BFLC Sermons

“Commandments or Culture”

Sermon by Pastor Ken Hohag, Black Forest Lutheran Church, August 30, 2009
Following ELCA Churchwide vote on Resolutions to their Social Statement: Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust

This week a member of our congregation came to me and said, “Pastor, this is my last day at BFLC.  I can’t be a part of a church that disregards the authority of scripture.”  This was not some radical, close-minded person.  She’s an active, caring, committed and giving Christian. She has bent as far as she can, now she can bend no more.  This woman is not alone.

Last week the National Church Body, ELCA voted (close – 400-500) to ordain practicing gay/lesbian pastors.  This move threatens to split the ELCA and congregations.  This is not the first time there has been a major issue in the church, it won’t be the last.  Some have asked, “How can the church even consider such a move?  Others say, “Why can’t you understand?”  How did we get here?  How to understand the issue?   Where do we go from here?

How did we get here?
This issue is Commandment or Culture:  On the other hand the Bible shapes Christians in our culture.  Culture can shape how we understand the Bible.  Both are true – issue centers here.

In high school I was on the hockey team. There was a certain culture among the players that it was ok to take equipment form the school and keep it; shin pads, hockey sticks. So I took something home-elbow pads-intending to keep them. But when I remembered the commandment, ‘Do not steal’, I felt badly and brought them back the next day. You see, commandment shapes culture.

We see this in our text this morning. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples wash their hands before they eat?”  As you heard in the text the command is “Honor your father and your mother”. But the tradition of supporting your elderly parents, that is a good thing, but if you would like to make a contribution to the temple, you can deduct that from your taxes so to speak. Then you don’t have to support your elderly parents and you probably get more points. One can say to their parents, “What I would’ve given you; how I would’ve supported you, well, I’ve given that support to God.  I have no more money to care for you.”  Jesus says to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the command of God about your father and mother for the sake of your tradition.”  Scripture shapes what we do, it shapes culture.  

Now, the Bible is not to be used as some kind of club to bang people over the head. The Bible is not to be used in the same way in every situation.  Jesus shows us himself. The disciples are taking a walk through a field and they are plucking grain - they are having a little snack between meals. The same Pharisees say to Jesus, “Why are your disciples breaking the 3rd Commandment, Honor the Sabbath Day?”  Jesus tries to explain to them the scripture is not used in some kind of automatic or wooden way; you don’t simply slap it on situations or slap people around with it.  But it does instruct us as to what is important. Human beings are important and we are called to care for one another.  In so many words he says, “My disciples are hungry, so they are simply taking some grain. They are not disregarding the Sabbath.” Then he says, “The Sabbath is made for people, people aren’t to be crammed into the Sabbath.”  Scripture informs or shapes the way we live, it shapes our culture – at least for Christians.

On a lighter note, you probably heard about the congregational member who came to the pastor and said, “Pastor, I really got a problem that we use wine with alcohol for communion.”  The Pastor said, “I do have to point out that Jesus turned about 180 gallons of water into wine.”  The parishioner said, “Ya, that’s one of the things I don’t like about Jesus.”

But, whether we like it or not, Jesus speaks, he calls us. Scripture shapes culture.  But does culture ever shape the way we understand scripture?  The answer is yes.  A couple examples:

Slavery is assumed throughout the Bible. If you look at who held slaves, it’s like a virtual who’s who; Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, King David, Solomon and it goes on.  Paul takes it for granted in the New Testament, he says, “Slaves obey your masters.”   You can find lots of places in the Bible to support slavery. 

In the 1800s in this country, people began to question, “Is this really right?  Is this really what God intends?”  And the church began to ask what else might the Bible say.  Look at the book of Exodus and you see that God did not want his people to be slaves, but saved them from Egypt.  In Deuteronomy it says slaves have a specific period of time to serve, and after those six years they are to be set free. Even Paul in the New Testament urges a fellow named Philemon to set free his slave Onesimus. Culture can begin to shape how we understand the Bible. Slavery was an example.

Another one – women in the church.  In biblical times women had a different place than today.  Women could not own property, they could not own a business, they could not be a witness in a court of law. They themselves could be divorced, but they could not divorce their husband.  Women were considered property of the man.  They had no voice, no vote, no rights.  In the late 1800s that began to change and our culture began to change.  Because of that the church began to search the scriptures.  They began to see yes, Apostle Paul says, “Wives obey your husbands, husbands love your wives” and that “women should be silent in the church”.

But what else does the Bible say?  A careful look revealed that there were women who were leaders in the community both in the Old and New Testaments.  There is Deborah, the judge. And, one that I didn’t even know until a few years ago, there was a prophetess named Huldah (she’s Norwegian).  I don’t know how Norwegian got in the Old Testament.  But she is mentioned during the reformation of Josiah, the king.  Priscilla, a leader of the church named several times in the New Testament, well respected by none other than apostle Paul.  One sees a move in scripture, one sees some hints, one sees an opening.  Therefore, in the 1970s, the church began to ordain women.   There was biblical support. Culture sometimes shapes how we understand scripture. Culture can shape commandments.

We face the issue of homosexuality.  It’s not surprising because in the recent decades our cultural pendulum has shifted.  It used to be that people were ridiculed, rejected – not good.  Then that pendulum came more towards tolerance, then to respect; sometimes, even celebration.  And the church has needed to weigh in on this issue also.  I remind you on this issue it is not a good guys versus bad guys; not white hats versus black hats.  There are good, helpful people on both sides.  I hate to think of sides, I like to think of this as a continuum. 

Those who support the recent ELCA vote might say, “The Spirit is doing a new thing.  Just as attitudes toward slavery and women have changed, so we also need to change our view here.  Our culture can shape the understanding of the Bible”.  I appreciate that argument, and for 27 years, I have been trying to see the move.  Yet, in this case, I don’t see that biblical support.  In the case of women and slavery, one can point here and here and here.  It’s not a great deal of evidence, but it’s there. 

In regard to homosexuality and our decision to ordain practicing gays and lesbians, I find the Bible silent in its permission.  It pains me. We are called to love one another.  We have not always done a very good job.  As a culture, we have broadened, we have bent, we have become more accepting, tolerant, respectful.  Our church has chosen to say let us have it both ways.  Those who want to ordain, can.    Those who don’t want to ordain don’t have to. 

This is my struggle. Martin Luther once said, “Unless I am convinced by scripture and plain reason, I am bound.”  I find myself still in the creative tension of listening and caring for my brothers and sisters who are gay and lesbian - for people in my own extended family - to continue to stand with and to speak for.  Yet, in my own heart, there’s the over-arching “Yes” of God through Jesus Christ; and yet underneath that, there continues be some limits, some “No”. 

My concern is two-fold. (1) For the unity of church.  The vote was approximately 400-500.  I am concerned what can happen to our larger church, what can happen to congregations, what can happen to our own.  I am concerned with our relationship with other churches in our nation and around the world.  (2) I am concerned about losing our rudder. We confess that, “the Bible is the source and norm for all of faith and life”.  But if we cannot give a clear argument from scripture for our decision; if we cannot show clear, biblical support for a major change, we are in danger of being cast adrift without a rudder. 

Where do we go from here?  As I mentioned I know that you, as people, are all over the spectrum.  I tend to be sort of in the middle to the right.  I ask you to hang in there.  We are a community of faith that has grown to trust and to care for one another in Christ.  I pray that we can continue to do that together. 

In the next weeks, we will be sorting out options that we have as congregations and as individuals.  We will be in conversation with other congregations, other groups of congregations.  We will be meeting even after this service.  I realize in stressful times, it is easy to react.  St. James in our second lesson counsels us not to react, but rather to respond.  He says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”  I urge you hang in there.

Black Forest Lutheran Church is not going to change radically.  Congregations in the ELCA have a lot of autonomy.  We remain committed to those things we are known for – biblical teaching, prayer and healing, caring outreach, as James talks about caring for the widows and orphans.  Hang in there.

Finally, be honest; share your concerns with each other, with me.  It is important not to bear things alone.  Also, be open to options you may not yet know.  Things are not all or nothing.  Most important - trust the Lord.  God is our strength, our hope. Trust that he will see us through this also.

Prayer: Full of trust, O Lord we put our lives into your hands, running to you and trusting you with our future.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen

Click here to read the ELCA's Social Statement, "Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust".