Grace without measure

 

“I believe that what is needed in our lives is authentic Christianity—evidence of people responding to others' yearning with real caring, real serving.”

  Those words were spoken with quiet sincerity by Walt Gerber who retired in 2002 after 42 years in the ministry—28 of them as senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 30 miles south of San Francisco.

  We chatted in Starbucks on Santa Cruz Avenue, and later over the phone.

"I don't judge anyone for being different," he said during a discussion on engaging with denominations other than our own. "I don't think our task is to discredit other faiths or religions.

  “Our task is to embrace what we believe firmly and clearly, yet be able to say, 'This is working for me, but I can also appreciate you, and I don't have to exclude you or judge you in order to have a relationship with you.’”

  Since Walt’s passing in 2016, his family has gathered a selection of his sermons under the title The Best Is Yet to Come: Sermons Reflecting the Gift of Grace (Deep River Books, Sisters, Oregon, 2019).

  Once asked why he’d never written a book or organized a conference, his answer was blunt, modest, and typically humorous: “I have no desire for people to know who I am, or to know my name. If I’m lucky enough to make it to heaven … whatever insignificant success or glory I’ve achieved, I’m going to throw at the feet of Jesus, who deserves all the praise.”

  After The Best Is Yet to Come, anonymity will take flight. In step with Gerber’s previous remark, there’ll be no escaping the dedication upfront: To God, who gives us grace without measure.

  The sermons are not in chronological order, but reflect foundational Christianity as it relates to the Christian life and to the life of the church.

  They range widely from such topics as “Do People Really Change? to “When You Feel Overstressed,” and from “Learning to Listen to Each Other” to “Living Without Fear.”

I hesitate to choose favorites, but readily share a few quotable lines that I’ve found helpful and often inspiring in my own life:

  “As we trust God, he will either change our situation, or change our response to it—either way, it’s a miracle—God will come to save us.”

  “Each of us has a unique assignment [from] God that demands commitment, an opportunity to make our lives count for something big.” 

  And, “We are waiting upon a God who is all-powerful, with whom nothing is impossible. Our lives are his project, which he has promised to bring to perfect completion.”

  I suspect that Walt would never have viewed this collection of some of his sermons as a work of “perfect completion.”

  But it is certainly bringing joy and inspiration to thousands of grateful readers.