Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

“But I don’t wanna!”

Those four words are often heard coming out of the mouth of just about every child ever alive. Those four words can often be heard after a parent has told the child to eat his peas or to finish her homework before she go outside to play or to do his chores or to not touch something or to go to bed at the appointed time.

“But I don’t wanna!”

Sometimes when the child is bold enough, or cocky enough, or foolish enough, he or she may actually say those four words to the parent. More often, those words are interpreted as being the mind set of the child by his or her resulting actions.

Those four words, often heard coming out of the mouth of just about every child ever alive, I suggest to you today, are words that also become part of the vocabulary of just about every adult ever alive, even those of us who have come by the power of the Holy Spirit to be followers of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“But I don’t wanna!”

Sometimes those four words work to the benefit of adults. Sometimes they work to the detriment of adults.

Those four somewhat childish words are basically the thought of the Old Testament Prophet Amos when he was confronted by Amaziah, the Priest of Bethel [Amos 7:7-15]. Amaziah, in much more polite words, told Amos to “‘Get Out and Shut Up,’ to go back to wherever he had come from, that they – he and King Jeroboam and their people– simply weren’t interested in what Amos had to say and that he was on official notice to stop spreading his message in their midst.” In response to that request, Amos answered Amaziah, “Let me explain something to you. This message – trust me – isn’t my idea. I was a shepherd. I was horticulturist until the Lord God sent me here and didn’t give me an option. I hear what you’re saying, O Priest. I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t wanna! I don’t want to go. I don’t want to shut up. And even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.”

You can also just about hear King Herod say those four somewhat childish words: “But I don’t wanna!”
[Mark 6:14-29]. St. Mark doesn’t provide us exact details, but he does tell us that something about John the Baptist caught the attention of King Herod. Something piqued his interest. Mark says that Herod liked what John had to say. So Herod was really stuck when the daughter of Herodias, his wife, came to him with the request to receive John the Baptist’s head on a platter. “But I don’t wanna!” But Herod did anyway, ordering the immediate execution of John the Baptist, turning over his body, less his head, to his disciples for burial.

“But I don’t wanna!” For good or for bad, those four somewhat childish words do indeed seem to stick with us even as we reach adulthood. Think about that for a second. When have you said those words during adulthood? And if you haven’t actually said those words, when have you basically lived out those words by your actions? Maybe it’s when a doctor has told you to do something. Maybe it’s when an employer had told you to do something. Maybe it’s when a spouse has told you to do something. Maybe it’s when the government has told you to do something.

“But I don’t wanna!”

Now here comes the really tough question. Maybe it’s not so tough as it is embarrassing. Have you ever said those words or lived out those words by your actions to God? Be careful how you answer because, remember, God knows all. Have you ever said those words to God or lived out those words by your actions? Here are some examples:

God says: Go to church. “But I don’t wanna!”

God says: Study My Word. “But I don’t wanna!”

God says: Love one another as I have loved you. “But I don’t wanna!”

God says: Put the needs of others ahead of your own needs. “But I don’t wanna!”

God says: Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them. “But I don’t wanna!”

If you’re not already aware, it’s very dangerous to say “But I don’t wanna!” to God! Just think what happened to the Pharaoh of Egypt. Just think what happened to Moses and the Israelites. Just think what happened to Jonah. Just think what happened to King David. Just think what happened to Peter and Thomas and Paul.

Not only is it downright dangerous to say “But I don’t wanna!” to God. Those four words are also contrary to our very reason for existence, at least as explained by St. Paul in our Second Reading today [Ephesians 1:3-14]. According to Paul, you and I as followers of Jesus Christ have been blessed before the very creation of the world because we have been particularly and specifically chosen by God. He has picked each of us individually. He has called us by name and made us His own through the adoption provided us by the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. We are His special creation twice over – created by Him and then redeemed by Him. He has known us before birth and has made us part of His plan. Did you hear that??? He has made us part of His wonderful plan that all people would come to know Him through us, to the praise of His glorious grace! That’s pretty incredible. It’s awe-inspiring. It’s humbling. God has need of me. God has need of yo. When we say “But I don’t wanna!” to God, we’re throwing a major monkey wrench into His eternal plan and we are keeping others from knowing the incredible grace that has been revealed to us.

So what should we do when we find ourselves saying “But I don’t wanna!” to God? What should we do when we look back and realize that we’ve been living the words “But I don’t wanna!” to God? Have no fear. It’s not too late.

As Reverend Croly reminds us in today’s Great Hymn of the Faith, when we come to the realization of what we’ve been saying to God and how we’ve been acting toward God, there are four prayers that the Holy Spirit lays upon our hearts:

1) That the focus of our lives be changed by His power from earthly things to spiritual things.
2) That we realize that we belong to God 100%.
3) That we fully experience the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit, knowing that we are never on our own.
4) That the Holy Spirit use us, placing His powerful words into our mouths, replacing our childish words of “But I don’t wanna!”

To that end, would you pray with me? “Spirit of God, descend upon my heart. Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King? Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh. Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love, my heart an altar and Thy love the flame.”

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Pastor Christopher Schaar
Historic First Lutheran Church of Pasadena