Love Completes the Mission

Pastor Tim Phillips

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Please pray with me. Heavenly Father, we gather together today on this national holiday but we also gather in your name. We pray that, as we remember all who have gone before us and those who've served our country and sacrificed their lives to defend us, you will bless us with an overwhelming feeling of debt and gratitude to them. But also, Lord, we pray our Christian faith will speak to these things and speak to this issue, that you will comfort those families who have lost so much and also that you will show us your great love for us that moved you to sacrifice your Son to free us from our sin. Bless us now as we meditate on your word. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A few months ago, on my birthday, I received this wonderful gift. I'm interested in history and, because so much of history happens around wars, I've done a lot of reading on the Civil War and the Revolutionary War and World War II and World War I and all these different things. And, for my birthday, I received a DVD set, 10 DVD's, 30 hours, the complete history of World War II and I've watched every minute of it, 30 hours. But you can't help, when you watch a documentary about war, but come away with this great sense of sadness at the human suffering and tragedy that war brings to our world. And often it seems like the purpose of the war is obscure. Often the mission is uncertain or subjective. For instance, in the American Revolution, colonists would have told you, “We're fighting for freedom.” And the British would have said, “We're just trying to maintain control over our subjects who are scoffing at our laws of taxation.” In the Civil War, the North would have described it as “A war of rebellion and we're trying to preserve the union.” And the South would have described it as simply, “A war for states' rights. We voluntarily have joined this association of United States , and we have the right to leave.”

Often, the reason behind war is lost in propaganda or the subjective retelling of it. But regardless, men and women are called to serve their country and, among them, are Christians. In the confusing devastation of war, it may seem like there is no clear purpose. However, in the midst of the carnage and debris, God's mission is never in doubt. Make disciples. Jesus says in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” It sounds unbelievable, but it's true. Even in war, God calls us to serve Him and make disciples. This is our mission.

But how is it possible? When we reflect on this experiences of our soldiers in Iraq that we hear on the news, the idea of proclaiming God's love and compassion seems out of place. But it's not. Because wherever there is human suffering, the need for God's love and compassion to be proclaimed exists. Again, though, how is it possible? It is possible to make disciples in times of war because of love, God's love for us and God's love working through us. Love completes the mission. We may think we're engaged in a battle to free people from oppression, but the real mission of all Christians is to set people free from the power of sin through Jesus. The power of God's love is greater than the power of sin and suffering. The apostle Paul, who was no stranger to suffering, writes about God's enduring love in Romans 8, which Pastor Meyer read a little earlier but I'll read again, “What then shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is He that condemns? Christ Jesus who died, more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, for your sake, we face death all day long. We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No. In all these things, we are more than conquerors.” The Greek word is hupernikao, which means super conquerors. By faith in Jesus Christ, we are super conquerors and Paul says, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is truly amazing. Even in the midst of unimaginable suffering, God's love shines through. In times where all seems lost, God continues to forgive our sins and strengthen us in our faith. Even when we are at our weakest moment, the power of God is not diminished but remains strong.

No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, no matter what enemy we are up against, God's mercy endures forever. Think about God's love for you and how He demonstrated that love. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Think about the context of war. That God's love cannot be separated from you by war. Romans 5:6-8 talks about God's love again, “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though, for a good man, someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His love for us in this. While we were still sinners , Christ died for us. This is the kind of love God has for us. Jesus dying on the cross for you and me. Paul tells us that nothing, not even war, can separate us from God's love. It's so wonderful to think that God's love never fades and His promises are always true. It's exciting to think this love that God demonstrated by sending His Son, is at work inside of us compelling us to serve others in Jesus' name. Here's a story of God's love at work in the midst of battle.

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Love completes the mission. With the raw emotions of battle, the love of God brings comfort and peace. Wounded bodies and frightened souls are soothed by the Holy Spirit as it brings healing in Jesus' name. With great courage and perseverance, Christian men and women live out their faith undaunted by the destined dangers of war. Many give the last full measure of devotion as they perform acts of heroism. Stories that don't make the mainstream media give evidence to the love of God at work in our brave men and women.

The following is one such story. Marines notice things. Hardened by the bitter experience of ambushes, roadside bombs, and snipers, marines on patrol notice things. They have to. When they move through a village, they size up brutes congregated at corners or storefront stores. They scan faces. Are they welcomed? Feared? Ignored? They make mental notes and tuck away images that might be helpful on the next patrol. They notice particular houses or buildings, walls, or clumps of trees, irrigation ditches, junked cars. They notice things. Their lives depend on it.

The men of I Company 3 rd Battalion 5 th Marine Regiment are no different. Their personal radars were scanning, scanning as they patrolled the dusty little town of Al Hasa back in January. That's when they noticed something at a particular house. That's why they showed up at that house last week. They roared up in a couple of their amphibious assault vehicles, but they didn't kick in the door. They knocked. The family inside was surprised, but they weren't frightened. Greetings were exchanged. A small group of marines seemed to be holding back smiles and anxious to get to the point. While on patrol back in January, they had noticed this large Iraqi family and a particularly cute girl cropped awkwardly in a big, old, rusty, adult wheelchair. So, well, a bunch of the guys got together back at Camp Smitty and they unloaded a shiny, new, pediatric wheelchair from one of their vehicles and rolled it into the house. The little girl had suffered a severe spinal injury in a car accident two years ago. The old wheelchair was the best the family could do for her until the marines came. The family's faces lit up with the smiles. The incredulous father picked up his daughter and immediately placed her in the new wheelchair. He shook the marines hands, saying, “Thank you,” again and again. “They seemed pretty happy about it,” said Corporal Matthew Rivera. “We knew we had to help out in some way,” said Sargent Charles Evers. The marines didn't stay long. There were smiles and a few tears and then they jumped back into their assault vehicles and headed back to Camp Smitty . Love completes the mission.

Love completed God's mission when He sent His Son to die for us. Love compelled Him to send Jesus into our difficult world to save us from our sin. And love compels these soldiers and drives them to do loving acts of compassion. The bible tells that we love because He first loved us. And the mission of God to make disciples is completed with that love. As the saying goes, “People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” When they know you love them, they will ask why and that's when you fill in the blank with Jesus.

During World War II and the Korean War, many members of the clergy were called to serve as chaplains for the men and women of our armed forces. And it's amazing what they did in places like Korea and Japan . The chaplains mobilized humanitarian aid to the staggering numbers of refugees and orphans. The fascinating development that happened as a result of their work was that, in many instances, the chaplains laid the groundwork for later missionaries. The places where they were stationed and serving later became places of mission. The compassionate work of the chaplains served to warm the hearts of the leaders in places like the Philippines , Papua , New Guinea , Japan , and Korea . The doors were opened up, and the gospel of Jesus was faithfully proclaimed and lovingly demonstrated.

Today there are hundreds of churches and thousands of believers that have come to Christ directly through the ministry which was begun by our military chaplains. This beautiful legacy of ministry goes on today. Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is part of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod which supports and sends many missionaries throughout the world, wherever our troops go, and you can support this ministry with your prayers. You can take a moment to say a special prayer of thanks for all our soldiers have done and to pray for the chaplains that serve these soldiers. And if you want to go a little bit further, you can take a moment after the service and visit the Information Center and put a donation in one of the envelopes provided back there.

The mission of the battle may not always be clear, but God's mission is. Make disciples. And through the brave men and women of our service and the wonderful chaplains who are faithful and, through you, God's mission of love will be completed. Amen? Amen.