Over the years, I’ve observed some acquaintances and former parishioners of the congregations I have served in the past who became angry with God and decided that worshipping Him was pointless. Some became angry at God because He did not heal a loved one or had not bailed them out of emergencies. Recently, a young pastor who had been popular with young people announced that he was “leaving God”. He promised to dedicate his life from now on to causes such as promoting “race and gender equality.” Some young ones are abandoning the faith because they want their generational peers to approve of them or have come to believe that they can judge what is good and what is evil, and they find God lacking. (see Genesis 3) What is happening is told by Christ Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 24:12, “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” For some Christians, this trend brings fear and invites doubt, especially with fewer fellow citizens seeking Christ. Often, the assumption is made that there must be something wrong with the truth claims of Christianity.
Yet we Confessional Lutherans understand that Jesus knows that our hearts tend to beat with and for the world. We were created in His image, which means that we were created to love Him first and love others as we love ourselves. Yet we know our sinful nature will corrupt that God-given need for His love. In the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 1, Solomon laments for his failure to find satisfaction from this world. “Vanity! Vanity!” he declared. Every earthly pursuit of glory left him empty. And it still does today for those who seek worldly. We read what Jesus said, recorded in Luke 12:13-21, the Parable of the Rich Fool. Many will seek self-fulfillment, financial security, or will care too much what the world thinks of us. Many faithful today are including in their prayer petitions earnest requests to God the Father and in Jesus’ name for His gift of courage with the proper words to say when we become fearful, facing ridicule from those who have declared themselves wise. With rising hostility towards faith in Christ, the Christian needs to be prepared, which involves daily prayer and study of His Word. God will give us the courage and words we need to pray.
As Psalm I sings, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his Law, he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” We Christians are to remain faithful to Him, encouraging our fellow saints. Someday, we will be resurrected into His infinitely joyful kingdom. For now, may we heed what Paul wrote, recorded in Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Our hope is built on nothing less than Christ the Rock. Gloria Deo—Glory to God