Eighth Sunday after Trinity

In our Gospel text today Jesus gives us a strong warning, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Mt 7:15). This is a fitting text for my first sermon here as your pastor. Too often the flock of the Lord has been led astray by false prophets and wicked shepherds who serve their own bellies and do not care for the sheep. False prophets have afflicted the church from the time of Adam and Eve, who listened to the lying voice of the serpent, until this day. In fact, there has never been a time when false prophets were not at work within the church. The Apostle Paul was not surprised by this. He tells us, “[A]fter my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30).

What may be surprising is that these ravenous wolves are often invited in and welcomed by the people of God. Consider the great prophet Elijah. He lived alone in the wilderness afraid for his life eating food dropped by ravens while 850 false prophets enjoyed security and luxury at King Ahab’s table. 850 prophets growing fat on the royal payroll, why? Because they told the king what he wanted to hear. The Lord God says, “The prophets prophesy falsely, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love to have it so” (Jer 5:31). False prophets are well paid, their ministries appear to be successful, and people flock to hear their words. But the Lord of hosts warns you today, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.” (Jer 23:16).

So why do so many people listen to the false prophets? Why are their words so appealing? Because they promise everything that our sinful nature loves. They promise success, and comfort, and peace at any cost. They guarantee that the beloved church of your grandparents will grow, that the pews and offering plates will once again be overflowing. They promise that the world will love you and people will speak well of you. Most of all they assure you that you can live a selfish life, indulging your sinful passions, and God will be pleased with you. The [false prophets] say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you” (Jer 23:17). Because this false gospel is appealing, the devil’s churches are always bigger and appear more successful than the church of God. The devil’s pastors are more charismatic and more eloquent. Their words go down like honey, and with smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve (Ro 16:18). But let it not be so among us.

This week is an exciting time for all of us. God has called and sent me to be your pastor, and I am overjoyed to be here among you. But perhaps some of you see in me a man whose relative youth and energy will cause First Lutheran and St. Paul to grow once again. If so, you may be disappointed. I must confess to you that I have no plan to make the church grow. In fact, that’s not by business, and it’s not yours either. Before God and his church I have taken a solemn vow to preach and teach the Word of God with faithfulness. My business here is to preach Christ crucified, to call you to repentance, to forgive your sins, to invite you to the table of our Lord, to visit you when you are sick, and to be with you at the hour of your death. And your task, which you also have promised before the Lord to do, is to hear the Word of God with gladness, and to support the work of the ministry with your gifts and prayers.

Growing the church is God’s work. And here at First Lutheran and St. Paul, God will continue to do what he has always done: he will add those that he calls to the number of the elect. The church of God is always growing, but it may not be the kind of growth we would like to see. Every time a child is baptized the church grows. Every time the Word of God is proclaimed to you with faithfulness the church grows. And every time a member dies in the faith, the church grows. Even if, after thirty years, I bury our last member and we close our doors, the one church of God will only continue to grow. Now, I pray that God sends us a flood of new members. But what if he doesn’t? Nothing about our message will change. We won’t try to make the gospel more relevant or appealing. We won’t take down our crosses or stop talking about sin and forgiveness. We won’t start accepting and promoting sinful behaviors and ways of life.

Somebody might ask, “But what about the young people? Pastor, if we want the church to survive, don’t we need to attract young people?” I’ll tell you what young people need: They certainly don’t need to be entertained. They already get better entertainment than we could ever offer on Netflix for $10 a month. What young people want and need is to hear the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ. They need exactly what you need, to receive the forgiveness of sins and to eat and drink the body of our Lord. They need to hear and learn the pure doctrine of Christ. And that is what God has sent me to give. I have nothing else to offer, no plans, no programs, and no other words, but the words I have been commanded to speak. As your pastor I join my voice to St. Paul’s in saying, “If anyone, whether I or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel other than Christ and him crucified, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8).

You see, other gospels, not that there can be any other gospel, are not neutral. Jesus tells us how destructive the teaching of the false prophets is: it rends and tears the spiritual life like the fangs of a wolf. Not only is it powerless to save, it kills and destroys. But the day is coming when all the clever disguises of the false teachers will be unmasked. Then they and all their followers will stand before our Lord and Judge. Jesus says, “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (Mt 7:22-23).

Everything built on any foundation other than Jesus Christ will be burnt up. There is no life for you apart from the death of our Lord. Dear Christians, hold fast to Christ and his Word, for here is a firm foundation. In him you will not fear the coming wrath, for you will be like a tree planted by streams of water that yields good fruit in its season (Psalm 1:3). Yes, by nature you once were lost in sin and darkness. You were once willingly led to and fro by false teachers. More than that, you were once a wicked tree, incapable of bearing good fruit. You had everything to fear in the Day of Judgment. But through your baptism into Christ, you have been grafted into the Vine, who is Christ Jesus. By the mercy and goodness of God, you have been brought to repentance and faith. Therefore, cling to Christ and his Word. All other voices are false. He alone is the Builder of his Church. He alone is the Good Shepherd who leads you on the way of eternal life.

May the Holy Spirit so work within our hearts that we would ever hear the words of Christ our true Prophet with eager and repentant hearts, for they are life and salvation. Amen.