Here I Stand
Romans 3:19-24, 27-28
Today is Reformation Sunday in many denominations and one of the highest holy days for our Lutheran friends. In Lutheran circles, this Sunday ranks right up there with Christmas and Easter, so “Happy Luther Day!”
Our scripture text is one of the foundations of the Reformation movement. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,” Romans tells us. In other words, all of us know brokenness and none of us live up to the fullness of God for our lives. It was upon that truth that Martin Luther made his famous stand.
There’s a difference between making a stand and digging in your heels. When do we dig in our heels?
When we’re angry
When we’re afraid
When we’re unsure about the future
When we feel a need to protect ourselves
Making a stand needs to happen:
When an injustice continues unchecked
When others are harmed by some else’s actions
When not to act would be a greater sin
When you know through your stand the world will be a better place
John Shelby Spong, retired bishop of the Episcopal Church and author Roland Bainton have written books with the title, “Here I Stand” Shelby’s book is about his own struggles with reforming the church and Bainton’s book is the story of Martin Luther. I haven’t read either of these books but I have always appreciated the way Bishop Spong continues to challenge the assumptions of modern Christianity and Martin Luther’s story is a powerful witness of the power of God’s grace to overcome obstacles – even when those obstacles are religious.
I found an excerpt from Luther’s story that I found poignant. For those of us who are not well versed in the Lutheran story this is what happened:
On April 17, 1521, the son of a German coal miner stood alone and accused before the court.The charge was heresy.At his side was a stack of books.Seated in front of him was an imposing array of ecclesiastical and imperial princes — each one determined, one way or another, to put an end to the man’s sedition.He would either recant, or he would die.
As the examination began, the man was asked if he had written the books that were stacked at his side. He whispered,“The books are all mine, and I have written more.” Then came the decisive question, “Are you willing to recant of what you teach in them?” Once again, his answer was spoken softly, “I beg you, give me time to think it over.”
He was given twenty-four hours.
That night, Martin Luther wrestled desperately with his decision. He prayed to God to find the courage of his convictions.
Late the next day, Martin returned to the assembly. This time his voice was strong. At first, he tried to make a speech, but they cut him off.A simple answer was all they wanted, so they asked him again, “Martin, answer candidly and without horns, do you, or do you not, repudiate your books and the errors which they contain?”
Luther replied:
“Since Your Majesty and our lordships desire a simple reply, I will answer without horns and without teeth. Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason, I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other, my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe.
He ended with these now famous words:
Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me!” (copied from VOW website, October 23, 2007)
On what things are you willing to make a stand? Several years ago we as a congregation went through an intentional process of coming up with a vision, mission and values statement. This was a long and often tedious process but it was important to be clear in our own heads and to be clear to those outside our church just what it means to be part of the movement that is All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church. [PP3] This is a living document and will continue to be modified and updated as time goes on, but I believe it is a good and accurate reflection of who we are and what we are called to do.
Over the years there have been many who have come through these doors and become part of this faith community. Some of them moved on for a variety of reasons but one thing I have heard several times about why someone decides to leave is because we take stands on things that are important to us. It always surprises me when that is the reason because it just seems second nature to me that this is what a church should do. We have taken a stand on marriage equality, hateful legislation, unjust laws, and religiously-biased discrimination. I had one woman who I really liked tell me that she couldn’t come here anymore because she didn’t want her daughter hearing that she is oppressed. Since she didn’t particularly feel oppressed in her situation, she thought this was unnecessary. I told her that I was glad she was in a situation where she could live freely without a sense of oppression in her life, but that wasn’t the case for everyone in our community and the wonderful freedoms we enjoy in a state like Minnesota cannot be taken for granted (as we have seen again and again with the marriage debate). I’ve had people tell me they don’t like the fact that we talk about political issues. We should just concentrate on religious things (like the two have nothing in common and don’t intersect). I’ve had some tell me that they find being part of a congregation that challenges the way things operate in the world to be too challenging for them. They would prefer to live with the illusion that everything is fine – and when it isn’t fine, we should be silent.
I understand that there are lots of churches these days that welcome GLBTQ folk to one degree or another, and that some find comfort in being part of a faith community that hearkens back to a day in their childhood. I understand that. There’s a part of me (at times) that would love to be able to live in such blissful ignorance. (I’m not trying to be mean by that, simply accurate) No matter how idyllic or tragic your childhood, it no longer exists. Time has moved on and so must we. So if you want to live as though what happens in the legislature or on the streets or in the homes of people throughout this community doesn’t affect you in any way (and just want a nice place to worship and enjoy coffee) then All God’s Children is probably not a church you’ll stick with for long. For although there is much about what we do here that feels good – great worship, inspiring music, friends and fellowship, ministries that change people’s lives – feeling good is not all there is to being a Christian. We come from a long line of spiritual pot-stirrers like Martin Luther, John Wesley, Troy Perry, Mother Teresa and many, many others who discovered a truth that seems to elude many part-time Christians. That truth is this:
Being a Christian is about more than getting warm fuzzies (as fun as they are).
It is about living in such a way that our lives make the world a better place.
It is about understanding the tug of Holy Spirit that challenges the brokenness of the world – whether it is systemic or personal.
It is about glimpsing the reality that my faith is not just about me – my salvation, my walk with Jesus, my life – no, I am a person of faith so that I can model grace and hope to a despairing world.
Our church building stands as a monument of hope to thousands who have yet to dare consider that a closet door is a terrible thing to keep closed.
Our vision statement says it clearly. We are about being radically inclusive, healed by God’s unrelenting grace and sent in love to share our gifts with the world. The only thing I would add to that list is the wonderful phrase Bishop Spong coined of being people who love wastefully – the idea that we don’t have to ration love. There will always be more.
Here we stand. God help us because we cannot do otherwise!
I wonder if Luther knew that the stand he took that day in a German courtroom would be a pivotal moment in the history of Christianity. I wonder if he had any idea of what would happen with the ideas and insights that he embodied that day.
Today we are welcoming a group of new members into the covenantal relationship that is All God’s Children. I know we as a church will love them wastefully. I know we will support them as they find their place and discover their gifts among us. I know we will face the challenges the world presents with courage and faith. I know we won’t always agree with each other. And I also know that we have discovered the power of forgiveness and understand the benefit of living our faith together.
I’ll take that kind of faith community any day.
Sources:
www.homileticson.line.com Putting the Protest Back in Protestant, October 2007.
http://www.vow.org/viewpoints/essays/xxxxxxx-rdooling-here_i_stand.html
http://www.dbkinnear.com/here_I_stand.htm
http://www.ecampus.com/bk_detail.asp?isbn=0452011469&referrer=pdinb