In one of those Godly coincidences, one week ago this hour Carol and I were worshipping at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Leipzig with a group of pastors and choir directors.  It was an evening service at 6 PM, the very same time the people of Epiphany Lutheran were worshipping, 10 AM here in Colorado.  The hymns were familiar, and we struggled to understand what the pastor was saying.  After a liturgy similar to ours, he preached about the Wedding at Cana, and those of us who were Lutheran shared the blessings of Holy Communion.

          Martin Luther preached there at St. Thomas a few times, and Johann Sebastian Bach spent most of his career playing the organ, directing choirs, and composing his music.  So there we were, where Martin Luther had preached, accompanied by Bach's organ, singing the same hymns at the same hour our church choir was singing Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" back home.  History connects us.  The God of the past connects us to the present, and gives hope for the future.

          Today in the church year, we look to the past as we remember St. Titus, Gentile protegé of St. Paul, and pastor of churches on the island of Crete.  And as always, we look to God's Word which always connects the past to the present.  As the 17th century hymn says, "O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come."  The eternal Word of the past ever guides and directs us into the present.

          Titus was at first a student of Paul, and later co-worker who accompanied him on one of his missionary journeys.  Later, when Paul took Titus to meet the Jerusalem leaders, they insisted he be circumcised before being considered Christian.  But Paul refused this.  Hard-liner Christians had been trying to force Gentile believers to submit to Jewish customs long enough, so Paul drew a line in the sand.  There were a few arguments, and some got angry and left.

          But finally, with the approval of Peter, Titus was accepted as a member of the Christian community without circumcision.  That event became the precedent for all Christians who followed.  Only faith in Christ saves us;  external signs or customs are unneeded.  We must be ever careful not to add to or subtract from the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When He died on the cross and rose again on the third day, salvation was finished.  Nothing more is needed to bring us to God.  No more customs, no more traditions - Christ had done it all.  The past of God has determined the present for all mankind.

          Paul's letter to Titus is one of the Pastoral Epistles, letters that show Titus and Timothy how to be good pastors.  In his letter to Titus, Paul encourages him in how to lead the other Cretan pastors and their people.  "You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.  Teach the older men to be temperate...  Teach the older women to be reverent...  Train younger women to love their husbands and children...  Encourage young men to be self-controlled...  Teach servants to be subject to their masters...  Remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities..."

          We live in an age of individualism.  Everyone wants their own freedom.  Freedoms are good, but we must remember they are never absolute.  Our freedoms always depends on the welfare of others.  Freedom of speech is good, but you cannot shout "Fire" in a crowd.  Freedom to own property is good, but you cannot own what already belongs to your brother.

          Even freedom of religion is not absolute.  For example you cannot hold to a religion that practices human sacrifice.  Though no one has the right to force us to believe against our will, some do try.  Not every belief is correct, for erroneous beliefs can lead us to hell.  But we should have the right to believe as we choose, as well as to share our beliefs.  We all should have the freedom to tell what we believe as we are able.  But we cannot impose our beliefs on others.  That freedom we don't have.

          As many know, this past Wednesday was the 30th anniversary of "Roe vs. Wade".  Now Christian freedom allows me to tell you I think that decision was wrong.  God's Word has convinced me that human life is too precious to be treated as a by-product for disposal.  But I know not everyone believes that way.  The way we believe in this matter is a sensitive thing, but we still have the freedom to speak our mind.

          Some in our society, however, tell us that sharing religious beliefs is the same as imposing them on others.  "Don't tell me about your religion because I'll think you are trying to change me."  Telling someone what you believe can get you in trouble.  Even in some churches pastors are told to limit their comments about certain topics.  That's because some members believe we should have freedom from being made uncomfortable.  If that were true, we'd have to remove all references to sin.  Then, some would like that.  "Don't tell me anything that makes me uncomfortable."  They don't want truth, just to feel good, no matter what.  I wonder if they'd say that to the boss.

          But God's Word often makes us uncomfortable, and it should.  The Word told the old line Christians in Jerusalem that their ways were no longer right.  The Word tells us pride is harmful.  It tells us lying, cheating and stealing are wrong.  In short, it tells us we are damned sinners headed for hell unless we have God's grace.  We may not like hearing that, but that doesn't make it any less true.

          Two elderly women always sat right up front each Sunday.  The pastor was preaching on the Ten Commandments and they wanted the best seat.  He said, "You shall have no other Gods, and you shall not take God's name in vain."  The two women muttered their approval - "Amen."  The pastor continued, "You shall honor your parents and elders you shall not kill!" and the women spoke a firm, "Amen!"  He then said, "You shall honor the marriage bed and you shall not steal."  They fairly shouted, "Amen, brother!"  Then he said, "You shall not gossip and speak unkindly about others."  One of the blurted out, "Now you're getting personal!"  That must have been the same Sunday as when the man walked out of church and told the pastor what a great sermon it was on the Ten Commandments.  When asked what he liked most about the sermon, the man said, "I have to confess I came into this church intending to steal a coat, but then you said, 'You shall not steal,' so I couldn't.  But when you said, 'You shall not commit adultery,' I remembered where I left my coat!"

          You see, God's Word does afflict the comfortable.  That's the way it should be.  But it also comforts the afflicted.  It soothes the sinner and forgives the debtor.  St. Paul wrote about this to Titus when he said, "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.  We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior." (Titus 3:3-6)

          Despite our sin and rebellion, God in His mercy comes to our rescue.  He washes us clean in baptism.  He rescues us by His forgiving love.  He eases our pains and troubles, and unites us with Himself and each other in Holy Communion.  He restores us to God through the Church.  He gives us a second chance in life by making us His children.  We have freedom to believe, because God even gives us faith.  Him.  That's what the Holy Spirit does - He gives us the gift of faith in Christ.

          Paul told Titus he'd have his struggles.  He told him to "Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless." (Titus 3:9)   Someone always wants to impose his will on others in things that don't matter.  You may even find me doing that, and if so, ignore it.  God stands at the door and waits for us;  He doesn't knock the door down.

          Titus experienced the grace of God when he walked the paths of life with Paul.  God's grace is great for any people of any era.  It was good to see some of the "Luther Sites," places of the past.  We hope to go back again next year and show others what we saw.  We look to the past for what is good, but we live in the present.  By God's grace we look to the future for that perfect life with God, free from troubles and sin.  By His grace we are forgiven and renewed.  By His grace we are promised eternal life.  O give thanks that He is our God of the past and the present.  Amen

Copyright © 2003 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.