Roger's Postings

Saturday, September 27, 2014


Philippians 2:1-13.                              Selfishness or Christ??                                     28/09/14

 1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.

 Here in this congregation I wonder how many people feel lonely and unhappy: that nobody seems to really care about them. They are just a face in the crowd. At the same time how many do we have on the books as members, but who do not feel a part of this congregation: they confess to be Christians but do not feel at home here.

 Sadly this is not just the case here, but in every congregation and every other social group that there is. No matter where, there are people who are lonely; who don’t feel part of the group; who are living in strained and broken relationships; who are facing all kinds of difficulties and tragedies; and are struggling to cope with life.

 So here I would like to say; welcome to the real world - even within the Church. This is life in a selfish, sinful world. As long as we continue to think of self, first, last and only - even as Christians -this is the way life will be for us. As long as we look here [ me] and what I want out of life; and what the church and others should do for me; thinking only of my own interests. As long as I push my own barrow we will continue to struggle with friction, hassles, disunity and loneliness.

 That will be life for us and our church and our community. Even by our non-participation in worship and other congregational activities; or doings so only now and again, we are telling our children and others that God and what he wants is not all that important, and that they are not important. Then relationships will end up being even more strained.

 All of us to a greater or lesser degree are contributing to this friction and unhappiness. Each one of us, by the things we say and do and by our attitude of selfishness and non-participation and non-help, are all adding to the situation. And so is it any wonder that life is as it is in our congregations and in our community.

 But the important question that we face in the midst of this situation is, 'what are we going to do about it? That is more important than the problem itself. Are we going to seek to do something about rectifying the situation, or are we simply going to put our heads in the sand and pretend that it is not a big issue. Can we sit back and be satisfied with my conclusion, that this is what life is like in the real world, without seeking to give some help to people caught up in the realities of life? Well, I for one am not content to sit back and do nothing.

 Even though I recognise that sin and selfishness will always be with us on earth, it is not what life is meant to be like: Certainly not in a Christian community. Nor is it the kind of life that is helpful, because many people are lonely frustrated, hurt and bitter when it is not necessary. There is an alternative.

 Let us listen again to what St Paul says here, so hear what our Lord is saying to each one of us, as individuals and as a congregation.
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.

 There we have some very sound and helpful advice, and it puts our lives and our living in its proper perspective. It focuses us on the real issues that we need to think about.

 Firstly it recognises that it is selfishness, competition and conceit that are the root cause of most of the problems that we face in life: That each and every one of us to a greater or lesser degree are this way inclined; and that we need to seek to have a heart to move away from this attitude.

 Now off course we cannot do this on our own. It is impossible for us without the forgiveness and help of God. But in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ and through him, we know that we have that forgiveness and help. Instead of facing punishment from God for our selfishness and sin, God forgives us for Christ's sake. Through him we know that we have salvation and eternal life: we have love and hope and a reason to live the way that God wants us to. After all we are now through baptism united with Christ and all that is of God.

 So we are now a part of all that is good and fantastic. We have been transferred from death to life; from selfishness and loneliness to love and unity. So 'if - no 'since' being a Christian means something to us: since we now have a good, loving, tender and compassionate bone in our body because of Christ: and since we have God's Spirit within us; then let us be united -united in our conviction and love: and let us go forward with a common purpose and a common mind.

 No competition -no conceit - self-effacing -considering others better than ourselves -thinking of their interests before our own. Think what is now possible. Think what life now can be like. As Christians our world would be turned upside down.

 Imagine it -everyone here this morning considering others interests before our own: living, loving and doing what is best for them. Can you imagine what would happen -what it would be like? "Oh, heaven forbid, I might miss out by just looking after others and by being a good Christian." Would you? If everyone was considerate and loving toward the next person, no one would miss out. In fact everyone would be better off than we are now. But I hear you say, "the next person might take advantage of me -they might not pull their weight." Yes, that is true -they might just do that -in fact they have done it.

 You see, you and I are doing it all the time to those around us. I am the problem. I am the one letting the side down, not the next person. "But -but -but -I hear you saying. It can't be done." Oh yes it is, says Paul -yes it is -Look at Jesus Christ. He had it all: divinity; equality with God, and everything he could ever possibly want; and he gave it all away. He took on himself the condition of a human being -being a slave. In every way he became as we are: In every way, except he was without sin.

 But even more so though was the fact that he willingly died on the cross: he died for you and me. Taking the absolute wrath of God -that should have been focussed on us, because of our sin: taking that punishment on himself; even though he was innocent. He did it all so that we could have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. So that we can have it all: freely made available to each and every one of us: All courtesy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 As a result we now have everything that is important, and it cannot be taken away from us. So now we are united with Christ, and so also with our fellow Christians. That being the case we can give of ourselves and we can live for the interests of others. And the more that we do, the more that this unity and love will be a part of our wider community; and the more then that others will be drawn to give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ as well.

 Yes it is possible. It can be done because of, and with, Jesus Christ. To him be thanks, praise and glory, now and forever more. So 'if -no 'since' our life in Christ means everything to us: since love can persuade all, and we have God's Spirit in common: and since as a result of Jesus Christ we now have tenderness and sympathy , then let us be united in our conviction and united in our love, with a common purpose and a common mind.

And through it all may more and more glory go to our Lord Jesus Christ, for to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always.  AMEN.

 Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, September 20, 2014


Philippians 1:21-30                           What is life??                                                     21/9/14 

 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. {22} If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! {23} I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; {24} but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. {25} Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, {26} so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. {27} Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel {28} without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God. {29} For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, {30} since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
 
What is life? What is it all about? What are we here for? And what purpose do we have in life and what is it that will give us a real sense of satisfaction and fulfilment? These are important questions that we are being asked this morning and they are questions that we need to consider very carefully and seriously, because the answer we give has ramifications for all of life and also for judgement day. Our attitude to this also makes a great difference to what happens around us and in our own lives, no matter what we are doing, when or where. And it affects every single thing we do in our work and in our play: our living and even our dying.

 So what is life? What is it all about? Well, Jim again knew what life was all about. He had a good education, and in fact was well drilled about the importance of a good education, so that he could get a good job and so get on in life and be successful. His parents had made many sacrifices for him and made sure that he worked hard. These things were impressed on him as being of utmost importance in life.

 Well, now, years later, Jim was on his way to becoming a public service fat-cat. Already he had a sizable home, a sporty car and many other trappings of a successful life. He worked hard and he played hard, and so life was really go, go, go.

Yes, Jim appeared to have many of the trappings of a happy, successful life. Yet within, there was something still missing. He still wasn't at peace and happy within himself. So obviously he needed to get a bit further up the ladder; a few more dollars; a little more social engagement: so he worked harder and sneakier; he tried an extra-marital affair: all to no avail. In fact it all made things worse and worse.

 Why was Jim doing this? What was life for Jim? Well he was merely trying to be faithful to what he had been taught and what he has picked up from the media and society around him. He wanted to be the best he could, according to what was drummed into him from childhood. But somehow this ideal life just seemed to be eluding him; life wasn't producing what he was promised it should.

 Now the real problem was that Jim never realized that he had picked up a distorted view of life from those around him; and that this idea was very shallow, self-centred and short term: and that it was humanistic and ultimately destructive.

If we look carefully around us we will find any number of these distorted views of life.

- there are those who just don't give much thought at all to life and its meaning: they are just too busy existing for the moment. They see no value in the past and no point in looking to the future. Pleasure for today is all that counts.

- others think that wealth, materialism and popularity is what life is all about; and so they are out to accumulate as much as they can, while they can: even if it means squashing others. They are striving to make their mark on society as quickly and as powerfully as they can: Hoping that their name and stature will long be remembered.

- others again are more noble, and life is seen as an ongoing existence. These people believe in the need to live a reasonably good life and to do ones best to leave a better world for tomorrow: So they get involved in the ‘greeny’ movement and the like; but the greed, selfishness and destructive nature of our world brings it all to nought.

- and there are an infinite number of other thoughts and variations on these.

 Our world is full of misguided and misleading ideas of what life is all about: even amongst many who call themselves Christian.

 As we think about this we find that all these ideas come from man's perception of what life is. They are all what we sinful human beings think life is all about. They are simply human philosophies and human ideas. And they are all full of pitfalls and shortcomings. They are distortions of what life really is.

 But there is another view: another way. There is this whole idea that God presents to us here through Paul. Now for many this is a radical concept: a concept that they laugh at and deride as warped and stupid. But it is a view of life that has a fullness to it; and that does give meaning to every aspect of this life; as well as death and what lies beyond. That is far more than any of these other views give. And above all, this is the view that God himself has for us. This concept of life is what he wants us to go through life with so that we can have belonging, peace and certainty.

 So what is this view of life? What is the centre and heart of this life? Paul says: to me it is Christ - to me it is Christ. Christ is his life; his reason for living; his direction and purpose for all that he is and does.

 Look what difference that made for his life. Saul, the arrogant, self-centred, intellectual bigot, with no qualms about disposing of a few people to further his own ends: What an amazing change came over his life as a result of coming into contact with Jesus. Now he became dedicated to furthering Christ's cause, rather than his own. Now he was committed to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and to helping and caring for people. He wanted them to know all that Jesus has done for us through his life, death and resurrection.

 So instead of a self-centred life, he now knows the importance of focussing on Christ and the spiritual needs of others. He has in connection with Christ the courage and confidence to face anything: to stand up and be counted even under the most difficult of circumstances; whether he is facing the intellectual philosophers of day, or having stones thrown at him by people and being nearly flogged to death, or being chained up in a prison cell for his convictions. In fact he is even able to look forward to death with eager longing, waiting to be at home with his Lord and Master; but at the same time willing stay on and do the work that is still left for him to do, knowing that that is what Christ wants him to do.

 For Paul his whole concept of life and its meaning was all tied up with Jesus Christ. In fact he sees that his and our very existence itself comes from, and is connected to, Christ. Jesus died and rose again so that this life could be his and ours, so freeing us from any need for self-centredness. At our baptism God connects us to all that Jesus has done in order to give us this new life, new direction and new focus for living. So he has assured us that he is now a part of our life; with us every day of our life; strengthening and encouraging us to live our lives as he wants.

 At the same time we now known that by being connected to Christ we have that sure and certain hope that just as he was raised from the dead, so will we. Nobody and nothing can take away from us the love of God in Christ Jesus. So with Jesus in and with us and our Christian friends, what more could we want - what more could we need.

 So if that is life. If Christ is life and living for us; let us go from here determined to live that life we have in Christ: focussing on him and what he gives and what he wants from our life. Spending time, searching out how he wants us live through prayer, meditation and especially reading what he has to say to us in the Bible in this regard.

 It is there that we will find the way to the true life that we need and long for. There we will find that real living is tied up with being in close connection with our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. With that in mind then, let us live and love to the fullest, each and every day: when we are working and playing; in church or out in the community.

 Yes let us remember of course that this life will not be at all easy, since our society encourages and promotes us to live otherwise; and when our human nature wants to be selfish and get its own way. We will need to stand firm and strong, ­focussing very much on Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour. In and through it all may Almighty God give a richness to your lives; a richness that surpasses all understanding. And may this life in Christ be yours today and always.                 God bless you all in this way. AMEN.

 Pastor Roer Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish