Loving Deeply From the Heart

    As we finish up 1 Peter chapter one today, I would like to let you know that verse 22 caught my attention at the very outset of this sermon series.  I don’t know why, but the vision of a community of people loving one another deeply from the heart made me pause and say, “What a beautiful thing.  What a beautiful idea that people would gather together with genuine love; real love; and they would love one another deeply from the bottom of their hearts.”  I don’t know if that picture grasps your imagination, but it grasps mine, and I don’t know about you, but it grasps mine because very, very few of our relationships in this day and age even come close to this kind of relationship.

    You might wonder why I say that–especially those of you who are in a relationship with a significant other who you love and cherish; especially those of you who are parents who dote on your children and would die for them.  Aren’t these relationships from the heart?  In one sense, yes, but let’s delve a little bit deeper into what I think it means to love another person deeply from the heart.

    Just what does it mean to love another person deeply from the heart?  I think this: entering into a relationship with another person even if you know you will get nothing out of it.  Think about that for just a moment.  Loving another person deeply from the heart means that you knowingly love another person and support another person and care for the well being of another person without getting anything in return.  I want you to think about that for just a second here, and I want you to think about the relationships you have in your life.  I want you to think about the people you love.  I want you to think about the friendships you have.  I want you to think about the people you hang around, and I want you to be honest–blatantly honest with yourself.  Do you receive something from these relationships?

    I think, if you are brutally honest with yourself, you would answer yes.  You would affirm that in every relationship you are a part of, you benefit in some fashion from that relationship.  You get something out of that relationship.  Theoretically, you receive love and affection from your spouse or significant other.  You receive joy from watching your children grow and develop.  You receive companionship, laughter, and a sense of camaraderie from your friendships.  If you are in a business relationship, you receive money for your time or for your goods.  If you are helping another person out, you receive joy and satisfaction that you helped someone in need.  In just about every single relationship we have, we receive some sort of benefit.  And here is the question: if you received absolutely no benefit what-so-ever from a relationship, would you still stay in it? 

    •    If you received no love and affection from your significant other, would you stay with him or her?
    •    If you received no satisfaction from raising your children, would you continue to provide for them when they yelled and screamed at you?
    •    If your business partner paid you nothing for your time and efforts, would you stay at that job?
    •    If you paid for a product and the company refused to send what you paid for to you, would you order from them again?
    •    If you did not feel a sense of satisfaction from helping others in need, would you continue to do it?
    •    If your friends continuously kept taking advantage of you and your good nature, would you continue to hang around them?

    Most of us, I think, would not continue in such relationships.  Most of us would, at some point, realize that our love, our energy, our time, and our money is being thrown down a vacuum which literally sucks the life out of us.  We would wake up to this realization and say to ourselves, “I don’t get anything out of this relationship.  I am tired and worn out from giving and giving and giving and getting nothing in return.  I am out of here!” 

    And yet, if we were truly loving others deeply from the heart, we would not exit such relationships.  We would not walk away from those who take advantage of us. We would not turn away from abuse or neglect.  We would stay even at great risk to ourselves.  It’s terribly hard to really and truly love another deeply from the heart.  In a very real way, we simply are not built to have this kind of love.

    But there is One who indeed had this kind of love.  There was One who implemented it at great cost to Himself.  Today is Palm Sunday, and we are reminded of Jesus who came riding into Jerusalem triumphantly on the back of a donkey.  The imagery is priceless as it hearkens back to the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah would enter into Jerusalem riding upon a donkey.  Those who were spreading their garments and laying palm branches knew this.  They understood the imagery.  They understood the prophesy.  They were terribly excited given the burden of taxation and rule they had experienced under the Greeks and then the Romans.  They knew of Jesus’ acts of power and might.  They knew He claimed power and authority from God.  It was only a matter of time before He would call down God’s mighty hand to deliver them from oppression.  They would soon be free!  It is no wonder they shouted “Hosanna!”

    But I want to shift the perspective a little bit.  I want to shift the perspective to Jesus’ perspective.  The people believed they would benefit from Jesus’ arrival into Jerusalem, but I want to ask you this morning: what benefit would Jesus receive from His arrival into Jerusalem?  What benefit would Jesus receive from engaging the crowds?  What benefit was Jesus going to get from this whole ordeal?  Think about this very, very hard.  So often, when it comes to Christianity and the faith you and I espouse, we think about ourselves.  We think about what God has done.  We think about the resurrection.  We think about it from our perspective and the benefits we receive.  But now, at this moment, think about what benefits Jesus was going to get.  Think about what benefits Jesus stood to receive by riding into Jerusalem into the heart of His enemies strength and power.  Can you think of
any benefits to Jesus?  Can you think of anything good that He is about to get?
    You see, here’s what Jesus is about to receive:

•    He will be betrayed by one of His closest followers.
•    He will be deserted by all of His followers.
•    His closest friend will deny he knew Jesus three times.
•    He will be arrested.
•    He will be tried in a kangaroo court.
•    He will hear the crowd that proclaimed, “Hosanna” cry out, “Crucify Him!”
•    He will be beaten.
•    He will be forced to carry a cross.
•    He will be forced to wear a crown of thorns.
•    He will be bloodied and mocked.
•    He will have nails driven through His ankles and wrists.
•    He will hang and see His mother weeping.
•    He will see soldiers gamble for His clothing.
•    He will feel abandoned by His Father in heaven.
•    He will feel the wrath of God descend upon Him as payment for the world’s sin.
•    He will have a spear pierce His side.
•    He will die.

    This is what Jesus will receive.  This is what Jesus will experience.  This is what Jesus will get for being in a relationship with humankind.  This is what God will receive from you and me.  What benefit does Jesus get from being in a relationship with us?  Nothing.  Absolutely nothing.  He gets nothing from us, but He gave everything for us.

    For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world may be saved through Him.

    You see, Jesus loved you deeply from the heart.  Jesus loved me deeply from the heart.  Jesus loved the world deeply from the heart–when we gave Him nothing in return.  He died for you when He received nothing from you.  He died for me when He received nothing from me.  When you contemplate this, you see just what kind of wondrous love Jesus has for us!  It truly is wondrous.  It truly is amazing.

    And when you begin to understand this kind of love; when it begins to capture your heart; when you know that Jesus died for you when you didn’t deserve it, you begin to experience deep transformation.  Your heart begins to change.  You begin to look at others and think, “Jesus died for them.  Jesus loves them, just like He loves me.  Maybe I cannot love perfectly; deeply from the heart.  Maybe I can’t enter into a relationship without receiving some sort of benefit.  Maybe I can’t give completely and sacrificially with no thought of return, but I will give it my best shot.  I will give it my best shot because Jesus gave me His.  Jesus gave me everything.  Jesus gave me Himself, and now I will strive to love another deeply from the heart.”

    And here’s the marvelous thing.  Imagine a community of people who understand what Jesus did for them.  Imagine a community of people who understand that Jesus poured Himself out for them.  Imagine they now pour themselves out into each other, but they never feel empty.  They never feel taken advantage of.  They never feel worn out or tired or upset that no one cares what they do?  Why?  Because, of a couple of things.  First, they realize they have an unending source of love and fulfillment.  They realize God, Jesus is still pouring Himself out for them.  They do not worry about being taken advantage of because they continue to be in a relationship that sustains them.  That’s the first point.  The second point, I’d like to put it in these terms to illustrate: I as a pastor, empty myself into you, and you as a congregation empty yourself into me.  We freely give to one another without thought of receiving anything, but we do so because we love one another deeply from the heart.  And this doesn’t just happen between pastor and congregation: it happens between each of you as you walk with each other.  We unceasingly fill one another with love and compassion.  Can you imagine a community filled with such love?  Can you imagine a community filled with such joy?  Can you imagine a community so transformed because of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf?  I can.  And it’s beautiful.   “Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart.”–because Jesus loved you deeply from His. Amen.

For the Sake of Others or Why I now Have the Rugged Look

There is a very fine line between doing something because you cherish and need others to like you and doing something for others because they like what you do.

Please read that statement very carefully.  It's important, I think.

Late last year, my family and I went on vacation and enjoyed a wonderful trip to Arkansas to visit my grandfather.  Now, when I take a break, I break.  I relax in as many ways as possible including leaving my razor at home.

For most of my life, I have been clean shaven.  A few times I have worn a goatee.  Once I grew a patchy beard because of a Halloween costume.  Rarely have I gone long with any sort of facial hair.  Generally, it gets itchy, and I don't like trying to maintain it.  It's easier just to shave it all off.

Ah, but as vacation ended, the girls in my house all had something to say about Daddy's (and not to be left out) and Hubby's scraggy look.

"Daddy," my girls said, "Don't shave!!!"  They like the tickles when Daddy kisses them goodnight.

My wife likes them for other reasons.  Apparently, they add a piece of attractiveness to her.  I'm very cool with that.

The only person who didn't like the whiskers was Junior.  I don't blame him, but he was outnumbered.

I kind of liked the look as well, and it kept me from having to shave.  I decided to keep the scruffy look--in part because the ladies of my household loved it.

Now, I certainly didn't need their approval to keep the whiskers.  I didn't need their affirmation to go with the scruffy look.  It's not my satisfaction that is important.  I didn't need my ego stroked, but it does give me great joy to see the smiles on the faces of the ladies in my family.  I didn't adopt the scruffy look for my sake, but I adopted it for their sake.

Same with a new hat I purchased recently.  My wife likes Indiana Jones--it's a child of the '80's thing.  Right after Christmas, my family and I were in Bass Pro Shop.  I saw a hat that closely resembled Indiana Jones' hat.  I tried it on.  I showed my wife.  She gave me one of those looks.  I said, "I have a new hat."

I didn't need the hat.

I didn't want the hat.

I never would have bought the hat.

But, it gave my wife pleasure.

I love my wife.

It is my desire as her husband to do things that please her--not for my sake, but for her sake.

Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Treat others as you would have them treat you.

I want others to treat me and do things for me because they know it is something I like, not because they feel some sort of obligation to make me happy; not because they need me to like them; not because they want my approval.

I believe this is a grace-full approach.  Works-righteousness tries to earn anothers' approval by doing things for that person.  Grace does things for another simply for the sake of the other whether approval is gained or not.

That's why I am now sporting a scruffy look and wearing a rumpled up hat.

And I'm cool with that.

Sunday's Sermon: Why Should Anyone Listen to the Church?

Why should anyone listen to the church? This question has haunted me since Monday of this week when our bishop made the following statement in a post on Facebook. He said:

Some days I feel the church has abdicated its role as a clear moral voice ik (sic) society, and as a community of reconciliation.

Now, first off, I disagree that the church has abdicated its role as a moral voice in society. That voice is oftentimes not clear. It is quite muddled by the many various denominations who oftentimes disagree on moral issues, but there are still voices that speak up about moral issues within our society. But why should anyone listen to those voices? Why should anyone stop acting in a certain fashion and begin living differently? What compelling reason can we, in the church, give to persuade others that ours is not only a voice to be listened to, but a voice to follow?

I struggled with this mightily. For in reality, I could think of no good reason that we in the church should be listened to. I mean, think about the reality of the Church. Think about the reality of most congregations. Think about how many Christians act and move within our society. What would give anyone the idea that they should listen to what we have to say?

As a global body, the Church is a divided group. We are separated into many denominations. This, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. I mean, even St. Paul goes so far as to describe the Church as a body with many body parts. Each part has its own function and is needed for the whole to function correctly. The head of this body is, of course, Christ. Given this belief, we should recognize one another as fulfilling a particular function that is necessary for the body to work. Yet, do we do this? Do we treat one another as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, or do we spend an inordinate amount of time arguing about who is and who isn’t a part of the body–who is and who isn’t legitimately following Jesus?

Now, I’m just as ready as anyone to get into a doctrinal argument. I’m ready to argue that we as Lutheran Christians are closer to the truth than others, but what I am not ready to do is pronounce that no one else isn’t sincerely trying to follow Christ. I am not ready to make someone else cease and desist following Jesus as a Roman Catholic, Baptist, Missouri Synod Lutheran, ELCA Lutheran, Presbyterian, Amish, or what have you. As far as I am concerned, you are a brother or sister in Christ, and while I may argue with you very heatedly about a particular issue or stance of a particular denomination, I do not think my position grants me any particular place above another–anymore than my particular calling as a pastor places me above any one of you in the eyes of God. It doesn’t.

And yet, there is a tendency to think that because we have a particular stance, we are somehow better than another. I believe we need to re-evaluate such thoughts.

For, you see, the Gospel doesn’t allow us to do such a thing. Let me repeat that: the Gospel doesn’t allow us to do such a thing. For we must be reminded, we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not through any works, deeds, actions, or beliefs of our own. It is God who does the saving, and not us. Why is this so crucial to remember?

If we attained salvation because of what we did or what we believed on our own, then we could get the idea we were indeed morally superior to someone else. We could get the idea that we were somehow more holy than another by practicing certain things–either a particular moral code–no drinking, cussing, smoking, dancing, acting out sexually, or what have you–or by rigorously following the commands of how we treat our faith–putting the proper amount in the offering plate, doing more to feed the hungry, seeking and practicing justice to the nth degree. We begin to see ourselves as doing a better job than others, and so we begin to head down what Timothy Keller calls the slippery slope of the heart.

We think we are morally superior, so we distance ourselves from those who we feel are not as good as we are. Suddenly, we have it right, and they are wrong. We don’t need to be with them or worship with them or hang out with them because of what they do or not do.

Then we begin to caricature them. We begin to paint others with broad brush strokes. Suddenly "they" become the 1%, the lazy leeches on society, the fundies, the liberals, the conservatives, and what have you. No longer do we take the time to get to know people on an individual level. Instead, we categorize them, label them, and make fun of them.

Finally, after the dehumanizing effects of caricaturing them, we begin to passively and then actively oppressing them. We work to keep them out of leadership positions. We bad-mouth them to our friends and family. If enough in society jump on the bandwagon, we begin working toward passing laws to restrict their behavior while enhancing our own positions.

These are the consequences of thinking that we can be and are morally superior to anyone else. Grace destroys the assumption. Grace says, you are morally superior to no one. Grace says, you can’t commit enough good to cover for your weakness and your sinfulness. Grace says, it’s not up to you. It’s up to God. It’s up to Jesus. It’s up to the cross and resurrection to save you and bring you into a relationship with God. It’s up to God to initiate belief within you–as I said a couple of weeks ago, some neurosurgeons are starting to believe we are hard wired for belief! God always initiates belief! You can’t even believe without Him!

And if we agree with what grace says, it changes the way we treat others. No longer do we see ourselves as morally superior. No longer do we think we are better off because of what we do or what we believe. We are humbled by the actions of Christ on our behalf to atone for our sins and bring us into a relationship that we could never have initiated in the first place. When confronted with the sinfulness of another, we say, "Man, that’s messed up, but down here, in the recesses of my heart, I know that I am just as messed up. I know that it’s just as dark down here. That person and I are alike more than we are not alike. That person and I both need God and His love to cleanse us from this darkness. Neither of us have reached this perfection. And because we are so alike, I cannot treat that person with hostility, but I must treat that person with the same kindness given to me by Jesus."

And so we now reach the reason Jesus gives us the new commandment, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you should now love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Now, to return to the original question, why should anyone listen to us? They shouldn’t, unless we can practice what we preach. Unless we can somehow show others that our way of living with one another–our way of treating those we disagree with is somehow better than the way the world operates. If we can show the world a better way of living and moving and having our being, then, they will perhaps be willing to listen. And my brothers and sisters in Christ, it starts right here, in our relationships with each other. May we love one another as Christ loved us. Amen.