Elements of a Living Faith: part 3

-- September 21st, 2008

Pastor John Nelson

• Jonah 3: 10 thru 4: 9 Jonah's frustration with God's forgiveness
• Psalms 145: 1-8 Our generation tells of your work to another generation
• Philippians 2: 21-30 Paul; living is Christ, die is human, therefore live life in a manner worthy of the Gospel
• Matthew 20: 1-16 Laborers in the vineyard; all get paid the same, last = first, first = last

"Live our Faith through Acts of Service and Justice and Sharing God's Story"

"I don't think I can ever show God how thankful I am." Mike Swanson wrote that as a piece his faith statement while describing the effects God's grace has made in his life. This Sunday we celebrate the Confirmation of our 10th grade class (at the 11am service) and before they are confirmed each student had to write a faith essay explaining what it is they believe. Long gone are the congregational inquisitions many of us had back in the day when we were confirmed. Those were the times when we stood before the congregation and the adults or pastor would quiz us on the different parts of Luther's small catechism. Remember those fun times? Now days, instead of focusing on the memorization, we work towards defining what this all means for these youth individually. I don't need to hear again what Luther thought, but after having learned the small catechism, I want to know what these kids now think. How have they come to understand God in their lives and how will that affect them. Actually, I think this would be a good practice for each of us. What does your faith in God mean to you and how does it make a difference in your life?

There is a whole lot of honesty in these essays. Confessions of failures and doubts, admittances of not quite understanding it all, kids trying to be real with their 'on again - off again' relationship with God. There are no starry eyed proclamations of world peace, but instead real life heartache and struggle. Reading these, you know faith is no cakewalk for kids today; it's messy, confused, weak at times and strong at others, but it is there, stretching, yearning, hoping, and believing.

In part by divine luck and in part by good planning, today we also enter the third week of our sermon series on the Elements of a Living Faith. Today's focus is on the 4th and 5th elements which highlight how we are all called to live out our faith through Acts of Service and Justice, and by Sharing God's Story. These concepts came up in each of the faith essays by these kids, who wrote them long before these banners were ever put up. To be active in ones faith is a dominate component of young faith today, but unlike previous years, the action is not as much in worship attendance as in service to others. Living out ones faith in acts of service and justice is something they understand as part of our calling by God and one they actually have begun to see that they have special gifts to do.

In our second lesson today the apostle Paul challenges us all to "live your life in a manner that is worthy of the Gospel of Christ." That sounds hard; I mean who can do that? Well, Ryan Decker takes pride in that challenge and in his faith that calls him to serve. Scouting is a big part of his life and he sees his faith lived out through the scout code. He writes, "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and Country and to obey the scout law; to help others at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight." He understands these charges are not just for life but for his faith as well, to serve as Christ served, to be strong in faith, mentally awake to God, and morally straight by following God's commandments.

As disciples of Jesus Christ our calling is not only to serve but also to stand up for ourselves, our faith, and for others. Katelynn Throne wrote, "I believe that God put us all on earth for a reason, to do something in our life that will benefit the well being of the world. I think mine may be to help others. I have a love for animals and children so maybe I was meant to help take care of them as God's beloved creatures." "Going to church does not make one a Christian... being a Christian is about being active in ones faith and spreading the word to others."

We often get the service part, but justice sounds too radical. Don't forget, Jesus was a radical guy. Sometimes we have to stand up for what is right, to speak for the voiceless, to proclaim freedom to the oppressed. You know the first week we presented these elements someone asked me in the parking lot, what I meant by putting the word "Justice" in there. All the others were clear but what did I mean; criminal justice, political justice, social justice, what? I ask them, "What does your faith tell you?" When we lift up doing acts of justice it can be all of those or none of them. Maybe it is God's justice. Justice is the element of a living faith that takes the most work because Gods' justice is so different from our own. What do you feel your faith is calling you to do?
Another of our confirmands, Eric Cook writes, "I like discussing passages from the Bible, especially in group conversations. I like it when everyone shares their thoughts about what the passage means to them and how they apply it to their lives because it helps me get past only what I want it to mean. Together we can move towards what God wants us to think and do in our thoughts, actions, and lives." That's great! "What does justice mean?" let's talk about that. One of the great struggles we have as a church is trying to get people with opposing views in the same room with one another for conversation. We all have our minds made up already. When are we going to let God and one another into our conversations? When we do, seeds of faith can be passed from one to another, just as is shown in our 5th element, Sharing God's story. For when we share our story and how God has been at work there, our biblical narrative, we give traction for God's story for others.

Our Psalm passage for today lifts up how; "One generation shall laud you works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." Psalm 145:4. We all have been given a gift, and that gift has a responsibility with it. The responsibility is to share the gift of how God is working in your life. To plant seeds. Not to try and make them grow, that is God's work, but we are called to share our faith and tell God's story that is wrapped in our story. You could take anyone of the stories from the lives of our confirmation youth. One in particular depicts this.
Kelly Flanders wrote that even though she did not grow up going to church she always felt a need to be with God. She wanted a connection to a God who would grant her guidance. Once she grew up she realized that she could take a stand for her faith and step out to find a Christian community on her own. It was here that she found a community that cared for her and accepted her just as she was. Through the church she now knows that God takes you in when no one else will and will guide you to live a life of faith. She now passes on her faith to friends and family telling them that God believes in you even when you don't.

Telling of their stories will go on too. Like many of his peers, "Kyle wants to come back next year to help out with Bob Wick's next small group. Robert said he needs to go to church more often to help future kids with Confirmation and share how he learned God is always with us. Jackie wrote that she is thankful to God for helping her find her true self at church and hopes to be able to share her faith by helping others believe in themselves as well.

We each take to heart that these Confirmands are affirming their faith today, but what is inspiring for each of us is the way they see they can live out their faith in the future. They are not only "lauding" God's works to the future generations, their faithfulness is an encouragement and inspiration to us all; past, present, and future.

When these young adults were baptized they were given a candle and challenge, right from our gospel text for today, Matt 5:16 "Let their light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." They are doing that. They are making public affirmations of their faith. They are telling how they plan to live out their faith, and they are sharing God's story through their story. We need to remember that we each have the same challenge from our baptism. Are you letting your light shine?

These you are affirming their faith today, even though they still don't get it all. I think Marcus Eeman summed it up well; "I am Lutheran because I do believe in God, and I am beginning to understand Jesus better every day. I am starting to understand why God would sacrifice his son for our sake and the sake of the world. I believe God is calling for me to help save and preserve creation. I intend to follow God's calling to help me grow as a Christian and help me grow as a human. As with all things, growing something that big takes many years, and a lot of commitment. I am willing to do both - with God's help." Well said. Amen.

And Mike, if you still don't think you could ever show God how thankful you are for what he has done in your life, well, you are. And this is exactly how, by letting your light so shine before us all, that we see it and give glory to God in heaven. Amen