Intro: Even in healthy families, there are sometimes differences of opinion: Which is more important—cleaning the house or mowing the yard? Is it better to save something that might be used later on, or to save space and be more organized by throwing it away? Is it better to put money in a savings account or to spend it on something that the family really needs? Healthy families have learned that conflict in itself is not necessarily bad. It’s all about how you deal with it.
Healthy, growing churches sometimes experience conflict as well. What is the best way to manage the growth? How can we change what we do and how we do it in order to better meet the needs of all our members and people in the community? Here again, there may be legitimate differences of opinion. These “growing pains” might be somewhat disconcerting, but they are better than the alternative! This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t always strive for unity, but show me a church where there is absolutely no conflict, and I’ll show you a church where there is nothing going on!
In our Bible passage for today, Jesus brings out an uncomfortable fact that for many is a painful reality: When he came into this world to be our Savior, his coming would brought about division and conflict—even within families! It is a joyful time when, through the proclamation of the Gospel, someone comes to faith in the Lord Jesus. That person’s life has changed. They are different. But what happens when the people around him or her (the family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers) don’t understand or accept what has happened? It causes all kinds of grief and sadness... and sometimes things that are even worse. This is something more than simply a difference of opinion. It is a serious and potentially eternal separation.
Yet, even this painful reality has a positive side. If God wasn’t doing anything in our lives in the first place, we wouldn’t be so different. If God wasn’t changing us, nobody would notice us; we wouldn’t stand out!
A) WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
1) Not that we are perfect; we are, like the rest of the world, conceived and born in sin. We are not “better” than anyone else! God loves all people, and is willing to forgive them for the sake of his Son, Jesus, who died for the sins of the world… (see John 3:16!). He does not desire the death of any sinner. It grieves him bitterly that not everyone will look to him for their life and salvation.
As Christians we are sometimes characterized as “holier that thou” by our non-Christian neighbors. (Do you remember Saturday Night Live’s “Church Lady”, who delighted in feeling superior to others?) We have to be realistic and confess that perhaps this reputation is in some ways deserved because of our attitudes and actions towards non-Christians. This is a sad reality, however, because this is not what really separates us from them.
If we have a friend or family member who isn’t a Christian, the place to begin with them is not by constantly harping on their unchristian behavior. (It is foolish to criticize people for not being something that they honestly aren’t!) They know all too well that we aren’t perfect ourselves, and can easily spot the inconsistencies between what we say and what we do.
Other false distinctions (besides the myth that Christians are perfect) can include the use of specialized jargon or unfamiliar customs. You don’t have to be German or Scandinavian to be a good Lutheran, and you don’t necessarily need to punctuate every sentence with an “Amen” or “Praise the Lord”. No, what makes us different does not lie in whatever language or traditions we use...
2) But that we know and trust in God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Faith in the Gospel: The church is defined as all—and only—those who trust in God for forgiveness, life, and salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. (By his suffering and death on the cross, Jesus took upon himself all my sin and guilt, and his righteousness is now given to me as a free gift. Everyone who believes this is a member of the Christian Church.)
The Means of Grace: The marks of the church are the Word (purely and correctly taught in its fullness) and the Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, rightly administered according to Christ’s command and institution.) Through these “means” God creates in our hearts the faith which trusts in what Christ alone to redeem us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
Illustration: On one of his old history books, someone once wrote, “In case of famine, eat this book; it’s full of baloney! In case of flood, stand on this book; it’s dry!” The world sees the Bible in much the same way: an outdated and often erroneous history book. But we know better! The Bible is centered in Christ Jesus, who is the “Word made flesh.” Through its main teachings of Law and Gospel the Bible truly can makes us “wise for salvation” through faith in Christ—it is useful for instructing us in every aspect of Christian life. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? (Jer. 23:29) “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12) “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming … Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Rom. 10:8,17)
The Fruit of Faith. As believers read, study, and gather to hear God’s Word, as we live in our Baptism by daily repentance, and as we receive the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis, it cannot help but make a difference in the way we think, talk, and act. As we spend time with others who share our faith, we can learn from them and can begin to imitate their behavior. Through the trials and hardships of life, God disciplines us and produces fruit in our lives: a “harvest of peace and righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11) It is important to remember, though, that all these things are a work in progress, and the progress is sometimes difficult to see right away.
- We enjoy fellowship with other Christians.
- We develop a habit of prayer.
- We strive to use our gifts for God’s glory.
- We praise God in music and song, and with the arts.
- We love others and do what we can to help those in need.
- We make spreading the Gospel a priority and long for our Savior’s return.
- We look at life differently.
Keep in mind that none of the fruits of faith are really at the heart of the difference—they are simply results. If we are truly different, it is because Jesus was different! He is the "Author and perfecter of our faith."
B) WHAT MAKES JESUS DIFFERENT
1) Jesus is God. He was God from eternity. All that exists was made through him. He is without beginning and without end. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere at once. He is holy. He is so different from us that in order for him to become our Savior, he had to do something truly unique:
2) Jesus became man. He took upon himself our human flesh and blood. He became like us in every way with one important difference: he knew no sin. He never had a sinful thought, word, or deed. Not even once! This made him different, even though he was the same. This caused him to win many friends who saw admirable qualities in him. It also caused bitter opposition.
3) Jesus provoked enemies. One thing that stands out is that Jesus did not come to be popular. There were many people who followed him. Some followed him for the wrong reasons only to become disappointed in him later on and turn against him. Some were offended by the harsh things he said. Others were perplexed by his non-conformity to some of their traditions. Some were jealous or afraid of him and opposed him from the beginning. In the midst of all this, Jesus did not let popularity—or the lack of it—distract him from his mission.
Jesus came to be more than just a buddy. He was on a collision course with the forces of evil that were opposed to him, and he was not going to back down. Jesus said, “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!” By this he meant his sacrificial suffering and death in our place, as our substitute. Jesus’ enemies would appear to gain the upper hand. He would be captured, tried, sentenced, beaten, mocked, and crucified. The wonderful and miraculous irony of the whole situation was that as a result of what took place at the hands of his enemies, God would bring about our very salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection!
4) There is no substitute for Jesus. Many people today try to combine Christ with other religions or philosophies. This can never work, because it’s kind of like oil or water…they just don’t mix. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, New Age Spirituality, or any other “ism” can never be successfully combined with Christ. they either reject Jesus or attempt to present him as a simply a good man. They do not confess him as the one and only Savior of the world, true God from eternity. They are, when it comes right down to it, religions of human works, not of God’s saving grace to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. If there were any way to rescue us from sin, death, and hell other than to offer up the life of his beloved Son in our place on the cross, God would not have deemed it necessary for Jesus to do what he did at all.
But is that all we can say about the subject? Is it simply “us” and “them”, separated for all eternity? Without a change, that is the where things are headed. But it doesn’t necessarily need to be that way!
C) HOW THROUGH CHRIST WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
When I was growing up as a pastor’s kid, I always felt singled out. People could easily identify me as a “Christian” because of my family. Although I thank God that I was raised in a Christian family, sometimes I wished I could hide and just “be like everyone else.” Many people live their Christian lives in the same way… they are like Nicodemus who only approached Jesus when no one else could see what he was doing. We are all a little guilty of being such “Jekyll and Hyde” Christians at one time or another. It’s so easy to try to blend in with the rest of the world. We rationalize our behavior and hide behind such phrases as “separation of church and state.” Why cause a big stir?
One time in high school, I went to Mexico on a band trip. Once we arrived, there was a delay due to difficulties with our living arrangements. Some people were getting pretty upset. One person asked me how I could take it all in stride. I mumbled some sort of lame explanation, but now I realize it could easily have been an opportunity for witness. I could have easily said something like, “Well, I know that God must be pretty patient with me!”
This event, and others, helped me realize how important it is to stand up for my faith, even if it means that conflict might result. For those who must face tension with an unbelieving friend or family member on a regular basis, here are some ways to cope:
-Above all else, stay true to your faith in God. Don’t let others sway you or pull you away.
-Learn to think of this hardship as a discipline, and let God use it to strengthen you.
-Take comfort in Christ, who himself suffered opposition for you.
-Make good use of your Christian brothers and sisters for support and encouragement.
-Realize that only God can change someone’s heart. As God’s Spirit leads, look for ways to let questions about the differences in your life be opportunities for witness to the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
As believers rub shoulders with unbelievers, there is friction that results. Sometimes sparks might even fly! But we can pray that by God’s grace, he would use one of those sparks to kindle the flame of faith in someone’s heart.
Conclusion: Yes, there is a division; a great and terrible divide. On the last day it will become an eternal divide. But for now, we live in the day of God’s grace. There is still time, and there is still hope. As individuals and as a church, let us fearlessly proclaim the Gospel of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation through Christ Jesus our Savior Lord.
One more story: there was a man from a foreign country who became a Christian. As a result his family disowned him completely. He left his home to become a missionary and someday return. Sadly, his father and mother died in the meantime without faith in Christ. But out of love and concern for people like them, this missionary was able to reach many others for Christ. We may not be able to win over all who are opposed to Christ, but as his love has its way with us, we can start to make a difference when and where he gives us the opportunity. Glory be to God! Amen.
