I’d like to begin my sermon this morning by asking you a question. How do you make an impact in someone’s life that gets them to change their ways in a permanent fashion?
This is a very important question to me. As a pastor, not only am I concerned with making disciples of all nations and leading people into a relationship with Jesus Christ, I am also concerned about the state of the church and the state of the country in which I live. In my personal opinion, there are some major issues facing our national church body and our nation.
For instance, when the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed, we had 5.5 million members. Two very large denominations along with a smaller one merged, and it seemed like the sky was the limit. It seemed like by combining all the resources of these groups, we would be able to proclaim the Gospel and make a tremendous difference in the landscape of the United States. But what happened? Since 1987, the ELCA has gone from 5.5 million members to 4.2 million members. Tell me, does this reflect Jesus’ instruction to make disciples of all nations? Now, there are a whole host of reasons for this decline. I do not wish to get into them right now, but I do want to ask the question: how does one reverse it? How does one impact the greater denomination to effect change which would reverse this dastardly trend?
Second instance: our nation. As I look at the political landscape across the country, a few things peak my interest. In the past few weeks, a small but vocal movement has garnered quite a bit of air-time in the headlines–Occupy Wall Street. As I have read and gathered information about this particular movement, it is very reminiscent of how the Tea Party movement started a couple of years ago. Each of these groups are at the polar opposite of the political spectrum, and Lord knows enough mud gets slung at both movements which actually has the effect of strengthening the resolve of each. Will such polarization lead to an even more divided nation? Will such polarization give us the ability to address the high unemployment and sluggish economy we find ourselves in? How can two such different groups come together and work on solutions to a problem that is greater than each?
These are some tough questions which I think are posed in the church and in our society, and it leads me to reiterate my opening question: how does one bring about change in such circumstances that is lasting or even permanent? Is it even possible?
For years, folks believed that education was the ultimate key to unlocking the human potential for coming up with solutions and changing behavior. If we just taught people correctly then such things would cease. I remember more than a few times having folks show up at my elementary and junior high school to teach us about drug awareness and the dangers of smoking and drinking to an excess. These things were all well and good, but how much of a difference did they make? Plenty of kids I knew still did drugs. Plenty smoked. Plenty drank. The message didn’t seem to get through.
In fact, oftentimes, disastrous things happened. For instance, I read a story a couple of weeks back about a doctor who went to a elementary school to give a presentation on smoking. He brought a slide show complete with pictures of the human lung–one set healthy and pink and another set blackened by continued smoking. The presentation was very powerful; however, the doctor left the school as the children were at recess, and the kids just happened to be watching the doctor as he got into his car. Guess what he did as he climbed in? That’s right. He lit up a cigarette. Do you think his presentation had any power left? Which do you think left the greater impression?
Think about such thoughts as you once again listen to a portion of our second lesson this morning from the first chapter of the book of 1 Thessalonians: 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Did you catch the details in that reading? Start again in verse six and work your way through, "6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ...in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God.
Paul lifts up the fact that this Christian community, this church not only accepted and believed in the good news of Jesus Christ, but it put it into action. Their beliefs, their faith led them to live a different kind of life–a life that people took notice of. The people of this congregation became an example to other believers of what it meant to be disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, does this give us any insight in how we are to approach making a difference, making a change in the larger church and in our nation? Oh, I believe it does, but it is a tough road that may take years in the making.
Why do I say that?
Well, let’s think about it for just a moment. Let’s say a rural congregation bucks the trend of most rural churches. Let’s say instead of declining, it grows. Let’s say it truly seeks to implement Jesus’ teachings in its worship, its administration, and its philosophy. Let’s say it looks beyond itself and involves itself in its community. Let’s say it takes initiative and helps out families who are in need, actively participates in feeding the hungry and providing for those less fortunate. Let’s say it practices generosity. Let’s say it works to bring together people who are politically liberal and conservative and all those in-between. Let’s say it focuses its attention on being faithful and truly loving one’s brothers and sisters regardless of disagreements and ideology. Let’s say it takes seriously Jesus’ call to pray for one’s enemies and bless those who persecute them. Let’s say this church really does things differently, and it shows.
Of course, since this church does things differently, it is looked upon with some suspicion. It’s outside of the box, so it doesn’t conform. It may have a different philosophy in governance and how it applies itself, and such things are usually met with resistence.
But what will happen in the long term? What will happen if this congregation continues to grow and do the ministry God has called it to do? What will happen if this congregation thrives while the rest of the church continues to slide? What will happen if the community picks up on what the church is doing and treats one another civilly in the midst of a polarized nation? What if folks start to take notice of such a thing happening?
Perhaps, just perhaps, in the long run someone would say to that church the same thing St. Paul said to the church in Thessalonica, "You became an example to all the believers." Then they would try to be like you, and you would have brought about lasting change. Amen.
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