Pentecost 3 6/9/13

Pentecost 3 6/9/13 Text: Galatians 1:1-11 Titled: Called by God Yesterday I conducted a memorial service for a young woman in our community who had taken her life. She had worshiped with us a few times and was planning on going through the adult instruction class. She had been baptized as a baby, but as far as I could tell had not been attending church for most of her life. I do remember her telling me she had never read any part of the Bible. As you would expect the family and those who knew her are in shock. There is tremendous guilt, and unanswered questions abound as to why she did it and what part did God play in her death. I heard comments like, “Is she in hell since she killed herself?” to “She was a good person, so she is in heaven.” to “God did it; her time was up.” All of those statements are incredibly wrong. I have mentioned these to you this morning, not because we who know God’s Word know better and thus can feel self-righteous, but to point out that there are many people, some of which might consider themselves to be Christians who do not have a correct understanding of God and his grace toward us. I have been your pastor for almost 9 years and I have been privileged to see the power of God at work here at Saint John. I have asked you in the past to reach down into your pocket books and help a homeless family, or to paint a house, or build a ramp so that a young man who was confined to a wheelchair could get out of his home. I have seen you commit the profits of Oktoberfest to doing God’s work here in the city and world instead of using the money to support the congregation. You, as a congregation have responded to God’s call to do his work in this community and in Christ’s Church. For the first time, if I remember correctly, since I have been here we did not have to talk someone into chairing a board or serving as an officer. I just asked an people said yes. I have seen that response and give praise to God for his mercy and grace shown to you and through you. Many have grown spiritually in the time I have been here, stepping up and doing what needs to be done to further God’s Kingdom, laying aside own preferences and desires for the good of the congregation. I have seen all of that; however it is time to step up and do more. It is time to actually start telling others about Jesus and his wonderful gift of forgiveness, for there are many people like the young woman that died who are struggling in their lives, as they try to fill what I call the “God hole” with alcohol, drugs, sex, bad relationships, money, and such. We, as Christians who know of Jesus’ salvation need to be telling the story of God’s love; the story Jesus lived and told himself, as he met people where they were; the story the Apostles have written down for us, so we too can tell others about God’s amazing love for them. In today’s Epistle reading; Saint Paul’s letter to the Christians at Galatia verses 11 and 12 tells us something that is critical to our faith. “11For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. The Gospel, that is the story of Jesus that we read in God’s Word, is just not a story of how Paul and the other Apostles saw Jesus; something they just made up. It is God’s own description of Jesus written down for us by the Apostles. Thus it can be relied on for salvation. It is exactly what those who are trying to fill up their “God hole” with false gods need to hear. We can no longer rely on just being here, having a nice place to worship to draw people to our congregation. Christianity, as I believe it was shown with the majority of the people at the memorial service is not even on most people’s radar. We are in a post Christian time when Christianity is just one thing that takes time, one more religion among many. Christianity, they believe simply has nothing to offer, at least many think that, as they try to stuff anything in the “God hole” which can never be filled with anything other than God. Yesterday at the funeral I proclaimed the need of God’s forgiveness and the wonderful news of God’s love shown through Jesus to her family and others gathered there for the memorial service. And as I talked to them I noticed how many were looking at me, as if I was talking in a foreign language. Actually when I think about it, the Gospel message is a foreign language, for it speaks of things that are the complete opposite of what most people belief. I can see this congregation living and speaking God’s love to people who are in desperate need of a Savior, for you have shown your willingness to share money with those in need. Certainly it means that we should speak his words and preach his Gospel to all those around us. But it also means that we need to live our lives in ways that, by example, spread Christ’s message of love and acceptance of all God’s children. I see that happening, but only if you step out in faith, just have you have in the past. Just by our being Christians we are living examples of Christ’s love for all people. Saint John is not a large congregation. Saint John is not a wealthy congregation. It may never be either, but there is one thing that that is certain, we has been called by God to do something for him. It is nothing new. It is the same call that God gave this congregation when it started in 1946. We are called to serve this community, to be a part of this community, to be a source of God’s message in this community; both in Word and by example. And from what I’ve seen and heard the last few months, many in the congregation have responded to God’s call to tell others about Jesus love, and want to get started. The only thing that holds them back is the unknown. Let me address that problem and it is a problem that can only be overcome by the grace of God. When Paul was called by God on that road to Damascus, he was blinded by the power of that call. But Paul didn’t panic. He didn’t worry about whether or not he would ever see again. He continued on his journey, holding in his heart the revelation that he had received in his call. He says that he didn’t confer with any human beings about his call. Why should he? He had faith that God would lead him and direct his words and his actions. I believe with all my heart that God has called us together in this congregation, in this parish, in this community. And as God unfolds his plan for our congregation, we will do it through his grace toward us. For it is only because of God’s grace each of us have been brought into God’s Kingdom. It is only because of God’s grace we have been brought together as a congregation. It is only because of God’s grace that we have been called as a congregation to bring the good news of God’s salvation to the community around us, just as surely as Paul was called by God to God’s work in his time. Be joyful and rest in God’s grace, knowing that God is in charge and that we have nothing to worry about here at Saint John, if we just trust in God, for God will take care of us, as he has promised. God has a wonderful and exciting ride in store for us as we continue this ministry together bringing certainty to lives filled with uncertainty; all by the grace of God. Amen.