Last year, I preached about the word “Christ.” An untranslated word in our English translation Bibles.

I wondered why this word “Christ” remained untranslated for centuries? I think I finally understand why.

Christ means “anointed one.” The “chosen one”. The question is, “What was Jesus anointed or chosen to do?” In the Old Testament, there were only two jobs that were anointed: Priest or King.

If you read your Gospel stories closely you will see clearly that Jesus was anointed to be our last and only King.

I now believe that word (Christ) remained untranslated because it was too threatening and controversial to call Jesus a king. Let alone, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

That translated title was too intimidating for insecure world leaders over the past 2000 years to suggest that Jesus is every Christian’s true leader and a king above any other head of state.

Also, it lets us off the hook. We can minimize and compartmentalize our faith in Jesus. We can relegate Christ to Sunday morning and matters of faith. If we don’t call Jesus our King, we can have other allegiances. However, I want to remind you of what our King said to us about this…

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24

By leaving Christ untranslated, we hide the authority and sovereignty of Jesus our King. There is no challenge to earthly authority when Jesus remains an untranslated ancient title like Christ. It is safer to call Jesus the Christ rather than Jesus our King.

Only Jesus conquered death and forgave every sin for those who are repentant. Only Jesus rose from the dead. Only Jesus opened the way to heaven. Only Jesus taught with authority (Matthew 7:29). All of those facts qualify Jesus to be our last and only King.

In our nation’s history, there have been 45 people who have held the title “President of the United States of America.” Not even one of them died for the sins of the world or rose from the dead. Not one of them will get you into heaven. No President of any party was (or is) the perfect Son of God. Even if you put all the presidents together, Jesus is still greater.

Don’t get me wrong, I love living in the United States. I love our constitution that guarantees us due process under the law and that there is a separation of church and state. I am happy to have the freedom of speech and the freedom to assemble. I applaud that one is innocent until proven guilty in our nation. I do not take those rights for granted. I am thankful for them.

There is a place for patriotism in our lives, but it is not equal to our faith in Christ. Those two things (faith in God and patriotism) should never be mixed.

Dangerous and evil things happen when faith is intertwined with patriotism. When a leader speaks for both God and the state, the justification for ungodly acts increases.

When we come to worship, we come with the constitutional freedom to worship. I am very thankful for that, but I will never worship that guaranteed right. In the same way, I would never worship the Bible. Doing either one of those things is idolatry.

If the tables were turned and I lived in a nation that forbade the practice of Christianity, I would still worship Jesus as my King, though I understand that it could be difficult or even deadly to do so openly. Yet, my nationality does not determine my faith or the practice of it.

Christianity existed for over 1700 years before the birth of our nation. Christianity is not an exclusively American expression of faith. Yet some mistakenly treat it that way. Christ belongs to all Christians of every nation.

When Jesus “cleansed” the Temple in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus said this, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’. But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Mark 11:17

Jesus clearly pointed out that even the Temple in Jerusalem was for all people and not just for some.

Every Christian house of worship today should be a house of prayer for all nations too. Our worship should always and only point to Jesus and not the things of this world. A Chinese, German or even a Peruvian Christian should feel as comfortable worshipping at our church as they do when they are at home. It would be weird and even heretical to include anything that doesn’t point to God in our worship, including pride in our own nation.

In worship, we focus on one thing: God. Jesus our King showed us through his teaching that we do not follow a tribal God or a God that favors one nation above any other.

Therefore, when we enter the sanctuary for the very act of worship, we acknowledge the God of all the nations and not just our own.

I am thankful this is the guiding principle that our entire worship team believes in and lives by in our planning. Our team keeps the #1 thing (Jesus) as the #1 thing and we exclude everything else from consideration.

Patriotism is a good thing but it does not belong in our worship of Jesus our King. 

There is a time and place for patriotism. For example, I look forward to the Spotlight Cabaret show in July which will exclusively focus on patriotic music. I also look forward to the next TAPPS concert this fall because they perform a needed service for veterans who pass.  We also remember and honor our service men and women on Memorial Day and Veterans Day at announcements.

However, in our worship at CLC we will keep our minds fixed on Jesus our King alone.

The Spiritual, Give Me Jesus expresses this perfectly:

And when I want to sing,
And when I want to sing,
And when I want to sing,
Give me Jesus.

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You may have all the rest,
Give me Jesus.

God bless you,
Pr. Ben

I’ve been reflecting on the importance of, if not the holy imperative of repentance. What caused this reflection on my part? Because of all the evil things I’ve read in the news recently.

Not to diminish smaller sins, but the news I have been reading this past week contains people doing really bad and horrible things to other human beings.

 Add to that, we began a new sermon series called “Spirituals and the Exodus” and it reminds me of the inhumane treatment of those who owned human beings and treated them in ways that were less than human.

Then my mind wanders to the atrocities of the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity.

When I think about some of the worst behavior over the course of human history… I wonder is it enough for the perpetrators of evil to say, “I am sorry” to God and that is sufficient? In other words, do they get a free pass for only saying “sorry.”

When I am struggling with any issue, I go to the only place I know to find substantial answers: The Bible.

Here is what I discovered…

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden God’s face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2

Sin separates. It removes us from a genuine intimacy with God. God isn’t the one moving away, it is one hurting others.

Pretending one’s past doesn’t exist doesn’t resolve the issue either…

Those who conceal their sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Blessed is the person who always reveres the Lord, but those who hardens their hearts falls into trouble. Proverbs 28 13

Sin matters to God. It why God sent Jesus to us. Jesus (God incarnate) comes to forgive our sin and heal our brokenness through his death (shedding blood) and resurrection. However, if we do not acknowledge our sin, or try to hide it, forgiveness is elusive.

Scripture is clear about our personal acknowledgment of sin. Without our transparency before God, grace and mercy remain unclaimed.

Jesus came to make peace with our warring and sinning souls but that only comes with self-awareness.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19-20

Jesus never forces this peace on us. He invites us into it.

There is more to forgiveness and discovering peace from God than just saying, “I am sorry I got caught.”

There is a call to repent. Simply put: to change one’s minds and one’s behavior.

Repentance also means that there is remorse and sorrow over past hurtful behavior. Not just saying “I am sorry,” but a heartbreaking confession of the damage done that includes a move away from hurting people in the future.

Otherwise…

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left… Hebrews 10:26

Now that doesn’t mean we must be perfect, but to habitually hurt others and be a person of faith doesn’t come with automatic forgiveness.

There is forgiveness when there is repentance, when there is change, when there is remorse.

Even John the Baptist tells the crowds around him the importance of true change (repentance).

Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. Matthew 3:8

Show your change, prove you’ve changed. You can’t claim to have an inside advantage (no matter what it is).

Repentance matters if you want forgiveness. Repentance matters if you want to a future with God. Repentance matters if heaven matters to you.

Jesus said this to the disciples after the resurrection…

He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Luke 24:47

Repentance and forgiveness go hand in hand. Not my words, the words of Jesus.

For those who don’t repent, there is no moving forward. One’s eternity may depend upon that. Of course, that is between an individual and God.

I would rather live a life above reproach with God’s help. I would rather acknowledge my sin and shame and be welcomed into heaven rather than save face in this world.

…keep a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1Peter 3:16

God bless,
Pr. Ben

For extra reading, here is what Philipp Melanchthon wrote about repentance in the Augsburg Confession from The Book of Concord.

It is taught among us that those who sin after Baptism receive forgiveness of sin whenever they come to repentance, and absolution should not be denied them by the church.

Properly speaking, true repentance is nothing else than to have contrition and sorrow, or terror, on account of sin, and yet at the same time to believe the Gospel and absolution (namely, that sin has been forgiven and grace has been obtained through Christ), and this faith will comfort the heart and again set it at rest.

Amendment of life and the forsaking of sin would then follow, for these must be the fruits of repentance, as John says, “Bear fruit that befits repentance” (Matt. 3:8).

Augsburg Confession, Article 12, 1-6

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

You might read that and think, “This doesn’t apply to me. I am not a slave.”

That word slave can trigger a lot of emotions for a lot of reasons. Saint Paul uses these words because they reflect what Jesus says to every one of us in the gospel of John.

As a matter of fact, Jesus is responding to a bunch of people who had the same thought as I wrote above… “This doesn’t apply to me. I am not a slave.”

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. John 8:34

Until we wrap our hearts and minds around the idea that we are slaves to sin, we have no real need for Jesus. With that mindset, attending church is just window dressing to a carefully manicured life.

Sin is a big category, and one size does not fit all. There are all sorts of sin. Sins of omission (things we overlook when we shouldn’t) and sins of commission (things we participate in). There is hate, jealousy, cruelty and the list goes on and on. Sin is what happens when we stop looking to God for direction.

We are slaves to sin; we are in bondage. We need help. We need rescue. We need a savior to free us from our captivity.

Until we see that need for ourselves and in our own lives, we will remain unknowing captives and miss out on the grace of freedom.

After viewing the ugliness of this world this week in the news, I know that I don’t want to be captive to racism and hate. I don’t want to commit the sin of omission by turning a blind eye to those who have exploited children and worse. I don’t want to add to the pain of this world; I want to be free of it and help others find freedom.

Next Wednesday, we turn the corner and enter the season of Lent. A time to reflect on our own condition and to make a clear choice. Are we going to be the children of the light or children of the dark? (see Ephesians 5:8)

Lent prepares us to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus is the only one who can free us from our captivity but only if we truly see we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.

It is time to open your eyes to the reality of our own situation and the ugliness of the world. Until that happens, you are bound.

The invitation is real because Jesus is real and he is sovereign. Jesus will never force himself on you. The ball is in your court.

Take time this Lent to find the freedom and love that Jesus is offering.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. John 8:42

Open your ears and hear that the savior is calling you to freedom.

God bless,
Pr. Ben

Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19–21

Where is your heart today? Is it full of earthly things or is it pondering the eternal things of God’s Kingdom?

To put it a different way, what are you holding on to? Things of life or things of heaven. Temporary things or eternal things?

Jesus reminds us (from the Sermon on the Mount) to know the difference between everlasting and temporal.

I said on Sunday we often latch on to things we can see and forsake the unseen (spiritual). After all, “Seeing is believing.” But don’t forget what Jesus said about that very phrase to Thomas the disciple who needed to see the resurrected Jesus before he would believe in him.

Then Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29

Blessings (God’s favor) rest upon those who believe in what they cannot see. There is blessing for those who are storing up treasures in heaven because they are getting ready for what is ahead.  Those folks don’t need to see God’s Kingdom to know it is very real.

Since we can’t take our stuff with us to heaven, what are those “treasures” that Jesus talks about?

Paul tells us, that the things of life will eventually pass away except for three things…

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1Corinthians 13:13

Those are our treasures.

Faith (trust) in God. Trusting in the forgiveness Jesus gave us from the cross.

Hope in the future promises made by God in scripture. Hope is knowing God keeps his promises.

Love. Love for God, Love for other people.

Those are the treasures we cultivate and grow today. One day, in heaven, we will see the dividend of those riches in the people we shared them in this life.

God bless,
Pr. Ben

Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount…

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder (Exodus 20:13), and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Matthew 5:22

These are Jesus’ words not mine. To make sure everyone understands what Jesus is saying, let me summarize.

Murder is bad and subject to judgment of God.
Anger is bad and subject to the judgment of God.
Insulting others is bad and subject to the judgment of God and human authorities.
Calling someone a fool is bad and subject to the judgment of God.

Are we on the same page? Do you see how clear this instruction is?

If this isn’t clear, then God responds clearly through the words of Isaiah…

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Isaiah 5:20-21

God is very transparent in the words of Jesus (who is God) and through Isaiah the prophet. This is God’s Word for the ages (which includes us).

Now let’s apply God’s Word to our lives.

I have witnessed the ugliness of people’s words regarding the killing of the single mom in Minneapolis this past week.

As people of faith, this death should break our hearts because it breaks God’s heart. Using limited and flawed legal arguments as well as words like “justified” are distasteful.

Are these the same arguments and words one will use when facing God to explain their hardness of heart or even glee at this tragedy?

Unneeded loss of life or unneeded cruelty (according to Jesus) is subject to judgment.

I encourage everyone who reads this article to check their heart and see if it aligns with God’s will? Do you have a heart of stone or a heart of flesh? (See Ezekiel 36:26-27)

It is a time of mourning in God’s Kingdom.

There is a reason Jesus calls people to repentance… to change. He calls us to let go of hate, ugliness and cruelty and step in the light of love.

God bless you,

Pastor Ben

164 years before the birth of Jesus, the temple in Jerusalem was purified and rededicated after Israel expelled the Seleucid army through the leadership of Judah Macabee. The miracle of Hannukah occurred during the rededication of the temple.

When the temple was being purified in 164BC, the priests discovered only one day’s worth of holy oil to burn in the candle lampstand (menorah) but that oil continued to burn for 8 days. A miracle from God!

The word Hanukkah means “dedication.”

The miracle gave hope to the people of Israel! But 101 years later, another army occupied all of Israel: The Roman army.

I am sure, many hoped for another miracle that would rid Israel of this new occupying force.

Then another 60 years and Jesus the Son of God was born to Mary. I bet people were still talking about the miracle of Hannukah at that time too… and hoping God would raise a warrior like Judah Macabee to fight against Rome.

Instead of a warrior, God chose to send the “prince of peace.”

Instead of oil that lasted for 8 days, God sent “the Light of the world.”

Instead of regime change, Jesus came to change hearts.

God knew it was the right time to reveal the greatest gift to humanity. The Gift that keeps giving because Jesus lives, even today.

The miracle of Christmas lives on! The light of the world came and His Spirit stayed!

The gospel shares that a star pointed the way to the Christ-child so that the wisemen could come and worship.

Light bears witness to light. The star shone down on the “light of the world”.

Shine the light of your love on others this season so that others “may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Happy Advent and Merry Christmas,

Pastor Ben

“ ‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. “ ‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.’” Jeremiah 33:14-15

The days of Jeremiah the prophet were grim. The immediate hope of relief in the short term was negligible. The end of Jerusalem and Judah was at hand.

Yet, despite all the poor choices made by the leadership of Israel and the divided loyalties of the people, God didn’t give up on the people.

When life is hard for us and some of the bad decisions we make are self-inflicted, God doesn’t give up on us either.

Not only did God want to give his chosen people hope, this future promise would also change the world too.

The promise of king for Israel (and the world) would be related to the great King David of Israel’s past.

This king will be righteous. He will do the right thing, He will be in relationship with God, and he will lead all of us towards God.

God made a promise to Israel and to us and it came to pass. Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph was born. Both the gospel of Matthew and Luke show the connection to King David through a list of descendants.

Jesus became the most untypical king to ever live. He came to serve and not be served. Jesus showed the extent of his divine and royal love by dying for the people and then coming back to life!

Because of his resurrection Jesus is still our reigning King!

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, let us also prepare for our King’s return!

Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
And heav’n and nature sing.

God bless,
Pr. Ben

Jesus said, “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he (the Christ) is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:26-27

This weekend we will remember the last weekend of the church calendar: Christ the King Sunday. As it is the last weekend of the church year (Advent begins the new church year) we also take time to remember that at the end of time itself, Christ will return to earth.

It makes sense to remember Christ’s return on the last Sunday of the church year! We come to the end of the year and symbolically jump forward to the end of time.

This is not up for debate. We declare this promise in our historic creeds.

He (Jesus) will come again to judge the living and the dead.- Apostles’ Creed

And…

He (Jesus) will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. – Nicene Creed

This will happen one day. When Jesus makes a promise, he keeps it.

As you know, many Christians over the centuries have tried to predict Christ’s return to no avail. It is a fool’s errand to ever think we can control God or somehow know when or why God acts.

Even Jesus told us (more than once) that predicting his return is a mistake on our part.

Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:36-39

No one means, absolutely no one. Any prediction of Christ’s return is guesswork.

However, we should not doubt the return of Christ or even his existence. God is real and his kingdom is more real than the world we live in. Whether by our own death or Christ’s return, one day, we will be invited to go live in his Kingdom forever.

Until that glorious day (for the faithful), let us live as through Christ is coming back in a few hours.

For me, this life is getting me ready for eternal life. I want to “practice” my faith (trust in Jesus) now and, live according to God’s will (love God and love my neighbor). Why? So that when I am called to my true eternal home, I fit in and don’t have regrets like Ebenezer Scrooge.

I am getting ready for my eternal tomorrow, today. I hope you are too.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” Matthew 24:42

God bless,
Pr. Ben

Acts 8:32-35

The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture (from Isaiah 53): “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip (a Christian), “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

The eunuch, an Ethiopian man, was leaving Jerusalem and heading home. He decided to do some Bible study on the way. Like a lot of people, he started reading the Bible and it didn’t make sense. (Who hasn’t been there before???)

Jesus knew this was going to happen, so he sent Philip to be on that same road at that very moment to lend assistance. Philip tells the eunuch that the person he is reading about in Isaiah 53 is none other than Jesus who recently died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

Philip most likely told the eunuch that Jesus loved him too and wanted to be in relationship with him.

This man’s heart was so moved by that message that the minute he saw some water, he asked Philip to baptize him. (That was his way of saying “yes” to what Jesus was offering.) And that is exactly what happened, the man was baptized and welcomed into the family of faith.

It is simple. Jesus reached out to the Ethiopian eunuch through the scriptures (Isaiah 53) and Philip. When that man received what Jesus offered (a relationship, forgiveness and eternal life) he responded by being baptized.

The Ethiopian Eunuch said yes to what Jesus offered to him (and to all of us). He said, “yes” when most of the world says “no”.

He responded to the gift that was offered. That is how we live our lives as Christians. We respond to the gift already given in Christ Jesus.

This is true the first time the gift of faith is offered and it is true if you’ve been a lifelong Christian, all of life is a lived response to the grace of Jesus.

The first time is an invitation to respond!

We are reminded of the words of Saint Paul, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

The man heard the message of God’s love in Jesus through both the Bible and Philip’s words.

That is how we share the good news of God’s love… by speaking. We tell others that Jesus loves them. We respond to God’s grace in our life by sharing Jesus with others. That is our response!

If we never open our mouths and speak the name of Jesus, others will never hear.

Saint Paul knows this!

How, then, can anyone call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have never heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14

I pray the grace of Jesus has moved you to respond to what you have been given!!! Keep saying “yes” to Jesus and keep responding in love!

God bless,
Pr. Ben

One of the most compassionate moments in Jesus’ life happened while he was dying on the cross.

The criminal crucified next to Jesus pleaded for God’s mercy when he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42

At the moment this man begs for grace, he had already admitted to fact that he was guilty of the crime he committed, and the crime was worthy of a death sentence. In other words, he was not a very nice person by his own admission.

Yet he dares to ask Jesus for mercy knowing he deserves nothing.

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

Even in the depths of painful suffering, Jesus offers this man a future.

This is a touching moment. I can see myself in that criminal asking for an eternal lifeline and Jesus responds by essentially saying, “I will see you later today at my house.”

This moment shows us the heart of Jesus for all people, not just the criminal.

Remember: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17

Yet there is a hypocrisy within some circles of Christianity that see their salvation as secure but then question the sincerity of other people’s faith. The hypocrisy of being forgiven by Christ but denying that same forgiveness or even grace to others.

I have witnessed the hate and judgment of various groups of people by Christians! This should not be! Not now, not ever.

The truth of God’s love is this: For God so loved the world…

Not some of the world.

Not a few people.

Not the people who live like me.

For God so loved the world…

There is no one that we lock eyes with that does not matter to Jesus.

You can’t claim the love of Jesus when you hate others (or groups of others) for any reason.

If you have received the grace of Jesus’ love, share it with others.

God bless,
Pr. Ben