Sermonette -July 9, 2018

God's Call Changes Everything

"God doesn't do stereotypes when it's about call." These are the words Rev. Tuhina Rasche boldly proclaimed at our opening night mass gathering of 30,000 youth and adult leaders for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American (ELCA) in Houston, Texas. God's calling changes everything! Let me boldly proclaim to all of you, these kids will change everything! That gives me hope-- hope for a world that will one day be less concerned about economic success and more concerned for human rights and justice for all people.

As I wrote last week, God calls us when we least expect it. It is in these moments, where we run kicking and screaming away from the Holy Spirit, that we must stop and listen, but how do we hear God's call?

Let me share with you from experience, that it is not a booming voice from Heaven that stops you in your tracks. It probably won't happen on horseback during a thunderstorm. (I digress- but Lutherans will understand that reference.)

It is doubtless that it will even happen at a youth gathering when the calling of God is all around you, literally all around you. After all, 30,000 people and inspiring worship can do that to a person. However, I believe that when we are truly called by God, it is less subtle and takes time.

Rev. Rasche is a petite woman of Indian decent, but don't let her size fool you- petite women are usual the most courageous. You see, Rasche was raised Hindu. In college, a friend invited her to a Lutheran church on campus. Every week, the Lutheran campus ministry met for a meal and worship. And since college students are always hungry, Rasche did not refuse the free meal.

She was apprehensive about this group of Christians who gathered weekly. She wasn't Christian and had no desire to leave her Hindu roots. She wondered if she'd be welcomed? How would she be welcomed? Would they try and convert her? Would they judge her and her Hindu beliefs?

Here's the thing, Rasche was welcomed, but more specifically Tuhina Rasche, the Hindu, was welcomed. They made no advances to convert her. Never once was she told that she, a non-Christian, would go to Hell for her beliefs. There was no motivation or agenda on behalf of the church to 'get her in.' She was welcomed, and she did not have to defend herself and her beliefs. She continued to go to weekly meals and to worship on Sundays, while still a Hindu. A couple of years went by and one Sunday morning while Rasche sat in a church pew listening to people around her sing hymns she experienced God's call. And it made her uncomfortable. She wrestled with the idea that God could call a former Hindu to be a Lutheran Pastor. Did she belong? Could a former Hindu be a Lutheran Pastor? The answer was YES. God's call changes everything.