Circuit 9 (Kansas District) Pastor's Conference - November 10, 2009

Pastor Troy Slater - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington, Kansas

On November 10, 1483 - 526 years ago this very day, a little boy was born in a small town across the sea by the name of Eisleben. The infant, a peasant boy by the name of Martin Luther went out from his mother's womb and entered into this world, and what a world it was that he entered into.

Exploration of new worlds was a big thing in that day. Of course much of that exploration was driven by that insatiable thirst for profit no matter the price and of course many a crew and many a native paid the ultimate price for those profits. It was a world in which the slave trade was booming, aided along by papal bulls no less. The Turks, along with their Muslim religion, were threatening to swallow up much of Europe. It was a world in which disease could quickly turn into a plague and, often did. … Yes it was quite a world that a little Martin Luther entered into - in a lot of ways a very dark world.

And that's not even considering the darkness that existed that would most affect that young Martin's life - that darkness that existed in the church. A church that was holding to the traditions of men more than the word of God; a church in which many of its leaders valued the treasures of this world more than the souls entrusted to their care. Sexual immorality was rampant; politics and not the Word of God decided many a dispute. Many a false teacher led souls astray. Yes it was quite a world that Martin Luther entered into on that November 10, 1483.

Now, here in a little while on this November 10, 2009, we will enter back out into the world. We will go out from this place and what a world we will enter into. A world that really in a lot of ways is not a whole lot different than the world that little Martin entered into. The insatiable thirst for profit no matter the cost is certainly still there. Slavery - in it's many ugly forms may not be as open and visible - but still affects millions around the world and even in our own country. Islam is once again threatening to swallow up Europe and has even taken aim at our shores. Disease is always there as a constant reminder of our mortality. I don't know about you guys but it seems that every other funeral I do anymore is cancer related. Yes it's a dark world out there yet today and that's even before considering the darkness that exists in the church.

For the church today is a place in which many of its leaders value the treasures of this world more than the souls entrusted to their care. Sexual immorality is still rampant; many a pew sits empty on Sunday mornings; politics and 'bylaws' rather than the Word of God decide many a dispute. We've got our false teachers. And they're not just off in some corner leading just a few astray - they're taking over entire denominations - even large denominations who were even Lutheran once upon a time. Some of these false teachers are even filling 16,000 seat arenas Sunday after Sunday, selling millions of books. I of course have not been naïve in thinking that my people here don't ever watch or listen to some of those whom I would rather they not be listening to. But the point was driven home to me a couple of weeks ago as I was visiting a dying saint of our Lord. But I was there by her bedside and was talking to her and reading some scripture, I think on that day I had even taken her communion to her. And I must say that in a way that's really one of the great privileges of the ministry. To be with a child of God during their last few days; to shepherd one of God's redeemed lambs through that valley of the shadow of death. But anyway, as I was talking to her and I had looked down for a moment - and there looking up at me from underneath the night stand - no make that "smiling up" at me from underneath the night stand - was every Lutheran pastor's favorite. Actually I'm not going to mention his name but it kind of irritated me - and not the woman I was visiting - but I wanted to shout at that smiling preacher, "Okay, you see this woman dying of cancer here - and you want to try and tell her that this is her best life now." …

What a mess out there, right? And not just out there in "the world" because "the world" is supposed to be mess. But also what a mess that WE have made of Christ's church. …

And so what do we do? … What do we do? I suppose the temptation is to get discouraged, longing for the 'good 'ol days', if there really ever was such a time. With all that's out there, that's in our churches, that's in the lives of the people we're called to serve, with all that's even in our own lives, the temptation is to go dig a whole and just die in it, right? Be like Elijah, go under a tree and say, "Lord, I've had enough. Take my life." And I imagine Luther struggled with just that thought on more than one occasion.

But, I think you all know that that's not we are called to do, is it? Rather we are called to do as Luther ended up doing. Or as Luther was eventually brought to do following the struggles which the Lord used to bring him out of his spiritual darkness. Although not that it's ever about Luther, a fact that Luther of course realized. For Luther knew that He was but a servant and an unworthy one at that. … Down in our hallway leading to the fellowship hall there is a picture of Luther that I like. But he's standing there and he's pointing to some words in an open book - the Bible. It's opened to Romans, chapter three and he's pointing to verse twenty-eight. "We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law." (repeat) That's the Gospel, isn't it? That's the Gospel that you and I and those whom we serve and those whom we come into contact with, that's the Gospel that we all need. The good news that we are made right with God through faith. And of course faith must have an object, right? Faith must be in something. And so is that faith that justifies in some generic god or whatever it might be that suits our fancy. No. Of course not. Rather that faith that saves is only in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who went to the cross and who rose again for you and for me. In that picture that illustrates Luther's life, it's the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ that He was pointing sinners to. It's the Gospel that God has proclaimed to you and to me as His baptized people. The Gospel of Jesus, that's what this dark, fallen world needs so, so desperately.

And so to proclaim that gospel, that's what we do. To point to the Word made flesh, that's what we are called to do as the Lord's servants. Calling sinners to repentance - and first and foremost ourselves, right? St. Paul's words regarding himself must constantly be on our own lips, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst." Or, to use an image Dr. Salminen used last month at our conference, before we can be shepherds, we've got to be sheep ourselves. Going to the cross ourselves - receiving His gifts that He gives - that we might then point others to that cross by proclaiming God's Word of law and of gospel in all its truth and purity. That's what we do and of course that's everything, isn't it? That's everything in this world that has lost its way and in a church that has to be called back to the truth again and again and again. God's Word of Christ crucified and risen for us sinners, that's everything.

And so really the fact of the matter is that there is no better place to be nor no better time to be a child of God and a servant of the Word. Of course with God there are no accidents, are there? No coincidences, no chance happenings. And so Luther was born into a time where God placed him and when God wanted him. He was born for just such a time as his times were. And we have been born for just such a time as ours - or should I say we've been baptized for just such a time - called for just such a time. People are hurting, people are confused, people are dying all around us. You know that because you've been there with them, haven't you? In their homes, by their bedsides, across the table from them, standing beside them with your arm around them. You've seen them in a class, in a pew, down at the coffee shop. You know them and you have that Word that they need - by God's grace you have that Gospel of Jesus Christ, their Savior and yours. And indeed there is no better message to share, and no better time to share it.

And so as you go out from this place on this November 10th, may the Lord of the church, our crucified and risen Savior, may He guide you in His Word, bless you in His work, and keep you in His grace. Amen.