+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 18:15-18
Theme: The Imperative of Forgiveness
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The church stands or falls on the teaching that sinners are justified by grace, through faith for Christ’s sake. Forgiveness is the evidence that this truth is effective among believers. Today Christ teaches about reconciliation among Christians. Believers are taught to forgive the personal sins committed against one another. When this fails the wider church is brought into the picture. The consequences of unrepentance were serious. The believer’s soul was understood to be in danger. Steadfast refusal to repent resulted in self-exclusion from participating in Christ’s own forgiveness. Therefore the church prevented the unrepentant individual from participating in the shared blessings of the community for his or her own good. There was no other way to keep from condoning immoral behavior. The first thought was for the spiritual well-being of the individual; the second for the integrity of the community.
This raises serious questions for the state of church discipline today. Centuries of decline have dramatically reduced the church’s vigor in addressing immorality and unrepentance within its communities. If the church is unwilling to call sinners to repentance who will? What then happens to the motivation for mission? If there are few, if any sins to be condemned, then what’s the motivation for proclaiming the gospel? If Satan is a paper tiger and hell just a mythical place what need is there for a Saviour? The purpose of the church then gets re-engineered as an agency for social justice. We see the effects of this in the world today. How far from Christ’s institution have we fallen?
The Christian community was instituted as an organized community. Any claim that early believers simply lived and worshipped in informal family groups and had no greater structure is dispelled by Jesus’ own words today. He says to “tell it to the church.”1 The issue was reconciliation between Christians. When a sin is unresolved there is a proper order to be followed. Christians aren’t allowed to take things into their own hands. Reconciliation among members of the body of Christ is too important. Accountability has always been essential for the protection of the community. Unresolved sin eats away at the conscience.
A man went to a doctor complaining of persistent pain but the doctor could find nothing physically wrong. The doctor said, "last week I had a fellow who was complaining of pains similar to yours & I couldn’t find anything wrong with him, either. But after talking a while, he told me that he was worried sick about a $5,000 debt he owed & couldn’t pay. Well, we talked about it & I was able to help him."
The man asked, "How did you help him?" "Oh, I told him that life was too short to worry about a piece of paper that said he owed $5,000. I suggested that he tear up the paper & throw it away, & stop worrying about the debt, & get on with his life. So he did. And now he feels great!" "Yes, I know," said the guy. "I’m the one he owes the $5,000 to." What does Paul say today, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.”2
Dear friends, physical pain can be caused by emotional or spiritual stress. This commonly happens during times of grief. It also happens when unforgiven sin festers in our hearts and minds. About this David says in the Psalms, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away…my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.”3 David knew what he was talking about. He labored over the sins of adultery and murder. But note how he goes on, “Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord- and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”4
This promise is secure: God forgives the guilt of the repentant sinner. This forgiveness brings a new lease on life. It quiets the conscience and gives peace to the soul. It is a greater treasure than all the riches of the earth. And it doesn’t come to us cheaply. It was secured at the price of divine blood. The angel of death passed over the houses of those Israelites who had their doorframes marked with lamb’s blood. Forgiven sinners too are spared by the blood of the very Lamb of God. Don’t be too quick to take for granted this gift of forgiveness. If this forgiveness is rejected or despised the baptismal promise is also forfeited.
All of our hopes, our dreams, our pursuits; all of our successes and failures are nothing apart from the certainty of God’s acceptance of us through Christ. This is not something faith easily believes. No wonder Jesus commands His followers to pray for the Holy Spirit. No wonder the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily5. It is through those Scriptures that the Holy Spirit works. These are the truths we are charged with passing onto the next generation.
We are mindful today of the fact that the image of God as Father is foundational for the biblical understanding of divine-human relationships. Though secular society mostly denies the unique role of fatherhood the Scripture teaches that it was part of creation. “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.”6 By design God made non-interchangeable and irreducible distinctions between man and woman, father and mother. Proponents of same-sex marriage crassly deny not only physiological differences, but also the purposeful creation which is the very source. Men and women are not interchangeable not only insofar as biology is concerned. God purposefully created male and female to be complementary and unique.
By virtue of their vocation fathers are charged with the well-being of their children. The most critical part of this responsibility is the moral and spiritual example a father sets for his children. The most critical thing parents can do for their children on a regular basis is practice offering and receiving forgiveness; it’s the same critical dynamic of the Christian congregation. Only in this way can we, as children of God, draw life, hope, and every blessing from Christ who “is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”7
Dear friends, when the Holy Spirit gathers you at this altar you are offered forgiveness in the form of divine food. His body was broken for you. His blood was shed for you. His atonement was not a dramatic way to garner admiration or respect. It was the only means to redeem life. Sin suffocates but forgiveness breathes fresh life. Death is humanly insurmountable. But Christ was mounted upon the cross and death was defeated. Satan could not vanquish Him. Hell could not withstand Him. And now the legions of darkness must suffer Him. Their defeat is final and eternal. Our life is immortal and incorruptible. Christ lives and He makes us participants of His unending life. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost
4 September, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 18:17
2 Romans 13:8
3 Psalm 32:3-4
4 Psalm 32:5
5 See Acts 17:11
6 Genesis 1:27
7 1 John 2:2
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost (A) 2011
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 16:28
Theme: Christ’s Kingdom
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The preaching of sacrifice and humility will always be met with resistance by the triumphalist. Peter had a grand vision and somehow it seemed Christ had lost it. The human mind cannot conceive of victory through defeat. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot understand the nature of Christ’s work. Why would the Messiah, the very Son of God willingly submit to death by crucifixion? Jesus would not use force to try and achieve reconciliation. Only sacrifice could accomplish it. Peter did not yet understand this and therefore Jesus’ rebuke of him was sharp, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”1
Worldly, self-centered interests define sinful humanity. Human nature seeks advantage at the expense of others. These are the things of men Jesus spoke of. Now Peter was not secular-minded or a disloyal disciple. But he radically misunderstood the necessity of Jesus’ Passion. He was ready to share in Jesus’ institution of a worldly kingdom then and there. He thought he had attached himself to the right person. Would it now come to nothing? Yet his heart and will were more in line with Satan’s than Christ’s. Can we confess it’s any different with us and the building of our kingdoms?
The big picture is easily lost sight of. To act like we can live autonomous lives is a deception. The greater conflict of good and evil is not something we can ignore. It existed long before we came onto the scene. True and false, right and wrong are not simply theoretical constructs that can be negotiated and changed according to the whim or discretion of those who have the power or will to redefine them. Evil occurs not only when have been personally wronged and are easily convinced. Evil exists in the absolute sense as opposition to the will and work of God. As such, only God can accurately define what evil is.
Many secular-minded people have lost all regard for truth and absolutes. The postmodern mind tends to regard truth only insofar as it doesn’t conflict with personal feelings or opinions. Then truth will take a backseat. Christians easily fall into this temptation. When emotions are allowed to validate moral or spiritual truth the eventual result will be chaos and anarchy. When truth is relative there is no basis for trust.
A woman offered a brand-new Porsche for sale for a price of ten dollars. A man answered the ad, but he was slightly disbelieving. "What's the gimmick?" he inquired. "No gimmick," the woman answered. "My husband died, and in his will he asked that the car be sold and the money go to his secretary." The man was understandably suspicious of her motive. It defied logic. Yet to her it was not only reasonable but necessary- the details of all relationships involved notwithstanding.
We easily project such suspicion of motive onto God. Can it be that His claims are true? Does He really have no self-interest? Does He really have concern for little ole me? Dear friends, God’s motives are not our motives. Christ extends unconditional compassion to sinners with no self-interest, no gimmicks, no hidden charges, no strings attached. He does it not because He is obligated to us but because that’s who He is. He seeks sinners. He loves the unlovable. This is only Good News to sinners. The healthy need no physician. But to the repentant believer the perspective is completely transformed. Our foils and frailties are not thereby eliminated but now have purpose and they keep driving us upon the mercy of Christ like waves on the beach.
The one who is rudderless can follow the lead of others for a time, but only in Christ is the destination secure. The one who is grieving can find reprieve in fond memories and the kind words of others but only in the promise that Christ resurrects is there comfort and peace. The one who is lacking value and purpose in life can be occupied in an endless number of distractions, but only in Christ is a sense of significance found. The one who hungers and thirsts to be truly loved and understood can search endlessly for just the right person to meet their needs, but only Christ satiates the starving soul. The one in bondage to sinful desire can seek all different measures to cope, but only Christ can set free. Who are these people? You needn’t look very far. You need only a mirror.
Christianity can never be associated with an attempt to explain away the existence of evil or define it as extreme expressions of violent behavior or social or political inequality. The fear of God is lost when the fear of evil declines. The central work of Christ is then eliminated. His sacrifice is a triumph over evil not only because He rose in defiance of death’s power, but also because He robbed Satan of his rationale to accuse the human conscience. Once the wrath of God was appeased at the cross the devil was out of ammunition. Peace with God was made at the cross. No debt was left outstanding. The Scripture says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”2 He now fires only blanks but still strikes fear into the hearts of those not clothed with the armor of God.
At the conclusion of today’s gospel Jesus tells His disciples that they will soon see the coming of the kingdom3. They had envisioned an earthly temple. But the temple He spoke of was His body4. They would see the institution of the kingdom. The death of God’s Son was the breaking of death’s power. His resurrection was the source of life recreated. Heaven is nothing less than immortal existence in the company of the Trinity accessed through the Son.
So in the resurrection of Christ the kingdom has come. In the ascension of Jesus the kingdom has come. In the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost the kingdom has come. Each time the same Spirit creates faith in an individual through the means of grace the kingdom comes. When the baptismal water is poured the kingdom comes. When the Lord’s Supper is administered the kingdom comes.
It is a fundamentally misinformed hope that looks for a kingdom at Christ’s return that is different from what He instituted at His death and resurrection. The kingdom that we seek is His same rule through grace and love. Yes, He will come again in glory, sin will be destroyed, and we will be transformed. But the Saviour we now have by faith is the same One we will then have by sight. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
28 August, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 16:23
2 1 John 3:8
3 See Matthew 16:28
4 See John 2:21
Text: Matthew 16:28
Theme: Christ’s Kingdom
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The preaching of sacrifice and humility will always be met with resistance by the triumphalist. Peter had a grand vision and somehow it seemed Christ had lost it. The human mind cannot conceive of victory through defeat. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot understand the nature of Christ’s work. Why would the Messiah, the very Son of God willingly submit to death by crucifixion? Jesus would not use force to try and achieve reconciliation. Only sacrifice could accomplish it. Peter did not yet understand this and therefore Jesus’ rebuke of him was sharp, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”1
Worldly, self-centered interests define sinful humanity. Human nature seeks advantage at the expense of others. These are the things of men Jesus spoke of. Now Peter was not secular-minded or a disloyal disciple. But he radically misunderstood the necessity of Jesus’ Passion. He was ready to share in Jesus’ institution of a worldly kingdom then and there. He thought he had attached himself to the right person. Would it now come to nothing? Yet his heart and will were more in line with Satan’s than Christ’s. Can we confess it’s any different with us and the building of our kingdoms?
The big picture is easily lost sight of. To act like we can live autonomous lives is a deception. The greater conflict of good and evil is not something we can ignore. It existed long before we came onto the scene. True and false, right and wrong are not simply theoretical constructs that can be negotiated and changed according to the whim or discretion of those who have the power or will to redefine them. Evil occurs not only when have been personally wronged and are easily convinced. Evil exists in the absolute sense as opposition to the will and work of God. As such, only God can accurately define what evil is.
Many secular-minded people have lost all regard for truth and absolutes. The postmodern mind tends to regard truth only insofar as it doesn’t conflict with personal feelings or opinions. Then truth will take a backseat. Christians easily fall into this temptation. When emotions are allowed to validate moral or spiritual truth the eventual result will be chaos and anarchy. When truth is relative there is no basis for trust.
A woman offered a brand-new Porsche for sale for a price of ten dollars. A man answered the ad, but he was slightly disbelieving. "What's the gimmick?" he inquired. "No gimmick," the woman answered. "My husband died, and in his will he asked that the car be sold and the money go to his secretary." The man was understandably suspicious of her motive. It defied logic. Yet to her it was not only reasonable but necessary- the details of all relationships involved notwithstanding.
We easily project such suspicion of motive onto God. Can it be that His claims are true? Does He really have no self-interest? Does He really have concern for little ole me? Dear friends, God’s motives are not our motives. Christ extends unconditional compassion to sinners with no self-interest, no gimmicks, no hidden charges, no strings attached. He does it not because He is obligated to us but because that’s who He is. He seeks sinners. He loves the unlovable. This is only Good News to sinners. The healthy need no physician. But to the repentant believer the perspective is completely transformed. Our foils and frailties are not thereby eliminated but now have purpose and they keep driving us upon the mercy of Christ like waves on the beach.
The one who is rudderless can follow the lead of others for a time, but only in Christ is the destination secure. The one who is grieving can find reprieve in fond memories and the kind words of others but only in the promise that Christ resurrects is there comfort and peace. The one who is lacking value and purpose in life can be occupied in an endless number of distractions, but only in Christ is a sense of significance found. The one who hungers and thirsts to be truly loved and understood can search endlessly for just the right person to meet their needs, but only Christ satiates the starving soul. The one in bondage to sinful desire can seek all different measures to cope, but only Christ can set free. Who are these people? You needn’t look very far. You need only a mirror.
Christianity can never be associated with an attempt to explain away the existence of evil or define it as extreme expressions of violent behavior or social or political inequality. The fear of God is lost when the fear of evil declines. The central work of Christ is then eliminated. His sacrifice is a triumph over evil not only because He rose in defiance of death’s power, but also because He robbed Satan of his rationale to accuse the human conscience. Once the wrath of God was appeased at the cross the devil was out of ammunition. Peace with God was made at the cross. No debt was left outstanding. The Scripture says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”2 He now fires only blanks but still strikes fear into the hearts of those not clothed with the armor of God.
At the conclusion of today’s gospel Jesus tells His disciples that they will soon see the coming of the kingdom3. They had envisioned an earthly temple. But the temple He spoke of was His body4. They would see the institution of the kingdom. The death of God’s Son was the breaking of death’s power. His resurrection was the source of life recreated. Heaven is nothing less than immortal existence in the company of the Trinity accessed through the Son.
So in the resurrection of Christ the kingdom has come. In the ascension of Jesus the kingdom has come. In the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost the kingdom has come. Each time the same Spirit creates faith in an individual through the means of grace the kingdom comes. When the baptismal water is poured the kingdom comes. When the Lord’s Supper is administered the kingdom comes.
It is a fundamentally misinformed hope that looks for a kingdom at Christ’s return that is different from what He instituted at His death and resurrection. The kingdom that we seek is His same rule through grace and love. Yes, He will come again in glory, sin will be destroyed, and we will be transformed. But the Saviour we now have by faith is the same One we will then have by sight. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost
28 August, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 16:23
2 1 John 3:8
3 See Matthew 16:28
4 See John 2:21
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost A (2011)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 16:18
Theme: Built On The Rock
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
In the gospel reading today Peter makes his famous confession of Christ recognizing Him as the living God. More important though is Jesus’ response. “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”1 The confession of Christ is the rock upon which the church is built. This is true not just in a token way. To the extent that people try to build the church on other foundations, other ideals, other proposals- even though intending to prosper the church’s well-being- it will become weak and collapse. The Bible says, “No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”2
The imagery of God and rock or stone is important throughout Scripture. The Israelites drank water from a rock in the desert wilderness. About this Paul says, “Our forefathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”3That rock was Christ. What a remarkable statement. Fifteen centuries before the Child was born in Bethlehem He was gathering His people through ‘sacramental’ means and leading them through the wilderness. Baptized and fed they were being formed into His people.
God tested the Israelites by having them wander in the Sinai desert for 40 years. Here the descendants of Abraham were sifted, gleaned and refined, as it were by fire. There- as He prepared them to enter the promised land of Cana- He formed them into the body of believers. With them we participate in the continuity of the Christian Church throughout the ages. Like us they were saved by trusting in God’s promises. Remember the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was concerned about his brothers also ending up in hell. He was told they should listen to Moses and the prophets, that is, to listen to the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament. Jesus said, “These are the Scriptures that testify about Me.”4
Of course many of those same Israelites still fell away from God in the desert. But what has changed? The human heart is exceedingly depraved. The riots in England are now being carefully assessed. Regarding the nature of the rebellion one commentator gave this very discerning analysis, “One thing is certain: this wasn’t about poverty, not in the material sense. If there’s poverty, it’s spiritual poverty, moral poverty and poverty of ambition.”5 How does the church address such moral and spiritual poverty?
Only faith understands that the grace of Christ is not an abstraction. Is there any concept more vacuous than the idea of the love of God disconnected from any concrete reality? Will the self-absorbed and intellectually conceited world be moved by the constantly repeated mantra “Love of God, love of God”- especially when this just equals tolerance? Can rapprochement with non-Christian or quasi Christian groups be accomplished in this way? If it can, is it an honest expression of biblical truth? You see, only the goodness and power of God can be discerned from the blessings we share with all humanity. “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteousness and the unrighteous.”6 This is no insignificant thing in itself. But it doesn’t have eternal significance. Yes, God is often kind even to the most unrighteous and hardened unbelievers, but only for a time. To the unrepentant God is inevitably a wrathful judge. God is patient. But He will not fail to execute judgment on His enemies.
The last thing Christianity should want to do is give the false impression God is not serious about sinfulness. Such a message falsely pacifies the conscience. It creates no hunger for the gospel. And this cannot be rectified by preaching obedience. Only Christ, sacrificed, buried, and risen reconciles, forgives, and frees. Grace does have very concrete form. Jesus was born into human flesh, suffered and died so that our flesh may be redeemed. To the extent that Christianity portrays itself more or less as a religious group that affirms God is good to those who first obey Him it robs its followers of the very comfort of salvation. Plus it takes away the only sure defense we have against Satan. Does he not smile broadly when he sees believers trying to justify themselves before God and men. That foundation soon crumbles away.
Christ is the rock upon which we stand. Who dares to stand against the powers of hell? Who would risk provoking Satan’s fury? We find refuge in the shadow of the cross. “‘Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace.’ This is so firm and sure that it can prevail against all the gates of hell.” 7 To proclaim, teach, and live this is the entire mission of the church.
God entrusts the church with the unique and unparalleled authority of retaining or forgiving sins. Is there a greater privilege? A more humbling power? This is the crux of the pastor’s vocation. What are all worldly powers, political, institutional, financial, academic, social, and all the other powers there are, in comparison with this power to declare the very gate of heaven open or closed! This alone is the power to bear someone through the darkness and mortality of this decaying existence. To grant forgiveness is to grant life. And only Christ can do it. All other attempts are deceptions and imitations. God grant that the Holy Spirit would burn this truth into our hearts.
Not far from New York City there is a cemetery where there is a grave which has inscribed upon its headstone just one word—"Forgiven." There is no name, no date of birth or death. The stone is unembellished by the sculptor's art. There is no epitaph, no pithy eulogy—just that one word, "Forgiven." But that is the greatest thing that can be said of any human, or written upon their grave, "Forgiven." This truth, the truth of Christ for us, Christ on our behalf, Christ with us- this is the rock upon which we stand. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
21 August, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 16:18
2 1 Corinthians 3:11
3 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
4 John 5:39
5 London Daily Mail
6 Matthew 5:45
7Tappert, AP XXIV 251
Text: Matthew 16:18
Theme: Built On The Rock
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
In the gospel reading today Peter makes his famous confession of Christ recognizing Him as the living God. More important though is Jesus’ response. “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”1 The confession of Christ is the rock upon which the church is built. This is true not just in a token way. To the extent that people try to build the church on other foundations, other ideals, other proposals- even though intending to prosper the church’s well-being- it will become weak and collapse. The Bible says, “No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.”2
The imagery of God and rock or stone is important throughout Scripture. The Israelites drank water from a rock in the desert wilderness. About this Paul says, “Our forefathers were all under the cloud and they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.”3That rock was Christ. What a remarkable statement. Fifteen centuries before the Child was born in Bethlehem He was gathering His people through ‘sacramental’ means and leading them through the wilderness. Baptized and fed they were being formed into His people.
God tested the Israelites by having them wander in the Sinai desert for 40 years. Here the descendants of Abraham were sifted, gleaned and refined, as it were by fire. There- as He prepared them to enter the promised land of Cana- He formed them into the body of believers. With them we participate in the continuity of the Christian Church throughout the ages. Like us they were saved by trusting in God’s promises. Remember the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man was concerned about his brothers also ending up in hell. He was told they should listen to Moses and the prophets, that is, to listen to the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament. Jesus said, “These are the Scriptures that testify about Me.”4
Of course many of those same Israelites still fell away from God in the desert. But what has changed? The human heart is exceedingly depraved. The riots in England are now being carefully assessed. Regarding the nature of the rebellion one commentator gave this very discerning analysis, “One thing is certain: this wasn’t about poverty, not in the material sense. If there’s poverty, it’s spiritual poverty, moral poverty and poverty of ambition.”5 How does the church address such moral and spiritual poverty?
Only faith understands that the grace of Christ is not an abstraction. Is there any concept more vacuous than the idea of the love of God disconnected from any concrete reality? Will the self-absorbed and intellectually conceited world be moved by the constantly repeated mantra “Love of God, love of God”- especially when this just equals tolerance? Can rapprochement with non-Christian or quasi Christian groups be accomplished in this way? If it can, is it an honest expression of biblical truth? You see, only the goodness and power of God can be discerned from the blessings we share with all humanity. “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteousness and the unrighteous.”6 This is no insignificant thing in itself. But it doesn’t have eternal significance. Yes, God is often kind even to the most unrighteous and hardened unbelievers, but only for a time. To the unrepentant God is inevitably a wrathful judge. God is patient. But He will not fail to execute judgment on His enemies.
The last thing Christianity should want to do is give the false impression God is not serious about sinfulness. Such a message falsely pacifies the conscience. It creates no hunger for the gospel. And this cannot be rectified by preaching obedience. Only Christ, sacrificed, buried, and risen reconciles, forgives, and frees. Grace does have very concrete form. Jesus was born into human flesh, suffered and died so that our flesh may be redeemed. To the extent that Christianity portrays itself more or less as a religious group that affirms God is good to those who first obey Him it robs its followers of the very comfort of salvation. Plus it takes away the only sure defense we have against Satan. Does he not smile broadly when he sees believers trying to justify themselves before God and men. That foundation soon crumbles away.
Christ is the rock upon which we stand. Who dares to stand against the powers of hell? Who would risk provoking Satan’s fury? We find refuge in the shadow of the cross. “‘Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace.’ This is so firm and sure that it can prevail against all the gates of hell.” 7 To proclaim, teach, and live this is the entire mission of the church.
God entrusts the church with the unique and unparalleled authority of retaining or forgiving sins. Is there a greater privilege? A more humbling power? This is the crux of the pastor’s vocation. What are all worldly powers, political, institutional, financial, academic, social, and all the other powers there are, in comparison with this power to declare the very gate of heaven open or closed! This alone is the power to bear someone through the darkness and mortality of this decaying existence. To grant forgiveness is to grant life. And only Christ can do it. All other attempts are deceptions and imitations. God grant that the Holy Spirit would burn this truth into our hearts.
Not far from New York City there is a cemetery where there is a grave which has inscribed upon its headstone just one word—"Forgiven." There is no name, no date of birth or death. The stone is unembellished by the sculptor's art. There is no epitaph, no pithy eulogy—just that one word, "Forgiven." But that is the greatest thing that can be said of any human, or written upon their grave, "Forgiven." This truth, the truth of Christ for us, Christ on our behalf, Christ with us- this is the rock upon which we stand. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
21 August, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 16:18
2 1 Corinthians 3:11
3 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
4 John 5:39
5 London Daily Mail
6 Matthew 5:45
7Tappert, AP XXIV 251
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost (A) 2011
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 15:27
Theme: “Crumbs” Of Grace
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God is liberal with His benevolence. And He often provides more than one way or means of resolution. That it sometimes appears our plans work out (as opposed to the ones we believe God would have preferred) is a glorious example of the freedom we have through the gospel in Christ. We need not fret about whether God has sanctioned this or that course of action for us as long as it is a godly pursuit we are undertaking. It’s often not a matter of either/or. Consider the Canaanite woman today. She fervently desired the healing of her daughter. She would have been just as grateful had that happened later rather than sooner.
Regardless of whether things work out in our time or His (which is truly our time too) the key is confidence in His mercy. Now lest we accuse this woman of desperation and not true humility we remember Christ’s commendation of her, “Woman, great is your faith.”1 How unquestioning, confident and humble was her faith! She wasn’t put off by Christ’s earlier words, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”2 His focus at that time was on revealing to the Jews that He was the Christ. And following that His even stronger words of rebuke, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”3 Still, she prostrated her heart before Him. She took no offense at His frank words about giving priority to His own people. She said, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”4 Her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Think also of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers. What opportunity he later had to get revenge! But what does he say, “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” 5 How convicted were the consciences of his brothers! They were terrified of his presence. As such the Holy Spirit made them ripe for forgiveness. He intends to do the same thing in the life of all the baptized. The Bible says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”6
But dear friends, one of the greatest challenges to the Holy Spirit’s work is the human propensity for insincerity and apathy. The warning of Isaiah is always relevant. “These people… honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.”7 When was the last time your conscience went through a serious struggle with sin? When was the last time you devoted more than just a passing reflection to your need for forgiveness? We’re not talking here about some hollow, ritualistic, charade; but an honest and deliberate searching of the heart. How easily the confession of sins becomes a mere formality with little serious intent. Luther gives us practical help. “Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband wife or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds…”8
At issue here too is the matter of becoming desensitized to unrighteousness and ungodliness in the world. The communal restraint of past generations can hardly be relied upon anymore. Aside from political incorrectness just about any form of rebelliousness or dishonesty is tolerated if not condoned in society. Look at the recent turmoil in London. One of the rioters was a self-described anarchist. The godless soul wants no restraints. God doesn’t judge you by whether you fit in with the standards of the culture. The Scripture says, “When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.”9 And in regards to the world it says, “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins.”10
This makes the job of Christian parents and grandparents all the more essential. The Holy Spirit forms the consciences of the young primarily through the teaching and example of parents and other authorities. The values of community and the faith of the holy Christian church are not passed on by osmosis or assumption, but by devoted and informed words and deeds. These things are not mere formalities. Nor are they achieved by a few hours of catechism instruction.
The life of faith is a daily engagement of the struggle between truth and falsehood. God grant that we would have the persistence of the Canaanite woman and the compassion of Joseph. The Lutheran Confessions have this to say, “The faith we speak of has its existence in penitence. It ought to grow and become firmer amid good works as well as temptations and dangers, so that we become ever stronger in the conviction that God cares for us, forgives us, and hears us for Christ’s sake. No one learns this without many severe struggles. How often our aroused conscience tempts us to despair when it shows our old or new sins or the uncleanness of our nature! This handwriting is not erased without a great conflict in which experience testifies how difficult a thing faith is.”11
The greatest witnesses to the gospel are those who have the most acute awareness that they are sinners. St. Paul called himself the worst of sinners.12 Luther was famous for his monastic confessions of unworthiness. Even his father confessor got tired of listening to him. These self-confessed sinners were some of the many great saints of the kingdom. Why is this? For them absolution penetrates deep in the soul. Firstly, forgiveness frees. It puts the conscience at peace. Even in the midst of the turmoil of the world the heart can be at rest. Secondly, forgiveness inspires and empowers. It ignites a passion for the holy and sacred. Temporal burdens are greatly lightened by the eternal perspective.
It is a difficult thing to believe that we are sinners worthy of condemnation. But harder still is to believe we are forgiven by grace, for Christ’s sake. We can do neither without the Holy Spirit. Indeed, it seems easy to expect that God would pardon us if we don’t really think our offenses are that great. But this is no real faith; not a faith that gasps at the horror of the cross. Such a faith is never presumptuous but always grateful, never demanding but always humble. Christ has been sacrificed for your sins. He lives to give you life. He has provided multiple means to receive His forgiveness. Through water, word, bread and wine His grace is constantly offered, sealed, and delivered. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
14 August, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 15:28
2 Matthew 15:24
3 Matthew 15:26
4 Matthew 15:27
5 Genesis 45:7
6 Matthew 5:6
7 Isaiah 29:13
8 Luther’s Small Catechism
9 1 Corinthians 11:32
10 Revelation 18:4
11 Tappert, AP IV 160, 161
12 See 1 Timothy 1:15
Text: Matthew 15:27
Theme: “Crumbs” Of Grace
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
God is liberal with His benevolence. And He often provides more than one way or means of resolution. That it sometimes appears our plans work out (as opposed to the ones we believe God would have preferred) is a glorious example of the freedom we have through the gospel in Christ. We need not fret about whether God has sanctioned this or that course of action for us as long as it is a godly pursuit we are undertaking. It’s often not a matter of either/or. Consider the Canaanite woman today. She fervently desired the healing of her daughter. She would have been just as grateful had that happened later rather than sooner.
Regardless of whether things work out in our time or His (which is truly our time too) the key is confidence in His mercy. Now lest we accuse this woman of desperation and not true humility we remember Christ’s commendation of her, “Woman, great is your faith.”1 How unquestioning, confident and humble was her faith! She wasn’t put off by Christ’s earlier words, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”2 His focus at that time was on revealing to the Jews that He was the Christ. And following that His even stronger words of rebuke, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”3 Still, she prostrated her heart before Him. She took no offense at His frank words about giving priority to His own people. She said, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”4 Her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Think also of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers. What opportunity he later had to get revenge! But what does he say, “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” 5 How convicted were the consciences of his brothers! They were terrified of his presence. As such the Holy Spirit made them ripe for forgiveness. He intends to do the same thing in the life of all the baptized. The Bible says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”6
But dear friends, one of the greatest challenges to the Holy Spirit’s work is the human propensity for insincerity and apathy. The warning of Isaiah is always relevant. “These people… honour Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.”7 When was the last time your conscience went through a serious struggle with sin? When was the last time you devoted more than just a passing reflection to your need for forgiveness? We’re not talking here about some hollow, ritualistic, charade; but an honest and deliberate searching of the heart. How easily the confession of sins becomes a mere formality with little serious intent. Luther gives us practical help. “Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband wife or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds…”8
At issue here too is the matter of becoming desensitized to unrighteousness and ungodliness in the world. The communal restraint of past generations can hardly be relied upon anymore. Aside from political incorrectness just about any form of rebelliousness or dishonesty is tolerated if not condoned in society. Look at the recent turmoil in London. One of the rioters was a self-described anarchist. The godless soul wants no restraints. God doesn’t judge you by whether you fit in with the standards of the culture. The Scripture says, “When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.”9 And in regards to the world it says, “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins.”10
This makes the job of Christian parents and grandparents all the more essential. The Holy Spirit forms the consciences of the young primarily through the teaching and example of parents and other authorities. The values of community and the faith of the holy Christian church are not passed on by osmosis or assumption, but by devoted and informed words and deeds. These things are not mere formalities. Nor are they achieved by a few hours of catechism instruction.
The life of faith is a daily engagement of the struggle between truth and falsehood. God grant that we would have the persistence of the Canaanite woman and the compassion of Joseph. The Lutheran Confessions have this to say, “The faith we speak of has its existence in penitence. It ought to grow and become firmer amid good works as well as temptations and dangers, so that we become ever stronger in the conviction that God cares for us, forgives us, and hears us for Christ’s sake. No one learns this without many severe struggles. How often our aroused conscience tempts us to despair when it shows our old or new sins or the uncleanness of our nature! This handwriting is not erased without a great conflict in which experience testifies how difficult a thing faith is.”11
The greatest witnesses to the gospel are those who have the most acute awareness that they are sinners. St. Paul called himself the worst of sinners.12 Luther was famous for his monastic confessions of unworthiness. Even his father confessor got tired of listening to him. These self-confessed sinners were some of the many great saints of the kingdom. Why is this? For them absolution penetrates deep in the soul. Firstly, forgiveness frees. It puts the conscience at peace. Even in the midst of the turmoil of the world the heart can be at rest. Secondly, forgiveness inspires and empowers. It ignites a passion for the holy and sacred. Temporal burdens are greatly lightened by the eternal perspective.
It is a difficult thing to believe that we are sinners worthy of condemnation. But harder still is to believe we are forgiven by grace, for Christ’s sake. We can do neither without the Holy Spirit. Indeed, it seems easy to expect that God would pardon us if we don’t really think our offenses are that great. But this is no real faith; not a faith that gasps at the horror of the cross. Such a faith is never presumptuous but always grateful, never demanding but always humble. Christ has been sacrificed for your sins. He lives to give you life. He has provided multiple means to receive His forgiveness. Through water, word, bread and wine His grace is constantly offered, sealed, and delivered. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
14 August, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 15:28
2 Matthew 15:24
3 Matthew 15:26
4 Matthew 15:27
5 Genesis 45:7
6 Matthew 5:6
7 Isaiah 29:13
8 Luther’s Small Catechism
9 1 Corinthians 11:32
10 Revelation 18:4
11 Tappert, AP IV 160, 161
12 See 1 Timothy 1:15
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost (A) 2011
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Theme: No Ordinary Prophet
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Blindness is inherited. Sight is gifted. The eyes of faith do not open at birth. They are opened when the Spirit gives sight. Spiritual blindness is biblically synonymous with separation from God. It denotes allegiance with the forces of darkness. Let’s be clear, the unbelieving person doesn’t necessarily set out to make an adversary of God. (Though without faith God is an enemy by definition) No, the open-minded, respectable person simply desires that God be manageable. That’s how human nature sees it. If God cannot be managed on human terms then a relationship with Him becomes a huge risk and liability. The possibility, even the probability then exists that we’ll have to concede to His authority and not the other way around. This is not a question faith would be concerned with.
Such concerns are symptomatic not only of the unbelieving world, but also of the baptized who have drifted so far from the Shepherd so as to hardly recognize His voice. Even within the church God has been largely domesticated and the teachings of Scripture rendered mere formalities among a large number of nominal believers. That suits the lukewarm Christian just fine. It makes the God-stuff manageable and the commitment optional. At the same time it appears to let one remain as a benefactor of all the promises and blessings. After all, need we not only believe? Doesn’t the Bible say we are saved by faith? Yes, but believing is the hardest thing of all. And believing affects behavior. Be very wary of thinking genuine faith is only an intellectual assent. This is the devil’s trap.
God cannot be boxed in by our self-constructed parameters. Which of you, had you been among the disciples on that wind-driven sea would have sought to domesticate the Christ walking on its surface? Would you dare to advise Him? Question Him? Make excuses in front of Him? Would you be so bold as to negotiate your half-hearted allegiance? Would you even think to do so? How foolish are all attempts to keep God at arm’s length! When the living Christ is in the boat can He be safely ignored?
Dear friends, nothing can be hidden from the sight of God. Does God’s unlimited knowledge not drive us to repentance? Solomon says, “Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord- how much more the hearts of men.”1 God knows our sins. If knowing that He knows doesn’t elicit shame and remorse then our spiritual well-being is in jeopardy. We must then reflect on some serious questions. Do we consider our sins to be trivial? Or do we think God cares nothing of them? Or do we even believe He is serious about His judgments? The person secure in his or her sins has not yet been condemned by the law.
On the surface of it people seem to suffer God as long as He is manageable. But deep down the unrepentant sinner grows to despise His presence. The wicked heart plots to be free of Him altogether. But the believer longs for God’s consolation and deliverance. Have no doubt that He who walks on the waves will come to you when you are barely able to keep your head above water. Have no doubt that the Good Shepherd seeks out His lambs who are in need. When He acts there is no delay.
Immediately! That’s the speed with which Christ responded to save Peter. In fact, this whole narrative is marked by immediacy. After the feeding of the 5000 Jesus immediately told the disciples to get into the boat. When He came walking to them on the water He immediately reassured them when they thought He was a ghost. And John tells us that at the end of this event their boat immediately reached the shore2. It’s reminder of how Christ is unrestricted by any obstacles when He desires to expedite His aid. But how can we reconcile the seeming contradiction that God can work immediately for our well-being but often appears to prolong the sending of His aid? Through such measures God seeks to draw us closer to Himself.
This drawing closer is the life-long activity of maturing in the faith. But faith only matures as it is enlightened by and educated in the truth. After hearing his dad preach on "justification," "sanctification," and all the other "-ations," a minister's son was ready when his Sunday school teacher asked if anybody knew what "procrastination" meant. The boy said, "I'm not sure what it means, but I know our church believes in it!" Do we know what the Bible teaches and if we do, do we consider ourselves to be bound by it? Some of the most fundamental of beliefs are under serious threat. Do we believe God created the universe and understand that sin has dire consequences for the whole of creation? Do we know the Bible affirms the sanctity of human life, marriage between a man and a woman only and fidelity within that marriage? Is Christ and His grace alone clung to as the sole means of salvation from sin, death, and Satan? Do we cherish our baptismal identity in Christ and eagerly look forward to receiving His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper? When these foundational things are forfeited all other church activity becomes peripheral.
Dear friends, the event of Jesus walking on the water is a proof of His divinity. It wasn’t a nifty trick or optical illusion. It cannot be rationalized by natural means. The skeptic won’t be satisfied with any explanation. Jesus was not merely accessing supernatural powers. He embodied them. The prophet of God borrows authority from on high and uses it below. But the Son of God frees creation from its restraints merely by the utterance of a word. His contravening of the laws of nature didn’t require prayers or incantations to the Almighty. He did not have to wait for results. With the ease of common movement He was master over, wind, wave, and sea. More importantly He was Master over the all the powers of comprehension the disciples could muster.
How do they respond? Fear and then worship. And there is surely what is known as a ‘primal’ emotion involved here. They were in the presence of someone incomprehensible and overpowering. This Jesus was no mere human. He was more than a prophet. There in their small boat, on that little lake they sailed with the creator of the universe. When Peter began to walk on the water to Jesus he was in no danger. But then fear of the wind and waves overtook him. How often are the disciples chastised for their lack of faith!
Where does that leave us? Christ doesn’t ask you to walk on water. He asks you to stay focused on the One who can subdue the storms and turbulence of your life. The Scripture says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.”3 Christ has already endured the cross. Do we need any other sign of His unconditional love? His resurrection guarantees that death has no power of Him. And therefore death has no power over those who are His. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
7 August, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Proverbs 15:11
2 See John 6:21
3 Hebrews 12:2
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Theme: No Ordinary Prophet
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
Blindness is inherited. Sight is gifted. The eyes of faith do not open at birth. They are opened when the Spirit gives sight. Spiritual blindness is biblically synonymous with separation from God. It denotes allegiance with the forces of darkness. Let’s be clear, the unbelieving person doesn’t necessarily set out to make an adversary of God. (Though without faith God is an enemy by definition) No, the open-minded, respectable person simply desires that God be manageable. That’s how human nature sees it. If God cannot be managed on human terms then a relationship with Him becomes a huge risk and liability. The possibility, even the probability then exists that we’ll have to concede to His authority and not the other way around. This is not a question faith would be concerned with.
Such concerns are symptomatic not only of the unbelieving world, but also of the baptized who have drifted so far from the Shepherd so as to hardly recognize His voice. Even within the church God has been largely domesticated and the teachings of Scripture rendered mere formalities among a large number of nominal believers. That suits the lukewarm Christian just fine. It makes the God-stuff manageable and the commitment optional. At the same time it appears to let one remain as a benefactor of all the promises and blessings. After all, need we not only believe? Doesn’t the Bible say we are saved by faith? Yes, but believing is the hardest thing of all. And believing affects behavior. Be very wary of thinking genuine faith is only an intellectual assent. This is the devil’s trap.
God cannot be boxed in by our self-constructed parameters. Which of you, had you been among the disciples on that wind-driven sea would have sought to domesticate the Christ walking on its surface? Would you dare to advise Him? Question Him? Make excuses in front of Him? Would you be so bold as to negotiate your half-hearted allegiance? Would you even think to do so? How foolish are all attempts to keep God at arm’s length! When the living Christ is in the boat can He be safely ignored?
Dear friends, nothing can be hidden from the sight of God. Does God’s unlimited knowledge not drive us to repentance? Solomon says, “Death and Destruction lie open before the Lord- how much more the hearts of men.”1 God knows our sins. If knowing that He knows doesn’t elicit shame and remorse then our spiritual well-being is in jeopardy. We must then reflect on some serious questions. Do we consider our sins to be trivial? Or do we think God cares nothing of them? Or do we even believe He is serious about His judgments? The person secure in his or her sins has not yet been condemned by the law.
On the surface of it people seem to suffer God as long as He is manageable. But deep down the unrepentant sinner grows to despise His presence. The wicked heart plots to be free of Him altogether. But the believer longs for God’s consolation and deliverance. Have no doubt that He who walks on the waves will come to you when you are barely able to keep your head above water. Have no doubt that the Good Shepherd seeks out His lambs who are in need. When He acts there is no delay.
Immediately! That’s the speed with which Christ responded to save Peter. In fact, this whole narrative is marked by immediacy. After the feeding of the 5000 Jesus immediately told the disciples to get into the boat. When He came walking to them on the water He immediately reassured them when they thought He was a ghost. And John tells us that at the end of this event their boat immediately reached the shore2. It’s reminder of how Christ is unrestricted by any obstacles when He desires to expedite His aid. But how can we reconcile the seeming contradiction that God can work immediately for our well-being but often appears to prolong the sending of His aid? Through such measures God seeks to draw us closer to Himself.
This drawing closer is the life-long activity of maturing in the faith. But faith only matures as it is enlightened by and educated in the truth. After hearing his dad preach on "justification," "sanctification," and all the other "-ations," a minister's son was ready when his Sunday school teacher asked if anybody knew what "procrastination" meant. The boy said, "I'm not sure what it means, but I know our church believes in it!" Do we know what the Bible teaches and if we do, do we consider ourselves to be bound by it? Some of the most fundamental of beliefs are under serious threat. Do we believe God created the universe and understand that sin has dire consequences for the whole of creation? Do we know the Bible affirms the sanctity of human life, marriage between a man and a woman only and fidelity within that marriage? Is Christ and His grace alone clung to as the sole means of salvation from sin, death, and Satan? Do we cherish our baptismal identity in Christ and eagerly look forward to receiving His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper? When these foundational things are forfeited all other church activity becomes peripheral.
Dear friends, the event of Jesus walking on the water is a proof of His divinity. It wasn’t a nifty trick or optical illusion. It cannot be rationalized by natural means. The skeptic won’t be satisfied with any explanation. Jesus was not merely accessing supernatural powers. He embodied them. The prophet of God borrows authority from on high and uses it below. But the Son of God frees creation from its restraints merely by the utterance of a word. His contravening of the laws of nature didn’t require prayers or incantations to the Almighty. He did not have to wait for results. With the ease of common movement He was master over, wind, wave, and sea. More importantly He was Master over the all the powers of comprehension the disciples could muster.
How do they respond? Fear and then worship. And there is surely what is known as a ‘primal’ emotion involved here. They were in the presence of someone incomprehensible and overpowering. This Jesus was no mere human. He was more than a prophet. There in their small boat, on that little lake they sailed with the creator of the universe. When Peter began to walk on the water to Jesus he was in no danger. But then fear of the wind and waves overtook him. How often are the disciples chastised for their lack of faith!
Where does that leave us? Christ doesn’t ask you to walk on water. He asks you to stay focused on the One who can subdue the storms and turbulence of your life. The Scripture says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.”3 Christ has already endured the cross. Do we need any other sign of His unconditional love? His resurrection guarantees that death has no power of Him. And therefore death has no power over those who are His. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
7 August, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Proverbs 15:11
2 See John 6:21
3 Hebrews 12:2
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost (A) 2011
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 14:20
Theme: Limitless Compassion
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
How can we fathom the compassion of Christ? We dare not compare His mercy to our feeble attempts at pity or sympathy. The nails were not driven through our hands. The spear was not into thrust into our sides. The blood did not flow from our wounds. The Father does not leave us in the hour of utmost need. In a way it seems that Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 today is a woefully inadequate expression of His divine compassion. It seems almost trivial to concern oneself with empty stomachs when lost souls are on the precipice of darkness. But Christ does not neglect the one at the expense of the other. The provider of food for the body and place of refuge for the soul are one in the same.
But does humanity really require the assistance or benevolence of God to feed itself physically and spiritually? Do we believe this? Isn’t God being rendered obsolete? Many will stand up and assert (as they have in nearly every age) that humanity’s achievements have reached new heights. We can send probes to the edge of the solar system. We can manipulate the genes of an unborn infant. We can transmit data instantly across the face of the globe. But no achievement is immune from arrogance and abuse. The builders of Babel also triumphed in human achievement. They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves.”1 Their motive was pride. It was a display of arrogance. But God scrambled their logistics.
The humble too have accomplished great feats. Noah built an ark; a mammoth vessel that contained all the organisms that would repopulate the earth. But what was the difference between the builder of the ark and the builders of Babel? One had the command and countenance of God and the others did not. Noah served God in faith. The builders of Babel served themselves in defiance. Do we use the gifts of God to serve our neighbour in love and defend the truth of God in Christ? Or do they primarily become tools of manipulation, selfishness and the attainment of power and pleasure?
Quoting the Scripture Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”2 But He wasn’t denigrating physical food and its purpose. Food is more than a bodily necessity. It is one of humanity’s greatest sources of pleasure. Remember Jesus turned the water into wine at the Cana wedding feast. Jesus deliberately used meals for social contact, social connection, and social inclusion. In doing so He often transgressed the religious customs of the time. His rules for table fellowship usually angered the Pharisees.
John tells us that after everyone was fed Jesus said, “Let nothing be wasted.”3 These words ring out as a stinging indictment against society today. Yet, God still provides abundantly for His creation. He prefers to cajole us into appreciation rather than shock us into such recognition through His judgments. The Scripture says, “Do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance?”4 But the track record for people being led to repentance through God’s kindness is not too stellar. Of course there must be a place for the law to function. True spiritual hunger must be created. Only then can people be fed with the fruit of the cross and roused by the power of the resurrection.
Dear friends, the assumptions taken for granted in the past- for example that the average person will see the value of Christianity for society- no longer hold true, if they ever really did. Without making the effort to do justice to the complexities, certain general observations can be made. Historically recognized or tolerated tenets are now breaking down. The incumbency of a Christian framework as the world view of the culture is not a given. Darwinism rules the scientific arena and claims supremacy in regards to all living systems. Relativism rules the arena of truth and objectivity and rejects all claims of absolute authority. Ironically, Darwinism and relativism are incompatible but manage to coexist. In the realm of ethics and morality Western society is driven largely by a practical approach, the same relativism (what’s true or good for you isn’t necessarily true or good for me) and a fierce individualism. The feeling and right of the individual usually reigns supreme.
None of these philosophies or ideals is new. The Christian cannot be exempt from the burdensome task of critiquing the prevailing falsehoods of the time. It does not suffice to bury one’s head in the sand. The church’s response has for a long time now involved a sustained effort to find common ground. As the average parishioner adopts more of a secular mindset the appeal and value of the faith weakens. Are the pious promises of God more important than what the world has on offer? Increasingly the answer is no. The competition for allegiance becomes fierce. Jacob wrestled with God. Faith wrestles with temptation and truth.
Where does the restless human soul find comfort? It’s no good occupying ourselves with an endless number of distractions. Idols are easily made. They are not so easily deconstructed. The gospel is never abundantly obvious to human reason. Common sense does not automatically lead to an understanding of the gospel. The sinner can appreciate Christ as a martyr but cannot own Him as a Saviour. It is beyond human ability. Grace must be defined in this way or it is forfeited. The gift of repentance is the gift of God’s forbearance in Christ. The Holy Spirit’s endowment of contrition, sorrow for sins; and His concomitant bequest of faith, trust in Christ for the forgiveness of those sins, reconciles the previously estranged believer to the heavenly Father.
The gospel announces that this reality is both constituted and consummated in Christ. Baptism is the power and locality of this action. The eternal Son of God who becomes Immanuel, God-With-Us in the flesh of Jesus nevertheless remains chronologically distant until the command of baptism is enacted. When faith exists before baptism, as it certainly can, it still looks forward to baptism’s completion.
We rightly pray for our daily bread. Christ provides what we need, not always what we want. Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”5 Holy Communion is the true manna from heaven. It is nurture for the body and food for the soul. It is the only meal consumed with and consisting of the crucified and living Christ. Through it forgiveness is ingested for the benefit of the soul. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
31th July, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Genesis 11:4
2 Matthew 4:4
3 John 6:12
4 Romans 2:4
5 John 6:51
Text: Matthew 14:20
Theme: Limitless Compassion
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
How can we fathom the compassion of Christ? We dare not compare His mercy to our feeble attempts at pity or sympathy. The nails were not driven through our hands. The spear was not into thrust into our sides. The blood did not flow from our wounds. The Father does not leave us in the hour of utmost need. In a way it seems that Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 today is a woefully inadequate expression of His divine compassion. It seems almost trivial to concern oneself with empty stomachs when lost souls are on the precipice of darkness. But Christ does not neglect the one at the expense of the other. The provider of food for the body and place of refuge for the soul are one in the same.
But does humanity really require the assistance or benevolence of God to feed itself physically and spiritually? Do we believe this? Isn’t God being rendered obsolete? Many will stand up and assert (as they have in nearly every age) that humanity’s achievements have reached new heights. We can send probes to the edge of the solar system. We can manipulate the genes of an unborn infant. We can transmit data instantly across the face of the globe. But no achievement is immune from arrogance and abuse. The builders of Babel also triumphed in human achievement. They said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves.”1 Their motive was pride. It was a display of arrogance. But God scrambled their logistics.
The humble too have accomplished great feats. Noah built an ark; a mammoth vessel that contained all the organisms that would repopulate the earth. But what was the difference between the builder of the ark and the builders of Babel? One had the command and countenance of God and the others did not. Noah served God in faith. The builders of Babel served themselves in defiance. Do we use the gifts of God to serve our neighbour in love and defend the truth of God in Christ? Or do they primarily become tools of manipulation, selfishness and the attainment of power and pleasure?
Quoting the Scripture Jesus said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”2 But He wasn’t denigrating physical food and its purpose. Food is more than a bodily necessity. It is one of humanity’s greatest sources of pleasure. Remember Jesus turned the water into wine at the Cana wedding feast. Jesus deliberately used meals for social contact, social connection, and social inclusion. In doing so He often transgressed the religious customs of the time. His rules for table fellowship usually angered the Pharisees.
John tells us that after everyone was fed Jesus said, “Let nothing be wasted.”3 These words ring out as a stinging indictment against society today. Yet, God still provides abundantly for His creation. He prefers to cajole us into appreciation rather than shock us into such recognition through His judgments. The Scripture says, “Do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance?”4 But the track record for people being led to repentance through God’s kindness is not too stellar. Of course there must be a place for the law to function. True spiritual hunger must be created. Only then can people be fed with the fruit of the cross and roused by the power of the resurrection.
Dear friends, the assumptions taken for granted in the past- for example that the average person will see the value of Christianity for society- no longer hold true, if they ever really did. Without making the effort to do justice to the complexities, certain general observations can be made. Historically recognized or tolerated tenets are now breaking down. The incumbency of a Christian framework as the world view of the culture is not a given. Darwinism rules the scientific arena and claims supremacy in regards to all living systems. Relativism rules the arena of truth and objectivity and rejects all claims of absolute authority. Ironically, Darwinism and relativism are incompatible but manage to coexist. In the realm of ethics and morality Western society is driven largely by a practical approach, the same relativism (what’s true or good for you isn’t necessarily true or good for me) and a fierce individualism. The feeling and right of the individual usually reigns supreme.
None of these philosophies or ideals is new. The Christian cannot be exempt from the burdensome task of critiquing the prevailing falsehoods of the time. It does not suffice to bury one’s head in the sand. The church’s response has for a long time now involved a sustained effort to find common ground. As the average parishioner adopts more of a secular mindset the appeal and value of the faith weakens. Are the pious promises of God more important than what the world has on offer? Increasingly the answer is no. The competition for allegiance becomes fierce. Jacob wrestled with God. Faith wrestles with temptation and truth.
Where does the restless human soul find comfort? It’s no good occupying ourselves with an endless number of distractions. Idols are easily made. They are not so easily deconstructed. The gospel is never abundantly obvious to human reason. Common sense does not automatically lead to an understanding of the gospel. The sinner can appreciate Christ as a martyr but cannot own Him as a Saviour. It is beyond human ability. Grace must be defined in this way or it is forfeited. The gift of repentance is the gift of God’s forbearance in Christ. The Holy Spirit’s endowment of contrition, sorrow for sins; and His concomitant bequest of faith, trust in Christ for the forgiveness of those sins, reconciles the previously estranged believer to the heavenly Father.
The gospel announces that this reality is both constituted and consummated in Christ. Baptism is the power and locality of this action. The eternal Son of God who becomes Immanuel, God-With-Us in the flesh of Jesus nevertheless remains chronologically distant until the command of baptism is enacted. When faith exists before baptism, as it certainly can, it still looks forward to baptism’s completion.
We rightly pray for our daily bread. Christ provides what we need, not always what we want. Jesus calls Himself the Bread of Life. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”5 Holy Communion is the true manna from heaven. It is nurture for the body and food for the soul. It is the only meal consumed with and consisting of the crucified and living Christ. Through it forgiveness is ingested for the benefit of the soul. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
31th July, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Genesis 11:4
2 Matthew 4:4
3 John 6:12
4 Romans 2:4
5 John 6:51
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost A (2011)
+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.
Text: Matthew 13:44-52
Theme: Parables
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The work of God is comprehensive. “Fish of every kind”1 will be gathered by the net at the end of the age. The analogy compares fish to people and certainly means that all people will stand before God. No one will fall between the cracks. No one will deceptively, or politely, or forcefully be able to avoid the gathering of all humanity before the Almighty’s throne. We are wise not to push this pending reality to the back burner. Life can end suddenly and Christ also promises to return without prior warning. In present perspective, God is always speaking to you through His word- and in the here and now.
Today Jesus again teaches about the kingdom of God with various parables. The parable of the treasure buried in the field illustrates the incomparable value of eternal life with God. The parable of the pearl of great price is in the same vein. It seems as though in ancient times there were money lenders, but there were no banks. It was common practice to bury valuables in the ground for safe-keeping. These treasures could easily be lost track of, especially in times of war or upheaval. When these stashes of riches were found it could be quite a momentous occasion. Still today such archeological treasures of this type are unearthed.
Though the parable is commonly interpreted as showing that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure of great worth- something that we should acquire above all else- we should understand Christ as the key to the interpretation. Christ considers humanity so exceedingly ‘valuable’ that He sacrificed His own life to acquire our presence in eternity. The parables should never be understood as mere moralisms. A moralism requires a human resolution to a problem insofar as it teaches right from wrong and expects the hearer to learn and obey the lesson. The parables primarily teach the nature of Christ’s activities within and on behalf of the world.
But certainly Christ’s parables teach us to take very seriously His warnings about the temptations of the world and how easily they can shipwreck faith and lead someone down the broad road to destruction. The question maybe asked why the church is not more forceful or heavy-handed when it comes to marginal, lapsed, or inactive members. Why isn’t there more of an ultimatum to be involved? It is a valid question that deserves some discussion. Living according to the truth and bearing the cross are serious matters. But the Holy Spirit must do the heavy lifting. We can speak words, and we must learn to speak them clearly and truthfully; and we can follow through with consistent actions, but only God can change the heart and motivate from within. Until faith germinates and begins to grow it will do no good to coerce the individual.
You see, if someone doesn’t believe, then to force some external participation in church life from them is essentially pointless. It can easily cause bitterness and resentment. Furthermore it is likely to give the false impression that God’s favour can be earned through such efforts. If one just keeps up a nominal connection then the thought is that the religious box is ticked for another season or another year. Then faith in the gospel is hindered even more.
No, the Holy Spirit must block off every avenue of escape. As long as there remains even one emergency exit the sinful human nature will always run for that rather than face the truth. This is how God’s law functions: It finally blocks off all the exits. You cannot really repent while at the same time searching for an excuse or an escape. Repentance involves recognition that you can’t have Christ (or His help) on your own terms. He is outside your control and He applies righteousness to you from without.
What does this righteousness applied to you from without mean? It means that believers are justified before God not by any virtue or rectitude that can be discovered or nurtured from within. The blood of Christ protects you from the judgment of God. It means that any uncertainty about whether the favour of God depends on your strength, your holiness, your knowledge, or your efforts is completely laid to rest. You are in God’s good graces- and remain there- solely by the worth and work of Christ. Even though the Holy Spirit changes the believer from within, the saving benefits of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are always credited to us from without- as it were. The Scripture says, “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”2 For this we should be very grateful.
We would of course like to clearly understand how God can be a God of infinite compassion and unconditional love while at the same time being a God of justice who often appears to threaten us with His judgments. But if we could comprehend this paradox then there would be no purpose for faith. The mystery of why God acts as He does towards us in any particular circumstance would be revealed. It would in effect mean that sin no longer had any consequences worth worrying about. If we could reconcile God’s mercy and His justice there would be no need for Christ, no need for His atonement, no need for sacrifice, no need for a crucifixion. There would be no need for the forgiveness of sins. There would be no need for you to partake of this gift of His body and blood for that forgiveness. The sacrament would truly become nothing more than a hollow ritual of remembrance.
But that is not the way of God. Maturity of faith involves coming to terms with such truths. Reality doesn’t operate according to our preferences and there is a very good reason it doesn’t. The very organic nature of the parables reminds us that God is present and active in the common events of life. That doesn’t make the parables simple. It means life is vested with more depth of meaning than we normally think of. Christ is with us in the fray.
What does St. Paul say today in his dramatic and comforting conclusion to Romans chapter eight? “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?3. No power or evil that believers face- physical persecution, spiritual assault, angels, demons, even death itself- can overcome the work of Christ. None of these things can separate us- through violence, deception, or subtlety- from Christ’s redeeming and eternal love? What evidence do we have? Christ died. He was raised to life. He now intercedes at God’s right hand. There He prepares our eternal home. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
24th July, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 13:47
2 Galatians 3:27
3 Romans 8:32
Text: Matthew 13:44-52
Theme: Parables
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
The work of God is comprehensive. “Fish of every kind”1 will be gathered by the net at the end of the age. The analogy compares fish to people and certainly means that all people will stand before God. No one will fall between the cracks. No one will deceptively, or politely, or forcefully be able to avoid the gathering of all humanity before the Almighty’s throne. We are wise not to push this pending reality to the back burner. Life can end suddenly and Christ also promises to return without prior warning. In present perspective, God is always speaking to you through His word- and in the here and now.
Today Jesus again teaches about the kingdom of God with various parables. The parable of the treasure buried in the field illustrates the incomparable value of eternal life with God. The parable of the pearl of great price is in the same vein. It seems as though in ancient times there were money lenders, but there were no banks. It was common practice to bury valuables in the ground for safe-keeping. These treasures could easily be lost track of, especially in times of war or upheaval. When these stashes of riches were found it could be quite a momentous occasion. Still today such archeological treasures of this type are unearthed.
Though the parable is commonly interpreted as showing that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure of great worth- something that we should acquire above all else- we should understand Christ as the key to the interpretation. Christ considers humanity so exceedingly ‘valuable’ that He sacrificed His own life to acquire our presence in eternity. The parables should never be understood as mere moralisms. A moralism requires a human resolution to a problem insofar as it teaches right from wrong and expects the hearer to learn and obey the lesson. The parables primarily teach the nature of Christ’s activities within and on behalf of the world.
But certainly Christ’s parables teach us to take very seriously His warnings about the temptations of the world and how easily they can shipwreck faith and lead someone down the broad road to destruction. The question maybe asked why the church is not more forceful or heavy-handed when it comes to marginal, lapsed, or inactive members. Why isn’t there more of an ultimatum to be involved? It is a valid question that deserves some discussion. Living according to the truth and bearing the cross are serious matters. But the Holy Spirit must do the heavy lifting. We can speak words, and we must learn to speak them clearly and truthfully; and we can follow through with consistent actions, but only God can change the heart and motivate from within. Until faith germinates and begins to grow it will do no good to coerce the individual.
You see, if someone doesn’t believe, then to force some external participation in church life from them is essentially pointless. It can easily cause bitterness and resentment. Furthermore it is likely to give the false impression that God’s favour can be earned through such efforts. If one just keeps up a nominal connection then the thought is that the religious box is ticked for another season or another year. Then faith in the gospel is hindered even more.
No, the Holy Spirit must block off every avenue of escape. As long as there remains even one emergency exit the sinful human nature will always run for that rather than face the truth. This is how God’s law functions: It finally blocks off all the exits. You cannot really repent while at the same time searching for an excuse or an escape. Repentance involves recognition that you can’t have Christ (or His help) on your own terms. He is outside your control and He applies righteousness to you from without.
What does this righteousness applied to you from without mean? It means that believers are justified before God not by any virtue or rectitude that can be discovered or nurtured from within. The blood of Christ protects you from the judgment of God. It means that any uncertainty about whether the favour of God depends on your strength, your holiness, your knowledge, or your efforts is completely laid to rest. You are in God’s good graces- and remain there- solely by the worth and work of Christ. Even though the Holy Spirit changes the believer from within, the saving benefits of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection are always credited to us from without- as it were. The Scripture says, “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”2 For this we should be very grateful.
We would of course like to clearly understand how God can be a God of infinite compassion and unconditional love while at the same time being a God of justice who often appears to threaten us with His judgments. But if we could comprehend this paradox then there would be no purpose for faith. The mystery of why God acts as He does towards us in any particular circumstance would be revealed. It would in effect mean that sin no longer had any consequences worth worrying about. If we could reconcile God’s mercy and His justice there would be no need for Christ, no need for His atonement, no need for sacrifice, no need for a crucifixion. There would be no need for the forgiveness of sins. There would be no need for you to partake of this gift of His body and blood for that forgiveness. The sacrament would truly become nothing more than a hollow ritual of remembrance.
But that is not the way of God. Maturity of faith involves coming to terms with such truths. Reality doesn’t operate according to our preferences and there is a very good reason it doesn’t. The very organic nature of the parables reminds us that God is present and active in the common events of life. That doesn’t make the parables simple. It means life is vested with more depth of meaning than we normally think of. Christ is with us in the fray.
What does St. Paul say today in his dramatic and comforting conclusion to Romans chapter eight? “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?3. No power or evil that believers face- physical persecution, spiritual assault, angels, demons, even death itself- can overcome the work of Christ. None of these things can separate us- through violence, deception, or subtlety- from Christ’s redeeming and eternal love? What evidence do we have? Christ died. He was raised to life. He now intercedes at God’s right hand. There He prepares our eternal home. Amen.
+ in nomine Jesu +
Sixth Sunday After Pentecost
24th July, 2011
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt
1 Matthew 13:47
2 Galatians 3:27
3 Romans 8:32
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