Last Sunday, in our Stewardship Challenge 2005 "Pep Talk", Tom Clark suggested that even as we are in the midst of an election campaign that will result in choosing a president for our nation, our congregation, this year, as in every year, is in the midst of an election, of sorts: a process whereby we, as individuals will choose who will be our God and Lord. In a very real sense, choosing the Holy Trinity, choosing Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as OUR God and Lord, means we cast our vote, and our lot, with Him. It means we will support Him and His purposes in the world; it means we will devote our time and resources to Him; it means we will give our all, everything that we have and are, to see that he is not just OUR God and Lord, but that ultimately, He will be God and Lord of all peoples and nations. That's what it would mean for us to be committed, to the Holy Trinity.

     In this election year, one of the groups of people that are discussed often, and targeted, is that body of folks referred to as "the uncommitted". You know, as in "not committed to one candidate or another". And that's had me thinking--about my own commitment, and the commitment we who call ourselves Christians, are each called to make, if we will indeed, be faithful Christians. I've been thinking of that more deeply and profoundly, as we've approached our celebration of Saint Luke's Day, which is not just a celebration of Saint Luke--but also, a celebration of our parish, and our ministry, not in Luke's name, but in Jesus' name. I've wondered, what does a life look like, for one who's committed, not just to God in some kind of abstract, spiritualized way--but committed to God in a way that that commitment is real, and concrete and meaningful? I've wondered how many members at Saint Luke's are, indeed, committed to our Lord, and His ministry here at Saint Luke's? As I watched the presidential debate from a week ago, the one with the town hall format, it was announced that those in the audience were Missourians who were "uncommitted" to either candidate. And that makes me wonder, how many in our congregation, or in any Lutheran congregation each Sunday, are uncommitted? On the one hand, that's a dangerous question to ask, because there's nothing more destructive than Christians getting into a mindset where they start questioning other people's commitment--where Christians start looking around asking, "I wonder if that person is as committed as me." That's the old satanic trap of focusing on the speck in your neighbor's eye, rather than the log in your own eye. Because the fact is, our business is not our neighbor's commitment--my business is my own commitment. My business is my own faith--my own discipleship, my own involvement, my own stewardship. Your business is your commitment, your faith, your discipleship, your involvement, your stewardship. I can preach and teach about these things, and you can try to set an example that inspires others, through word and deed--but ultimately, as with presidential elections, it's one man, (or woman), one vote. We are each, responsible for our own relationship with God. That's why your decisions about your involvement and your stewardship--are your business. No one really notices what you choose to give or not to give--you have to make that decision for yourself...and that's okay with the rest of us. Because each of us is dealing with our own involvement and stewardship: in other words, each of us is, or should be dealing with our own commitment. Each of us should be asking ourselves: "Am I committed to Christ and His Church? Am I committed to Christ and THIS church?" And because I can only answer for myself, I will--I will tell you outright--"I am committed to Christ, and His Church, and this church!"

     I looked up "commitment" in the dictionary, and it says "a pledge or promise to do something; dedication to a long-term course of action; a financial obligation undertaken". And I think that says it all.

     For me, being committed as a Christian--means pledging myself to having God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as my God. It means just as God has chosen me, for salvation, through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I respond, by committing myself, to Him, in thought, word and deed. It means I am not uncommitted, not wishy-washy, not lukewarm in my faith. It means I am committed to His "platform" if you will; his platform, for life, and for eternal life. It means I am committed to His plan for salvation--and no other. It means I am committed to Jesus Christ, alone, as Savior and Lord--and no other. And that means, I'm in it for the long haul...for eternity. Which brings me to the second part of commitment: "dedication to a long-term course of action".

     For me, being committed as a Christian means seeking to live out that commitment in real, concrete, tangible ways. For me, the only viable way to do that is by serving in a local expression of the body of Christ. Sometimes kids in the church think pastors come to worship every Sunday because it's their job. And I guess the indication of that would be if a pastor is on vacation, do they still go to worship on Sunday? I know some pastors for whom that's the case. Which suggests to me, it is just a job. But even if I wasn't a pastor, I would be in church every Sunday, and I would be involved in a local church, because that's where we can live out our commitment. Just as God has become incarnate, flesh and blood for us, in Jesus Christ, in Word and Sacrament, we are called to "incarnate/enflesh" our faith and commitment, in praise and worship and service. Commitment that is not "embodied" is not really commitment. Just like saying you're committed to a presidential candidate, but not voting, isn't much of a commitment. And that's why I'm involved in a local parish--and why I would be even if I weren't a pastor. And that's why I've been here at Saint Luke's for so-o-o-o long. It's not that no one else will have me; it's not that there aren't other opportunities. It's that God has called me here, and continues to call me to stay here. It's that God has called me into ministry, and just as I'm in the ministry for the long-haul, I'm here for as long as God wants me here. And since this has become a long-term pastorate, I'm committed to a long-term course of action, here at Saint Luke's. I don't believe we could've accomplished what we've accomplished, with a short-term pastorate. I don't believe our congregation would've experienced the growth, the financial strength and stability, the ability to develop a solid, faithful ministry, over the short-term. It has taken dedication to a long-term course of action--on my part, and on your part. And the course of action, has just really gotten started! This congregation is only little more than 30 years old! Saint Luke's is in it's infancy! Our next big step will be to complete the third phase of our building, and I am committed to seeing it started, and completed, and paid for. To effectively and faithfully do ministry, we need more Sunday School rooms for our children, and the children who have yet to come to our church: already, our classrooms are overcrowded and bulging. We need a large fellowship hall for church fellowship, and for parish activities, and for funeral dinners and wedding receptions. We need a meeting room for our Sunday Adult Class. We need a convenient kitchen to serve the 30-40 meals we serve each Wednesday for Christ Kidz. We need an elevator so that our building is truly handicapped-accessible. Our ministry will continue to grow, and as our membership grows, our Sunday School grows, and right now, we need more space. Our long-term course of action, is to build, again, so that we can continue to grow our ministry. I am committed to Saint Luke's. I have been committed to Saint Luke's these eighteen years. I am committed--dedicated to our long-term course of action.

     And that commitment translates, to accepting responsibility for the financial support of this congregation and it's ministry. I didn't set out for this to be a stewardship sermon, but how can you preach about commitment, without addressing the part of commitment that is about financial support--that is about financial stewardship? I've said it before and I will continue to say it--I'm not embarrassed to preach and teach about money, because Jesus preached about it and taught about it time and time again. How we use our treasure and financial resources is of the essence of our Christian commitment--it reflects the heart of our discipleship. If talking about money in the church makes you uncomfortable--then maybe this isn't the right church for you. Because money and income and stewardship are important parts of the Christian life. And that's why we talk about them here. And being committed to the church means, undertaking the financial obligation as well. And feeling good about it! Finding joy in the giving, and the supporting and the strengthening of the church. That's why I'm a big giver to our church, and our ministry, and our building programs--because I'm committed--committed, not just to a building, not just to an organization--I'm committed to Christ and His mission in the world. I'm committed to supporting the Church, so that indeed, as St. Luke says, "when the Son of Man comes again, he will find faith on earth". That's what we are about, here at Saint Luke's church--we are about faith; we are about creating faith through Word and Sacrament; we are about sustaining faith and deepening faith; we are about doing all the things St. Paul tells Timothy to do, as a committed Christian. We are about continuing in what we have learned and firmly believed, that the sacred writings are able to instruct us for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. We believe, and proclaim here at Saint Luke's, that all of scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. We are here to proclaim the message of Jesus; to be persistent in our proclamation whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; we are here to convince, rebuke, and encourage, with utmost patience in teaching. For the time has come, when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they are accumulating for themselves teachers who suit their own desires and are turning away from listening to the truth and are wandering away to myths. Which is why, given the present situation, we are called, to be committed, to being sober; enduring suffering, doing the work of evangelists, carrying out our ministry fully. That is what our ministry is about, as Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, in the name of Jesus Christ. And that, is what I am committed to. Are you committed, too?

     In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.