May 6, 2018 – Confirmation                                     Texts:  Romans 3:19, 1 John 5:4

 

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

It was January of 1996 and 4,000 baseball coaches descended upon the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.  It would be three days of seminars and clinics and exhibits.  But this one would be a little different from all the rest.  There was a buzz in the hallways about one of the main speakers – John Scolinos.

John Scolinos was 78 and retired as a coach of Cal Poly Pomona where he won 3 national championships at the Division II School.  He also had been the pitching coach for the 1984 Olympic Baseball team.  Why all the excitement?

If you have ever been to a convention you know it is a lot of chitchat in various locations with people solving the world’s problems.  Attentions spans can be limited, seats normally readily available.  Not for John Scolinos.  The convention hall was full 30 minutes before his talk.  Why all the excitement?

Finally, it was time.  Coach John Scolinos shuffled to the stage to an impressive standing ovation.  He was dressed normally, except he had a full-sized stark-white home plate hung around his neck.  He talked for 25 minutes with no mention of the home plate.  Had he forgotten?  Was it a new form of jewelry he was promoting for baseball players?

Then…”You are all wondering why I am wearing home plate around my neck.  I’m old but not crazy.  I want to share with you what I’ve learned about home plate in my 78 years.  How many Little League coaches here?  How wide is home plate?”  Someone answered hesitantly, “17 inches.”  “That’s right,” he said.  “How about in Pony baseball?”  Another reluctant coach, “17 inches.”  “How wide is home plate in high school baseball?”  More hands and voices chimed in, “17 inches.”  “How about in the minor leagues?”  Same answer – 17 inches.  “The major leagues?”  Everyone in unison said it, “17 inches.”  “Seventeen inches,” he confirmed.  “What do they do with a Big League pitcher who can’t throw the ball over seventeen inches?  They send him to Pocatello!”

“What they don’t do is this:  they don’t say, ‘It’s ok Jimmy.  You can’t hit a 17-inch target, we’ll make it 18 or 19.  We’ll make it 20 so you have a better chance of hitting it.  If you can’t hit that, let us know so we can make it wider still, say 25 inches.”

“Coaches…(and he paused) what do we do when our best player shows up late to practice?  What if he gets caught drinking?  Do we hold him accountable?  Or do we change the rules to fit him, do we widen home plate?”

Today is Confirmation Sunday.  Another step on the road of faith.  Another milestone of accountability.  A good day to take a few moments for . . .

“ACCOUNTABILITY BY FAITH”

We are the ones that Paul talks about in our Romans verse as being “under the law.”  Scriptures proves our guilt over and over.  Where have we been less than accountable to God?  In our relationship with Him?  In our prayer life?  In our relationships with others?  Where do we widen home plate?  What’s one Sunday away from His House?  Why can’t two people live together without a piece of paper from the county clerk?  We need to help her die because she is suffering so.

John Scolinos drew a house on home plate.  “This is the problem in our homes today.  We don’t teach accountability to our kids, and there is no consequence for failing to meet standards.  We widen the plate!”

To the top of the house he added an American flag.  “This is the problem in our schools today.  Teachers have been stripped of the tools needed to educate and discipline our young people.  We are allowing others to widen home plate!  Where is that getting us?”

He replaced the flag with a cross.  “This is the problem in the church.  Our church leaders are widening home plate with their misleading teachings of Scripture.  If our homes and schools and churches and government fail to hold themselves accountable to those they serve, there is but one thing to look forward to…”  With that he held home plate in front of his chest, turned it around, and revealed its dark backside “…dark days ahead.”

These young people and all of us are living in those days.  Accountability is going out the window.  “You can’t tell me what to do!”  Social media is all about unaccountability.  Home plate is being obliterated.  Oh Lord, we need your help.

“Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”  Do you feel like a conquering world hero?  Of course not.  Thankfully overcoming the world has nothing to do with our feelings and experiences but on our faith.

Martin Luther wrote, “This must happen through faith in Christ, which is the victory.  For what could this fragile vessel accomplish against Satan, the god of the world?  But God is greater.  To be born of God is to believe in Jesus Christ.  He who believes in Christ is now a warrior…For we are still engaged in the battle itself and are about to be victorious…The Word of God is required – the Word which promises and extends grace to the believers, so that when they have been hurled into so many great trials and weighed down under such crafty spirits, they nevertheless triumph.”

Accountability by faith.  Law and Gospel.  Sin and grace.  Confession and forgiveness.  Born again in Baptism.  Strengthened in Word and Sacrament.  Trial and cross.  A Savior being accountable to the Father.  A world saved.  Your faith life important now and into eternity.  Through the Holy Spirit we can stand up and be counted.  Accountable to the Lord and to each other.  A society staying within the bounds of 17 inches.  May the Lord grant it for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.