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Weekly Sermons>
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Apr 25, 2010 --
Brothers and Sisters Are You Saved?
1.
A long time ago I was part of a team that went out two by two
to ask complete strangers, “are you saved?”
I was a freshman in college and had gotten involved in a Christian group on campus.
The students in this organization felt a special burden to share the gospel,
to ask whoever they met whether they had accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
I will never forget my one and only try of asking someone about their salvation.
I met with my partner in the college chapel for prayer.
Next we were deployed out into the college center on the lookout for recruits.
Thankfully, because I was new, I did not have to do the talking.
My partner noticed a student in the center lounge, alone, and reading.
We approached and my partner began the conversation.
To be honest he didn’t come right out and ask this guy if he was saved.
We weren’t quite that aggressive.
Nevertheless this was the intent.
It did not go well.
The young man closed his book,
and not saying much, got up and walked away.
It was a terribly awkward experience.
I questioned my motives for this encounter.
The next day I informed the group that this wasn’t for me.
I told them that I was going to pursue a more Lutheran method of evangelism.
I didn’t know for sure what I meant by that
but at least I knew that I wouldn’t have to approach complete strangers and confront them about their salvation.
2.
Salvation is one of these church words that we hear all the time,
but is hard to define.
What does it mean to be saved?
What exactly are we being saved from?
I read an article this week by theologian Scott Cairns who got me thinking about the meaning of salvation.
He identified three ways of salvation.
The first was the way of the mercenary.
To the mercenary salvation is to gain a reward.
The mercenary is the person who believes that upon their death they will conquer over their enemies.
A great salvation hymn is For All the Saints.
Verse 6 is sung by the mercenary:
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong,
Alleluia.
Upon their death mercenaries sing this song of triumph.
This song is their salvation.
The second way of salvation according to Cairns is the way of the slave.
Slaves have lived under a wrath filled God and have worked their whole lives to earn God’s favor
to save themselves from God’s eternal wrath.
Martin Luther followed this way of salvation when he first entered the Augustinian monastery. The monastery required the following:
· Taking a vow of poverty
· Sleeping in a room 3’ by 7’
· Waking up at 2am
· Attendance at six daily worship services
· Becoming a religious beggar
· A scant diet.
Before Luther discovered the gospel he was most content with this life for he was saving himself from eternal damnation.
His salvation was his good works.
3.
When my partner and I approached that unsuspecting student in the college center,
we couldn’t name these two ways of salvation;
still they were what motivated us.
We carried a burden to save this young man from hell.
Thankfully at this point in my faith journey I can say that this understanding of salvation was misguided.
This Fourth Sunday of Easter carries the title of Good Shepherd Sunday.
It is based on the 10th chapter of John’s gospel where Jesus points to himself as the good shepherd.
Our text this morning is speaks about this shepherd’s flock.
The Good Shepherd says:
My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
This is a salvation text.
But what I hear with Jesus’ words is not a warning to believe or else.
Instead I hear what it means to belong to the flock.
To belong to the flock of the Good Shepherd is to hear his voice.
To belong to the flock is to be known by the Good Shepherd.
To belong to the flock is to follow the way of Christ.
To belong to the flock is to receive the life that Jesus offers.
Scott Cairns writes that this is the third way of salvation.
It is not simply to be delivered from hell,
but salvation is a journey that grows ever deeper into relationship with Jesus.
Cairns writes:
Salvation is an ongoing process. It is our recovery from chronic separation from God. The miracle has very little to do with the popular notion of “dying and going to heaven,” and has far more to do with finally living. It is about our increasing awareness of God’s presence here and now.
To acquire this way of salvation is to belong to the flock of the Good Shepherd.
4.
The story is told of an Amish farmer who once was approached by an enthusiastic young evangelist, who asked him,
“My dear man are you saved?”
The farmer looked at the evangelist and said, “Why do you ask me such a thing?
I could say yes and not mean it.
If you really want to know if I am saved, here are the names of my banker, my grocer, and my farm hands.
Ask them, and you will have your answer.”
If the evangelist really was concerned about the farmer’s salvation the farmer instructs him to ask his flock.
Go to the community of which the farmer belongs and ask how he partakes in the life of the community.
The farmer taught the evangelist that salvation is not so much about dying and going to heaven.
Salvation is about belonging to the flock,
and living with Christ’s life giving promises.
5.
Cairns concludes his article with a story about another well meaning evangelist who got put in his place.
A wise old monk is approached by the evangelist who asks,
“Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?”
The monk said, “No! I like to share my savior with others.”
Back in my college days that should have been my intent when I sought to be an evangelist.
Instead of confronting this young man to believe like I believe,
Instead of scaring this stranger about eternal damnation;
A more faithful encounter would seek to our share our savior with him,
And simply invite him into the flock.
Salvation is found in the flock of the Good Shepherd,
in the body of Christian community,
where belonging is valued,
where bread is broken,
where sins are forgiven,
and where life is given.
Our way of salvation is found in the flock of Jesus Christ
The Good Shepherd of the sheep
where the sheep hear his voice
and follow his way
and our given life today
and through eternity.
Amen
Please contact us by phone at : (908) 876-3547 or via Email at : zionlongvalley@comcast.net
© 2010 Zion Lutheran Church of Long Valley New Jersey
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