the northern kingdom – Samaria – his majesty - Ahab! 

And what a piece of work Ahab is! “Did evil in the eyes of the LORD” 24-7-365!  Out-eviled every previous Samarian king before him!  Didn’t fear, love, or trust in God above all things!  Didn’t fear, love or trust in God at all!  For starters, he married a non-Israelite, Phoenecian unbeliever, and fanatic worshiper of idols – Jezebel!  That was strictly forbidden by the LORD! 

So Jezebel’s beloved national idol, Melkart, the Phoenician Baal, became the officially endorsed god and Baalism became the protected religion of the land of his majesty king Ahab!  Syncretism – the mixing together of different religions like a salad and calling it Food Network good -- was the rage!  Still is!   “We’re all going to the same place Reverend!  We all believe in the same God!  Doesn’t really matter what religion you choose!  Just choose!  Just be sincere!  Now that’s authentic!”  

That sure floated Ahab’s boat!  And so all things religious were tolerated – except the worship of the one true God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses who brought the Israelites out of Egypt and redeemed them!  That God?  Yahweh?   The great I AM? Intolerable!  Watch out for the all-things-tolerant -crowd!  They are the most intolerant, the most tyrannical people you’ll ever meet!

But his majesty isn’t done yet!  He also makes an Asherah pole!  Asherah, of course, was the female consort of Baal, the female queen idol.  Can’t just have male gods!  Got to go the whole nine yards!  When it came to idolatry, his highness Ahab made the northern kingdom eat the whole enchilada of pagan delicacies! 

And then his majesty made political alliances that the LORD strictly had forbidden![1]  Apostasy – idolatry – spiritual adultery – the cause of Israel’s fall and her exile a century later reached a new high during Ahab’s reign!   

But now his majesty has his eye on a vineyard!  A vineyard he doesn’t own. It belongs to citizen and fellow countryman Naboth, his next-door neighbor.  Therefore it’s a vineyard that not even the king can have![2] 

But Ahab’s into vegetables.  Vegetable gardening.  And we all know the benefit of veggies!  Got to watch your cholesterol!  Need more fiber.  Less red meat.  Can’t let our children become obese!  Got to set an example for the children of Samaria!  The first family needs more land for royal veggies!  It’s all the rage!  Let’s move!

“So I’ll make Naboth an offer he can’t refuse!  Hey, Naboth! I’m on a veggie kick these days!  Give me your vineyard!  I want to use it to raise my carrots, peas, potatoes, spinach, and green beans.  I’ll pay you top dollar for it!  And I’ll even give you a better vineyard.  You have nothing to lose!  So much to gain!” 

Except the land of his forefathers.  So even though the offer was extremely sweet and outrageously generous, Naboth refuses his majesty!    “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 

King Ahab is chagrined.  Peeved.  Irked.  He goes home and pouts.  However, even as he sulks on his bed he won’t let a private citizen keep his ancestral vineyard.  He will deprive Naboth of his inalienable right to keep his land.  He will let wifey queen cohort in crime Jezebel steal it by the most unscrupulous of maneuvers! 

First she taunts him.  “Honey, is this how you act as king over Israel?  Do I have to do everything?  I guess so!  I’ll get the vineyard for you!”  Very quick witted!  In a matter of moments she puts a plan into place.  Foolproof!  Brilliant!

She puts out a royal proclamation from his majesty King Ahab.  With his own seal!  Declares a fast!  For an entire day!  Everyone has to go without food!  Gather all the people!  The nobles and elders too!  Court will be in session!  For a very serious matter has come to the king’s attention!  And everyone should know about it!  There are witnesses to this capital crime!  And the perpetrator must be punished! 

The charge?  Oh, yes, the charge!  Blasphemy and treason!  Citizen Naboth has cursed God!  And He has cursed his majesty Ahab! Got to get rid of the sinner Naboth!  Otherwise God’s judgment would be unleashed on the whole country. 

So let us all humble ourselves with our day of fasting!  And let us put notorious Naboth and his boys to death!  We’ll show God that we don’t tolerate such sinning here!  And God will be most pleased with us!  So gather all the rocks you can everyone -- the size of tennis balls, volleyballs, and basketballs outside the city gate!  It will be death!  Death by stoning! 

As soon as Jezebel received word that the grisly affair was over, she drew up the proper paperwork, contacted the appropriate attorneys and sent his majesty to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.  “Now be a good little boy Ahab!  Naboth’s dead.  And so are his heirs.[3]  The vineyard’s all yours!  It reverts back to you!  Aren’t I brilliant?  I sometime surprise myself with my genius!” 

And humanly speaking who would object?  After all, you can’t go around cursing God and the king!  That’s just not right.  So go ahead your majesty!  Confiscate the vineyard!  Naboth and his boys got what they deserved.

Except that the testimony was completely false.  The witnesses were liars.  Paid off.  Bribed.  Just so that Ahab could get what he wanted!

But this horrific crime did not go unpunished.  The LORD dealt with the king through Elijah the prophet.  Elijah had a Word from the Lord.  And it was this:  DOOM!  Doom of extinction on the royal husband and wife for the unparalleled wickedness!  Right as Ahab was taking possession of the stolen vineyard Pastor Elijah showed up with a sermon in his mouth.  And the sermon was this:  “This is what the LORD says:  ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ … ‘In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood – yes yours!’”[4]    

This story serves as an example and warning to all of us!  God is serious when he forbids stealing!  From petty to grand!  Any kind of stealing displeases the Lord.  Seriously!  This is no joke! 

What have you stolen?  You worked 30 hours but got paid for 40!  The cashier mistakenly gave you $10.00 in change when you only should have received $5.00.  And you kept the extra $5.00!  You promised to do a job using topnotch materials.  But instead you installed shoddy, worthless stuff.  You failed to report your proper income to the IRS. 

And then the biggest theft of all!  And the most common!  You even try to steal divinity for yourself!  Yes, that’s right.  Divinity doesn’t belong to you!  Yet you want it for yourself.  As if you own it!   You act like you’re God Almighty Himself!  “I shall be as God” is your mantra.  Your M O!  Dethrone the one true God and replace Him with yourself!  Even if that means taking the God-man in the flesh Jesus and killing Him!  To take what we want as our own -- deity! 

Oh, the Idolatry!  You, me, Ahab, Jezebel – the sin is equally shared by all of us!  We’re all guilty as sin!     

And it’s all sin that needs to be repented of!  Before it’s too late. Hellaciuosly too late!

So it’s time to repent and believe.  To turn away from your sin!  Die to it!  And turn to Jesus “who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but MADE HIMSELF NOTHING, TAKING ON THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS.  And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!”[5]

Death on the cross as THE SIN-BEARER!  The bearer of your sin!  Every last bit of it!  

Dead-on-the-Cross Jesus is the only sacrifice that turns away God’s wrath from you as a sinner!  On that Good Friday He, and He alone, endured God’s eternal wrath that you deserved because of your sin.  “He who knew no sin was made to be sin” – FOR YOU!  On the cross Jesus took and absorbed all your sin in His Body!  He endured all its punishment:  death and damnation!  His blood, His divine blood, spilled and shed on the cross purifies you from all sin!

Forgiven and redeemed by His death, Jesus gives you back your humanity!  He has good use for you.  You are now His instruments in this world for good.  The good of your neighbor.  Helping folks to improve and protect their possessions and income! 

---

     [1]1 Kings 20:31-34.

     [2]Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 10:25; Leviticus 25:23-28; Number 26:7ff.

     [3]2 Kings 9:26

     [4]1 Kings 21:19.

     [5]Philippians 2:6-8.