Praise God! St. Anselm has been growing again over the summer! But now it is time for us to dig into the joyful work of ministry. We launched our Fall Sunday School, Catechism Class, and Sermon series this past Sunday on Holy Cross Day.
In our sermon series and small groups we are focusing on the Apostle Peter’s first epistle to the Church (The book of I Peter in the Bible). It is a wonderful book full of challenges and encouragement. We are reminded that it is by God’s grace on the cross that we are saved and sanctified “sprinkled with his cleansing blood” through Baptism and set apart.
As those who have been set apart we are “Elect Exiles” scattered throughout the world but united in Jesus Christ. This week we have been focusing on three questions:
In what areas of your life would thinking of yourselves as “elect exiles” change the way you think, feel, or act?
How is it possible - and right - for Christians to rejoice in trial (I Peter 1:6-9)
What stops us from greatly rejoicing during “various trials”
I have been thinking on these questions this week and I hope you have too. They are challenging because they confront us in our comfort. As I reflect, I am happy to be an American. I believe that our country has been mightily used by God in the world. In the twentieth century no other nation defended so heavily liberty and the freedom to worship, think, and speak against forces of darkness. I am a patriot and yet at the same time I see a great deal of things in my country that do not align with the values of Kingdom of God and the people (truly the constitution) of our nation is ever-changing. I went to school in a time when the doors were left open throughout the day, now we have school shootings. There was plenty of fiery rhetoric against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but no one would have thought a non-politician like Charlie Kirk would be gunned down on a college campus when I was in university. But the world is always changing which makes all of us exiles. It is disconcerting to think of myself as an exile or alien in my country and time and yet - in many ways, I am.
At the same time, it has always been reassuring to me that I have a permanent home in God’s heavenly Kingdom to which I will one day return. I can remember when we first started doing school evacuation drills as students and I never had the dread that some others had. When someone confronted me on my unharried attitude about my own personal safety, I simply responded, “If it is my time to go to heaven, then it is my time.” In this sense, being elect or part of the chosen of God gives great comfort because I have a hope beyond this world.
I have also been reflecting on rejoicing in trial. What stops me from rejoicing in it? The most obvious answer is that trial stinks! I don’t like pain. I like a well-ordered and predictable life. But, to be honest, I have not really suffered much trial first-hand. Sure, I have experienced the death of people like any man in his 40s. I have walked with others through great difficulties and mourned with them. But if anything, my ministry has shown me that I have not suffered as others have. So my first reaction is that I am not really fit to answer the question. But on some further reflection I suppose in the trials I have gone through I have found that I have rejoiced (afterwards) to see how they’ve grown my faith in God’s goodness and provision. It is possible to rejoice in the midst of trial but I think it’s difficult. Ultimately, I believe it comes as a grace from God, not an attitude. Rejoicing in trial is not thinking “good thoughts” but asking for God’s help like the martyrs who asked and then rejoiced directly before their deaths. We need to pray for that kind of grace and clarity for the heavenly city.
What do you think? How would you answer these questions?
Watch the entire sermon below.