Where I am from in the Miramichi, we do not gather for anniversary services every year, so this is very much a new experience for me. But I do see myself as someone who has a strong connection with the past, especially with the worship and theology which was believed and followed of old. But the truth is the world is a far different place from the world into which this building was built, at Dominion Number 6 in 1914.
That was a crucial year in history. The liberal ideal of progress was dramatically shaken by the war that erupted in Europe in August 1914, a war which would claim 10 million lives. And from that rocky beginning we have moved on through eras of war and peace, of depression, recession and growth, we have seen a community rise and fall. I am but a new face in this community, a new voice in this chorus of faith that has existed in St. Luke’s.
Today I want to take you back to Jesus Sermon on the Mount. This morning, from Matthew’s gospel, we read the very last words of that important series of teachings of our Lord. Teachings which include the Beatitudes, the Lord’s prayer, the complete turning upside down of the Mosaic Law. The Sermon on the Mount is a call by Jesus to his disciples, a call to be something greater than what they are, a call for more than they had given, a call to go beyond the faith of the Pharisees, a call to be salt of the earth, to be a light on the hill.
And he begins by asking the question, “What is a true disciple?” He has been warning them. The gate is narrow. There are false prophets who will demand your attention. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing, entering the flock. “Who is the true disciple?” For Jesus makes it quite clear that there is more to discipleship that saying, I believe. There is more to being the church than pretty stained–glass windows. There is more to being the church than a beautiful organ and a choir to go with it. There is more to being the church than a steeple for all to see.
“Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my father in heaven.” (v.21) The confession, Jesus is Lord, is but the first step in our journey as disciples. But there is more. The name of Jesus, the word “church” on the side of the door, it does not guarantee a place, our Lord implies, in God’s kingdom. For Jesus says many will come and say, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, sing praise to your name, raise funds to your name? And Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” (v.23)
To prove his point, Jesus offers the story of two men who build their houses on the side of a desert water course. In the middle of summer the watercourse is empty, so it seems to be a safe place to build. The first man builds his house on the top of a solid foundation, building with care and with deliberation. The second man builds his home rashly, in great haste, not setting first a foundation, building with only the sand beneath him. So, the two houses stand side by side, looking the same from the outside, just as most Christians look the same as they sit in their pews, just as most churches look the same as they sit by the roadway, with no regard to the depth of what stands beneath them.
But then, the rains fell, the floods came, the wind blew and beat upon the houses. And what happens? One stands tall against the storm, the other falls flat in the face of nature’s forces. One builder has been recognized for having forethought, the other has been made homeless by his recklessness and lack of vision. One has been named wise, the other foolish.
As we look back at the history of this church, we may wonder if we have built this church on a solid foundation, or on the shifting sands of time and fate. We may wonder if our own lives as Christians have been lived on solid ground, or on quicksand that just takes us away. As we read about the foolish man and his house on the sand we see that it was not a less than serious thing which Jesus describes. The rains fell, the floods came, the wind blew and beat upon that house, and it fell-and great was its fall! This was not an ordinary comment about living a superficial Christian life. This was a comment that said unless you build on solid rock, then the fall from God’s grace will be tremendous. Christ himself envisioned that any church that stands on a weak foundation, of loose Biblical tradition, of poor theology, of superficial worship, however grand it may appear, it will fall. AND GREAT WILL BE ITS FALL.
So, we ask ourselves about the true foundation of the church, about the rock upon which we must build so that we do not fall greatly. The first part of this foundation is the true proclamation of the word. Jesus said that the wise man is the one who hears his words and ACTS ON THEM. It is not a call to become, as too many churches have, a silent relic on the top of the hill. We are to proclaim the glorious deeds of our Lord. He has brought us from darkness into a marvelous light. He has brought us from slavery to abundant freedom. He has brought us from death into eternal life. And if we do not announce that message, if we do not proclaim that good news, if we do not make known these glorious deeds, then we are not a Church of Jesus Christ. What good news we have in the proclamation of this precious word.
A second stone in that foundation is the gift of prayer. And here I mean true Christian prayer, not the empty offering up to God of meaningless word and selfish phrases. I mean a prayer that offers glory to God, not to us, that thanks God, and realizes our own shortcomings, our need to come before God.
But most important of all is the foundation stone of our lives as Christians, and as the church, Jesus Christ. It is said in verse28-29 that the crowds were astounded at his teachings, for he taught them as one having authority...God’s authority. This is the foundation of all belief. This is the authority that tells us these words of Scripture are God’s words. This is the authority that showed us a life of prayer was not a life of ease. This was the authority that showed us Christian life was not to be lived in trepidation of any future but in grateful thanksgiving of what we are in the present...God’s chosen ones, God’s redeemed.
There are many foundation stones upon which we may build our church. We may decide that the church needs to be updated, needs to be in tune with the times. We may decide that the church is too negative. We may decide that the church is not fun enough. We may decide that living a Christian life is only possible one day, and one hour a week. But in each of these ways we replace Christ as the cornerstone of our lives.
But for us, we are called to have Christ as our foundation stone, and with such we will not be put to shame. There may be times that are difficult for the church. As you look back over 88 years in this building, there have been difficulties. There have been great storms that have battered the walls of God’s house. Boys going off to war, never to return. Economic depressions and declines. Declining church attendance. I am often asked how it is to preach to large empty buildings. And I think to myself, whether 30 or 300, I will not be put to shame. We believe in a rejected Messiah, a crucified Lord, a scandalous cross.
Let this church be a living church, let it not rest on its laurels. Let this church be a beacon in this place. At such a time as this, we need to remember that this place was dedicated to the service of God. This place, this church is not here for us. This worship is not for us. This organ is not here for us. Our words are not meant to make us feel good and say like little Jack Horner, O what a Good little Christian am I. It is all here to give glory to the God who has granted us the privilege to proclaim his glorious deeds shown in his word.
And it is on that we must rise or fall. That is the constant between our forefathers and mothers 88 years ago and today. The Bible from which we preach is the same Bible. Let us not rise and fall on the vagaries of human existence, apathy, attendance, and money. For it matters far more what is said in this place, than how many are here to say it. The word of God makes no allowance for error, and neither will I. I would rather speak the truth to a few, than accommodate that truth for many. For if we speak rightly, and proclaim the real good news of the cross of Christ, then we will have more than we ever imagined, more than we ever needed, more than we ever deserved.
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
That soul, that church, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake. Build your life on a solid foundation. Let this church rest on the foundation in which its builders believed. Let us hear God’s word, let us do God’s will, let us rest in God’s spirit.
