The Church That Works

Peer Pressure under grace

Romans 12:1-8

9-5-99

Labor Day; summer vacations end; colleges and schools resume their daily routine, working men and women of America celebrate themselves. We marvel at our accomplishments in the multitude of technological changes that have swept through our lives and at our ability to adapt and continue to be productive for ourselves, for our families, and for our country. God has richly blessed our nation with a vast variety of workers who, putting their talents together, produce goods and services for themselves and for many people beyond our borders.

Therein lays a trap ready to snare the unsuspecting. Cleverly concealed under an abundance of work, money, and leisure, our lives become very much ensnared and conformed to the world we live in. Instead of looking into the light of God’s Word, we peer into the light of a television or computer screen that knows nothing of God. Instead of searching for ways to exercise our God-given gifts, we store them away in closets of self-piety and righteousness to consider how spiritually wealthy we are. At the same time, we seem mystified that people do not come to worship or even bring their children for instruction in God’s house. How could it be any different for a church mesmerized by all that the world offers? Thank God, this is not the picture of the Holy Christian and Apostolic Church. Thank God for that because, in His mercy, there is…

1. The church that wants to work. Motivation in this church comes from above. Paul says, “Therefore”—“in view of God’s mercy.” That is, in view of “a righteousness from God” that comes to us, not as a payment for works we do, but “from God”—“through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” Motivation in view of our God-given connection to Jesus’ death and resurrection in baptism: “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” That is the life to which we have graciously been connected. The church’s motivation comes in view of the truth that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

By these mercies’ the Church gives wholehearted commitment. Their bodies offered as living sacrifices to bring glory to God in all that they do. How can it be any other way for those in Christ? Paul says, “count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” You see, “spiritual worship” is a matter of the heart. When the heart is connected to the Savior, Holy Spirit guided direction and purpose moves it to action. Thank God for that because, in His mercy, there is…

2. The church that wants to work God’s will. It seeks the transforming work of God that has given it life, and holiness, and renders it pleasing to God. It seeks the Holy Word that renews the mind—where it activates loyalty to God, love of the Savior, and service to our fellow human beings. Having a different set of priorities prepared by God, the church seeks the good of the kingdom of God. It knows how to test it out! It knows the measure of God’s grace and good will. Thank God for that because, in His mercy, there is…

3. The church that wants to work God’s way. It views each member as a necessary part of the whole. The purpose of each part determined only by the grace God gives to it. This church is bound together with all of its parts, in the one body of Christ. In Christ, these parts work together to serve God and man.

This church is unique, not in its diversity of people, but in its diversity of grace. “We have different gifts,” Paul says, “according to the grace given us.” This church recognizes and finds its gifts as it continues in God’s renewal process. Through Word and Sacrament; through renewal and transformation, God makes His plan and purpose known to us. Ministry is the work of the people, not the work of the pastor. Mission is the direction of the Spirit of God, not the direction of man. The Church That Works has both mission and ministry. Thus each gift of grace is needed to make it function effectively as a whole body.

Think of it this way. One or two players do not make a team great. Each player fulfilling their individual function in unity with the others makes a team great. Through Word and Sacrament, God places us on His team with other Christians, purified and made pleasing to Him, to fulfill our individual function toward the same goal of Mission and Ministry. God calls us together to be The Church That Works in view of His great mercies. Amen.