Roger's Postings

Friday, July 30, 2010

Ecclesiastes 2:17-26. Chasing the wind - without God 1/8/10

(Eccl 1:1) The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: {2} "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless."
{12} I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. {13} I devoted myself to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven. What a heavy burden God has laid on men! {14} I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
(Eccl 2:18-23) I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. {19} And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless. {20} So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labour under the sun. {21} For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune. {22} What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labours under the sun? {23} All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.
Here in this reading we have a great spot of wisdom for us to ponder over this morning. In fact, I would suggest that you go home and read the whole book of Ecclesiastes. It is wisdom that is very relevant to life in our world today; even though it was written way back in Old Testament times.

It is interesting to note that the wisdom spoken of here flies in the face of a good deal of the thinking that is promoted today. Yet history has proved it right time and time again, but still many refuse to listen and learn: They would prefer to think that they know better; they are cleverer than that, because we are now living in a new and modern age. Yet on the other hand this philosophy that we are encouraged to follow in our world today, is no different than that which has also been tried over and over again through the last hundreds and thousands of years, and has been found wanting. Here it is referred to as it really is, useless - it is chasing the wind.

Chasing the wind - an interesting concept isn't it. Have you ever chased and caught the wind? Do you really know what it is that you are chasing, if you are chasing the wind, and do you really think that you can catch hold of it?

Yet like the writer here, how often don't we get caught up in doing just this kind of thing in our lives. Chasing after something that we are told is so good and important; but can't quite get a handle on it. We are assured that it is what will really ‘make’ life for us; and that when you have ‘made it’ then everything will be well. These would be things like, wealth, happiness, security or even a truly upright and alive Christian life. No matter how good and how hard we might try; no matter how much we have; even if we get to the top of the ladder, will still be left feeling and knowing that we really haven’t achieved anything much at all. There is still left that thinking that there is still something more. It all still seems a bit useless in the end - a chasing the wind.

Now I would venture to say that there are many, many people today who feel this way about life: struggling to find any real point to it - wondering what it is all about; and coming to the conclusion that it is all a bit futile. The high suicide rate in our country is a very good indication that things are not right; but there are many other indicators as well. Yet we don’t want to face the real issue. We don’t want to get to the heart of the matter.

But to help us understand a little better what is happening here, let us narrow our thinking down a little, to just one aspect of life. In this reading we have the focus put on working for, earning and accumulating wealth. This is a good aspect to centre our attention on because for many people today this is what life is all about – this seems to be their ultimate philosophy for life. So they spend all their time working, thinking, worrying and hassling over earning a dollar and accumulating assets and wealth. This is what they are told to and encouraged to do over and over and over again; and so this aspect then is just about all there is to life for so many people today.


So what do we find? We go to school and send our children to school so that they can get a good education, so that they can get a good job; so that they can earn lots of money; so that they can have a luxurious home, a couple of cars, a boat and many other assets. All the while, so that they can build up their security and have a nice large retirement nest-egg, so that they can live to their hearts pleasure. And they are doing this because they are told that this is what life is all about.

Now here this morning we are told that all this is a chasing after the wind. If that is all there is to life, it is useless – it is a complete waste of time. That is the wisdom of the writer of Ecclesiastes. It is the wisdom of the Scriptures. It is the wisdom of God Almighty himself. It is the wisdom of history. And it is the understanding of any truly wise person today.

Why? Well listen to what we are told here. We work and worry to earn and accumulate; and for most of us, that is what we do throughout most of our life. And for many that involves heartache, and even sleepless nights; it involves struggle and loss of a job, or being taken down by a fraudster. And so at the end of it all we still have very little, and in the end we die broken people. Even if we manage to get through unscathed; and having built our bigger barns and are finally in a position where we are comfortable - we die, and leave all that we have worked for, to someone else. And the successor to it all may be wise in their use of it, but most will not: they have not worked for it and so quickly squander it. So what do we find? We have worked all our life – worried, hassled and struggled, only to leave it all to someone else. It is useless – it is a chasing the wind.

The book of Ecclesiastes also looks at just about every other situation in life, and draws the same conclusion – it is all chasing the wind. When we only look at our efforts, aspirations and achievements in every aspect of life; even the religious; it is useless – it is a chasing the wind. Even our achievements –great as they might be - are really nothing in the big scheme of things. And what do we have left - on our own, nothing.

Now having come to that conclusion, we are left with only one other option. That is, that it is God and God alone who makes anything and everything worthwhile. It is he who changes the whole perspective on life; and it is he who gives true wisdom, knowledge and happiness.

And when we look to the Lord, we find the wisdom that truly helps make sense of life and put everything in its right perspective. Living in his wisdom then our work, leisure, religion and everything else has its place and its meaning and purpose. With that, suddenly, there is a peace, security and understanding to life that is beyond comprehension; because God is in control, not me - not others, not the merry-go-round of life, out of control.

Also with God in the centre of everything, we find knowledge that is truly worthwhile and helpful. Knowledge that puts all human education in its proper perspective and helps us to use it in a way that is good, useful and helpful. Because it is God's knowledge, it is to be used in the way he wants, and that in turn brings real happiness - lasting happiness. And again, it is only to be had when we look to the Lord and trust in him and what he has done for us.

Then we will have the joy of knowing that life is all under control, and that it will all work out for the best in the midst of and despite our human weakness, failures and tragedies. Our Lord alone turns life around and gives it meaning and purpose. It is in him, and him alone, that everything else finds its place and is worthwhile and good. Everything else on its own, is useless - it is a chasing the wind.

That is the wisdom that we need to hear and heed today. And that more than anything else is what our country needs at this time also. So instead of looking to ourselves and our human philosophy and thinking, and what we can achieve, are doing and might be able to do, here again we are encouraged to look to our Lord: to look to him as the centre of life; and there only will we find meaning, fulfilment and security. So trust him - trust God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Friday, July 23, 2010

Colossians 2:6-15. New life in a world of Death 25/7/10

(6) So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, {7} rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. {8} See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. {9} For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, {10} and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. {11} In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, {12} having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. {13} When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, {14} having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. {15} And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Today we a reminded that we are to live the new life that we have in Christ. We read; So, then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. So, here we are reminded that we have been made alive in Christ, and so are now to live in light of this new life that is ours in Christ.

But the challenge for us is that we are to do so in the face of death: in a world of death. We are living in a world that is painfully sick and yet doesn’t want to know it. Most of the time we are like the terminally ill patient, who is experiencing that last, ‘what seems to be a revival,’ before the end. At that time he thinks he is on ‘the improve’, and then he will be well again. That is the way it is for much of our world today. She’ll be right mate! We’ve got it all under control. Just around the corner is our pot of gold.

So, much of our world and in many cases the church also, is caught up in this hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. And how so is that not the case, certainly here in this country of ours. Our science and modern technology, not to mention the almighty dollar, has determined how everything should be run and what is right and good, even in the church. As a result, many no longer believe in the ‘seven day creation’, because our scientists have told us otherwise. Our present human philosophy has told us that we are all equal and that we must be tolerant of all, and so now it is OK to have homosexual pastors and the idea that all religions are heading toward the same God. Our church growth experts tell us that if we do this, that and the other, we will grow, because that is what happens out in the business world. And I could go on.

But the reality is that we and our world are sick and dying. As we follow the hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ, we will face the reality of death. Sure, we might see what we think are signs of life and hope; but the downward spiral is inevitable. For all the seeming advances that have been foisted on us, out there in life in general, and in the church, we know deep down that all is far from well, and those heralded new saviours are ultimately of no help.

However, the Good News here is that in the midst of this rollercoaster of death, there is new life for those who are in Christ. Sure, we will still suffer much in this sin-sick world, and we will still face a physical death, but now we, who are connected to Christ, have a sure and certain hope that changes our perception and values as to what life is all about.

How, can this be so? Surely as we look around us, most Christians do not seem to be any better off than anyone else? In fact, a lot of them don’t even appear to be any better in their moral lives either.

Yet, here we are reminded that all those who are connected to Christ, have all the fullness of the Deity living. Think about that; in you, each one of you, dwells not only all the perfection and goodness of God, but the very God himself. In you dwells all the power of Christ himself. You have life in all of its greatness and eternity now within you.

How is this so, you say? We read; In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Yes, in your baptism you were connected to Christ’s death and resurrection. There at the baptismal font you died. All that is bad, rotten, rebellious and sinful died a thousand deaths. Christ took the sting out of it all for you and I. Taking the punishment we deserve on himself, he in turn forgives us and gives us his own life, goodness, and all of the fullness of God Almighty himself. There, God made you alive in connection with Christ. There God has given you everything that is good and perfect.

Now to this I can hear many say; well if that is the case, where is it? Where are these good and perfect Christians who have got it all together, and who are healthy wealthy and happy? Why is it that Christians still suffer and die? Here again, we must firstly remember, that it is because of our sin; our rebellion against God and what he has to say to us, that we have to and will continue to live with troubles and death, as long as we live in this world.

Here too, we need to look to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as lived in this world of ours. Even though he was God, he still had to live in this sinful, dying world. He still lived in relative poverty. He certainly suffered much. He too died; and a horrible death at that. Yet he was God, and had all the fullness of the Deity living in him. Through this suffering and death, he brings about the greatest good that we could ever imagine. He went through it all for you and I; so that he might reach us and save us, and so that this world of death is not the end for us.

That being the case, now surely our day to day life can be alive and positive. Even though we live in a sick and dying world, we can now go forward in confidence, knowing that because we are in Christ all the fullness of God is in and with us. We can now seek to live this new life, as God would have us. Like Christ, we now know that God is at work through our seeming weakness, helping others to know of the salvation that is theirs in Christ. He works in and through our less than perfect world to bring the focus back onto Christ and what he has done for us through his death and resurrection.

And yes, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Now how easy is that: just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord! At the baptismal font he took a hold of you, and there he gave you everything: There he did all that was necessary for you to be rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. There then also is your ability to live and be that which you are in Christ so that you can have an impact on others despite your weakness and failures. God himself makes you alive and is at work in and through you, helping others. So, even though we are weak and helpless and may seem as if we have very little going for us; all that is needed is to stay rooted and built up in him and from there God will be at work in and through you with all of his fullness.

All we now need to do is come regularly to where he made us alive; to his Word and Sacraments week after week, and he will keep filling us with his fullness. From there he will send us out into our daily lives as his people to point others to Jesus Christ, so that that too may live.

So go from here today with the sure confidence and hope that you are alive with all of the goodness and greatness of God Almighty himself, even though you are from a worldly point of view, sick and dying and living in a sick and dying world. Know that God is in you and works through you despite what may look otherwise. So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
To him alone be all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Luke 10:38-42. Not too busy to listen to Jesus!! 18/7/10

(38) As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. {39} She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. {40} But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" {41} "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, {42} but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Busy, busy, busy – life is so busy today! Many of us I am sure have this kind of feeling about our lives; and there would even be times when we feel as though, ‘if only we could stop the train and get off.’

Now in most communities these days there is the unwritten demand that we be involved in so much of what is going on. There is the need for us to do this, if we want many of the things we have in our community and if they are to function well. It is all a necessity. But at times, I am sure we wonder, at what price. Our lives have become so busy and full, and we often are looking for ways that we can cut back. But then many of these organisations suffer when we do. So what are we to do? What are the right things for us to be involved in and what are not? Do we have our priorities in the right order?

Now the story goes of one man who was in just such a position. He was involved in most things that were going on in his community. As well, he ran his own business and had his family commitments; not to mention his church affiliation. Now he got to the point where he too was in a position where he was seemingly like a cat chasing his own tail; even though for a long time he did not fully realize it. But the people on the committees and the groups he was involved in, seemed far less friendly and cooperative. Little things at work seemed to be constantly going wrong. The wife and family were constantly being difficult. Even his church was no longer the same. Nothing was going quite right, and everything was becoming a chore; but he had to keep on going; he had to keep up the image.

Finally, at the insistence of his nagging wife and a good friend he came to the conclusion that he was just involved in too much and it was all getting to him. So he decided to cut back, and at least give a bit more time to his family and business.

So to give more time to the family, he decided to go places and do things; which mostly occurred on weekends and in particular on Sundays. After all, there was no real problem in cutting back there, as ‘it is only a Sunday here and there’ and he still believed anyway. Of course, the same thing happened with his work. It was easier to cut back on his church and community work than his sporting and social involvements; and he could pick up on those things later on again anyway.

So with relative ease he found ways to cut back on his busy life. This wasn’t too bad after all. But the problem was that instead of things getting better, they seemed to be getting worse and worse. He still seemed to be just as busy and still getting nowhere fast. People where just as unfriendly and uncooperative. At work, business was going backwards: And the family was becoming even more disconnected.

Now it was not that those things had necessarily got any worse. It was just that his attitude, instead of improving the situation, made things worse. He had become more selfish and self-centred. His worship attendance had almost dropped right off altogether; and his faith became a matter of no great importance; even though he would deny this when questioned. So more and more his work, sport and family involvement became an area where he struggled to maintain his ego; and he constantly faced feelings of failure, loneliness and fear.

In fact, sadly, he went on to lose everything he had: business, family fiends and possessions; even his own life. Sadly, it all related back to his failure to get his priorities right way back in the early stages. By ignoring and letting go of the one important aspect to his life, he ended up losing everything.

Now this illustrates very well the point coming out of our reading today. Martha as well intentioned as she was, allowed herself to be distracted by her busyness. So here, Jesus has to remind her that only one thing is truly needful in life. That is to listen to Jesus, and to know of the salvation that is available in him. To ignore that is to invite disaster.

So the message here is about getting our priorities right. Now by nature or choice we are either active people or people who like to sit and reflect on things. One Christian notices things that need to be done around the place: the lawns and gardens that need tending, or the cleanliness of the place, or the people that need visiting or helped. Another Christian however likes to read and study, go to seminars and discuss the issues at hand.

Here we need to remember that a Christian needs to do both; to read, listen and ponder on the Word of God; as well as act out the Christian life. Those who only want to be involved in the thought aspect of Christianity and ignore the needs of people, should listen carefully to the parable of the good Samaritan that we had last week. While those who are so busy with the chores of life and do not constantly rely on our Lord and what he has to say, need to ponder here this story of Mary and Martha.

Both women in this case knew how special Jesus was. Both were overjoyed that he was staying at there place. Both were doing worthwhile things; Mary listening and Martha being hospitable. The difference however, is that one has her priorities right, while the other doesn’t. Martha had allowed herself to become frustrated and annoyed in her busyness and desire to take care of the everyday aspect of their lives and in order to put on a ‘good spread’ for Jesus. In fact, she even gets cross with Jesus because he is allowing Mary to just sit around and listen instead of doing what she should be doing. So Jesus has to have a little, gentle talk with Martha. "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.

Being active, even active Christians, should not take the place of spending time with Jesus, and listening and thinking on the Word of God. Yet it is just here that we so often start getting off on the wrong track. We allow the pressures and demands of our doing things, to take precedence. We place greater emphasis on what we do and our activity than on Jesus and being with him and listening and receiving from him.

As a result, it is so easy to become just busy people doing things in order to satisfy ourselves rather than the Lord being the centre of everything. In the process we then become either, proud and critical, or burdened, stressed and down-heartened.

In our busyness, we need to remember and not let slip that which is of ultimate importance. That is to sit and listen with Mary at the feet of Jesus so that we constantly hear about and learn to understand the extent of God’s love and forgiveness that he has extended to us, and the eternal life in heaven with himself that is now ours. The more we hear and meditate on that message the better we and our society will be; and the more the love and forgiveness of God will then be a major factor in life, rather than selfish, greed, loneliness and pain.

Most importantly, as we gather together week by week at Jesus’ feet, we will receive that which he wants us to have, so that we then can go forward with confidence in our daily lives. There we will then be able to discern what is good and beneficial for us to be involved in and what is not; and we will be enabled to not become burdened by our activities. Because we know that we are loved, forgiven and assured of eternal life, we can then go forward and do what is best for others rather than simply what we want. Having chosen the one thing needful in life there is no need to worry and become perturbed about the many other things of life. Now we can get on with life, yes first of all sitting at Jesus feet, but then doing what is necessary as we live out our life day by day. We then can put our faith into action with deeds of love and service.

So go from here, free from the hassles and stresses of your busy lives, having your priorities now set firmly in place on that one thing needful. Yes determined not to walk in the way of so many others, that is leading them further and further into difficulty. But with eyes set firstly and firmly on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; allowing him to give hope, meaning and purpose to everything else, so that you can be free in your busyness. You too, choose what is better and it will not be taken away from you. God’s blessings be with you all in this regard. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Luke 10:25-37. What must I do to receive eternal life?? 4/7/10

(25) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" {26} "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" {27} He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'" {28} "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." {29} But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" {30} In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. {31} A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. {32} So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. {33} But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. {34} He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. {35} The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' {36} "Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" {37} The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

What must I do to inherit eternal life? This is a question that is often asked; either openly or within. Really, what we are often probably looking for, is what is the minimum amount of religious activity that we have to do in order to get to heaven. How little do we have to do in order to be saved? Certainly that seems to be what the teacher of the law had in mind, and I suspect from many people today as well.

Now this is very dangerous thinking for us in the Lutheran Church, because of our very good understanding of ‘justification by grace through faith.’ We can very easily fall into the trap of sitting back and doing very little in so far as living out our Christian faith. God has done all that is necessary for us to be saved in and through Jesus Christ – we simply need to believe it and all is well. We are baptized in order for this faith to be ours. Through confirmation lessons we have got to know the basics. Then as longs as we keep up enough contact with the church so that we don’t lose that faith; that is about it to the Christian life.

So we as Lutherans say to the question, ‘What must I do to receive eternal life?’ Simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

The Lord here however says to this man, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.’ So here, God is telling us that there is nothing half-hearted about the Christian life. To receive eternal life Jesus calls for total commitment to God and neighbour.

Then through the parable of the Good Samaritan our Lord makes it quite clear that there is to be no narrowing this understanding down. In fact, he broadens it out in the widest possible terms. Here he leaves no possible loop-hole for us to think that we can get away without doing very much at all. He calls for love that is way beyond what is socially acceptable and what is normal.

Here Jesus doesn’t simply say, believe in God; Or to love God and leave it at that; because maybe we could have thoughts that we can handle that. But he says, Love the Lord YOUR God with ALL your heart, soul, mind and strength: in other words with every single aspect of our lives. No one hour, one day a week Christianity here. No, a little bit here and a little bit there.

No, his call is for us to, every moment of every day, look for opportunity to love God and neighbour. Continually thinking and pondering over the greatness and awesomeness of our Lord. Wanting to always listen to him and follow his ways. Living, acting and working for him and his glory. He is the centre of our life. Everything: everything we think, say and do, are to be all a loving response to our great and awesome God.

That loving response toward God also includes loving our neighbour. And according to this parable, that is everyone that we come into contact with: Not just the person next door and across the road; but our friends, workmates and social and sporting contacts; and even, or perhaps especially, our enemies and those we look down on. Yes, we are neighbour to all the people that God places before us in our thinking and daily life.

Here the call is to love them as we love ourselves. Now that is some call! To think, say and care for the next person as much us we do for ourselves. Particularly considering how self-centred and selfish we too often are. Now if we gave all the people we come into contact with the same thought and affection as we do to ourselves, and sought their absolute good, I am sure we would have a lot different attitude toward our community and the people we come into contact with.

Here Jesus places that call in front of us all, all the time. To live, work, think and act in this way each and every moment of our life. If we seek to receive eternal life, that is what we are called to do. And there is no way we can minimize that fact. Any attempt to short circuit this is to our peril. To love God and neighbour completely is what Jesus is asking of each and every one of us. Nothing less is acceptable.

It is no good us walking away from here now, and saying, ‘She’s right, I belong to the church and I believe in Jesus,’ and then acting as if none of this what we have just heard matters: Thinking that because we are baptized and confess Christ that is all that there is to it.

Every little failure to love God and neighbour fully puts us at odds with God and his will for us. That being the case it should cut our hearts to the bone that we have done so and desire to do so. We should be disgusted with ourselves for time after time failing to consider, far less live out, this call of Jesus. It is even more pitiful that we should so often negate this call of Christ to love completely, by saying that we can’t live up to that standard, so why even try; or that God loves us and accepts us as we are and so it doesn’t matter. Christ still calls us to love as he has loved. Any thing less is rebellion against God.

Now hopefully this has shattered every one of us here and driven us to our knees. It is only as we are brought to the full realization of our failure in this whole area that there is any hope for us. It only as we are brought to comprehend the full extent of not only our inability to live this way, but to even have the desire to, that Jesus Christ and his death on the cross makes any real sense and is of any help to us. It is only as we are brought to see that we are totally helpless and hopeless as a result of not being the people that God intends for us, and that there is no way that we can by our own strength do so; and that the result is to deserve to be sent to Hell for eternity, that we then can call out to the one hope that has been placed before us; Jesus Christ.

As God holds up the mirror of his expectations before us, then we can at last see that we have only one hope. Because of our poor efforts there is no way out for us; no hope of us being able to be acceptable to God. There it is that we are helped to see that Jesus steps in and takes our sin and rebellion against God on himself, and allows God to punish him instead of us. There on the cross he exchanges our sin for his righteousness and assures us of forgiveness, life and salvation.

Now all we can do is cling to Christ and the salvation that is ours in him. Now we see the importance of being baptized into Christ, and our need to daily cling to him. Now we know that we are loved and accepted, not because of who we are or what he have done, but because of Jesus and his death on the cross. Now he and what he has done for us is the most important thing in life for us.

With that knowledge and understanding that he has saved us and now dwells with us, we can go forward in life with confidence and hope. Now that eternal life with God has been extended to us, we can truly seek to "Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and with all our mind' ; and, 'Love our neighbour as ourself." As we cling to him as our Lord and Saviour, now we also can set out to do the very best we can in this area: This time with even more zeal than ever before, because now it is not done out of compulsion, but out of a deep desire to please him who has done so much for us. Now we can aim to love fully, not in order to gain salvation, but because this salvation has been given to us. Now, because this way of living is important to him, it is important to us.

Now, also knowing that we are truly loved and forgiven and that we are connected to Christ in our baptism, we know that Christ is with us, to give us the zeal, strength and courage to do so. Yes realizing that there have been and will be times along the way when we will fail to love this way, because of our sinful nature. But now this will drive us back to Christ for forgiveness and the desire and help to do so once again. Now all the while we will seek to love God and others as he has loved us.

Now, as we conclude, there is much for us to think about and ponder on. But also now, we can go from here with the joy, courage and help, to love God and neighbour fully. Because now we know that our failure to do so can only drive us to cling even more closely to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Now he is even more important to us as we live out our life every day. So again to him be all glory and honour now and always as we ‘go now and do this.’ AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Isaiah 66:10-14. The Importance of Church 4/7/04

(10) "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. {11} For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance." {12} For this is what the LORD says: "I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. {13} As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." {14} When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes.

Rejoice in the Lord and his Church, and be glad in it, all you who claim to be Christians. Rejoice greatly within the Lord's Church all you who are concerned with what is happening in the church and in the world. Find immense comfort, strength and joy from it as you live out your life here on this earth.

And why? Because it there in the Lord and his Church that we are and will continue to be fed, nurtured and given what we need in order to get through this life and into eternity. Here in this text we have the picture used of a baby suckling on its mother’s breast, to portray very well the true nature of the church and its importance to us.

But how often instead of being like a little tot, we are like rebellious teenagers: we think that we are grown up, and can get by on our own; that we can come and go as we please; that we are indestructible; that the church home is just there for our own convenience; and much more. Then we wonder why we are so unsettled, and why the peace of God seems to have deserted us. The thought of being babies; dependent on the Lord and his Church does not sit comfortable with us. We think we have grown up in our faith, and so do not need to regularly come to church and feed off of God's life-giving Word and Sacraments. We have turned ourselves into the centre of the situation; instead of God being the one who is all-important.

One wise Church father once said, ‘We can not have God as our Father if we do not want to have the Church as our mother.’ Now there is something in that for us to think about in this day and age. What he is saying, is that we cannot think we can be in a relationship with God and survive as a Christian if we do not seek the mothering aspect of the Church. And that mothering, homely aspect of the Church is something that is so important for the continued existence and wellbeing of each of us as Christians.

Now since this mothering, homely aspect of the church is so important, let us consider it a little more closely. Now mum and home is vital for our nutritional sustenance, and also for our sense of security and wellbeing. That is not just the case for a baby or child. However we know that a baby or young child soon squawks for mum when it is hungry and it is very much dependant on that nurture. So also, it will not survive without the shelter and care of the home. But throughout life, we adults also still look for and need our three feeds a day, a roof over our heads and a place to not only call home, but to be a home for us. In fact, in this area we are quite happy to over-eat and make gluttons of ourselves, and know the importance of a balanced diet in order to keep fit and healthy. Even as adults we make sure that we have a comfortable home and good and helpful support within, because that security and sense of belonging is so important to us.

Like-wise, our Lord provides regular opportunities for us to feed our spiritual lives and give us the shelter and security that we need. After-all there, we also, will not survive if we only come irregularly and live on a starvation diet. There also, we will not be healthy if we only live on junk food and nibble only a bit here and there. There also we will not have the security and care that we need if we are not there and involved regularly. But through regular contact with the Word and sacrament we will find the nourishment we need and the security and hope that we long for.

However, mum, home and the church are more than a place that we simply go for a feed. There also, we get the nurture, training and up-building we need for life. And that happens continually throughout our lives; often it happens without us even being aware of it; particularly in our younger years. But even when we are older, we learn from others around us informally, as well as through formal Bible study and training. Continually there is support, encouragement, advice and teaching in the home, family and church. Even when things are less than perfect, we can still hang in there and grow and mature in the midst of it all. It is only when we walk out that we fail to receive any benefits.

It is through the Church alone that we will find both formally and informally that we also receive the spiritual nurture, encouragement and training that we need. This comes through first and foremost regular Divine Service; as well as Sunday School, Christian School, Confirmation, Bible Studies, and through the encouragement, support and modelling of our fellow-believers. Even when this may be less than perfect, or sadly lacking, we still will grow and mature whilst we stay within the realm of God's family.

But also from mum, home and the Church we receive peace, comfort, and security as well. They are generally the one place we can go in the midst of the pressures of life to find these things. Because there we know that we are accepted and loved just as we are, even though we are less than perfect. There we are able to withdraw for a while from the pressures of life, and relax, put our feet up and receive the assurance that we are loved; that we are important and have something to offer. There we are able to recuperate and regain the desire to go out and once again confront daily life. There we know that we are safe. And there we find many other blessings as well.

So in just those few thoughts we can see some of the connections between a mother and baby, and our lives as Christians and the Church. It is here that we must surely wonder how many people survive as they are denying themselves of so much of the motherly, homely touch of the Church. So often, it is not that those aspects of the Churches life are not there, it is just that they seem to prefer not to avail themselves of those benefits. Too often, we think that we are OK, and so we live spiritually on a malnutrition diet, and close ourselves off from the help, security and peace that we need.

Sure, the church here on earth is less than perfect, as it is made up of sinful human beings. But every aspect of the Churches life that we need can be had, found and developed from within it. It is all there. It is only when we continually feed on junk food that we lose our taste for what we already have: or when we starve ourselves that we find our thinking goes fuzzy and we become disorientated. Or when we stay away from our church home, that we find that we don’t seem to belong and we lose our security and hope. Now of course we won't get the support, help, nurture and building up that we need ourselves if we are not prepared to be involved in all these aspects of the churches life or are too independent, proud or self-centred to seek it.

Whatever we might think of the church we must not forget that the Lord our God stands behind and within it; and it is he who empowers it to be what he has intended it to be. It is he who has promised that we will find all the nourishment, peace and security that we could ever want, in that which he has established; and in that which he promised that he would be, for us. It is he who gives his Church that motherly touch and through it enables us to flourish and have a well-balanced outlook on life. And above all, he is Almighty God himself and we surely, are subservient and dependent on him.

But it is only as we come as babes to simply receive all that he has to offer and give through the Church that we will find the nourishment, nurture and peace that we are looking for and need. As we nestle in and continually suckle on the basics of the Christian faith, we are promised that we will be satisfied. In fact, we will find enjoyment and security in our Church, as we make gluttons of ourselves with regard to God's Word and his many other blessings. Now there is a challenge for us!

Remember, our Lord has promised to send peace and wellbeing flowing through his Church in abundance. And that of course comes primarily in and through the Lord Jesus Christ and the message of forgiveness through his death on the cross. As we listen to and heed his Word regularly. As we live each day in light of our Baptism: And as we come forward week by week and receive Jesus’ body and blood at the Lord’s Table, we will be strengthened and encouraged for life; and we will grow healthy and strong. So as we suckle and feed off of him in and through the church and what it offers, we are carried along through life and experience the love and care that we so desperately need.

There in the church our Lord gives us all we need in order for us to go forward as his children. As we are fed, nurtured and given safety and hope through our involvement in our congregation, we are made strong and healthy, ready to face anything. And it is there that we experience the wonder and power of our Lord as he works in and through us as his church here on earth; and then there will truly be gladness within and throughout.

So we can see that the church and our involvement in it is a very important part of our lives. Let us not forget this, and ignore this message. In fact, let us work at allowing God to enrich us and others in this way so that we all gain something of these motherly, homely blessings that our God has in mind for us. Yes, we do have God as our Father, so let us think of the Church as our mother. And through it all may those blessings that he has promised, be ours. Then through it all, even more glory and honour will go to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. After all, he alone deserves it, now and forever. AMEN

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish