Sunday, April 13, 2008 - I Peter 2:19-25

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the last week or two, there has been a great deal of talk in the media about the 3rd graders who were plotting to harm their teacher and the high school girls who videotaped their assault on one of their classmates. We are again reminded of what a violent and evil world it is in which we live. It has been nine years since the shootings at Columbine and we are still horrified at the senseless murder of those high school kids in Colorado.

What was once unthinkable only a generation ago is now happening all too often, and videotaped, and put on YouTube. As a society, we want answers. We want to know what would possess young kids to lash out with such great hostility and vengeance. Is it the culture? Is it the music they listen to? Is it their parents fault? Is it that they are simply evil? Or were they just plain crazy?

The world is an unjust place, filled with suffering. Peter tells us that it is our lot in life, as God’s people, to bear the pain of injustice and suffering, always being conscious that God is in control and has prepared a different inheritance for us than that which is attainable in this world.

It is a comfort knowing that even in the midst of chaos God is still in control, but we still want answers. I believe that there are explanations for why these types of events are occurring in our society today. In no way do I exonerate these people or in any way make excuse for them; however, there is a reason that such things did not happen a generation ago, but are happening all too frequently today.

A generation ago, Elvis Presley was considered controversial because he perhaps danced in an inappropriate and suggestive manner. Gradually, his behavior became acceptable, and even became the norm, as more radical behavior was introduced -- until that more radical behavior which was once shocking became acceptable. And the society becomes more and more tolerant of and desensitized to what was once viewed as deviant behavior. Books have been written as to why this philosophical change is occurring, but I won’t get into that today.

The examples are numerous. A generation ago, “Laugh-In” was a risque and ethically questionable television program. Today, you could probably air that on Nickelodeon.

Guns and killing have always been a part of our media culture. How many war movies were made during the 1940's and 1950's? How many westerns were made? I grew up watching “Gunsmoke” and reruns of “The Rifleman.” “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Outlaw Josey Wales” are two of my favorite movies. One of my all-time favorite movies is “The Godfather.” Should I be closely watched for violent behavior?

I believe it is not images of violence alone; however, if the eye is the lamp to the body, as Jesus says, what happens when we are filled with darkness. Images alone did not bring a fundamental change to our culture, but there have been changes in our culture in the last generation that have made a difference. We no longer live in a Christian society. We live in the “age of Aquarius.” Aquarius is the astrological sign that follows Pisces. Pisces is, of course, the fish -- which has been the symbol for Christ’s Church since the days of the apostles.

When it was sung a generation ago that “This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius,” it was announced that the battle for the hearts and minds of the people that had been waged covertly was about to become very public. And the result is that 40 years later, we have ceased to live in a Christian society.

We live in the Roe vs. Wade \ Jack Kevorkian \ Pulp Fiction world. When the decision on Roe v. Wade came out and life in the womb was no longer precious but was only a mild inconvenience that could be rid of, our world changed. The supporters of abortion said it would affect nothing beyond a woman and her body, but even then, it was warned that soon the life of the very sick or elderly would be seen as dispensable. Of course it was decried, “Never would anything like that happen or be tolerated.” But now it is -- at least in some states.

Just as the sexual revolution of the 1960's and 70's made the dancing of Elvis seem very tame, so also the devaluation of life has slowly but surely brought us to the point we are today.

We now live in a culture that is almost identical to that of the early Christians living in the Roman world. The people to whom St. Peter wrote his epistle lived in a world that was not dominantly Christian; they reveled in their sexual freedom; abortions were common; they had even invented medication that would induce abortions.

Their social activities were dominated by sporting events -- the more bloody and violent the better. They glorified the gladiators. They came by the thousands to watch chariot races and people fed to the lions. As the Roman’s became desensitized to the violence of their society, the people cried out for bloodier and more sadistic forms of entertainment.

Today, we have Jerry Springer, Mixed Martial Arts, and ever-increasingly violent video games. Ask any hockey fan if they think the sport would be better if they allowed or encouraged more fighting. We are traveling down the same path and will eventually go the way of the Roman Empire.

A French historian named Henri Toqueville came to America in the 1800's to discover the reason for our success and greatness and see if it could be duplicated in France following the French Revolution. He wrote that he looked in our halls of Congress and our democratic government -- but that is not where he found our greatness. He looked at our judicial system and the rights of the people -- but he did not find it there either. He looked at our industry and the power of our business world -- but he did not find it there.

Then, he wrote, he looked at the churches. It was in the faith of the people, their devotion to God, and the love for their fellow man flowing forth that made this nation truly great. And he wrote his famous quotation, “when America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.”

Unfortunately, America has followed down the same path as did the Roman Empire. It was inevitable. It is the nature of sinful man. But the good news for us is that, for all the atrocities, evil, and insanity brought forth at times by the Roman world, the church was ultimately victorious. Rome fell, but the church grew and prospered.

There is a blue-print for how to deal with and defeat the pagan culture in which we live. The early Christians didn’t resort to violence, petition their Senators to pass legislation, or even form picket lines. They worshiped together with Word and Sacrament and proclaimed a crucified and risen Christ. As we hear in our reading from Acts 2, every day they gathered at the temple, broke bread in their homes, praised God, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

They lived their days as peaceful witnesses of the love of God. And at times, they were forced to do as St. Peter told them and they bore up under the pain of unjust suffering. Their faithful witness allowed the Word of God to work, and eventually the voice of the Good Shepherd was heard throughout the world.

Your faithful witness allows the Word of God to work. And by His grace, the voice of the Good Shepherd is heard in our world also. And we pray this continues until “every knee shall bow . . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

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