Summer Preaching Series
June 30, 2019
“Of A Country But Not Of The World”
Rev. John R. Larson
Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
First Sermon: “Of A Country” “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)
It was Jim Adams who directed me to preach this sermon today. And because it is Jim asking for this, I’m not going to preach not just one sermon, but two. (See what sitting toward the front gets you!!) He said he wanted to know more about John 15:19, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, for I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” With that verse in mind my first sermon is: “Of A Country” and my second, “But Not Of The World.”
This is our patriotic festival this morning. Lots of music. Loud. Moving. We are of a country and we are called, by God, to be good citizens of this country. “Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s.” That is, “Give to the government what is the government’s.” When we read from Peter we are directed, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent to punish those who do wrong, and to commend those who do right…Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” (I Peter 2:13-14, 17)
You know the Fourth Commandment, right? “Honor your father and your mother.” When instructing about this we expand who also demands our honor. We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them. (Martin Luther’s Small Catechism) Romans 13 gives us a similar word, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God…Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:1,7)
You are of a country – this country. This country should be a better place because you live in it. We have a responsibility, from God, to reflect Him in everything we do. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city of a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Do you know what “Incarnational Theology” is? It is this – God took on flesh. God, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, became fully man. Some Christians had trouble with that thought. Flesh was dirty, sinful, weak. How could God become that? Why would God become that? He did that to save us in this world, humbling Himself and bearing our sins on the cross. He didn’t stay in the ivory palace of heaven, but became fully flesh to take our sins, to cleanse our souls, to buy us as His own. He saved us, right here, in our time.
We have an incarnational theology as well. We live in this world, this country, that has many faults, many sins and is too fleshly. But we aren’t called to seclude ourselves from the world – but to live in it. We are called to be God’s light. We are to be good citizens. We give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s – honor and respect. Amen!!
Second Sermon: “But Not Of The World” But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies, so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:20-21)
When Michael Zehnder, our Director of Music, showed me the format for today’s service, having two sermons rather than one, I should have asked, “Does that mean I get double pay?” He might have said, “Yes, but only if you take two offerings.” I don’t think I’m going to try it!!
Isn’t that a strange combination that we have? We live in this world, we are part of all that happens, but then we aren’t. Like Jesus said in John 15, “You do not belong to the world.” Or what we just read, “But our citizenship is in heaven.” Sometimes we know that we don’t fit in here.
When I pastored over at Peace in Arvada during a worship service close to Veteran’s Day I asked all those who had served in a war to stand up so we could recognize them. They stood; we applauded, and then we continued our worship. After the service Rudy’s wife came to me and said, “Rudy stood, but I’m not sure if he should have. You see, he fought in World War II, but he fought for Germany. He was a German citizen and he was drafted and fought for his country.” Later I found out we had a number of others who were in that same situation – a number of Lutherans have German heritage. Isn’t that odd? In the same congregation, in the same worship service, those who had been on opposite sides of the war, were together receiving the gift of salvation from the same God, ate at the same altar and who sang praise to the One who forgave their sins and gave them new life. At one time they saluted different flags but now together they acknowledged God’s flag, the cross of Jesus Christ.
In the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus (John 17), Jesus gives a fuller understanding of a Christian’s calling, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth.” (Verses 15-17)
You are not of this world. This world does not direct your life. You have a higher calling; you have a greater purpose. In John’s first letter he contrasts the believer with the one who isn’t, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (I John 2:15-17)
Do you remember what Peter did and said when he was told by the authorities, who he was supposed to obey, that he was not to utter the name of Jesus? They told him that he was supposed to act just as he did when he had kept silent about knowing Jesus when he denied Him those three times on that night when Jesus was arrested. When told he must be silent about Jesus, he spoke louder. He told the authorities, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29)
Peter wasn’t of this world and neither are we. We repent of our sins and look to God for forgiveness. God forgives us in Jesus. We look for something greater than simply this life, the here and now, and God solely by the work of Jesus, by His death and resurrection gives us this. We seek a higher calling and a greater purpose. And you know what? Jesus confirms this with citizenship in heaven.
We are blessed. We live in a great country. We have been deeply graced. On July 4 thank God we have the joy of being in this land. But in your prayers that day add something to that. We carry another flag, a banner that tells us we are covered by God’s grace and counted as one of His own. We’re also of another country, not of this world, but one of heaven, where God reigns.
We’re of a country, but not of this world. Thank God for both. Amen!!
