"Allow No Divisions"

1 Corinthians 1:10-18



Pastor Tom Johnson, January 26, 2014

A word from Pastor Johnson regarding this sermon:

This morning's message is an "Incarnational Translation" of Paul's words to the church at Corinth. I've tried to contextualize the essence of Paul's concern for sectarianism even in the infancy of Christ's Church. How would Paul address the same concern to First Saint Paul's Lutheran Church of Chicago? How would he similarly be disturbed by the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod? Or the Lutheran Church worldwide? Or all of those who confess faith in Jesus from all walks of faith? If it helps you, you can follow along the reading and see how I've tried to faithfully "translate" every thought in this passage. God transform us into a united Body in the name of Jesus and move forward proclaiming him Savior and giving him all the glory!

Incarnational Translation:

Sisters and brothers in Christ—members of the family of God—members of the Body of Christ,

I appeal to you—I plead with you by the Name that is above every name—the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I ask that all of you be of one mind and one heart—with true Christian unity—with the same genuine perspective that God gives in and through his holy Word. We are called to be united by one Lord, in one faith, through one baptism (Eph. 4:5). We are called to be one people.

But news of a different state of affairs has come to my ears—news of division and quarreling that began in the first century. Chloe's people let me know about that division.

Three hundred years later, news came to me about another division: between Arius and Athanasius. Two hundred years later, another significant division came to Christ’s Church; this time between Pelagius and Augustine.

Things seemed to get better. That is, until five hundred years later when news of the Great Schism happened. According to earthly time, this was the year 1054—it was the year that Christ's Church was divided into two—the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Church was forever split into two—not one—but two!

It then came to my ears five hundred years later that some German monk named Martin Luther started to speak out against the Western Church. And because of the division, the Church split again—now into the Evangelical or Protestant Church and the Roman Catholic Church. And just a few decades later, other men started to rise up and it divided the church—men like Menno Simons and John Calvin.

And over the next five hundred years the Church of Christ that used to be one kept dividing and dividing. And so, instead of calling ourselves Christians, men and women started calling themselves Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Orthodox, Mennonite, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, Charismatic, Non-denominational, Reformed, and Lutheran. What?

And if that weren’t bad enough, they continued their division. It was not specific enough even to be called a Baptist—for now there were American Baptists, Conservative Baptists, General Baptists, and Regular Baptists. There were United Methodists, Methodist-Episcopal, and African Methodist-Episcopal.

There were Evangelical Lutherans, Wisconsin Lutherans, and Missouri Lutherans. It was not enough to be called Missouri Lutherans but now names such as Walther, Preus, Confessional, Conservative, Moderate, and Liberal divided them.

What I mean to say is this: that each one of you says something like: “I follow Paul” or “I follow Apollos” or “I follow Cephas” or “I follow Athanasius” or “I follow Augustine” or "I follow the Pope” or “I sprinkle” or “I immerse” or “I follow Luther” or “I follow Walther” or “I follow Preus” or “I follow the district president.”

Let me ask you this: is Christ divided? Is it possible to split the Body of Christ? Don’t we confess “I believe in the Holy Spirit” and “in one holy and Catholic and Apostolic Church”? Are there degrees of Christians—half Christians or quarter Christians? Are there shades of Christians—some light and some dark and some gray?

Was Paul crucified for you for the forgiveness sins? Did Luther live a sinless life for you and clothe you perfect righteousness? Has the District President risen from the dead and promise you eternal life? Has any pastor ascended into the pulpit and then later ascended into heaven? Were you baptized in the name of Peter, Paul, Tom or some other name? Or were you baptized into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit?

I thank God that I baptized none of you—well, that’s not totally true—there was Crispus and Gaius—but I am thankful that none of you can say that you were baptized into my name—Well, there was Stephan’s family that I baptized—and...well, anyway, it doesn't matter and I better go on before more people come to mind...

The point is this: Christ did not send me to promote Baptism by my hands or in my name but the Triune God’s Name. He sent me to preach the Gospel—to bring glory to Jesus Christ alone—not to myself. And so have I endeavored to do—not by proving what great of a speaker and preacher that I am—and not by using the best rhetoric of the day—because I know that the power does not come from me.

I’m not saying that there are not valid, theological differences among Christians today. Indeed, there are. I'm not saying that it is a sin to believe one denomination is more true to the Scriptures than others. But what I am saying is this: no person, no tradition, no denomination is the source of divine wisdom and salvation—only the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. It is as simple as this: the power comes from the Cross of Calvary—the powerful Cross of Jesus Christ that forgives sins, overcomes evil, death, and always clears our consciences of guilt and shame.

Think of those outside of the Christian faith. For them, all our divisions are a joke. But to us who know Jesus—we know the One by whose Name we are saved. We know that there is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism—one God and Father of all creation. We know that no true walls divide those who trust in Jesus who died on that powerful Cross. We are all sisters and brothers in Christ who believe in Him who rose from the dead. We are all royal children of the heavenly Father.

So treat and respect other Christians—love them—befriend them—not as estranged brothers and sisters—but as those who are our future housemates. For we will all dwell in the same house of the Lord forever. And will give no other name the glory—we will bow at the name of no one else—but at the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior.

"Baptismal Regeneration"

Matthew 3:13-17



Pastor Tom Johnson, January 12, 2014

Almost exactly three years ago, former Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at point blank range. Six people died; five others were critically wounded. Early reports said that she was already dead. This past week, Giffords shared details of her rehabilitation. Only recently, has she been able to move her right arm. She has spent “the past three years learning how to talk again, how to walk again.” “It’s gritty, painful, frustrating work, every day,” she writes. She reveals how the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting gave her a renewed sense of mission to try to work for safer communities to live in. Her daily rehab has taught her to work hard on the little things, to pay attention to details, and look for progress no matter how small. This past Wednesday, Giffords went skydiving to celebrate her continued recovery.

There is one story of Giffords’ early recovery that deeply moves me. After the shooting, Giffords was in a coma. She was present in the body but absent in the spirit. She showed no sign of conscious life. Family, friends, co-workers, doctors, nurses, and even President Obama came to pray and talk to her. But she was unresponsive. But on the third day, three of her close friends and husband came to her bedside again. Even though they saw no response—looking as if she were lifeless—they spoke to her as if she could hear and respond—believing—weak as their faith may have been—believing that she could hear and respond. They held her hand. They rubbed her hand with theirs. They told her that she needed to wake up to have pizza with them. They told her that she needed to get up—that there is too much work for her to do. They told her that they loved her. They touched her. They spoke words to her lifeless body—touch and words infused with love. That was when it happened. One of her eyes opened up a slit. Her husband Mark was so excited, he asked her to give a thumbs-up. Unable to do so, she lifted her whole arm. Later, she squeezed her husband’s hand when asked to and even scratched her nose. Her primary doctor said, “Wow. This is incredible progress.” They were all amazed by the power of touch, the spoken word, and human love. These three—touch, the word, and love—raised her from profound unconsciousness. In their televised interview, they said that they are now believers—their faith strengthened in the power of human touch, the spoken word, and love.

When Jesus went down to the Jordan, he was going to rouse the spiritual unconscious. He came to “fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus fulfilled all righteousness when He infused the baptismal waters with His perfection and grace. He fulfilled all righteousness when He died and rose again to deliver forgiveness and eternal life. He came to deliver spiritual life and wakefulness. The Heavenly Father also was there. And the Holy Spirit also manifested as a dove. The Trinity was there to give us the gift of Holy Baptism. The Three came “to fulfill all righteousness.” 

Whether we come to baptism as helpless infants or helpless adults—we cannot save ourselves. Apart from the power of the Gospel, we too are present in the body but absent in the Spirit. We are unconscious to God’s love and His Kingdom. We are comatose in our trespasses and sins. But the Three come to our side. We have the touch and splash of water thrown on us. The heavens open up. The Three show up to shower us with water, the word, and divine, unconditional love. The Holy Spirit descends upon us and stirs us awake spiritually. The voice of our Heavenly Father speaks an inviting and good word. He says at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” But his work does not end at our baptismal event.

Like Gabrielle Giffords who is still on the road to recovery but still determined, are we aware of our own baptismal regeneration? Are we diligently and daily working out our Baptism? Are we paying attention to the details of what God is doing in our lives and those around us? Are we longing for progress in our baptismal grace no matter how small? Do we take time to celebrate and give thanks for all God’s baptismal grace? Every time we come to the Lord’s Supper, it is like skydiving into God’s baptismal grace all over again.

In our Baptism, God says of us, “You are adopted. You bear the Name of the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are my beloved daughter. You are my beloved son. You are clothed with the radiant righteousness of Jesus!” As God’s people—baptized in Christ’s righteousness—God touches us, God speaks words of assurance to us, and his love bathes and washes away all our sin. In Christ and in our Baptism, we have strengthened faith, rehabilitated hope, and the promise of continued renewal of our lives.

“Bringing to light the Mystery”

Ephesians 3:1-12



Pastor Tom Johnson, January 5, 2014

Everybody loves a good mystery—so the saying goes. Mystery is what makes it so difficult for people to put a book down. The mystery and suspense in a movie makes it nearly impossible to leave the theatre and grab more popcorn. Not all of us deal with mystery in the same way. I was shocked when I first saw my wife open a new book—on the last page. She had to know how the book ended before she began the story. Some people ask during the movie what will happen next because they cannot wait for the resolution. There are many times that I cannot watch a football game or a baseball game because of the time. So, I record the game. In the meantime, I cringe when people will tell me the score or the outcome before I get a chance to sit down and watch it and discover it for myself. But if it is a good game, it is still fun to watch. Even reading the last page of a good book or knowing the outcome of a well scripted movie will not spoil the mystery. If the story is rich enough…if the characters are developed well…if the story builds in suspense, no one will be let down. Suspense and mystery will keeps us interested and asking questions.

In our reading from Ephesians, Paul repeatedly calls the message and story of Jesus “the mystery.” A mystery is something that once is hidden but then later revealed—an unknown truth that is later discovered. In this case, the mystery is Jesus. Before He was born, His identity as Messiah was hidden but later revealed beginning with His birth in Bethlehem. Even the truth of who He was, is, and will be was not fully discovered during His earthly ministry. When the mystery was first revealed to His mother Mary, she had a deep sense of the mystery of the eternal Word becoming flesh. And so she asked the angel, “How can these things be?” When the mystery was first revealed to Peter, he had a deep sense of the mystery of someone who already knew him fully. And so he asked Jesus to leave him alone. He said, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man.” And when the mystery was first revealed to Paul, he also had a deep sense of the mystery of the full extent of the power and authority of Jesus. After Paul is blinded by His light and knocked off his horse, he says, “Who are you, Lord?” For centuries, God’s people waited for the true Messiah. They hoped, prayed, and read the prophecies. But even the most faithful believers could not have known the fullness and glory of who Jesus would be.

And then the mystery was revealed. Jesus was born. Jesus was revealed in His baptism in the river Jordan. He revealed Himself in the miracles he performed. He revealed Himself in the messages He preached. He revealed Himself and the love of our heavenly Father when He died and rose again—breaking the power of sin, the devil, and even death itself. He reveals Himself when we receive His Body and Blood in the Lord’s Supper giving us forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life. For Paul, the great mystery in the Gospel that challenges his thinking was that God had a plan—not just for the Jewish people—but for all people. The Gentiles—the non-Jews—are also part of God’s plan. Paul is called to preach this universal message—as he says, “to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.” Paul’s call is to help this mystery come to light—to bring to light the mystery. And he believed that ministry would continue through the church. All of us are called to bring to light this mystery.

For many around us, the wonder and majesty of who Jesus is still remains a mystery. For many, the magnitude of the love God has for the world remains a mystery. It is our job to bring who Jesus is and God’s love to light. I believe that many people lose interest in Jesus, attending church, and the Bible when they lose this sense of mystery. We can kill the faith in ourselves and in others when we arrogantly claim to have this Christianity thing figured out. We bring to light this mystery with humility. You see Paul’s humility by calling himself “the least of all the saints.” We would do well to show humility by at least acknowledging that we don’t have Jesus and the Christian faith completely figured out. He is still called a mystery. There are still unanswered questions. But we have enough of a peak of the ending of the story to know there is a happy ending. Jesus will win. He will triumph over all evil. We will all have victory over death and the grave. We will get there. Exactly how and precisely when still remains a mystery. But, in the meantime, there is joy of discovery and joy along our journey.