Rev. Dustin ParkerTemple, Trauma, Trust
Concordia Lutheran Church
November 14, 2010
Temple, Trauma or Trust
Luke 25, 5-28
IN JESUS NAME
May the grace of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ sustain you as you live trusting in the work done they will bring to completion in the day of Christ Jesus!
TEMPLE = TRAUMA – TRUST
What are you tied to?
There is a theory that some of the greatest theological lessons can be found on the television. What may surprise you is that I agree with that theory. Great lessons which tell us of God’s love have been on television since the days of black and white televisions and rabbit ears and when a channel changer was one of the kids – changing the channel to what dad wanted, either 2, 4, 7, or if you were lucky – 9.
I am not talking about the great religious programming out there, though I think that maybe they occasionally get something right. I am not talking about shows that depicted religious elements like Seventh Heaven or Touched by an Angel, or the Hallmark movies that make everything on earth seem heavenly. In regards to today’s sermon, I am talking about that great television theologian, Gilligan. (for you younger types – Gilligan’s Island is a classic television comedy and Gilligan was an uncoordinated , unlucky, simple but friendly guy, who worked on a boat that was wrecked. Think Lost with a real script that was funny)
I remember one show precisely, that gives a great deal of insight into how we live life. In that show, they were reproducing the shipwreck, and as they did, Gilligan was tasked with throwing out the spare anchor in the midst of the storm. He took the anchor, and its nicely coiled rope like this – carried it forward, and promptly tossed it over the rail.
One small problem – it wasn’t tied to anything!
Uhm.. woops?
As we look at the world today, and even at the church…it isn’t much different that the time of Jesus. People like today, tie their hopes and dreams to things, and can be let down when those dreams fail, and when things collapse.
When Jesus spoke of end times – the language is not specific for a purpose – except to reveal that which we can – and should tie our hopes to – the redemption of our lives that is His work. That is certainly near, and it will sustain us, throughout anything we encounter, and because He unites us to Himself – tying us through the promises in His word and Sacrament,
Temple Ties will be broken
This is one of the Temple discourses, within the huge temple courtyard – the center of both cultural and religious life for the Jews. This is the place where Solomon’s temple had been! This is the place where God had placed His name; the place where the God’s mercy tied the people together! That temple was no more – destroyed in the process of God disciplining His children. It had been shattered, the ark of the covenant taken away, the gold and the finery taken away to the kings and treasuries.
That temple would be rebuilt, without the ark – and 500 years of aging and more wars would see its walls crumble. A ruler named Herod would come along, and offer to rebuild the temple - a politician who didn’t believe in God, promising to God’s people to make right that which had been broken, to restore order and their culture and their practices more gloriously than ever. Indeed, he expanded the court yards – the place was phenomenal. While this temple was being built – he built similar ones to other gods.
The Jewish people tied their faith back to the temple – they united around it and gloried in its splendor. It was their anchor, everything was based therin. Yet – from a point of faith, their hope was tied to emptiness. For the ark wasn’t there – God didn’t put His name there, Herod did. Gone was the place where the blood of sacrifices would atone for sin, gone was the presence of God in the way they knew it of old. There is nothing in the Holy of Holies now – nothing that assures them of God’s love and mercy.
The world and the church does the same today, as we focus on man’s work, on what we have done and what we have built. The world does it by looking to skyscrapers, and the technology that can be of such asset. We look to the miracle drugs, and our savings and investments. The church does it differently, but the church throughout the world still looks to its buildings, or more often to how “good” their people are, mistaking the work they do for God with the work that would save them.
But like Herod’s temple – all of it can crumble – all of it can be destroyed in a moment – the buildings and technology by war, but our lives, if they are based in our work, by health or a frail economy that will not let us be sustained. Or by our heroes – who simply show up to be sinners like the rest of us. We find ourselves tied to nothing…
Traumatic Ties will leave you devastated
Watch out for those who would claim to rescue you!
Do not be dismayed by the storms of life
So what happens when the walls fall, when those temples we build and trust in to give us comfort fail? In answering the disciples as to when these things would happen, Jesus’ answer is to be not be misled – don’t reach out for some other hope that will leave you in the same condition. Some will claim to be the Messiah – or a shepherd who can help you survive the tribulation.
Some of those will come deliberately to steal people from the church, or engage them in a “church” that are cults. Other sincere folk may come and point you to this person or that preacher that will encourage you to do these five things – or organize your life that way – and all will be good.
We look at the storms in our lives, and at what shakes our world. We hear of the wars and battles that are going on and realize that we aren’t the only ones with such struggles. It is in these days that we find our lives shaken, and we struggle in our own faithfulness, and in that which has been taught to us. Do those commandments, and the creed, the basic prayer which Jesus taught us, and the sacraments of Baptism, Absolution and the Lord’s prayer prepare us to stand firm?
Yeah – actually they do.
For they testify, as does all of scripture to the presence of God, as surely as Peter and James and John knew they were in the presence of Jesus.
Trust
God can use them to proclaim His love through you
Look to Christ’s return
I don’t care whether Old Testament or New Testament prophecy about end times. They all have the same basic message – and this one is no different. IN the end – it is not about what we did – the monuments we made, our faithfulness, or even the struggles we had – when being faithful and obedient to God seemed without possibility. It is about trusting in what will remain, what will survive the falling of our temples, and the storms of life. It is about what we tie our hopes to – what will act as our anchor.
It is about the One who holds us in His grasp – that will give us the words when because we bear His name, we need the words to testify to His love, His grace, His forgiveness – His redeeming us.
We bear His name – that’s the point. Many won’t understand what it means – they will struggle with it, they might think us crazy, or wasting our time, the persecution here in America is far more psychological that physical – it is there none the less. Even so, God has marked us as His children in our baptisms, we bear His name to a world that doesn’t yet understand His grace…and it is the very lack of understanding us, that will give us the opportunities to share His love!
I love the words behind that talk about the opportunity! “13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict!
What a promise of peace! What a chance to enter into discussions about the hope we have in Christ Jesus! The phrase settle your minds – is actually better translated – let your heart cease being concerned – be at peace. You don’t have to work through a thousand different scenarios about what to say- simply rest. What assurance to know God has it in control – what assurance to know He prepares us for those moments with every aspect of our lives! What a relief to know He reigns – He is in charge – and His work cannot fail!
Our redemption certainly draws near. The day of God’s coming is certainly hid to us, yet it’s coming should help us focus – not on the troubles of the world, nor the great works of our lives. Rather – to focus on Jesus, on His promises, to save us, to forgive us, to never leave us alone, to give us the Holy Spirit to comfort us and encourage us. The promises given to us as the baptized believers, the promises given again in His precious Body and Blood, shed for the sins of the world.
To leave behind the distractions of the world and to know His presence, His peace, and to share that as our testimony to a world, to our community, for they need to know of His return, that they too may know His love – and look forward to – and even pray for His return and the celebration of His second coming.
To Him, our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever – AMEN!
November 14, 2010
Temple, Trauma or Trust
Luke 25, 5-28
IN JESUS NAME
May the grace of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ sustain you as you live trusting in the work done they will bring to completion in the day of Christ Jesus!
TEMPLE = TRAUMA – TRUST
What are you tied to?
There is a theory that some of the greatest theological lessons can be found on the television. What may surprise you is that I agree with that theory. Great lessons which tell us of God’s love have been on television since the days of black and white televisions and rabbit ears and when a channel changer was one of the kids – changing the channel to what dad wanted, either 2, 4, 7, or if you were lucky – 9.
I am not talking about the great religious programming out there, though I think that maybe they occasionally get something right. I am not talking about shows that depicted religious elements like Seventh Heaven or Touched by an Angel, or the Hallmark movies that make everything on earth seem heavenly. In regards to today’s sermon, I am talking about that great television theologian, Gilligan. (for you younger types – Gilligan’s Island is a classic television comedy and Gilligan was an uncoordinated , unlucky, simple but friendly guy, who worked on a boat that was wrecked. Think Lost with a real script that was funny)
I remember one show precisely, that gives a great deal of insight into how we live life. In that show, they were reproducing the shipwreck, and as they did, Gilligan was tasked with throwing out the spare anchor in the midst of the storm. He took the anchor, and its nicely coiled rope like this – carried it forward, and promptly tossed it over the rail.
One small problem – it wasn’t tied to anything!
Uhm.. woops?
As we look at the world today, and even at the church…it isn’t much different that the time of Jesus. People like today, tie their hopes and dreams to things, and can be let down when those dreams fail, and when things collapse.
When Jesus spoke of end times – the language is not specific for a purpose – except to reveal that which we can – and should tie our hopes to – the redemption of our lives that is His work. That is certainly near, and it will sustain us, throughout anything we encounter, and because He unites us to Himself – tying us through the promises in His word and Sacrament,
Temple Ties will be broken
This is one of the Temple discourses, within the huge temple courtyard – the center of both cultural and religious life for the Jews. This is the place where Solomon’s temple had been! This is the place where God had placed His name; the place where the God’s mercy tied the people together! That temple was no more – destroyed in the process of God disciplining His children. It had been shattered, the ark of the covenant taken away, the gold and the finery taken away to the kings and treasuries.
That temple would be rebuilt, without the ark – and 500 years of aging and more wars would see its walls crumble. A ruler named Herod would come along, and offer to rebuild the temple - a politician who didn’t believe in God, promising to God’s people to make right that which had been broken, to restore order and their culture and their practices more gloriously than ever. Indeed, he expanded the court yards – the place was phenomenal. While this temple was being built – he built similar ones to other gods.
The Jewish people tied their faith back to the temple – they united around it and gloried in its splendor. It was their anchor, everything was based therin. Yet – from a point of faith, their hope was tied to emptiness. For the ark wasn’t there – God didn’t put His name there, Herod did. Gone was the place where the blood of sacrifices would atone for sin, gone was the presence of God in the way they knew it of old. There is nothing in the Holy of Holies now – nothing that assures them of God’s love and mercy.
The world and the church does the same today, as we focus on man’s work, on what we have done and what we have built. The world does it by looking to skyscrapers, and the technology that can be of such asset. We look to the miracle drugs, and our savings and investments. The church does it differently, but the church throughout the world still looks to its buildings, or more often to how “good” their people are, mistaking the work they do for God with the work that would save them.
But like Herod’s temple – all of it can crumble – all of it can be destroyed in a moment – the buildings and technology by war, but our lives, if they are based in our work, by health or a frail economy that will not let us be sustained. Or by our heroes – who simply show up to be sinners like the rest of us. We find ourselves tied to nothing…
Traumatic Ties will leave you devastated
Watch out for those who would claim to rescue you!
Do not be dismayed by the storms of life
So what happens when the walls fall, when those temples we build and trust in to give us comfort fail? In answering the disciples as to when these things would happen, Jesus’ answer is to be not be misled – don’t reach out for some other hope that will leave you in the same condition. Some will claim to be the Messiah – or a shepherd who can help you survive the tribulation.
Some of those will come deliberately to steal people from the church, or engage them in a “church” that are cults. Other sincere folk may come and point you to this person or that preacher that will encourage you to do these five things – or organize your life that way – and all will be good.
We look at the storms in our lives, and at what shakes our world. We hear of the wars and battles that are going on and realize that we aren’t the only ones with such struggles. It is in these days that we find our lives shaken, and we struggle in our own faithfulness, and in that which has been taught to us. Do those commandments, and the creed, the basic prayer which Jesus taught us, and the sacraments of Baptism, Absolution and the Lord’s prayer prepare us to stand firm?
Yeah – actually they do.
For they testify, as does all of scripture to the presence of God, as surely as Peter and James and John knew they were in the presence of Jesus.
Trust
God can use them to proclaim His love through you
Look to Christ’s return
I don’t care whether Old Testament or New Testament prophecy about end times. They all have the same basic message – and this one is no different. IN the end – it is not about what we did – the monuments we made, our faithfulness, or even the struggles we had – when being faithful and obedient to God seemed without possibility. It is about trusting in what will remain, what will survive the falling of our temples, and the storms of life. It is about what we tie our hopes to – what will act as our anchor.
It is about the One who holds us in His grasp – that will give us the words when because we bear His name, we need the words to testify to His love, His grace, His forgiveness – His redeeming us.
We bear His name – that’s the point. Many won’t understand what it means – they will struggle with it, they might think us crazy, or wasting our time, the persecution here in America is far more psychological that physical – it is there none the less. Even so, God has marked us as His children in our baptisms, we bear His name to a world that doesn’t yet understand His grace…and it is the very lack of understanding us, that will give us the opportunities to share His love!
I love the words behind that talk about the opportunity! “13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict!
What a promise of peace! What a chance to enter into discussions about the hope we have in Christ Jesus! The phrase settle your minds – is actually better translated – let your heart cease being concerned – be at peace. You don’t have to work through a thousand different scenarios about what to say- simply rest. What assurance to know God has it in control – what assurance to know He prepares us for those moments with every aspect of our lives! What a relief to know He reigns – He is in charge – and His work cannot fail!
Our redemption certainly draws near. The day of God’s coming is certainly hid to us, yet it’s coming should help us focus – not on the troubles of the world, nor the great works of our lives. Rather – to focus on Jesus, on His promises, to save us, to forgive us, to never leave us alone, to give us the Holy Spirit to comfort us and encourage us. The promises given to us as the baptized believers, the promises given again in His precious Body and Blood, shed for the sins of the world.
To leave behind the distractions of the world and to know His presence, His peace, and to share that as our testimony to a world, to our community, for they need to know of His return, that they too may know His love – and look forward to – and even pray for His return and the celebration of His second coming.
To Him, our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever – AMEN!
