Pentecost 19

Mark 9:38–50 NIV

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” 39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. 42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 44 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 46 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “ ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”

James 4:13–17 NIV

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Now that the NFL season has renewed, a show on TV has returned called “Turning Point”. A notable game from the previous weekend is scrutinized and the commentators point to a pivotal play in the game that turned it around. It may have been a touchdown, a turnover, a missed field goal, or a roughing the passer penalty for example.

Turning points are not limited to football games. There are key events in our lives that we might consider to be turning points.

I would say that a change in pastors at a congregation can be considered a turning point. Concern has grown about the future of Salem Ev. Lutheran church due to its long and steady decline and the leaders of the congregation seem convinced that a change in who the pastor is will bring about a positive change or turning point in what is happening. For your sake, I pray that they are right. But I also believe that there needs to be a turning point in the commitment of many of the members which would be much more powerful in making the changes necessary for the congregation.

Our epistle lessons recently have been from the book of James. They continue today. James gives careful instruction about turning points and offers several insights about them.

We Don’t Know What Will Happen

Our epistle lessons recently have been from the book of James. They continue today. James gives careful instruction about turning points and offers several insights about them.

1.Turning points can come when we least expect them.

2. We need to depend on the Lord whether we are experiencing turning points or not.

3. We have an obligation to know and do what is good.

Turning points can come when we least expect them.

Most people realize how important it is to have a plan and to work toward specific goals. How many of us haven’t made plans like the one mentioned in the lesson? We plan what we are going to do today or tomorrow. We plan to travel. We plan to engage ourselves in profitable endeavors. These things in and of themselves are not sinful. What is wrong is not taking into account the long term effects of what we do. The people criticized in this lesson are those who plan and do with no regard for God or his will.

Most of the time life goes on as it always has. (note from Peter on the flood). But at times there are unexpected “turning points”.

2 Peter 3:3–7 NIV

3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

A mechanical break down.

A mechanical break down.

A sudden illness.

A crime.

Weather event.

James gives the example of the most dramatic and traumatic. I think of sudden deaths of members whom I had come to know and love. In the past year the most painful are Alton Lauersdorf, Etta Soldner, and Bill Kern. In Etta’s case she knew she was dying and she planned to die at home whech did happen. But Alton? He was planning to go to the dump. Bill? He was planning to make that repair on his truck.

What is our life? We are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. “Who knows when death will overtake me?” We sing in a hymn.

Several months ago I saw a Meme which I thought addressed being prepared for this event. It asked, “What happens when you die?” This question is asked by funeral directors who want to help you pre plan your funeral. This question is asked by relatives who hope you have a clear and generous will. This question is asked by pastors concerned about your eternal salvation. Unfortunately, the Meme was just a not so funny joke. Its answer? A lot of stuff. You just aren’t a part of it.

Aside: What will happen at Salem when I leave? A lot of stuff. I just won’t be a part of it. But many of you will and we will get back to that later.

We need to depend on the Lord whether we are experiencing a turning point or not.

James emphasizes how sudden a turning point can occur. He also emphasized our need to depend on the Lord whether we are experiencing a turning point or not. “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” The problem with the people in the lesson was that they were self-centered They were like the rich man in the parable of the rich farmer who could only think of himself when he had a bumper crop. He did not thank God from whom all blessing flow He did not give a tithe to support the church. He did not share with the poor. He only could think of himself. His schemes were arrogant. What did the Lord say to him? “Tonight, you are going to have a turning point. Your life will be required of you. Then who will get what you stored up for yourself?

Because he did not trust in the Lord when he wasn’t experiencing a turning point, he made plans without the Lord when he did experience the turning point of the bumper crop. Later that day when he experienced the ultimate turning point, he was not prepared for what happens after he died either for soul or his wealth.

When we plan and carry out our plans, God teaches us to not be selfish but to use the resources he has given us to help others both physically and spiritually.

What plans do you have moving forward to support your future pastor with your offerings?

What plans do you have moving forward to be an active part of the church by growing in your own knowledge of Jesus and sharing the Gospel with others?

Will you depend on God in regard to your church and in regard to your daily planning?

Some people indicated in the survey by the council earlier this year that they would return to Salem if only I left. They did not tell me who they were. One wonders if the council will pursue those who made those claims.

We have an obligation to know and do what is good.

James concludes this chapter with the command to do what is good. “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

We call this sins of omission. Years ago my father visited a delinquent member of the church where he was an elder. That church took seriously the command to discipline its members. She listened to his concerns but then she voiced her puzzlement. “I don’t understand why they are going to kick me out of the church. I haven’t done anything.” What does this mean? She didn’t think she had committed an immoral act or grievous sin that warranted punishment. He didn’t smoke, drink, or swear might be a way of describing it. She wasn’t picked up for shoplifting or molesting little children. She didn’t do anything. My father told her. “You haven’t done anything.” You have not done the good that you ought to do in regard to your responsibilities as a church member.

Not doing the good we ought to do goes way beyond how well we fulfill our church responsibilities. It has to do with how we keep the commandments. Recall how Luther defines the commandments including not only what we should not do but what we should do.

We must all confess that we all sin by omission. That is why we need Jesus. He actively kept the commandments for us so that God’s righteousness is fulfilled. We are forgiven because of him. What he did for us and what he suffered in our place. God forgives us and gives us the opportunity to move forward from this turning point to recommit ourselves to making our plans and doing his will out of thankfulness to Jesus.

What happens after we die? For Jesus’s sake we go to heaven — those who trust in him for salvation.

What happens on earth after we die? A lot of stuff. We just aren’t a part of it.

What will happen after this turning point at Salem? God has a plan for each of us. For some it is a joint effort. For others it is more for you and your immediate family. But God has plan. Determine his plan through your searching of Scriptures and may God give each of us the strength to plan and live according to his will. Amen.