Sermon for Easter 4: "The Shepherd and the Door of the Sheep" (John 10:1-10)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday! A careful reading of today’s lesson from John 10 might leave us with many questions. I’m sure that if I had questions, you have questions, too. What is Jesus talking about? That day when Jesus first spoke those words, His hearers didn’t understand what He was saying.

 

Jesus seems to make His words even more challenging by changing the metaphors. Is He the shepherd? Is He the door? Is He both? This can be rather confusing. And if you put all the metaphors together, you get the Lamb is the Shepherd who is the Door that marks the Shepherd who leads the sheep. Are you confused? But do not worry. With these very words, the Good Shepherd calls His flock to hear His voice and follow it all the way to abundant life!

 

First, let’s look at how Jesus uses the term shepherd. Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep” (John 10:1-2).

 

Before Jesus gets to the true shepherd, He speaks of false shepherds – those who enter the sheepfold by another way, who He calls thieves and robbers. For these people, it is thought that Jesus is talking about people like Judas the Galilean and Theudas, since they falsely claimed to be the messiah. These are the men that the Pharisee Gamaliel mentioned to his fellow members of the Sanhedrin when the council was growing tired of the Apostles’ witnessing and evangelizing to the bodily resurrection of Jesus. To this, Gamaliel said, “For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody… he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up… he too perished, and all who followed him were scattered” (Acts 5:36-37).

 

Thieves and robbers were also used to designate the more violent messianic revolutionaries, as well. Barabbas comes to mind. He was referred directly as a robber by the gospel writers and Luke tells even more about Barabbas’ exploits as an insurrectionist and a murderer (Luke 23:19).

 

But another possibility that Jesus may be referring to are the Pharisees. Yes, those false messiahs convinced many people to follow them, but they all came and went. The real opponents of Jesus are the Jewish authorities and more specifically the Pharisees, since the Pharisees created new man-made laws as a worldly way to abide to God’s Ten Commandments.

      

The one thing these thieves and robbers all have in common is that they all creep in secretly and use sweet words by pretending special faithfulness and love for the sheep. For Judas the Galilean, Theudas, Barabbas, and the Pharisees, they all desire to rule over the sheep with only human wisdom. They each teach human doctrines, precepts, and the worship of their works.

 

What about today? False shepherds are still with us. Any pastor who proclaims another apart from Jesus is a false shepherd. So, if a pastor says that Jesus is one shepherd among many or that God’s Word is no longer sufficient in today’s world, that pastor is a thief and a robber.

 

These false shepherds may have a following for a time, since humans are easily deceived. We are compared to sheep, after all. Although sheep have almost 360-degree vision without turning their heads, they don’t have the best eyesight. So, sheep tend to follow the sheep that is in front of them. Even from birth, lambs are conditioned to follow the older members of the flock. This instinct is “hard-wired” into sheep. So, if one sheep jumps over the cliff, the others are likely to follow. 

 

People are that way, too. We have a herd mentality. For what we perceive as the majority, influences how we think. Our sinful nature has a natural tendency to follow the crowd. We want to be the “cool” kid. Herd mentality is behind the must-have toys, the listing of preferred pronouns in email signatures, and the transgender craze.

 

As the Babylon Bee – a Christian parody website says of today’s craze – “We’re absolutely stunned by this. We can’t begin to explain why young, impressionable kids who are desperate for popularity and affirmation are suddenly choosing to become members of the most popular and affirmed group in human history. Every single movie, TV show, corporation, TikTok influencer, YouTuber, public school teacher, pop star, and Hollywood star in the country openly promotes and celebrates this group. Why on earth would teenagers want to be a part of that? It must be biology.”

 

 

This parody, which is more reality than not, is another example of herd mentality. Instead of buying toys and videogames, today’s craze is questioning everything, including your own very being. If you desire to be liked, why wouldn’t you want to be a part of the world’s most celebrated group? This is what our sinful nature desires. It desires to be liked. And Satan uses this to his advantage.

 

These false shepherds are only popular for a time. They are fads. Some last a while, but in the long-run, they are all short lived. Eventually, they all come to nothing, because lies cannot be sustained forever, since the truth is always revealed.

 

But as we are like sheep with herd mentality, we are also like sheep when it comes to voice. Some time ago, a seminary professor visited two of his students who lived on a farm. While there, the students’ father asked the professor if he would like to help call the sheep. The professor enthusiastically agreed.

 

“Go ahead,” the father asked. “Call them in.”

 

“What do you say?” the professor asked.

 

“I just say, ‘Hey, sheep! Come on in!’”

 

The professor thought, well, this sounds pretty easy, so he began calling for the sheep, “Hey sheep! Come on in!”

 

As you likely expected, nothing happened. Not one sheep moved. But he tried and tried again. No change. Not even a sheep twitched an ear.

 

Jesus says the true Shepherd is known by His voice and He gives to the true Church this comfort: “My sheep listen to My voice, but they do not know the voice of strangers” (John 10:4-5).

 

As sheep, we may be deceived for a while, but in time we naturally know that something is wrong if the supposed shepherd is preaching doctrines against Jesus’ Word, such as changes in morality. This is what has led so many Christians to seek out churches that do proclaim God’s truth.

 

Faithful pastors sound the Shepherd’s voice. They warn the flock of dangers. They cleanse and bind wounds with the Gospel.

The voice of Jesus is the voice of comfort in a morally decaying world. As sheep, we may not be really smart, but we know our Shepherd’s voice. He calls us all by name. He cares for you, feeds you, and protects you. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who protects you and guides you through the dangers of this life all the way to life everlasting.

 

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus is not only the One who enters by the door, but He is also the Door Himself. Jesus says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). Now, what to make of Jesus as the Door?

 

One way to think about it is that Jesus is the doorway. Now, don’t think of a door with hinges that open and close. Think of a doorway. The opening by which people come in. Jesus is the only way people come into eternal life. And Jesus isn’t blocking people from eternal life. We do that on our own through unrepented sin and unbelief.

 

Jesus is the Door, the one and only exclusive entrance to eternal life. All who enter through Him are saved and find pasture. On our own, we are stray sheep, who are destined to the slaughter, which is what we deserve due to our sins. But through Jesus becoming Man for you, suffering, and dying as the Sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world, and rising to life on the third day, all who trust in Him are given the gift of eternal life. The Good Shepherd has nothing but selflessness at heart.

 

As we live in a fallen, sinful world, we sheep need sustenance to keep going. God does all the saving, and He credits that to us by faith. We have the Shepherd who guides us to the calm waters of Holy Baptism where He calls you by name. We have the Shepherd who speaks to us through His written Word – the Bible. We have the Shepherd who prepares a table before you as He feeds you His body and blood under the bread and the wine for the forgiveness of your sins. We have the Shepherd whose cup of grace overflows. 

 

Christ, the Good Shepherd, seeks to bring His sheep eternal life. He doesn’t just get us through day by day, but beyond this life, so that you shall have life and have it abundantly in the house of Lord forever. Jesus is the Shepherd and the Door of the Sheep! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Easter 2: "We Are All Witnesses" (Acts 5:29-42)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

 

Peter and his fellow apostles answered the Sanhedrin: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

 

On this Second Sunday of Easter, the apostles have changed. When we last heard about them, they were hiding away in a locked upper room as they feared the same fate as their Lord: death. Now, the doors weren’t just padlocked. They were barred shut. So, no one was getting in, and no one was getting out. The apostles believed the Jewish authorities could arrest them at any moment. But something changed them.

 

Jesus changed them! With the words, “Peace be with you,” Christ’s apostles no longer doubted. They saw and – in the case of Thomas – touched Him! They are no longer living in despair and fear; they are now filled with hope and assurance. 

 

These same apostles who were slow to faith are now filled with faith. They, who once doubted their Lord’s resurrection cannot stop proclaiming the wondrous works of their crucified and risen Lord at the temple. But their proclamation did not come without any conflict.

 

As the Holy Spirit aided the growth of Christ’s Church, not everyone was happy about it. We begin today’s reading from Acts with the apostles being called before the Sanhedrin. Now, since the resurrection of Christ, the Sanhedrin and the apostles had met on several occasions. And each time, the apostles were given strict orders to not speak of Jesus as the Christ. The Sanhedrin threatened the apostles. They even jailed them. But nothing deterred them. In fact, the apostles believed that if they silenced themselves, that would be criminal. So, by neglecting their proclamation of Jesus, they would be disobeying God.

 

Now, among the Sanhedrin, there was division. The Sadducees and the Pharisees did not like each other. Among the members of this highest Jewish court, they argued on various points of doctrine, including the resurrection of the dead. This court was religious, but it also dealt with temporal matters, both political and judicial.

The Sanhedrin was deeply divided, but they did find common ground on one issue: they would seek peace with Rome at any cost. For whenever the Jewish people got out of line, Rome would always respond harshly.

 

You see, the Sanhedrin would do anything to avoid the riots caused by frauds claiming to be the messiah, since they always resulted with Rome taking more power from them. But Jesus was not like any other person who claimed to be the Messiah. For Jesus was no national liberator as the others claimed. Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. Jesus who is risen from the dead now sits at the right hand of God the Father. This too, the apostles witnessed as they stared at Jesus ascending into the heavens.

 

So, the apostles have a choice: obey God in proclaiming the forgiveness of sins won by the crucified and risen Jesus or obey men and live a peaceful and quiet life by not offending the Sanhedrin through hiding salvation from the world. Since the Sanhedrin commanded them to sin, the choice for the apostles was clear: “We must obey God rather than men.”

 

Like the apostles before us, we too, are also witnesses of Christ’s resurrection. But we weren’t there! How could we who live nearly 2,000 years after the resurrection be witnesses? Well, Martin Luther believed he was a witness of Christ. He lived about 1,500 years after Christ’s resurrection. He, like the apostles before him, was commanded to be silenced by his churchly and temporal authority: the pope and the Holy Roman emperor. 

 

Why? Because Luther said that popes and church councils have often made mistakes and even contradicted one another. He said that popes and councils should only be obeyed when their pronouncements conform to Scripture. This got Luther into much trouble. He would be excommunicated by the pope. But he was not deterred. A bounty was placed upon him, but he continued to teach, preach, write, publish, and debate. Luther firmly believed that his conscience was a safe guide since it was captive to the Word of God.

 

Now, due to sin, conscience is often separated from the Word of God. Still, we are all formed in some way. How and who and what we worship forms who we are. If we do not worship God and His Word, we then worship our disordered desires: money, possessions, lust. We get to choose what is right and what is wrong. We usurp God and take His throne.

 

During Luther’s day, the debate was on what was the higher authority: the Holy Bible or the pope. Today’s debate is on who or what has the authority on morality: the Holy Bible, government, or yourself.

 

As the world sees it, today’s radicals are Christians. We are the problem, since when our government commands us to sin, we are called to obey God rather than men. You, who are sitting in the pews here this morning, are seen as the extremists. You are the revolutionaries. You are because Christians believe that God’s Word never changes, because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) and “the Word of the Lord remains forever” (1 Peter 1:25). The world says all people are inherently good, but we know that “no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12b). We know that we are sinners in need of Christ’s forgiveness.

 

So, if we are the radicals, then what does the world consider normal? Since 2015, America has experienced a fundamental transformation. What was once considered abnormal is now normal: pornography, mutilating children through gender-affirming healthcare, drag queen story hour, same-sex and polyamorous relationships. Now, this isn’t a complete list. This is what men – in our government – encourage. Today, in order to protect our children, the world says that we must pervert them.

 

You have likely heard that we are in a battle for the soul of the nation. We are, indeed, in a spiritual war. But this war isn’t between people. This war attacks our soul. We are at battle against cosmic powers and spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12) that encourage man to disordered desires. But as Ecclesiastes 1:9 puts it, “there is nothing new under the sun.” So, all the issues we have today are not new. Sin is the cause. What’s different today is that social media takes the power of sinful desires and amplifies them. The entire focus of social media is turning our attention inward to ourselves. This is, in fact, the same tactic Satan used on our first parents. Satan said, “You will not surely die,” so go ahead and sin for “your eyes will be opened” (Genesis 3:1-5).

 

Today, our eyes are opened to more and more evil. Satan is deceiving us into thinking that evil is good. For many of us, the endorphins given by social media – as well with other forms of media – has changed our opinion on what is evil and good. 

 

Each of us are constantly at odds. We must face the choice of following God or following men. 

 

Our Old Adam – our inherited sinful nature – desires to follow men. Our New Adam – our regenerated self in Christ – desires to follow God. This is our constant and daily spiritual battle with sin. Dark, diabolical, demonic forces are at work in this world. Satan is hard at work in destroying marriage, the family, and the love of human life. So, when it comes to life and death, right and wrong, there is no third possibility, no middle ground, no neutral. It is an unrelenting war, Satan against God, and the battleground is the human heart.

 

But we have a weapon. And let us use this weapon. For this weapon is the Word of God – the Holy Bible. This was the weapon of the apostles, the weapon of Luther, and is our weapon. You see, through memorization, recitation, and prayer we have the weapons needed to hold off the sinful world, our sinful nature, and Satan himself.

 

And to give us even more ammunition against Satan, the world, and our sinful nature, Jesus gives us His peace through the Sacraments: Baptism, Confession, and the Lord’s Supper. This is why being active in church is so important! Here we are given forgiveness of sins and strength for our faith so we can proclaim the good news of God to the world. We need our sins forgiven, since Satan uses our sin to pull us away from God and to him. This is why we are here. We are here to receive God’s forgiveness and strength for our weak faith, so we have the will to fight ahead.

 

As we hear His Word and receive His gifts, we are all Christ’s witnesses. In Holy Baptism, Christ called you by name, and through His Word, He inspires us by the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. We have been sent into this world, this culture, and at this time.

 

Truly, we must confess that we do not witness as we should. We can be daunted by the opposing words or condemning actions of those who don’t trust in the crucified and risen Christ. Out of fear of offending people, we can be tempted to remain silent.

 

Like the apostles, we cannot be silent. Even though we may receive rejection or dishonor, when we are commanded to break God’s Law, we must obey God rather than men. We will proclaim salvation as a gift through the crucified and risen Savior, Jesus Christ. We are His witnesses! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Lenten Midweek 3: "The Fourth Commandment" (Exodus 20:1-2, 12)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

So far on our Lenten midweek journey, we have learned the first three commandments, which relate to God. On Ash Wednesday, we learned that we must trust in Him with our whole heart and fear and love Him throughout our life. The second week, we learned that we are not to misuse His Holy name in our hearts but confess His name with our lips. Then last week, we learned that we must remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy as we diligently use and encourage the use of God’s Word, so that all our actions in life are guided by it.

 

So, we live in the fear and love of God, which flows from faith in Him. Tonight, we begin the Second Table of the Ten Commandments where we see our relationship with our neighbor, which shows how we fear God. We begin with the Fourth Commandment, which holds all of the remaining commandments together, since our parents are our closest neighbors.

 

In the Fourth Commandment, God gives us a very unique word. He says, “Honor.” “Honor your father and your mother.” Now, “honor” is greater than “love.” God desires that we love all people – our siblings, our next-door neighbors, the people we meet at the grocery store, our classmates at school, and those people that we work with. But when it comes to parents and other authorities, God says that we must honor them. 

 

Luther writes in his Large Catechism: “We must, therefore, impress this truth upon the young that they should think of their parents as standing in God’s place. They should remember that however lowly, poor, frail, and strange their parents may be, nevertheless, they are the father and the mother given to them by God. Parents are not to be deprived of their honor because of their conduct or their failings.”

 

What Luther is saying is this: Your parents may not be the greatest parents. They may be strange sometimes, but they stand in His stead as God’s representatives for you.

 

From the world, we are told that people are to earn respect. But here, we learn the opposite. God says that the respect is held in the office – the office of parent. Through the office of the parent, God channels His blessings for us, because how often does bread and a new pair of shoes fall from the sky? They don’t. So, God sends you His representatives – our parents – to tend to our needs. You see, God works through the means of a father and a mother. And we respond by honoring and cherishing them.

 

Now, our parents may not have been the best, but we still honor them, despite their failings.

 

Luther continues: “Learn, therefore, what is the honor toward parents that this commandment requires: They must be held in distinction and esteem above all things, as the most precious treasure on earth. In our words, we must speak modestly toward them. Do not address them roughly, haughtily, and defiantly. But yield to them and be silent, even though they go too far. We must show them such honor also by works, that is, with our body and possessions. We must serve them, help them, and provide for them when they are old, sick, infirm, or poor.”

 

That’s what this commandment requires of each of us. Do you always speak honorably to your parents? Do you address them roughly, haughtily, and defiantly? Have you ever talked back to your parents, or done what you were told not to do? Now, we may dissent with our parents, but when we do, we must do it honorably.

 

Now, you may have caught something else by that last Luther quote. Did you catch “we must serve them, help them, and provide for them when they are old, sick, infirm, or poor”? You see, honoring our parents has no expiration date. When we become adults, we must not forget our parents. Since family is the foundation of society, we must return the favor to our parents. The world, however, says that we ought to care about ourselves more than others. It is difficult to be a parent or to have elderly parents, but this is what God has given you. So, if it comes to elderly care, we search out the best care, not just any place. And we continue to honor, love, and cherish our parents.

 

Essentially, God commands that we give our parents respect, address them in humility, and give them the highest place next to God. But why? Because God gives parents a certain majesty, a hidden majesty, what we could call a mask of God. On the surface, we see an ordinary human face, but beneath that outward appearance is God serving us through them.

 

But this commandment doesn’t just address honoring our biological parents. Included in the Fourth Commandment, God commands us to honor all civil authorities, since all authority flows and is born from the authority of parents. So, where your parent is unable to educate the child, your parent delegates that authority to a teacher. The same is true for discipline and safety: police officers and fire fighters. You see, the roles of all authorities – bosses, elected officials, judges, and even pastors – are to be honored by all, just as our own parents.

 

So, we have two kinds of parents in this commandment: parents in blood and parents in office. Those who care for the family and those who take care of the country. For both are given their authority from God.

 

But someone may ask, “What about the authorities? What’s their role in this commandment?” Well, all authorities are to have a paternal heart toward their subordinates. So, if the authority figure does not do his duty in love, but ignores his subordinates, he shall have no favor or blessing, because he is not loving God and his neighbor.

 

Now, how often do we have negative things to say about our authorities? How often do we give our leaders not-so-nice nicknames? To all that we think, say, and do that despises our authorities, God says to us: “You must honor them.” Yes, every authority – even evil ones – stand as God’s representative. This applies to parents and civil authorities, bosses and supervisors, and even spiritual fathers, those who govern and guide you by God’s Word.

 

Now, could there ever be a proper time to resist an authority? Yes, and that proper time is when that authority is compelling you to act contrary to God’s Word, since “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). But even when that is the case, we disagree honorably by giving them the respect they deserve as we bear witness by living as God intended.

 

But one area that deserves special attention is when Luther says: “impress this truth upon the young that they should think of their parents as standing in God’s place.” This is about the parent-child relationship. So, not only are children to honor and treasure their parents, but parents are to take responsibility for their children. 

 

Being a parent is an office given by God. This means that parents are to faithfully carry out the duties of that office. This means providing for your children, putting your children’s needs before your own desires. This means training your children in God’s Word, to the praise and honor of God. This means teaching the Scriptures and the Catechism. This means coming to the Divine Service regularly. 

 

Parents are the greatest influence on children. Family and friends, television shows, even pastors don’t come even close. The greatest influence upon children are always the parents – for good or for bad. So by one parent choosing to stay home, while the other parent brings their child to church is influencing their child. On the Last Day, God will not ask how fun the sports camp was, or how great it was sleeping in on that Sunday morning, but He will ask every parent: “How did you bring up your own children to fear, love, and trust in Me?”

 

Just so we don’t despair, God also gives us a gracious promise in this commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). God promises happiness and good days to all who keep this commandment. So, when you honor your parents and other authorities, God blesses you. But when you break this commandment, when you despise any authorities, when you fail in your tasks as parents, turn to the crucified and risen Jesus who was submissive to His earthly parents and to His heavenly Father. Through Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, God promises to honor you with forgiveness. And His forgiveness is really the only way to learn and keep this commandment. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen. 

 

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

Sermon for Lent 3: "The Foolishness and Wisdom of the Word of the Cross"

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

[Intro]

Just minutes ago, we heard the sword of God’s Law as He pronounced the Ten Commandments. These commandments are not God’s suggestions, but His commands. God is not Someone to be messed with. God means exactly what He says and He cannot be in the presence of any sin. The prophet Isaiah proclaims just that: “[Our] iniquities have made a separation between [us] and God” (Isaiah 59:2).

God tells us, “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to a thousand generations who love Me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:5-6; Luther’s Small Catechism: Close of the Commandments).

Martin Luther tells us this means: God threatens to punish all who break these commandments. Therefore, we should fear His wrath and not do anything against them. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore, we should also love and trust in Him and gladly do what He commands.

God tells us that we are to be holy. He tells us that we are to be with Him while set apart from the unbelieving world around us (2 Corinthians 6:17). But how could we do this? How could anyone obey every single commandment of God? I have never met a sinless person. I bet you haven’t either.

On our own, we cannot stand in the presence of God. We always fall short of obeying God’s commandments. Thus, we are all doomed to face God’s wrath and face eternal punishment. Is this our future? Well, this is the future for all unbelievers. This is not a bright and positive future. This is eternal death and damnation. But the triune God is a loving God. He knew His commandments were impossible in a sinful world. So, He sent His only begotten Son to suffer and die on our behalf.

[Life in Corinth]

The city of Corinth was a melting pot. And, ever since the Romans conquered Greece, Corinth became the most important city in the region. Corinth was the leading cultural center and commercial center between Rome and the East. Under Roman rule, Corinth was a city of wealth, luxury, but also immorality. By the second century A.D., Corinth’s growing population reached more than 300,000 free citizens with more than 460,000 slaves.

This was a city with a theater that seated thousands. This was a city with a stadium that seated thousands. This was a city of wealth. This was a city of distractions. Corinth was a city much like today’s cities.

On top of this, the city of Corinth was filled with worldly wisdom. Both Jewish scribes and Greek philosophers sought worldly wisdom. The Jews and the Gentile Greeks may have been much different culturally, but they were much alike when it came to worldly wisdom since they each sought it.

[Worldly Wisdom]

They each believed that salvation through a crucified man was foolish. For this, the Apostle Paul writes: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

The problem is that worldly wisdom itself does not lead to salvation. Worldly wisdom would only lead people to eternal suffering in hell. So, these Jews and Gentile Greeks were “perishing” in their own wisdom. They were so sure and confident that they had all the answers to the problems of sin and guilt that they rejected God’s truth, His divine and eternal answers to man’s sin and guilt. Although they loved to debate, all of their worldly wisdom combined could not save a single soul.

For them, salvation through the cross of Christ was pure “foolishness.” It was the silliest thing that they have ever heard. And they were perishing because they thought the cross of Christ was foolishness. These Gentile Greeks wanted a religion that challenged their intelligence. They wanted philosophy, not a crucified Jew who made great claims about saving the world. They wanted something that made sense. They wanted something that appealed to their logic and reason.

As for the Jews, they sought wisdom through “miraculous signs.” Over and over again, they said to Jesus, “Show us a sign,” and Jesus gave them signs. Jesus healed the sick; He opened the eyes of the blind; He raised the dead; He preached the gospel to the poor. All of which fulfilled what the Lord inspired the Prophets to foretell that the long-awaited Messiah would do. But the Jews sought a different kind of sign because they wanted Jesus to be a different kind of Messiah. The Jews wanted a worldly Messiah, rather than the Savior from sin.

Even with Isaiah 53 before their eyes, which says, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5), they could only look to Deuteronomy 21:23, which says, “For a hanged man is cursed by God.”

To the Jew, the fact of the crucifixion was proof that Jesus was not the Son of God.

For the Jew and Gentile Greek, the preaching of Christ crucified, which Paul says is both “a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23) is the truth. This was a barrier. This was revolting. This was laughable. This was ridiculous.

For these nonbelievers, they have set themselves up as the arbiters of truth. They believe in following worldly standards. But with the sinful mind, we can make some very inappropriate judgments.

[Equality Act]

Sadly, mankind has not changed all that much from the First Century way of thinking and living. Immorality is rampant as people seek worldly wisdom; often preferring it over God’s unchanging truth. Since 2015, the Equality Act has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives each year and it has never been approved by the U.S. Senate.

What few may realize, is this proposed legislation is simply more worldly wisdom. I’ve heard it said that “Anyone who opposes this bill is just mean. We need it, because we have hate out there that gets in the way of the great American dream of equality.”[1]

Now, every American should be in favor of equality. We should all stand against discrimination. Like Corinth then, Christianity is viewed by worldly unbelievers as serving no benefit to society. So, instead of looking to God’s wisdom, the culture has, like those First Century Corinthians, turned to worldly wisdom as their guide and source.

What you might not have known about the Equality Act is that anyone who believes in the Creation account of humanity to which God’s Word says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27) and to which Jesus Himself confirms in Matthew 19 to which He said, “Have you not read that he who created them (Adam and Eve) from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-5), if we hold to God’s truth, we would be found in violation of this proposed bill.

You see, worldly wisdom cannot undo how God created us. We are male and female, and no make-up, medication, or surgery can undo this. In fact, on the Last Day, when Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead as we confess in the Creed, we will all be as God created us and not as we choose to identify ourselves.

So, if we hold to God’s Word, which teaches us this truth: that God created us male and female and we hold to His Word that marriage is only a union of a man and woman, as the bill stands now[2], we would be in violation of the Equality Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and for this face legal action.

On top of this, the Equality Act, as it is currently written, would make abortion more readily available. The bill offers no protections for employers who morally object to covering abortion in their healthcare plans. On top of this, abortion would be paid for all at taxpayer expense.[3] So, healthcare professionals might also be forced to act contrary to their conscience and faith and be required to participate in an abortion, sexual reassignment surgery, and on and on.

As we have witnessed in the past decades, the morality founded upon the Ten Commandments has eroded. And for those who follow God’s commands, we are often ridiculed or mocked as homophobic, transphobic, and the like. In this bill, there are no religious exceptions, so any organization that adheres to God’s Law in defining Christian morality could be punished by the Federal government, since the Equality Act designates schools, churches, and hospitals as “public accommodations” and as such they would be forced to accept the government’s beliefs and mandates about sexual orientation and gender identity. This means that First Lutheran Church may be required to permit a biological male – who identifies as a female – access to the women’s restroom.

Essentially, the Equality Act makes Christian morality bigotry on the Federal level. As long as we stand faithful to God’s Word, this could mean that the Church would be forced to perform weddings for couples living contrary to God’s Word, which would force us to declare along with Peter and the disciples in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.” This could put our non-profit tax status in jeopardy, since we would be identified as a “hate group” all because of faithfully standing upon God’s inerrant Word.

Again, nobody likes discrimination of any kind. We should seek equality, but not at the expense of the truth. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

As Christians, we love and respect every person, just as Jesus loves and respects every person. Now, this love and respect, as defined by Scripture and not the world, is to inform our neighbor in the kindest way when he or she is on the wrong road. Loving and respecting is not saying we are fine with whatever decision a person makes. Fellow redeemed, as Luther’s answer to the Fifth Commandment reminds us: “We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.”

As followers of Christ, we are no better than anyone else, since we are all sinners in need of salvation. Thankfully, we know Christ and have been brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Word and Sacraments, but for much of the world, they are walking aimlessly in the darkness of their false worldly wisdom. So it is our vocation as a Christian to tell the world that forgiveness and salvation is found only in Christ to share God’s Word with them in all its truth and purity. That is the truly loving thing to do, to tell them the truth.

There are many organizations that are supportive of this bill. But all of them, whether they be educators[4], businesses[5], politicians, or religious leaders[6] are simply employing worldly wisdom that is based upon the deceiver who peddles false truth.

Jesus teaches us, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). So, disciples of Christ cannot support this bill or similar legislation. This bill is designed to Federally eliminate gender differences altogether. This bill eliminates the differences between male and female and that is contrary to what God’s Word declares.

So, what can we do? We can share God’s truth that exposes the lie. We can inform each other. By remaining silent, we are implicitly agreeing that God’s Word is wrong and worldly wisdom is right. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, “Not to act is to act.” For me, I would much rather be on the side of God, since I do not want to face His eternal wrath. As God says, He is wrathful to the evildoer, but He shows His steadfast love to the righteous. And with Peter and the disciples in Acts 5:29, we must remember and be faithful and steadfast. “We must obey God rather than men.”

If you are upset that this is being preached from the pulpit, that is between you and God. Always remember this truth: God’s Law afflicts the comfortable, but His Gospel comforts the afflicted.

Also, do not be dismayed. Just as God protected the three men in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) when they faced persecution for remaining faithful to the one true God, God will protect us too. Instead of choosing to fit in by bowing down to the false idol of Nebuchadnezzar, these three remained faithful to God even unto the fear of death. God indeed protected them. We have that same promise from God. He will deliver us from sin, eternal death, and Satan. We have this sure and certain promise through the crucified and risen Christ.

This is a fiery furnace moment for the church. The question for us is, who are we loyal to? Are we loyal to the prevailing winds of culture, or are we loyal to God?

[The Wisdom of the Cross]

As the triune God teaches us all throughout Scripture, His Word is not a suggestion. His Word is truth. His Word is true wisdom. We have something that worldly wisdom will never have. We have true equality. As the Lord inspired the Apostle Paul to write to the Church of Galatia: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

For everyone in Christ, we are not divided by outward appearance and put into separate groups. We are all one in Christ. We have all received reconciliation through Christ crucified. In Christ alone, we have received forgiveness of sins, which guarantees eternal life and salvation. And where we go wrong – for which we repeatedly do – through repentance, our sin is forgiven through the blood of Jesus. It is through the crucified and risen Jesus that we are united to Him and to His Father in heaven.

So, as the sinful world seeks wisdom through worldly things, God proves that man’s wisdom is foolish. The Jews saw the cross as proof of weakness, but God made that cross the world’s most powerful instrument for good. The Gentile Greeks saw the cross as proof of absurdity, but God made that gospel the greatest truth the mind of man can receive.

Today, worldly wisdom mocks Christians who actually believe God’s inerrant Word. As it was in First Century Corinth, the followers of Christ were laughed at and ridiculed, rather than to be listened to and respected. In many respects, we have returned to those times.

Remember, we preach Christ crucified and risen! It is only through the crucified Christ that we are saved. No social justice theory can save us. Banning books cannot save us. No environmental justice theory can save us. We are only saved through the Word of the Cross. We are saved through Christ crucified.

It is through the cross that God puts to shame and humbles all human wisdom and power. Human wisdom cannot lead to God since He reveals Himself in the message of the cross found only in His timeless Word. This is where we are forgiven. It is at the cross where salvation for the world was won. It is here where Christ accomplished His mission so that whoever would believe in Him would receive forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

Through Christ, our identity is that of a child of the heavenly Father. It is through His suffering, death, and resurrection that we have received this wisdom from God. By grace through faith in the crucified and risen Christ, we have received righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. So, what may be foolish to some is wisdom to all who believe! Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA T

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[1] https://www.newsweek.com/schumer-condemns-despicable-transphobic-remarks-republicans-ahead-equality-act-vote-1572192

[2] https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr5/BILLS-117hr5ih.pdf

[3] https://www.adflegal.org/blog/why-equality-act-bad-news-unborn-babies-and-those-who-defend-them?fbclid=IwAR1jKkkHc2vETOJWa9lHs6yLErP2c7aSwJ5VU3vllRkSCpXcCmvFo4yGTYI

[4] https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/Orgs_Endorsing_EqualityAct.pdf?_ga=2.91380125.689156515.1614616995-126038101.1614616995&fbclid=IwAR3-NO5m7lJjEwOwFHHMg6glLdxokKIrLpuVdilHwmXM6iZfhd8gbHQ1F8s

[5] https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Keep_Updated_-_Company_List_For_Website_-_Business_Coalition_for_Equality.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3dUjvCiBkztdia66KUwmLrFzOeKQsW-ALI3OGb5JD3_OXQaqlgRP_WtHs

[6] See footnote #4.