Rev. Dr. Joel D. Biermann
I Corinthians 2:1-5
February 5, 2017
Have you ever had a fascinating story, an interesting experience, or some keen insight into life that you couldn’t wait to share with someone? And when you find someone who’s willing to listen, you tell that story, experience, or idea rather deliberately. You’re careful to unfold each detail, and every nuance, leaving nothing out. It takes a while, but you know that all those details and running commentary are actually pretty important if the story is going to be told or the idea shared. But, then, as you are right in the thick of your careful presentation, you realize that the person you’re talking to has assumed that certain look. You know that look. And you know what it means: too many details, too many extraneous facts, cut to the chase, get to the bottom line. But, you can’t. At least not if you want to get your idea or story across in a proper way, you can’t. The listener may not know it, but you know that without the details the story or the idea isn’t going to make sense or isn’t going to make much difference. The details and the extra commentary are essential. Sometimes you can’t just skip all the details and get to the bottom line. [pause]…ahem, ok…It seems that some of you have already assumed “the look”. No, it’s…it’s ok. I get it; and I’ll get to the bottom line—eventually.
The Christian faith is one of those things that is packed with a lot of details, nuances, and subtleties that can’t be ignored or skipped. Actually, Christianity is loaded with so many aspects and emphases and actions that when you stop to think about it, it can be almost overwhelming. There’s a lot of stuff in Christianity. If you’ve ever tried to explain to a person who is new to Christianity what the Christian faith is all about you understand my point. There are so many things that are all so important. It seems impossible to leave any of them out. We all know that worship is a critical part of our Christian faith. Indeed, for a lot of people, Christianity is “going to church”. Worship is important; but, then so is teaching God’s truth—especially to young people. Christianity is absolutely dependent on people learning foundational truths—the kind taught in catechism and Bible class. But, what about fellowship, isn’t that important too? Gathering together with other Christians for mutual encouragement and growth is vital to a Christian. And so is prayer. Christian faith without prayer is inconceivable; prayer is essential. But, so is reading the Bible. Digging into Scripture to hear God’s story and to explore God’s truth is a standard part of the faith. And, we can’t forget about the importance of living according to an exemplary moral code. Christians don’t do things that other people do. We all know that. Even unbelievers know that. So, moral conduct is one more important thing. And what about serving and sacrificially giving for the sake of others? That can’t be left out, either. There is a lot going on in the Christian faith.
So, what’s the bottom line? What’s the point of it all? What’s the essential center of Christianity? There are so many details, so many important aspects, and so many critical parts that it’s easy to lose track of the bottom line. So, what is it? Is worship the bottom line? Or is it teaching the catechism? Is fellowship at the center? Is the bottom line prayer? Or is it Bible reading, or is the Bible itself the bottom line? And what about morality or serving, is one of these the bottom line? So, what is it? What’s the absolute center, the very bottom line of Christianity? Let’s get a few things clear: the bottom line of Christianity is not serving, and it’s not morality and it’s not reading the Bible. The bottom line is not even the Bible itself. The bottom line is not prayer or fellowship. The bottom line is not teaching the faith or worship. As important as all of these things are—and they are all important, none of these things is the bottom line.
So, what’s the bottom line? You’ve probably guessed it: it’s God. God’s the bottom line. Of course, he is. Still, that’s not quite enough is it? Asserting that God is the bottom line doesn’t distinguish Christianity from every other religion that also claims God as the bottom line. So, what makes the Christian claim unique? Paul gives the answer. The bottom line is Jesus Christ crucified. “When I came to you,” Paul tells the believers in Corinth, “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Nothing else, only Jesus crucified. “I thought it through carefully,” Paul says, “I considered all the things that I could teach you and all the things that I could preach to you and I came to the only possible conclusion: the only thing to preach, the only thing to teach, the only thing to know is Jesus Christ crucified.”
Christ crucified—that’s the bottom line. Paul did not say, “I resolved to know nothing when I was with you except God’s holiness,” or God’s power, or even God’s compassion. No, Paul considered everything and concluded that there was only one thing that finally mattered: Christ crucified. Paul is abrupt, sweeping, and exclusive in his bold assertion. “Nothing else matters. Nothing. I resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified.” It’s clear and certain and unequivocal. But why is this the bottom line? What does it even mean to confess Christ crucified?
Jesus crucified is the critical bottom line of everything because it is on the cross that God was at work taking decisive and eternal action to restore all of creation. The cross is the center because the cross is the declaration of God’s unimaginable love for his broken and rebellious creation. The cross is the place and the cross is the way that God makes everything right again! God knew very well the evil, the suffering, the sorrow and the pain that pervade and pollute this world. He knew it; and he determined to conquer it. God’s plan to overcome the brokenness and horror of this world was not about dazzling deeds of power or spectacular displays of majesty. No, God’s plan was to come into the very center of the world’s wickedness, grief, and hurt; and then to endure it, carry it, and end it. On the cross, Jesus took the evil and the pain. On the cross, Jesus took the sin and the shame. On the cross, Jesus took the futility and the failure. On the cross, Jesus undid all that brought grief and frustration and put the entire creation back where it belongs—back in a right relationship with God. Christ crucified means that God has come to us, and that he has worked fully and forever to save us. Christ crucified means that creation is restored. Christ crucified means that you are restored. Christ crucified transforms your world. Christ crucified transforms the entire world. That’s why it’s the bottom line.
If Christ crucified is not the bottom line, then nothing makes sense and nothing finally matters. All the stories in the Bible from creation to Moses, to David, to Daniel are all just stories. None of them matter. Without Christ crucified, not one of these plans or people or promises that we know and treasure makes any difference. Without Christ and his cross, this church is a waste of time. What difference does it make if it grows or if it dies? What does it matter if it’s got great music or programs or people? All of that is foolish nonsense, nothing but a futile game.
If Christ crucified is not the bottom line, then nothing in your own life makes any difference, either. Without Christ at the center, then everything in your life that seems so important evaporates into senseless, disjointed stuff that ultimately means nothing. The hard truth is that without Christ crucified, no matter what you do or how you live…in the end, you die, and that’s it. There’s nothing more. Without Christ crucified, there’s no reason to be a good person, to strive for morality, or to embody virtues. If death is the abrupt and final end, then does it really matter how you live? Without Christ crucified, why bother to scrimp and save and sacrifice for the sake of children who rarely appreciate any of it? Why get out of bed far too early and go to a job you don’t enjoy to help people who treat you like a tool? It finally doesn’t matter that you rake your leaves, wash your car, disinfect your house, and in the spring plant cheery flowers along your sidewalk. It makes no difference whether you work with relentless zeal to stay in shape and eat only healthy foods, or let yourself degenerate into a junk-food-fueled screen addict who rarely stirs from the couch. If Christ crucified is not the bottom line, none of it matters.
But with Christ crucified as the bottom line, everything in the universe all suddenly makes sense and every bit of it matters. The cross changes everything. When Christ crucified is the bottom line, then all the millions of facts and stories and people and promises and activities of God’s unfolding drama all drop into perfect place. The whole plan of salvation now comes precisely together and speaks truthfully into our lives. Adam and Noah and Abraham, and exodus and exile and exaltation all make complete sense. And when you know the bottom line, all of those many aspects of your Christian faith also find their place and fall into order. Worship, prayer, teaching, morality, fellowship, service, and the Bible all line up, fitting neatly into the perfect purpose of God. In the light of the cross, it’s not complicated and it’s not confusing. Everything points to Christ, and everything is fulfilled in Christ.
This is the sharp and direct truth that must guide everything that is done around here. The bottom line teaches us how to think about this congregation and its purpose. The cross norms everything. This congregation does not exist merely to perpetuate itself; the point is not to insure a long healthy institutional future. Nor is the purpose of this congregation to generate good feelings, offer attractive programs, or be a presence in the community. This congregation is not here to bring spiritual meaning to life, provide moral training, or offer consolation in the face of life’s pain. The measure of success is not people, programs, size of staff, musical offerings, or satisfied customers. What counts is Christ crucified and the clear proclamation and celebration of that life-changing reality. This congregation lives and declares the bottom line. Everything hinges on Christ crucified. That’s what matters, and around that central core, everything else takes its right place.
Because Christ crucified is the bottom line, then everything in your life matters—every bit of it has eternal significance. You are wise and right to knock yourself out for your family—that work counts for eternity. You do give all you’ve got to the work you’ve been given to do—even if it seems trivial or insignificant. Your work is important because Christ was crucified for the sake of this world and your part in serving this world matters to God. And, you do strive for virtue to show in your life because how you live impacts others and yourself for eternity. Everything in your life matters…even the flowers along the walk matter—all because Christ was crucified. The bottom line transforms everything in your life. But, what about that big, wide world out there? What does the bottom line have to do with the world?
There is a lot going on in the world with its overwhelming busy-ness. When we think about the world, It’s tempting to conclude that with all the important and complicated things going on, this must be one of those times when you can’t just cut through all the fluff and extraneous details and reduce everything to a simple bottom line. It seems evident that the world can’t be summed up in a single bottom line. But it can. Even the world’s bottom line is Christ crucified. The world, the church, and your own life all have the exact same bottom line: Jesus Christ crucified, God in the flesh for the sake of the world, for the sake of the church, for the sake of you. Don’t get distracted, confused, or perplexed by all the stuff in your life, in the church, and in the world. You know the bottom line. You know the difference it makes. The church knows the bottom line, and the church recognizes the transformation it brings. Someone, it seems, needs to let the world know about its bottom line. Go tell the world. Speak it. Live it. Believe it. The one and only bottom line is Christ crucified—God at work for the world, for the church, and for you. Amen.