In the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa [LCSA] we have a distinctive logo: The little boat with full sails coasting forward on the waves. The sails are attached to the magnified cross as mast. Our Lords signature "Alpha and Omega" dispels any ambiguity concerning ownership of this boat or who’s in charge, owner and captain. This Church vessel is centred around Jesus Christ.
The image of God’s people being in the boat with him has become a favourite illustration of the Church throughout the ages. It starts off with St. Mark, who tells us about Jesus Christ and his disciples finding refuge in the boat, leaving the worldly crowds behind, facing the storms together, crossing to the other side and always bringing healing, sustenance and salvation to more ill, hungry and sinful people – waiting beyond the borders for the Saviour to come!
St. Peter uses this illustration to describe the power of baptism. Just like Noah's ark saved him and his family at new beginning of human history, so baptism today saves us from the chaos powers of Satan, sin and death. Holy Baptism is the name of our ship. That’s the ship we are travelling in. And if you fall out? Well, that’s where the office of the Keys comes in, that is the special power Christ entrusted to his Church to absolve penitent sinners in his name. Thereby you get pulled out of the fierce grip of the evil one and get restored into the safe haven of Christ’s boat.
Even at the beginning of Israel’s history, the living God saved that little baby Moses, who was to become the biggest prophet of them all - excepting one. You see, God does not get sidetracked in his long-term plans. No, he makes sure that even mighty tyrants like Pharaoh don’t mess with his plans. These boats – literally God’s safe boxes – carry his people through thick and thin. You can rest assured: He will reach his goal for his Church, for his people, for you!
Even at the beginning of our Lutheran history here at the Southern part of Africa God brought ships into play. That's true for our little Lutheran Church deriving from the small missionary endeavours by those people on board the "Candace" all the way from Hermannsburg landing in beautiful Port Natalia. Again and again that ship carried God's people willing to share the saving gospel in places where it was unheard of starting off in the land of KwaZulu and landing up amongst Batswana and Basarwa.
St. Luke describes how Jesus orders St. Peter to go fishing. It was to be the fishing trip of his life even if he had serious doubts initially. Well, finally he made the catch of his life. He couldn’t cope with the number of fish. He couldn’t handle the blessings on his own. God’s gifts where way too big, far too much for him to deal with alone. But the Lord provides – not only the catch, but also the helping hands to assist with the load. Another boat is there and it too almost capsizes due to the huge number of fish. Hey – this harvest is large, its way over our head, and yet its ready for the taking, because of the Lord’s promise and invitation: Look – the fields are white for harvest! Don’t think you must do this zwiee on your own. No, there are other boats, other Lutherans, Christians, other congregations, other churches just waiting for you to say: Come, help us! We want to be part of this too. We want to pull too! We want to be part of this mighty fishing trip of our Lord! St. Peter, St. James, St. John, St. Andrews, St. Matthew, – it’s you and them and all of us together with and under our Lord Jesus Christ – he our captain and master alone - and there are lots of fish to be brought in. You are to be fishers of men! You the boat people of God – you are in this boat together. You’re the fishing fleet of God – not a dinghy on your own.
Jesus himself is calling Lutherans in Southern Africa: Wake up, take your companions, your friends and fellows and join the fishing trip of your life! He will have you be fishers of men also! Missionaries, evangelists, teachers, bishops and pastors to all nations – yes – but they need your support you people in the pews, on the front- and backbenches, inside and outside and even those back home! We need to take us by the hands and move forward together, pulling the oars in tandem and aiming for the goal lying ahead.
Or are you one of those, who think it was an accident that the ship "Candace" landed on these shores? Do you think it was a mistake that our fathers Segoe, Dube, Mduli, Lenkwe, Schulz and the others founded the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, which always has made room for Indians, AmaZulu, BaTswana, Swazis and even Germans - and did not become yet another nationalistic, racially and culturally isolated sect and tribal Bantustan? Do you think it was wrong that nearly 50 years ago our Church was founded even though financially this institution was not yet viable and independent? Do you think it was a mistake that the fathers of the Mission of Lutheran Churches [Bleckmar] and also the FELSiSA promised nearly fifty years ago: We will not abandon you? I know 50 years is a long time. Others break their commitments long before even a decade is over. Today most partnerships last only for 2/3 years. Why blame those, who are sick and tired of old acquaintances and have forgotten the alliance of half a century with all its ups and downs so that a young biographer can write in blissful ignorance: “These churches are independent of each other and have nothing to do with each other”? [Today it seems special if marriages last a lifetime - even if our God and creator said through his only begotten son: What God has joined together let man not pull asunder! Thanks be to God – this miracle still occurs. Marriages are still made in heaven and still last a life-time if God grants mercy. Also in the Church people stay committed for decades, for a life-time and even for generations.]
My dear friends the 3rd Bishop of the LCSA is not installed by those, who are dead, but rather by you the living. You are asked, whether you want to do this or not? Where do you want the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa to be in 5 years or in 2017, when God willing and if Jesus Christ has not returned visibly on the clouds the Lutheran Church worldwide is celebrating 500 years of Lutheran Reformation, the return of God's word as the true light in the Church, the return of God's people to his promises and institutions! This significant date in our history is also the 50th birthday of our Church. Now - where do you want our Church to be then? What is your fondest dream for this our beloved Church? What do you want it to look like then? It's God's gift to you, but it is also your calling, duty and task to apply yourself to this task. Have you talked to the triune God about this in your daily prayers? You are a part of this and your input, your faithful/diligent prayer, your support, your muscles, your abilities, talents and gifts are called for - in the congregation back home, in the diocese, in the synod and church. Because in the militant Church there are no honorary or complimentary seats! Those are all reserved for the people upstairs, those who have been perfected in heaven, there with the 12 apostles, with all the prophets large and small, with the fathers, the mothers and all those, who are feasting at the table of the lamb. Here in this Church Ship of ours however everybody is called to do his fair share - according to the gifts the Lord has handed out to him/her: Cleaning, scrubbing, pulling oars, tying ropes, mending sails and nets, cleaning fish – all pretty dirty work, but necessary services to keep the mission and ministry of the Church going. Remember the Lord does not ask more of you than that your are faithful to his calling! And he says: But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mt 20:26-28)
We are in this boat of Christ for a reason. It's the fishing trip of our life! The Lord himself says to all of us: "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Lk 5:4-11) And see and behold, these divine promises are not just empty words. No, if he says something, it happens, its reality, its history!
All of us remember, when he asked his disheartened disciples: Why are you so fearsome. Trust in God and trust in me! And he admonished the storm: Be still! and immediately the storm subsided! And the disciples queried: Who is this, that even wind and waves obey him? The prophet Jeremiah gives us the answer: The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Sometimes our God does the even greater wonder, that he takes us right into the eye of the storm and yet not allowing the chaotic forces to harm us just one bit. That's God's special way of doing things - not necessarily taking away the storm of our life, but keeping, upholding and preserving us right in the middle of the storm. Through his prophet Isaiah God gives us his promise: When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. [Is.43,2] Remember Israel going through the Red Sea, when the Egyptians were hot in pursuit and God opened a channel through the depths? Remember St. Peter, whom Jesus encouraged to step out of his comfort zone in the boat and to join him amidst the towering waves and boisterous wind and thundering lightning bolts? Well, St. Peter was ok as long as his eyes were fixed on Jesus – the one, whom wind and water and all chaos forces obey, because he is their master and they are subject to his authority: Don’t be afraid! I am with you and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore there is no need to despair. Rather trusting him you can join in the refrain: He’s got the whole world in his hand… Trusting we can follow his calling, wherever he calls, leads and directs us. Following his call we can dedicate ourselves faithfully to his last will: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always until the end of the ages.
You as Servants of the highest Lord, give to those in need, what they require to recognize him as the Lord and Saviour of all. He, who desires everybody to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth, has called you too! He calls you to be a light in this world to illuminate those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death. Oh - a wonderful, precious calling dear friends of Christ! You boat-people of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa! You fishers of men and women, boys and girls, young and old, friend and foe, black and white, rich or poor, family or foreigner! The Lord has done great things to you. He has called you to be his own messengers and witnesses right here in this lovely land and country, with all its beautiful people. Due to Gods goodness and forbearance there's even lots of room left for others still to find a place to call home under the lovely sun of our God and under the significant rainbow demonstrating the never ending mercy, grace and goodness of our heavenly father. It's not always plain sailing for sure, but it surely is still the best way to travel - being in the same boat with Jesus!
And when the going really gets tough? Well, that happens! Things go badly - even for the best of us - like St. Paul. Remember when he was caught up in the storm while being transported by ship and in chains to his trial in Rome? Well, he broke bread, thanked God and ate! Even in the darkest night and fiercest storm the Lord keeps and sustains us in the true faith by feeding us with his own most precious body and blood. And all of them were saved! Not one on board that ship drowned or was lost to the powers of the sea, because it was the Lord who kept and sustained them throughout so that eventually they reached their destination. Praise be to God!
My dear friends, we are in this boat together. By God's grace and providence we are no rock nor a solitary island, but rather members of this living body called "The Church". It is not the Titanic! Not many powerful and might abroad, but Jesus Christ is here with us. He is the beginning and the end of our entire existence. Outside of him there's nothing. His Holy Spirit fills the sails of our Church creating saving faith wherever and whenever it pleases him in those who hear the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and sacrament. He takes us where he wills. We know, his will is the best. And although we are not the Titanic and although we are not sinking into oblivion because our Lord is holding us steadfastly and nothing can sever us from his hand, we do also sing the hymn the band supposedly played on that sinking ship as the motto of our lives: Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to thee ...
Next time you look at the logo of our Church, think about the rich symbolism it bears. Give all honour and praise to our God, who saved us through baptism, who keeps us with daily bread and blessings, but also sustains us in true faith through his Word and Luther's teaching. He, our living God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ leads us by his Holy Spirit in his ways and ordinances to life everlasting. Therefore let us be proudly Lutheran: “Ahoi - out to sea in Jesus name: It’s to be the fishing trip of our life!” Amen.
