Listen to the sermon with the player below, or, download the audio.
A few years ago, The Pew Research Center reported that the number of Americans who say they’re spiritual but not religious is increasing, while the number of those who say they are both religious and spiritual is declining. The report also indicated that this is the case regardless of gender, ethnicity or political party (although the percentages are slightly higher among women, whites, and significantly higher among Democrats. And, it is no surprise to me that of those in the “spiritual but not religious” crowd admit they seldom or never attend religious services and that religion is “not too” important or “not at all” important in their lives.
In a separate survey of 35,000 Pew Forum also reported 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with orthodox doctrine based on Holy Scripture. 70 percent of religiously affiliated Americans shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion.
It's pretty obvious that both churched and unchurched people are mistaken. We would expect them to readily repeat the words of Vinnie Barbarino of the late 1970’s iconic sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter”: “I’m so confused.” Indeed, there is much confusion as to what is meant when one speaks of being “spiritual.” The confusion is much the same as that which we heard about in the OT reading … in our postmodern post Christian culture – even plain words have different meanings.
Today is the Feast of Pentecost when we celebrate the office and work of the Holy Spirit. We believe and confess that the third person of the Holy Trinity is the source of genuine spirituality. Some may consider this day in the church year to be one of beginnings. Pentecost is, after all, sometimes referred to as the “birthday of the church.” And the Sundays in the non-festival portion of the church year (which begins next Sunday), are called “Sundays after Pentecost” in the three year series. In any case, I and other liturgiologists, suggest that today is really the last Sunday of the Easter Season and is the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus clarifies for us concerning the office and work of the Holy Spirit and so we consider the theme: The Holy Spirit Is Our Teacher and Guide.
In the very first Article of the Augsburg Confession it is clear that the Confessors did not regard the Holy Spirit as “motion created in things” (AC I 6). The Holy Spirit is NOT a mere power or some impersonal being. Rather, the Holy Spirit is the one called alongside to help, we use the words Advocate, Defender, Comforter, and Counselor (paraklētos) to describe the Holy Spirit. In the text Jesus gives the simply explanation that the Spirit’s task is to bring to our remembrance all Jesus has spoken.
In the Gospel appointed for today, Jesus answers Judas’s (not Iscariot) question, which precedes the verses of our text. This disciple is mentioned only here in St. John’s Gospel. He is also mentioned in St. Luke and Acts where we learn that he was the son, or possible brother of James. He may have also gone by the name Thaddeus. Judas asked Jesus why he revealed himself to the disciples but not to the world. And Jesus answers by explaining that he reveals reveals himself to those who keep his words and love him. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” With these words, Jesus teaches us love is not an abstract emotion. It is practical. It involves obedience.
We could say “Whoever does not love Jesus does not keep Jesus’ word AND whoever does not keep Jesus’ word does not love Jesus.” In Pastor Galler’s May 7 column in the Kilgore News Herald he wrote about those who come to church only on Christmas and Easter calling them “Chreasters.” I wouldn’t be surprised if there were not more than a few, calling themselves Christians, who were offended. It has been my experience that there are those who openly disobey the Word of God and yet still consider themselves Christians. Irregular worship not caused by illness or other preventions, is disobedient. It is sinful. Those who choose to believe otherwise and excuse their behavior do not love Jesus or keep Jesus’ word.
And while it’s easy to point fingers at the unwashed masses. What about us? My catechist taught that one can go to church every Sunday and still not keep the 3RD Commandment. He taught keeping the commandment included not just by going to Church but also listening and believing and obediently doing. Has your mind never wandered in church? Who among us goes and listens and believes and obeys perfectly? Or who lives up to The Rev Dr. Martin Luther’s explanation of the 3rd Commandment: “We should fear and love God, that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it”?
To keep his words means that Jesus’ words are of first importance, they are to be treasured, read, marked, learned and inwardly digested. Certainly they are NOT to be changed. Once we do so we lessen Jesus’ words, we weaken doctrine, and so we demonstrate that we do not love him.
And this sin of not loving Jesus and not doing Jesus’ word flows out of original sin … the sin we inherited from Adam and Eve. Because of our sinful nature and any actual sin of which we are guilty we deserve physical death and eternal punishment in hell. Because God does not want us to perish spiritually and eternally, he calls us to repent. And when we do repent it is by God enabling us to do so. The Augsburg Confession teaches:
“True repentance is nothing else that to have contrition and sorrow, or terror, on account of sin, and yet at the same time to believe the Gospel and absolution (namely, that sin has been forgiven and grace has been obtained through Christ), and this faith will comfort the heart and again set it at rest. Amendment of life and the forsaking of sin should then follow.” (AC XII.3-6)
When we repent then God forgives us of our sinful nature and all our actual sins. He forgives us for the Jesus Christ. How? By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, St. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God”. Sin was destroyed at Calvary even as Christ carried all of it for all of mankind in His own body. At the cross Jesus is your substitute … the innocent for the guilty. He suffered and died in your place to pay the penalty for your sins. He rose again from the dead – victorious over sin, Satan and death. And now forgiveness, life and salvation is available through faith in Christ Jesus.
As stated earlier Jesus explains that the Spirit’s task is to bring to our remembrance all Jesus has spoken. Where does this happen? In his sermons on John in 1537 (AE 24:167-77), The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther connects verse 26 to the Church’s confession in the Creed. We confess “I believe in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Christian Church,” because the Church is the place where the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance all that Jesus has spoken. In the Church, we hear in our own native language, as in the second reading “the mighty works of God.”
Jesus’ Word is read, spoken, expounded and prayed in the Divine Service. His Word connected to the water of Holy Baptism creates faith and brings us into the kingdom of God. His Word of Absolution comforts us and releases us from despair. His Word together with bread and wine nourishes us with the true body and true blood of Christ given and shed for us.
The Holy Spirit Is Our Teacher and Guide. In today’s Psalm the divinely inspired David asks that he be taught God’s will and be led by the Spirit.
In a culture overwhelmed by confusion. Yet as we prayed in the Collect, the Holy Spirit grants us in our day a right understanding in all things that we may rejoice in His holy consolation. In our confused world the Holy Spirit brings certainty as our teacher and guide. Indeed, through the Word and Sacraments the Holy Spirit dwells in us, sanctifies us, and makes us a truly spiritual people.
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.