The Lutheran Hour
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"Millstones"
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Text: Luke 17:1-10
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! In a dark world, a sinful world, the Light of the living Lord Jesus shines. In a world where children are targeted by the forces of evil, the risen Redeemer asks us to stand with Him in their defense. Today, by the Holy Spirit’s power may we, like the Savior, do all we can to protect these young charges from the temptations placed before them. God grant we stand firm. Amen.
Neither my early years on the south side of Chicago, nor my excellent seminary education had prepared me for my first parish in Edgemont, South Dakota. When my bride and I pulled in to town, and this was more than 35 years ago, most of the people in that small town made their living in one of three ways. There were the ranchers. These hardy folk had been there the longest working ranches which covered multiple horizons. Next were the railroad men. According to law, railroad employees were only able to work so many hours. Edgemont was the town where the 100-car coal trains coming out of Wyoming stopped to switch their crews. Lastly, there were the merchants, the shopkeepers, the bankers, the teachers, the folk who held and kept the veneer of civilization in place.
It took but a few hours for Pam and I to discover that these people were among the most friendly and compassionate we have ever met. When the congregation’s chairman found out our furniture had been delayed and wouldn’t be delivered for three weeks, he made some phone calls and within hours a procession to the parsonage began. Someone brought a bed, another person donated pots, pans, and dinnerware, another carried in some chairs. That day we knew we had met grand people, and our opinion of those South Dakota folk has never changed.
Along with finding out these people were just plain nice, there was another quality in this Edgemont congregation which we learned to appreciate. They were patiently willing to answer our questions. And we city slickers had questions on everything. Those questions were gladly answered as our eager, new friends told us about the joys and the heartbreak of ranching in a time when the price paid for their stock was almost as unpredictable as the weather. They told us about rattlesnakes and how to avoid them. They took the time to show us the place where the last, great buffalo hunt had taken place and the town folk showed us the gazebo which had been built when Teddy Roosevelt was supposed to have come to town. They even explained the two large stones which had been incorporated into the foundation of the city park’s band shell.
“Those are millstones”, they said, “You know the kind of things people use to grind grain into flour.” “Edgemont”, they bragged, “has rocks which are absolutely perfect for millstones.” In the days before “stone-ground flour” became a marketing strategy, I blurted out: “Millstones! Nobody uses millstones anymore.” With a twinkle motivated by a soon-to-be-shared secret, they said, “You’re right; that’s why we put two big millstones in the band shell’s base. It’s also why we sold the millstone company to some entrepreneurs from out East.” “And who in their right mind would buy a millstone company when nobody uses millstones?” I asked. My question sparked this story:
Years ago, developers from the East frequently wandered the West looking for solid investments. When it became apparent that Edgemont’s millstones, as excellent as they were, couldn’t find a buyer, the company’s owners decided to sell to the Easterners. This is what they did. First, they took out advertisements in the great newspapers of the East. Then, when the owners of the millstone company were contacted by some important investors who wished to pay a visit, the millstone owners got busy. The first thing they did was crate all their finished, but unsold millstones. On those crates they put addresses of far away sounding countries. Some boxes were labeled India and others had stickers which said they were being sent to Brazil, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Australia. The appearance of being a successful business was underscored by the millstone owner’s next move. They rented some large, loud machinery from a gold-mining company in the Black Hills. The machinery didn’t do anything but sound loud and look impressive. Of course, that’s all the owners wanted the machinery to do. The machinery looked and sounded important and their importance was underscored when, on cue the millstone owners had a worker set off a series of dynamite charges. Between the packages, the machinery, and the explosions, the investors could hardly contain their enthusiasm. Impressed, they gladly signed on the dotted line and bought themselves a worthless millstone company. According to my Edgemont friends, those executives were so embarrassed at being hoodwinked by some Edgemont locals, they never spoke of their purchase with their shareholders. Instead, they buried the record of their purchase of a worthless millstone company under a mountain of figures.
Of course, in the days when Jesus walked the earth, millstones were a most useful thing. Almost every community and large farm had their own mill for the processing of the harvest’s bounty. Turning raw grain into usable flour was one use for a millstone. Jesus provides an unexpected alternative. In the seventeenth chapter of Luke, the Savior said, “In this sinful world there will be temptations aplenty for little children, but there’s going to be a terrible punishment awaiting the person who is the originator of these enticements. Such an individual will someday, on Judgment Day, find out it would have been better if he had had a millstone hung around his neck and he were tossed overboard to be drowned in the middle of the sea.”
Now those are some pretty strong words coming from the mouth of the Redeemer. In our age many people have come to think of God’s Son, our Redeemer, as a Person Who was always gentle, always kind, always compassionate, always loving. Hearing Jesus talk about millstones and drowning is at such a variance with their concept of the Christ that they assume He must have been kidding, or He was exaggerating, or maybe, somehow, these words were never spoken by Him at all. “Maybe”, they say, “these words were added by a disciple or some person who was making a handwritten copy of the Bible.”
If you are among those folks who feel this way, I’m sorry, but I have to inform you that you are wrong. You see, the Savior, while being a gentle Man, a Person who was kind, compassionate, and loving; was also a Person who had no patience when it came to people who consciously and deliberately sinned, and He became absolutely furious with those sinners who willfully tried to enlist others in their sinful practices. You want to know, ‘aren’t all sins created equal?’ The Bible is quite clear that there are some sins which are worse than others.
That got your attention, didn’t it? If you’re wondering what proof I can offer, let me take you to the time when Jesus was on trial before the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate. Although Pilate had found no evidence for guilt against Jesus, to placate the blood-thirsty mob he had had Jesus whipped. Having an innocent Man lashed is a terrible thing to do, but Pilate was an incredibly practical politician. If Jesus’ pain meant keeping the peace and saving himself, he had no problems ordering the Savior to be scourged. When that unjust action refused to placate the crowd’s fury, Pilate questioned Jesus again. It was an interview which didn’t help soothe Pilate’s conscience. Indeed, the procurator became firmly convinced Jesus was innocent of the charges brought against Him. John 19:11 records Jesus’ response to the procurator’s probings. He says, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
Did you hear that? Jesus says, “He who delivered me over to you has the greater sin?” And why was the sin of the Jewish supreme court, the Sanhedrin, greater than that of Pilate? Very simple. Their sin was deliberate. These religious rulers were well acquainted with the Scriptures. They had read, had even memorized many of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the promised Messiah. They knew He would be born in Bethlehem as Jesus had been. They knew the Messiah would perform mighty miracles as Jesus had done. Indeed, every mark by which the Redeemer might be identified was finding its fulfillment in Jesus. Even so, with cold and cruel and callous deliberation they had agreed with the high priest when he declared, “…it is better for you that one man should die for the people” than to have the entire nation be slaughtered. The priests knew what they were doing and their action was sinfully deliberate. On the other hand, Pilate betrayed both Jesus and justice but his sin was done in foolish ignorance. For that reason, Jesus said, “The person who delivered Me up is guilty of a greater sin.” Yes, some sins are worse than others… and among the worst is tempting children to sin.
When I’m working on these Lutheran Hour messages, I try very hard not to repeat a story. Even so, there are times when I simply can’t escape doing so. This is one of those times. At the beginning of this message I talked about my ranchers in western South Dakota. One of those ranchers was a sheep man and an exceptional Christian. He lived the faith, and the love of Jesus Christ was pretty much reflected in everything he did. That being said, there was a Sunday when he, quite uncustomarily, was late getting to church. When the rancher finally arrived, he was not his normal cheerful self. After worship I caught up with him and asked if he was OK. It took a little bit of prying before he confessed that there had been a problem in one of his pastures.
He shared that, sometime in the night, some coyotes or wild dogs had managed to get at his flock and had butchered 40 of his best lambs. That loss meant there would be some doubt if he could end the year in the black. Wishing to be sympathetic, this ex-big-city-boy asked what seemed to be a logical question. Politely I inquired, “I’m sorry they killed the 40 lambs and how many of the ewes did the pack slaughter?” The words were hardly out of my mouth before the rancher’s face showed me I had asked the wrong question. Even so, his answer was kindly… kindly and profound. He said, “Pastor, you should know that coyotes and wild dogs will never, ever go after an adult sheep when they can bring down a lamb.”
The rancher was right about coyotes and lambs; he was equally right about Satan and little children. The devil and the world find little children to be almost irresistible. Little children are so trusting, they are so accepting, they are so easily swayed. The dark and damned forces of the universe know that if they can manage to bring down a child, their early-on victory may be forever. To spiritually slaughter the young is a great goal of all that is evil, and in that cause they have enlisted many adults.
You know them or at least you should. Turn on your computer and you will see the pornographer appealing to the natural curiosity of the young. Talk to your police and they will tell you about the pimps who recruit their victims from the many underage boys and girls who have become discouraged and discontent with their lives at home. Go to your courts and watch the parade of drug dealers who specialize in selling their illegal and harmful products to the school children of your community. Read your newspapers which tell of the perverts who sexually prey upon children because they find a thrill in molesting the young which is greater than having a satisfying and successful relationship with an adult.
Read through the movie listings and see the handiwork of the Hollywood movie producer who, rather than offering films which build up and strengthen morality and values, prefer to take the easy road and places before children the most gruesome, the most frightening, the most sexually jaded films he can. To all of these, and many others, the Lord Jesus says, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the person from whom they come! It would be better for such an individual if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea.” Jesus wasn’t joking, for the day will come when that person who played so fast and loose with the children’s future will, from the unquenchable fires of hell, beg for such an ending to his everlasting punishment.
The evil of this world always tries to bring down the children. The Lord Jesus knew that, and that is why He went out of His way to bless these little ones. That is why He was born in Bethlehem. It is why He became one of us. Born true Man and true God, Jesus lived His life doing for us all the things which we were unable to do. Where we regularly sin, He lived a perfect life. While we frequently break God’s commandments and go against His will and wishes, from beginning to end, Jesus’ life was lived in perfect compliance with the heavenly Father’s desires. While we are unable to erase any or all of what we have done wrong; Jesus’ sacrifice, His suffering, His death upon Calvary’s cross, has fully paid the penalty price for our redemption. For those who, by the Holy Spirit’s power believe, no longer do sin, death, and devil have hold… and all who believe on Jesus as their Savior are forgiven of the past and they are promised eternal life in heaven.
Jesus is wondrous Good News for humanity. He is Precious News for a world which once was lost and condemned to eternal damnation. Good News? Jesus is the best News; He is the most important Person to whom a parent can introduce a child; the story of salvation is the most important narrative a parent can tell to a child; the love of the Savior is the most important gift a parent can offer.
Sadly, and all too often, parents do not make that introduction, nor do they tell the story, or share God’s great and gracious gift. I see many loving parents religiously strapping their children into a car safety seat but they never put that child into such a seat to drive him to church. I see many concerned parents take their child to the doctor to receive all the shots necessary to protect that child’s body from illnesses and diseases, but these same parents neglect to make sure their child gets a healthy dose of Jesus Who is the only sure and certain Medicine Who can save souls from the ravages of sin. I see many dedicated parents reading to their children, but they never read the stories of the Savior or tell the tale of God’s love. They are faithful in teaching their children manners and how to behave, but they neglect to teach that child about the love of Jesus. I see parents who are concerned about keeping their home and neighborhood safe from dangerous elements, but leave their children open to all things which are hazardous to the soul.
Far too often, I have heard parents, who with the best of intentions, and I truly believe they do have the best of intentions at heart, they say, “I won’t force religion down my child’s throat. I will let my child decide what, if anything, they wish to believe.” Such talk sounds so modern, so open-minded, so enlightened. Forgive me for sounding rude, but it is anything but that. No parent lets a child play with filled medicine bottles; or wander without supervision around a busy highway; or go swimming in a pool alone. No parent let’s a child associate with strange and unknown persons; no parent sends his child to just any school; no parent… you get my drift? Then why is it that we who are so concerned and so directive when it comes to our children’s mental and physical health, completely reverse ourselves when it comes to our children’s well-being? Is it possible that the forces of evil are less to be feared than the illnesses of the body or the miseducation of the mind? Nothing could be further from the truth. To lose your child to sin, death, and devil can easily mean your child will be lost forever. Parents dare not, by their inaction, ignorance, and silence become unwitting accessories to the temptations placed before their beloved children. Please, don’t force religion upon a child. Instead, share a wonderful story of love which is a precious and wonderful reassurance.
Even as we adults would sacrifice our lives to save our children’s bodies, we must be committed to doing all we can to safeguard their young souls. Yes, temptations are sure to come, but we must be dedicated to preserving and protecting these little ones who have been entrusted to us for such a short time. Indeed, that is the most important job which has been given to us. The Lord has enlisted our help in teaching our children to take a stand against temptation and to stand with the risen Redeemer Who gave His life so they might live forever.
My friends, the coyotes are after your children and you are God’s designated defense against these predators. I encourage you, all heaven urges you, stand fast and for these little ones do what is right and not that which is fashionable; do that which will guide and direct them and avoid that which will leave them unprotected. Tell them of the Savior. To that end, if we can be of help, please, do not hesitate. Call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers)
October 3, 2010
Title: Bad GovernmentAnnouncer: Questions about God and government. I’m Mark Eischer, here with Pastor Ken Klaus.
Klaus: Hi, Mark. So, what do you have for us today?
Announcer: Our listener writes, “I’ve been a member of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod for more than 80 years now, but I have always had trouble with Romans 13:1, where it says, “Everyone MUST submit himself to the governing authorities, FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT THAT WHICH GOD HAS ESTABLISHED. THE AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY GOD.”
Klaus: A key verse in understanding what we call the “Two-kingdom theology.”
Announcer: Our listener continues: “Are we to believe then that God actually established the Nazi regime under Adolph Hitler, or any number of tyrannical rulers who have existed throughout history?”
Klaus: Ah, this is going to be interesting, isn’t it?
Announcer: And, still not done. Our listener closes with this comment, he says: “Perhaps God only ALLOWS those regimes to exist, rather than having established them.”
Klaus: Excellent question. Summing it up: does God put all rulers in place or does He just allow them to do their cruel acts?
Announcer: I’d say that captures the idea.
Klaus: Our listener has done his homework. In truth, St. Paul knew exactly what he was writing when he penned this letter to the Christians in Rome. We need to remember what those Roman Christians would soon endure. Nero was probably the emperor at that time and he would be responsible for the persecution and death of many of those believers.
Announcer: And they may well have wondered how long they’d have to put up with that sort of thing. From what I understand, from very early on there were also Christians in the palace, in the Roman guard, and in other places of authority.
Klaus: And some of them might well have had an opportunity to end Nero’s life. Should they? What was the right thing to do? And, Mark, we need to remember that, according to tradition, Peter and Paul were both martyred in Rome during that time. Should the Christians have tried to get those fellows out of prison even if it meant disobeying the law?
Announcer: Well, we’ve established the question… what’s the answer?
Klaus: My answer would be this: the Lord usually–not always, but usually–gives people the governments they deserve. If a nation is God-fearing, He raises up leaders who are God-pleasing. If a nation is decadent and idolatrous, such as was the case at Rome, then the Lord raised up rulers who had few qualms about declaring themselves to be divine and doing their best to stomp out Jesus–Whom they regarded as their competition.
Announcer: So, did God then establish a fellow like Hitler? And, do you have a “yes” or “no” answer to that?
Klaus: Trying to put me on the spot? OK. Here goes. God didn’t like what Hitler did. God didn’t approve of what the Nazis did. God wasn’t glorified by the demonic pageantry and the pagan mythology surrounding that dictator.
Announcer: But did God establish Hitler’s power?
Klaus: I’m getting there. The answer is, “Yes, God put Hitler there for His purposes, which, I imagine, was to call Germany to repentance and back to faith… to teach a lost world just how much they needed a Savior.
Announcer: So, in other words then, a Germany that could produce such faith-destroying philosophers as Marx, Nietszche, and Schleiermacher would eventually also produce a Hitler to rule over them.
Klaus: And there is something else which needs to be said here. Governments are established by God. Christians live in that earthly kingdom, but they also live in Christ’s kingdom. We need to give Caesar what belongs to him… and to God that which belongs to God. While a Christian may not be involved in violent overthrow… His first responsibility is to God and his conscience. “We must obey God, rather than men” it’s how the apostles Peter and John said it. That was their way of going on record with their priorities.
Announcer: And that’s the way it was practiced by many of the early Christian martyrs.
Klaus: It was. When they were asked to burn incense to a false god, that’s all they had to do; they refused to do so, and many of them suffered for that courageous act. Even so, they didn’t try to overthrow the government that was persecuting them.
Announcer: Much like Jesus. Who respected Pilot’s authority, even if that mean submitting to death on the cross.
Klaus: And from the execution order of that spineless, self-serving Roman governor, the Lord worked out our salvation.
Announcer: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music selection for this program:
“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Let the Little Children Come to Me” arr. Theodore Beck. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC
“Before You, Lord, We Bow” arr. by Peter Prochnow. Used by permission.
“Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices” arr. Chris Loemker. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC