A Sermon for the 12th Sunday After Pentecost

Pastor Kris Snyder

August 23, 2009

What Now?

Finding Direction and Guidance in Uncertain Times

Most reports from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) assembly today attempt to tie together the denomination's vote to adopt a sexuality statement and the tornado strike on the Minneapolis Convention Center where the Lutherans were meeting. (No one was injured.)

"We trust that the weather is not a commentary on our work," said Steven Loy, chairman of the committee overseeing the statement. (He was quoted by The Washington Times and Associated Press.)

But WordAlone, a renewal group within the ELCA, reported that both sides sought to find commentary in the weather: "A supporter of the social statement typified the storm as a mighty wind of the Holy Spirit and as a positive message. Some WordAlone Network members heard a different message, a warning of God's anger at the ELCA in the wind."

John Piper, whose Baptist church is just down the road from the convention center, thought the storm was a message as well. "The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction."

Hours later, delegates voted on the sexuality statement, which needed 2/3 approval. It passed by exactly that margin: 676-338. One or two votes could have changed the outcome. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune notes that the vote came near dinnertime and some delegates had already started to leave. Twenty-nine of the 1,045 registered voters did not vote on the statement. (Any who opposed the sexuality statement are almost certainly kicking themselves this morning and are probably not telling their friends about it…)

In a historic change, noncelibate gays and lesbians can now lead parishes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

On a 559-451 vote taken Friday in Minneapolis at their biennial conference, delegates repealed the ELCA ban on gay clergy unless they agree to remain celibate. It makes ELCA, with 4.8 million members nationwide and 830,000 in Minnesota, the largest denomination in the country to welcome gays into the pulpits without restriction.

The vote did not surprise Ryan Schwarz from Washington, a member of Lutheran CORE, a group that opposed the motion. Nor did it dampen his interest in running for vice president, the highest lay position within the ELCA. That vote will be taken today.

"I remain a candidate," he said emphatically as he left the convention hall.

"We knew coming into this that we'd probably lose, but I plan to speak out in my speech [today] about how the leadership has failed this assembly."

As for Javen Swanson, the vote clarified a future that had been highly in doubt.

"The vote determined whether or not I was going to be able to continue through the ordination process," said the St. Paul resident, a seminarian who recently wed his same-sex partner in Connecticut.

"It was incredibly emotional. The weight of the decisions being made was palpable."

The new rules, which likely will go into effect in November, allow the installation of gay pastors but let individual congregations and synods make their own decisions about whether to choose a gay pastor.

Reaction to the vote was muted by design. Bishop Mark Hanson, the Minneapolis native who leads the ELCA, warned before the vote was taken that he wanted no overt reaction. Instead, the voters immediately went into prayer. When they finished, there was a rustle of discrete hugging and some wiping of tears in the visitors' gallery, but the delegates quickly returned to business.

In uncertain times Joshua called the people together - this is documented in the Word as Jesus gathered his followers together, and as God gathers us today in the Word and with his assurance of grace, love, mercy, and pardon.

5Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

What about the conversation in the Gospel today?

⁶⁶Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. ⁶⁷So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

In uncertain times where will we go? Do we wish to go our own way - or the way of the Lord? If we believe that Jesus is the Holy one of God, the Bread of Life, the Words of eternal life - we will follow him?

Some are decreeing that our church is facing certain division because of the votes taken this past week. While some celebrate the move taken at the highest legislative authority in our church others are fearing what may be the end. Wherever you stand on the issue it is absolutely necessary for us not to make rash moves to either leave or celebrate - but rather come together in prayer and in these words from the Gospel. To pray honestly in the spirit of Joshua - that the world may follow its practices, its decrees - yet may we as God's people be found in the clear guidance of the Holy Spirit. That as for us we will follow the Lord. That we are not above it but rather conformed by it as God leads us and guides us to be hands and feet, grace and mercy, peace and love.

Clearly this is a new day for our church. We can be easily consumed by the "what now Spirit" or be transformed by the heart felt conviction of Simon Peter - "Lord yes others are leaving, yes the pressures of the world and its allure seek to pull me from you - Alleluia Lord Jesus - you have the Word of life, eternal life."

Direction and Guidance for Our Church and Our Lives Today

Applying the Word

Sing

In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!



In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!





Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!



In times like these I have a Savior,
In times like these I have an anchor;
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!





Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Yes indeed we HAVE a Savior

1. Our assurance and salvation do not come from the world but the Word.
1. Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; ¹⁷for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; ¹⁸and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.” ¹⁹But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. ²⁰If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.” ²¹And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!” ²²Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” ²³He said, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” ²⁴The people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” ²⁵So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
2. No - we will serve the Lord. How can a man serve two masters? It is either serve the Lord or serve the world. Either serve the things which will leave us on empty and hungry for more or serve the one who declares to be "the living bread from heaven - all who eat of it will be satisfied and hunger no more."
   

3. A teacher was handed the following note by one of her students:

   'Dear Teacher, Please excuse Harriet for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it on Monday, we thought it was Sunday."

4. What leads us and guides us in our decision making? Are there times when we have not paid attention to the obvious signs around us and made a wrong choice? Have we run full speed on assumptions and found ourselves smacked in the face which our own judgments and mistakes?

5. ²²The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.
   

6. Are we taking refuge in the Word - refuge in the assurances of God's amazing grace?
2. In uncertainly grasp onto the certainty of God's power!
1. A few years ago the battery in my beat-up VW Beetle had died because I left the lights on overnight. I was in a hurry to get to work on time so I ran into the house to get my wife to give me a hand starting the car. I told her to get into our second car, a prehistoric oversized gas guzzler, and use it to push my car fast enough to start it. I pointed out that because the VW had an automatic transmission, it needed to be pushed at least 30mph for it to start.
   
   She said "fine!", hopped into her car and drove off.
   
   I sat there fuming and wondering what she could be doing.
   
   A minute passed by and when I saw her in the rear-view mirror
   coming at me at about 40 mph, and I suddenly realized that I
   should have been a bit clearer with my directions...
2. Are we clear when we give directions? Are we truly listening when others provide us what we need to accomplish what is set before us?
   
3. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. ¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. ¹⁴Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. ¹⁵As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. ¹⁶With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
   ¹⁹Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
4. You are called to clothe yourselves with love.
   But we are all called to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts,
   remembering again and again that we are called in the one body.
   I will invite you tomorrow afternoon into important, thoughtful,
   prayerful conversations about what all of this means for our life
   together. But what is absolutely important for me is that we have
   the conversation together.
   I ended my oral report with these words: “We finally meet
   one another not in our agreements or our disagreements, but at
   the foot of the cross, where God is faithful, where Christ is
   present with us, and where, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we
   are one in Christ.”
   Let us pray. Oh, God, gracious and holy, mysterious and
   merciful, we meet this day at the foot of the cross, and there we
   kneel in gratitude and awe that you have loved us so much that
   you would give the life of your son so that we might have life in
   his name. Send your Spirit this night, the Spirit of the risen
   Christ that has been breathed into us. May it calm us. May your
   Spirit unite us. May it continue to gather us. In Jesus’ name,
   AMEN. Presiding Bishop's Pastoral Response
   
3. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
1. ⁵⁶Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
2. I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess. - Martin Luther

May we indeed place in God's hands all our hopes, our worries about the future, our fears about where we will go from here and the direction we will follow. To those who are crushed in spirit today brokenhearted from being tossed too and fro by the ways of this world Jesus stands with an outstretched hand - "I am the way the true bread from heaven. All who eat of this bread will live forever and never be hungry again."

In times like these I have a Savior,
In times like these I have an anchor;
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!