February 16, 2008
Passage:Matthew 10:16-23
‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
We are called to share in Christ’s ministry; that’s the fun part. But because we are called to share Christ’s ministry, we are also going to share in Christ’s sufferings. Christ was questioned by the authorities for crossing the social and cultural boundaries of his day and so will we.
In 1934, a group of German pastors and theologians came together to publicly oppose the new Nazi government and the “German Christians” who approved and followed Nazi policies. The result was a document called the Barmen Declaration. The declaration (which is part of the Book of Confessions) was a daring stand against the anti-Semetic government and its intention to have the state over the church. Pastors such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer signed on to the statement and made a public stand to oppose the injustice of the Nazi regime. Many, like Bonhoeffer, paid for this with their very lives.
Of course, many of us will not face such an extreme situation. However, we might face the loss of friends or position for daring to follow Christ.
“When Christ calls a man, ” said Bonhoeffer, ” He bids him come and die.” More than likely, we won’t physicially die, but we will die to our own wants and needs, our desires for fame. But take heart: Christ has suffered before us and is with us as we face down evil and injustice. We are never alone when we follow Christ.
Lord of all, you call us to new life, but you also call us to die to ourselves. Give us courage to stand for justice. Amen.
You can read the Barmen Declaration at the United Church of Christ website. Also, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick has written an article on the various confessions of the PC(USA), including the Barmen Declaration.
Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
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