“SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE”
Ephesians 4:15 

It is a wonder to many as to how a Christian denomination like the Episcopal Church could move so far away from the truths of the Bible, considering their recent appointment of a homosexual bishop. Just as amazing to some is the fact that there should be any controversy over this issue. “After all,” they say, “what's wrong with having a clergyman who is a homosexual?” “Those who oppose such things must be homophobic, unloving, or at the very least, intolerant of other people's views.”

The Christian Church is under attack—as it always has been. Sadly, as the years go on, those attacks become even more brazen. And, most disturbing of all, is that a number of those challenges to the Bible's teachings are coming from inside the church itself. The recent decision in the Episcopal Church is only one example of many. Even now, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America , the ELCA, is meeting in convention and discussing a more tolerant view of sexuality. And we would be foolish to think that our own Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod is immune from these things as well. The sad thing is that we often sit back, complacently, closing our ears to any denominational controversies that come our way, because we imagine that it's of no concern to our own personal lives. “Let the hierarchy of the church worry about it.”

But, people, YOU ARE the Church! As St. Paul noted, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together,” (1 Cor. 12:26 ). We cannot bury our heads in the sand and hope that these problems go away. Nor can we adopt an attitude of disinterest, as if to think that these matters are over our heads and inconsequential to us.

Perhaps the greatest danger to Lutheran Christians these days is that we have forgotten just what it is that we believe. We have become ignorant of the doctrines we have learned from the Holy Scriptures; with the result that we are more susceptible to human argument and cultural influences.

But, as today's Epistle indicates, God expects growth and maturity from His people. Listen to the text: “… that we all ,” not just some of us here, but that, “we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

“So that we may no longer be children.” That statement does not conflict with what Christ said elsewhere in the Gospels when He stated , "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 18:3). There, Jesus is talking about the matter of faith. We certainly do need to have that childlike, wholehearted trust in the grace of God. But here, in today's text, St. Paul is talking about the maturity of our knowledge of God's Word. Elsewhere, Paul chided the Corinthians for their lack of development, saying that, by now, they should have moved from the milk of God's Word onto the solid food of God's Word.

It is no different for any of us. Do maintain a childlike trust in the grace of God that relies on His love for the forgiveness of all your sins. But don't be content with the simple teaching, “Jesus loves me this I know…” Yes, that certainly is the first and primary lesson. But, over the years you have also come to know, and need to know, about the Ten Commandments, and the basics of the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer, and about Baptism, the Office of the Keys, and the Lord's Supper. Or, at least, you should have come to know those Biblical teachings by the time you were confirmed.

But our knowledge of God's will doesn't end there. Would you know how to answer someone who asked you what you have to do to get to heaven? How would you respond to someone who asked you why you celebrate the Lord's Supper every week? Do you know what our church teaches about Baptism? Or could you explain the teaching of justification by grace through faith? How about the question of homosexuality as it relates to God's will? Could you explain to others the difference between our church and others and why you've decided to be a member of this church rather than another one?

When we don't know what the Bible teaches, we will be vulnerable to those who promote their own worldly or religious teaching. As Martin Luther illustrated it, we will leave ourselves open for the temptations of the devil—“For he has a serpent's head; if it finds an opening into which it can slip, the whole body will irresistibly follow.”

I appeal to you that you don't become like some who, when confronted with unfamiliar or challenging teachings of the church, would rather abandon the church and find less threatening environments where they can be blissful in their ignorance. That might sound like overly strong and cold words but, quite the contrary; it is a plea to adhere to the truth in love.

Just like some parents seek to shelter their children from subject matters like sex, drugs, diseases, abductions, and so on, because they think those matters are too intense for children to handle—so also, some Christians block out any issues or spiritual subjects that require more study, more consideration, or firmer stances in this religiously tolerant world of ours. “Don't make waves.” “Live and let live.” And with what result? As one business, I saw while I was on vacation this past week, put on their billboard: “Only dead fish go with the flow.”

Seriously, listen carefully to the words of our text once again: “S peaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

It is entirely possible to speak out against sin, and still to be loving in doing so. For God's desire is that we come to recognize the frailty of our nature, and trust in the life of His Son Jesus for us. Likewise, it is entirely possible to take a firm stance on what the Bible teaches, without compromise, and still be loving. For this is God's Word of which we are speaking—God Who is known through His Word, God Who is Himself the very definition of love.

To be so rigid in our beliefs is not an unloving, intolerant, or even arrogant attitude. It is one of faithfulness. It is one of respect for God. Ultimately, it is one of humble submission to His will. While others may argue about individual rights and personal preferences, we in the Christian Church are compelled to talk about Jesus Christ instead.

Being a Christian is about our individuality vanishing into the background so that Jesus might come to the foreground. Being a Christian is about demonstrating a love for Christ that is so unparalleled that we would be willing to put God's Word before any friendships or family relationships.

And when we fail to love the Lord our God with all our heart and all our soul and all our mind—as we inevitably are guilty of doing—then the truth which God Himself speaks to us in love will assure us that we have a Savior in Jesus Christ, Who died for us and Who was raised from the dead so that we too may have everlasting life with Him.

The days ahead for the Christian Church here on earth will not get any easier. And, sadly, we are bound to see a steady erosion within those denominations which have abandoned the teachings of the Bible. That is why it is so vitally important that we remain steadfast to the truth and share the truth that God has entrusted to this, His Church. And that is why it is also so important that we, here at Good Shepherd, grow knowledgeable in the truth and mature in that truth, so that we might be built up in His love—even in our Lord Jesus Christ.

To God be the glory! Amen.

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