Come, Lord Jesus!

by Pastor Paul Wolff 

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Revelation 22:20

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The second coming of Jesus will be different from the first.

Some people have a hard time understanding why Christians are so eager for Jesus to return. They read about the war and the plagues and God’s judgment in the Revelation that Jesus gave to Saint John, and they fear what is coming. This is what happens when people read the Bible out of context, and without understanding.

For some people there is much to fear from God’s judgment. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke; his lips are full of fury, and his tongue is like a devouring fire; his breath is like an overflowing stream that reaches up to the neck; to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction, and to place on the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads astray.” (Isaiah 30:27-28) The anger of the almighty, righteous God is certainly something to be feared for all who are the objects of that anger. Isaiah also writes in 40:10, “See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.” This also could cause fear in anyone, but the very next verse describes the “reward” and “recompense” that the Lord brings with Him: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11) This is not the “wages of sin” (i.e. “death”) that Saint Paul describes in the first part of Romans 6:23, but this is the “gift of God” which is “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (the second half of Romans 6:23).

We need to remember that Isaiah was writing to the Kingdom of Judah who had turned away from God in favor of idols. They were essentially unbelievers – pagans – in God’s eyes, and so God treats them like pagans. However, God did send Isaiah and other prophets to call them to repentance, and warn all who would be willing to repent to do so before it was too late. Sadly, not enough repented, and God sent the Babylonians with His power and wrath, and they came and destroyed Judah and Jerusalem, and carried away the survivors to Babylon, over 500 miles away. This was harsh, but it was also part of the mercy of God. God could have had the Babylonians destroy the Jews, but God spared a small remnant so that He could keep the promise He had made to His people (notably, to Adam and Eve, Abraham, Jacob (Israel), King David, and others) that He would send one of their descendants to come and redeem the world from sin and make everything all right with God again. Because this promise comes by faith (see Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3), all who believe in God’s Messiah (Jesus Christ) are considered by God to be His beloved children and they receive God’s forgiveness and favor.

The only people who need truly fear God’s wrath and judgment, and fear Christ’s coming are those who reject Christ and His forgiveness and salvation. Jesus certainly died for them, too, and paid for their sins also, but because they reject God’s gift of forgiveness, they don’t benefit from it at all. These are the ones who ought to fear the return of Jesus, but they don’t (except on a subconscious level) because they either don’t care, or they don’t think they need Jesus to save them. Christian heretics misinterpret Christ’s Revelation in order to make Christians fear His return. Jesus warned his disciples about such things when He taught, “False Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible.” (Matthew 24:24)

Jesus came humbly as a baby with minimal fanfare, except to the local shepherds.

When the Son of God arrived on earth the first time as a baby born in Bethlehem, He was not threat to anyone. He was a helpless baby born in a small town, away from the centers of power and worldly influence. Jesus later taught, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:17) Yet, King Herod felt threatened by this baby so much that he ordered soldiers to go to Bethlehem and kill all the baby boys two years old and younger, so that this one baby would die.

In His earthly ministry, Jesus never claimed political power or threatened those holding such offices. He called sinners to repentance, including those in authority, but Jesus never called for revolution or that specific political leaders should be overthrown. Yet those who lusted after power were jealous of the adoration and praise that Jesus rightly received from the crowds. This jealousy was so bad that they plotted to kill Jesus even though (or possibly because) they knew Jesus had the power to heal all kinds of sickness, injury, and disease; and He would cast out demons and raise the dead back to life. They also knew Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, yet they plotted to kill Him. This is what happens when people listen to the lies of the devil and demons.

Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. His righteous judgment is the gift of forgiveness for ALL who trust in Him for forgiveness.

You might think that this poor treatment of Jesus might make Him angry so that when He returns He might come in vengeance. This would be a possibility if He were anyone other than the sinless Son of God, whose mercy endures forever. Jesus knew what people were like long before He went to the cross to suffer and die for sinners. Since He knew how bad we were, and still offered His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, then we can have faith in Him and confidence that when He returns, He will come with salvation and healing for all who belong to God by faith. This is why the prayer of the church has long been, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

When Patriotism Becomes an Idol

by Pastor Paul Wolff

Whenever the patriotic celebrations come around there is temptation to display our patriotism in the worship service by singing patriotic songs and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Some try to sanctify the secular pledge to the flag by combining it with a pledge of allegiance to the cross and/or the “Christian flag”. There may be a place for patriotism, however, the Christian worship service is neither the time nor the place for this.

The problem is not with patriotism nor with the Pledge of Allegiance. I love my country and I do not hesitate to say the Pledge of Allegiance with my hand over my heart on nearly all occasions, but not during the worship service. The divine service was instituted by God for the purpose of delivering forgiveness and salvation to us through His Means of Grace (i.e. the Word and Sacraments). Whenever we add elements to the worship service which don’t deliver the Means of Grace we take our attention away from Christ, which makes these added elements idols.

Not only is nationalistic patriotism NOT a Means of Grace, it isn’t even commanded by God. Though God rules in the secular world (the Kingdom of the Left Hand) and in the Church (the Kingdom of the Right Hand), He doesn’t require patriotic pledges. If you look in the Small Catechism under the Table of Duties for Citizens you will find that what is required of Christians for good citizenship is to pay our taxes and submit to those in authority out of love (except where such authorities require us to break God’s commandments, then we must obey God rather than men). This is another reason why it is inappropriate to require the Pledge of Allegiance in the worship service.

One more thing to consider is that not all Christians are Americans. Most Christians are not Americans and have no desire nor reason to pledge allegiance to the American Flag. God’s Word and Holy Baptism are universal. They are for everyone. Communion fellowship is restricted to those of the same confession (Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, etc.), but while an African Lutheran (for example) can commune in an American Lutheran church, he would not pledge allegiance to the American Flag.

Patriotism, too, can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on the actions of the State. When Patriotism is used to support truth, justice, and a benevolent government, then it is a good thing. When Patriotism is used to support wicked and unjust governments then it is a great evil. An example of the latter is the German army in World War II. They were not all Nazis, but their patriotic support for the National Socialists (Nazis) was a great evil. This particular example does not necessarily explain the “why” or “why not” of patriotic pledges in the worship service, but it just shows that some discretion is necessary.

Not all Americans are Patriots, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Many people just want to live their lives in peace and fulfill their Godly vocations, and there is nothing inherently sinful about that. Because of this, and the fact that patriotism is not commanded by God, we ought not make anyone feel guilty for not being particularly patriotic, nor should we make anyone feel as if they are a better Christian just because they are patriotic. This view is unpopular in some circles, I know, but I am a minister of the Gospel of Christ, and I am much more concerned about the Spiritual well-being of God’s people than their patriotic feelings. I do not wish anyone to confuse the Gospel for patriotism, because they are not the same, nor are they related. There is no salvation to be found in national patriotism. Salvation is only found in Christ Jesus.

In the First Commandment God says, “You shall have no other Gods before me.” When we add practices to our worship service which God has not commanded, and which do not deliver the Means of Grace, we are placing a false god before the True God. This also applies to the Pledge of Allegiance. While the Pledge is not necessarily idolatrous in its proper context (though it can be), it does become an idol when we place it in the worship service. It does no good to try to sanctify the Pledge with a pledge to the Cross and/or the “Christian Flag.” These also are not commanded by God. We confess our faith in God’s work of salvation when we confess the creeds, and there is plenty of Biblical examples encouraging us to do this, but nowhere in Scripture is there a separate requirement to pledge allegiance to the cross. As to the “Christian Flag,” I am not even sure where that comes from. Christianity is not a national identity like being a citizen of the United States. Christians are citizens of every nation on earth (even where it is illegal to do so), so I don’t know what it means to pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag, but if there can be a proper context for doing this, the worship service is not it.

You may well find me pledging allegiance to the U.S. flag on patriotic holidays like Independence Day, September 11th, etc. but it won’t be in Church. I look to Christ alone for forgiveness and salvation, and the worship service is where these precious gifts are delivered to Christ’s people. There is no salvation apart from Christ even in the greatest country on earth. Some may accuse me of being a hypocrite, but that just shows their misunderstanding of God’s rule in the Kingdom of the Left (secular society) and the Kingdom of the Right (the church). God rules in the world as well as the church, but salvation is not found in the world, but only in the Word and Sacraments as administered in faithful Christian worship services, and we are well served when we keep this distinction clear.