Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song and Praise

This is a special musical presentation of Freedom is Coming by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan with percussionist Ian Levine.

As we approach yet another election day, issues of truth-telling and freedom are in the forefront of our minds.   So, I find it interesting that, on this day, Jesus is speaking to us about truth and freedom.  However, Jesus’ words to us regarding truth and freedom could not be more different from the way these concepts are discussed in the news and in present culture.

Today’s passage from John takes place within the context of a dialogue between Jesus and his opponents.  Jesus’ opponents are trapped in their sin, trapped in a dead-end life, and they do not believe in him.  They do not believe he is the new revelation of God, the truth.  The focus of the dialogue is all about Jesus’ identity, it is all about who Jesus is.  It is a dialogue of faith that centers around two words – truth and freedom.  Jesus says, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  The truth Jesus is talking about is himself.  This truth is not just some concept; it is not an abstract idea and it is not the opposite of falsehood.  This truth is a real, living person – the person of Jesus, himself, the person who reveals to us the truth of what God is like, the truth that God is a God of love.  And, to connect to Jesus and live in his truth is to be set free, set free from unfaith, from a life of living without faith.

Today, we are celebrating the Reformation, a change that took place within the church when Martin Luther discovered something about the truth of Jesus 500 plus years ago.  Throughout his struggles and throughout his life, Martin Luther participated in a dialogue of faith.  Luther was a man who knew intense inner struggle.  Luther was tormented because of his own sinfulness.  He was a man who knew the depths of depression.  Then, one day as he was studying the passage we heard today in our second reading from Romans, he made a discovery that transformed not only his life, but also the life of the church and, ultimately, our understanding of the gospel.  Luther heard the following words as if for the first time and they transformed his entire being.  Listen again to these words.   ““For there is NO distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift!”  Did you hear those words?  Justified by his grace AS GIFT!   And, who receives that gift?  The writer of Romans says, “There is NO distinction – ALL have sinned, and ALL ARE JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE AS GIFT!”  The Gospel is quite clear.  ALL receive the gift!  When Martin Luther read those words and truly heard what they were saying, he was so transformed that his new understanding brought change to the world. 

It was when Luther made this great discovery about justification by God’s grace as gift that he finally began to understand the truth of Jesus’ identity.  He understood that Jesus is the truth, and Jesus reveals to us the truth about God, the truth that God is love.  Luther knew his own captivity to sin, and he was very aware of the church’s captivity to sin.  Luther also knew he was not able to free himself from bondage to sin.  His freedom could only come through Christ. 

Becoming truly free is never easy.   Luther found out that grace and truth are not cheap.  Knowing the truth of Jesus and living in that truth always means facing the cross.   And, the cross always means death, death to self, death to systems, death to ideologies, and even death to religious practices when they are not faithful to the Word.

When we face the truth, we ultimately must look at ourselves.  We cannot become free from the chains that bind us unless we can honestly face all that holds us in bondage and unless we die to self.

There are all sorts of ways we live in bondage.  Not one of us is totally free.  We live in bondage to addictions, to competition, to work, to consumerism, to ideologies, to fear, to anxiety, to narcissistic behavior, to any number of things in life.  And, quite often the things that hold us captive become a way of running from the pain of life. 

Friends, the One truth that will set us free from the chains that bind, including the fear of the living of these days and the fear of dying, has eluded most people. The absolute truth, which liberated Luther, and which liberates all who believe it, is the truth of Jesus as he tells us God loves us and bathes us in grace and mercy and accepts us as we are.  We do not have to become something else before God loves us!

Now, I have to say that this ultimate and awesome reality doesn't keep us from the fires and trials of our life journey; but, it strengthens and carries us safely through and beyond them.  That is what Luther experienced and that is what we experience.  The good news for you and for me is that we stand in the presence of God and we are embraced by the gracious loving arms of Jesus and, when we truly understand this, we become able to face the cross.  And, when we continue in the Word and become faithful disciples, only then are we able to live into the freedom of the Son.

Now, the church has not always communicated this good news to the best of our ability. In his book, Between Noon and Three, Episcopal priest, Robert Capon, talks about this freedom we have been given and he discusses the way the church has responded to this freedom when he writes:

If we are ever to enter fully into the glorious liberty of the [children] of God, we are going to have to spend more time thinking about freedom than we do. The church, by and large, has had a poor record of encouraging freedom. She has spent so much time inculcating in us the fear of making mistakes that she has made us like ill-taught piano students; we play our songs, but we never really hear them, because our main concern is not to make music, but to avoid some flub that will get us in dutch. She has been so afraid we will lose sight of the laws of our nature, that she made us care more about how we look than about who we are; made us act more like the subjects of a police state than fellow citizens of the saints. [p. 148]

Friends, we have been made free!  So, the questions before us really are this: “Now, what do we do with that freedom?  How have we been changed and how will we now live life since we are truly free?”

On this Reformation Sunday, the good news that is before us is a word that is all about a truth and freedom that are of ultimate concern, a truth and freedom that will change your life. Jesus is saying to each of us, “[Come, let go of your issues and get to know me.  Live in my love and live in my Word.] If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.  Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you….[because] if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.”  (The Message)

You are free, my friends.   Knowing that, what do you plan to do?

As we approach yet another election day, issues of truth-telling and freedom are in the forefront of our minds.   So, I find it interesting that, on this day, Jesus is speaking to us about truth and freedom.  However, Jesus’ words to us regarding truth and freedom could not be more different from the way these concepts are discussed in the news and in present culture.

Today’s passage from John takes place within the context of a dialogue between Jesus and his opponents.  Jesus’ opponents are trapped in their sin, trapped in a dead-end life, and they do not believe in him.  They do not believe he is the new revelation of God, the truth.  The focus of the dialogue is all about Jesus’ identity, it is all about who Jesus is.  It is a dialogue of faith that centers around two words – truth and freedom.  Jesus says, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  The truth Jesus is talking about is himself.  This truth is not just some concept; it is not an abstract idea and it is not the opposite of falsehood.  This truth is a real, living person – the person of Jesus, himself, the person who reveals to us the truth of what God is like, the truth that God is a God of love.  And, to connect to Jesus and live in his truth is to be set free, set free from unfaith, from a life of living without faith.

Today, we are celebrating the Reformation, a change that took place within the church when Martin Luther discovered something about the truth of Jesus 500 plus years ago.  Throughout his struggles and throughout his life, Martin Luther participated in a dialogue of faith.  Luther was a man who knew intense inner struggle.  Luther was tormented because of his own sinfulness.  He was a man who knew the depths of depression.  Then, one day as he was studying the passage we heard today in our second reading from Romans, he made a discovery that transformed not only his life, but also the life of the church and, ultimately, our understanding of the gospel.  Luther heard the following words as if for the first time and they transformed his entire being.  Listen again to these words.   ““For there is NO distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift!”  Did you hear those words?  Justified by his grace AS GIFT!   And, who receives that gift?  The writer of Romans says, “There is NO distinction – ALL have sinned, and ALL ARE JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE AS GIFT!”  The Gospel is quite clear.  ALL receive the gift!  When Martin Luther read those words and truly heard what they were saying, he was so transformed that his new understanding brought change to the world. 

It was when Luther made this great discovery about justification by God’s grace as gift that he finally began to understand the truth of Jesus’ identity.  He understood that Jesus is the truth, and Jesus reveals to us the truth about God, the truth that God is love.  Luther knew his own captivity to sin, and he was very aware of the church’s captivity to sin.  Luther also knew he was not able to free himself from bondage to sin.  His freedom could only come through Christ. 

Becoming truly free is never easy.   Luther found out that grace and truth are not cheap.  Knowing the truth of Jesus and living in that truth always means facing the cross.   And, the cross always means death, death to self, death to systems, death to ideologies, and even death to religious practices when they are not faithful to the Word.

When we face the truth, we ultimately must look at ourselves.  We cannot become free from the chains that bind us unless we can honestly face all that holds us in bondage and unless we die to self.

There are all sorts of ways we live in bondage.  Not one of us is totally free.  We live in bondage to addictions, to competition, to work, to consumerism, to ideologies, to fear, to anxiety, to narcissistic behavior, to any number of things in life.  And, quite often the things that hold us captive become a way of running from the pain of life. 

Friends, the One truth that will set us free from the chains that bind, including the fear of the living of these days and the fear of dying, has eluded most people. The absolute truth, which liberated Luther, and which liberates all who believe it, is the truth of Jesus as he tells us God loves us and bathes us in grace and mercy and accepts us as we are.  We do not have to become something else before God loves us!

Now, I have to say that this ultimate and awesome reality doesn't keep us from the fires and trials of our life journey; but, it strengthens and carries us safely through and beyond them.  That is what Luther experienced and that is what we experience.  The good news for you and for me is that we stand in the presence of God and we are embraced by the gracious loving arms of Jesus and, when we truly understand this, we become able to face the cross.  And, when we continue in the Word and become faithful disciples, only then are we able to live into the freedom of the Son.

Now, the church has not always communicated this good news to the best of our ability. In his book, Between Noon and Three, Episcopal priest, Robert Capon, talks about this freedom we have been given and he discusses the way the church has responded to this freedom when he writes:

If we are ever to enter fully into the glorious liberty of the [children] of God, we are going to have to spend more time thinking about freedom than we do. The church, by and large, has had a poor record of encouraging freedom. She has spent so much time inculcating in us the fear of making mistakes that she has made us like ill-taught piano students; we play our songs, but we never really hear them, because our main concern is not to make music, but to avoid some flub that will get us in dutch. She has been so afraid we will lose sight of the laws of our nature, that she made us care more about how we look than about who we are; made us act more like the subjects of a police state than fellow citizens of the saints. [p. 148]

Friends, we have been made free!  So, the questions before us really are this: “Now, what do we do with that freedom?  How have we been changed and how will we now live life since we are truly free?”

On this Reformation Sunday, the good news that is before us is a word that is all about a truth and freedom that are of ultimate concern, a truth and freedom that will change your life. Jesus is saying to each of us, “[Come, let go of your issues and get to know me.  Live in my love and live in my Word.] If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure.  Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you….[because] if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.”  (The Message)

You are free, my friends.   Knowing that, what do you plan to do?

This is a special musical performance of Better is One Day by the Joyful Noise Childrens' Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical performance of Better is One Day by the Joyful Noise Childrens' Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical performance of Heart of Nations by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

This is a special musical performance of Heart of Nations by the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Who Is My Neighbor in a Climate Threatened World?

Pastor Ellen:  Today, we think about creation and ask the question, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?”  The concept of environmental stewardship originates with the first of the creation stories, in which God gives humans dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the animals of the land (Gen 1:1–2:4). Traditionally, Christians have distorted the mandate of “exercising dominion” to mean that creation was made for human beings and that we have a right to dominate and exploit creation for our own wants and needs. This has led to incalculable abuses of nature.  But, what we now know is that the Hebrew word for dominion does not mean “to dominate” or “to exploit.” Rather, it means “to take responsibility for,” as a ruler would be responsible to assure the well-being of those in the realm.

Natalie Dingledine:  In the first creation story in Genesis, human beings were created last, not as the so-called “crown of creation,” but in order to exercise responsibility for the well-being of the garden Earth. According to Genesis 1, exercising responsibility as part of God’s creation is the main reason humans were created. Therefore, being stewards of creation is foundational to what it means to be human. Caring for creation is not an add-on, not a sideline, not related just to part of our calling. It represents our proper human relationship to Earth. This portrayal puts human beings squarely in a caretaker position in regard to environmental stewardship.

The all-embracing vision of God for creation is violated, when there is injustice by humans against humans. The biblical authors know the close relationship between the ways people exploit Earth and the ways people exploit the poor. In the Bible, when people are oppressed, the rest of creation suffers too – the land languishes and the grains fail (Jer 2:7; Isa 24:4-7; Joel 2:2-20). We are called to steward resources not only in ways that generate sustainability for Earth’s resources but also in ways that sustain life for the poor and vulnerable. In biblical terms, we are to act out of God’s compassion for “orphans, widows and the resident aliens among us.”  We are called to care for the least and the lost – human and non-human alike – just as Jesus “came to seek out and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).  And, therefore, in light of our calling to be good stewards of creation, on this day we ask, “Who is my neighbor in a world threatened by a changing climate?”

Jack Dingledine:  Climate change is wreaking havoc on our world, and on our nation.   In the past eighteen months alone, we have witnessed devastating hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, and the Atlantic coastline. There have been incredible droughts and record-breaking wildfires in the West, destroying lands and forests and polluting the air: for a few days this year the pollution level in Seattle from these fires was even greater than that in Beijing. In 2017, the cost to the US economy from climate related disasters exceeded 300 billion dollars for the first time, and we may exceed that amount in 2018. Just imagine the good that could be accomplished for our nation with 300 billion dollars. 

A recent report by an intergovernmental panel on climate change describes the dire consequences of a warming planet on its inhabitants.  From 2008 to 2015, more than 100 million people were displaced by floods, 60 million by storms, and nearly 1 million by extreme temperatures. Over the past four decades, the rate of such dislocations has increased by 60 percent. The number of likely “environmental migrants” or “environmental refugees” from climate changes is projected to be  50 million to 200 million.  Again, in light of our calling to be good stewards of creation, on this day we ask, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?”

TULA Nagasala:  In many parts of the world, water is scarce, often due to the impact of climate change and severe droughts, and what is available is increasingly hazardous to drink due to the toxic nature of nuclear energy, fossil fuel production, and the impact of extractive industries like mining and logging on sources of water. In many developing countries (including Tanzania where I grew up), poor wastewater, animal waste and sewage management are the main sources of contamination in domestic water sources. The effect of climate change has a deeper negative impact to many communities due to lack of resources, funding to help with development and appropriate management. Unpredictable rainfall patterns, too much rainfall in a short time and extended dry seasons create water scarcity problems and food scarcity especially because of high dependence of rainfed agriculture. Lack of water availability always leads to poor water quality which has serious health impacts on families especially women and children. Water-borne diseases are a major cause of maternal and infant mortality in the world. These challenges affect women physically and even socially because in many cultures of the developing world, women are responsible for water collection, along with other chores that are related to taking care of their families.

Water sustains the environment and supports livelihoods, but when it is scarce or polluted, food production is disrupted, and people migrate. Migration, in turn, generates conflict and violence, as in much of the Middle East and South Asia, and sometimes war, as in the case of both Syria and South Sudan.  Again, in light of our calling to be good stewards of creation, on this day we ask, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?”

As we look at the impact of a changing climate, we need to face ourselves and recognize that we have been ruthless and unjust stewards of Earth. We too often place profits above people; we put security for ourselves above security for all; and we act as if the world is there for our use alone. As climate change takes place, it is already impacting the most vulnerable in this world.  And, as climate change continues to progress, many who are the most vulnerable will no longer be able to live in parts of the world that will come increasingly dry and arid, in places where land becomes submerged in sea water, and in places where heat will rise to unlivable temperatures.  Ecological disasters have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable people – third world countries, the poor, people of color, the sick, and the elderly. These also happen to be the ones with the least resources to respond.

This church, Faith Lutheran, is a great example of a body of Christ that is always there to help our neighbors. Because of the big support from this Faith family, today, Naitolia village in Tanzania has a reliable source of water that has been constructed properly and it is capable to sustain climate change by storing water all year round. The impact that this church has made in that community in Tanzania is huge. I speak as someone who grew up with water scarcity issues and who understands the frustration. We have a responsibility to discern our immoral and destructive ways, confess them as sin, and turn to a new way of living. Again, as Christians, called to be stewards of all creation, on this day we ask, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?

Pastor Ellen:  Making wise choices as God’s Earth-keepers may involve sacrifice on our part as we seek to live a simpler lifestyle and walk lightly on Earth. In our Christian life, the key to making our world sustainable is viewing our change of behavior and our sacrifices as acts of love and kindness toward all creation – toward other people; toward other creatures; and toward the well-being of land, sea, and air.  By doing these things as part of our spiritual discipline, we exercise our vocation as stewards of creation not out of fear, guilt, shame, outrage, or despair. Rather, what makes this journey sacred is that we act with a gratitude nourished by the fountain of God’s grace, an inexhaustible source of “living water” that will sustain us for a lifetime of loving creation, and that will enable us to be good stewards of creation with hope and joy!

So, as we continue to ponder our call to care for creation as a sacred trust on behalf of the entire Earth-community, we must be willing to go beyond our own wants and desires in order to see creation through the compassionate eyes of the God who empowers the weak and is always walking with the most vulnerable.  Again, we need to continually ask, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?” 

Let us pray:  Gracious and loving God, give us your heart for creation.  Give us your heart for the diverse people of this world.  Give us your heart for the most vulnerable people in this world.  And, give us your heart for the nations of this world.  Amen.

Who Is My Neighbor in a Climate Threatened World?

Pastor Ellen:  Today, we think about creation and ask the question, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?”  The concept of environmental stewardship originates with the first of the creation stories, in which God gives humans dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the animals of the land (Gen 1:1–2:4). Traditionally, Christians have distorted the mandate of “exercising dominion” to mean that creation was made for human beings and that we have a right to dominate and exploit creation for our own wants and needs. This has led to incalculable abuses of nature.  But, what we now know is that the Hebrew word for dominion does not mean “to dominate” or “to exploit.” Rather, it means “to take responsibility for,” as a ruler would be responsible to assure the well-being of those in the realm.

Natalie Dingledine:  In the first creation story in Genesis, human beings were created last, not as the so-called “crown of creation,” but in order to exercise responsibility for the well-being of the garden Earth. According to Genesis 1, exercising responsibility as part of God’s creation is the main reason humans were created. Therefore, being stewards of creation is foundational to what it means to be human. Caring for creation is not an add-on, not a sideline, not related just to part of our calling. It represents our proper human relationship to Earth. This portrayal puts human beings squarely in a caretaker position in regard to environmental stewardship.

The all-embracing vision of God for creation is violated, when there is injustice by humans against humans. The biblical authors know the close relationship between the ways people exploit Earth and the ways people exploit the poor. In the Bible, when people are oppressed, the rest of creation suffers too – the land languishes and the grains fail (Jer 2:7; Isa 24:4-7; Joel 2:2-20). We are called to steward resources not only in ways that generate sustainability for Earth’s resources but also in ways that sustain life for the poor and vulnerable. In biblical terms, we are to act out of God’s compassion for “orphans, widows and the resident aliens among us.”  We are called to care for the least and the lost – human and non-human alike – just as Jesus “came to seek out and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).  And, therefore, in light of our calling to be good stewards of creation, on this day we ask, “Who is my neighbor in a world threatened by a changing climate?”

Jack Dingledine:  Climate change is wreaking havoc on our world, and on our nation.   In the past eighteen months alone, we have witnessed devastating hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, and the Atlantic coastline. There have been incredible droughts and record-breaking wildfires in the West, destroying lands and forests and polluting the air: for a few days this year the pollution level in Seattle from these fires was even greater than that in Beijing. In 2017, the cost to the US economy from climate related disasters exceeded 300 billion dollars for the first time, and we may exceed that amount in 2018. Just imagine the good that could be accomplished for our nation with 300 billion dollars. 

A recent report by an intergovernmental panel on climate change describes the dire consequences of a warming planet on its inhabitants.  From 2008 to 2015, more than 100 million people were displaced by floods, 60 million by storms, and nearly 1 million by extreme temperatures. Over the past four decades, the rate of such dislocations has increased by 60 percent. The number of likely “environmental migrants” or “environmental refugees” from climate changes is projected to be  50 million to 200 million.  Again, in light of our calling to be good stewards of creation, on this day we ask, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?”

TULA Nagasala:  In many parts of the world, water is scarce, often due to the impact of climate change and severe droughts, and what is available is increasingly hazardous to drink due to the toxic nature of nuclear energy, fossil fuel production, and the impact of extractive industries like mining and logging on sources of water. In many developing countries (including Tanzania where I grew up), poor wastewater, animal waste and sewage management are the main sources of contamination in domestic water sources. The effect of climate change has a deeper negative impact to many communities due to lack of resources, funding to help with development and appropriate management. Unpredictable rainfall patterns, too much rainfall in a short time and extended dry seasons create water scarcity problems and food scarcity especially because of high dependence of rainfed agriculture. Lack of water availability always leads to poor water quality which has serious health impacts on families especially women and children. Water-borne diseases are a major cause of maternal and infant mortality in the world. These challenges affect women physically and even socially because in many cultures of the developing world, women are responsible for water collection, along with other chores that are related to taking care of their families.

Water sustains the environment and supports livelihoods, but when it is scarce or polluted, food production is disrupted, and people migrate. Migration, in turn, generates conflict and violence, as in much of the Middle East and South Asia, and sometimes war, as in the case of both Syria and South Sudan.  Again, in light of our calling to be good stewards of creation, on this day we ask, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?”

As we look at the impact of a changing climate, we need to face ourselves and recognize that we have been ruthless and unjust stewards of Earth. We too often place profits above people; we put security for ourselves above security for all; and we act as if the world is there for our use alone. As climate change takes place, it is already impacting the most vulnerable in this world.  And, as climate change continues to progress, many who are the most vulnerable will no longer be able to live in parts of the world that will come increasingly dry and arid, in places where land becomes submerged in sea water, and in places where heat will rise to unlivable temperatures.  Ecological disasters have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable people – third world countries, the poor, people of color, the sick, and the elderly. These also happen to be the ones with the least resources to respond.

This church, Faith Lutheran, is a great example of a body of Christ that is always there to help our neighbors. Because of the big support from this Faith family, today, Naitolia village in Tanzania has a reliable source of water that has been constructed properly and it is capable to sustain climate change by storing water all year round. The impact that this church has made in that community in Tanzania is huge. I speak as someone who grew up with water scarcity issues and who understands the frustration. We have a responsibility to discern our immoral and destructive ways, confess them as sin, and turn to a new way of living. Again, as Christians, called to be stewards of all creation, on this day we ask, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?

Pastor Ellen:  Making wise choices as God’s Earth-keepers may involve sacrifice on our part as we seek to live a simpler lifestyle and walk lightly on Earth. In our Christian life, the key to making our world sustainable is viewing our change of behavior and our sacrifices as acts of love and kindness toward all creation – toward other people; toward other creatures; and toward the well-being of land, sea, and air.  By doing these things as part of our spiritual discipline, we exercise our vocation as stewards of creation not out of fear, guilt, shame, outrage, or despair. Rather, what makes this journey sacred is that we act with a gratitude nourished by the fountain of God’s grace, an inexhaustible source of “living water” that will sustain us for a lifetime of loving creation, and that will enable us to be good stewards of creation with hope and joy!

So, as we continue to ponder our call to care for creation as a sacred trust on behalf of the entire Earth-community, we must be willing to go beyond our own wants and desires in order to see creation through the compassionate eyes of the God who empowers the weak and is always walking with the most vulnerable.  Again, we need to continually ask, “Who is my neighbor in a climate threatened world?” 

Let us pray:  Gracious and loving God, give us your heart for creation.  Give us your heart for the diverse people of this world.  Give us your heart for the most vulnerable people in this world.  And, give us your heart for the nations of this world.  Amen.

This is a special musical performance of On Eagles Wings from the Faith Bells at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.