Our Christian Freedom, Pt. 2

Sermon prepared by Gregory S. Kaurin, pastor
for Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn WA, 6/27/10

Texts: Psalm 125, Galatians 5:1, 13-18

Our Christian Freedom, Pt. 2 - Church

Paul gives us this sentence that for freedom Christ has set us free, and last week we started talking about what our Christian freedom means in general and in our families. I’ll review Christian freedom a little bit, but this week we’ll talk about our freedom in this setting, in our congregation and in the wider church.

First, to review, this freedom is not talking about our civil freedom, the fact that you and I have certain rights, immunities or privileges. This freedom is also not what Martin Luther called a carnal freedom, or the idea that since works don’t save us, then we can do whatever we feel the urge to do.

What we are free from—to put it simply— is condemnation, and from the impossible task of trying to earn or prove our way into heaven. Since God gives us salvation and a relationship with him—even if the next moment kills me—I can trust my eternal soul in Jesus’ hands, and can begin being the kind of person God meant me to be, even doing the things he created me to do.

I don’t have to be afraid of making mistakes; I don’t have to be one of the so-called “frozen chosen.” As people who cling to Christ, even what we do is judged—not by the results or by the written law—but by our faith, our dependence on Jesus and our prayerful intention to be his loving people, showing the fruits of the Spirit that we talked about last week: love, patience, kindness, generosity and so on.

In other words, as you are faced with a difficult question or situation as a Christian, after you’ve looked at it, listened and thought about what truly is loving, pray and ask God to forgive you for Jesus’ sake, and take the action. He will forgive and use what we have done in good faith.

A preacher dies and, dressed in his clerical collar and whilte robes, waits in line at the Pearly Gates. Just ahead of him is a guy dressed in sunglasses, Hawaiian shirt, leather jacket, and jeans.
Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?"
The guy replies, "I'm Joe Green, taxi driver, of Noo Yawk City."
Saint Peter checks his list, smiles and says to the taxi driver, "Take this silk robe and gold staff, and welcome into the Kingdom."
The minister hears and sees this and is filled with confidence. He presents himself to Saint Peter and, without waiting to be asked, he proclaims, "I am Joseph Snow, head pastor of Hillsong Lutheran Church for the last forty-three years."
Saint Peter looks his list and says, "Take this woolen robe and wooden staff and enter by that side door to the Kingdom of Heaven."
The minister says, "Just a minute. That man was a taxi-driver, and you gave him a silk robe and gold staff. But I get wool and wood?"
Saint Peter says, "Up here, we go by results. While you preached, people slept; while he drove, people prayed. Who was the better shepherd?"

One would hope that what we’re talking about up here translates—not only outward—but also right here in the church, in our congregation. I know for myself, I am constantly aware and praying to God as one of your pastors that I am bringing more help than harm. I am very aware that churches are human; we have temptations and can be as sidetracked like any Christian family.

And even working in the kitchen, sitting in the youth room, or at a table in the administrative office, volunteers, AOB and Sunday school students, pastors and staff… how we conduct ourselves with each other is how we are treating Christ who always stands among us.

Being loving people, being patient, understanding our neighbors is not just about being nice and charitable to people outside Messiah Lutheran, or those who come and visit. It is also about being patient, forgiving, generous, joyful and self-controlled with each other here in the church.

And it is upon the fruits of the Spirit that our unity as a wider church also depend. When we confess our faith, we say that we believe in the Holy Spirit and the holy catholic Church. I often point out that we use a capital “C” for Church, and a lower case “c” for catholic. Catholic in our creed is an adjective which means whole or universal. In other words we believe in a Church that goes beyond denomination, beyond Catholicism or Lutheranism or any denomination.

Throughout the year I meet in a group with a dozen Auburn pastors of all kinds, Pentecostal, Foursquare, Methodist, non-denominational, Adventist. It has been a refreshing and needed change here in Auburn in just the last few years. A couple months ago, we talked about how we could debate our practices and beliefs, and prophesy against, devour and consume each other, until each one of us is an island against the other. Instead, we share our struggles and strengths. We pray for each other. And in the process we have gone from speaking and praying about our separate churches here in Auburn to talking and praying for the whole Church of Christ in Auburn and our surrounding communities. Do I have differences with them? You bet, we are very different parts of the same Body, but through our stress and standing firm on our unity in Christ as our head, and the fruits of the Spirit which draw and keep us together, we stand united against that power which would rather have us fall apart and tear each other down.

William Barclay mentions in his commentary that it seems that churches who place the grace of God at their heart and in their actions find themselves free to help the larger Body, and those that place the law of God at the center find themselves enslaved to that law, and divided from all the others.

And here at Messiah Lutheran, God doesn’t, and I certainly don’t expect perfection when I ask you to live and do your part in this church family. We will fall. We will step on each other’s toes. We will say wrong things, have different opinions, and lose our tempers, just like in a family. Perhaps you’ve been hurt here, or you’ve volunteered and given your time and you felt it went unappreciated or critiqued. Maybe something happened to you or a family member and no one visited or called. Or maybe some of the things that you look for or love in worship or at church have gone missing. I pray that forgiveness can help you keep your peace and joy. This freedom in Christ allows us to seek reconciliation with each other, and to forgive, or sometimes even to let go of what needs letting go in order to move forward.

But let’s practice, and I mean that word literally; practice the fruits of the Spirit here on each other. More important than getting it right, is being thankful and loving. More important than being pure, is being generous, forgiving and patient with each other.

In another place of scripture, Paul offered a more excellent way, and he wrote that we might have tongues of ecstasy, wisdom or prophecy, we could try to sacrifice all of our time, treasures, or even our bodies, we could be perfect in every other way, but without the love for one another that unites us, we’ve got nothing. Faith, hope and love abide, these three, and the greatest is love.