Not long ago our Sunday morning Bible class completed a study of postmodernism. In that study we observed that postmodernism denies that there is an absolute truth. The Enlightenment maintained that there were many paths to truth. Truth was considered to be absolute but one could arrive at that truth in a variety of ways. According to postmodernism, each individual or each community constructs its own truth. The postmodernist would answer Pilate's question What is truth? by saying, There is no truth. It is not surprising then that postmodernism advocates tolerance, acceptance of a variety of truths. Yet it is at this point that postmodernism becomes rigidly intolerant. Postmodernism is unshakable in its intolerance of any claims to absolute truth. A wide variety of religious and philosophical expressions are tolerated, but not orthodox Christianity because Christianity claims that there is only one true God and He alone has provided the way of salvation. The postmodernist cannot stomach the words of our Lord Jesus Christ as He says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). The words of the Apostle Peter in Acts 4, Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, are words which the postmodernist cannot tolerate.
Hence there is a widespread intolerance of those who confess Jesus Christ in all of His fullness. He will not fit into the world view of those who claim that there are no absolute truths. This we should expect from the world; the frightening thing is that it often shows up even in churches. What does today's Holy Gospel have to say to this situation?
It is clear from the Old Testament Reading that the vineyard is God's people. The vineyard belongs to the Lord. He cleared the land. He planted the vines. He built the tower and dug the wine press. He watered the vineyard and fertilized the vines. Yet the vineyard produced no fruit. Ultimately, it was fit only for destruction.
Today's Holy Gospel parallel's the Old Testament Reading. The point of Jesus' parable is clear. The vineyard belongs to God the Father. Verse 1 of the Gospel Reading summarizes the story of the vineyard we heard from Isaiah 5. The history of the vineyard was the history of Old Testament Israel. God sent His servants, the Prophets to Israel and those servants were rejected, beaten, and killed. Israel acted as though she owned the vineyard; as though the vineyard were her project, not the Lord's. In the fullness of time, God sent His own Son to the vineyard and He, too, like the prophets before Him, was rejected. He was crucified. Those who worked the vineyard were intolerant of Him, for He did not fit into their plans for the vineyard. He made the astounding claim that His Father was the owner of the vineyard and that He came with the full authority of His Father.
To reject the Son is to lose the vineyard. Jesus tells us that the workers, the vinedressers, reason among themselves: This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and the inheritance will be ours.' And they took him and killed and cast him out of the vineyard. The vinedressers kill the heir but they do not get the vineyard. In fact, Jesus says that they lose the vineyard. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.
Israel of old rejected the Son and the vineyard was taken from them and given to us. We are the New Israel, the holy Christian church. Jesus told the parable in today's Holy Gospel not only for the Jews of His day, but for us as well. These things were written for our instruction, as a warning also for us. We may not treat the Lord's vineyard, the church, as if we were the owners.
Just this past week I read an article in a church newspaper that raised the question, What kind of church do we want to be? (Forward, February 1998). That's the wrong question. That is like the workers in the vineyard asking, What kind of vineyard do we want to be? The real question is Will the vineyard recognize its owner? Will the vineyard give the owner that which belongs to Him? Will the church have room for Jesus? Will His truth be honored and His Word alone proclaimed? Or will the church conclude that Jesus and His claims do not fit within a postmodern context? That His words must be modified and softened if the church is to be successful? Examples abound of churches that made it clear that they have no room for Jesus' words and sacraments. The so-called Jesus Seminar which you may have read about in yesterday's paper yields a Jesus who resembles the philosophical convictions of the seminar participants more than the Christ of the Gospels. The preaching of law and Gospel, of sin and grace has been exchanged for messages that meet the felt needs of a consumer society. So-called seeker services replace the biblical liturgy, opting to relate to the non-Christian on the basis of his perceived wants and desires rather than the truth of the Scriptures. New age spirituality has replaced faith. Churches succumb to the lie that, in order to grow and be successful, the message of the cross must be compromised. Their verdict on Christ is finally that of the vinedressers in today's Gospel - He does not fit into our plans. He must go.
Jesus quotes from the Psalm: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing. And it is marvelous in our eyes. The builders of Israel rejected the cornerstone. He did not fit into their architectural plans. Some who would build the church also reject the cornerstone. They want a tolerant church and so they become intolerant of Christ and His Word. Thus they are left without the vineyard, without the life which is nourished by His saving presence in Word and Sacrament.
The Apostle John said of our Savior: He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). That is, those who hear His words in faith are built on that chief cornerstone. In a world that denies foundations, you have a foundation that is sure and certain. That foundation is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Listen again to the words of today's Epistle: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Through His blood we have been reconciled to God. The Lord has commissioned His pastors to preach that message of reconciliation. The Apostle puts in like this in II Corinthians: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We then as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says ,In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you (II Cor. 5:20-6:2).
Rejoice to live in the vineyard that belongs to Jesus Christ, drawing your life from His words and your peace from His body and blood. Dare to be different from this postmodern culture in which we live. Rooted and grounded in Christ alone, you will bring forth fruit to the glory of His name.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.