In the 13 years Jill and I have been married, the Lord has blessed the ministries we have been involved in. These memories are God’s gift to us to keep us going and serving Him and His people. I take a little of each on with me everywhere I go. I once read a sign in a classroom:“What is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular.”

There is wisdom in these words. As we reflect on the history of our nation we see that at one point, the majority thought that African-Americans were not to be considered whole persons. In the famous Dredd-Scott decision, that is exactly what was determined. There isn’t any rational human being alive that would think that this is right today. But it was popular once.

At one point in the history of the Christian Church, the masses of people believed that Christians were cannibals. They did not understand the talk about eating flesh and blood in regard to the Holy Supper. Popular opinion stated that they would sacrifice their babies and use them for the meal. That was popular, but not right.

We are still beset by this in the Church today. There are those so-called Christians who think that we should water down our theology into some generic protestant belief system that does not offend ;but rather tolerate and cooperate. This is popular. This is what America’s High Priestess, Oprah Winfrey wants. The majority of polls say that we all pray to the same God and we are all going to the same place. And after all, it is all about living right, isn’t it?

This is popular opinion. Truth is, there may be some reading this who agree with this last point. But I ask you, is what is popular always right? Is what is right always popular?

Now, I want you to know something. I was recently asked by someone if I believe that only LCMS Lutherans were going to heaven. I know there will be other Christians in heaven besides LCMS Lutherans. However, I do believe that there are teachings in the larger Christian denominations that no longer hold to what the Scripture teaches as the absolute truth. Is Baptism a sacrament? Many say no. Jesus says yes. Is the Lord’s Supper the body and blood of Christ? Many say no. Jesus says yes. There are those who get offended when we teach that ONLY Christians will be in heaven. But Jesus says “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father, except through Me.” This is not popular with Oprah or generic Christianity. But Jesus makes it absolutely, clearly and positively right!

And those who follow Jesus, as Vicar Hemmer said so well in his first sermon, “do so at a cost.” In our world today, it will cost us much to stand for what is right. For what is right, be it in regard to abortion, homosexuality, morality or even the basic tenets of Lutheran theology, is not always popular. But we will not change. For we stand on the Word of God! We will pay the price because of the price that Jesus paid so that we might have the treasure of eternity with Him.

What is right is not always popular. What is popular is not always right. But what Christ has done, taught and given in His life-giving and life-sustaining Word is ALWAYS RIGHT. And by His grace alone we stand in our calling as the Redeemed and teach others of the truth, that in, with, and under him, we are always right.