Confession and Forgivenss

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

                                                                                  (Col 2:10-15 KJV)

The list of sins that I recall during confession every day can get pretty long at times. Sometimes, it is a lone sin that plagues me to the point where it is most difficult to rid myself of the feelings of guilt because I know the potential damage that the words of my lips or my actions can cause unless God will intercede on the behalf of others. There is nothing I can do about it once something is said or done; except to repent and ask God to protect others from my sinful words or actions. I cannot go back and undo the damage I have done. I can go back and apologize and ask forgiveness. I can trust that God is with those whom I might harm (intentionally or unintentionally) and accept that on the cross my sins were forgiven.

Our sins are forgiven. They are washed away by the blood of Christ. However, in spite of this awesome gift from God, we continue to sin. Martin Luther was well aware of this war within us. That old sinful man keeps rearing its ugly head in spite of the fact that we have life in the body of Christ. Martin encouraged us to daily repentance and renewal. In the Small Catechism Martin Luther answers the question:

"What does Baptism mean for daily living?"

It means that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily repentance; and that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever.

St. Paul writes in Romans 6: "We were buried therefore with him by Baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." (Rom 6:4)

None of us are without sin. May God help us to remember that it is not just others who might be in need of daily repentance; but, each of us should recognize what our sinful natures are capable of; repent; and be renewed by faith in the one who lived and died and yet lives for and through us.

When your sins plague you with feelings of guilt; remember that Jesus died so that your sins might be forgiven. Remember that as you have been buried with him in baptism you have also risen with him through faith. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

In The Name Of Jesus The Church Grows

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. (Acts 3:6-8 NIV)

Church budgets often end up being the central focus of many congregations and denominations. How are we going to keep going if we can't pay the bills? I guess one question we might need to ask is what are we intending to keep going. Are we here to keep the buildings that were built by human hands together? Or, are we here as part of the living temple, built not by human hands; but, by the blood of Jesus Christ?

Peter, who is considered by many as the first "Pope" was broke. He had no money to share with anyone. He had no money to be used for building up buildings. John who was with Peter at the time had no money. None of the apostles, except maybe for the tax collector Matthew, was wealthy. They were not wealthy; they had no money to build building; but, somehow under their direction the early church grew by leaps and bounds. It was not money that grew the church; but, the power of the Spirit of Christ working in and through them. It was by reaching out to people in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that the church on earth grew by leaps and bounds.

Peter was broke. But, he was willing to share what he did have with others. And, what he had was worth so much more than silver and gold. He could bless the crippled man in the name of Jesus the Christ so that this man could live life more fully. He jumped up praising God, healthy and whole. He could walk and would no longer need to beg. 

Money might get us a building or even a cathedral or two. But, we don't need money to share what God has given us through Jesus the Christ. He has given us Jesus. We have the name of Jesus and in him we have more to share with others than any amount of money can buy.

May God help us to focus on the real treasure and that treasure is Jesus the Christ. Let us praise God for all that He has done for us and share the awesomeness of Jesus with anyone and everyone in any need and we are all in need. We are all beggars who rely on the love and gifts of God to live life most fully in this world and the Kingdom to come. Let us share with others what we do have. Let us share the love of God through Jesus the Christ. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Whitewashed Tombs And Dead Bones

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matt: 23:27-28 NIV)

One of the highlights of my visit to Ireland was going to be a visit to the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. But, I did not find it so! It is a museum. Certain areas of the church are quite beautiful; but, if you step back for the bigger picture, it is quite cluttered with artifacts, statues, and unused chairs as well as other "stuff" being stored in open areas quite visible from the sanctuary. I was told that only one or two dozen worship in that sanctuary on any given Sunday. That huge sanctuary and it is empty!

Just because something or someone may look beautiful at first glance does not mean that they are truly beautiful or useful. Churches around the globe have become like museums; beautiful on the surface; but, on closer examination they have become very much like museums; devoid of life.

Not only have the buildings which we call churches become like tombs, devoid of life; so too are many who call themselves children of God. They do not find life in Christ. They seek life in this world. Alas, so many who would call themselves by the name of Christ have become like empty tombs because they prefer museums than living their lives in real relationship with God and one another. How the church looks; whether we "look" righteous, whether we "look" clean, with all the right furniture and all the right people have become the all important factors that go into building up the visible church. Beautiful hymns have all become like funeral dirges of long ago. Rather than the lifting up of what God has done for us in joyous or triumphant song; they have become devoid of hope. They are devoid of life.

Alas, the visible church on earth is full of bones of the dead and everything unclean! Turn to the Lord and worship Him and may God give life to all the dead bones.

God's Peace - Pr. J