Steelers and Exorcism

Sermon on Mark 1:21-28

St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, Youngstown, PA

Sunday, February 1, 2009,

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B,

(word count: 649)

The Baptized are Exorcists

Why are the Steelers addictive? One reason is that the Steelers make us feel powerful. The Steelers are big, fast, talented, and strong, and when they win, we win. Their victory is our victory. Their speed, strength, and skill are, in a way, our speed, strength and skill. They are our team. One reason we obsess over the Steelers is that they make us feel powerful, special.

There is nothing wrong with adoring the Steelers, with drawing power from them. Granted, we don't want to get carried away. If our devotion to the Steelers interferes with our well-being or our relationships with others and God, then we have a problem. For the most part, though, sharing in the Steelers' power can add enjoyment to our lives. Go, Steelers!

If the Steelers can give us so much power, think about how much more power Christ gives us. After all, Christ is stronger, faster, more powerful, and, best of all, more loving than Hines, Ben and Troy combined. Christ has the ultimate authority, the highest power, and Christ shares that with us.

We have a dramatic picture of that power and authority in our gospel, Mark 1:21-28. In the middle of the worship service, a man possessed with an unclean spirit, a demon, yells at Jesus. Jesus yells back, “Be silent, and come out of him!” The demon convulses the man, cries with a loud voice, and leaves the man. Jesus is so powerful that even unclean spirits from hell are afraid of him and must leave when he commands them to.

This story does not guarantee that Jesus will protect us from all evil, from all demons. Unclean spirits spin and howl throughout this world, and we Christians will sometimes suffer because of them. What this story does guarantee is that, ultimately, Jesus Christ is stronger, mightier, more powerful, and has greater authority than evil.

Further, Jesus shares his power with us. His power is our power. Jesus has given us eternal life. Jesus Christ has given us the Holy Spirit. Jesus has assured us that we shall do wondrous works of power because of him [support]. Just as the Steelers help us to feel powerful and special whenever they win, even more so Jesus Christ gives us the highest power, the power of God.

Therefore, because of Christ's power, we do not need to cower when the world's evil scares us. We do not need to wave the white flag of surrender when hatred seems to rule. When Satan holds us at gunpoint, we can retaliate with the perfect love that exorcises fear. We are exorcists who, by Christ's power, can say no to evil, no to Satan, no to despair, no to injustice, no to racism, no to abuse, no to alcoholism, no to poverty. We are the baptized, the saved, the holy. By Christ's power, we can refuse to surrender to Satan. We must not be overcome by evil but must and shall overcome evil with good.

Just as the Steelers give us victory through their power, Christ gives us a far greater victory through his powerful authority. Through Christ's powerful authority, we, the baptized, are exorcists. We are the ones who can, must and shall drive away evil, drive away the Devil.

Let's do something from the baptismal service. I am going to ask you a series of questions. In response to each question, say, “We renounce them.” Here we go.

“Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God?” If so, say, “We renounce them.”

“Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?” If so, say, “We renounce them.”

“Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?” If so, say, “We renounce them.”

By Christ's power and authority, we renounce evil and the Devil. We are exorcists.