“Our God, a Refuge” (Psalm 46)

Psalm 46

 

Pastor Tom Johnson, October 25, 2015

In almost every instance, the evidence we have for any civilization that has existed are the fortresses and walls that protected her people. Remember the Alamo? You can still visit its fortified walls and buildings today. They say you can see the Great Wall of China from space. It served to protect millions of people from foreign raiders. The Morro fortress in San Juan Puerto Rico was constructed by the Spanish to preserve and defend lives within from threats by land and water. Its walls can withstand cannon blasts. Jericho is the oldest fortified city. They have found layer after layer of different generations and peoples who worked hard to protect their lives and possessions. And then there is Jerusalem, which our Psalm talks about, which has some of the largest stones in her walls the world has ever seen. One stone in particular is called “The western stone.” It is considered by some to be one of the wonders of the world. It is one of the heaviest objects ever lifted by human beings without powered machinery. It is 517 tons and 13.6 by 3 by 3 meters. How bit is that? It is about as wide as the distance between the Pulpit and Altar. It is about as high from the floor to the bottom of the Cross on the wall. And it is about as long as from the Chancel wall to the last row in our sanctuary.

Jerusalem was a fortress. It was a refuge for God’s people. It was a stronghold to find protection from the enemy attacks that would last for weeks and months. Hezekiah constructed a secret tunnel to channel water from a spring into the city so that people could survive a long siege—“a river whose streams make glad the city of God.” Jesus predicts a time when those Jerusalem walls would fail and fall. And, in a few decades it did.

By the 15th century the Ottomans found a way to blast through even thick, stone walls when they sieged Constantinople with cannons. Today we still talk much about building walls. Whether they are the barbed wire trying to keep Syrian refugees out of Hungary, the fence on the Mexican-United States border to keep immigrants out, or the cement wall going right through Palestinian communities in modern day Israel; we still build refuges and fortresses. These castles, walls, and moats are a constant reminder of evil in the world—or, at least, our fear of evil in the world. Since 9/11 we have Homeland Security. Its goal is simple and clear—to keep America safe. And on a smaller scale, we lock our doors, install security alarms and cameras in our homes, and we pay law enforcement to work day and night so that we can lie down at night in relative peace.

The gift and beauty of the Reformation is that Luther clearly defined who the true enemy is and where our true refuge is found. Luther found in Psalm 46 the words and the prophetic vision of a true fortress against a formidable adversary. “Our God is a refuge and strength.” A refuge and strength against whom? Foreign nations are not the enemy. In fact, the psalm celebrates the reconciliation of the peoples of the world: “I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” Martin Luther’s hymn takes it a step further and identifies the enemy: the enemy is us, our own captivity to sin, the nameless spiritual evil that is a universal threat to all peoples—loss of possessions, reputation, loved ones, and death itself. With this Psalm and Luther’s hymn, we celebrate the assurance of grace. We call it the Gospel or Good News, the reassurance that we need.

Our God accepts us. He loves us. He cares for us. And he sent his Son Jesus to fortify our salvation in him. Our sin has been washed away by the water, Word, and Spirit that flows through the city of God. We are made glad as we are now clothed in the righteousness of Jesus of Nazareth. He will safely take us through the veil of tears into the New Jerusalem whose River of Life flows from the Lamb. Christ has overcome the threat of death on every side by his death outside the city gates and walls of Jerusalem. He has buttressed and reinforced our eternal life by his rising from the dead from a tomb hewn out of solid rock. And even more than that, he gives us a vision of his goal for this world that he loves: “he will make wars cease in all the world. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire.” He will reconcile the nations, peoples, and tribes of the entire planet. He will bring an end to nuclear proliferation and complete disarmament. He will melt down lead bullets, brass canisters, and firearms. He will shatter security cameras and tear down walls, fences, and barbed wire.

A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from ev’ry need That hath us o’ertaken,
The old evil foe Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.

With might of ours can naught be done, Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the valiant One, Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is,
Of Sabaoth Lord, And there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.

“The fullness thereof” (Mark 10:35-45; Psalm 24:1)

Mark 10:35-45

 

Pastor Tom Johnson, October 18, 2015

James and John want prominence and prestige in the Kingdom of God. One wants to be the right-hand man of the Messiah and the other the left-hand man of the King of Glory. This is not unlike people who work hard to get a candidate elected; and, when the candidate wins, the campaigners expect to get one of those sweet appointments. This, of course, makes the other ten disciples angry with James and John. A turf war has begun. Who will have the greatest stature, recognition, and honored place in the eternal Kingdom of God?

Jesus rebukes all twelve. This is the way the world operates. Who has better poll numbers and greater popularity? Who is drawing out the bigger crowds and excitement? This is worldly fulfillment.
It is the kind of fullness that feeds your ego but not your soul. It may bring momentary euphoria and satisfaction but it will not bring the kind of joy that will endure into the eternal kingdom. Jesus’ insight into heart of humanity is impossible to deny. At our core, we crave recognition, acceptance, stature, places of honor, and significance. It is in our nature to compete and win. We are starving for fulfillment. We want more stuff. We want to upgrade our stuff. We want to be admired and validated. Marketers know this. Advertisers get this.

Just as I was preparing these words, I received an email from my phone provider that said, “Why wait? Upgrade your phone. You deserve the best!” Yes! I do! I am entitled to the best! I have earned it. I have paid my due with that old smartphone for far too many months! I have been held back from fulfilling my fantasies of technological bliss. Now is the time of fulfillment. “No, Johnson!” Jesus says, “There is no enduring fullness or fulfillment in the things of the world.” There is no satisfaction in our rat race for significance and pursuit of power. He is kind to unmask the face of prestige. And underneath that mask of prominence is an insecure little child looking for approval.

“Even the Son of Man—even the Messiah—did not come to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many,” Jesus says. “Even I,” Jesus reminds us, “even I never expected worldly fulfillment, recognition, or prominence.” Jesus did not come to receive fullness from the world. He came to deliver fullness to the world. He came to serve. He came to give. And his gift is himself. And he did not just give a portion. He have his whole life—his time, his talent, his treasure. As Jesus will later say, “It is better to give than to receive.” We work hard to acquire stuff and fulfillment in our pursuits. Jesus gives his whole being to pursue and acquire us.

“He gave his life as a ransom for many.” He paid our ransom, not with gold or silver, but with his precious Blood on the cross. That word ransom means that Jesus paid the price for our freedom. We have been kidnapped by our own sin and pursuit of worldly significance. We are slaves to our own appetite for more…for better…for greater. In Christ’s paid ransom, “the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” We are the property of Creator of heaven and earth! We are the apple of his eye. We have been bought with a price. We are his. We are God’s. Our fulfillment is in him. And Jesus invites us take on his servant heart for people. He wants us to join his mission of giving ourselves for his Kingdom. This is true greatness, Jesus reminds us, not to be served but to serve—to give of all that we have and all that we are—for the Kingdom of God as it breaks out to those around us into all eternity.

This week I met with one of our new frequent visitors. She said that during the week the pursuit of significance begins to exhaust her and drag her down. Striving for worldly fulfillment is draining to the soul. Coming to First Saint Paul’s on Sunday morning resets her thinking and brings her back to Kingdom reality. “I am reminded of who I am. I am reminded of whose I am.” I was shocked. “You are preaching my sermon for this Sunday!” I told her. And I showed her my notes and asked permission to share her powerful words. “I am reminded of who I am. I am reminded of whose I am.” We are the Lord’s! The entire sphere and all her inhabitants are his! “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

Lord, whose love through humble service
Bore the weight of human need,
Who upon the cross, forsaken,
Offered mercy’s perfect deed,
We, Your servants, bring the worship
Not of voice alone, but heart
Consecrating to Your Purpose
Ev’ry gift that You impart.       ("Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service," v. 1)

“We enter fullness like children” (Mark 10:2-16)

Mark 10:2-16

 

Pastor Tom Johnson, October 4, 2015

Jesus has difficult words for adults whose hearts become hardened and calloused toward one another even in the most intimate of relationships: marriage. In contrast, Jesus has surprising things to say about children—whose hearts are still tender and vulnerable. Jesus’ disciples assume Jesus is too busy for little children. They assume the children are not important enough to gain the attention of their Master. Was it that they are not big enough, not strong enough, not knowledgeable enough, or not productive enough? I have been trying to boil down the essence of what it means to be a little child. They are “little”—smaller. And being smaller, we assume the child younger. And if younger, not able to provide for themselves. They do not yet have the knowledge or mental capacity to figure things out. Little children—infants, babies, and toddlers are little people. They are small, weak, ignorant, and needy. They are small creatures—fearfully and wonderfully made—but not yet able—not yet competent—not yet capable—not yet...not yet…

Today, I must give a shout out for all the other creatures of our King who are fearfully and wonderfully made. It is St. Francis of Assisi Day—the pastor who said to preach the Gospel, and use words when necessary—the pastor who preached to the birds in the trees and the creatures crawling on the ground.

Did you hear about Zachary born on September 23rd at the Brookfield Zoo? He is part of an endangered branch of western lowland gorillas. It struck me at looking at his pictures how frail he is, dependent on his mother, not even the strength to crawl up his mother’s lap to nurse. He looks like a little old man with wrinkles all over his body with beautiful wide-nostrils and deep and dark eyes which mom proudly cleans with her tongue. The way she holds and grooms him says more than words. Mom is so proud. She loves her tiny, wobbly, sleepy, and fragile newborn. A word to the wise, humans: don’t mess with Zachary. You will see the—excuse the mix of metaphors—you will see tiger mom come out. And I understand that an angry gorilla is not easily negotiated with.

That brings me back to Jesus. Don’t prevent his little children from coming to him. He becomes indignant—that means angry for the right reasons. Don’t mess them. “Get your gorilla paws off my babies,” Jesus says! “Let the little ones come to be! Do not prevent them! What on God’s green and blue earth are you thinking?! These tiny seeds of humanity epitomize the Kingdom.” In other words, do you want to know what a citizen of God’s invisible Kingdom really looks like—look at an infant being received into the hands of her Messiah to get blessed. Look at the baby at the baptismal font. Watch a helpless, tiny, oblivious, person adopted into God’s family only for the love of Christ! It is through these eyes and through this childlike lens that we see the fullness of God’s grace, mercy, and love he has for all creation. This is how we should think of our relationship with God—as children—as little Zachary brought up into the arms of his mother to feed and groomed out of sheer love—nothing else.

Last week I heard an interview with two Jesuit priests who work in the Vatican’s Observatory. One specializes in the death and birth of stars and the other in asteroids. They talked about the similarities and differences of science and the Christian faith. I have posted a link on Facebook this morning if you care to listen to it yourself. Or ask me, and I’ll send you a link. This is what I took away from what they said about science and faith in Jesus: we must celebrate and find joy in our ignorance. Let me say that again. We must celebrate and find joy in our ignorance. Childlike ignorance brings us into fullness. Science is not really knowledge as the word suggests but the discovery of more questions and things we don’t understand. In other words, being an adult is overrated. We should be more like children who ask, “Why?”

When a child asks “Why?” they are not looking for a final answer. They are saying, “Tell me more! This is fun stuff! Life is an interesting exciting journey. My ignorance tells me just how much fullness there is out there to discover!” Children are true philosophers—they embody the meaning of that word—lovers of knowledge. How boring studying the world would be if there were no surprises! How uninteresting the Scriptures would be if we reduced faith in God into a formula! Being like a child in our faith and trust in Jesus will remind us that we are not big enough, not strong enough, not knowledgeable enough, nor productive enough. But that is exactly where God wants us to be. To us children he says, “Come on! Join the family! Enjoy the fullness of the Kingdom! It is tailored made for children just like you!”