C.S. Lewis once mused about Christianity saying, "I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.” This is a very popular quote from Lewis, and one that many people have repeated during his life and after his death. But, is it right? Isn't Christianity a religion that does bring us comfort, since the Holy Spirit is called the comforter? Or, is Lewis talking about a worldly comfort, a comfort like being drunk, forgetting the cares and worries of the world in intoxication? Is being comfortable in the world the goal of Christianity, or even a benefit of the faith? Is Christianity a comfortable belief, or is it a risky faith, a faith that brings with it trials, anxiety, and troubles in during this earthly life?

Is Christianity a risky faith? Think about the parable of the Ten Minas in Luke 19. Jesus tells the story of a ruler that is viewed by the people as a wicked man. He goes away and give 10 of his slaves a minas, a certain amount of money. He returns and one multiplied it by ten, one by five, and the last one says to the ruler, "Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; ²¹ for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow." Many people take this parable and say that the money is an image of spiritual gifts, different gifts that people are given, and we are meant to go out with those gifts and serve our neighbor with them. The last man is condemned, and his money taken away, because he supposedly doesn't use his gift for others, but is selfish with it. This is the typical interpretation you will find out there. However, this interpretation ignores the text, and ignores the rest of the Scriptures concerning the gifts from Jesus. The reality that the ruler is hated is an image of how Jesus is hated by the world and, because of sin, He is naturally hated by all. The three slaves are those whom He has chosen to receive His gift of the ministry, the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments. Some receive this gift and the gift multiples out into the world, and when Jesus returns, there is the revelation of how the gift has gone out. The one who hides the money, does not believe in a gracious ruler, but a vengeful one, a wrathful God. He therefore doesn't let the gift have free reign, but limits it and there is therefore no increase. Because of this, the gift of the Word and Sacrament is taken away. This is the risk of Christianity. We don't control anything, rather the gift controls it all. If we hide the Word and Sacraments, and attempt to earn favor and progress according to our own worthiness, then we have the gift taken away. The risk of trusting in God's Word alone is what makes Christianity an uncomfortable religion, a risky faith. The point of this parable is not if one uses the gifts you have to serve your neighbor, but rather do we trust in a god of wrath or the God of mercy, grace, and promise. Do we go along with the world and trust in our merit and reason, or do we trust and follow the word of our ruler, Jesus the Christ.

Yes, Christianity is a risky faith because it has nothing to do with our works, our emotions, our deposit, our will. Christianity has everything to do with Jesus Word and Work. Christianity is not a comfortable faith, at least by a worldly standard. It doesn't give a better life right now, but rather promises the greatest life in the world to come. It doesn't promise reward for good behavior, but rather offers forgiveness in the midst of our failure. It doesn't grant worldly gifts that can be insured by the measurements of this world, but rather offers the eternal gifts of life and salvation that only Jesus can give and no one can take away. Christianity is a risky faith, but it is a confident and joyous faith because it trusts not in our doing, but in Jesus doing for our salvation. This means we will risk the torment of the devil, the persecution of the world, and the struggle of the Old Adam from the moment we are claimed by Christ in Holy Baptism until the day we are laid to rest in the grave. But, it is in this struggle that we are given the gift of a merciful savior, not one of wrath. Let us then be as those first two slaves who trusted in the gift given, not as the last one who doubted his rulers benevolence.  Let us cling to Jesus cross alone and rest in Him unceasing, for in this we have peace of conscience in a world of chaos and doubt. Fear not a god of wrath my friends, for Jesus is your merciful Savior whose chief desire and will is to give you the Kingdom that has no end.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "Take heart. I have taken all the wrath you deserve, all your sin is atoned for. Take heart, you are forgiven, you are loved, because I have taken all the risk so that you may be safe in Me," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull