I Believe in the Church

Reformation Sunday

October 26, 1997

Lectionary Text, Mark 10:46-52;Hebrews 7:21-27

INTRODUCTION

This is Reformation Sunday. In October of 1517 a Roman Catholic monk and priest and professor of theology named Martin Luther nailed a list of 95 subjects for debate or complaints against his church to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral in Germany, and the Protestant Reformation was officially begun. We have been trying to sort out the results of the resulting dynamics in all branches of the church ever since.

Martin Luther's zeal split the visible, organized ranks of Christendom. But like all true reformers he had an underlying love for the Church of Jesus Christ. I believe Luther did what he did out of a deep faith not only in God, but in the church itself. Faith in the Church that Jesus Himself is building is a basic part of our faith, and is clearly stated in the ancient creeds that unite all who say by the Holy Spirit that Jesus is Lord.

In one of the last of his writings published before his death last year, Henri Nouwen wrote about this love for the church:

The Church is an object of faith. In the Apostles Creed we (affirm) "I believe in God the Father ... in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord ... in the Holy Spirit. (But we also say, ) "I believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting." We must believe in the church! The Apostles Creed does not say that the church is an organization that helps us to believe in God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.. No, we are called to believe in the church with the same faith we believe in God.

Often it seems harder to believe in the Church than to believe in God. But whenever we separate our belief in God from our belief in the Church, we become unbelievers. God has given us the church as the place where God becomes God-with-us.- in Bread for the Journey

We are the church! The church is not a denomination, large or small. The Church is made up of all those now living, and those who have died in the faith, who say from their hearts, by the Holy Spirit, "Jesus is Lord!" to the glory of God the Father. On this Reformation Sunday we are all called to love the church, to be concerned about keeping faith with the church.

It is this wonderful confession that in some measure defines the church. Open your hearts with me just now as we consider the great confession of the church:

THE CONFESSION OF THE CHURCH: "JESUS IS LORD!"

JESUS IS LORD -THE MYSTICAL ELEMENT - 2 Timothy 2:19 "...the solid foundation of God stand, having this seal: 'The Lord knoweth those who are his.,' and 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."

The church is a holy mystery. The Lordship of Jesus Christ is a powerful uniting force between otherwise widely divergent points of view. If we ask a diverse group of Christians what they believe a discussion will certainly follow, and tension and disagreement. But if we ask them who they love and follow there is an instant bonding and fellowship.

A distinguishing characteristic of the universal church, however, is a changed life. "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." The Church is not the world. The Church is IN the world, but not dominated by the values of the world. It is not for us or for anyone to define what is or is not the church. We cannot despise another who says "Jesus is Lord!" But there will be this wonderful, mysterious cry from within every heart, "Thy kingdom come! Thy will be done! Lead us NOT into temptation! Deliver us from evil!"

JESUS IS LORD -THE CREATIVE WORK OF THE SPIRIT

1 Corinthians 12:3 "no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit"

The church is God's own creation. We can form organizations, and take in members, and call them members of the church. But no one can really add or subtract members from the one holy apostolic universal church except God Himself. When the confession is made with conviction, "Jesus is LORD!" a divine work of creation is taking place. Someone's world is shaking, and changing centers; instead of self being the cruel taskmaster, God in Christ is moved to the center, and "old things pass away, and all things are made new." (2 Co. 5:17) You cannot simply "join" the church; you have to be "born" into it— you must know the convicting, convincing power of the Holy Spirit that enables you to say, and to know, "Jesus IS Lord of MY life!"

JESUS IS LORD -THE PRESENT GRACE OF CONFESSION

Romans 10:9 (8-11) "(But what does it say? the Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart [that is the word of faith which we preach]) that if you confess with your moth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

The church is alive in the very act of confession. The WORD is near. the confession is not simply an event or one-time thing. It is a living connection to a loving relationship. [The Gospel being read from the center of the church— in the middle aisle— is for a reason: it is a reminder every Sunday that the Living Word of the Gospels, Jesus Christ, who is GOD-WITH-US— the Word who became flesh— is even at this very moment very near to each one of us!] When we confess "Jesus is Lord!" we connect with the great High Priest of the Church! Where Jesus is, THERE is the church! The very name "Jesus" means "Jehovah Saves!" To invoke that name in prayer is to call on the Great High Priest of the church!

THE HIGH PRIEST OF THE CHURCH: - "HAVE MERCY, SON OF DAVID!"

THE GOSPEL STORY OF BARTIMAEUS

In the Gospel lesson blind Bartimaeus seized an opportunity when he knew that Jesus, the Living Word, was near. He cried out "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" That was a profound prayer!

The blind man cried. Those nearby thought the shouting was out of order. But Bartimaeus was in earnest. "Help me!" Jesus heard! He stopped. He called for the blind man. In his haste, blind Bartimaeus left his precious cloak behind as he ran and stumbled and hurried as best he could to where the Living Word waited.

Then came that question again: "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus was in the hands of the one person in all the Universe who could save him to the uttermost!

THE ASSURANCE OF HEBREWS

7:25 "(Our High Priest) is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them."

Bartimaeus had come to the one person who could not only sympathize but effectively do something about his deepest needs. The Living Word is the great High Priest, the powerful Advocate in the Presence of the Father. Our text says, "HE IS ABLE!"

"HE IS ABLE TO SAVE!'

"HE IS ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST!"

THE JESUS PRAYER

Bartimaeus' prayer has become a model for the entire Church down across the ages. The devout Jews had been (rightly) taught such great respect and awe for the name of God that it was not to be spoken by human lips. (O.T. Jews read the word Yahweh with their eyes and said the word "Adonai" with their lips. God was known as GOOD, but too high and holy to be easily approached.) But by assuming our humanity, and becoming one with us— our Brother, the Word of God hands that great Name over to us, and we can use that holy name in prayer: JESUS means Jahweh Saves! The name "Jesus" breathed in prayer contains the whole economy of creation and salvation! Whoever prays, "Jesus, Son of God, have mercy!" is welcoming the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself up for us!

"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"... "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners!"— this can be the humble, joyful, continual cry of our hearts as we celebrate who we are in Christ. And in that confession of Jesus as Lord the Church lives on forever!

CONCLUSION - Martin Luther and John Wesley are long since dead, but the "reformation" goes on— in your heart and mine— in our congregation as we sincerely seek to confess with our worship, with our words, and also with our attitudes and actions that Jesus is Lord. He is opening our eyes to the glory of his grace.

Prayer - Lord Jesus Christ, whose very name has been given to us to make us your church, open our eyes and help us to see You, and help us to love You better, to the glory of God the Father, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God high and holy, world without end. Amen.

Hymn- Mini-worship sequence, read 144 and sing 1,4 of 145 Glorious Is Thy Name