“Sin Boldly”

Reformation Sunday

October 26, 2025

Romans 3:19-28

John 8:31-36

 It was right about this time 15 years ago that I wondered if I had made a huge mistake. We were one year into the ELCA’s Human Sexuality Statement. In January, the previous intern died in the earthquake in Haiti. The senior pastor here had just resigned, and his wife had died unexpectedly. Our finances were spiraling downward, and I found out I was pregnant. I really wasn’t sure I was cut out for this work.

And, truth be told, I wasn’t. No one is. No one is truly prepared for the challenges life–or faith–throws at us. No one is prepared for the spiritual difficulties—the doubts, the questions, the fear. It doesn’t seem the disciples were prepared for what was ahead of them…so why should we expect it from each other?

These young women have spent the last four years preparing for this day. Today, they will make some serious promises to God and to this congregation—promises that mean they want to go deeper in faith, they want to make a commitment to this community, and that they take seriously God’s vision of hope for this world. And if they are anything like the rest of us, they have no idea really what these promises mean. Because until you are faced with challenges, they are just words and ideas.

This is what is so powerful about being part of a community like this one. When these young ladies were baptized, this congregation made a promise. Our promise was to walk with them in their faith. As parents, we promised to do our best to teach them about faith and about God’s love. We’ve done that to the best of our ability—not perfectly but faithfully.

And today you make your own promises. That doesn’t mean that you’re on your own, now. It simply means that you step up with the other faithful people here to stand up in faith together. It means that together, we worship; together, we serve; together, we gather; together, we tell others about God; and together, we fight for justice and peace. It means that you join the faithful across time and space with your gifts. And it means, as it always has, that we stand with you. We stand for you. We stand by you. We are part of a tapestry woven by God. And we are not complete without your presence and your voice and your doubts and your love.

Haylee, your faith statement talks about how important it is to have faith in God, even when you don’t feel like it. More importantly, God is faithful and has faith in you, even when you don’t feel you deserve it. Avery, in your statement you wonder about the days of creation and whether we might still be in day six–because we are still being created and built and grown. I love that there is mystery in your understanding of God. And Tilley, you remind us to not be afraid because God will always be there to guide us out of the darkness. That no matter where you are–physically or mentally–God is there, too. And my dear friends of this congregation, these youth said more than once just how kind and caring the people of this community are. They watch you. They see you. And they are impressed–which is not an easy thing to do.

Though you make promises today, I guarantee that you will fail at keeping them. This is just a reality check. We all fall short of God’s glory—of God’s hopes and expectations. We are all slaves to sin. But this reality check is also a great freedom. It’s like our motto around here. We’re all modeling imperfection. Nobody is prepared for a life of faith, but we all just take it one step at a time. 

Our job isn’t to do everything right but live in the freedom of knowing that when we fail—and we will—God catches us. Every time. There is nothing you can do and nowhere you can go where God is not already waiting for you and prepared to catch you, hold you, stand you upright, and encourage you on the journey.

So live in this freedom. Live into the imperfections of life with abandon. Enjoy the journey. And trust that God is with you—and that we are with you, too. Or, as Luther put it: Sin boldly, and believe in Christ even more boldly.

Pastor Tobi White

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

Lincoln, NE