Good Morning Friends,
The custom of remembering the faithful departed goes back to the early days of the church when their names were posted so they could be remembered. On the Communion Table in many Sanctuaries are the words, In Remembrance Of Me, in reference to Jesus and by connection the Jesus Spirit in believers who have passed. Along that thought in Europe we have fields of graves with crosses near where soldiers died during WWII, and we have a memorial in Washington D.C. that lists the names of those who were killed during the Vietnam War. Our culture has gravestones and crypts and where I worship a columbarium with the names of the departed. So, we have reminders to prompt us to think about those who have died in service but especially on this day following All Saints Day, those not just in the church triumphant but perhaps even those who never did confess or profess a belief. As early as the sixth century, monasteries held special days of remembrance for the dead from their community and by the ninth century they were commemorating all the faithful departed and in a separate action the next day contemplating those who perhaps were not so saintly. Certainly, it is not about worshiping the dead but in honoring their purifying life in Christ and the reality that death like birth is part of life and so too our relationship with God. There is no free lunch here when it comes to the price of life. Oh, there is amazing grace, but I think you may be disappointed with our Christian faith if you think you can avoid death. Churches are filled with sinners who are going to die. But so are a lot of people who do not belong, and I cannot help thinking that they are missing out on something important. The choice of our belonging to a body of believers is sometimes not so easy to explain. We are so unworthy, but then a few, if any, are worthy. So, How Do You Profess Being A Christian On All Souls Day?
Scripture: and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Romans 5:5-11 (NRSV)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
Romans 6:3-9 (NRSV)
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.”
John 6:37-40 (NRSV)
As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14 (NRSV)
Message: People waffle at the idea of going to church these days, but I think and feel the hope of a fall revival. Many people got out of the habit during the peak of the pandemic. But the socialization of belonging to a group was changing long before Covid-19. There has been a growing group of those preferring a spiritual experience in isolation from what is often considered to be hypocritical, and to be honest the institutional church is sometimes just that. Those religiously unaffiliated, still ask God for help, but get a bit angry with God for not making life easier and so find it more socially acceptable to be disconnected. They bowl alone. I wonder if they see the bigger picture of the long-term effects of holiness in the growth of the Kingdom of God in community. Perhaps the idea of sanctification eludes them as to the endgame. Perhaps they do not understand that if we are followers of The Way we are baptized into Christ’s death as well as to new life… and as a spark and little light we are to fan the flames of our faith as a body of believers. Who knows, maybe God is doing something new. Salt is not always seen. But I wonder how the unaffiliated will bear fruit and if they bear no fruit how they can be a follower of Jesus. You see, what makes an orange tree and orange tree is its oranges. What makes a Christian a Christian is bearing fruit for the faith.And we are to do so in abundance before we die. The widow’s mite doubling every ten years over 2000 years could become a lot of dough in the scope of holy history. A little yeast gives rise to bread in an unseen way. So too, a disciple that disciples others who in turn disciples can have similar multiplying effects. Such is the way of holiness, for it spills over into the lives of others beyond their days. That is kingdom stuff. So, I wonder if maybe the numbers of true believers are not dwindling even while those who are in the pews are declining. Small groups gathering in homes may well be the future of the way, but I imagine many will want more. Much more.
And So, I wonder if some of these people referred to as Nones are in Christ, as the invisible action of the faithful. Perhaps you have thought about how you profess being a Christian in this new dynamic avoiding the lies. If I were to ask, it might be difficult for you to give a meaningful answer as to how accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior has positively affected you given our culture. So how do you share your faith with someone who is unchurched? I am not talking about a textbook or verse quoting response but something from the heart. Ok, maybe you are ready and maybe not. No guilt trip here. So, if you are having some difficulty in articulating the benefits of justification, know you are not alone. Many just do not care about being reconciled. Some water down the message to make it more palatable. But Paul in today’s text lays it all out and it may be helpful to you in personalizing an answer that affirms a positive response to today’s question. Friends, in telling our stories it comes down to simply telling others what Christ means to each of us. We all know people who have died belonging to Jesus and those who declined the offer. So maybe outreach is about recognizing our hopes and fears and how we experience God in all our little deaths and little resurrections all in a way that prepares us for Christ to be incarnate in each of us. If you are looking for filled pews for a funeral or memorial service, perhaps you need to think again. Friends, this is emotionally hard work. But the purpose is to make disciples and if you cannot count yourself as one seeking to double the number though discipling others, whether in the seen or unseen church we all might be disappointed. Regardless, the reality and the effect ultimately need an outward sign. We need to remember that something must change in our hearts first. There needs to be an invitation.
Pray we have a story to tell that honors God and demonstrates the changes in us made possible by God’s grace. Pray that the accounts of our faith stir the hearts of unbelievers. Pray we are no longer tormented by questions about our relationship with God arising out of the fact that we are sinners. Pray we are at peace with God even when it comes to our death and the death of others. Pray we have a healthy reverence for God. Pray that we are justified and believe it. Pray we become sanctified for the purpose God intended. Pray we experience God’s love and share the story of it in our lives so others might know why we are Christians. Pray we walk with Jesus in the newness of this life in the Spirit that remembers what is important. Pray we repent and put our faith in Christ realizing that the saddest words are what might have been. Pray therefore for God’s Kingdom to come on earth as in heaven. Pray for the Saints most high and the consummation of the glory of God from the inside out. Pray we become sin free and debt free as death itself is destroyed. Pray that we study the Word for its new revelation as the seals are broken and our eyes open, and hearts open. Pray we do what we do today and the next day believing that we will stand with Jesus on the last day secure in the love of God. Pray we are worthy of being called Christians.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 