The Lutheran Hour
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"Evil Enemies"
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Text: Philippians 3:18-19
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! To the lost and wandering, the lonely and confused, I share with you this life-changing, eternity-giving truth: the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ calls you from darkness to light and life in heaven. By the Spirit’s power, may you hear His call. Amen.
A minister had just moved to a wealthy congregation with a great parsonage and an even greater salary. Mindful of his new status, he desired to preach a good sermon, an interesting sermon, a tactful sermon; the kind of sermon that doesn’t hurt anybody’s feelings. With great sincerity, he spoke for 15 easily forgotten minutes. He concluded his message with these unremarkable words: “Brothers and sisters, if you are doing something which may not be quite right, you should, to some extent, repent. You should have a certain degree of sadness, because if you don’t, you might, possibly, be damned, and end up, more or less, in hell, which may, or may not, be a real place.” After the service, the people who shook the pastor’s hand at the door told him how pleased they were with his message. The fact that they were pleased, made the pastor feel pleased. Indeed, that day, everybody was pleased; everybody was pleased- with the exception of the Lord.
My friends, if you found that story to be more-or-less amusing, and I hope you did… let me share with you something which is not. Listen carefully. If you do, I think you can almost hear Satan snickering. That’s a strange thought, isn’t it? Nobody ever thinks about Satan snickering; but I think he does. I think Satan snickers because he has been so very successful in enabling nations, and institutions, and individuals to walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. In every age Satan has sown seeds of sinfulness, but in our age his work seems to have been marked with singular success.
In the year 1776, three colonies of the newly formed United States adopted their very own, brand new constitutions. Although each of these states had a different heritage, a different history, there was a commonness to the way those constitutions began. Let me tell you what I mean. The state of Maryland placed into its preamble the following words, “We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God…” Then there was Pennsylvania whose constitution begins: “We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance…” Then there was the State of Virginia whose constitution was a little more specific. Virginia’s constitution began: “Religion, or the duty which we owe our Creator, can be directed only by reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love, and charity towards each other.”
Did you see the similarity there? Each of those states begins the preamble of its constitution with an acknowledgement of its dependence upon God. Of course, 1776 was a long time ago. Would you like to see the how much things changed between 1776 and 1959? 1959 was the year that Hawaii, the last state, entered the Union. Let me read the opening words of the preamble to Hawaii’s constitution. That document begins: “We, the people of Hawaii, grateful for Divine Guidance…” How much had things changed? Not a bit. The first states and the last state recognized God’s handiwork in their affairs. Now here is something worth knowing: every one of the states has placed into its constitution a reference to God, or a deity, or a supreme ruler, or a creator, or the author of existence. There are no exceptions.
Understand, I’m not saying that these preambles are all Christian; they’re not. But each of these states recognized, up front, that it did not create itself. Each was admitting that it was not brilliant enough, far-seeing enough, independent enough, to make a go of it on its own.
But in recent years, Satan has made sure that religion in general, and the cross of Christ in particular, have been confronted by enemies. It wasn’t so very long ago that a lawyer, representing his daughter, stood before America’s highest court and demanded the Pledge of Allegiance be declared unconstitutional. He found the words, “one nation under God” to be offensive. The court refused the man’s request. They didn’t refuse it because the judges recognized the nation’s dependence upon God; nor because they believed the Lord is the source of liberty; nor because they thought the highest role government has is being grateful for the grace and guidance of God in its affairs. No, the lawyer’s argument was rejected because the court was unsure if he was the child’s legal guardian.If you listen quietly, you can almost hear Satan snicker because he has been so successful in enabling many to walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. In our age, he has enabled sinful souls to think themselves free of all constraints and controls; he has encouraged doubters and deniers to shake their fists at heaven; to scornfully spit at the Savior, and the salvation He has won for them upon Calvary’s cross; which He has guaranteed for them with His resurrection from the dead. When Jesus says, “I am the Way;” the world replies, “There are many ways. There are easy ways, and broad ways, and smooth ways, and paved ways, and Jesus, we don’t need, or want, Your way.”
When Jesus says, “I am the Truth;” the world joins ranks with Jesus’ judge, Pontius Pilate, and, scornfully shoots back: “What is truth?” Sophisticated scholars say, “There is no such thing as truth.” Students are told today’s truth is destined to be tomorrow’s falsehood. The common man is convinced that every person must find, and define, and refine, his very own, ever changing, version of the truth. Satan has confused and convinced many that boundaries are to be broken and there are no Biblical borders which need to be, or ought to be, respected.
If you look carefully, you can almost see Satan smiling. With disdain, he has encouraged history to be rewritten so that any memory of God’s guidance has been erased. Forgotten are those who settled this land in search of religious freedom. Forgotten are those individuals who tried to treat the original Americans with respect. Forgotten are the Christians who established colleges and hospitals. Forgotten, the pastors who spoke against slavery; the Christian motivation of the soldiers who left family farms and burgeoning businesses to fight for the freedom of others. Forgotten, the medicines which have been discovered, the inventions which have been created by servants of the Savior who had, as their primary and principal motivation, a desire in the Savior’s name to help humanity. As history is rewritten, the caring and the compassion, the help and the hope that the Lord’s followers have shown in every generation is forgotten.
It was only a short time ago that America dedicated her long-overdue monument to the men and women who fought in World War II. Carved into the eastern corner of that memorial is a famous quote from President Roosevelt. It reads: “December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy… the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.” Nice words; noble words; incomplete words. Those who heard the President’s speech that day know Roosevelt’s message received its greatest power and made its greatest impact because he recognized a higher authority and power than our nation, on its own, possessed. That’s why the President made the promise and pledge: “We will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God.” Some will say Roosevelt’s words were just rhetoric. I don’t know about that; what I do know is this: the monument has no room for the words, “so help us God.”
Look carefully and you will Satan sneer with satisfaction at our sick society with its perverted priorities. He sneers, knowing humankind has not learned from Scripture. He sneers as people succumb to his suggestions as easily as Adam and Eve. Our age has the disobedient spirit and arrogant attitude possessed by the world before the flood; too many have the conceit and overconfidence shown by the builders of Babel’s tower; too many have the jealousy of Joseph’s brothers; and too many have the lechery of lustful David.
Sadly, I must confess Satan’s sneers are not confined to the public sector. Satan also sneers at Christian pastors and parishes who, like the preacher in my opening story, remain silent before the slow and steady procession of souls which are sliding into the fires of hell. Satan sneers as clergy and laity, in a desire to feel good and fill their churches, no longer echo John the Baptist’s call: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
Satan sneers as churches parade out stars of stage and screen to tell their stories instead of the Savior’s story of sacrifice which alone wins salvation. He sneers because too many churches are filled with people who feel good about themselves because they’ve never been told that God feels bad about their sin-stained souls. Satan sneers as he watches Christ-centered churches being shoved to the side as parishioners flock to “them-centered” churches. Satan sneers as parish priorities and pastor priorities push aside God’s priority which calls His people to proclaim: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2: 8,9).
And this is where I have to stop for a moment and respond to all of you people in the parish who are probably saying, “What an old fuddy-duddy. You’d think he would be glad to have us go to a church where we feel good.” Pastors are saying, “He really doesn’t understand the pressures on us to succeed… the feeling you get when a worship service is full of smiling people… the joy that comes from having a church treasurer who walks around with a happy face.” First, people, let me tell you I don’t believe that worship has to be a painful experience. I have no objections to beautiful buildings, and increased programming, and great music, and all of the other bells and whistles you’re looking for. At the same time, you should know that a church exists first, foremost, and always to share the Savior and the salvation He has won. Do you want a good parking lot? Great. Do you want a lot of programming? Fantastic! But parking and programming should never replace proclamation.
Do you want beautiful music? Fine, but music should never shove the Messiah to the side.
And for you pastors, I want you to know: I do understand. I remember what it is like to qualify for food stamps, and what it means to have to search out your treasurer when your pay check is two weeks late. And I’ve stood on the front steps of my church, had a person in a handicapped van pull up, lean out and asked if we were accessible to him; and I, having said, “No, not yet,” watched him drive away. I understand, and I hurt for you. To you, I say, be faithful. More importantly, the Holy Spirit says, “be faithful.” You have a calling which is higher than pleasing people. You are an undershepherd that must be faithful to the Good Shepherd. Be faithful. Even if Satan sneers, snickers, and smiles. Be faithful.
Centuries ago, from a prison cell in Rome, Saint Paul wrote to his dear friends who comprised the church at Philippi: “Often times I have told you, and now, with tears, I’m telling you again, there are many who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. With their minds set on earthly things, their god is their belly, they glory in their shame, and their end is destruction.” That is an amazing statement coming from imprisoned Paul. He had been beaten, jailed, whipped, shipwrecked, starved, stoned, and left for dead. Even so, he did not call for vengeance or divine judgment upon those who had done these things. Paul didn’t ask the earth to open and swallow Roman rulers like Nero who were trying to stamp out the Savior’s name by destroying the Savior’s followers. Paul didn’t ask the Lord to strike dumb those more subtle opponents of the cross who, pretending to be Christ’s spokesmen, were, with misleading modifications, made-up inventions, and make-believe revelations doing all they could to destroy His Gospel. These enemies of the cross did not receive Paul’s hatred; on the contrary, they were recipients of his tears. Paul cried for those whose god was their belly; who were proud of their shameful acts; and whose minds were self and not Christ-centered.
Some time ago I heard of a lady who wrote a letter to her local newspaper. And lest you wonder, this story is not made up. This is the sum and substance of what she said: “I am heartily sick of the type of religion that insists my soul (and everyone else’s) needs saving – whatever that means.” She said, “I have never felt that I was lost. Nor do I feel that I wallow in the mire of sin…” She said, “Give me practical religion that teaches gentleness and kindness and acknowledges no barrier of color or creed, that remembers the aged and teaches children about goodness and not about sin.” Then she concluded, “If, in order to save my soul, I must accept such a philosophy as I have recently heard preached, I prefer to remain forever damned.”
Now I have no problem with the lady in her comments about Christianity being gentle and kind and not prejudiced. But when I first read her letter, like Paul, I cried. I cried at her words, “I prefer to remain forever damned.” Think about those words for a moment. Let the magnitude of their evil sink in. I do not know if I have ever heard any statement more sad, more tragic.
I shed tears for any nation whose citizenry believes that it has, without God, created itself and wishes to be in complete control of its future. I shed tears for any of our neighbors who feel they can live their lives secure in sin, safe from any final accounting. I shed tears for those homes where marriages are traded in more frequently than the cars; where the Internet delivers to the children a constant diet of the immoral, the irreligious, and the impious; where people are lonely even in the midst of family. I cry tears for those who are troubled by financial fears, those who are frightened by past failures, and unsure of their temporal and eternal futures. I cry tears and pray that all who, this day, are enemies of the cross, may, before this day passes, by the Spirit be led to see the Savior; see His cross, His empty tomb, and know that their lives in Him will be different.
The lady may prefer she be forever damned; but I pray that she may, in Jesus, be forever saved. I pray that she may be turned from being an enemy of the cross and be led to see the Savior – His sacrifice, His thorn-encircled head, the love and blood that poured from His wounds. I pray that she, along with the doubters and the deniers, the skeptics and the cynics, the unbelievers and the unsaved will take a good look into the Savior’s empty tomb. I pray that they may see the living Lord and, with repentant hearts fall to their knees and with a reborn, Spirit-given heart say, “My Lord and my God.” I pray that she, along with all who hear this message today may be saved. I pray this, because, if this comes to pass, I promise you will see the smile dissolve from Satan’s face and appear upon the Savior’s. And a smile from the Savior, my friends, that is something worth seeing. It’s something all of us at The Lutheran Hour would like you to see. If you’d like to see it, call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for March 4, 2007
TOPIC: Distracted by GriefANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Ken Klaus responds to a listener. I’m Mark Eischer. Pastor, our recent discussion about death and mourning have prompted several other questions concerning grief. A listener writes, “I’m a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Since my mother’s death and her passing into heaven, I’m in despair about my salvation. I can’t focus on my prayers and devotions. I feel alone and not as close to Jesus as before. Is this part of the grieving process?”
KLAUS: Mark, do you think you could try to sum up, boil down, what this lady is asking?
ANNOUNCER: She’s saying that even though she’s a life-long Christian, the death of her mother has now left her feeling all alone. Her inability to focus on her prayers and devotional life makes her feel somewhat removed or farther away from her Lord. She wants to know whether that’s normal.
KLAUS: OK. Let’s deal with the easiest question. First, the lady asked if what she was feeling was a normal part of the grieving process. To that I can say, all of us handle grief differently. I’ve seen people, with the death of a loved one, continue on as if nothing had happened. I’ve also watched folks who went all to pieces and couldn’t function for a very long period of time.
What’s normal for one person, is not necessarily normal for another. But, there is nothing the lady has shared which is abnormal. Not necessarily desirable, but not abnormal. When someone dies and your life is turned upside down, it is not abnormal to find yourself unable to concentrate. A profound feeling of aloneness is perfectly understandable and has been shared by a great many people.
Having said that, Mark, I also want to add. I’ve known Christians, like this lady who feel such feelings. That doesn’t mean, because they were mourning, that they didn’t have faith in Jesus. When Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians (4:13) “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” You will note that Paul didn’t say we shouldn’t grieve. He said we shouldn’t grieve like those who have no hope.
ANNOUNCER: So you mean, when death comes into our lives, and a loved one goes to heaven, it doesn’t mean we won’t miss them, or feel that something is missing in our lives.
KLAUS: Exactly, Mark. As I’ve said, I think this question is important for a lot of people. All too often, I’ve seen Christian widows and widowers get angry with themselves for crying over the death of their mate. They berate themselves and say, “I really shouldn’t feel this way.”
Why not? Why shouldn’t you feel this way? Christians mourn. There’s nothing wrong with that. We mourn, but our mourning is tempered by the knowledge that because of Jesus Christ that mourning will someday be replaced by an eternity of joyful reunions. Christians know that death is not the end. There is, in Jesus, a resurrection and a new creation in store for all who believe.
ANNOUNCER: And, now that you mention it, our listener did include that in her letter. She said that since her mother’s death and her passing into heaven – which shows that she believes her mother is now at peace with the Lord.
KLAUS: Right. At the moment that mother breathed her last, when no human being could do anything, the Savior, Jesus Christ, took her and led her through the valley of the shadow of death. Now the mother is at peace, complete and total, awaiting that time when all who believe shall join her in eternal praise to God for His great grace.
ANNOUNCER: And what if grief distracts us from focusing on our prayers?
KLAUS: Well, that’s certainly not a good thing, and Satan can try to do that. But you know, Mark, the night Jesus was betrayed, He took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked those disciples to stay awake and pray with Him. They couldn’t do it. The meal, the exertion of the previous days, the concern about the things Jesus had said to them, they all took their toll. They feel asleep.
Music selections for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart” arranged by Henry Gerike. Used by permission
“Jesus, I Will Ponder Now” setting by J.S. Bach
“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Healey Willan. From Agnus Dei by the Concordia Seminary Chorus (© 1996 Concordia Seminary Chorus) Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Ach, Herr, lass dein lieb’ Engelein” by J.S. Bach. From Werke für Blechbläser von Bach, u.a. (© 1988 Hänssler Verlag, Neuhausen/Stuttgart)