23rd Sunday after Pentecost

It's overwhelming, isn't it?  The bad news. The school shootings, the violence. The degradation of our common life together., the distrust in once-trustworthy institutions.  The wars and genocides. The government shutdown,  the politicians.  

Is it better just to shut off the news, and try to pretend we’re all fine? If it doesn’t affect us directly here in our town, in Redwood County, can we just ignore it? You know we can’t.  It's naive to believe that that the issues of the larger culture won't affect us here. They already have—everything from the cost of groceries to kids confused about their gender: it’s already here.

And many of us have a strong sense we are living in dark times, that things are changing rapidly for the worse. As just one example: Gen Z and Gen Alpha—the youngest generations-- are dealing with mental illness and anxiety at levels never seen before. Not ever.

A lot of people are uncertain where to turn for answers and meaning. Uncertainty leads to doubt. Doubt leads to fear. And as a wise master once said, "fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." 

Even in the church, there is struggle. In our congregations, our denomination, there is division over many things. Not just finer points of doctrine, but major stuff.  Plenty of people are sick in their soul, consumed with doubt, trying to fill up the holes in their lives with mindless scrolling on their phones, addictive entertainment, and consumption of everything from Netflix and Amazon to alcohol. Our families are broken, our institutions are hollow shells of what they once were, our country is full of chaos and violence….and suddenly, betrayal by parents, brothers, relatives and friends seems not just something for first-century Christians written down in the Gospel of Luke, but for us too.

In the midst of the mess, comes Jesus. Jesus says, do not be terrified when you hear of these things. Do not fear what is to come. In the middle of  the doubt and the uncertainty, the darkness and the death and the mess—I am with you, Jesus says. Even to the end of the age. Do not be worried. Do not be anxious over the rumors and the fear, says the Lord.  I have died and rise again to defeat sin, death and the devil. They will not have the final say.

It seems too simple. But here is the news that we and the rest of the world desperately need. When you hear of bad things, do not be scared—the future is mine, says the Lord. Trust me.

But-- don’t just sit there with your heads down, passively hoping for a better future! Instead: stand and deliver. Give an account of the hope that is in you. By your words and your actions, love those who hate you. Bless those who persecute you. Show the love of Christ toward those with whom you deeply disagree.

Instead of dividing people into “us” and “them” recognize that the line between good and evil goes right down the middle of the human heart—your heart.  You can’t do anything, really, about the big problems on the world or national stage, so say attention to the little areas where you can make a difference and be faithful there. In your families, in your little congregation, in your small town. Start there. And then--confess your own sins and failings. And turn the rest over to God.

Turn the rest over to God. Even in the midst of fear and uncertainty. Even—or especially--in the midst of suffering, death, war, persecution, evil streaming on our screens, pornography, technology addiction, cancel culture, tribal politics; in the midst of economic fear, inflation, in the midst of worry about your families and friends and children--in the midst of all this, we don’t fear the future, because we know that all of history, all time is heading toward God.

We don’t fear the unknown evil that lies ahead because we know who is in charge: God. You and I do not know what the future will bring, but we know who holds it: God. We can live confidently and boldly today in these bad times, because everything is in God’s hands.

Look, you and I are not responsible for making the future come out right—that’s God’s job. But our witness is desperately needed in a world that has lost its religious and moral footing, a world that does not know whose the future is, a world that is terrified of itself. We can’t sit back and rely on those who have gone before us, we can’t be complacent as we have been. We speak the truth in love, and we reach out to this hurting and lost world. In our community here, inside these walls and outside them, there are so many people who need to hear what we know—people who need the message that Jesus is Lord. Lord of our world, of our lives and families. Of this congregation. Of your kids and grandkids.

Jesus spoke truly—the day is coming when everything we know will be thrown down. Christians cannot rely on what used to be, when everyone went to worship out of habit. We cannot sit back and rely on other voices and other witnesses, we cannot trust in great houses of worship, or cultural religious legacies passed down from parents to children. Instead, we each are asked, “Who do you follow?”

This is for you! You are being trained in your bodies and souls for spiritual endurance, as Paul says, not living in idleness, waiting for someone else to do it,  but preparing for the coming of the Lord. The day of the Lord is coming, and for those who revere God’s name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.

JRR Tolkien, the great author of the Lord of the Rings, once wrote of himself  "Actually," he said,  "I am a Christian...so I do not expect ‘history’ to be anything but a ‘long defeat’— though it contains some samples or glimpses of final victory."         

If Mr. Tolkien was right--and oh, I think he is--we Christians must not expect history to be a series of triumphs, of ever-greater accomplishments and the dawning of brighter and brighter futures. Christians cannot look to political leaders  or parties for salvation. We cannot put our trust in military might, in supreme courts, in national pride, in presidents and kings. We can’t trust in our hard work and good way of life,  or even in our supposed good works for the kingdom of God. All those things will pass away. The Church will forever be losing--losing members, losing prestige, losing money, losing cultural battles.

But in losing, we win. In losing, we win. Remember the cross—the emblem of suffering and shame becomes eternal life and a crown of righteousness. The samples and glimpses of our final victory will one day be made complete.

I know you’ve heard me say all this before, but the future belongs to God. No matter what happens, we endure. The Word of our Lord endures forever. Nothing will stop it. And by your endurance you will gain life in him. For those who trust in the Lord and wait for his coming with calm purpose and steadfast witness, not a hair of their head will perish.

 Even so-- Come soon, Lord Jesus. Amen.