The Great Ends of the Church: Faithful Calling
Romans 3:19–28
Now we know that, whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For no human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets, the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to demonstrate at the present time his own righteousness, so that he is righteous and he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus. Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works? No, rather through the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
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Introduction
On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a professor of moral theology, published his Ninety-five Theses, which signaled the start of the Reformation. What was the first of Martin Luther's statements to the church? Luther wrote, "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent' (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance." During a period where indulgences were bought and sold as commodities, Luther rose to say, "No, our faith is about giving our entire lives to God."
It's appropriate that we spend today, the last Sunday of our series on the Great Ends of the Church, reflecting on what it means to give our whole selves to God. We consistently form and reform our lives so that we might tune our hearts closer and closer to the heart of God. The Great Ends of the Church, much like Luther's Ninety-five Theses, are meant to spur us onward in our faith, to deepen our connection to God, and to see how our faith is a living and breathing part of our lives. Because while works are not the key to salvation, they are a necessary part of our faith as the visible signs or fruits that God's word has taken hold.
Time for Campaignin’
You know we're coming to November, which is my favorite time of year because it's election season! I'm only kidding, I don't have much of a stomach for partisan politics, but I do love the exercise of being able to practice my right to vote. All joking aside, I was driving through town and saw this campaign sign (someone paid for it) that read, "Re-Elect No One, Think About It." To my surprise, I found myself thinking about it, only to embrace my gut reaction of disagreeing with the statement's premise.
It assumes the worst of people, that people can't change, and embraces a smug sense of moral superiority. Of course, that's not to say that every elected official is perfect, but who are we to judge and pick apart every little thing about a person when we all fall short of the glory of God? We ask others to give us a chance to do better, yet we are quick to condemn others who ask for grace. What room is there for reformation if we close our hearts to the spirit of God that is constantly shaping and molding our hearts?
A(n) Old/New Slogan: Semper Reformanda
Just as politicians have catchy slogans, the early reformers had their own chant, "Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda." ("The Church reformed, always reforming). The reformers understood the fluidity of faith and how a system of "that is how we have always done it" could lead to stagnation and a breaking down of the Church's original vision to be the hands and feet of God. The practice of forming and reforming our souls (sharpening and honing them) would keep our hearts in line with the will of God.
There's power in the motto ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda. And the power comes from the fact that our faith journey will never be perfect. We can only hope to enrich our spiritual lives through constant prayer, study, and reading the Word of God so that when we interact with the world, they will see the result of our devotion. They will see the marks on our hands and the dirt on our clothes from where we tripped along the way. We are reformed and always reforming. So what if we truly embraced that sentiment by visioning our faith together as starting with a group of humble sinners instead of the righteous indignant people?
A Faithful Calling
As Paul writes this epistle to the Romans, he touches on the importance of balancing the gift of salvation with the responsive work God calls us to manifest. It is at the intersection between the sacred and the secular where we find the foretaste of what our lives with God and one another could look like if we embrace a spirit of humility and grace. Reminding believers of the grace they have received, Paul offers a prophetic vision and invitation to participate in God's redemptive and life-giving work. And what possible forms might this work take?
the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind;
the shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God;
the maintenance of divine worship;
the preservation of truth;
the promotion of social righteousness;
and the exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.
(Book of Order, F-1.0304)
All these things are a part of the collective calling placed on our lives and the community of faith we call the church. Moreover, there is no end date or check mark because each of these is accomplished daily until we draw our final breath. The Protestant Reformation did not end with Martin Luther publishing his Ninety-five Theses; it was only the beginning. Similarly, our faith does not end once we have accepted God's life-giving word, but instead, it only just begins as we discover the vast and rich layers that make up the faith we have received. Each day we wake up is another opportunity to participate in the ongoing reformation and transformation of ourselves and creation.
Conclusion
As we end this series on The Great Ends of the Church, I wonder how we will allow them to transform our lives. Alternatively, I wonder if we will allow them to transform our lives. I have said before that The Great Ends are not perfect, they are not a silver bullet, but they are a challenge placed on us as disciples of Christ to seriously consider how we will allow our faith to make an impact in every aspect of our living.
On this Reformation Sunday, let us reaffirm our commitment to the proclamation of the gospel, the fellowship of God's children, worship as a community, truth, social righteousness, and living out our faith in the world. Borrowing a question we ask ruling elders and ministers, do we "promise to serve with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?" In our service to God and one another, let us continue to reaffirm our commitment to the holy task at hand, believing that each step and each hand we extend will testify to the ongoing movement of God's Spirit in our lives and in this place.