The Shepherd’s Voice

Readings for March 8th
Gen 17:1-7, 15-16
Ps 22:23-31
Rom 4:13-25
Mk 8:31-38

Perhaps you’ve heard the statement; he’s so heavenly bound that he’s no earthly good. I heard a father say that about his son one time and it was disappointing. Not for the son, but for the father.

In our Gospel lesson today Jesus says just the opposite. Remember Peter’s rebuke “Get behind me Satan.” Then Jesus says, “For you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things.”

What is God telling us here through Jesus’ words? What are human things versus what are divine? Does it matter? What are the ramifications for us as Christians, or for us as Lutherans in the 21st century?

There are two things I’m going to compare and contrast this morning so we can better see what God may be telling us through Jesus’ words to Peter. I want to talk about:

1. The theology of glory, and
2. The theology of the cross

For some these theological terms may be second nature and perhaps very familiar concepts. For some the word theology can take on a whole new or different meaning.

A Priest and a Rabbi, who have been the best of friends for years, are always arguing the finer points of their theology. One day they are riding in a car, they get cut off by a drunk driver. The car flies off the road, rolls five times end-over-end, and comes to rest on its roof.

The Priest and Rabbi crawl from the wreckage and are amazed, they are even alive. As the Priest crosses himself, he notices the Rabbi is doing the same thing.

The Priest shouts “Praise Be to God! You’ve seen the Light!”
“What?” said the Rabbi.
“Well you just crossed yourself. You have seen the True Christian theology of the cross.”
“Cross myself?!? No, no, no. I was just checking ‘Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet and Watch.’”

Today we are going to look through our spectacles, and not at our testicles, we’ll keep our hand on our wallet, and hopefully not look at our watch.

When we start talking about theology, Gene Edward Veith, in his landmark book The Spirituality of the Cross says, “There can be no spirituality without theology, no religious experience apart from religious belief.”

A theology of glory is all about talking about human things. Martin Luther called this kind of self-aggrandizing, success-centered, power spirituality the “theology of glory.”

When the self, you and I try to become the creator and lawgiver it eliminates the need for a redeemer. There are many ministries today that dwell on the power of positive thinking. There are many Christian books that talk about using God to improve one’s own health, happiness, and prosperity. These ideas or methods of self improvement with God’s help are not bad, but they focus on human things, not the divine.

There’s no doubt personal accomplishment feels good.

Ole, Sven, and Nels came into a bar high-fiving each other, shouting, and generally having a celebration of some sort. Line’em up Ole shouted and the party continued. They carried on for hours celebrating. Finally the bartender out of curiosity asked, “Just what are you celebrating.”

“51 days” was Ole’s response. “We did it in 51 days.”
“What did you do in 51 days?” the bartender asks
Ole proclaims, “We put the puzzle together in only 51 days and de box said 3-5 years.”

Lot’s of time our efforts are like that. We feel very good about them, but in reality they are less than good many times. In Isaiah (Is 64:4-6) Isaiah was talking about the people of Israel losing their way, he says God was always there, helping those who do right, but we continued to sin and our act of righteousness were as filthy rags, they were nothing.

The theology of glory is attractive, alluring, self-fulfilling, but ultimately empty.

Any religion that is legalistic, where we earn our reward by what we do is a theology of glory. Jesus said – “Get behind me Satan” when Peter started talking this way.

Jesus wanted his disciples to understand that he was going to suffer, but Peter didn’t want to hear it. Jesus said to the crowd, If you want to become my followers you must deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow me. Those are hard words to hear when you want to talk about victory, about success, about glory in this life.

A Lutheran understanding of the theology of the cross is not very pretty. Throughout Jesus ministry he emptied himself of glory. Phil 2:6-8 Paul says your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Jesus came as a baby, not a king. He was born in a stable, not a palace. He had no place to lay his head. He remained unpopular, scorned, homeless and Jesus died as outcast, not as an emperor.

The theology of the cross as opposed to the theology of glory is not for the faint of heart. Jesus said for those who want to save their life will lose it but those who lose their life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel will save it.

This has to do with denying yourself and bearing up under the weight of the cross.

Is it easy to be honest in this sinful and adulterous generation?
Is it easy to speak up for justice in this sinful and adulterous generation?
Is it easy to love those who are different than you in this sinful and adulterous generation?
Is it easy to love your neighbor in this sinful and adulterous generation?

God calls us to all these acts of mercy. Jesus put on display all of these acts of mercy.

So why can’t you be perfect like Jesus? When you hold that mirror up to your life what do you see?

I want you to take a moment right now. I want you to think about your life. Now I want you to mentally go sit in the choir loft. I want you to look down. Imagine there’s a casket down front. Oh, I forgot to tell you, this is your funeral. Yes, some people did show up for it. Some people are even ready to talk about you in the past tense. Now imagine what they will they say? Are people honoring the things you did or the respect you showed for God and God’s call on your life?

This is a good time for silence, a good time to imagine what will God say about your life?

The theology of the cross is about setting your mind on divine things, on God. On what God can do, will do, and already has done for each of us.
Amazing grace – how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.

Grace is all about God, not about us. Are you ashamed about talking about what God has done in your life? If you are, Jesus says he will be ashamed of you when he comes in glory, on the last day.
It was grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

The theology of the cross is all about God calling us to a new life in Christ through grace. During our Lenten journey our focus needs to be on the cross. When we truly understand our dependence on Jesus, on the power of the cross and the power we don’t have there is a sense of intimacy, a sense of closeness, and even comfort when we realize God is in control.

It’s time to let go and let God take the lead. God, our King eternal will give us ultimate victory.

Amen

The Shepherd’s Voice – Sermon Audio

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