- Psalmody: Psalm 86:1a, 2b–3; 4; Psalm 92:1-2; Psalm 108:1; Psalm 40:1, 3a; John 6:56
- Lection: 1 Kings 17:8–16; Galatians 5:25—6:10; Matthew 6:24–34
In the Name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
There are no real atheists in the world. Some may vow not to believe in the one true God of the Holy Scriptures or in one of the false gods like Allah or the Mormon god, yet no person is without a god, because at minimum we worship a god of self. Some may vow and be outspoken and active against what they deem as organized religion, yet all are religious whether they admit it or not. If they are not part of an organized, reverent, orderly religion, then they may be a part of a fad-driven, indistinguishable-from-the-culture one that worships the winds of devilish influence and change. Or, they may worship at the altar of outrage, progression, and offense as on cue from the digital prophets and internet priests who dole out revelations and commandments through the screens for which we give regular offerings in subscriptions and scrolls so the gods on them don’t get cut off or go quiet. It is the very tendency of all human beings to be religious, which makes sense considering we were all made by TheMaker of heaven and earth and in His image, whether we believe in Him or not. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27) In a word, true religion, which is purifying and literally inspiring toward the loving service of neighbor, is one that worships Jesus, the Son of God, Who takes away the sin of the world. True religion is being grateful for and thankful to Jesus. It is the response to what Jesus has done and is doing among us. Religion that is impure and defiled is all the other mess out there that originates in the whims of man, follows the leadings of the corrupt heart, builds up altars to false gods, and bases actions on the gods of our own making. In a word, it is idolatry and the breaking of the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods.”
Yet, idolatry isn’t exclusive to atheists and other non-Christians of the world. We need only to look at the Scriptures and our own lives to see this to be true. God’s own chosen people, whom He led out of Egypt after 10 extraordinary, miraculous judgments by plagues against false gods; whom He guided by His very presence in cloud by day and fire by night; whom He led through the parted Red Sea waters; whom He fed with bread from heaven; whom He gave water to drink from the rock that was stricken; how do people respond? Grumble, doubt, commit idolatry by fashioning a golden calf and worshiping it confessing, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:4) We may be tempted to judge them, no? To think of ourselves more highly. To think them to be cow-brained, backwoods, unenlightened simpletons of ancient uncivilized times, but what would they say about how quick we who have so many of the biggest things worry about some of the smallest, how we fear what the latest breaking news tells us to, how we become anxious about provisions, about the world’s economy, about politicians, about illnesses, about God-ordained life changes, or about how much suffering might come tomorrow when sufficient for the day is its own trouble?
We hear our dear Lord’s warning again this morning that you cannot serve both God and any other god, be it money, food, or clothing, not even the basics. We are not to give worry or anxiety a place in our heart, for even worry and anxiety, too, can become gods with whom we grow familiar and oddly comfortable. Christ says, “do not be anxious about your life.” That’s everything, and it’s one of those commands in Scripture that can stir up the very condition in a heart that is prone to doing what it says not to do. ‘Don’t be anxious.’ Great. Now I’m anxious even more about being anxious. ‘Don’t worry.’ Why? Is there something I should be worried about? ‘Don’t be depressed.’ Well, now I’m depressed even more because I’m still depressed after hearing that I shouldn’t be depressed. And how depressing is that?! The sinful mind is a tricky beast to tame, Beloved, but the Lord gives none of these instructions without having compassion for all who are tempted and suffer in such a way.
At the foundational level, all anxiety, all worry, all depression is because of in-born sin and from the active sin of not trusting God, which is why the solution to anxiety, worry, depression, and the like, isn’t to focus efforts on the anxiety, worry, depression, and the like. Overcoming them is not in our will power, but in the power of God. Therefore, just as Jesus says not to be anxious nor worry, but to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, we see that the things that trouble our minds and hearts are not eradicated by how well we just stop doing it. No, the Christian heart flourishes as a godly garden when it is cultivated with the greater effort spent on good fruit, not troublesome weeds.
The woes of the fallen mind and heart that lure us into obsessive, unhealthy, sinful thoughts – yes, anxiety, worry, and depression are sinful thoughts because they disbelieve God and what He says – the woes that lure us aim to trap us in them as if they deserve to be thought about, as if we are required to spend endless time basking in them. We are not! Christ has set us free. Instead, seek first the Kingdom of God. Cultivate a peaceful mind and confident heart that drives out the dark tendencies and traps. Tend to the fruit of the Spirit by not trying to get a stranglehold on burdensome emotions, but by doing the things that prosper the Christian mind and heart like unto a godly garden.
A key to this is in adding in more and more concrete actions and things that tend to and benefit such a garden. Thanksgiving. Seeking the kingdom of God is to live in its reality, and its reality is full, throughout-the-day cause for giving thanks to God. We are spoiled and have grown cold in hearts that live and breathe without gratitude toward Him Who gives us every breath and all else that accompanies it. The more we give thanks to God the less we succumb to dark thoughts and feelings because we are actively setting our hearts aright in its orientation toward the One from Whom all blessings flow. From birth to death, everyday is filled with more things in this life than we can give Him thanks for. This is most certainly true, so the more that we try to recognize His goodness and thank Him for every instance, not out of obligation, but out of true regenerate, thankful joy, the more we cultivate His garden in the heart.
Prayer. We don’t pray enough. We have so many tasks, distractions, and assumptions that we’ve got most things handled, so we’ll not bother God, except with the major things where we need Him to throw in His weight. No, Beloved, we have a dear Father in heaven Whom we need every second of every day and Who is wonderfully concerned with every breath of ours and what happens in it. Let us grow in how much we pray to Him and thank Him for keeping us through the day and through the night.
Worship. Seeking first the Kingdom of God cannot exclude worship of Him. It just can’t. By what He gives to us in His Divine Service and in daily home devotions where we lift up our hearts unto the Lord, He rains down from heaven what the heart needs to grow in strength and faith, virtues that stand firm until the day we die.
People. Thy Kingdom Come. How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity. Notice how our understanding of the third petition of the Lord’s Prayer describes the eternality of God’s Kingdom, where it takes place, and what is included in it. It’s about people. Christ died for people. Nothing stored up in our barns, our homes, our garages, our pantries or refrigerators, or our banks will continue on forever in the eternal kingdom. But people will. Therefore, next to God, people must be our most-prized treasure; treasures that we hope and seek to store up in heaven.
So, let us take some time this morning and consider the people who are very likely to come join us in worship, prayer, and thanksgiving at the beginning of October and let us not worry about what change might come. All of the things that make Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church good will not change. As long as I’m pastor, that remains my vow. What makes this church good is that God’s doctrine is truthfully proclaimed, the Sacraments are rightly administered, and both are done with proper, joyful reverence. Those are the very reasons why Christ Lutheran members want to join us after they close their doors. So, none of the good stuff will change, because we all want the same good gifts of Christ our Lord. And as the called captain of this ship flying the flag of Christ’s salvation, I aim to keep us steady on our course, rest assured.
Yet, as more brothers and sisters come, as other sheep of Christ become part of this fold making it a different, bigger one in accordance with God’s will, we need to make use of one of our strengths that the CADDS survey revealed: adaptability. Just as we adapt when we move to a new area or house, when children leave the home, when loved ones are born, when loved ones die, so we at Our Savior, too, shall adapt to the situation into which God is leading us, by which He is blessing us by His brining other redeemed people here who desire to worship Him with us. Let us hold firm the good things the Lord gives regularly to us. Let us love our neighbors as ourselves. And let us see, once the moving and welcoming dust settles, how we may adapt for the good of our church and for the glory of God.
Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. All that you need is from Him. All that you have that will last is in Him. All the peace and joy that you desire is in Him. Having received the gift of faith to believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all your sins is the gift of seeing the kingdom of God and His righteousness, the very thing which you are to seek first; now, next month, and beyond. It is yours. You have it already, unlike the idolatrous unbelieving world. In seeing Christ’s Kingdom that is here among you, in seeking it first, you shall see that all else that the eyes, the mind, and the heart behold are no reasons to worry at all. Ever. Whatever it is that you think deserves your anxiety, worry, or depression, your frustration or angst, the Lord has already tended to it. He has taken care of it. He is God. There is no other and to Him you belong. You need only wait to see how He will faithfully work all things together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose, who are both current members of Our Savior and those who soon shall be. Don’t forget the four words that precede, “don’t be anxious about your life.” Remember Who speaks to you. Remember Whose steadfast love was poured out upon the earth as He shed His holy, precious blood from the cursed tree. “Therefore I tell you,” Jesus says, “do not be anxious about your life.” He would say it only if He, God Almighty, gives you reason not to be anxious, brings you into His everlasting kingdom, robes you with His own righteousness, provides what you need, and gives you the greater gift so that you can live peacefully, trusting Him to add to you all the other lesser gifts showing that you need not be anxious about anything.
In ✠ Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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