The Lutheran Hour
-
"Pushing the Parson"
- No Sermon MP3 No bonus material MP3
-
Text: 1 Corinthians 2:2
-
In the first sentence of my first sermon to you as the Speaker for Lutheran Hour Ministries, one thing needs to be said. That one thing is this: “Christ is risen.” For those brothers and sisters at home or in the hospital, at work or on vacation, on the road or relaxing, who have rightly responded: “He is risen, indeed!,” I give thanks to God for you. Your acknowledgement of this Divine resurrection truth of Jesus’ living victory over death is a joy to me and a source of great gladness to your heavenly Father. For those faceless friends, unknown to me, but still dearly loved by God, to whom these words contain an unrecognized mystery, allow me to share that believing in this truth determines your residence for all of eternity. Because so much depends upon these three words, I invite you to listen carefully as we preach this day a changeless Christ to a changing world.
Make no mistake about it, the world is changing. In 1930, when the airwaves first carried the voice of The Lutheran Hour’s original speaker, Dr. Walter A. Maier, into city and countryside, the world was different.
Back then, children said “excuse me” when they walked in front of you. Back then, a man’s reputation was every bit as important to him as the money he was making. Companies were committed to their employees, not to a multi-million dollar bonus given to a CEO who was making good his escape before the company closed. Back then, athletes were still amazed they were being paid for playing a game they enjoyed. The world has changed. People got married first, then they lived together. Closets were for clothes, not for “coming out of.” A meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins and fast food was what you ate during Lent. Then, time-sharing meant togetherness, not computers or a condominium. A chip was a piece of wood, hardware meant a hammer and saw, and software–well, that wasn’t even a word. Back then, grass was mowed, coke was a cold drink and pot was something in which you cooked your supper. In honesty, I cannot say the world, in all things, was better back then. Cigarette smoking was fashionable. Infant mortality was high. A trip to the hospital usually meant a final farewell to family and friends. Then or now, the world was still a sad and sinful place.
Nevertheless, the world was different. Back then, a minister was known as pastor or parson. The word parson was not a nickname, but a title, and it meant, “the person.” Often, the parson was one of the best educated men in the community. He ranked up there with the physician and the lawyer in importance. Our day has seen his demotion. The parson is no longer the person in town. And because of sad scandals that have, all too often, surrounded his scandalizing fellow clergymen, he may often find himself close to the bottom of the list of respected individuals. His word is no longer law. It is opinion, advice–and it’s not always welcome. His style and sermons are subject to severe scrutiny. Seldom does anyone point at him and say, “He is the Lord’s man.” About the best thing people can do for their parson is suggest he’s a “good guy.”
Since this is my first sermon before you in my new role, no doubt some are tuning in to this Lutheran Hour broadcast out of curiosity. You may be wondering if I’m a “good guy.” That is why I regret that it’s my sad duty to inform you that you might be disappointed, although I truly hope it will be a few months or years before you really are displeased with me. You see, the first three months of a parson’s ministry are about the closest he gets to heaven in this world. Usually it takes at least that long for people to figure out he’s not what they had hoped for.
It’s sad to admit this day may be the high point of our relationship. It won’t take too long for you to find out how imperfect I am. My grammar ain’t perfect and my children say I have a wonderful face for the radio. Not long ago, during their minister’s sermon, a husband leaned over to his wife and whispered: “Our pastor ought to be on the radio.” “Do you really think he’s that good, dear?” she replied. “No,” said the man, “but if he were on the radio, at least we’d be able to switch him off!” Well, my friends, I am on the radio. And you can switch me off.
But, I pray, even if you end up switching me off, you won’t switch off the message I bring. You see, it is really unimportant how you feel about me. That’s right. It doesn’t matter how you feel about me. That’s because I am unimportant. There is only one parson here. There is only one person here who is important, and that person is the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one book important here and that is the verbally inspired and inerrant Word of God, in which we find the revelation of God’s love for us. There is only one reason to tune into this broadcast and that is to hear about the living God who comes to us in a cradle, cross, and out of an open tomb. There is only one reason for me to be on the radio today and that is to become transparent as I tell you of the tremendous gift God has given to you in His Son Jesus.
Do not turn off the Lord of life. Do not turn off the Savior who took our place by being perfectly obedient–which we could not be. Do not turn off the Lord Jesus who willingly died upon Calvary’s cross, to be punished on our behalf, so we might live forever. Listen of Him. Learn of Him. Live in Him. Love Him. Yes, love the Lord, who first loved you. Yes, there is only one parson, one person here, of any kind of importance. That parson is the Christ, the sacrificial Lamb of God, the light of the world. There is only one parson, one person here. He is not a God who says, “Work your way up to Me.” He is a God who comes down to us, born as a Bethlehem baby. He is a God who lived for us, died for us and rose from the dead for us. Having seen His love, it is impossible for us to think of Him as a God who is indifferent to our needs, and indecisive concerning our lives. This God cares for you. There is only one parson, one Person here, and that is Jesus Christ. In time to come, as it has been in the past, this radio mission is dedicated to the preaching and proclamation of His death on the cross, (His crucifixtion), and His Easter resurrection. Paraphrasing what Paul said to the church in Corinth, we gladly say, this day, The Lutheran Hour is resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified in all of our sermons, in all of our prayers, in all of our music, in all that we share.
In Jesus’ name we boldly and gladly undertake that duty He has entrusted to us. We point people burdened with guilt to the forgiveness, which is God’s gracious gift to those who believe in the substitutionary work of His Son. We point sinful souls to Him who died and came alive again to set humanity free from sin. If you do not yet know this Savior, do not let this day pass without making the acquaintance of Him who has loved you with a love that makes everything else you have ever experienced in the past seem trivial and trifling. If your soul is weighed down by sin; if your conscience is burdened, do not let this week slip by, the month fly by, the year race by without taking the time to let the Lord introduce you to Him who has saved you. My co-workers at The Lutheran Hour will help you meet Him personally and powerfully before the end of this broadcast. Make no mistake. If you have not heard Him before, Jesus Christ, the Lord of life, is calling you this day.
Today, The Lutheran Hour is speaking as the Lord has instructed us–sharing the name of Jesus, the only Name by which you can be saved. Today, The Lutheran Hour proclaims God’s love which says that no matter what you have done wrong, it can be erased by Jesus’ blood. No matter what sin you have committed, you are pardoned and set free by God’s grace.
Now, before I close, I speak to those who already know this Savior; who count Him as their best and dearest Friend. Today we extend an invitation to you. Join with us in the telling of this Good News of great joy which is for all people.
In the 1800’s, a parson of a parish dreamed he was hitched to a covered wagon. With love and labor, he pulled that wagon along the dirty trail. Eventually he reached a spot which was muddy. Only by a giant tug on the wagon’s tree was he able to budge the wagon, and only a few inches at a time. He thought this to be rather peculiar. After all, the last time he looked back, his fellow believers were behind the wagon, pushing. The longer and harder he pulled, the harder it was to move the wagon. Exhausted, he went to the rear of the wagon to examine the difficulty. There he found all the members had quit pushing. Not only had they quit pushing, they were now sitting in the wagon and not just sitting there but criticizing him as well for not moving them along faster.
With that story in mind, I ask today, and in the future, that you give this broadcast a push. Push us along with your words. Tell your neighbors about us. They need God’s truth. Push my co-workers, and our sponsors, and myself along with your prayers. Ask the Lord to use us for His purposes. Ask the Lord to allow us to preach and proclaim the message of salvation clearly and cleanly, not adding or subtracting from the Book of Life. Push us. Push the one parson, the one person here. Push us as we join with Paul in saying, “I have determined to know nothing other than Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed! Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for July 28, 2002 Rev. Ken Klaus
ANNOUNCER: You’ve heard his message for today. Now for the next few minutes get better acquainted with the new speaker for Lutheran Hour Ministries, Pastor Ken Klaus. Pastor Klaus, thanks for joining us.
KLAUS: It’s a pleasure to be here. Thank you, Mark.
ANNOUNCER: Will you tell us what you will be doing in your new job in addition to speaking on the radio program.
KLAUS: I think that’s probably all I’ll be doing, Mark, just speaking here. I come in once a week just like all pastors do. We just work on Sundays. No, a lot of things will be happening in this position. It’s a relatively new position. It’s been re-evaluated and re-formulated. We’re going to be trying to re-establish a commitment, a commitment of help and assistance to congregations across North America and around the world. What we want to do is say, “We are a partner and we care for the things you are doing. We want to help make your job easier and more effective, to congregations, to pastors, to people across the board.
ANNOUNCER: What is it that you find exciting about this opportunity?
KLAUS: The Lutheran Hour has a tremendous heritage. I recognize that the people who have preceded me, every single one of them have been giants of the ministry, and I certainly don’t count myself in that category. As I grew up, names like Oswald Hoffmann, Walter Maier, were spoken with almost reverence. About 20 years ago I had the opportunity to start writing for Lutheran Hour Ministries–devotionals, pamphlets, brochures and orders of service, and the like. The closer I got to Lutheran Hour Ministries, the better I liked what I saw. To have a group of people dedicated to the cause of “Bringing Christ to the Nations–and the Nations to the Church” was something I wanted to be a part of. I can’t say that I ever said I wanted to be speaker on Lutheran Hour radio. That was really never a part of my thinking. But to serve with a group of people, men and women, who are dedicated to that sharing of Jesus around the world is an opportunity that is very, very special.
ANNOUNCER: How would you say your experiences in the parish prepared you or pointed you in this direction?
KLAUS: The first call was a good many years ago in Edgemont, South Dakota. I had a congregation of 75. Since then the Lord has taken me to suburban congregations, congregations of 1,500, city congregations, blue collar communities; it’s run the gamut as far as sizes and needs. In each of those places the Lord has given me a little insight, I think, into what He was trying to accomplish. The needs of a congregation of 1,500 were totally different than that of the congregation of 75. But the needs of the people within that congregation were shared and they’re common, and the church can speak to those needs. I hope to be able to be given the chance to do that.
ANNOUNCER: Had you ever considered or pursued other careers?
KLAUS: My mother tells me that from the age of three I was going to be a pastor. At least that’s what I told her.
ANNOUNCER: What would you consider to be some of the great challenges for Gospel outreach today?
KLAUS: Certainly to keep the Gospel message flowing. There are a lot of different voices on the airwaves right now, and sometimes the Gospel message is clear. But I’ve also heard an awful lot of times when the waters seem to get a little muddied. What we want to do is preach that Word because the need is out there for the souls and hearts and minds of humanity to see the clear truth that comes from Jesus Christ. People are still in darkness; they still need His light. We want to share that as clearly as we possibly can, as brilliantly as we possibly can so people say, “Jesus is my Savior and Lord.” We may provide the microphones, the tapes, the CD’s, but Jesus Christ is the person that needs to be seen and heard here. That’s our challenge and that’s our joy.
ANNOUNCER: We’ve been talking with Pastor Ken Klaus, the new speaker for Lutheran Hour Ministries. Pastor Klaus, thank you for being with us.
KLAUS: Thank you.
ANNOUNCER: And God’s blessings to you upon your ministries.
KLAUS: Upon us all.