Sermon - Reformation Day 2023 - Matthew 11:12-19

Triumph of Faith - Christian Martyrs in the Time of Nero, Eugene Thirion, 19th Century

Faithfulness in our own day

1. Reformation Day isn’t about the past, but about our own unique battles

2. The spirit of the age is like children calling out for this or that

3. We are called to faithfulness, against the spirit of the age, by being faithful to the Word of God

4. God promises to preserve His church through His Word, against the world’s violence

Why are we celebrating Reformation Day today? Is today just about a historical lesson? Or maybe today is all about Lutheran pride, that we beat the pope and we’re not Roman Catholics, is that it? Or perhaps today is about celebrating that God has preserved the truth of the Gospel, that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Christ alone, as revealed in the scriptures alone? Well, that is part of it. This is why our hymn of the day is Salvation Unto us Has Come, and we’re singing some of the stanzas before the sermon and some after. Indeed, it’s worth celebrating that the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ has been preserved for us today.

But, Reformation Day isn’t only about the past, instead it’s also about our own unique battles today. Reformation Day is meant to stir us up towards greater faithfulness in our own day. We need to be careful that we don’t get stuck in our glory days, living in some past success, but failing to address today’s issues as they arise. The Christian life isn’t just a single race or a single battle that we have to fight, but it’s more like a decathlon. Once we run in one race, we have another different competition, and then another different one after that, and another after that and on and on and on it goes until it’s finally over. In a decathlon you don’t win just because you did the best at one of the competitions, but because you competed well in all ten of the events. The same principle applies to our life in faith.

So you know what, our ancestors did really well 500 years ago. They were faithful against great odds and our Lord preserved them and His church on earth. And again, 400 and 300 years ago the Lutherans did well to defend the faith against many errors and attacks. Then 175 years ago, with the establishment of the LCMS here in the US, our forefathers were faithful in their labors, often starting congregations with just a handful of faithful dedicated families. Throughout these generations various issues arose, and sometimes they dealt with them better than at other times. But nevertheless, we’re here today as a result of many people before us competing well in this figurative decathlon, many of them making significant sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel, pastor and laity alike. That is worth remembering, celebrating, and giving glory to God.

But, now it’s our turn, and the battles we fight are different. The spirit of the age is like children calling out for us to do this or that. “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to their playmates, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’” The spirit of the age, the devil and his ways, changes tactics on us regularly so that we must be agile in contending for the faith. 500 years ago the battle was over justification by grace through faith. The Thirty Years’ War was primarily a religious battle, and many Lutherans and protestants in general lost their lives literally fighting for this cause.

But today the fight isn’t usually about justification by grace through faith. I mean, it’s there in some respects, but no one is really going to get terribly upset if I put up a big banner which says: “Justification by grace alone through faith alone.” That’s just not the issue today. It was in the past, but not anymore. Today the issues are more along the lines of sexual morality, what it means to be man or woman, the reality of sin, and competing ideologies of secular humanism or what God says in the Bible. So people would get angry if I put up a big banner which said: “Fornication or Homosexuality is sinful” or “Boys can’t become girls” or “Your salvation is in peril if you don’t go to church.” 

We are called to faithfulness, against the spirit of the age, by being faithful to the Word of God in our own time and context. Like Jesus repeatedly says: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” In order to be faithful to God, against the spirit of the age, we must first listen to the word of God and believe it. We humans are not as individualistic and free-thinkers as much as we think we are. We are easily swayed by those around us. We’re like children in the marketplaces, if some of the kids tell us to dance and be happy, we jump for joy! If some of them tell us to be sad and scared, we obediently weep! 

Case in point: the world tells us all about the bad things happening in Ukraine and Israel. But have you heard about the ethnic cleansing taking place of ethnic Armenian Christians in Nagorno-Karabakh by the Azerbaijan Muslims? At least 400 Christians were killed last month, and many thousands injured. 120,000 Christians  have been forced to flee to Armenia. These Armenian Christians have been living in this region for thousands of years, and this has been a Christian community since the 4th century. Since the beginning of this year Muslims have been blockading them, resulting in food, fuel, and medicine shortages, until the muslims attacked on September 19th. Just like that, one of the world’s oldest Christian communities has been wiped out, and there’s virtual silence on the issue. The spirit of the age says cry about this, be happy about that, and ignore everything else.

So in order to not be driven along by the spirit of the age, believing whatever it tells you to believe, you have to listen to a different voice. Namely, you must listen to the Holy Spirit and God’s voice as revealed in Holy Scripture. If our minds are filled with song lyrics from the radio, movie quotes from the TV, and news clips from our station of choice, then the spirit of the age is directing our thoughts. So in order to combat this, he who has ears to hear, let him hear the voice of Jesus. Let his mind be filled with quotes from the Bible, lines from hymns, and portions of the liturgy.

Then, let us be like the Revelation angel and proclaim aloud what our ears have heard. “Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.” Whatever the situation or issue of the day may be, God’s word speaks to it and illuminates Christ in the darkness.

Of course this isn’t easy. That’s why we’re comparing this to a battle, or fighting, or competing in a decathlon. Those who are possessed by the spirit of the age are blinded by their deception and become violent. “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.” John the baptist was beheaded because he called king Herod to repentance for  his adulterous and incestuous marriage. Jesus was crucified because He brought forgiveness to sinners and is the Christ. Early church Christians were burned at the stake and eaten by lions because they refused to burn the pinch of incense to Caesar. Lutherans were attacked by soldiers because they refused to follow the pope. Armenian Christians have been martyred by Muslims because of their faithfulness to Christ.

Yet in the midst of that, God promises to preserve His church through His Word, against the world’s violence. Jesus was risen from the dead as the firstfruits of those who have faith in Him. John the Baptist will be risen from the dead, complete with his head. Early church martyrs will be raised from the dead, free from bite marks and burns. Armenian Christians will be raised from the dead and inherit their true Fatherland in the new creation.

The same promise is true for us as well. God will preserve and bless His church. Those who are faithful will live, maybe not for very long here on earth, but most certainly forever in Paradise. “The Lord redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.” God takes care of His own, He is a mighty fortress for those who trust in Him. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”

Therefore, be strong and courageous in the Lord! Jesus has been crucified and risen, the victory has been won, and our salvation is assured. Therefore, let us in all boldness and confidence speak of the Lord’s testimonies before kings and all the world, for we shall not be put to shame. Be unafraid of the world and be zealous for God, O Christians! The Lord fights for us and is on our side. Our banner is the cross, our hope is the empty tomb, and our home is in the kingdom of God. Onwards, faithful Christians!