2008 Confirmation Day Sermon

Matthew 21:23-27

Rev. Michael A. Trask

Pent 20

9/26/08

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My Friends in Christ. Every year that I say good-bye to yet another confirmation class I feel somewhat wistful; your class is no different. I’ve seen you grow quite a bit in the two years that we have been together; I’ll see you grow some more in the years to come. If your thinking I’ll miss you, you’d be right. You were a good class in spite of the fact that you were rowdy at times. Each one of you were capable of asking some pretty high order questions which told me that you were taking it seriously and thinking with me. I’ll miss that. Today I will say that you have finished confirmation instruction and you will say that you are ready to remain faithful to Jesus and his church for the rest of your lives. It’s a big moment for you. But as I said, I’m feeling wistful.

While I am indeed happy for you, I know a little something of what it’s like out there and the nature of the things that you will encounter. I know that the world will not typically nurture or support what I have taught you on the contrary, the world will typically chip away at what you believe and seek to discredit Jesus in your eyes. It’s always been that way.

As the Gospel lesson for today records, Jesus was teaching in one of the courts of the temple, and right in the middle of his teaching....some of his enemies, the chief priests and elders came up to him and said “By what authority are you doing this!” In other words, “Show us your credentials! (your papers, your license to teach) ” Of course he didn’t have any credentials that they would respect; His credentials were the fact that was the only Son of God come down to earth which in the darkness of their sin soaked minds they could neither see nor understand. But they didn’t really care about his credentials anyway they were more interested in discrediting Jesus in the eyes of the people and make him out to be some sort goof ball.

And nothing has changed between then and now. Many people in our day seek to discredit Jesus and those who follow him. This is why I am wistful. For I send you out into a world that will urge you to surrender the substance of what you believe. Anti-Christian dogma is now firmly embedded in our culture. You’ve heard some of it already, I’m sure.

They will tell you that you are not descendants of Adam and Eve as God’s word declares, but rather some ancient monkey bones found on the serengeti. They will tell you that you are stupid if you do not embrace the mystical magical world of evolution which has not nor cannot be proven.

Some three years ago (or thereabouts) National Geographic Magazine, a high quality magazine usually, referred to those who accept creation by God as “ignorant”. An entire issue was devoted to railing against the idea that God created us. the words of that particular volume were dripping with rage. The same rage that is seen in these ancient enemies of Jesus who sought to discredit him while he taught in the temple courts.

Our culture will also insist that in order for you to “get along” with others you must surrender all the specifics of the faith that you have been taught and join the masses of people who mindlessly prattle on about how all religions are the same; They want you to say that Jesus is just one among many and that he was completely wrong when he said “I am the way” (John 14:6) and that his apostles were wrong who said of Jesus “.... there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)

Lately, it even seems to be going beyond this! Not only do they seek to lump Christianity together with all the worlds religions, they also seem to be asserting that Christianity is somehow inferior and less welcome then other religions. We have seen it in our own state: Public institutions bending over backwards to accommodate muslim beliefs (going so far as to allow prayer time and prayer rooms and special bathrooms to accommodate their worship practices) And this they do after years and years of repressing Christian religious expression in public places! As we say in Minnesota....interesting.

In my lifetime we have come from a culture that was somewhat supportive of Christianity to one that seems to reject it at every turn. Believe it or not, when I was in public school, we had Christmas trees. In our class rooms we sang Christmas Carols....and not just those about frosty and Parson Brown....the real ones...about Jesus being born. The big play we put on in my public grade school was a play that told the story of Jesus birth. We called Christmas break Christmas break without apology. We also called Easter break, Easter Break....and every year, it actually corresponded with Easter! But things have changed. “Christmas” and “Easter” are now considered offensive words Meanwhile, words like “Ramadan” are celebrated, honored, and encouraged. Again as we say in Minnesota, Interesting.

Things have changed. Our culture is hostile towards Christianity now when it wasn’t before. Jesus told us that this would happen. He said “If the world hates you, keep in mind it hated me first.” (John 15:8) And “Blessed are you when men hate you , when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of me [the Son of Man]” (Luke 6:22)

Today as you take your vow to remain faithful to Christ and his Holy Christian Church for the rest of your lives. And I’m telling you it’s not always going to be that easy. You will feel not only the continual pressure from your old sinful nature to drift away from the Christian faith, but you will have the added pressure of a the world around you that has begun to rage against Christ and his church. How are your going to make it!

You know how to deal with your sinful nature. I taught you that. You confess your sins...You confess them often and turn to Jesus who died and rose again to atone for the sins of your soul and also redeem you and give you strength to do do battle against the urgings of your sinful nature.

And I don’t think I need to remind you that Jesus gives you his holy Spirit....you received him at your baptism. And that Spirit dwells in you and urges you onward and will empower you to take your stand when you need to and you will need to.

And there’s the Lord’s supper, that wonderful gift of a sacrament that you will be taking for the first time today. Jesus is actually there, giving you himself, his victorious self to forgive and strengthen, to help you to keep the vows you are taking today. God expects much of you when he calls you to be faithful, but he has given you everything you need to live to his expectations.

And for the other stuff, the pressure of the world, I want you to know that you are not all alone. You got all the other Christians in this church....all the other Christians in the world actually, they are God’s gift to you and you are God’s gift to them. We Christians help each other to stand. In this church opportunity to be part of High School Bible Class.... there you, together with your classmates and some other high schoolers can hash out stuff as you dig through God’s word together.

In addition, I want you to know that just because we are done with confirmation doesn’t mean that I will cease to be your pastor. I ain’t going anywhere. I enjoy bugging you too much. And you know what I love? I love answering tough questions. I get emails from old students all the time asking me to help them cut through the anti Christian rhetoric that is assailing them. Make no mistake, your church and I are interested in helping you become mature Christians who can stand firm.

So after thinking about you completing confirmation, maybe I’m not so wistful. I’m happy for you and excited to see you step up and and exercise your faith. I thing You’re ready. Let’s do this thing! AMEN