September 15, 2019                                                                              Text:  Luke 15:1-7

Dear Friends in Christ,

            Fred Rogers – also known as Mr. Rogers had a program on Public Television for a number of years called, “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.”  “Won’t you be my neighbor.”  I read that someone was blaming Mr. Rogers for the selfishness of a generation because he told children “they were special.”  The thought being that the world owes them something because they are “special.”

            The reruns of the show still show up on PBS.  I find the show, just like watching Bob Ross paint quite relaxing.  It is a stretch to blame Mr. Rogers for selfishness.  It is easier to point at Mr. and Mrs. Parent, but that theory also has holes.  The simple reality is this, we are sinful, which shows itself in our selfishness and blaming everybody for the way I am.

            You can rant and rave about this world all you want.  Heartburn today.  Heart attack tomorrow.  Subject to change without notice.  You can get mad.  You can deny it.  But one thing you can’t do . . .

“YOU CAN’T BLAME MR. ROGERS FOR WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE”

            We always point to the Scriptures when discussing these themes because it applies to everyone.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)  “No one living is righteous before you,” writes the Psalmist. (Ps. 143:2b) 

            Everybody has the same two choices.  They are quite clear in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.  We can either see ourselves as more wonderful and less sinful than others or we can get on our knees, look up to heaven and say, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

            Which are you?  Where do you stand?  Self-righteous or a sinner in his or her sin?  Who do you blame for . . . well . . . whatever has brought guilt and inner conflict in your life?

            “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus.  And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’” (v. 1-2)

            You can’t read the Gospels and not see that Jesus is reaching into the lives of those with a sense of guilt and sin.  He is there for those dealing with discouragement and death, suffering and pain.  Jesus said this:  “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Lk. 19:10)

            Stan Mooneyham years ago was walking a trail in East Africa with some friends when he became aware of a wonderful odor.  “He looked up in the trees and around at the bushes in an effort to discover where it was coming from.  Then his friends told him to look down at the small blue flower growing along the path.  Each time they crushed the tiny blossoms under their feet, more of its sweet perfume was released into the air.  Then his friends said, ‘We call it the forgiveness flower.’

            “This forgiveness flower does not wait until we ask forgiveness for crushing it.  It does not release its fragrance in measured doses or hold us to a reciprocal arrangement…it merely lives up to its name and forgives – freely, fully, richly.”

            I find that an illustration of Christ’s love for us.  “He receives sinners and eats with them.”  The people that marched Him to Calvary are welcomed.  We – whose sins crushed Him – are forgiven and embraced by God forever.  Here in His Word and at the Holy Supper and at the baptismal font.  We come with the unworthy and undeserving and He grants forgiveness of all our sin and He has secured a place for each of us in eternity.

            “So he told them this parable:  ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” (v. 3-7)

            Ever think of heaven rejoicing over you when God brought you into His fold?  Christianity isn’t some psycho-babble to help us get comfortable with the world.  Its repentance, friends.  It’s daily repentance.  It is also a struggle sometimes we forget that.  In the struggle we can run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

            Ancient Greek poetry tells of a warrior, the hero of Troy, dressed in all his military armor, stretching out his arms to embrace his son before going into battle.  His child was frightened as he looked at the helmet and full military dress, and instead of falling into his father’s arms he screamed in terror.  However, under all the battle array was hidden a heart of fatherly love.  The warrior threw off his armor, gathered his little boy in his arms, and held him tightly against his chest where he could hear the beating of his father’s heart, as if saying, “I love you, I love you.”

            That is how God revealed himself to us in the person and work of Jesus.  He still does in Word, water, bread, wine.  Christ rejoices over us.  When things don’t go the way you want, or thought, or expected – don’t blame Mr. Rogers.   Be thankful you belong to God through faith in Christ.           Amen.