Listen to the gospel lesson and sermon here.
John 8:31-36
31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."33 They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free'?"34 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
SERMON
So what is so special about this day? Why is today a festival Sunday? Anybody know? That’s right, it’s my one year anniversary at St. Mark’s! That’s what you were all thinking right? One year ago today marked my first Sunday in this pulpit as your newly called pastor. And while it may be worth noting or even celebrating my anniversary, today’s festival actually remembers and honors the 501st year of the protestant reformation.
500 and One years ago, a good German monk posted 95 Theses on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther’s theses kicked up the dust of complacent theology, and sparked a reformation of the church with an outcome that he never imagined, nor intended.
His 95 Theses were prompts for debate, meant to encourage theological discourse for the benefit of the whole Christian church. And even more so, his theses were posted to challenge the Pope and the theology of the Catholic church in his day.
He strongly believed in a more robust, freeing, and grace-filled interpretation of God revealed in scripture. He was passionate about the Word of God and making it accessible to all people. He envisioned a Christian faith that sought input and perspective from every member of the body, and worked tirelessly to encourage and empower those not privileged by a seat of religious power to explore, discuss, interpret, debate, and celebrate God’s salvific grace.
And to be fair and honest, while there is much to honor about Luther’s contribution to church history, we should also acknowledge that he was by no means perfect.
It was my first week here a year ago….it was the 500th anniversary of the reformation. And I noticed, after walking the hall 100 times, that the there was a hallway dedicated to Luther. Luther paintings and prints. 95 theses, and images of the reformation. There were books in the cabinet.
And I remember commenting to someone, “So, what will we display next?” They looked at me puzzled. “What do you mean?” I said, well it’s the 500th anniversary, and this hall is full of Luther-things, so I only assume it’s decorated for the occasion and I was just wondering what we’ll put up after the reformation.” I remember them laughing at me then saying...No, this is Luther Hall and these pictures have been here for at least 20 years.”
Even two weeks ago, former Pastor Bill Trexler walked into the hallway and said “Oh, good, Luther is still hanging here in the hallway!” I have learned not to make assumptions.
But the question I ask today is why? Why celebrate the protest reformation? Why Luther hall? Why Lutheranism?
In one of Luther’s many works, he wrote: “The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone. St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3, would not tolerate Christians calling themselves Pauls or Peters, but only Christians. How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the children of Christ by my evil name?”
It seems to me that Luther, and the whole company of protestant reformers had absolutely no intention of being honored or venerated for their work. I suspect Luther, lying in his grave underneath All Saints’ church in Wittenberg would be rolling knowing that there is an entire denomination of Christians who identify as Lutherans. Especially if he knew how fractured Lutheranism itself has become. And of course, this is to say nothing of having his own hallway at church in Jacksonville, FL
So why this reformation Sunday? Why recognize and honor the reformers, whose only intentions was to elevate debate, challenge religious authority, and point to the freedom of God’s grace in Jesus Christ?
Perhaps the biggest witness this day, is not the act of the reformers, fracturing a church through theological debate, but rather their passion, dedication, and commitment to the re-forming of Christ’s church. Above all else, we ought to honor the reformation and its many reformers for stirring up complacent theology and equipping the Christian body for theological freedom by pointing to Christ. For teaching us that Christ’s church was first formed by God, and as long as we belong to God, the body of Christ will always be forming and reforming in God’s grace.
And the best way for us to honor the reformers this day is not to lift them up or elevate their contributions, but rather honor their footprints, hear their message of reform, and trace their finger as they point to Christ. Christ crucified. And thankfully, in the greatest transformation the Christian church has ever known, Christ conquering death and rising to new life.
In today’s gospel lesson, Jesus is in the Temple Mount and he’s in an on-going conversation with the Scribes, Pharisees. Through this conversation he begins to win favor among some of the Jews who were listening. Finally he looks to them and says, “if you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
He goes on to say, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” Well, now wait a minute. It seems only a week ago that I stood here and read from the 10th chapter of Mark, where Jesus tells the disciples if any wish to be the greatest or to be first, then you must be a servant to all. In fact, Jesus says, you ought to be a slave to all.
A week ago I preached on Jesus calling us to be servants and slaves to one another.. Yet today Jesus reminds us that we are free and free indeed. So which is it? As Christians, are we free or are we slaves?
Well, on this reformation Sunday, as we honor our heritage and tradition as Lutherans, it seems that perhaps the best Lutheran answer is Yes. It’s both And. Yes we are free. Yes we are slaves. After all, Lutherans love paradox.
In fact, this is one of Luther’s biggest contributions to the Christian faith. Luther passionately believed and defended relentlessly that it is Christ alone who makes us free. Christ alone.
By the grace of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are free from the power of sin, death, and the devil. We are freed by God. Freedom from the elements of the world that work to disrupt our relationship with God.
Freed from the lure of a sinful world that thrives on division and destruction, wealth and power. Freed from corruption of greed. Freed from self-centeredness, standards, judgment, and personal ambition. We are made free to live life in the God’s creation as God intended.
Freed to live for the sake of the other. Indebted to no one. Beholden to nothing. God and God alone freely bestows upon us by grace a faith that is rooted in love and service. And it is through the freedom of God’s grace that we live to serve one another; just as Christ lived to serve.
Freedom from and Freedom for! To be a Christian is to be totally free from all things and yet to be bound in service to all people. This is how God formed creation out of nothing to live. And thank God, that in spite of our faults, shortcomings, or wavering, God continues to form and reform us. Always making us new.
One need not look too far now-a-days to see a world in desperate need of transformation. To see and hear a world that is yearning, groaning even to be re-formed. Groaning as divisions between siblings in Christ deepen and hatred swells. Crying out as pipe bombs and mass shootings have become a typical news cycle. Yearning as society dismisses, dismantles, or displaces an entire race, gender, ethnicity, or culture. Groaning as we live in fear of the other, attacking and accusing rather than listening. Crying as empathy and compassion are trampled upon by power, fear, and indifference. Yearning as our siblings in Christ risk persecution and judgment in order to just be themselves. As they so desperately long to be seen, heard, recognized, and honored as people of God. One need not look too far now-a-days to see a world in desperate need of transformation.
Luther once said, “The church needs a reformation, which is not the work of humankind…but it is the work of the whole world, indeed it is the work of God alone.”
I think it does us well this day, as we honor the life and work of the protestant reformers, to remember that God is always stirring up something new.
Since the dawn of creation God has always been about the work of forming and reforming. In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God continues God’s promise of reforming and transforming. Again and again. making all things whole. Making all things new.
And, friends, hear me when I say this, in the waters, God transforms us. Frees us from sin death and the devil, and frees us for a life in God’s love and grace. God names us and claims us, seals us with the Spirit and marks us with the cross of Christ, freeing us to serve God and serve one another.
Freedom to tear down the walls the divide. Cross the borders, barriers, and aisles. Reform division into unity and equity.
Freedom to raise up the lowly. Give privilege and honor to the oppressed and voiceless. Freedom to work for justice and equality. Re-form oppressive systems of power..
Freedom to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the other. Advocate for the downtrodden, dismissed, and displaced. Stand up to hatred, violence, and abuse.
Freedom to challenge human-made standards and expectations. Freedom to challenge powerful systems and proclaim peace.
Freedom to respect our neighbor, honor our unique gifts, differences, and traditions. Freedom to worship regardless of race, sex, color, gender, ethnicity, or belief. Freedom to grieve and mourn. Freedom to see and be seen. To be heard. To be know and honored as a child of God.
Freedom to NOT live in fear. Freedom to confess our sins in the promise of forgiveness. Freedom to love, love, and if God help and guide us to love some more.
Freedom to admit defeat, share success, and work together for the sake of the world. Freedom in Christ to always be made new.
Friends, the freedom God gives us through Christ isn’t meant to be stagnant, complacent, or content. It is a freedom from but it is also a freedom for. Freedom that should burn within us a fire for justice, peace, and love. Freedom that has the power to heal the world, offer hope, and restore faith.
By the grace of God, may we, the church, and the world always be forming, re-forming, and transforming until such a time that all will not only be made new, but all will be made one.
One in Christ, by God, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached Oct. 28, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL
© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached Oct. 28, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL
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