Beg

There is a problem with Lutheran theology. We teach that there is nothing that a person can do to earn their salvation. Why do we teach this, and why is this a problem?

It is taught that a person cannot earn or work for their salvation because every person is fundamentally corrupted by sin, death, and the devil. Although a person might appear to be good looking, strong, and smart on the outside. Deep down in their soul and mind they are fundamentally broken and prone to do horrible and nasty things to their neighbor, God, and themselves.  

Cannot Work

Consider the CoronaVirus. Absolutely nobody is immune to this virus. It is highly contagious. If you contract it and don’t get very sick yourself, you may still spread it to other people, and they could die. Just like humans are powerless against the virus, even more so are we powerless to sin, death, and the devil. Keep in mind that the CoronaVirus is just one example. There are many more diseases and ailments that we are powerless too. Sin is the ultimate spiritual virus.

So what can people do in the face of a highly contagious disease for which there is no cure? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. In the Golden State of California where I live; all 40 million residents have been told by the governor to “Stay at Home.” Not just in California, but all over the world people are told to stay at home. What is the result? Shear economic collapse, and private despair.

It is plain and simple to see what happens when people stop working: economic collapse, and an extreme stressing of civil society as we know it. So why do Lutheran Christians insist on teaching that a person cannot work or earn their salvation? Isn’t it evident what happens when people stop working? Very bad things!

God Works

God came into the world as a human being. His mother’s name was Mary. His Father was God, but his earthly adopted father was Joseph. Jesus was this special human being’s name. Jesus was God as a human being. Jesus was a powerful teacher, preacher, healer, and miracle worker. But the main thing that Jesus did was die a painful, public, humiliating death on a cross alongside common criminals. It is this crucified God, Jesus Christ, which Lutheran Christians (and other Christians too) point to and even cling to as the savior of the universe.

How can Jesus Christ  on the cross save people? Tradition holds that the night in which he was betrayed, that is, the night before the crucifixion, Our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, gave thanks, broke it. Gave it to his disciples and said, “This is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” Again after supper he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this for the remembrance of me.” Jesus instructed his followers to receive his body and blood as a gift from God for the forgiveness of sins, and salvation from death and the devil.  Ever since that Thursday night some 2000 years ago followers of Jesus break bread, share wine, recite these words, and receive these things by faith as Christ’s own body and blood with the power to forgive sin and give eternal life. 

So what, if anything, do Lutheran Christians do to receive this gift? You can’t work for it. You can’t earn it. All you can do is beg. 

Beg From God

If you have the opportunity to participate in a Lutheran Christian service of Holy Communion and you come forward to receive the bread and the wine, that is, the body and blood of Christ. You are to assume a posture of begging. Traditionally that means getting down on your knees, and opening up your hands like a beggar to receive this gift. It is humbling to consider that the best and greatest thing you could ever do for yourself is to get down on your knees and beg for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

In the story of the man born blind that we read today from the Gospel of John notice who is healed and who is not. It is the beggar that receives healing and forgiveness. He wasn’t more righteous. He didn’t earn the healing. He knew how to ask. He knew how to receive. He had faith. Be like the blind man. Beg. Ask. Believe. 

Beg for vaccines.

Beg for more tests.

Beg for relief.

Beg for new jobs. 

Beg for forgiveness.

Amen.

What would you beg from God today?