DAY OF HUMILIATION-2
Text: 1 Peter 4:4
Source from Back to Luther with German archive reference. Back to Walther's Epistle Sermons.
Oh Thou holy and righteous God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we have once again assembled for the last time in the church year now drawing to its close. Today we glance back and behold! we see on Thy side nothing but goodness, mercy, patience, and longsuffering, on our side nothing but sin, guilt, unfaithfulness, and unthankfulness. We must, therefore, close this year with repentance, heart-felt repentance, if we do not want to end it in Thy terrible, unbearable anger. Alas, Lord, Thou holy God, we can indeed sin by our own power but we cannot repent by our own power. We, therefore, beseech Thee, Lord Jesus, who art exalted by Thy Father to a Prince and Savior to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel, grant repentance to us! Reveal our sins to us and thus awaken in us a divine sorrow which works a sorrow unto salvation not to be repented of, so that we seek and find grace with Thee. Oh grant that none of us simply mock Thee through unrepentant celebration of today's Day of Humiliation, so that Thou mayest exalt him in due season. Hear us, Lord God, Father, Son, and Spirit for the sake of Thy mercy. Amen.
The text. 1 Peter 4:4.
My dear fellow sinners but fellow redeemed hearers.
The American nation has been called upon by its government to celebrate a day of thanksgiving. In the past this was different. Then the government called upon our nation to observe not only a day of thanksgiving, but at the same time a day of penitence, prayer, and fasting, a day of humiliation before the great God because of its great sins. No longer does the government dare to summon our people to do that. It knows that most of its citizens would merely deride the suggestion.
The very call to observe only a day of thanksgiving, therefore, clearly shows spiritual condition of our nation. True, it wants to hear about a day of thanksgiving, but why? Perhaps, so that it might thank the Lord for his undeserved, inexpressible blessings? Alas no! but because by a celebration of
thanksgiving people for the most part now understand a day set aside for the lust of the flesh. Therefore, on no other day is God more shamefully forgotten than on this very day, this so-called Thanksgiving Day.
What does God say about such a thanksgiving celebration? He says thus: "They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise?" Dt 32:5.6. However, "I will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it." Mal 2:3.
My friends, it is true indeed: The world has always been wicked. But it cannot be denied: So great and so universal has the wickedness of the world never been as in these last, perplexing days of ours. True, there have always been those who denied the mysteries of faith of the Christian religion, but now the world is full of those who deny all religion, who cry out loudly and insolently scream to heaven: "There is no God." True, in the past many have denied that only believers will be saved, and the unbelievers will be forever damned, but now a future life and the immortality of the human souls is completely denied. True, in the past the Biblical teaching that God created man in his image was denied, but now they teach that man is no better than other animals which have evolved and descended from the ape. True, in the past the world with an evil conscience lived in adultery and formication, but now they aim to abolish marriage completely and introduce so-called free love. True, the world was always full of theft and robbery, but nowadays about the only thing considered punishable is minor theft, on the other hand, the stealer of millions is seldom condemned, often pardoned, yes, even rewarded with greater and more profitable posts of honor. True, the ground always reeked with innocent blood shed by the hands of murderers, but nowadays thousands of mothers murder even the unborn children in the womb. True, the world in shameful greed has always oppressed the poor, has discontinued paying them so that it might become wealthier, and has grown fat on their sweat, however, the bloodsucking through usury has reached such fearful heights, that in despair over their situation the poor workers in all the countries of the world are now beginning godless revolution, but one which the rich well deserve.
The Prophet Ezekiel says that Jerusalem with its abominations, as it were, made angels out of Sodom and Samaria; this applies in full measure to the present world. It is as though the rampant corruption of the world in all its stations is now so great, that the world itself cries for reform in head and members. It seems as though the world could no longer bear the wickedness which is carried out on it; therefore, it quakes, opens wide, and devours entire regions with all their inhabitants; it is as though the elements had armed themselves against this wicked generation of our time; that is why fire mocking all defensive measures, consumes entire populous cities with their marble palaces and lays them into ashes, and storm and wave scuttle one ship after the other they carry. Clearly, our times are the dregs of the end of the world. Even now the Judge of the world stands at the gate.
It is no more than fair that today on our day of humiliation we ask ourselves: In this day of universal corruption, where do we stand? Do we also have a part in this universal corruption, or have we kept ourselves unspotted? Are we also infected by this universal soul-sickness, or do we walk, as Paul demands of Christians, as "the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world"? Phil 2:15.
Then permit me to present to you today the walk of the first Christians
as a mirror, and we will soon perceive that we truly have reason for appearing before the Lord in true repentance.
Upon the basis of our text I now present to you:
THE SURPRISE OF THE WORLD AT THE WALK OF THE FIRST CHRISTIANS, A REBUKING MODEL OF PENITENCE FOR OUR CONGREGATION
Let us
1. Ponder What Surprised The World So Greatly At The Walk Of The First Christians, and then we want to
2. Let Ourselves Be Convinced That This Is A Model Of Penitence Which Rebukes Our Congregation.
I.
" Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you," is the glorious testimony in our text which the Apostle Peter gives the first Christians. He testifies: In the days of the first Christians, the moment a person became a Christian he immediately separated himself from the unbelieving world so completely and led such an entirely different life, that the world thought it most " strange," that is, that they wondered about it, were astonished, and just could not explain to themselves the change which had taken place.
What the apostle means to say that Christians no longer wanted to " run not to the same excess of riot " with the worldling is not hard to explain.
The running " to the excess of riot " of the world in the times of the first Christians consisted chiefly of three things; first, in a life in vanity and lust of the flesh; secondly, in lovelessness, hatred, and enmity toward each other; and thirdly, in contempt of God and his Word. It was in these three things in which the first Christians were the very opposite.
In the matter of the life of the worldling in all vanity and lust of the flesh; the first Christians guarded themselves so scrupulously against it so as not to take part in It even in the least. Of course, they did not avoid civil and neighborly relations with the world; but, for example, if they were invited to the public, sensual feasts of their idols, they did not accept the invitation. True, they did not, as did the Pharisees, go about hypocritically in special garb; yet they did not, as Peter writes, adorn themselves in braids, gold jewelry, and fashionable clothes, but modestly adorned themselves in chaste clothing. Wherever the world held its drunken frolics, celebrated its feasts, delighted itself in its bloody contests and frivolous plays in the theaters, there no Christians appeared. Everyone before he was baptized had to deny the devil and all his pomp, which simply meant the spectacular pleasures of the children of the world. It could truly be said of the first Christians, that in physical matters like sleeping and waking, they were no different than others, except that they despised the folly of the lust of the world. If any of the first Christians again loved the world, as did Demas, he was considered an apostate. Because the first Christians were strictly different from the vain world, it looked on them as gloomy, somber haters of men; hence, the persecutors of the Christians also excused their murder of Christians by saying that they had killed only the enemies of the human race. However, the real reason was, as Peter says in the words of our text: " Wherein they think it strange that ye run
not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you."
However, the first Christians were not like the world only in its vanity and lust of the flesh but also in its lovelessness, in its hatred, and in its enmity toward one another; the first Christians were different from the selfish, self-seeking world living in constant bickering by their clear, shining love amongst themselves and toward everyone, even over against their enemies. Since the first Christian congregations consisted for the most, part of poor people, this merely induced the first Christians to reveal what ardent brotherly love filled their hearts; for we read in Acts 4: "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. For as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." Acts 4: 32.35. The rich did not give his gifts to the poor so as to be honor and praised no, the rich person called the poor, the important person the common his brother and associated with him as his brother; before the meal of reconciliation was partaken, men gave their brothers, and the women their sisters the kiss of love. In the conversation recorded by the old teacher Minucius Felix, a heathen says of the first Christians: "They had to recognize each other as though by secret signs, and they loved one another almost before they knew each other;" however, their secret sign of identification simply was their manifest brotherly love. Tertullian, also a teacher, writes that even when the heathen observed Christians meeting they had to exclaim in amazement: "Behold, how they love one another!"
These and other virtues shown forth so clearly in the first Christians that all who in their writings defended Christianity in the first Christian era could appeal to the holy life of the first Christians as proof of its divinity. The love of Christians amongst themselves was so great that they even gave their life for the brethren; therefore, many rather died than betray their brethren to the persecutors; and when a contagious, deadly epidemic broke out, Christians even offered to become the nurses of the heathen. You see, that this love of the first Christians was the second reason why Peter could cry to the first Christians in our text: " Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with
them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you."
But the greatest difference between the first Christians and the world was that they did not, as it did, despise but displayed the greatest zeal for God and his Word. In Acts 2 we read that the first Christians not only "continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers," (v.42) but also: "They continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart." V.46.
How invincibly earnest the Christians of the first era were about confessing the truth we see from the fact that in the first three centuries hundreds of thousands of Christians would rather let all their goods be stolen, yes would rather suffer joyfully the most painful death than deny God's Word and truth by merely a word, or a facial expression, or attitude. They reared their children to have the same intention; once when a woman with her child by the hand went toward the place where believers were gathered, even though the martyr's death awaited her there, and she was asked, why she did not at least want to spare her child, she replied: "Shall I deprive my child of the martyr's crown?" and went away. In this connection, the first Christians practised an earnest, strict church discipline. If someone was called a brother and if he had surrendered to the vanity of the world, or a sin, or an error against God’s Word, he was reprimanded; if he did not want to improve, he was put out of the congregation as a heathen and a publican. True, serious falls into sin occurred in the first
congregations. So, for example, an incestuous person was found in the Corinthian congregation whom the congregation tolerated for a while; however, when the apostle had reprimanded them in his First Epistle, he could in his second bear testimony: "Behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you. In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter." 2 Cor 7:11. This zeal of the first Christians and the first Christian congregations for God and his Word, against sin and error, was the third reason why the apostle could say in our text: " Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you."
In the first Christians one actually saw what Christ says of his followers. Christ says: "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hateth you." Jn 15:19. Again Christ says: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Jn 13: 35. And again Christ said: "Ye are the salt of the earth," which preserves humanity from complete spiritual corruption, and again: "Ye are the light of the world." The Apostle Peter cries to the first Christians shortly before our text: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 2 Pet 2:9. All this one saw reflected, as we said, in the first Christians as though in a mirror. By their withdrawn life they showed that even though they were still in the world, they actually were not of the world; by their love they showed that they were true disciples of Jesus Christ; by their confession of the truth and by their holy and unblamable life they actually were the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and in the midst of a sinful, unholy generation they actually stood there as the chosen generation, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, the peculiar people who by words and deeds, by doctrine and life, proclaimed the praises of him who had called them from darkness into his marvelous light.
II.
You see, it was this and nothing else about the first Christians which according to our text astonished the world so greatly; oh, would that we in the second place would be convinced that this is also a model of penitence rebuking our congregation.
In the first place the world was astonished at the first Christians because they did not take part in the world's works of vanity and the lust of the flesh, did not act like it, but kept themselves separate. Can we say this of also our congregation? Alas, not! There, of course, was a time when the world was surprised that all the members of the Saxon congregation, as we were called, withdrew so sternly and outside of the civil relationship cultivated absolutely no worldly association; on the other hand, the world is now surprised and it sees the members of the Saxon congregation in its theaters, in its places of amusement, in its taverns and casinos, yes, finds them in its ballrooms or even dancing. Now the world is even surprised when it sees that the members of our congregation join in the foolish fashions of the world, either burden themselves with mountains of false hair or let their hair fly like savages and drape themselves with infantile tinsel, yes, like Jezebel paint their face. Indeed, these are your smallest sins, but signs which point only too clearly to your heart which has become worldly and inclined to vanity. We pastors of this congregation must in this connection turn Peter's word around and say to you: This surprises the children of the world, that you run with them to the same excess of riot.
Secondly, the world was astonished at the first Christians because they did not live as did the world in lovelessness, hatred, and enmity, but were united by the bond of the most ardent love toward one another. Can we say this today of also our congregation? Alas, no! The old brotherly love between many of us has almost disappeared. For what happens in our congregation? Instead of covering our brother's sins, they are revealed and he is betrayed; instead of admonishing and reprimanding him in his presence in a brotherly way, he is slandered behind his back; instead of trying to rescue his good name, he is defamed; instead of defending him, care is taken to make his guilt as great as possible; instead of speaking well of him one finds pleasure in speaking evil of him; instead of putting the best construction on everything, the worst construction is made; instead of being concerned about the fall of one's brother, one rejoices in having proof of his suspicions; instead of reproving him out of love to his soul so that he will improve, be healed, and rescued, he is reproved in order to take vengeance on him. Brotherly love between many of us had died out so completely that they go to court in order to have the world act as judge between brother and brother. In amazement the world sees that amongst us, just as amongst it, defaming, slander, quarrels, strife, hatred, enmity to the fiercest degree are in full swing. In this connection, also, we pastors of this congregation must now turn Peter's words around and shout to you: This now surprises the world that you run with it in the same excess of riot.
There was one more thing by which the first Christians so greatly surprised the world, namely that such an ardent zeal for God and and his Word was manifest. Can we say this of also our congregation? Alas, no! Far be it that all our congregation members should be like the first Christians, ready to gather daily, wanting to miss no instruction from God's Word; rather, complaints about the many meetings and staying away from them and even staying away from divine services, especially the afternoon and weekday services is constantly increasing, so that one must fear that many of us think, as once the Israelites did, the more richly the Gospel is preached to them: "Our soul loatheth this light bread." Far be it that all our congregation members are ready rather to give up their life than let go of even one Word; it is only to clear: Many are greatly opposed to the old Lutheran strictness in doctrine and church discipline. They are offended when false doctrine is condemned, false churches rejected, when one speaks zealously against greed, usury, and the vanity of the world. People are offended at the spirit which speaks out in our periodicals and try to cast suspicion upon them. They no longer perceive the great visitation of grace in which God has caused us to share through the knowledge of the pure doctrine and through which we have become a blessing to this entire country; instead they are working to refashion our congregation so that the zealous, pious Christians and resolute Lutherans are not in control but those who conform to the world in life and are indifferent in doctrine. And so the education of our children has become more and more lax; the fearful results are that our youth having grown up without stern disciple frequently thinks: "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." Ps 2:3.
In this connection as well we pastors of this congregation must turn Peter's words around and cry to you: This surprises the children of the world that you run with them to the same excess of riot.
At one time the defenders of the Christian religion could point to the holy walk of the first Christians in doctrine and life as proof of its piety and holiness; among us the very opposite is frequently found; we must rather say to the unbelieving world: Do not be offended that we do not practise what we teach; what we confess is nevertheless the truth which stands forever.
Our light is on the point of going out, our salt is beginning to lose its savor. The barrier which once existed between us and the world is beginning to crumble and another, a terrible barrier, the barrier between us and our God, is again being raised.
Oh, do not receive this sharp word with bitterness; it does not flow from a bitter heart but one concerned about our degeneracy; God knows that I would rather die today than see our congregation lie in frightful ruins; and not I, a miserable sinner, but God the Lord himself is the one who is calling you and me to repentance. God calls us, let us listen to him; God greets us, let us thank him; God is knocking, let us open to him. It still is the day of salvation, still the accepted time; today while we hear God's voice, let us not harden our hearts. If we have fallen God will raise us up. If we have gone the wrong way, God will lead us back again. If we have sinned, God will forgive us our sins. For a day of true penitence is merely a day of true grace.
Well, God alone can help us; therefore, let us fall upon our knees and join all Christendom in crying to him out of the depths for his mercy while we sing: Kyrie eleison! Christe eleison! Kyrie eleison! Amen.