Here's the sermon preached at Zion, Beecher this week. Within it, I discuss our h.s. youth attending the Higher Things Conference in Atlanta, GA last month. I also attempt to exhort Zion's members to sing the hymns -- all done within the context of answering Jesus' question that everyone must answer sooner or later: "Who do you say that I am?"
In Christ Jesus, Pr. Ron Rock Zion, Beecher, IL Faith A Spineless Whimper or A Bold Confession? Pent 10; Proper 16 A Sunday & Wednesday, August 21 & 24, 2011 Zion Lutheran Church, Beecher, IL Sermon Text Matthew 16:13-20 OT Reading Isaiah 51:1-6 Epistle Reading Romans 11:33-12:8 Gospel Reading Matthew 16:13-20 In the Name of Jesus. [Amen.] Dear friends in Christ Jesus, About a year ago, I read an article that was placed on the Cable News Network web site. The title of the article was: More Teens Becoming Fake Christians. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/27/author-more-teens-becoming-fake- christians/?iref=allsearch The article begins: If youre the parent of a Christian teenager, Kenda Dean has this warning: Your child is following a mutant form of Christianity and you may be responsible! Dean says that most American teenagers are embracing what she calls a moralistic therapeutic [faith]. Translated, that means: Most teenagers faith is a watered-down version of Christianity that portrays God as a divine therapist whose chief goal is to boost peoples self-esteem. The article continues and it discusses the fact that nearly 75% of American teenagers claim to be Christian but fewer than half practice their faith [and] deem it important, and most cant talk coherently about their beliefs If thats so and we assume that these statistics are accurate then we must ask: Why? Why are these abysmal numbers the reality for the youth of our nation for the youth of our community and dare we ask are they also that of the youth of our own church? The article, again, quoting Dean: Parents are the most important influence on their childrens faith. [In most cases] the ultimate blame for teens religious apathy is on adults. She goes on: Some adults dont expect much They simply want to keep their children off drugs and away from premarital sex. Others practice a gospel of niceness, where faith is simply doing good and not ruffling feathers. The Christian call to take risks, to witness, and to sacrifice for others is muted If teenagers lack an articulate faith, it may be because the faith [the adults] show them is too spineless to merit much in the way of conversation. This article reminds us of our Gospel reading, where Jesus point-blank asks those who claim to be His followers Who do you say that I am? (Mt. 16:15, ESV) And then Peter boldly confessed: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Mt. 16:16, ESV) Later on, Peter came to a better understanding of just what that bold confession meant what it meant to the world and what it meant to himself. Peter would see first hand what it meant to the world when Jesus, the Christ of God the long-promised Messiah was lifted up on the cross to die for the sins of the world. He would also see first hand Jesus in His resurrection glory alive again showing that He had indeed conquered sin, death, and the devil in perfect obedience to His Father and out of His love for all people including the likes of us! Peter would also see first hand what it meant to himself. His continued bold confession of Christ as Lord would ultimately lead to his own death he, like Jesus being crucified (as most believe) unto his death on a cross. All this, because Peter would not and could not deny Jesus for Who He is Gods one and only Son who lived, died, and rose again for the life of the world! And so, all of us child teen adult all who hear my words Is it true? Are we at times spineless when it comes to our faith, as the article describes so many who claim to be Christian? Do we live our faith and show our faith to those around us to our neighbors to our co-workers and most importantly to our own flesh and blood; that is, to those in our families? Is our Christian confession of faith as bold as it could be and should be? Where its lacking and it is in all of us to some extent where its lacking admit it repent and ask our dear Lord for forgiveness for such spinelessness. Also ask Him for a bolder heart so that youll be that fearless confessor of the One True Faith that God calls you to be! Back to the article Another person quoted in the article said that there is no shortage of teenagers who want to be inspired and live the Christian faith. But, it says, the Christian faith that some are taught doesnt inspire them to change anything thats broken in the world. Teens want to be challenged; they want their tough questions taken on. We think that they want cake but they actually want steak and potatoes and we keep giving them cake! No doubt we all could do better in our Christian witness but we are doing some things right! Last month you the members of Zion you gave 17 of our high school youth not cake but steak and potatoes and they gorged themselves on it for 4 wonderful days! Actually, 18 teenagers and five adults met at the wretched hour of 3:00 AM on Monday, July 18th and headed to the Higher Things Youth Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Sadly for several reasons one girl and her mother, (one of the adult chaperones) had to return home about 12 hours after we left Beecher, due to a medical emergency of a dear friend. But, for those who were able to continue on the trip, they were well fed on food of great substance from 2:00 oclock Tuesday afternoon until the close of the final Divine Service at 3:30 PM, Friday! During that time, they attended no less than 10 liturgical worship services where they heard fantastic preaching that was relevant to them as young Christians in this world. During those same days, they also got to attend 10 different Christian Education classes each class lasting at least one hour! And throughout it all there was no whining from the youth or their chaperones asking for cake that is, no one looked for or even wanted a diet of goofy skits that were in place of a meaty Christian sermon. Likewise, no one wanted to replace the beautiful hymns with schmaltzy songs whose words speak only of feelings and nothing of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness, life, and salvation that He offers to all people! Yeah for 4 great days at the Higher Things Conference our youth received a steady diet of steak and potatoes that fed them in their Baptismal faith. Oh they had cake but it was of the type made of flour and sugar and they gladly consumed it where its rightly to be found in the cafeteria! As our kids will tell you cake of the sort that too many adults want to give to youth has no place no place in the house of God! Through class after class and one worship service following another the youth were told of things of great theological substance of Christ and His Cross of sin and grace of Word & Sacrament of Gods call to holy living of heavens gates opened to all who complete their lives in repentance and faith and they ate it all up so to speak. The Conference Theme Hymn was that which they just led you in singing in our Hymn of the Day. They relished singing the words I Am Baptized into Christ! each of the 4 times it was sung! They couldnt hear enough times of Gods grace for them His eternal promises to them all fulfilled and lavished upon them in Christ Jesus! I misspoke a bit ago I said that there was no whining from the kids while we were in Atlanta. Thats not quite accurate! J Their whining began Thursday afternoon right after the afternoon Vespers service. Actually, it wasnt so much whining as it was complaining of a huge sense of dread! I was walking away from the chapel and some kids approached me and said: Pastor do we have to go back to our church? What do you mean? I asked. One youth continued: Pastor everybody sings here regardless of how good they are and its great! When we get home itll be nothing like weve had here! Friday evening when we were gathered for devotions I asked the entire group what their thoughts were in this regard. To a person counselors included all agreed. All thought that we were in for disappointment when wed return home and it was time for the body of Christ to sing! Dear Christians, the youth learned in Atlanta and you know it now it doesnt have to be that way at all! Regardless of your age regardless of your vocal ability join our high school youth use the voice that God has loaned to you and as Gods chosen ones together sing and proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9, ESV) You see, your singing is, itself a confession of your faith. By your singing, you are witnessing to your fellow Christians that your faith is important and that you find it more important to sing praises to God than worry about how your voice will sound! And again as the youth learned in Atlanta when everyone loudly and clearly sings their praise to our God the collective voice is gorgeous not only to each another but also, and most especially to our God! Our youth ask you they beg you to join them in singing not only today but in every service. They ask you to sing all the hymns including the Communion distribution hymns. Sing like a prisoner whos been released from jail for that, really is who and what you are! Back to the article that I read on the CNN web site Kenda Dean says that committed Christian teens all share four traits. Those traits are: 1. They have a personal story about God they can share. In other words, they have the ability to boldly speak of their faith to others dare we say even sing their faith! 2. The teens have a deep connection to a faith community. That means here at our church and theirs. The teens are proud of and feel connected to those others who frequent this place regardless of their age! On the trip, they spoke of our church not your or their church. They identify with our church something not always found in youtn people. 3. The third trait that faithful teens have, is that they have a sense of purpose for their life here on earth. In other words, the teen sees his or her life as more than getting stuff and having a good time. The teen wants to be able to say that they contributed in a meaningful way to this world and that the world is a better place because of them. 4. The final trait that Christian teens share is that they have a sense of hope about their future. They realize that their life isnt just for the here and now not at all. Their hope is the same as that of all Christians of all times to dwell with God in heaven when their life on this earth is completed. They believe they really do they believe the Scriptures that tell of heaven and hell of sin and Gods forgiveness through faith in Christ. And they plan by Gods grace to dwell with Him for all eternity! Dear Christians, may those four traits of Christian teens likewise be that of all of us! In Jesus name and for His sake! [Amen.] `
