“New Year, New Direction: Being United in Mind and Thought”
January 22, 2023
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Twenty eight years ago this year, the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in what is now called Scouts BSA, was conferred upon me. But I mention this not to brag about an accomplishment in my life, just the opposite: it was notan achievement which I earned myself by own talents, hard work, or abilities. Instead, it was something that I was able to accomplish with the help of many different people: my parents and sister, Scout leaders, fellow Scouts, community leaders, and many others who helped me along the way. Indeed, at every Eagle ceremony, our Scoutmaster at the time would emphasize that everyone who has earned the rank of Eagle Scout has done so not on their own: there have always been others who have helped them along the way, whether through encouragement or direct assistance. In fact, if we think about it, none of the things we have accomplished in life or special things we have achieved have been done entirely on our own: they have all been done with the help of other people, to whom we always ought to grateful, and remember the help we received from them.
Being a Christian, a follower of Jesus, is really no different. As Christians, we believe that, while we have an individual relationship with God, the life we live as believers is ultimately lived in community. God calls us to live in community, that is, united together with other people like us. It’s rather strange that we hear Paul say that he didn’t come to baptize, when that’s exactly what we’re going to be doing today: baptizing Josie and Liana. What Paul is saying is that he didn’t baptize certain people, whom he mentions by name, for the purpose of building up his own personal following or membership. In the same way, we have to remember that whenever we baptize someone, we are not baptizing them as Lutherans, or even exclusively as members of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, but instead as Christians, members of the wider and larger family of God. In other words, what we are about to witness is not a Lutheran Baptism, but a Christian Baptism. Baptism is meant to unify, rather than divide us, by reminding us that we share something in common with all Christians in every denomination and tradition, throughout the world and all time. We also believe that everyone who is baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, according to the command of Jesus, is considered validly baptized, and that such Baptism is all that is required in order to be called a Christian. In fact, it’s even incorrect to say that we baptize anyone: it is God who does the baptizing, we are only the hands by which He accomplishes it. Indeed, Baptism is ultimately all about what God does: He adopts people as His sons and daughters, unites them to the death and resurrection of Jesus, changes and turns their lives around as a result, gives them to the Holy Spirit to help them become more like Him, gives them faith to believe and trust in Him, and promises them eternal life with Him after death. Once again, Baptism is something we all share in common, and that within the baptized family of God there are no special ranks or privileges: all receive the same equal gifts in Baptism by grace alone, by the hands of the same God. Because we are all equal in God’s family, our main expectation, indeed, one could say our only major expectation, is to maintain the peace and unity of our church family, as Paul encourages. This happens not by all of us thinking exactly the same way and practicing our religion the exact same way: we do not seek absolute conformity in mind or behavior. In other words, we do not set outward rules for being part of the church family, and we certainly do not demand that everyone conform to our individual opinion, preference, or standard of how we think a Christian ought to be. Rather, we allow for freedom for individual growth and expression, in such a way that contributes to the richness and well-being of the family of God.
Indeed, one important thing we always have to remember is that you get out of church what you put into it. If you want to see something happen, then you ought to be willing to help make it happen. We encourage each other not just to come, but to be active. There are now many ways to support our church family again. Just as a few examples, our first Youth Night of the year is happening this evening. We will be bringing back the Midweek Lenten Suppers in just a couple of months. We will be going to the Ark Encounter in March. Our Ice Cream Social, booth at the Pretzel Festival, and Fall Dinner will all be coming up this year. And there will be many other opportunities for worship and fellowship which we’ll be bringing back and newly introducing as the year goes on. I’ve even heard a rumor that DAMAC will be coming back to give a concert at our church later on this year – more information about that soon! We are also encouraged to keep praying for each other and others for whom we ask prayer; support and be there for each other at both times of rejoicing and sorrow; and let each other know in times of crisis that we are there for each other. The point is that, if you want to see your church family succeed, you are as equally responsible for contributing to that success as the person sitting next to you is. If you wish to see your church family be a place where you can be loved, accepted, and help others feel the same way, then you are responsible for making that happen for your fellow church family members. If you want to see us active, then we encourage you to support our activities in any way you can. Because just as equally as individuals and as a group, we cannot succeed without support.
Those of you who were at the wedding last October recall that at one point during the ceremony, Pastor Susan had everyone stand up and promise to support and be there to help Tish, me, and Josie as a couple and a family. In just a few moments, we all will be making a similar sort of promise for Josie and Liana, as we stand to recite the Creed together. By doing so, what we will be saying is that, even as we all share the same belief in God and relationship with Him together, we will all be there to support Josie and Liana as they grow in their own relationship with God and understanding of what that means. The main people voicing that promise on behalf of all of us will be Tish and I, along with Erica and Jenn as Josie’s family and godparents; and Lawrence and Andrea, Liana’s parents, along with Liana’s godparents, Andrea’s brother and sister-in-law Austin and Sami, who are unable to be with us today but are still with us in spirit. However, the promises made will be incumbent upon not just Josie and Liana’s families and godparents, but on all of us. At the end of the Baptismal liturgy, we all together will welcome Josie, Liana, and Tish (Tish being received as a new member of our church family today), as members of the larger family of God, children of the same heavenly Father, and co-workers together in the Kingdom of God. In other words, we are all now sharing together in one privilege, being part of God’s family, and in one purpose, seeking and bringing people into God’s family.
By being baptized, we do share in one purpose: to follow Jesus to become fishers of people. Just as we all share the same common privileges of an individual relationship with God, we also share the common privilege of being part of the Priesthood of all Believers. Evangelism, that is, telling other people about God and bringing people to faith in Him, does not belong only to pastors, or exclusively to other church leaders: it belongs to each one of us. In Baptism, we are also given the gifts, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to tell and show people who God is, what He is really like, and especially to show His love to everyone.
As God, speaking through the prophet Amos, says in verse 7, “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” And God has a plan: He has a plan for each one of us, and He’s been working out that plan for all of us ever since the day we were born. God has revealed everything we need to know to us, and He has told us everything we need to tell other people: that He loves and accepts all people, desires a relationship with them, wants to save them, and promises them eternal life. The same promises which, once again, will be confirmed in Baptism very shortly.
And nowadays, the call to follow Jesus to fish for people is more important than ever. There are many who are lost and adrift, who maybe have been looking for meaning and acceptance in ways, places, or even relationships that are harmful and cause even more problems. And, like Jesus, what we can offer is good news: there is someone who gives true purpose and meaning to life, who can heal from the damage of the past, and who offers a truly wholesome and fulfilling relationship: God. Indeed, if this is you, if you are someone who is looking for answers, a purpose for your life, healing from your past hurts, or you just need to know that someone is there for you, and you believe a relationship with God is what can help you; I, and any one of us, are available to talk with you and pray with you after worship today. Know that whatever is going on in your life right now, you are loved, you are supported, and we are here for you.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
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