The Rev. Dr. John Tamilio III, Pastor
© 2024, Dr. Tamilio
Many of the circles that I move within — both pastoral and academic, both theological and philosophical — these circles believe that in order for us to all get along, we need to find a least common denominator religion: in other words, we need to water-down our beliefs to the point that no one is offended by anything anyone else believes or says.
I think this is ridiculous. Actually, I think it is absurd. So many people are so worried about offending others that they say nothing. I am not offended by anyone’s religious beliefs. I can disagree with you, but I still respect you. I do not have to share your beliefs (nor you mine) in order for us to love one another and learn about our differences. Furthermore, if you believe that your faith is true, why wouldn’t you proclaim it? You do not have to denigrate others in the process, but you can take a firm stand regarding what you believe, especially if you believe that it is the truth and has existential significance.
I believe that God sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to the world to save us. Jesus, the person without sin, shouldered the sins of humanity and died on the cross to save us from them. Now, if this is what someone else doesn’t believe, that’s fine. People can believe what they want. The problem is that, nowadays, some people who do not believe in Jesus find any talk about him to be utterly offensive. Listen, there are some things in our society that are offensive, genuinely offensive. But religious beliefs? If someone’s religion is offensive to you, then you have other problems. I do not believe what Islam teaches, but I am not offended when a Muslim prays in the name of “Allah” any more than when someone speaks of Buddha, Confucius, or Joseph Smith. I’m a big boy. I can handle it. I think of the Australian comic Steven Hughes. He does a whole bit about being offended. Nothing happens when you get offended. Deal with it! You’re an adult!
My point is simply do not worry that someone else may not agree with your faith. That doesn’t mean you have to hide your light under a bushel basket, as Jesus tells us in Luke’s Gospel. If you believe in Jesus, and you believe that what he said and did is true, why wouldn’t you declare it openly? Why wouldn’t you share it with others? In fact, if you believe that salvation is attained through Christ, shouldn’t you want to share that Good News with others? The disciples did. They were willing to die to tell the greatest story ever told, to share its message of salvation with the world. We worry about offending others or being seen as religious kooks.
Here’s the issue: as I’ve said before, people often use the promise of salvation that Jesus brings as some-sort of threat. “You better accept Jesus as your Savior or else!” That is not the message we send from this pulpit, or from our Christian education classrooms, or from our outreach endeavors. Our message is one of hope. The salvation that Jesus offers is filled with joy and expectation; it is not to be feared. What does that favorite verse John 3:16 say? “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Did you catch that? God does not want to condemn the world, but to save it. Our collective ministry should seek to do the same. That is why we are a church. This is what we are about. Disciples make other disciples. That is our job!
Today’s Gospel Lesson, like most of the Gospel readings for Advent, is not about the birth of Christ, but, rather, his Second Coming at the end of time. I’ve said this many times in the past. The Gospel readings make it clear. The first three verses from today’s Gospel begin:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.”
This is not about shepherds, angels, cattle, and a manger. It is about righteousness having the final say. It is about truth being victorious. It is about the power of God crushing the powers of evil. It is the climactic moment in our story. I think it is only to be feared if you are on the wrong side of the equation. For those who are saved, it is a time of ultimate glory.
This is where it gets sticky for some Christians, particularly mainline believers or those of a more progressive ilk. Are we saying that only Christians are saved? First of all, salvation lies in God’s hands alone. It feels very awkward when people say, “who is saved” and “who isn’t,” which is why this topic is sticky! It is up to God and God alone to determine salvation. That said, God has given us a pretty clear formular for salvation. The New Testament is filled with such guidelines. Here’s just one of them: Paul’s Letter to the Romans 10:9-10.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
You are saved if you believe in the Resurrections of Jesus Christ and if you declare that he is the Lord. Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 15:23 that the Resurrected Jesus is the “firstfruits,” meaning our resurrections are to follow his because of his. Let me repeat that: our resurrections are to follow his because of his. Jesus was raised from the nothingness of death and, in so doing, opened that door for us. This is our hope: hope in the life everlasting, and it comes to us from Jesus. If that is not the most important thing to believe and declare, then what is?
C.S. Lewis once said that “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” That’s a bold statement, one that indeed has eternal significance in itself. If we believe that the stories about Jesus, particularly his resurrection and return are not true — if these stories are fictitious — then they really don’t matter. If, however, you feel as if they are true, then there is nothing more important.
I believe that these stories are true, the resurrection really occurred, and Jesus will return at the end of time to judge the world and to restore creation: there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Peace will prevail. Evil will be vanquished. Death will be defeated. Our job is to declare this message.
What about other religions? Is salvation available to them as well? What about people of no faith? Again, that’s God’s decision, not ours. Ours is to follow and proclaim what we believe: salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
That is the hope that is Advent. That is the hope that is ours. That is the hope that we are to declare this season and every season. It is the hope, the only real hope, on which the world can be sure. Amen.