Before the sun rises in the morning to drive away the darkness of the night, a bright star often shines beautifully in the eastern sky. We call it the morning star. It tells us that the sun will soon appear above the horizon. The Protestant Reformation was like the sun rising on the church after a long bleak night. John Wycliffe was born during a time of great spiritual darkness. He has been called “the Morning Star of the Reformation” because God used him to shine rays of light into the spiritual darkness of England and much of Europe. He was not actually one of the Reformers, but he, like Peter Waldo, helped prepare the way for the Reformation.

Just out of curiosity, how many of you have ever heard of John Wycliffe? You may not know it, but we are all deeply indebted to Wycliffe—in addition to confronting some of the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, he was responsible for the first translation of the Bible into the English language! He paved the way for each of us to be able to read God’s Word in our own language and to see the gospel of Jesus Christ for what is really is! Let me tell you his story!

John Wycliffe and the Lollards

John Wycliffe was born in the hinterlands of England, on a sheep farm some 200 miles from London in A.D. 1324. Intellectually gifted, left the family farm and began his studies at Merton College, Oxford University in 1346, eventually becoming a doctor of theology. While a student at Oxford, he came under the tutelage of a godly professor who taught that God alone can save people from their sins. This professor also encouraged him to read the Scriptures for himself. Wycliffe fell in love with the Scriptures and studied them gladly.

In 1349, when he was about 25 years old, the plague reached England. This dreadful plague started in Asia and swept westward across Europe. Because of the black splotches on sick person’s skin, it was called “the black death.” The pandemic was responsible for the death of about one-third of Europe’s population. It left a deep impression on young Wycliffe. He studied the Scripture even more fervently, seeking refuge from the judgment to come. He spent hours in prayer, asking God to show him what to do with his life. God called him into the ministry.

After entering the ministry, he moved three times. His last move was to the little town of Lutterworth where he earned a reputation as a great gospel preacher. He preached with a clarity and power that was rare in those days. Even King Edward III came to hear him.

Over time, the more Wycliffe read the Bible, the more errors he saw in the doctrine and practice of his beloved Roman Catholic church. Many of the clergy had taken vows of poverty, but they dressed up like beggars and traveled all over the country, forcing their way into the houses of the rich and poor, living without paying for things, and taking all the money they could get. They spent so much of their time begging that many of them became wealthy. Like the Pharisees in the Bible, they pretended to be holier than others, although their lives were full of sin and evil.

Wycliffe also realized that many of the Roman Catholic beliefs he had been taught were simply not biblical. He began to write about his conflicts with official church teaching:

• He wrote against the doctrine of transubstantiation, which teaches that the bread and wine actually becomes the physical body and blood of Christ during communion.
• He challenged the idea of indulgences, which teaches that you can purchase the souls of loved ones from purgatory.
• He repudiated the confessional, which teaches that people must confess their sins to a priest if they were to receive forgiveness.
• He reiterated the biblical teaching on faith: “Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on his sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by his righteousness.”
• Believing that every Christian should have access to Scripture (only Latin translations were available at the time), he began translating the Bible into English, with the help of his good friend John Purvey.

The Roman Catholic church bitterly opposed Wycliffe’s teachings. The priests even said of his English Bible, “By this translation, the Scriptures have become vulgar, and they are more available to lay, and even to women who can read, than they were to learned scholars, who have a high intelligence. So the pearl of the gospel is scattered and trodden underfoot by swine.” To that remark, Wycliffe replied, “Englishmen learn Christ’s law best in English. Moses heard God’s law in his own tongue; so did Christ’s apostles.”

The church called Wycliffe to appear before a council to answer for his teachings. It became known as the Earthquake Council, because an earthquake occurred while the meeting was taking place. Wycliffe’s friends believed God was showing his anger toward his enemies and hoped it would thwart them. Despite appearing before multiple church councils and suffering all sorts of persecutions and tribulations, including being fired from his teaching post at Oxford, Wycliffe was never excommunicated or executed for his views.

Wycliffe died a peaceful death on December 31, 1384 at the age of sixty and was buried in the church graveyard at Lutterworth. Forty years after his death, his enemies dug up his bones, burned them to ashes, and threw the ashes into the Swift River. Afterward, someone said that just as Wycliffe’s ashes were thrown into the river that eventually flows into the ocean, so the Word of God that he preached and translated will make its way all over the world.

Before his death, he trained a large group of men to help him carry on his call for reform. These men went all over the country, preaching the gospel in churchyards, fairs, marketplaces, in the streets, and wherever they could get people to come and hear them. These men became known as Lollards. “Lollard” was a popular derogatory nickname given to people without an academic background, educated only in English. This name became associated with Wycliffe’s followers.

Over the next few centuries, the Roman Catholic Church condemned many Lollards as heretics and burned them at the stake. But they carried on Wycliffe’s message and influenced Jan Hus, Martin Luther, and many other eventual leaders of the Protestant Reformation. This is why he is called the “Morning Star of the Reformation.”

Wycliffe’s greatest contribution to the church was a renewed emphasis on biblical authority. He spent his whole life teaching people that God’s Word was the final authority for Christian faith and practice, not creeds, councils, or the Pope. These man-made institutions are fallible, but only God’s Word is infallible. (Diane Kleeyn, Refomation Heroes, 7-15)

Back to the Bible (2 Peter 1:16-21)

At its core, the Protestant Reformation was what we might call a “Back to the Bible” movement. God’s Word is the only reliable source of guidance for the church and our lives. History has proven that God’s people always get themselves into trouble when they depart from his Word.

The apostle Peter warned the church about this very issue in his second epistle. In chapter 1:16-21, he reminds the church that he and the other apostles did not rely on cleverly devised stories about Jesus’ power, but they were actual eyewitnesses of his majesty. They traveled with Jesus for more than three years and observed his teachings and miracles firsthand. In verses 17-18, he highlights the incredible episode of Jesus transfiguration. Peter, along with James and John, were with Jesus on the holy mountain and they heard the Father’s voice with their own ears. It must have been an awe-inspiring experience to see Jesus shine in radiance and to hear the Father exclaim, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

            Now wouldn’t it be great if God always used his direct audible voice to reveal his divine will to us? Can you image what it would be like to hear God verbalize things like: “Break up with that deadbeat…marry her, she’s a keeper…go to this college, not that one…take this job…don’t buy that house, it’s a money pit…move your retirement account now before the stock market crashes next year…or play these Powerball numbers on Friday!” Just kidding, God never wants us to play the lottery!

Many of us would love to have this type of direct revelation from God, wouldn’t we? But it very rarely works that way. This type of relationship with God wouldn’t require any faith. Instead, God has given us his written Word.

Peter declares, in verse 19, that the prophetic written Word is an even more reliable revelation than a miraculous occurrence of the audible voice of God. But why? Because the prophetic Word (in this case, the Old Testament) can be corroborated by countless people throughout centuries of time. An audible voice can only be verified by the few people who hear it in the moment. This is why Peter tells the church that they should pay close attention to the written Word. The Word of God has the power to penetrate the spiritual darkness and shine Jesus’ light of salvation into human hearts. After all, the Scripture’s origin is divine, not human. It is God’s Word, not mans. The prophets and other human authors of the Bible spoke from God and were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, the Word of God is completely reliable! The Bible—not the pope, not the creeds, not the councils, not the by-laws of our church, and definitely not some claim of God’s voice speaking directly to us—is the church’s final authority in all matters of faith and practice. The Bible is the only dependable source of divine revelation for God’s will in our lives. So, ladies, if some slick talking Romeo ever walks up to you and says, “God told me that I am supposed to marry you…” I want you to look him in the eye and say, “Well, that’s interesting! God told me that whenever I see you I should run like hell!” Tragically, I know some men who have done this—and I know a few women who have fallen for it!

Unfortunately, like John Wycliffe, we live in a time when many people don’t read the Bible or take it seriously. Even though we have the Bible translated into many clear and readable versions of the English language, so few take full advantage of the gift God has given us! Today we are more apt to look to what the broader culture, science, or our own experience as our life authority. Even some churches and whole denominations have abandoned the Bible. They make up their own doctrines and practices in an attempt to accommodate the politically correct culture around them. It is no wonder that the Christian church, as a whole, has drifted so far from God. It is exactly what happened to the Roman Catholic church in the middle-ages!

How about you? Do you take the Bible seriously? Do you read it? Do you study it? Is it your authority? Do you allow God’s Word to dictate your positions and opinions or do you try to conform God’s Word to your positions and opinions? The Bible is our only reliable guide for everything in our lives!

John Wycliffe knew that the church was in desperate need of reform. He was the morning star of the Reformation because did his very best to get the Bible in the hands of the people and get it back at the center of the church. Now here we are, many centuries later, and the church is still in need of reform. And so, may the morning star of God’s Word rise in our hearts and shine its light in dark places!

Martha Towle, in her book “The History of Franklin,” tells us that the Congregational Church of Franklin organized on October 9, 1817 with 14 charter members. Deacon John Webster’s family of six made up almost half of the congregation. Back in those early days, the church did not have an installed pastor, but instead relied on pastors from neighboring towns and itinerate preachers passing through.

Between the years of 1817 and 1820, on every fourth Sunday, the church was blessed to hear the venerable gospel preaching of Rev. Benjamin Wooster from the Congregational Church of Fairfield, Vermont. His labors were most abundant and to an uncommon degree successful. During the 29 years of his active ministry in Franklin county, from 1804 to 1833, he preached at least 4100 sermons and assisted in more church councils than any other man in the state. The Franklin church paid Rev. Wooster the whopping sum of six dollars a Sunday for guest preaching.

All of this took place in the little village schoolhouse because a proper meeting house was not erected until 1827. The Congregationalists joined in with the Baptists, Methodists, and Unitarian-Universalists in an unlikely union of ecumenical enthusiasm and constructed the current building that you see through the northside windows. The meeting house was dedicated in 1828 and Rev. Wooster came back to preach the inaugural sermon. The four denominations had equal right and responsibility for the building, until the Baptists and UU’s disbanded. The Congregationalists and Methodists shared it until 1856 when the Congregational Society bought the shares of the other pew owners and came to have sole ownership of the building.

It wasn’t until 1845 that the Congregational Church of Franklin called its first full-time pastor. The Rev. Lyndon S. French was installed and offered an annual salary of $350 to be paid as follows:

One-fourth to be paid in cash and the other three-fourths in good merchantable grain. Provided that should we fail at any further time to raise for your salary the above sum…you shall be at liberty to go abroad for the purpose of obtaining the amount, in time proportionate the deficiency which may arise.

Now before any of you get any bright ideas or start complaining about the salary of your current pastoral staff, by the time you make all the adjustments for inflation and multiply it by the present price of grain and add in the amount that I could be making from a side job at five hours a week, according to my calculations, I should be drawing a salary somewhere in the vicinity of $217,000, which is a rather ironic number considering it is the year 2017. (OK, I’ll admit that math may be a little rough. But if you promise not to check that math, I’ll promise not to ask for a raise!)

Anyway, Rev. French served the church for nearly sixteen years and continued to reside in Franklin until his death in 1879. As far as I can tell from the church records, Rev. French’s “nearly sixteen years” is the longest tenured pastorate in the church’s 200-year history. In just two more years, I will supplant him for this honor!

It was Rev. French who gave me the idea for this morning’s sermon text and title. Way back in 1845, Rev. French described the Congregational Church of Franklin as “united though feeble.” That was an accurate and honest appraisal! The church never had a membership larger than 50 during its first 80 years. We know that the church reached 82 members in 1914 before dropping down to 77 members when it celebrated its centennial on October 9, 1917. In the mid-1880’s, the church almost decided to disband; but hearing that a new Congregational family was coming to town they decided to wait a little bit longer. Frank and Florence Hopkins and their four daughters moved to town and helped revive the church.

During the early 1900’s the church relied on student pastors and visiting ministers, and when it didn’t have one of these, layman Charles W. Gates usually read a sermon. For some of that time, the church had the privilege of hearing the sermons of Dr. Donald Sage McKay of the Broadway Tabernacle in New York City. His secretary, Miss Addie Stowe, who was a member of this church, obtained permission from her famous employer to do an extra carbon copy of each sermon for the little church in Franklin; and it was read, here, as Dr. McKay was preaching it in New York.

Then in 1921, after a little more than a hundred years, the Congregational Church of Franklin decided to federate with the Methodist Church next door. For the next 65 years the Franklin Federated Church rotated between Congregational and Methodist pastors every three years. But on May 25, 1986, under the leadership of Rev. Rick Eschenburg, the two federated churches voted to form The Franklin United Church, with dual membership in boththe Congregational and Methodist conferences, thus allowing a pastor to stay longer than three years.

You have already heard some wonderful reflections from the past four pastors, and I must add that I am so thankful to have served as your pastor over the past 14 years. Even in my brief tenure, I have watched the church change in many ways, and yet in other ways, it hasn’t changed much in the past 200 years. I smile every time I think about Rev. French’s remark “united though feeble.” Yes, we are still united! We are still feeble! But we are also still faithful!

            So, on this day when the Franklin United Church celebrates 200 years of gospel ministry in this community, I have chosen Psalm 90 for my sermon text. Psalm 90 is the oldest Psalm in the Psalter and it is the only one written by Moses. I suspect that he wrote it toward the end of his life after he led the “united though feeble” people of Israel through forty years of wandering through the wilderness. It is the perfect Psalm for such an occasion as this because it addresses the topic of time. It has a past, present, and future flow to it. It contrasts the eternality of God with the brevity of human life and then offers a prayer for God’s mercy and blessing into the future.

The Eternality of God (1-2, 4)

The Psalm begins with the beautiful reflection: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place through all generations. Moses was the one who wrote the first five books of the Bible. He was familiar with the stories of God creating and sustaining the earth. He knew how sin entered the world and brought death and destruction. He also knew how God chose Abraham to be the father of many nations and use his offspring to bring redemption to the world. Moses personally experienced God as his dwelling place throughout his generation.

Verses 2 and 4 focus on God’s eternality. He always was and always will be. Nothing came before God; not even the age-old mountains. He existed outside of time before he created time! He is from everlasting to everlasting—that is why a thousand years seem like a day to him.

As we reflect on the Franklin United Church existing for the past 200 years, we must realize that even this is just a tiny blip on God’s timescale. And yet, our church can agree with Moses that God has been our dwelling place through all generations. We read this is the church’s history and we continue to experience it today.

            Think about this for a moment! How has God been your dwelling place throughout your life? Some of us are older than others and we have more occasions to count how God has blessed us. Unlike my wife, I am still in my thirties. I haven’t lived that long (and I probably won’t after that remark), but even I, in my youth, can’t begin to count how many times God has provided for my needs, delivered me from danger, and redeemed me from my dumb decisions and dreadful sins. How has God proven his faithfulness to you over the years?

The Brevity of Life (3, 5-11)

After Moses establishes the eternality of God, he contrasts it with the brevity of human life. In verse 3, he offers a sobering reminder that all people will one day return to the dust from whence we came. Verses 5-6 remind us that our lives are swept away quickly as in a flood. They are like the desert grass that springs out of the morning dew but is scorched by the afternoon sun and is completely withered away by evening.

The brevity of life and the certainty of death are caused by sin. Because of Adam’s sin, we are all subject to God’s anger and the curse of death. This is why we have so many hardships in life. This is why “we bring our years to an end with a sigh” as it says in verse 9. And look at verse 10—most people only live into their seventies or eighties, and many of these years are filled with toil and trouble. Human life on earth isn’t very long, is it? And Moses warns us that because of our own sins, even our secret sins that we try to hide, we are objects of God’s wrath.

These verses are awfully sobering, aren’t they? We live in an age when people think they are invincible. With all of our scientific and medical advances, we tend to think that age and disease will never catch us. It is astounding to me that so many people are surprised when they are diagnosed with cancer or a loved one dies—what did we think was going to happen? Moses helps us reckon with the certainty of death and the brevity of life!

            He also helps us reckon with the reality of God’s wrath. People don’t like to think or talk about God’s wrath today. Instead, people like to focus on God’s love and peace. But what many people don’t realize is that God’s wrath and love are intricately linked together. His love would actually be cheapened if he wasn’t a God of wrath. You see, his wrath is rooted in his justice. If God did not punish sin and evil, he would not be just. And if he was not just, he would not and could not be God. But here is where the miracle of the gospel comes in: Yes, God has to punish us for our sin and evil to maintain his justice. But he loved us so much that he sent his only Son Jesus to earth to die on the cross and pay the punishment for our sins! You see, God’s justice and mercy, his wrath and love kiss at the cross!

            Friends, this is the gospel that the Franklin United Church has proclaimed for the past 200 years! It is the gospel that it still proclaims today! We are all going to die someday! Have you received the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all your sins? We don’t have forever to make this decision!

A Prayer for God’s Mercy and Blessing (12-17)

This is precisely why Moses begins the final section of this hymn with the memorable petition: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (12) God is eternal but human life is short: Therefore, we must make the most of the time God has given us while we are on earth!

From there Moses presents a series of pleas on behalf of God’s people. In light of the brevity of life, he prays for God to: “satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love…make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us…let your work be shown to your servants…let the favor of the Lord be upon us…and establish the work of our hands.”

            Yes, on this day when we celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the Franklin United Church, this is my prayer for our church as we march into the future! But it is also my prayer for each one of us as individuals, as a community, and as a nation! May the Lord satisfy us with his steadfast love! And may he establish the work of our hands!

*Reformation 500: Exploring the Traditions of Protestantism – Part 2*

            For just a moment, imagine that it’s a little past 9 a.m. on a lazy Saturday morning. You are sitting at your kitchen table with a steaming cup of coffee and your favorite newspaper in hand. NPR’s “Morning Edition” is playing in the background, but you aren’t really paying attention. Instead, you’re wishing it was 10 a.m. so “Car Talk” would come on and offer you some comedic relief from the depressing headlines. Then, just as you take the last bite of your breakfast bagel, you hear an unexpected knock at your front door. You wonder who it could be and what they want. And you’re feeling somewhat annoyed that someone has decided to interrupt your weekly devotional ritual of current events. As you dawdle toward the door, you become even more perturbed because you realize that you are still wearing your pajamas.

            When you finally open the door, you behold a balding fat man in a black polyester suit and suspenders. Do you see him standing there? An overzealous smile on his face and a huge suitcase in his right hand! With a slow southern drawl, he exclaims: “Good morning! My name is brother Jethro and I am here to sell you the greatest treasure in the world. I have the Word of God in 23 different types and translations.” As he opens his case and shows you a stack of the thickest Bibles you’ve ever seen, he shouts, “I’ve got the NIV, ESV, RSV, NRSV, NLT, and the good old-fashioned King James (Authorized) Version for those Shakespearian types. I even have the Joel Osteen Study Bible which comes with a double your money back guarantee. And, by the way, it’s your lucky day! All Bibles are 25% off, today only! Do you mind if I come in for a while and show you my inventory?”

            Stop! What is going through your mind right now? Do you let him in or not? How would you respond to this travelling salesman offering you a copy of the Word of God, at a discounted price no less?

            That’s right! Many of us would conjure up some reason for not letting him in. The easiest (and most pious) excuse would be, “No thanks mister, I already have a Bible, but come to think of it, I’m pretty sure my neighbors across the street don’t have one.”

            Most of us do own at least Bible, don’t we? It is easy to forget just how blessed we are to own a personal copy of God’s Word that has been translated into our language. Likewise, it’s easy to take for granted that we attend a church where the Bible is read and explained every Sunday. Throughout the Middle Ages, most people in the world were not so fortunate. They didn’t have access to the Bible in their homes and they didn’t even hear sermons in a language they could understand. The priests spoke the Mass in Latin, the language of the church. But they needed the Word of God in the language of the people! Thankfully, this began to change with the help of a man named Peter Waldo, who lived from A.D. 1140-1217.

Peter Waldo and the Waldensians

Peter Waldo was a wealthy and educated merchant from Lyons, France, a busy commerce city famous for its silk. He was extremely successful in business, but he was not selfish or greedy. He was known in Lyons for his kindness and generosity. One evening, something happened that caused him to become concerned about the condition of his soul. He was visiting with some friends, when after supper, one of the men suddenly collapsed and died. This immanent encounter with death left a tremendous impression upon him, and he began to seek for truth.

Waldo asked the Roman Catholic priests, “How can I become righteous before God?” The priests, however, could not answer his question. He knew he was a sinner; his conscience told him so. He also knew he was not ready to die, but when he asked the priests what he had to do to be saved, he was not satisfied with their answers.

The Bible held the answers to Waldo’s questions, but he did not own his own Bible. Rich as he was, he did not have the greatest of treasures. The few copies of the Bible that did exist in those days were kept in libraries that common people were not allowed to visit. Besides, they were written in Latin, and few people could read even their own language, let alone Latin.  But after some time, Waldo was finally able to buy a Bible. It cost him a lot of money, but he didn’t mind, for in its pages he found the way of salvation. He learned that he could only approach God through the Mediator, Jesus Christ, who had already paid the penalty for his sins. The only way he could be righteous before God and escape eternal damnation was to trust in the grace of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. As Waldo received Christ’s salvation, the burden lifted from his soul. He felt like a new man. Before, he was confused and troubled; now he was peaceful and glad.

Waldo had always been known for his kindness, but now he became concerned about the souls of the people. The Bible taught him how to be saved, and now he longed to tell others the good news. He began to visit people, telling them what God says in his Word. In contrast to the Raman Catholic church, he told them that God only requires repentance and faith in his Son; their good works could not save them! Many people came to Christ under Waldo’s preaching.

Still, Waldo wished the Bible could be translated into the language of the people. At that time, the Roman Catholic church did not want the Bible to be written in the language of the people. They told the people that only the priests were wise enough to understand the Bible and the common people wouldn’t be able to understand it anyway. Waldo disagreed! He believed that the people should be able to read it for themselves. We are not sure if Waldo himself translated the Bible into French, or if he hired scholars to do it for him. Most likely, they worked on it together.

It was a huge undertaking, but after having read the Bible himself, Waldo was convinced that it was necessary. Finally, it was finished. This was the first translation of the Bible into a modern language. What a gift this was for the people of France! Still, it could not be distributed to very many people because the printing press wasn’t invented yet. Each copy had to be hand written. This took many long hours and was very expensive. But Waldo was so determined to teach people the way of salvation that he gave copies away at his own expense. Many people discovered the treasure of the Word of God because of his efforts.

You would think that the Roman Catholic Church would have appreciated Peter Waldo’s ministry of distributing the Word of God to the people, but this was not the case. The archbishop warned, “If you continue to preach, I will have you condemned as a heretic and burned at the stake.” Waldo replied, “How can I be silent in a matter that concerns the souls of men?”

In 1184, Pope Lucius III anathemized Peter Waldo, which means he proclaimed that they were accursed. He ordered the archbishop to stop Waldo from preaching and giving out Bible’s to the people. So, Waldo was forced to flee the city, but as he went from place to place, he taught people about the Bible. Despite being pursued, Waldo’s enemies failed to kill him. God protected him so that he could preach the gospel in several other countries. He finally went to live in Bohemia, where he died peacefully around the year 1217.

Before Waldo died, he and his followers joined up with a long-standing group of Christians in the Italian Alps who had never agreed with the Roman Catholic Church. They shared Waldo’s beliefs and were willing together to spread the good news. As the groups formed, they became known as the Waldensians.

Peter Waldo and the Waldensians planted the early seeds of the Protestant Reformation. They had a profound influence on the Bohemian reformer Jan Hus, the German Martin Luther, and many of the Swiss reformers. Most of the Waldensians eventually merged with either the Presbyterian or Methodist churches in subsequent centuries, but there are still about 20,000 members of the Waldensian church around the world today.

More to Be Desired than Gold (Psalm 19)

Peter Waldo discovered the meaning of the middle section of Psalm 19, which praises God for his glorious Word, and he made it his life goal to introduce others to the benefits of reading the Bible. Many years later, C.S. Lewis wrote of Psalm 19: “I take this to be the greatest poem in the Psalter, and one of the greatest lyrics in the world. (Reflections on the Psalms).

Psalm 19 is a poem or hymn written by King David to praise God for the primary ways he reveals himself to us: through creation (the natural world) and through the written Word of God (the Bible). Verses 1-6 paint a beautiful picture of how God declares his glory and speaks to his people through the sky, sun, and moon. In verses 7-11, David moves from macrocosm to microcosm and highlights the purpose and benefits of the written Word. For the heavens declare the glory of God, but the law declares the will of God. Let’s look at these verses together!

Notice the subject of each clause “law, testimony, precepts, commandment, fear, rules.” They are listed in synonymous parallelism and all refer to God’s Word. At the time, it pointed specifically to the Torah or Law of Moses (the first 5 books of the Bible), but by extension, encompasses the whole Bible today. Likewise, the object of each clause is in parallel form, describing an aspect of God’s Word—“perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true.” Each clause ends by highlighting how God’s Word benefits human beings. It revives our souls! It makes us wise! It brings joy to our heart! It brings light to our eyes—which means it gives us direction in life! It endures forever—which means it is a permanent foundation for life! It brings righteousness altogether—right living before God and people.

David brings these descriptions and benefits of the Word of God to a climactic conclusion in verses 10-11. He likens the worth and desirability of God’s Word is to fine gold and the sweetest honey. God’s word is to be desired more than gold or honey or any of the other precious treasures for which humans strive so ardently. Why? Because God’s Word gives us the warnings we need to live a life without regrets. Indeed, there is great reward for honoring God’s Word in every aspect of our lives!

            Well, there you have it! God’s Word is to be desired more than gold because it is the greatest treasure of all! It is worth more than all the monetary and material wealth in the world! So, let me conclude by asking: Do you own a Bible? Do you read the Bible? Do you meditate on its meaning and apply its wisdom to your life? Do you see how it points you to your need for a savior and redemption through God’s Son Jesus Christ?

            If you don’t have a Bible, let me be your Peter Waldo and I will get you one! If you already have one, read it! Read it in the morning! Read it in the evening! Read it on your lunch break! Read it before you go to bed at night! Read it to your children! Read it to your grandchildren! Read it to whomever will listen!

            Let us express our gratitude to God for the gift of his Word in our own language! How should we do this? Read it!!!

*Reformation 500: Exploring the Traditions of Protestantism – Part 1*

As most of you already know, there are three main branches of the Christian church: The Roman Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox, and the Protestant Church. Many of you grew up in the Roman Catholic Church and you are familiar with the language of Pope, priests, nuns, the mass, the missal, and the host. Most of you, I presume, are not very familiar with the Eastern Orthodox Church. Even though it is the second biggest church body in the world, it is largely limited to Greece, Russia, and Eastern European countries. That is why many of us here in North America are unfamiliar with terms like the Divine Liturgy, iconography, and the Holy Theotokos.

            The third and most diverse branch, the Protestant Church, is comprised of multiple denominational limbs: Episcopal, Lutheran, Reformed/Presbyterian, Congregational, Methodist, Baptist, and Pentecostal. Each one of these limbs has a myriad of twigs. For instance, the Baptist twigs include: Southern Baptists, Northern Baptists, American Baptists, Fundamentalist Baptists, Regular Baptists, Independent Baptists, Conservative Baptists, Free-Will Baptists, and Baptist General Conference, just to name a few. (I’ve been thinking about writing a book to sort out all these different types of Baptists. I already have a title picked out “Fifty Shades of Baptist.” It’s going to be a best seller!”)   

            Seriously though, in a world with so many different expressions of the Christian church, how do you know which one is right? How did they all get started? And how did it become this way? It is ironic that we use the phrase “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church” when we recite the Apostle’s Creed, and yet the church of Jesus Christ has never been more fragmented!

            I will address each of these questions and many more as we begin our fall sermon series titled “Reformation 500: Exploring the Traditions of Protestantism.” Over the next few months, we will dedicate each Sunday morning to learning about all the aforementioned denominations. I hope that this series will give us a better understanding of the diversity of the universal church and how we fit into the overall story. I also hope that this series will deepen our appreciation of various streams of Christianity. But to properly understand Protestantism, we must begin with the Roman Catholic Church.

The Rise of Roman Catholic Church

Any Roman Catholic theologian worth his salt would tell you that the Roman Catholic Church was instituted by Jesus Christ himself and then was propagated by the apostles, especially Peter, whom they consider the first pope. Now Jesus did in fact establish the Christian Church and Peter and the other apostles were responsible for the church multiplying and spreading throughout the world, but the church was not really Romanized until A.D. 312 when Emperor Constantine was converted to the Christian faith legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Throughout its first three centuries, the Christian church went through unimaginable persecution from the Roman Empire, though all the time growing and spreading. The first recorded official persecution of Christians was in AD 64, when Emperor Nero attempted to blame Christians for the Great Fire of Rome. It was during the reign of Nero that Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome. The most widespread persecution was carried out by Emperor Diocletian (303–311), who ordered Christian buildings and homes torn down and sacred books collected and burned. Christians were arrested, tortured, mutilated, burned, starved, and condemned to gladiatorial contests to amuse spectators.

So, imagine what an extraordinary turn of events it was when the Roman Emperor himself became a Christian. Within one person’s lifetime, the Roman Empire went from the most savage persecutions of Christians to fully embracing Christianity.

             At that time, the Empire was divided into three sectors and each one was governed by a rival Caesar, who all laid claim to the throne. Looking for a divine power to help him overcome his enemies, Constantine turned to the Christian God instead of the Roman pantheon of gods and goddesses whom previous emperors trusted.

            Constantine called on the one true God with earnest prayer to secure victory over his rival Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in A.D. 312. While he was praying, a most extraordinary sign appeared to him from heaven. At about noon, he saw with his own eyes the sign of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, “By this symbol you will conquer.” He was struck with amazement by the sight, and his whole army witnessed the miracle.

            He said that he was unsure what this vision could mean, but that while he continued to ponder, night suddenly came on. In his sleep, the Christ of God appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in the heavens, and commanded him to make a likeness of that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies. The sign was the Chi Rho, the first two letters of the name Christ in Greek. Constantine told his soldiers to paint this sign on their shields. And even though their army was outnumbered two to one, they were victorious. Maxentius was drowned in the Tiber river and Constantine became the first Christian Emperor.

            Immediately following his victory, he invited Christian ministers to teach him the ways of Christ. Throughout the rest of his life, he embarked upon changes that made it easier for Christians to flourish in the Roman Empire, including:

• Issued the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, which legalized Christianity in the empire.
• Ended widespread persecution of Christians.
• Stopped the barbaric gladiatorial games.
• Abolished crucifixion.
• Established Sunday as a day of rest.
• Gave massive amounts of money for constructing church buildings.
• Developed vast programs to feed and clothe the poor.
• Commissioned copies of the Bible for all the new churches.
• Assisted bishops in establishing Christian orthodoxy and settling theological disputes.
• Convened and presided over the Council of Nicaea which produced the Nicene Creed, thus affirming Jesus’ divinity.

            Emperor Constantine was the preeminent person responsible for uniting the Christian Church and the Roman Empire, thus leading the rise of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Fall of the Roman Catholic Church

But just as Christianity had an incredible impact on the Roman Empire, the Roman Empire exerted considerable influence on the Christian church. This is always one of the unintended consequences of aligning with political power; you become what you serve. Over the next 1000 years, as the Roman Catholic Church grew into one of the wealthiest and most powerful institutions in history, it drifted away from the Word of God. Throughout the Middle Ages, the church embraced more and more of the world and began to look less and less holy. Cardinals undercut (and sometimes even murdered) each other to become Pope. Archbishops abused their authority to confiscate land and make themselves rich. Bishops forsook their vows of celibacy and took mistresses and had children out of wedlock. And many priests died from complications brought on by syphilis.

During these dark ages, going through the motions of the eucharistic mass became more important than preaching the Word of God and biblical instruction. Praying to patron saints was often substituted for praying to Jesus. And the sale of indulgences began—where the priests told the church members that if they gave enough money to the church they could purchase the souls of loved ones from purgatory and then they could finally rest in heaven. The life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ became buried under the rubble of religious rules, rites, and rituals.

Now please don’t misunderstand me—I am not denigrating the Roman Catholic Church. Personally, I have a deep appreciation for it and it accomplished many great things for Christ during this time. I am just showing how it slid off track in some of its doctrines and practices and how they led to the spiritual conditions that necessitated a Reformation.

Do Not Love the World (1 John 2:15-17)

In a nutshell, the Roman Catholic Church fell into the spiritual trap that the Apostle John cautioned about in his first epistle, which was a pastoral letter written to counteract false teaching in the church. In 1 John 2:15-17, he flat out warns:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the father but from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

John is declaring that two choices stand before everyone—even in the church: Either we love the Father or we love the world. When he uses the word “world”, he can mean the created material universe which is good or the world of sin that stands in opposition to God. Here it represents the unredeemed world, a world under the control of Satan; it lives in darkness and is the object of God’s judgment. To John, the material world is good and will be renewed someday. Yet there are those within it who succumb to sinful impulses and reject God—these will not abide with God forever.

John has in mind that individual Christians are to avoid an infatuation with worldly godlessness, with the realm of darkness that brings illicit pleasures; hence, the desires of the “flesh” and “eyes” that he mentions here. The “pride of life” refers to an attitude of pretentious arrogance or subtle elitism that comes from one’s view of wealth, rank, or status in society. It is an overconfidence that makes us lose any notion of dependence on God. To summarize, John is saying that affection for this world is incompatible with the true love of the Father. (Burge 116-117).

            John’s warning here is not only meant for the Roman Catholic Church; it is meant for all branches of the Christian church. It is meant for the East Franklin Union and Franklin United Churches. It is meant for all Christians in every age.

            We always have the same choice standing before us: Am I going to love God and the things of God or am I going to love the world and the things of the world? Are we, as Christ’s church, going to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word in all aspects of life or are we going to allow the world to redefine our views of morality, sexuality, and spirituality? Are we going to love Jesus with all our hearts or are we going to waste our time chasing wealth, status, power, and popularity? Are we going to focus our time and energy on following Jesus closer or are we going to follow the desires of our flesh? Are we going to rely on the Father’s grace and wisdom or are we going to get puffed up on the pride of life and insist on doing things on our own terms? Are we willing to give up trying to control our lives and determining our own destinies? Whatever you do, don’t let the world influence you away from the kingdom of God!

            Friends, this world is passing away! Let us make sure that we don’t pass away with it! If you haven’t already, commit your life to Jesus Christ today! If you have fallen away from him, come back before it is too late. If you have stumbled into some sinful trap, confess your sin to God and turn away from it! Then run back to Jesus’ arms of forgiveness! For this is the only way that we can prevail over the world—as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church of Jesus Christ!

Perhaps some of you are familiar with a story that took place years ago on the Great Plains of Kansas. It was a sweltering summer day on the farm when a cluster of dark clouds drifted across the sky and soon eclipsed the afternoon sun. The wind whipped up from the west and sent a shivering howl across the wheat fields. Henry and the farmhands saw the gloomy formation and hurried to corral the livestock into the barn. Emily was in the house closing the shutters when her fearful eyes became fixed on the funnel cloud at close distance, stretching from the heavens to the earth. They all knew what was about to happen, and it sent cold chills down their spines.

            Henry shouted for everyone to take shelter in the underground bunker. But in a matter of minutes, chaos ensued! Trees uprooted! Debris scattered through the air! When Henry finally reached the foxhole, he thought the whole family was safe inside. But his face turned pale when he realized that his little niece was still in the house, probably locked in her bedroom. He tried to push the hatch open and attempt a rescue, but the wind resisted with all its might. He finally lifted it high enough to squeeze out. But as he stood up and looked, his soul sunk into his stomach. The wind shook the house off its foundation and lofted it into the sky. He watched in petrified horror. There was nothing he could do!

            When the house finally hit the ground, it was a miracle that it remained intact. Even more miraculously, the little girl, apart from being dazed and disoriented, was unharmed. As a matter of fact, there was only one casualty from this calamity, and it was the cause for jubilant celebration: The Wicked Witch was dead! Young Dorothy was declared the liberator of Munchkin Land and she inherited the witch’s coveted ruby slippers.

            From there, Dorothy embarked upon a quest toward the Emerald City in hopes that the wonderful Wizard of Oz would help her return to her home in Kansas. Her journey along the yellow brick road led her through curious farm country, an ornery apple orchard, and a spooky forest riddled with lions and tigers and bears. Oh my! But in the end, the wizard turned out to be a fraud and could not aid her at all. In that final iconic cinematic scene, the good witch Glinda appeared and told Dorothy that all she had to do was close her eyes, tap her ruby slippers three times, and think to herself: “There’s no place like…home.”

            There is a lot of truth in that line! I suppose there are some adventurous souls in this world who always like to be on the go, but in my experience, most human beings have a deep connection with this place we call home. Whether we are referring to our hometown or house or our family, there is just something safe and calming about home. Sleeping in a hotel is fine for a while, but there is just something about sleeping in your own bed and laying your head on your own pillow. Eating out at restaurants is great, but it loses its luster after a while. There is just something comforting about a “home-cooked” meal! Likewise, I suspect that we are all grateful for clean public restrooms (especially here in the USA where we don’t have to pay a fee), but I will be the first one to admit that there is just something soothing about sitting on your own toilet!

            Do you all know what I mean? Have you ever had that feeling where it is good to go but even better to get home? This is precisely the feeling that I experienced during my sabbatical travels!

Now don’t misunderstand me—the expedition exceeded my expectations! The beauty of six different countries with vastly different cultures was amazing! Walking around Stonehenge and climbing the Great Wall of China—two of the ancient wonders of the world—was astonishing! Touring Europe’s medieval castles and majestic cathedrals was magnificent! Viewing the architectural masterpieces like the 700-year-old Charles Bridge and the 1000-year-old Westminster Abbey was marvelous.

            Bicycling the rolling mountains of southern Quebec and the rocky seacoast of Massachusetts was breathtaking. Swimming in the blue ocean waters at Southbourne Beach on the English Channel and Singing Beach in Manchester-by-Sea was delightful! Attending Dvorjack’s opera “Rusalka” in Prague, a J.S. Bach concert in Leipzig, a Telemann Cantata in Eisenach, and the musicals “Wicked” and the “Wind in the Willows” in London’s west end were artistically inspiring. Worshipping at Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reformed, Congregational, Methodist, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches was spiritually and liturgically enriching.

            And I haven’t even mentioned the culinary delights yet: Czech sausages and bread dumplings, German schnitzel and sauerkraut, English fish and chips, Pittsburgh perogies, Tennessee pork BBQ and peach cobbler, and I will forget the Chinese donkey burgers and octopus bites. And I must send a shout out to my new favorite food in the world—Lobsta mac and cheese from the Lobsta Shack in Salem, MA!!

            As I said, the sabbatical expedition was extraordinary, but I want you all to know that I am so happy to be home! Europe and China were great, but there’s no place like home! All those other churches were wonderful to visit, but there’s no place like home!

            This sensation of home is not a new phenomenon—it at least goes back to biblical times, maybe even further. The writer of Hebrews highlights the connection between a sense of home and a life of faith this in chapter 11, which is nicknamed the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” Let’s take a look!

Seeking a Homeland (Hebrews 11)

Hebrews 11 begins with what has become the classic definition of faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (1) The author declares that faith is a belief beyond what can be proved by our senses. It is a confidence in something that cannot be seen by the human eye, heard by the ear, tasted with the tongue, smelled by the nose, or touched by the hand. No one would ever say that they have faith in the moon because we can see it glimmer in the night sky. But a person with more faith than me might say, “I believe that the New England Patriots are going to overcome a 28-3 halftime deficit to the Atlanta Falcons and win the Super Bowl.” There was no tangible proof or historical precedent for such a belief, and yet a slim possibility existed. Faith is the conviction of things unseen.

This is precisely the type of faith that the author of Hebrews asserts as a condition for pleasing God. Look at verse 6: “And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” The author asserts God and God’s character as the object of faith—belief in the existence of God even though there is no tangible proof. In addition to God’s existence, a belief in his benevolence is a necessary component of pleasing him!

This is a good place for us to pause and ask: Do I really believe in God? Do I believe in a being that I have never seen with my eyes or handled with my hands? Do I really believe that he cares for me and has my best interest in mind? Do I really believe that he loves me? Maybe there is someone here today who has never fully grappled with these questions. If you haven’t, I encourage you to do so! Also, for those of us who call ourselves Christians, it is good for us to periodically check in with our claims to faith. Do I really believe?

On both sides of this declaration, the author highlights a list of biblical characters who exhibited tremendous faith. Like walking through the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame or the Rock and Roll Hall of fame and seeing the greatest athletes and musicians, Hebrews 11 strolls us through some of the greatest heroes of faith in history. In verse 4, we see Abel and Cain. Do you remember them—blood brothers? Both were supposed to offer an acceptable sacrifice to God, but only Abel believed that God would reward him. Even though he was senselessly murdered, his faith still speaks today! In verse 5, we see Enoch, that wonderful man who walked with God and was immediately taken to God’s presence without tasting death. His faith is still speaking too. In verse 7, we see that boat builder Noah. When God told him to construct an ark even though there was no apparent threat of flood, he believed God and did what he was told. And Noah’s faith still speaks every time we see a rainbow in the sky.

Then in verses 8-12, we see a portrait of Abraham, who is perhaps the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all time). Abraham’s faith in God was displayed in multiple ways throughout his lifetime. When God told him to leave his hometown and move to a land that he had never seen, he left his sense of home and belonging behind and trusted God’s plan for his life. When he was almost 100 years old, God showed him the night sky and told him that his descendants would outnumber the stars and grains of sand on the seashore. Even though this claim was beyond belief, Abraham believed God’s promise! And after he had Isaac, the son of promise who would carry on his family legacy, God told him to sacrifice his own son. Once again, Abraham believed in God’s benevolence and was willing follow through with the sacrifice. Do you have that kind of faith?

Each one of these folks displayed genuine faith in God and his character. Most of them did not get to experience everything that God has promised in this life, but they believed that God would keep his word and fulfill his plan even after they died. As it says in verse 13, they acknowledged the fact that they were only strangers and exiles on the earth. They knew this world wasn’t their true home—they were only pilgrims passing through! If they had been so attached to the comfort of their homes here on earth, they never would have had the faith to believe God’s promises or follow his call. But thankfully, they desired a better country—a heavenly one. And God has prepared them one.

            Do you see what verses 13-16 are trying to tell us? Like our biblical forefathers, we are called to a life of faith! When God promises us something or calls us to do something—even when it doesn’t make sense—we must decide whether we are going to trust him. Although many of us can echo the sense of settled comfort we find in our home and community here, we must remember that this world is not our home. We, too, are just pilgrims passing through. Don’t ever let your love for the things of this world blind you from the bliss of the world to come! Don’t ever let your desires for temporal happiness get in the way of the eternal joy we can experience in heaven!

            But right now, we cannot see heaven with our eyes or touch it with our hands. We must believe that God is preparing a heavenly city for those who put their faith in his Son, the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ. Do you believe this? Do you believe God’s promise of heaven?

            After a long summer of traveling this world, I am so glad to be home. And if it feels this good to get back to my earthly home, I can only imagine what it will be like when I finally reach my heavenly home.

            As I conclude this morning, will you please bow your heads and close your eyes for a moment. And then I want you to think about heaven—a place where there is no more tears, pain, or death. And then I ask you to tap your heels together three times and repeat these words, “There’s no place like…heaven. There’s no place like…heaven. There’s no place like…heaven.”