RELUCTANT MESSENGER – POWERFUL MESSAGE

By Dr. Eric C. Stumpf, Senior Pastor

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church – Munster, IN

Jonah 3-4:3 + Life Sunday + 20 January 2008

             Have you ever been reluctant to speak the truth even in a very concerning way?  I’m sure we have all faced that and the hesitation we have to say anything, even though we know it would be helpful, if not appreciated.  On this 35^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision which struck down laws prohibiting abortion on the basis of privacy right, we might be reluctant to say anything concerning abortion or assisted suicide.  Yet, we know that God values life.  God has much to say about the dignity of life, why are we reluctant to share the powerful message of redemption? 

Jonah

            Jonah was a reluctant messenger.  God gave him a simple assignment.  Tell the people of Nineveh that they will be destroyed.  Jonah, instead, ran away.  God stopped him and told him again to go to Nineveh.  Jonah did the bare minimum.  He did not try to persuade the people to repent, instead he said the least amount he had to, Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned. (3:4)  The people of Nineveh repented!  Instead of being glad at the success of the word, Jonah pouted, But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. (4:1)  We might be sympathetic to Jonah, after all the Ninevites were enemies of Israel.

            Is the church reluctant to speak on issues of life?  Why don’t we want to speak up for the unborn, the elderly, the handicapped, and the weak?  Since 1973 and average of 3,000 unborn have been aborted, that some 45 million since Roe v. Wade.  Don’t we want people who have made mistakes and are filled with sorrow, like the Ninevites, to know God’s compassion and forgiveness?  It seems selfish to be silent.

            Jonah was told to proclaim the message God gave him.  It wasn’t a popular message.  Imagine going up and down the street of a foreign hostile city saying Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned. (3:4)  But the power of the message was God’s compassion for the lost.  The result was The Ninevites believed God. (3:5)  They humbled themselves before God with fasting and putting on sackcloth.  God’s power was revealed not in threats but compassion.  They did not get what they deserved, they got forgiveness.  This really frustrated Jonah.  He wanted them to get their just rewards – God’s punishment, but instead God forgave. 

Are We Reluctant?

            Are we reluctant to talk about abortion and other life issues?  God has something important to say about these issues.  It is a positive message.  God loves each person He created.  He loves them so much that his commandments are meant to protect life from harm.  You shall not murder desires to protect life He created.  It is not our choice to choose death to make our life easier.  Flee from sexual immorality. (1 Cor 6:18) is commanded by God so we can avoid destructive consequences.  God’s message is not just “Do this” or “Do that.”  It is “Look what God has done for you.”  God values life, He created it and He preserves it.  He daily provides for our needs, He brings healing to the sick, He gave his Son to be our Savior.

            There are a lot of people out there – including people here this morning – who have made mistakes in their life.  They made the wrong decisions about life and death, they have not led a chaste and decent life, they have chosen abortion to solve a problem, they have changed their minds about euthanasia and have joined others who are growing in their acceptance.  These mistakes lead to guilt and regret.

            Others have the attitude of Jonah.  The bad guys should get what they deserve.  But in reality we are all the bad guys, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  But God comes to us in the Word and applies the holiness of Jesus to us as a cure, as a holy washing away of sin and guilt.  We have a message to share, a message that is powerful and positive.  It is the message of life in the face of death.

            Have you ever been reluctant to talk about life?  Like Jonah we sometime let our feelings and judgment prevent us from sharing the message of hope and compassion.  But the message is powerful and God’s spirit be with us so we can share the message of hope and forgiveness.  Amen.

SDG