“Where are we lost?” Sermon Proper 19C Sept. 16, 2007
September 15th, 2007 Posted in Sermons+ In Nomine Jesu +
The Rev. Evan Gaertner
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19C)
“Where are we lost?”
September 16, 2007
Luke 15:1-10
When the gospel according to St. Luke tells us how Jesus told the well known parable of the Lost Sheep I want you to take notice of the setting.
Sinners and tax collectors were gathered around Jesus to hear him. These were the sort that had thought that religion was not for them. They had been told plenty by the Pharisees and teachers of the law that they were not welcome. But now Jesus has come and they hear in his words and actions an invitation to once again to trust in God and his promises.
But even while there is working an opening in the hearts of the tax collectors and sinners there is muttering going on that is meant to work like a needle on a balloon. Pop!
The muttering of the self-righteous can work like a needle upon a balloon defeating the hearts of the hungry and lost. It amazes me how whispers, words said behind, glances of suspicion, and so many hurtful things can destroy the spiritual appetite of those hungry for God.
Jesus told those muttering self-righteous fools a few parables so that they would be reminded of who God is and does.
Many people will know well the basics of the parable of the lost sheep. Who would not leave the ninety-nine in the wild to go after the one lost sheep until he finds it? When he finds this lost sheep, he joyfully puts him on his shoulders and goes home. He calls his friends and neighbors together and invites them to a celebration for what was once lost has been found.
Jesus then explains, “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who do not need to repent.”
With the same motive Jesus tells the parable of the woman who had ten coins and loses one. She lights a lamps, sweeps the house and searches diligently until she finds it? The she also calls her friends and neighbors together to rejoice with her.
I think many of us find comfort that the good Lord has searched us and found us. He did not abandon his search and give up on you.
But I also think that there is a tendency to see this parable as describing a past tense activity in our lives. Some people will talk about their born again date and experience. Others will consider that they were baptized as a baby and so never were lost and that this parable must describe some other poor sap that still needs Jesus to find them.
The danger of thinking of salvation as a past tense experience instead of a present tense reality can be found in the divisions that heard Jesus share these parables of the lost and found. The Pharisees and scribes had put themselves into the role of boundary maker. The tax collectors and sinners were on the wrong side of the fence and so did not deserve God or his promises.
Today I want us to consider the question, “Where are we lost?”
Now I know personally that it is a lot easier to figure out where others are lost. It is remarkably easy in our hearts to become self-righteous and to look upon ourselves as saints and as others as sinners.
We are saints, but not by our own doing, but by the faith of Christ. We are sinners, and this is by our own doing. We are at the same time saints and sinners. We are saints by the faith of Christ and sinners by our own sinful hearts.
So instead of thinking of others, today I want you to consider the question for yourself, “Where am I lost?”
Where do we hurt others, get filled with anger, mutter in frustration, disobey the commands of God?
Can we honestly say that all those actions are past tense events in our lives? Have any of us obtained moral perfection in our words, thoughts, or deeds?
I know that marriages are very fragile in our country. The rate of divorce has declined in our country recently, but this is misleading. More couples are dismissing the idea of marriage and instead are living together without any consideration of being married. Marriage is fragile. God gave marriage to us to give us an opportunity to reflect in a close, intimate way the love that God has shown to us. The family is gift from God and instead of using this gift the way God has intended, the family in our society is becoming a disposable relationship.
Where are we lost?
In our society the idea of neighbor is an isolated and lonely concept. The police investigating the shooting in Buffalo this week of two teenagers initially found a stone wall of silence when seeking witnesses. Who is my neighbor? Is the idea of neighbor becoming lost? Are we losing what it means to be a community?
In our church where are we lost? Sometimes instead of being motivated in sharing the good news with others I start to consider how well I am making people comfortable. In this church my sinful heart at times causes me to question the motives of others and I am blind to my own motives.
Daily we are lost. Being lost is not a past tense event. We are everyday lost and condemned sinners by thought, word and deed deserving nothing but the wrath and judgment of our Lord.
But thanks be to God that we have a good shepherd that seeks us out until he finds us and rejoices. Glory be to God and to God alone that though we are lost, he has found us.
We are called to a life of daily repentance and trust in the forgiveness. This is a dynamic life of lows and highs that trusts in the promise of God.
What does it look like to live in this dynamic? Well in marriage, I am not always right. A couple that had been married for fifty years was asked how they had stayed married for so long and the gentleman answered with a laugh, “She’s right.” Everybody laughed and some may have thought that the guy had given up and simply learned to answer, “Yes dear.” But consider in a life of repentance that is filled with forgiveness there is a readiness to listen and to laugh with the other.
A life of daily repentance is a life that is dependant on the power of God. The devil is a highway robber that attacks people on the paths of life. The devil assaults and with his attacks tries to pull us down to his world of lies, hatred, and accusation. Without trust in the forgiveness of Christ we will fall and fail under these attacks. A true Christian still will sin but as the devil tries to pull him down his fall is forgiven and cushioned by the forgiveness of God and so the devil will ultimately loose.
You will sin. Everyday in fact you will fail to keep God’s commands and not live up to his design for your life. Without repentance and trust in the cushion of God’s grace you will succumb to the devil’s attacks and become his agent. By faith we are more than conquerors through him who loved us and we can be agents of grace instead of hate. Christ took the attacks of the devil and the world’s hate upon the cross and defeated them as he rose on the third day. As the devil attacks and tries to pull you down rejoice that the banner over you is love, the love that died on the cross and rose again victorious on the third day.
Rejoice with me and all of heaven when a sinner repents. Muttering is for the Pharisees and parties are for the found.
Soli Deo Gloria
