2024 Sermon | By Pastor Aaron Kalbas
What was the Protestant Reformation, and who was Martin Luther? Obviously, the answers to these fundamental questions reveal much about our history and faith. I encourage you to read more about the Reformation and Luther this week, but today, let’s reflect on one pivotal thing about the Reformation: how a single voice—anchored in God’s truth—can inspire change in a world rife with opposition and a culture that is at odds with our faith and Christian values.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Picture this: 507 years ago, a young monk, Martin Luther, who was a witness to the corruption in the Church of his day (we’ve all heard about indulgences) and even more tragic the Church’s neglect and sidelining of the precious Gospel truth, in an act of bold conviction, nailed 95 theses to Wittenberg’s Church door, igniting a movement that would lead the Church back to the simple proclamation that salvation comes not through works, but by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone. Later, he stood before the Holy Roman Emperor, risking his life to affirm that no authority surpasses God’s Word. Luther’s courage inspires us today, calling future generations to steadfastly anchor themselves in Scripture amid a sea of misinformation and confusion that always in this world seeks to bring distraction and doubt.
This theme of courageous faith extends beyond Luther’s time, echoing in stories throughout history. One such story was shared by American President Ronald Reagan during the annual National Prayer Breakfast in 1984. He told the moving tale of “the little monk” from the 4th century named Telemachas who confronted the brutality of ancient Rome in a profound demonstration of faith. As Reagan recounts, this monk’s voice became a powerful symbol of courage in the face of overwhelming odds—a reminder that even a single voice, when anchored in truth, can inspire profound change.
Based on what little we know, Telemachus was a hermit who lived in a cave far from civilization, but one day he felt compelled to travel to the city of Rome. Now Rome had just recently defeated a Visagothic king name Alaric and a huge celebration was being held in honor of this victory and the Emperor Honorius was holding gladiatorial games in the Colosseum. Telemachus got caught up in a big crowed of people who were heading into the Colosseum to watch the Gladiators fight.
Although, the brutal gladiatorial games had been banned in Rome over a generation before, the practice had never really died out even though it was frowned upon by more polite society. As Reagan recounts, Telemachus saw the gladiators come forth, stand before the Emperor, and say, ‘We who are about to die salute you.’ And he realized they were going to fight to the death for the entertainment of the crowds. He cried out, ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’ And his voice was lost in the tumult there in the great Colosseum.
And as the games began… the crowds saw this scrawny little figure making his way down the stairs to the bottom. He jumps over the fence, down into the area. He shouts to the gladiators, saying over and over again, ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’ And they thought it was part of the entertainment, and at first they were amused. But then, when they realized it wasn’t, they grew belligerent and angry…
And as he was pleading with the gladiators, ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’ one of them plunged his sword into his body. And as he fell to the sand of the arena in death, his last words were, ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’ And suddenly, a strange thing happened. The gladiators stood looking at this tiny form lying in the sand. A silence fell over the Colosseum. And then, someplace up in the upper tiers, an individual made his way to an exit and left, and the others began to follow. And in the dead silence, everyone left the Colosseum. That was the last battle to the death between gladiators in the Roman Colosseum. Never again did anyone kill or did men kill each other for the entertainment of the crowd…
One tiny voice that could hardly be heard above the tumult. ‘In the Name of Christ, stop!’ It is something we should be saying to each other throughout the world today.
MODERN CHALLENGES
Now, more than 500 years later, we find ourselves in need of heroes of faith like Luther and Telemachus. These historical figures remind us that standing for the truth of God’s Word can lead to transformative change, even against the loudest opposition. They teach us that in a sinful broken world, there are many voices that shout down the voice of the Church and her mission to proclaim the Love of God in Christ for sinners. They inspire us to ask: What does it mean to take a stand for the sake of the Gospel?
The world today is vastly different from Luther’s and Telemachus’s time. While Luther likely never met an unbaptized person, we now encounter many, even in small towns like Hamilton, who have no church affiliation or knowledge of God’s Word. In our culture, science has become the highest authority, not Scripture—even for many Christians. Public education has not only drifted from biblical truth but has become outright anti-Biblical, promoting concepts like evolution as fact and redefining biology and sexuality based on personal preference rather than divine design.
In the Church, liberal theology is fracturing mainline congregations, reinterpreting the Reformation as permission to embrace and include all manner of lifestyles and conduct, creating a subjective understanding of God’s Word—a “what it means for you may not be what it means for me” view of the bible as an authority. In some states, Christian public-school teachers often fear job loss not for discussing Christianity in the classroom, but simply for being Christian. Young Christians, in particular, struggle to remain sexually pure in a culture that widely rejects the idea of saving sex for marriage. Jesus warned us this would happen before His return (Luke 21:28), and the challenges are likely to intensify.
Any of us, can testify to how easy it can be to find oneself in awkward situations with family, friends, and coworkers, classmates whose ideas and values might be very different from yours because you follow Christ and His Word. Today, we face real dilemmas at every turn: Who should I vote for? Not merely based on party affiliation or candidate personality, but on which individual aligns more closely with God’s Word. If I vote for a candidate who doesn’t uphold these values, am I compromising my stance for truth?
What about church growth and outreach? Should the church alter its views on sexuality to be more inclusive? Regarding my finances, can I invest in businesses that support unbiblical causes? Are there any that don’t? And in sports, can I support a team or franchise that promotes or celebrates causes contrary to natural law, the Ten Commandments, and Scripture?
A CALL TO ACTION
For some of these questions and dilemmas, the answers are clear; others less so. But what does remain always clear and always before us is the church’s opportunity to speak the truth of God’s Word, to have “here I stand” moments before the world. As a congregation—St. John—and as a Church—the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod—we stand together and visibly and verbally confess to the world that the Word of God is a beautiful and blessed thing. Every Sunday morning we proclaim to the world that there is something worth standing for. Amidst all the confusion and delusion; right in the face of all the opposition the world can throw against Christ; when the world derides the fact that we worship a a dead God on a cross and laughs, “Your Christ is a joke!”; right, smack dab in the middle of where consciences are burdened so deep by lives lived contrary to the law of God; right then and there. Everywhere. We proclaim: Christ is risen. Alleluia! He is risen indeed. Alleluia! we preach Christ crucified.
We get to ask the world: “Are you a sinner? Join us! ‘None is righteous, no, not one’ (Rom. 3:10). Christ came for sinners. Join us sinners.” We get to tell the world: “You want forgiveness? Want peace? Want life? Want a community that loves you? Join us.” You see? there’s always opportunity.
But just think…. If little monks like Luther or Telemachus could make such an impact, how much more potential do we have today. Not just because of technology or the internet or social media, but simply because of the darkness of our times. For darkness only makes the light seem brighter.
The more depressing the sermon of the world is, the more precious and inspirational becomes the preaching of God’s Word.
The more culture and academia are devoid of natural law and God’s Ten Commandments, the more brilliant and brighter become Christian alternatives like our congregation offers. (At St. John Lutheran Church, in Hamilton, Texas (where I serve as pastor) was blessed to do 15 baptisms this past Sunday, because of new families coming into the church through our Lutheran Academy.)
The more the world is beset with unforgiveness, anger and confusion, the more our church and our homes — imperfect though they be — can be a blessed haven, places of refuge, places for all people, places for sinners, called to repentance and given Jesus.
Make no mistake, opportunities abound for the Gospel. If it were not so, Christ would end the world this moment. But there is much work to be done. But now more than ever, we need people willing to stand. Now more than ever we need young people willing to become pastors, and Christian school teachers and church planters. Half the counties in America have no LCMS Lutheran congregation. Now more than ever, we need ordinary Christians of all ages to speak up. And while it may seem like a long shot most of the time, we need Christians willing to invite their neighbors and coworkers to church. Sure, it can often feel like a David vs. Goliath situation, but look how that turned out! And just remember, if you’re feeling small in your faith, Jesus was born in a stable—talk about humble beginnings! God loves using the seemingly insignificant. If He can turn water into wine, just think what He could do with your invitation to church!
CONCLUSION
The odds may look long… but we have a God who still works, and has always worked through lowly words and simple invitations, and basic things like water, bread and wine, an ordinary pastor, a congregation of sinners—all of us—a mom, a dad, a grandparent, a child, a teacher. You! All of you. Any of you. Each of you.
The Reformation was about taking a stand on the Word of God and making a difference in this world because of it. That work is ours. God help us! Amen.
O Lord, open my lips... 