Finding Faith ... in answering our call to discipleship

EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2017 I began a new venture as a synodically authorized minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. The ride over the past 3 years has been an amazing journey of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on Jan. 12, 2021. This was the 35th digital service we performed after our church was shuttered because of the COVID pandemic.

This week's preaching text: John 1:43-51

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I

saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Message:

On Friday, Jan. 8, our presiding bishop, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton of the ELCA, and the leaders of two dozen other American Christian denominations which belong to the National Council of Churches signed on to a letter that read in part: "Our faith instructs us to take seriously the positions of leadership, not to lead others astray and to be careful about what we say and do. In Philippians 2:3-4 we are taught to, 'Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.'"

The letter continued: "President Donald J. Trump's actions and words have endangered the security of the country and its institutions of government by inciting a violent, deadly, seditious mob attack at the U.S. Capitol. His words and actions have placed the lives of the people he is supposed to serve in great danger to advance his own interests. Further, he not only failed to stop or condemn the attack after the Capitol had been stormed but instead encouraged the mob by calling the patriots. This domestic terrorist attack resulted in at least five deaths, including a Capitol Police Officer, and more than a dozen police officers injured. The desecration of the Capitol building was also disgraceful and reprehensible."

That letter singed by those 25 or so leaders of American Christian denominations was addressed to Vice President Pence, to the members of Congress, and the President's Cabinet, and actually culminated with asking the whole set of American government to impeach President Trump.

Faith Family ... it's been a long and dark week for our nation, and I can think of no other time prior to tonight that I've struggled more to find the words to stand up here and preach. But for the sake of the gospel, let's not mince words: What took place in our nation's capital on Wednesday, Jan. 6, was pure evil. ... There is no amount of sugar coating ... nor twisted or convoluted logic that can describe it differently.

Evil led that armed mob of domestic terrorists into our Capitol with the aim of finding Vice President Pence, of subduing him, and dragging him to a gallows that had been erected on our Capitol Mall.

Evil led a president so bent on holding to power that he willingly stoked the fires of an angry mob to the point that they were willing to commit an insurrection.

And no matter where you lie on the political spectrum, there is no way to believe that the gospel was present in those actions. ... The gospel does not influence people to bring weapons to the nation's capital with the intent of taking it over. ... The gospel does not encourage people to build a hangman's noose to intimidate those of a different political persuasion. ... And the gospel does not tell people to hunt down their duly elected leaders because one man cannot give up his unjust power.

No, that is not the gospel. ... The gospel was not present in those actions of those terrorists at that Capitol last Wednesday, and those who in defense of those actions use the gospel, have co-opted the gospel to suit their human ambitions.

So under the continued shroud of violence and fear that is present in our nation -- as we continue toward an inauguration of a new president -- it has to be asked: Where do we go from here? ... And I truly believe that as the gospel has spoken. ... The answer is in our gospel reading tonight. ... In John's gospel text, Jesus's ministry begins with the call of disciples who then bring other disciples to Jesus.

Right there in the very first line of our gospel tonight, we are told that after Jesus decides to go to Galilee, he finds Philip, and he says to him, "Follow me." ... We know from our text, of course, that Philip does indeed follow Jesus, and after becoming a believer himself he goes to find his friend Nathanael and witnesses to him.

"Hey, Nathanael, my friend ... of course something good can come from Nazareth!" Philip might say with a sly smile. ... "In fact, this is the guy that Moses was talking about, that our prophets wrote about! You have to come and see!"

And it is Philip's witness to Nathanael that ultimately delivers Nathanael to Jesus's feet, and he answers his own call to discipleship. ... Because, Faith Family, what our gospel is telling us tonight is that it's not only the work of Jesus to witness to others and to find new disciples. ... This gospel gives us the example of Philip's witness, and reminds us that discipleship is our work too!

And so during these perilous times, during these dark times, in which we are living, this text reminds us that Jesus is still asking each and every one of us not only to answer his call for discipleship, but the text reminds us that Jesus is also asking us to witness to others as well! ... Just as Philip witnessed to Nathanael.

Faith Family ... we are at a very challenging crossroads right now as a nation. ... We can follow the lead of those who let evil lead them to insurrection, a failed takeover of our country. ... Or we can answer Jesus's call to discipleship in which our witness to Christ will inspire others to do the same.

And maybe, just maybe, we as followers of Christ can help bind this nation. ... We as followers of Christ can help guide this nation back to a path of love for thy neighbor, back to a path of national healing, back to a path toward justice and reconciliation, back to a path to God's love and eternal kingdom.

Because, after all, as we read on our first page of the bulletin tonight: "In wake of God's forgiveness we are called to be the beloved community living out Christ's justice in the Spirit's reconciling peace."

Tonight, Faith Family, are you hearing Christ's call to discipleship? ... And are you ready to witness to others to call them into their own discipleship?

And that is the Good News for this Tuesday, Jan. 12, and Sunday, Jan. 17, the second Sunday after epiphany. ... Amen.