Scripture can be found here…
Our scripture passages this morning bring us back to the basics—the basics of our faith, as well as the basics underlying the Protestant Reformation. This was the period during which conflicts surrounding church doctrine caused a number of groups to break away, ultimately forming what came to be known as Protestant churches. In fact—today, October 31, in addition to being Halloween, is also the 504th anniversary of the date on which Martin Luther, who was an Augustinian monk and professor, is traditionally believed to have nailed a document to the door of the Wittenburg Cathedral containing 95 theses, statements of disagreement with the church. It’s not entirely clear that Luther did that—the hammer and nail part; but on this date he did publish his 95 statements, and he sought debate partners for a conversation about them. This was a big deal. Luther was a Roman Catholic clergyman, and he was publicly ready to say he disagreed with church teaching.
A high school friend tried to boil it down for me like this: He asked me, what was the purpose of God coming to us in Jesus Christ? And I said, Salvation. He said, Correct. Jesus is the intermediary between God and man. He’s the Son of God. He is the bridge across the divide. But, he said, the church at the time was teaching that it was the intermediary between Jesus Christ and man. (He meant “humanity.”)
So, hear again these words from the prophet Jeremiah. He makes it clear: God wants an intimate relationship with us, with God’s children. According to Jeremiah, God says,
… this is the covenant that I will make with my people: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
~Jeremiah 31:33
God wants nothing to separate us—not even law. Luther, John Calvin, and the other reformers felt that legalism was standing in the way of this exact direct relationship God longs for with humanity. And Mark beautifully describes the terms of the covenant: the terms are love. Loving God with all our heart and soul, mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. That’s it. Simple. Not always easy.
And everything else flows from that. How do we love our neighbors? All kinds of ways. Loving our neighbor means, not only not injuring them, but doing what is the best for them. It’s a reorientation of ourselves from focusing inward to focusing outward. I recently learned a new word to describe this: orthocardia. It means, having a “right heart.” Again. Simple. Not always easy. But doesn’t the love and goodness of God give us that nudge, make us want to love God in return, to love our neighbors. That’s what so many hymns are about, including one I love, and one we’re to turn to right now: “God Whose Giving Knows No Ending.”
Chris is going to play this hymn on the organ, and we are going to listen. While we are listening, I invite you to follow along with the lyrics—not singing, but just listening, reading, taking it in. I don’t know about you, but sometimes, when I’m singing I lose track of the words. This is an opportunity to focus in on the meaning. Now Chris will play.
1 God, whose giving knows no ending,
From your rich and endless store:
Nature's wonder, Jesus' wisdom,
Costly cross, grave's shattered door,
Gifted by You, we turn to You,
Off'ring up ourselves in praise;
Thankful song shall rise forever,
Gracious donor of our days.
2 Skills and time are ours for pressing
Toward the goals of Christ, Your Son:
All at peace in health and freedom,
Races joined, the Church made one.
Now direct our daily labor,
Lest we strive for self alone;
Born with talents, make us servants
Fit to answer at Your throne.
3 Treasure too You have entrusted,
Gain through powers Your grace conferred;
Ours to use for home and kindred,
And to spread the gospel Word.
Open wide our hands, in sharing,
As we heed Christ's ageless call,
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming,
Serving You by loving all.
What gifts from God are identified in this hymn?
So now, as in the past several weeks, you’ll have an opportunity to share your thoughts. The hymn identifies a number of gifts from God. Which do you recognize? What gifts from God are identified in this hymn?
What is the significance of the hymn’s title?
The hymn’s title has always struck me… tell me, what do you see as the significance of the title of the hymn?
Based on this hymn, what conclusions can we draw about stewardship?
What does this hymn imply or state outright about stewardship? Based on this hymn, and our conversation, what do you see as central to our understanding of stewardship?
God invites us into a covenant in which God’s law is written on our hearts, instead of out there in page after page of regulations. God invites us to join in that covenant on the simplest of terms: the terms of love, that reorientation of ourselves from focusing inward to focusing outward. Orthocardia: having a right heart. I invite us all, on this Reformation Sunday, to give thanks for the tradition in which we stand, and to remember always the lovingkindness of the God who longs for us. Please join me as we sing verse 3, the third verse of God Whose Giving Knows No Ending.
Treasure too You have entrusted,
Gain through powers Your grace conferred;
Ours to use for home and kindred,
And to spread the gospel Word.
Open wide our hands, in sharing,
As we heed Christ's ageless call,
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming,
Serving You by loving all.
Thanks be to God. Amen.