Loving God, you have made us your people, calling us to live out our faith in the body of Christ – your Church. Continue to inspire and direct us by the power of your Spirit, empowering us for your mission through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

They say that Jesus was a good man. They say that Jesus was a little bit crazy. They say that he is the Son of God. They say he’s dead and gone. They say that Jesus rose from the dead. They say he was a miracle worker. They say that Jesus lives and is a powerful name still today. They say that Jesus is a curse word. They say that Jesus has three syllables when spoken by certain people. They say that Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour, the living One. “They” say all of these things and more. But you – who do you say that Jesus is?

This is the same approach that Jesus took in today’s gospel. He started out by asking his disciples, “What are people saying about me?” “Hmm. Interesting,” he says. “Now what about you? ‘Who do you say that I am?’” (Mt. 16:15). Simon Peter’s response is well known. He says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16). It is a response given to Peter by God. It is God who has revealed this to Peter. It is God who has given Peter this declaration of faith. Which brings us back to us. What has God revealed to us about Jesus? Who do you say that Jesus is?

Here is an answer that comes from Scripture and has been confirmed by people as they live out their faith: Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour, the Son of the living God. Jesus is the Risen One – the one who rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sent his Spirit in order to continue to live in and through God’s people. Jesus shows us what the invisible God is like. Jesus shared our humanity in every respect except sin. He was God among us – God with us. Jesus continues to be the one before whom demons and evil flee. Invoke the name of Jesus Christ in good faith, and evil is forced to retreat. Ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ, and do so sincerely, and it is done. Jesus is the revelation of God’s love for us.

And you – who do you say that Jesus is? This is not an idle question, but a life-changing question. When God gives us the faith to see Jesus as the Scriptures present him, our lives reflect that faith. Evil is not met with despair, but with prayer and victory in the name of Jesus. Death is not a cause for fear, but a gateway into eternal life in God’s presence. Trials are not signs of God’s displeasure, but opportunities to rely on the one who is well acquainted with suffering and grief. Life is not lived in isolation from God and others, but with Christ as our guide and constant companion. Life is not lived with me, myself and I at the centre, but with Christ at the centre, giving life and love and salvation. And in all these things our faith is strengthened and nurtured and lived out as members of the body of Christ – the church.

They say that the church is a building down the street where people sometimes go to pray. They say that the church is full of hypocrites. They say that the church is a hospital for sinners. They say that the true church will never die. They say that death and demons will not kill the church, but internal fighting might. They say that the church is only after your money. They say, “Don’t let worries kill you. Let the church help.” They say that the church is the bride of Christ – the one whom he loves and for whom he died. They say that the church is built out of living stones – built on Christ, the cornerstone. They say that the church is out of touch and full of old people. They say that the Church is the assembly of all believers where the Word is preached and the Sacraments are administered. They say that the church is the body of Christ. And you – what do you say about the church?

If we listen to today’s gospel, it sounds as though Jesus is going to build the church on sinful human beings. After all, Peter was an unstable rock at best, sinking like a stone when walking on water. He had a solid confession one moment, and fearful denial the next. Surely, this is the stuff of which the church is made. After all, the church is the people! And yet, the church that Jesus builds will never die (Mt. 16:18).

There may be certain expressions of the church that die in order to be reborn. The church might be re-formed in order to bring it closer to Christ. The church might constantly be in need of renewal, for human beings do like to try to shape and control the Holy Spirit. The church of Christ, however, will remain. After all, “A perfect church doesn’t need Jesus” [http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt16x13.htm]. Of course the same could be said for perfect Christians and perfect pastors. We don’t need Jesus, either.

So why would God arrange things in this way? Why would God put together an imperfect body of people known as the church in order to fulfill God’s mission in the world? Perhaps God knew that it would teach people to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps God knew that the church as a whole could do many more things in the world than a bunch of individuals ever could. Perhaps God has just always worked through frail and fallible human beings in order to reveal himself in this world.

Jesus was one man in one place at one point in time. However, the risen Jesus, through his body the Church, is in many places, through many people, for hundreds and even thousands of years. God continues to empower the Church and to bless it, working through people of faith in order to love and to bless the world. The only question for us is whether we will allow God to work through us or not. And what is okay and not okay as we do this?

They say that whatever is good for me must be right. They say that the 10 Commandments have never changed. They say, “Don’t put a question mark where God put a period.” They say, “Things are different now. Lighten up!” They say, “If it feels good, do it.” They say that all you need is love. They say that you can ignore those parts about greed and about paying taxes, but don’t you dare ignore any of those parts about sex! They say that certain things are okay as long as you hide them. They say that loving God and neighbour cover it all. And you – what do you say should be bound and loosed? What do you say should be permitted and not permitted?

This is what the keys of the kingdom are all about, given to the church as a whole while we’re here on this earth. The keys are about teaching authority and about those who gather together in Christ discerning what is permitted and what is not permitted. In some cases, of course, there is disagreement in this area, and different church bodies approach it differently.

The Lutheran approach is this: We use guiding principles rather than lists of rules. We always look to the Scriptures, and even more importantly to God’s living Word, Jesus Christ. We also discern things as a church body rather than having individual leaders who make pronouncements. And above all, we rely on the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire and guide us as we seek to be faithful followers of Jesus.

And so, some basic questions to think about: How would Jesus address this situation? What would best express love for God and for neighbour? What do the Scriptures say? Have we kept God as our ultimate concern or has something else taken over? Is this causing harm to myself, to others, or to my relationship with God? If Jesus were standing right here, would we do this?

It is not necessarily easy, living as a follower of Jesus. It is not necessarily easy being part of the church. Yet, God continues to call us through the Holy Spirit, inviting us to come and experience life in all its fulness. We will meet fallible human beings along the way, and we might even be one, yet God’s grace is ever-present and continues to renew and to empower us for ministry. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Lectionary 21(A) Matthew 16:13-20
August 24, 2008
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2008 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved