Roger's Postings

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Mark 9:38-50. The causing of sin?? 27/9/09

(38) "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us." {39} "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, {40} for whoever is not against us is for us. {41} I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. {42} "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. {43} If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. {44} {45} And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. {46} {47} And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, {48} where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' {49} Everyone will be salted with fire. {50} "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

Can there be anything worse than committing sin? Now I know committing a sin these days is no big deal in the eyes of many people; but it is a terrible thing, and something that we still need to take seriously. However, here we are reminded that there is one thing that is far worse than committing a sin; and that is causing someone else to sin: In particular causing a ‘little one’ in the faith, to sin. Now this is something that we do not think about much as we go about our lives; and yet it is a serious issue: a very serious issue, indeed.

Here we are reminded, that we will be held accountable for this; and the consequences are not good. In fact, Jesus says, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck than causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin. Now that is pretty serious stuff. That is not just that someone deserves to die for their causing someone to sin, but Jesus is giving the strongest possible reprimand.

By tying a millstone around someone’s neck and drowning them in the sea, means they are not given a proper burial. It then had the connotation that this renders the body forever unclean. So Jesus is indicating the strength of judgement that he has in mind for those that lead others astray. He says, they will be held accountable for causing others to fall into sin. They will be, thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' Serious stuff!

This being the case we need to think very carefully how we live our lives as Christians; recognising that we do have an influence on others. Each one of us, no matter who we are, has an impact on others. By the mere fact that we are Christian, we are an example to others; either for good or bad. Particularly Jesus reminds us that we need to keep in mind what our example and teaching is for the ‘little ones.’ They may be our children or grand-children: they may be the new Christian or those that are struggling in the faith. We must not cause any of them to sin. That is the challenge that Jesus sets before us today.

They, and us all, belong to Christ, each one is important - very important. God wants us all to be a part of his kingdom; and not one is greater or lesser in his eyes. He does not want any one to lose out on being a part of his family for all time. Because in this life the frail and the ‘little ones’ are susceptible and easily lead astray, against these we must be especially careful.

There are so many ways that we can cause others to sin, and some of these we need to consider carefully. First of all, let us think of our children and grand-children.

Not teaching them the faith by word and example is a certainty to cause these little ones to sin. Not bringing them regularly to Divine Service here in God’s house is sure to teach them that God is not important for them. To allow them to play sport and do other things instead of worship, and to do so yourself, is to lead them right up the garden path. To allow them to be selfish, is equally a problem. And this is just some of the simple basics, without getting down to tin tacs.

But then what about the rest of us; and not helping these parents out? Are we prepared to befriend these little ones? Are we willing to put our hand up to teach in Sunday School? Are we careful about the example that we are setting these children in our language and what we do?
Then what about those other ‘little ones’ around about us: the new Christian and those who are weak and struggling? Many of these same things apply. Here, what about the bad advice that we might give them? Particularly with regard to what we say to them about what is important in life. The encouragement we give others with regard to being selfish and self-centred, even when it comes to faith and worship, is terrible these days. Not to mention that the truth is not important.

In all that we say and do, we need to be mindful that we are not leading others to sin. As we can see, it is so easy for each one of us to do this in one way or another. Here, I have only touched the surface of the different ways that we can cause others to fall into sin. With that in mind and also the serious consequences of our doing so, we need to listen to Jesus’ very sobering thoughts on how we are to deal with this problem.

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' You get the idea: get rid of that which is leading you to do these things, at all costs. It is better to be only half a person than to be sent to hell to suffer eternal punishment. Think carefully about this in regard to what is causing you or others to sin.

Here then Jesus goes on and uses the example of salt and its use, to help us come to grips with the importance of the way we as Christians are to live amongst ourselves. Now these days we mainly use salt to add flavour to our meal; but for much of history it had a far more important role to play in life. It was used greatly as a purifying and preserving agent, as well as that of a seasoning food.

This is what we are to be like as God’s people: we are to help purify, preserve and season one another for the wellbeing of all. Instead of leading ourselves and others to sin, we are to help one another with God’s help, to rid ourselves of that which causes us to sin: that which makes us to be a bad and rotten person. Now we know that when we apply salt to a wound it stings sharply, but it does some good. So also in our lives, we don’t like to be reminded of our faults and failings, but it is important that we lovingly do this to one another. Only then are we able to be cleansed and enabled to remain good and useful.

As we apply God’s Word into our lives and our faults and sin, we will be purified and preserved for the ongoing good and wellbeing of God’s Church. As we live with this Word as our cleansing agent and as our ongoing guide for life, we then will have flavour added to life. Others will be able to see and experience the greatness of our God and what he has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Then they too may be purified, preserved and seasoned.

As we ‘have this salt in ourselves, we are then enabled to be at peace with each other,’ It is the Lord Jesus and God’s Word and sacraments that will enable us to lessen and overcome those terrible aspects of our lives that cause us to sin and others to fall into sin. This salt need to be applied amply in our lives so that we not be the cause of sin; and particularly to cause the ‘little ones’ in our lives to sin.

Let us remember that we all, as a result of our baptism, belong to God. He has sent his Son Jesus to die on the cross so that we may be forgiven, cleansed and purified, and he rose again so that we can have the certainty of eternal life. So then let us now make every effort to ensure that we work together to help, support and maintain each other, so that not only can we be at peace with one another, but that we can give a strong and sincere witness to our Lord for all that he has done for us.

Yes let us not be the causing of sin in our community, but allow the salt of God’s Word and Sacraments to help us go forward as God’s people, to give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ, in all that we say and do. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Mark 9:30-37. The greatest is the least?? 20/9/09

(Mark 9:30-37) They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, {31} because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." {32} But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. {33} They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" {34} But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. {35} Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." {36} He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, {37} "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Here in this reading we are given another insight into the unusual quirks of sinful mankind; and a whole different and upside down view of what really is important. The thinking displayed by the disciples is still sadly very much at the heart of life and even of the church in our world today. No matter what the gravity of the situation may be, we seem to have the happy knack of putting the focus in the wrong places, and we don’t want to know or understand that which is important. I dare say the same thing will apply to this message that we are listening to here this morning. However, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will somehow get through our stubborn sinful nature, and lead us into this truth that he has here for us.

Now off course we here think that we are not so silly; and that we have got it all together pretty well. We know what life is all about, and so we don’t need to think to deeply. Then also this message of the first and last, and who is the greatest, we have heard many times before: So we have got it all fairly straight. Is that so? Well perhaps each one of us needs to look carefully into our very lives, and then judge it, not by our own standards, or the world’s standards, but by that which our Lord himself has given us.

To help us in this regard let us think a little more carefully about this text that we have here before us. Jesus has just come from talking to his disciples about who he really is, and Peter has just made the great confession that Jesus is the Christ: the promised saviour; the greatest one of all who was sent to set up God’s kingdom, which would last forever. They were thereby confronted with the greatness of this one who was there before them and who they were following.

It was there then that Jesus takes time out to teach them what his whole mission here entailed. He sits down and tells them what is all going to happen and how this kingdom was to now be established. So surely, the disciples would be all ears. Here they were now getting to the heart of the matter. Here Jesus was giving them the real ins and outs of it all.

And what is the heart of what he is saying here to them: he is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise. The Christ: the great one who was to come to set up God’s kingdom, would be rejected by his own people; strung up on a cross to die; and then three days later rise again. This was what was important: this was to be how God was going to establish his kingdom here on earth.

This surely was something which the disciple would have listened intently to and sought to comprehend what and how this was to be. Here surely, because it was not what they expected or understood, they would have made every effort to grasp and comprehend what Jesus had in mind. This after all was of utmost importance, and they were a part of it.

But what do we find? Where they intent on grasping the logic of what Jesus was saying to them here? No! They were too busy arguing amongst themselves as to who was to be the greatest as Jesus followers. Since Jesus was the Christ, and was here to set up his kingdom, they would be his leading men. So here, they were jockeying for the important positions in his chain of command. Their focus was on themselves and who would be greater than the next person.

So there is no in depth consideration as to the depth and importance of Jesus’ words about dying on the cross, or the impossibility of his rising again. No real thought to try to understand what the significance of what that would be, and how that could be the beginning of a whole new kingdom of God. They were simply interested in; ‘what’s in it for me:’ and how ‘I can be the greater one’ in it all.

How sad! How sad we might think. Yet we too are no different! We too are no different in our thinking. Far too often all we can think of is the same thing; what is in it for me, and how might I be a little greater, in the context of being a part of God’s kingdom. We too are not so concerned with knowing and understanding our Lord or what he would want us to understand, particularly with regard to that which is important and has to do with true greatness. But off course, like the disciples we’ll keep quiet about that won’t we.

But Jesus didn’t let his disciples off the hook; nor us either. No, he says, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He says to us all, if we want to have any thoughts of greatness, then we had better be the least of all: the one whose only thoughts are for doing what is best for everyone else. Stop thinking of ourself and look outward and upward.

Now that very much goes against the thinking of our society today, and our own selfishness. We want to, and we are told, that we need to push ourselves forward and go for it. Yet Jesus tells us true greatness is not in how high up the ladder we are, but where we are looking. It is not a matter of if we are looked up to, but if we are looking to Jesus. It is not a matter of what others can do for us, but what we do for them.

In fact, Jesus takes a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me. Elsewhere he says, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Yes, Jesus turns upside down the thinking about what it is that makes for greatness when it comes to his kingdom. He not only told us about it, but he went on and did it: He gave of himself. Jesus gave up his position of glory at the right hand of the Father. He entered our world as an ordinary human being, and then stuck to what was right and true, even though this brought on him the ire of the leaders of the church. He allowed himself to be killed as a criminal.

He did it all so that he could serve us: that he could save us. In that, there is true greatness: there is what is important. Now aside from that there is nothing in terms of greatness. Nothing more has to be done, or can be done. All we can do is hang onto the coat tails of our Lord Jesus. Or more to the point allow him to hold on to us. Because his is the only greatness that counts, all we need to do is look to him and trust him.

Any trying to push ourselves forward or trying to be first, takes us away from that greatness and makes us the least of all. Yet when we look to and welcome and assist a little child or the down and out, because we know and trust in Jesus as the truly great one, and that he needs to be held up as the great one, then we are on the right track. Because Jesus helped and saved the small and insignificant, we too can reach out to them, and know that there is Jesus. There is the one who is great and who has done everything necessary.

That being the case let us stop and listen to him, so that we can know that which is important. Instead of focussing on ourselves, let us give him thanks and praise. Let us reflect on his suffering, death and resurrection and know that in that we have that which is of the essence of God’s kingdom. Then because of the significance and greatness of Jesus and what he has done, let us reach out and serve others and in particular those who are not important in the world’s eyes.

Let us recognise that we are the least important, and that there is nothing that we can do to lift ourselves up; so that we can the look up to Jesus and his suffering, death and resurrection, and know that there we have the help we need. From there we can go forward with hope and confidence and know that we are connected to him who is truly great. To him alone be all glory and honour, now and always. Amen.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

Saturday, September 05, 2009

Mark 7:31-37 No longer deaf/dumb??? 6/9/09

(Mark 7:31-37) Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. {32} There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. {33} After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. {34} He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!"). {35} At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. {36} Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. {37} People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Here this morning in this reading we are reminded of Jesus' healing of a deaf person who also was not able to speak well. So here we have another event where Jesus miraculously touches the problems of a sinful world, and brings about a complete and unexpected change: to the extent that many people were drawn to him and cannot help but speak up about what they had seen and heard: here in this person Jesus, God was at work in our sinful world.

But for us here, the problem is that we are viewing this from a great distance. It is almost; and for many people it is, merely a story of what might have been: of someone’s imagination stretching a little too far. It is merely wishful thinking, or an attempt to try and persuade people to come on board with their religious ideas. This story is often seen as something other than a reality: something other than an actual happening, where a deaf and mute person was miraculously healed by Jesus.

Yes, even for us here, when we heard this text being read, did we hear and understand this event in this way, or as something that was real and life-changing. Did we hear this healing miracle as something that is so great and wonderful, that we also cannot help but speak about how fantastic the Lord Jesus really is?

You see; in many ways, we are no different than this deaf and mute guy that is mentioned here. We too are deaf and dumb! Yes sure, our hearing is not so bad: audibly we can hear nearly every word that is said; and perhaps our speech is not so bad either. Mine, might be a little rough around the edges, but hopefully I still can be quite easily understood. Yet so often, at the same time, we are just plain deaf and dumb. When I read this text here a few moments ago, did we hear God speaking to us; because he was? We heard words, but did we hear and understand that is was our Lord speaking to us, or did we merely hear it as a story of some sort: merely words about something that might have been, or even was many years ago.

And when it comes to our speaking: that is our speaking as Christ would have us speak, so often that is not so good either. Many a time I may have some idea what I want to say, but I wonder if I am at all getting the message across: and many a time I probably am not even speaking up when I should be speaking up loudly and clearly. Yes, so often, we have our hearing and speech, but are spiritually as deaf and dumb as this poor guy here in our reading.

That being the case we too need the healing touch of the Lord Jesus Christ. We too need Jesus to place his fingers and himself into our grimy, sin-tainted lives: to touch our lives in those very places that are barriers to our hearing God speak to us, and those places in our lives that are far from holy and acceptable to God. We too, need Jesus to spit on us: to place some of his life-giving Spirit into our lives and onto our tongues. We too, need to hear our Lords healing word and be opened up so as to hear and speak what God would have us hear and speak. We too, need to be also utterly amazed at how well our God does everything. We need Jesus' presence and touch in our lives, today.

Here, the Good News is that we have it. Jesus has touched our lives and placed his healing hand on us. At our baptisms, Jesus has entered our lives and placed his life-giving Spirit in us and has spoken his healing word of forgiveness. Through Word and Sacraments God continues to touch our lives and extend his healing hand to each and every one of us. So we are new people: the blockages and barriers between us and God are gone. We are able to hear him speak. The impediments have been removed, and we are now able to speak clearly and boldly. A miracle has occurred! Jesus has changed everything and turned our world upside down. We are now complete people in Christ. Salvation, wholeness and eternal life is ours; guaranteed. We have every reason to be amazed and excited.

But now, what are we going to do about it? Are we going to still block our ears and pretend that it hasn't happened? Are we going to listen first and foremost to our world out there, which is trying to tell us that God is dead and that Christianity is some historic crutch for weak-willed people? Are we going to follow our feelings and desires, rather than the Word of God? Are we going to hold back from speaking out, for fear of saying what is out of accord with popular thinking: and worried that we might get ridiculed?

Look, if that is what we are going to listen to and where we are going to look then of course we are not going to see God's miracles. We will despair as to whether we are Christian, or that our congregation is on the right track, and all the rest. On top of that we are not going to hear God speaking, nor will we be able speak as God would have us do. Even though we are healed and restored, we will be living and acting as though we are deaf and dumb. If we go on focussing on and thinking about what we and the world out there is on about then we won't hear anything of any real value, and we ourselves won't have anything to contribute either.

But we ARE healed, restored and forgiven. We are new people: with a new future. We have now got everything going for us. Because of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection, we have got it all. So let us open our ears and listen to what he has to say to us. How he wants us to live and act in ways that help us and others remain at peace with God and one another. Let us take what he says in his word for what it is, God speaking to us: you and me. Then we will see a whole new and better world out there in front of us: even in the midst of the troubles of living in a sinful and misguided world, we see hope and signs of God's miraculous hand.

As our ears are opened to hear what God is saying to us in his Word, we come to understand that God’s ways are opposite to the thinking of our world around us. We hear that God has a whole different way for us. We then realize that what he says and does is what is important, instead of what we do. We come to understand the greatness of what he says and does and gives to us in this Service. Here he gives us all that we need: he leads us into what is important for us. Here he frees us to live as his people in the coming week.

As we hear, we come to understand that his Word is truth. It becomes all important, and his Spirit then guides us in standing up for that which is right and good: The true Gospel. We don’t fall for the sweet talk that shifts the focus off of Jesus; but hold firmly to the way of the cross, recognising that his death on the cross opens up a whole new world for us.

Then, because of God’s miraculous work in our lives we cannot help but speak, and share the greatness of our God and what he has done for us. We cannot remain silent: ‘He has done everything well.’ So we will want others to know and follow him who is so awesome and great: so loving and forgiving.

So deaf and dumb? Not any more! We are new creations; with a new future. Jesus has come to us also and performed a miracle in our lives. So let us open our ears and listen to God speak to us in his Word: and let us speak clearly of all that we hear, see and know; giving thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ who has done all things well. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish