modern slavery and human abuse.

1 Tim. 6:1-2 (ESV)
Let all who are under a yoke as slaves regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. [2] Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
Teach and urge these things.

It is the scandal of the day. The Bible does not condemn slavery. It is almost ambivalent towards it, and borders on condoning of it. The Bible is, however, against the abuse of other people, slaves included. It was that when slavery and abuse of slaves were synonymous that Christian’s began to campaign against slavery, and rightfully so. It has not stopped the abuse of other humans though. Nor has the outlawing of slavery, really ended the problem of slavery. To this day slavery exists in many guises. There is the outright and despicable trade in sex slaves today, fostering the ubiquitously rampant prostitution across the country. Today’s world celebrates this despicable occupation, the trading in sex slaves. It is down right disgusting to hear high school girls and boys reciting lyrics that praise pimps. The hip hop culture raves about pimping. And there is a sad irony there. They are rejoicing over the modern slave trade.
There is also the more subtle. The problem of sweat shops from which most of us buy our clothing. There is also the problem of illegal immigration. This is a paradox that needs to be addressed by a free society. How is it that it is illegal for a person to work at a perfectly respectable job? These people are given the status of illegal, and the employers are not above exploiting that, paying them less than livable wages, and threatening them with deportation should they object to long hours, or dangerous work. Many of the women are coerced into the sex trade with the same fear. We say we don’t want them here, yet we buy the strawberries they pick and would put the strawberry farmers out of business if they had to hire legal citizens. There has to be a better way.
But we can learn here too. We can learn that as Christians, in what ever vocation we have we wear the name of Christ, and have opportunity to serve him, even as we serve our neighbors, our employers, our jail wardens, or our employees, legal or illegal.

Come off it.

1 Tim. 5:22-25 (ESV)
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. [23] (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) [24] The sins of some men are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. [25] So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Timothy is charged with finding pastors for congregations. Paul gives him the qualifications needed. Talks about the honor that should be given to the office, he then tells Timothy not to be hasty in the laying on of hands. That is don’t be quick to ordain. I’m sure there was a shortage of pastors and laborers in Paul’s day. Not sure there was a time when there wasn’t an “emergency” situation as far as this is concerned. But sometimes the worst thing a man can do in an emergency is panic and do something for the sake of doing something. The pastoral office is a very special office with special needs. The qualifications for this office should be a little more than male plumbing and a pulse, or a mere desire to serve. Of course neither should the qualifications be less than these. But men should be vetted out a little to see if they truly have the aptitude to teach, and to lead, and to shepherd. They should have zealousness for the word of God, but not such a drive for orthodoxy that they start trying to purify the church and tear the tares out from the wheat before the harvest. By this I mean excommunicating everyone at the drop of a hat, rather than patiently teaching the correct doctrine and bringing people around. The courage (if you want to call it that) to excommunicate should not be the badge of orthodoxy. Neither should the experience of excommunicating a person be the prerequisite to join the Orthodoxy club. There is a time for excommunication it isn’t in the heat of a personal quarrel.
I find it funny, that right after Paul bids that Timothy not take part in the sins of others, and keep himself pure, he admonishes him for drinking nothing but water. Paul commands Timothy to drink wine. Why? Timothy was guilty of a sin, one that wasn’t conspicuous, one that is actually admired and respected in the world. Timothy was guilty of asceticism, extreme asceticism. Asceticism is basically torturing yourself with fasting in various ways. Timothy was so starving himself in his fast, and his teetotal ling that he was becoming frequently ill. Paul tells him to come off it. Drink some wine. To be sure Paul wasn’t telling him to be a drunkard, which may be the more conspicuous sin. But he was telling him to stop with this foolish show of prideful asceticism.

Admitting charges

1 Tim. 5:19-21 (ESV)
Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. [20] As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. [21] In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.

The honor bestowed on the office goes further than just pay. It continues into things like accusations. Paul says don’t entertain them except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. They deserve that much, they should not be in constant fear that someone can make an accusation against them and it will be admitted without any basis. But Paul continues if they are guilty, and do not repent rebuke them publicly. They are worthy of double honor, but double shame for not repenting of sin.

Double Honor

1 Tim. 5:17-18 (ESV)
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. [18] For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."
Pastors are to be considered worthy of double honor. I can only assume that Paul is admonishing Timothy to teach congregations concerning this. In some circles clergy have a stigma attached to them. People who have no idea what a pastor does, despise the pastors as being lazy. The whole 1 hour a week myth prevails. This whole epistle seems to be about establishing the authority and honor that should be bestowed on this office.
Paul here also addresses the issue of pay. Churches dishonor their pastors when they don’t pay them what they deserve. This should be the awareness of all in the congregation. It should not fall as it often does on one or two people to supply the salary of the pastor either. But if you honor your pastor pay your pastor. There is a syndrome happening in many circles that think it is somehow a great thing that their pastor is not paid by the congregation. It isn’t just Mormons. The “worker priest” is becoming more and more the norm. Our synod is increasingly relying on them to start missions. This is really a shame. We need to come up with a better way. Neither the missionary, nor the pastor should have to make a living flipping hamburgers during the week. Being a pastor, and an effective Missionary takes up a lot of time and energy, it should not be hampered by a part time job. Nor should a pastor be despised for taking a wage.

This Sunday's Sermon

O.K People if you see that I accidentally posted last weeks sermon again, there is not shame in a comment to that effect. What is below is the sermon for yesterday. I just now noticed the mistake.

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost
7/3/09
Amos 7;7-15
Bror Erickson


“Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was not prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the lord said to me, Go prophecy to my people Israel.”

Speaking in the name of God s not something to take lightly. There is the issue of the second commandment, in which people who presume to speak in the name of God on things that He has not spoken of or say things He has not said are guilty. If you ask me this might be the most vile of all transgressions of the ten commandments, as it has potential to drag many down to hell with the perpetrator. And this doesn’t concern itself though, with just the more grandiose false prophecies of J.W.s and Mormon’s. But even such things as the sacraments and there nature, or the blessing of homosexual unions, and the condoning of homosexual activity, the ordination of women. I could go on and on about things where previously Christian Churches have gone so far astray that they are unrecognizable as Christian anymore. People feel far to free to speak for God these days.
Yet there is also the issue of the world, when we speak the things that God has said. It cannot fail to bring us scorn from the world. And yet what choice do we have?
Amos, this humble herdsman chasing goats among the sycamore trees, dressing figs as the goats lay around in the shade, and chew their cud. What a peaceful life that must have been. It doesn’t seem like much, but I imagine it was quite a comfortable life. Much more comfortable than being a prophet.
What a rude awakening it must have been for Amos. The Lord taking him from the flock, and telling him, “Go, Prophesy to my people Israel.”
God’s word is very seldom welcome. It has a tendency to cause guilt in the people who hear it. It has a tendency to make people defensive. Especially, when it is law. And prophets cannot avoid the law. The law is the word of God. Pastors can’t avoid the law either.
Oh, we would like too. At least there is a part of me, that would like to ignore the law. By now you know me, I tend to take a live and let live approach to life, with a heavy emphasis on living myself. Part of me wants to teach nothing but Gospel, or what passes for Gospel in this world. I get it all the time, people asking for an uplifting message. People asking me to bless their sin, or at the very least ignore it. I can’t do either, though I can forgive it. That is what I am charged to do as a pastor, forgive sins. But then forgiving assumes guilt. And people don’t like to hear that they are guilty, and deserving of hell.
Israel was no different. As an aside, this isn’t Israel as we know it today. Israel is what is known as the northern kingdom in the Old Testament, that broke off from the southern kingdom after the death of Solomon. Israel did not want to bow to Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. So they made Jeroboam their king. Jeroboam did not want his subjects going to Jerusalem to worship so he set up idols for his people in the Northern Kingdom.
So Here is Amos, a herdsman, a dresser of sycamore figs sent to speak the word of God to these people who had abandoned God for idols, and the right to have their own king. He had had a peaceful life. It may not have been the most glamorous life, but it was peaceful and nice enough. He probably didn’t have very much of an education. He could not have been the most cultured of men. He watched goats all day, chewing the cud with them I suppose. They actually chewing, he probably had more than enough time to sit and think. At least in between lion attacks, and bear attacks.
Seems to me a fairly laid back job most of the time. I see the charming Basque wagons out there in the desert. Coming around a corner, up and over a desert mountain pass, and there tucked away in a clearing, surrounded by cedars, is the camp. What more is there to do then camp? Couple Pyrenees sheepdogs keeping the coyotes at bay, some feed and water, but after the kids or lambs are born, tails docked, ears notched, and a few shots, what is there to do but sit and play cribbage if you have someone to play cribbage with? You camp, cook a few chorizo sausages for breakfast, and throw the rest in the Dutch Oven for the evening’s stew, right? I doubt Amos’s life was all that different, shepherding doesn’t change much from culture to culture, hasn’t changed much over time either.
Then comes the time to speak God’s word. God calls him to speak. Comfort is left behind. God’ sends him to God’s people. But these people were decisively opposed to being God’s people. They wanted little to nothing to do with him. They sold their loyalty to God for loyalty to a king long ago. When Israel broke with Judah, many of the North flocked to Jerusalem, not willing to give up God, turn their back on the God who led them out of Egypt. The rest stayed, unwilling to pay the taxes of the new king. Their king, Jeroboam, afraid that they would go to Jerusalem to worship, and there be poisoned against them, built a temple complete with golden calves. Got to love golden calves. The way these people tended to worship the bovine you might think they descended from Hindu’s.
History, even archeology shows that they referred to these idols as God, even Yahweh. The believed in worshiping these golden calves, they worshiped the same God that was worshiped in Jerusalem, the same God that brought them out of Egypt, the same God that forbade the making of graven images, the likeness of anything in heaven above, or the earth beneath, or the water under the earth, including bulls and calves, and bowing down and worshiping them. They thought they worshiped that God, even while doing that which, He forbade. In fact, they though they were worshiping Him with the very acts that he forbade! And they weren’t much interested in listening to this God. Not when he forbade the making of idols. Not when He forbade fornication, and prostitution. Not when He forbade the oppression of the poor, and the selling of the righteous into slavery.
The book of Amos, it paints a picture of prosperity and decadence not unlike our own day. It paints a picture of a people who wanted God on their own terms, like many today. It paints a picture of a church fallen in apostasy, as people worship whatever god they want when they want, and how they want. And Amos is sent to tell these people that God is not pleased with what they do in His name, in the sacred name that he gave to Moses from the burning bush. With that name they bowed down in front of golden calves! In that name father and son were guilty of, as Amos says, knowing the same girl. In that name they sold the righteous for a pair of sandals. That is, in the name of God, they persecuted those who tried to hold true to God. In the name of God they drank the wine they stole from the poor, in their temple. Rather than giving strong drink to the one perishing, and wine to the one in bitter distress as we are told to do in Proverbs. These “people of God,” stole their wine from the poor and oppressed and drank it themselves, getting drunk while claiming to be worshiping God.
They did not want to hear what God had to say. They would worship Him on their own terms.
I don’t think that is so different from today. Do you? Who of us really wants to listen to God, when He is condemning our sins, and not the sins of others. How many of us would rather take God on our own terms than on His. How many of us would rather have God condone our sin than forgive it?
And the “Christian Church” today? I blush when I think of what passes for Christianity today. So-called bishops writing in porno magazines. Condoning sin rather than forgiving it. And the righteous are robbed of their houses of worship as they are told they have to submit to the ecclesiastical authority of a man who divorced his wife, and abandoned his children to shack up with his boy friend. It makes me want to puke. And God bless the souls of those who will not submit to this. Yet, most of them are guilty too of wanting God on their own terms. And this has even effected our own congregation as it split 15 year ago, not all that long when some decided it mattered not what God said about the roles of men and women in the church. God’s word, you take all of it or none of it. He doesn’t let you pick and choose, which is why pastors, no less then prophets, cannot afford to ignore the law before we give the gospel. People would like us too. They would like us to give a sermon that was nothing but gospel. But these very rarely have any gospel in them, but law light. No gospel, just a Dr. Phil sermon on how to change your life around. No gospel just a little that’s o.k.
No it really isn’t o.k. It just really isn’t o.k. It is sin. It is the reason God died in our place. It isn’t o.k. It is death. And God will not condone it. He will not let us take Him on our own terms. Rather He takes us on His terms. And though we be guilty of sin, like His people Israel. We are His people. He will make us listen. He will not condone our sin. But neither will He forsake us, for we are His people, bought and purchased, made righteous, not for a pair of sandals, silver, or gold but with His holy and precious blood, and innocent suffering and death. Therefore, He will speak to us, His people. Just as He ransomed us, captive Israel. And in His word He makes His will known, coming to us, our Immanuel.
Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord Amen.

Younger Widows Should Marry

1 Tim. 5:11-16 (ESV)
But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry [12] and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. [13] Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. [14] So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. [15] For some have already strayed after Satan. [16] If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are really widows.

Refuse to enroll younger widows. From what I can figure between these two things is widows were enrolled in some special manner at the church. They took some sort of vow to work in the church, and in return were cared for by the church. Younger widows were not to be enrolled in this order, because they might yet marry. If they did take interest in a man, they would be forced to break their vows. Paul would have younger widows remarry.
We might learn something about the foolishness of nunnery. It is unconscionable that large swaths of Christendom teach women that motherhood, and marriage are things to be despised, and that the high road is lifelong virginity in service to the church. Stories abound of abusive nuns teaching kids. Do you blame them? God gave us the gift of marriage for a reason. Virginity is not a virtue, chastity is. Lifelong virginity more often than not is nothing, but a path to a neurological disorder, and frustration.