Reflections from the Pastor: For All the Saints: Witnessing for Jesus
Read the Acts passage here: Acts 1:1-11
For All the
Saints: Witnessing for Jesus
I suspect that the title of this
sermon/reflection might have surprised some of you. “Witnessing” is not a word that Lutherans use
very often. In fact, the idea of “witnessing
for Jesus” makes many of us Lutherans just a little uncomfortable. But why is that? I suspect that it is because that the word
has been co-opted in ways that refer to a very specific kind of behavior, and
this behavior makes us very uncomfortable.
For most of us, the word “witnessing” refers to a type of in your face,
aggressive religious marketing. “Witnessing”
makes us think of people going door to door, or passing out tracts or coming up
to us at a mall or some outdoor event and essentially saying – “You need to
believe what I believe, otherwise you are going to be lost forever.” Scare tactics and belligerence, my way or the
highway – all of these come to mind when we think of our experience with those
who are “witnessing for Jesus.” And we
don’t want to have anything to do with that kind of behavior, so instead we
tell ourselves that faith is completely a private matter and if we do anything
it is to make our observance of our faith as private and unobtrusive as
possible. Perhaps though this is going to far the other way. Is there another way we might understand our
Lord’s Great Commission to “Go ye into all the world…”?
The fact of the matter is that we
are called to live our faith. Jesus is
quite clear that we are not to “hide our light under a bushel.” At our celebration of the Sacrament of Holy
Baptism the liturgy always concludes with these words, which are taken right
out of Scripture: Let your light so shine
before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is
in heaven. We are called to live our
faith, and as James says, “faith without works is dead.” In other words, is it possible for us to be
Christians and to simply say or think about faith and have it not impact our
life and the way we live? The New
Testament clearly answers that question with a resounding “NO!”
In the Acts passage that is read
today we have the disciples and Jesus standing together on the Mount of
Olives. The disciples want to know when
Jesus will inaugurate the Kingdom of God (old habits and misunderstandings die
slowly!). But Jesus dismisses their
question – “that’s none of your business” – he tells them. “So instead of concerning yourself with that
just focus on your calling.” For… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem … and to the ends of the earth. Then Jesus ascends into the heavens leaving
the disciples standing there gazing into the sky. And an angel, or messenger, has to come over,
tap them on the shoulders and say – “hey guys, get your heads out of the
clouds, time to get to work!” And what
is the work? Witnessing!
What then is witnessing? Is it just talking, confronting, or handing
out tracts? No it is not. In fact, according to the New Testament
witnessing to faith in Christ means integrating
our faith with our way of living our lives.
Do we live our lives in ways that reflect our faith in Christ? Are we gracious and loving to all? Are we always open and willing to forgive? Do
we use our time and talents in ways that support and build up the community of
Christ – the church? Do we give of our
financial resources in ways that support the various ministries of the
community? Do we work for ways to make
sure that those who are hungry are fed, those who are lonely are visited, those
who are cold and warmed, those who need clothing are clothed, those who are
sick are cared for? Do we work for
justice and peace? This is what it means to witness to faith in Jesus
Christ. Might it also include talking
and sharing this faith with others. Yes,
of course, when the situation allows for it.
But never in an arrogant or judgmental way!
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. This is one of the great yearly festival
celebrations of the church. On this day
we remember all of those who have gone before us in the faith; those who have
passed the faith on to us; those who lived lives that reflected their
faith. So on this All Saints day the
question that our texts and the day itself raise for us is this: What
difference does it make? You are a Saint
– so what does that mean to you and what difference does it make in your
life? In what ways have you worked to
integrate your faith with your life? How
do you use the gifts that God has given you to enable you to live out your
faith? What are the ways that you
witness for Jesus?
Here is the King's College choir of men and boys singing this wonderful hymn.
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