How Many Lutherans?

One of the pastors that I had the pleasure of working with used to always love to tell jokes about Lutherans. Here are some answers he would give when he asked the joke, “How many Lutherans does it take to change a lightbulb?” “There is some question here. But we have it on good authority that they have appointed a committee to study the issue and report back at their next meeting. We read that we are to so fear and love God that we cannot by our own effort or understanding comprehend the replacement of an electromagnetic photon source. It is, rather by faith, NOT by our efforts (effected toward the failed worldly incandescence), that we truly see, and that our own works cannot fully justify us in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, it is still dark. And finally his favorite...Ch-ch-ch-change????

Like any good joke there is truth in the statement. In fact, when Aubreigh first started getting into jokes, we had a conversation about how what makes jokes and stand up comedians so funny and enjoyable is that it relates to real life. Stand up comedy specifically points out those things in life that in the moment tend to be irritating or frustrating for the person involved, but later can be enjoyed or at least laughed about because we have all been through it, or at least many of us have.

It is that issue of change that we can all relate to with at least some aspect of our life I assume. I’m sure that we all know that Lutherans and other denominations do a great job or forming committees to look into things like the carpet, or the color of the walls, or what to do with this or that. So why not form a committee to discuss the possibility of change? We are after all, creatures of habit. Habit is exactly that, something that we are used to doing the same or similar way all the time, on a regular basis. Now something happens and the need or desire by someone causes the idea of change to be brought up. No one really wants to do it, and they complain and argue about it. Statements like, ‘It’s always been done that way.’ or ‘That’s how every other person or church has done it so that’s why we do it,’ comes up to try to keep things the same. Sometimes change occurs because it was forced upon someone or a group of people due to a circumstance or event, and they are forced to adapt to it and they don’t like it because, of course it is not the norm.

This idea of change is exactly what is happening when people come to hear John the Baptist and to be baptized by him. I don’t know if the people knew when they came to John to be baptized that there was an expectation for change, but that is what John calls for. One of the most important phrases that John says that will help us frame what he says later is, “You brood of vipers!” A brood is a group of young animals, or sometimes the offspring of an animal. So when John says to the crowds they are a brood of vipers there is a good chance he is calling them children of a dangerous group of people. In others words…John is saying to them that they are people who have inherited a bad or unjust system. That the world or society they are living in has systemic issues and they are the progeny of it. Which makes sense when he asks them who warned them to flee from the wrath to come. He then tells them they need to change becuase they can’t rely on these unjust systems and they can’t rely on their heritage to free them from what’s coming. They need to be fruit and they need to change their hearts and their lives.

If we keep with this idea of change then think about how much potentially has to change for people who came to see John. If all those things are going to happen as John says then it’s no wonder that they throw up their hands (my emphasis) and ask him what they should do. You are telling us that there are so many things in this world that is systemically wrong, where do we even begin? It almost seems more overwhelming to even get started than it’s worth it. Instead of letting them get caught up in their frustration and sense of being overwhelmed John gives them very practical and specific ways for them to practice change for the coming kingdom, and more specifically for the coming Messiah.

For anyone, in general if you have an abundance of something like a coat or food give it to someone in need. The same goes for food. Give when you have food to someone who is hungry. Then he gets more specific with the tax collectors and soldiers. He points out more obviously that systemic issue I was talking about when we talked about the brood of vipers. John tells them to not live into the systemic issues or to say that it’s always been done that way. Just because it has always been that tax collectors take more than their share doesn't mean that it’s the right thing to do. Don’t let systems or unspoken rules or laws be a justification for letting corruption and greed and inequality to continue.

Living into this baptism of forgiveness of sins and repentance requires you to change. To change your heart and your mind and to change the world around you. Change isn’t easy. Change can be scary and it can mean letting things go that you don’t want to let go. Change can mean giving up something that you have had or held onto for a very long time. That doesn't’ mean that the thing that we hold onto is a good thing though. I know someone who held onto some anger and resentment for years and it wasn’t until he let it go to God in prayer that a weight lifted from him. He didn’t want to let go of it but he did and the change healed him.

That is what is amazing about this text. Change is amazing. John could have told everyone that the change would be too hard. He could have given them these huge general ways to change their lives. But he doesn’t. He gives them very specific goals and ways to change. What he also doesn’t do is he doesn’t turn anyone away. In the midst of their sense of being overwhelmed he says that they can do it. He says that the general crowd can do it. He says that you tax collectors that are hated by people can do it. He says that you soldiers that cause fear and extort people, you can do it. John creates an atmosphere where all people are welcome to change their hearts and lives and prepare for the coming of Jesus. In fact that is what I believe that verse about the wheat and the chaff is about. The chaff and the wheat are both a part of the stock. The chaff then are not people, but the parts of our lives that need to change and go away so that we can change our hearts and lives to face God.

To use the words of our theme for today, John has created a home for all. John doesn’t pick out those people who are perfect and baptizes them. He doesn’t seek out the brood of vipers and shove them away to the unquenchable fire. No, John gives everyone the opportunity to change and to be a part of the kingdom of God. He offers hope for all people and that hope that change is possible and that change leads to salvation. All of that is available to all people. Meaning God’s kingdom is for all people. I say that because if we dip our toes into the last verse from last week we see in verse 6 John uses the words of Isaiah to remind us all that all flesh, meaning all people will see the salvation of God. That is a home for all people. For you, for me, for every person is struggling with change and every person who is finding it hard to make the difficult but right choice to change and let go of those things that weigh us down. May we be open to change both in our own lives and accepting of change in the lives of others so that we can all see and experience the salvation of God for all people, and that we live into what it means for this place to be a home for all people. Amen.