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Sometimes in the Scriptures it looks like the more Philistines that were slain, the better the king of Israel. King Saul slew a thousand, but King David slew ten thousands.
For Lutherans, we seem to think that the grumpier we are, the better Lutheran we become. Grumpy...grumpy all the time. It's like it's our birthright as Lutherans to be grumpy. The more faithful, the more grumpy we think we have permission to be. Or is it the opposite: the more grumpy, the better the Lutheran?
I'm “confessional” so I get to be extra grumpy. You won't see me smile. Not once – ever. I smiled once, but I repented of that.
"I suffer. Look at me suffer. See how much I suffer. Suffering gives me a connection with Luther and his theology of the cross. If you wanna be a Lutheran, you'll suffer too. It's good for you, sinner!"
All the while, we talk about ourselves! What we are, how smart we are, and how faithful we are! If other people were just like us, they would be good Lutherans too. How we have true tentatio and others don't. If they do, it's not real tentatio. You want real tentatio, look at me – just look how at much I struggle inside.
That's good if you are running for some office in the church or perhaps trying to get the "Sabre of Boldness," but it doesn't save anyone from hell. It also doesn't comfort troubled consciences.
The One who saves is the Lord Jesus. He went through death and hell for us and for our salvation. He truly lived every day as if no sparrow falls to the ground and dies apart from the Father's loving care. He lived each day with the joy and certainty that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine who have no need of repentance.
And what about joy? He lived the joy for me that God can only be good all the time – even when He gives a cup of suffering that makes Him sweat blood. "Not my will, but Thy will be done." Thank God, for that cup of suffering in the hands of Jesus saves us from our sins!
There is sadness and weeping in Christ. Christ wept at the tomb of his buddy Lazarus. He wept, even though He knew that He would speak His friend out of the tomb. He wept for us – to comfort us when we weep at the tombs of our loved ones. The Lord will speak them out of the tomb too. We pastors weep with those who weep – with hope of the happy reunion in heaven. Then, our sorrow will be turned to joy (John 16:21).
What we don't do – what is shameful for a pastor to do – is to direct sheep back to themselves for the certainty of their salvation. What do I mean? We cannot and must not point little ones back to whether they think the right thoughts, have some struggle inside them, or have the same depressed thoughts going on that we do. They have dark thoughts. There's plenty of that in the world. They don't need anymore of it.
What actually might be helpful is.... joy. The same Lord who died on the Cross for us has risen from the dead. He rose for our justification - to set us right before God. It's ok if that gives you comfort. It's ok to be happy about that. It's ok to be filled with great joy. It's ok to actually sing a hymn loudly. It's ok to smile when you hear that your sins are forgiven. It's even ok to smile when you tell someone that their sins are forgiven. It's not cliché. Jesus actually does give joy that no one can take away!
I finally get Luther. Well, at least this quote in the Large Catechism:
But let this be said to the simple, that they may well note and remember the meaning of this commandment, namely, that we are to trust in God alone, and look to Him and expect from Him naught but good, as from one who gives us body, life, food, drink, nourishment, health, protection, peace, and all necessaries of both temporal and eternal things. He also preserves us from misfortune, and if any evil befall us, delivers and rescues us, so that it is God alone (as has been sufficiently said) from whom we receive all good, and by whom we are delivered from all evil. Hence also, I think, we Germans from ancient times call God (more elegantly and appropriately than any other language) by that name from the word good as being an eternal fountain which gushes forth abundantly nothing but what is good, and from which flows forth all that is and is called good. (First Commandment)
Now, the thinking-super-theologians tell us that Luther is wrong - "good" and "God" aren't related in German. But, they miss the Gospel, don't they? For Dr. Luther, God is so good all the time that he actually thinks that the word “gut” must be related to the word Gott. It just has to be. How can it not? God is THAT good to us in Christ.
Who are we to take such that Gospel from him? It's ok to think God is that good and expect only good from Him all the time. That's the First Commandment! If there is a struggle, let it be in that - How can God be this good to me? But, it's even ok if it's not much of a struggle sometimes for you to confess that.
Why? Well, the Father is that good to us in Christ Jesus. He tends to the grass of the field which is here today and tomorrow tossed into the fire. He cares for the birds of the air – not one of them falls to the ground apart from Him. He's even, in Christ, got you and all that happens to you in His hands.
Then, for your salvation, He tells you, “You are worth many sparrows.” If the dead birds, then even you too. And that just makes me smile.... (it's ok for you to smile here too)
No laws and no "gang" colors – you don't have to be joyful to be Christian. Christ saves. What He did for you is received by faith alone. That makes you free to frown all you want! God saves grumpy people in Christ too. In Christ, He even saves the likes of me.
But don't fret if you crack a smile from time to time when you hear Jesus died for you. Don't let anyone trouble your conscience. Joy is just as much of a fruit of the Spirit as longsuffering. Check it out in Gal. 5:22. It's right there - second on the list.
So, Dare to be a Lutheran - even a joyful one. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
"Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh. 8:10).
Edited on: July 05th, 2006 3:40 pm
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