The Lutheran Hour

"Disowned"

#72-40
Presented on The Lutheran Hour on June 19, 2005
Speaker: Rev. Ken Klaus
Copyright 2025 Lutheran Hour Ministries

Text: Matthew 10:32-33

Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Christ has shown His love for us in this: while we were sinners Jesus lived, died, and rose for us. The risen Christ is a Savior worthy of worship; His sacrificial love an example worth following.

For many of my listeners, this is Father’s Day. So, let’s begin by telling a story about … mothers. This story begins with a mother who, desiring to teach her daughter how to save, gave the child two quarters. One quarter was to be put in the bank, the other could be spent. The quarter destined for saving was quickly inserted into the piggy bank, but the other quarter — what to do with that one? That was a question worth considering. While the daughter was mulling over her decision, quite without thinking, she started to put the coin into her mouth. Mom said, “Honey, don’t do that!” “Why?” “Well, first because the quarter’s dirty. You don’t know who had it. Second, because it’s probably covered with germs. And third, because you could choke on something that small, and it could kill you.” In a short time, Mom had come up with a pretty long list of reasons for the daughter not to chew on a quarter. The little girl was impressed. After a moment, she asked, “Mommy, where did you learn all that stuff?” Mother replied, with a smile, “Honey, all mommies know things like that. It’s on the mommy test. If you don’t know stuff like that, they flunk you and you don’t get to be a mommy.” Unfazed, the little girl took about two seconds before she asked one last
question, “And, if you flunk the mommy test, then do you have to be a daddy?”

A story at the expense of dads is probably a terrible way to begin a Father’s Day message. Nevertheless, it does illustrate the low opinion that many people have about fathers. Commercials depict dads as being sofa-sitting, beer-swigging, incompetent idiots. Television sitcoms show them as being momma’s-boys, backward buffoons, or bumbling, bigoted bozos who are incapable of understanding wives, children, in-laws, and the complexities of family life.

Read the paper, watch the news, and you will receive some fairly frightening pieces of information about fathers. You will hear statistics like: three out of four adults believe the family unit is weaker today than it was thirty years ago. You will be told things like: the government is handing out half as many divorces papers as it does marriage licenses. No, there’s not much good news out there for families or for fathers.

Because so many marriages seem to be rocky, people are avoiding marriage altogether. Social specialists say that in the last generation, the number of unmarried couples living together has risen 500 percent. Five hundred percent — that’s quite a jump! Many men manage to sell this dubious bill of goods by saying, “Honey, a love as deep as ours doesn’t need a piece of paper, a license, to bless our relationship.” They tell their ladies that a trial period of living together will give them a chance to become accustomed to each other; that it’s a step toward a more permanent relationship; that it will increase their chances for having a successful marriage, that it’s practical to have one rent rather than two; one phone bill, one gas bill, one water bill, one electrical bill.

Well, those who measure such things say it just isn’t so. They will tell you that if a couple lives together before they get married, they dramatically increase their chances of splitting up. Why? The answer, at least in part, is because such couples, right from the beginning, are saying that they aren’t ready to make a promise or pledge to each other. They’re saying they want, right from the start, to have an escape clause built into their relationship. They’re saying that if rough times come, as they inevitably do, both parties will be able to walk away from the relationship without regret or remorse. It sounds so good; but it’s so very, very wrong. It’s wrong because it’s contrary to the will of God; it’s wrong because it’s an insult to society; it’s wrong because when a man and a woman truly love each other, I mean really love each other, the vows of “in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, whatever
comes, as long as we both shall live,” is not an impossible ideal. It is a commitment. And it is, whether we admit it or not, what the heart of every man and woman longs for.

Tragically, many husbands aren’t husbands and many fathers aren’t fathers. Which is why almost one-third of the children born this year in our country will enter the world without a visible father. No, it’s not that those children don’t have a father. For any number of reasons our nation is not likely to see a sizable increase in virgin births. What does seem to be increasing is the number of men who father children without feeling any dedication or devotion to their offspring. What is increasing is the number of men who have disowned themselves from their families.

If fathers fail to provide a positive role model which their sons can copy, and an example of integrity which their daughters can use as a measuring stick when they begin to search for a mate, our homes are in trouble. If these things are real, they will inevitably sweep our children into a downward spiral in which our sons will come to believe that lack of commitment is commonplace, and our daughters will settle for a second-rate relationship from the man who should be deserving of their respect and love.

And, I can almost hear some of my listeners saying, “Man, this guy needs to get with it. I cannot believe this stuff that he is spewing – how archaic and old-fashioned can you be?” I can’t argue with anybody who’s saying that. I am being old-fashioned, and I am being archaic and what I’m telling you is as old as the Scripture in which God set up the roles and models for men and women, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers. Personally, I think marriage should be more, families should be more, fathers should be more; and Jesus Christ should be, needs to be, the single most important force in the physical and spiritual lives of mothers, fathers, children, and families.

You see, my friends, the real purpose of this Father’s Day message, as is the purpose of all Christian messages, is to point people to the Savior. I know some of you logical types will think that a strange idea. “After all,” you say, “Jesus never married. Jesus never fathered children. Jesus never had to make a midnight run with a baby to the emergency room. Jesus never had to explain to a crying child why his second-grade classmates were being cruel. Jesus never had to pay car insurance for a teen-ager, worry about the guys His daughter was dating, or take on two jobs so He could set aside money for His children’s college education.” You folks might urge me to forget about Jesus, and, instead, this Father’s Day, talk about some noble individual who has set a good example for his family.

It’s true, Jesus never did any of those things. But that doesn’t mean Jesus doesn’t understand care and commitment, family and fatherhood. He understands it better than you might think. In God’s holy Word it says, “Husbands love your wives.” Good idea; but then Scripture continues. “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.” You see, the Bible sees Jesus as an example, the perfect example for all of us, including fathers. But Scripture isn’t done. It tells us how Jesus loved the church. “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.” Christ’s sacrificial love; that’s the divine role model for fathers, mothers, humanity.

Of course you might ask, “And just how and why did Jesus show this sacrificial love?” Let me answer this way. It was a number of years ago that I read a magazine article which told women how they can determine if a man is, I think they called it, “a keeper.” The article rejected the concept of counting the roses a fellow gave; or totaling the poundage of candy that he brought. It said, “Pay no mind to the car that he drives, or how well he dresses.” It said that if a woman wants to discover the inner workings of a man and find out who he truly is; she should catch him during those times when he doesn’t think he’s being watched. The article gave some examples of how you could do that. It said the lady should see how he drives a car in heavy traffic. Does he lose his temper; does he break laws; does he show courtesy to pedestrians? The article said the lady should observe how he speaks to, and tips,
waiters and cashiers; watch and see if he remembers his sister’s birthday. The list continued. It is in such times, the magazine suggested, an outsider can get a glimpse into who that man really is.

If Pamie, my wife, had read that article, we might not be married. Although we had known each other all of our lives, had gone to school together, had dated for years, and were engaged for a year-and-a-half, the first twelve months we spent together were a pretty rude awakening for her. I wasn’t everything I had advertised. The same is true for most of us. Now, what would happen if you used that magazine’s test on Jesus? If you opened God’s holy Word and looked closely at the Savior, looked at everything He did, what would you find? Did Jesus really love this world? Did He really sacrifice and give Himself for it?

Although I really encourage you to look for yourself and verify what I’m saying, in the interest of time, let me talk to you about the kind of man the Savior was and is. The Gospel writers say there were times when the demands and the desires of the crowds that followed Jesus left Him tired and drained. During those times of exhaustion, do you know how the Savior reacted when someone approached Him with a need? Now, you and I might hang out a “do not disturb” sign. We might get nasty and snarl, “I’ve got normal office hours, see me then.” We might say, “Take two aspirin and if the symptoms persist, call me in the morning.” Jesus didn’t do that. Jesus loved people. He gave Himself for people. They came first. Without exception, He dealt with their problems. He helped them. That is a Savior worth having. His actions are an inspiration to all who will see and hear.

The Gospel writers say that Jesus met all kinds of people. He came into contact with a king, a governor, a high priest, the top men of many communities. And He also met folks who were serious sinners; those who were sick, outcasts, rejected, despised, and of little account in the eyes of the world. Now, you and I might be impressed by meeting powerful people. You and I might stand in awe of the rich and famous. You and I might tell the others to “take a number and I’ll get back to you when I can.” But that wasn’t Jesus. Jesus had come to seek and save the lost. He had come to be a Light to those who were in darkness. He had entered this world to be a Physician for those who were sick in their souls. Jesus loved those folks that nobody else loved. Jesus gave Himself to these people. They were the ones that needed Him, and He answered their need. He taught their minds about the love of God; He healed their bodies; He restored their souls; He blessed their children. They came first. Without exception, He lifted up those who were of low degree. That is a Savior worth having.
His actions — an inspiration to all who will see and hear.

The New Testament tells us that Jesus, true man and true God, had the power of the Almighty. There was nothing which was beyond His ability. If you and I had that kind of power it’s pretty certain that we might make some changes in our lives in the world. Think of how things would be different if you could have anything your heart desired. Power, riches, influence, obedience, long life, success in love, you name it and it would be yours. Think about it, your enemies would be afraid to oppose you; there would be a line of people who would be more than willing to answer your whims and provide for your wishes. That’s what we might do if we had Jesus’ power. But that’s not what Jesus did. Jesus loved these people. Jesus gave Himself for the world, and without exception, put us first.

So that you might be forgiven of all your sins, Jesus powerfully resisted every temptation that Satan threw at Him; so that you might be given courage, He stood face-to-face with His critics and detractors without compromising or caving in. Falsely accused, unjustly judged, He did not use His power to lash out or seek revenge upon those who beat Him, struck Him, spit upon Him, lied about Him, deserted Him, and betrayed Him. He used His power to carry your sins, my sins, everyone’s sins to the cross. His powerful sacrifice paid the price that the law demanded, and in strength, Jesus died to save you. His power conquered death and raised Him from the dead. Now, by the Holy Spirit’s power all who believe on Him are forgiven, strengthened and saved. That is a Savior worth having. That is a man whom we can praise and thank, and worship. No, in this we cannot begin to copy Him. For Jesus has in His love for others, in His sacrifice for us, done what we cannot emulate or do.

Look at Jesus, your Savior. Your Lord kept His Word. If He forgave sins, they were forgiven. If He healed the blind, the leper, the lame; they were made well. If He said He was going to be crucified and rise on the third day, He did it. He is with us always, even to the end of the age, you can count on it. If He says He is listening to your prayers, you can be sure it is so. That is a Savior worth having.

On this Father’s Day, I especially encourage you fathers to do all in your power to make sure your family knows this Savior worth having. I urge you to be inspired by the Savior who sacrificed Himself gladly, totally, for those He loved. It’s important that you do. Do you remember, at the beginning of this message, I gave some family statistics? Here’s one I didn’t give. A study tells us that if neither father nor mother goes to church, only 6 percent of their children will. If Mom goes to church alone, the figure rises to 15 percent. But, fathers if you bring your children to church, that number rises to 55 percent. And just to finish the study, if you really want to increase your children’s possibilities of remaining in the Lord, then both mother and father should go to worship. Then the figure rises to almost 75 percent. (May, 1990 edition of Homemade.)

Fathers give yourselves as Christ gave, love as Christ loved. Let your wife, your children know that, with the exception of the Lord, there is no person more important to you than they. Use your strength to set the example. Let your children see you read the Bible; let them hear you pray; let them walk with you to worship the Lord. Years ago I heard about a man who daily said this prayer: “Lord, if you want me to witness to someone today, please send me a sign.” Then, one day, while he was riding an almost empty bus, a monster of a big guy sat next to him. Almost immediately, the big guy started to sob and shouted, “I’m a big sinner and I need to be saved. I need the Lord to send me someone to tell me how.” Then, through his tears, he turned to the Christian man and asked, “Can you tell me how to be saved?” The believer bowed his head and asked, “Lord, is this supposed to be a sign?” Fathers, God has given you children; He has given you a job: share the Savior. You need no further sign. Unselfishly, lovingly, sacrificially share the Savior with them. Be a father worth
having. Be a father worth copying. Amen.

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for June 19, 2005
TOPIC: I Hate God

ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Ken Klaus answers questions from listeners. I’m Mark Eischer.

KLAUS: Hello, Mark.

ANNOUNCER: Pastor, we received a letter from a rather distraught individual. Here’swhat he said: “My life is a mess. All the things I believed in, I don’t believe anymore. Especially God. I not only don’t believe in God, I hate God.”

KLAUS: That’s a hard letter. Even harder words. They express an awful lot of pain.

ANNOUNCER: How would you respond to someone who says they hate God?

KLAUS: Well, first I’d say it’s inconsistent. You can’t hate somebody that you don’t believe in. The second thing is, although that person may hate God, God keeps loving him. You see, unlike us — we who often change our opinions about people, depending on what they do, or don’t do — God is constant. He doesn’t change. That’s one of the things that makes God, God. His love is not contingent upon our response — or lack of it. God is love. Period.

ANNOUNCER: How do we know that’s true?

KLAUS: Look at the life of Jesus. From just about day one, people rejected Him. King Herod tried unsuccessfully to kill Him. His hometown friends tried to murder Him. Religious rulers trumped up a bunch of lies about Him. The pillars of the communities that He visited tried to trick Him and make Him say something blasphemous or traitorous. People beat Him, spit on Him, whipped Him and crucified Him. Still, Jesus continued to love them. Even from the cross, looking down at people who were laughing at Him; who were gambling for His few scraps of clothing, Jesus forgave them. God is love.

ANNOUNCER: Then why would anybody hate God?

KLAUS: Mark, this fellow said he no longer believes the things he used to believe. Well, maybe some of the things he believed about God were wrong to begin with. Maybe somebody told him that the Christian life would always be filled with happiness and success, or he wouldn’t have struggles. Some people might hate God because they think God has it in for them. They think that He’s become angry and cruel toward them. Some think God gets some kind of sick pleasure out of making them miserable. But that isn’t the way God works. As we’ve been saying all along, God is love.

ANNOUNCER: But then, why do bad things happen? Some people do seem to have a pretty rough go of it. If something could go wrong for them, it usually does. It’s no wonder they want to blame somebody.

KLAUS: Well, it’s a very human reaction to do that. People get angry with God. They hate God because they believe He has, at least for them, made an exception to the rule. God may be love for everybody else, but they think God hates them or is unfairly punishing them.

ANNOUNCER: But we’re here to say that He doesn’t do that.

KLAUS: No. There are times when God may do things that we don’t understand. God may do things that make us question His intentions. Mark, did you ever take your children to the doctor for a vaccination?

ANNOUNCER: Well, no, but my wife did.

KLAUS: Did your children like getting the shot?

ANNOUNCER: Not really.

KLAUS: But the doctor gave it to them anyway. That’s because doctors are mean, nastypeople who enjoy poking kids with needles, right?

ANNOUNCER: Well, no, no, not the doctors I know.

KLAUS: Not the ones that I know either. But why did the doctor give them the shot?

ANNOUNCER: Well, the doctor knows that in the long run this vaccination is going to help the child. They know that this momentary discomfort is negligible compared to the disease that is being prevented.

KLAUS: Good. Did you ever take your children to the dentist?

ANNOUNCER: Well, no, but my wife did.

KLAUS: And was the experience a good one? Did the dentist drill a cavity? Did the dentist do that because he likes to cause pain to little children?

ANNOUNCER: OK, I understand the point here. You’re saying God is not just concerned about keeping us happy and with being a nice guy or what we would think would be a nice guy. Instead God is looking out for our greater good, and that is to keep us strong in our Christian faith. And even though sometimes suffering comes to us, God still loves us and He knows more than we do because He sees things from an eternal perspective.

KLAUS: And if we believe God is a God of love, we have to trust what has happened to us is for our greater good.

ANNOUNCER: So, what would you tell this man who says he hates God?

KLAUS: I’d say, “Take a number. There are millions of other people who hate God, too.” I’d say, “If you want to hate God, there’s not a thing that can be done to stop you. You have that right, even though you’re wrong.” Hate God if you want, but be fair. Before you really give in to that hate, look at just how much God loves you. Look at Calvary’s cross. Look at Jesus, your Savior. See Him, with His back torn to ribbons. See Him, with His brow encircled with a crown of thorns. See Jesus, with nails piercing hands and feet. All this He endured so that He could take your place, bear the punishment God demands for sin and save you. This He endured, because God loves you. If you can look at Jesus and still think God hates you, then words don’t have any meaning, and reason is dead. If you can look at Jesus and still hate God, then I feel very sorry for you. You are turning on the one person who wants to stand by your side.

ANNOUNCER: This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.