Christ Lutheran Church: Welcome

Discipline - August 19, 2007

Discipline

Luke 15, Hebrews 12:1-7

August 19, 2007

Rev. Dave R. Garwick

I would like to start off by asking you to do something that I did last week:  I'd like you to look at the bulletin cover again.  This week we have a photo of two cute little girls at play, running as fast as they can with these great big smiles of glee.

This photo is supposed to illustrate the Bible verse that is quoted where it says, "...we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...let us run with endurance the race that is set out before us."

So, we have a photo of two little girls running a race to get across the idea of running with endurance.  Cute.  But the picture there misses the point.  That particular Bible passage continues this way:  "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.  Endure hardship as discipline;  God is treating you as sons."

When the Bible talks about running with perseverance, it is not talking about fun and games - it's talking about hanging in there when the going gets rough.  Specifically it is talking about sniffling back the tears and getting back on track when tough times hit because what may be going on here is that God is actually disciplining you.

Now THAT is not a very progressive, modern message that makes most people feel good.  Someone comes to my office in tears and asks, "Is God punishing me, or what?"  Popular pastors who care these days are supposed to answer, "Of course not...God doesn't act that way - He LOVES you.  You haven't done anything wrong here."  You see, THAT way the nice pastor can send you on your way just like the happy little girls on the bulletin cover.

But that picture there is misleading since it is supposed to be talking about the fact that sometimes God is our Father who IS punishing us to discipline BECAUSE He loves us.  How in the world could THAT be GOOD news?  Because it transforms pain into assurance not only of God's REAL love for us, but especially assurance that His doing this to us is proof that He has in fact chosen us to be His personal children - again, the transforming of a cross of suffering into a guarantee of life.

When I was maybe four years old, we had moved to the bay area of San Francisco.  I cannot remember what it was that got me so angry, but I yelled at my mommy and daddy that I hated them and that I was going to run away.  They both said that they were sorry to hear that but that I had to do what I had to do.  So, mom took me into the kitchen to help make a sandwich and an apple to put in to her little make-up case that I could have as my suitcase.  Then dad took me upstairs to pick out a change of underwear and my favorite stuffed animal to wrap up in a red and white bandana that he tied to a long stick.  They walked me to the door and stuck my baseball cap on my head.  Dad shook my hand and handed me a dime to call home someday.  Mom hugged me and handed me a stamped envelop and told me to write home someday.  They wished me good luck, sent me on my way and closed the door.

Jesus continued in this morning's Bible Focus:  "There was a man who had two sons.  The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.  Not long after that, the younger son got tegether all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.  After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.  He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.  When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!  I will set out and go back to my father and say to him:  'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'  So he got up and went to his father."

I myself got as far as the end of the block when I started coming to MY senses and thought something like, "I'M going to starve to death.  I actually remember looking at the dime in my hand and realizing that I didn't even know HOW to call home.  I was still clutching the envelop in my other hand when it dawned on me that I didn't know how to write either.  So I turned around and went to my father and my mother.  And just like the father in the parable, my parents were waiting at the door and welcomed me home into their arms.  No questions asked and no lectures given.  The point was made and that little boy never forgot the lesson and one day became a pastor to preach it in a sermon.

After I insulted him by saying that I hated him and wanted to leave, MY father in San Francisco disciplined me.......by allowing me to learn the hard way, even to the point of actually packing my bags for me.

"Where is God when it hurts?  Is God punishing me for something, or what?"

"No, you idiot, you did it to yourself!"

"But I thought God was supposed to love me and protect me."

When the Son of God came to earth He told a parable where the loving father was insulted by the child, did not lift a finger to stop the son and in fact helped that son go his own way...face first into mud of a pigpen...and then received him home with open arms when he came to his senses and repented.

When the Son of God tells a story about a father, He is telling us that this IS how Our Father who art in heaven deals with HIS children.  Sometimes He disciplines us by allowing us to have our own way and go our own way...SO THAT we may eventually come to our senses and repent.  And when we do, He will forgive us and welcome us back home - scratches, bumps, bruises, embarrassments and all.  KNOW that, BELIEVE that so that you can endure what Shakespeare called the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" and then get back in the race of faith.