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.
No comments:
Post a Comment