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Holy Trinity Anglican Orthodox Church
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Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity |
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October 7, 2007 2 Timothy 3:16-4:2 What
Does the Church Do? There is a
story about a busy man who
had so much to do that he got on his horse and rode away in all directions
at once. I think the
contemporary church suffers from the same problem, and I believe it comes
from not knowing who we are and why we are here. In other words, not
knowing what we are supposed to do, we try to do everything. This leads us
to the question for today, “What does the Church do?”
What is our function in this world?
Every organization has a purpose.
It may as big as bringing world peace, or it may be as small as
having a good time. But, take
away it’s purpose, and it will either cease to be, or immediately find a
new one. It will
become like the sailor’s lifeboat mission in a small New England
seaport. The way to the harbor was strewn with huge rocks, and many
ships had run aground on them trying to make port.
Knowing this, the port authorities organized the Lifeboat Mission,
and for many years it served well, saving the lives of many sailors.
But, gradually, the focus
of the mission members changed. They
became more, keepers of the boathouse than rescuers.
They spent their time polishing brass and painting lifeboats, and
keeping all their equipment in top running order, but not going out to
rescue drowning sailors. I
believe something similar is happening in the Church today.
Her people have forgotten their mission, therefore, they have
adopted new ones. They have
become keepers of the buildings. They
have become preservers of traditions and history.
They have become social clubs.
They have become community service organizations. Listen, I’m not saying the Church can’t do some of these things. There is a place for service to the poor, for Christian social gatherings and entertainment, for looking at politics and policies and leaders, but I am saying this can never become our primary focus. I’m not saying the Bible doesn’t speak to these issues, it does. It speaks very clearly and very plainly. That is exactly my point for today, and it happens to be the point of our Scripture text for this morning. Namely, since the Bible speaks clearly on these issues, it is the task of the Church to “preach the word.” Let the Church proclaim the word of God, then let her people go into the world and influence the various organizations and political parties and institutions. There is something else here too. Yes, the Bible speaks to these issues, and we must too, but the Bible deals with a much higher issue; and that is the issue of what Jonathan Edwards called, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Many people don’t understand that sermon. You know they still read it American Literature classes in public schools? But the teachers don’t understand it. It is often presented as a tragedy that someone would be so ignorant as to believe God would ever be angry at people, or that anything could ever be thought of as “sin.” “What bigotry,” they say. But they don’t understand that Jonathan Edwards was saying that we are all guilty sinners, running with all our strength right for the fires of hell, and it is only the gracious and merciful hand of God that prevents us from reaching that goal. He was not saying God is angry and wants to cast innocent people into hell. He was saying we are running into hell by our own choice, and only the grace God prevents us from jumping headlong into the fire. All Jonathan Edwards was trying to do was to “preach the word.” The Bible asks what it profits a man if he gain the whole world and loose his own soul? And well might we ask what good we have done for that man if we give him the world but fail to tell him about the Saviour who died to save his soul? We alone among all the clubs and organizations of the world, are called to tell that man that, yes, in truth he is a sinner. We alone are equipped and empowered to tell him about God, “who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live.” We alone are entrusted with the Gospel of grace that tells of the Savior who came into this world to bear our sins in His own flesh, “that whosover believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” (Jn. 3:16). That Gospel is the scarlet thread that runs the length of the Bible from the Fall of Adam and Eve to the Return of Jesus Christ; that thread of salvation and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. And to preach that word is our calling alone. In fact, as far as the relationship and service of the Church to the world is concerned, the major emphasis and responsibility of the Church is to “preach the word.” We fail the world when we allow ourselves to be sidetracked by lesser issues. “Preach the word.” But our text does not say merely “preach the word.” It says, “be instant.” That means to dedicate ourselves to the task. Preaching the word is to be the major part of the Church’s life calling. St. Paul, the human author of our text, was writing to a young minister named Timothy in this passage. Paul was writing from prison in Rome, where he would soon be executed for the “crime” of being a Christian, and he was telling this young preacher, who was a little timid about preaching, that he was to “preach the word” with the same zeal Paul had shown. He was to devote himself to it. It was his full-time calling. It was his vocation in life. It was his ministry, and his service to Christ, to the Church, and to the lost and dying people in this world. That message is no less true for clergy today. We are called to preach the word. I know there are many good causes out there that we could be a part of, but we must always remember that our calling is to “preach the word,” not serve tables, (Acts 6:2). We are to serve the spiritual needs of people, more than their physical needs. And this is as true of the Church as a whole as it is of the clergy. Our primary mission to the world, as the people of God, is to preach the word. To this sacred calling goes our best talent, time and resources. The word is the only hope for people, you know. Hearing and obeying the word of God is the only hope of finding the way to Heaven. Nor is the word just a “Heavenly hope.” It is the only hope for life in this world, too. I call to witness the continuing disintegration of Western Culture as we turn further and further from the Bible. I do not say we have ever been perfect. Far from it, we have fallen tragically short in every way and in every age. Our eras of highest devotion and holiness have been marred by tragic sin and evil. We have always missed the mark of the perfect will of God, even committing atrocities in His Name. But, the closer our culture followed the clear teaching of the Bible, the better life became for everyone. The further we retreated from it, the more hopeless and miserable life became. Why? Because God’s word is the way of life and peace. I have often seen bumper stickers saying, “If you want peace, work for justice.” To that I would add, “If you want justice, preach the word,” for it is in the word that we learn true justice, and it is through people, transformed and renewed by the word of God, that justice and peace will be done. By the way, Jonathan Edwards was a leading figure in the “Great Awakening” that turned the hearts of vast numbers of Americans back to God in the 1700s. Those people then went back to their lives with transformed hearts, and put righteousness into their every day dealings. Drunkards became sober, productive citizens. Adulterers became faithful wives and husbands and mothers and fathers. Youths and teens became students of the Bible. Cheaters became honest men. Bullies became protectors of the poor and weak. Workers honored their employers, and employers paid an honest wage for an honest day’s work. And life in America was transformed, one life at a time. That is the way to work for peace and justice in this life. So, the very best thing we can do for people is to “preach the word.” That word alone can transform lives and change the world. That word alone can turn lost and rebellious people into godly, reverent, and trustworthy people. That word alone supplies people’s single most important need, eternal life. God grant us the faith and courage to, “preach the word.” Amen. The Rev. Dr. R. Dennis Campbell, Vicar, Holy Trinity Anglican Church,
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