Reformation Day

Reformation Day, 2013

When Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-five Theses to Wittenberg’s castle church door in 1517, he had no idea what kind of firestorm he was lighting.  That event was the catalyst for many important historical events, changes in the church, and transformation of the culture.  The most important thing that happened that day, however, was the beginning of a process that led to the rediscovery the Gospel – the good news that God loves us and has saved us from our sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

One of the scripture passages that was central to reclaiming the Gospel is Romans 3, which we read from in our second reading on Sunday.  In particular, these words stood out:  But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

What a beautiful word for us!  While no one will be found righteous because of what they do, we will be made righteous because of what God has done for us!  Shockingly, this is nothing new, but the Law and the Prophets – that is the Old Testament – testify to this truth:  God loves sinners and makes us right with Himself. 

At Luther’s time this good news was buried in a morass of political maneuvering and papal power.  The Word of God was used like a club to keep citizenry in line and to enforce the empire’s unity under emperor and pope.  Indeed, the pope actively bought and sold official positions, and went so far as to sell salvation.  That is, after all, the idea behind buying indulgences; “I am getting forgiveness and salvation for myself or my loved one.”  And this was, of course, the burning issue for Luther when he read that our righteousness is not based on what we do, but on what God has done for us. 

The Gospel lesson on Sunday drove this point home, too.  In John 8:34 and 36, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins in a slave to sin.”  And, “[I]f the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”  It is evident that each of us sins.  Just examine your life.  And if you don’t see it in self-examination, follow Luther’s advice, “… look around you.  See whether you are also in the world, or if you do not know it, ask your neighbor about it.” (Large Catechism)  He will have seen plenty to testify against you!  (And me!)  Because we sin we are slaves who must be set free.  This the Son has done for us, and because He has set us free we are free indeed.

Thanks be to God that this good news and freedom through Jesus’ death and resurrection has been declared to us!  Thanks be to God that we have the privilege of sharing that good news and freedom with others as we declare the deeds of him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light!  (1 Peter 2:9)  Truly we can praise God singing, “God’s Word forever shall abide, No thanks to foes, who fear it; For God Himself fights by our side With weapons of the Spirit.  Where they to take our house, Goods, honor, child, or spouse, Though life be wrenched away, They cannot win the day.  The Kingdom’s ours forever!”  (A Mighty Fortress, v. 4)

Questions to Ponder

-          Look at Romans 3:19-28.  According to verses 19-20 what does the Law do?

-          Where does God’s righteousness come from?  How is it received?

-          Why did God give Jesus as the sacrifice of atonement according to verses 25 & 26?

-          What does it mean for God to be “just and the one who justifies,” or, as the English Standard and King James versions so nicely translate, “just and justifier”? 

-          What are some of the things people say we have to do to be saved?  How does Romans 3 apply to those things?

-          Consider faith for a moment.  Where does it come from?  How does one get it?  Is it the same as knowledge?  According to this passage, what does faith do?  

Greed & Generosity

Last Monday night I watched the presidential candidates’ debate.  The topic was supposed to be foreign policy, but it often strayed from that topic to a more domestic focus:  the economy.  Money is on many an American’s mind these days as we look to the future with questions regarding taxes, deficits, and our cost of living.  It is almost as though the common consensus is that if people just had more money everything would be okay. 

Interestingly, this past Sunday we read these words in worship:  Whoever loves money never has money enough money; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.  (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NIV) 

For the sake of full disclosure, I like having money as much as anyone does.  In years past we had times in our household when we have wondered how much of which bills we were going to pay, how we were going to buy groceries, and where the gas money was going to come from.  I much prefer having enough cash to pay bills to the stress and doubt of insufficient funds.  We all need money to some degree. 

This verse, however,  speaks to our human condition and our restless desire for more.  After all, “more” seems to be the mark of success, prestige, status, and happiness.  It is almost as though we added a verse to the Bible that says, “Blessed are those who have more, for they do not lack.”  People often go deep into debt to have “more.”  Dave Ramsey lampoons this practice saying, “We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.”  The desire for “more” instead of “enough” is a dangerous thing. 

Whenever we deal with money, wealth, and material goods there are two words that are useful to keep in mind.  They both begin with the letter, “G.”  They are:  greed and generosity. 

Having wealth, in and of itself, is not a problem.  But if that wealth takes hold of our hearts, and it becomes our source of confidence of comfort, there is powerful temptation to accumulate more and more and more.  That temptation, stated bluntly, is greed.  Greed is deadly to our faith, to our relationship with God and with others, and to our happiness.  (Remember that in Mark 10, the rich young ruler “went away sad”?) 

The contrast to greed is generosity.  Generosity is God’s purpose for wealth.  It flows from the profound perspective that we have freely received from God, therefore we can freely give.  When we recognize God’s provision for our life – especially the gift of forgiveness in the death and resurrection of Jesus – we can begin to treasure God’s blessings rightly and be free to generously use them to His glory. 

Financial stewardship is an important part of our lives as Christ-followers.  We often approach stewardship from the standpoint of, “You should do this.”  It’s true.  We should.  But let’s try to look at stewardship from a different point of view:  Christ has set us free from sin and death so that we may be generous.  We have such confidence in the God that provides for us that we are released to give away some of what we have.  We are children of the Heavenly Father who is exceedingly generous with us, so it is simply a family trait for us to be generous too. 

As we approach the time that we pledge for our tithes and offerings to the Lord, please take time to prayerfully consider your giving back to the Lord and support for His mission.  Know that your church thanks God for your past and present generosity and looks forward to how God will bless your congregation through you in the future. 

Questions to Ponder

-          Looking back at Ecclesiastes 5:10, why do people find it difficult to be content with their salaries and level of wealth?

-          What about you?  If you came into a large sum of money, what would you do with it?  How would it feel to give away a whole bunch of money?

-          Generosity is not only about money, although that is what I have focused on here.  How can you be generous with your talents?  What can you do that would bless someone else?  How does it feel to help others?

-          We can also be generous with our time.  Who would benefit from your time?  How might you use your time in a generous way? 

-          List some ways you have experienced God’s generosity.  How do you feel about the idea that generosity is linked to being a child of God?  How would you like to have said of you, “Like Father like son/daughter!” 

-          When I was in the seminary, I once examined my spending and was shocked at how much money I was wasting on fast food, movies, and beer.  There is nothing wrong with spending money on things that give us pleasure, but such spending can get in the way of our generosity.  Is there any unhealthy spending in your life?  How would you feel about re-routing those funds to God’s mission? 

Christ's Ambassadors

It was a treat and a blessing to have Pastor Eliona Bernard from Cap Haitian, Haiti with us last Sunday.  Missouri Synod Lutherans are not known for our ecumenical efforts – in fact it’s generally said we don’t do anything ecumenical, which isn’t really true – but we have many partner churches around the world, and a couple here in the U.S., too.  The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH) is one of those partner churches, and it is encouraging to see brothers and sisters in Christ active in the mission of God who have the same doctrine and values as we do.  (To be sure, we rejoice to see what the Spirit does throughout the body of Christ, but in a sinfully divided world it is especially encouraging to experience the unity in Word and Sacrament ministry we have with the ELCH and others.)

Pastor Bernard preached about 2 Corinthians 5:20:  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  He also reminded us that, in Christ, we are a new creation, and that we are deeply loved by God.  Those things go hand-in-hand!  As redeemed Children of God (new creatures) we have become ambassadors (those sent to represent a kingdom).  We represent the Kingdom of God in this word so others may know the love and salvation of Jesus!

What a great message for us as we think about our mission of Gathering People to Christ, Building Believers in Christ and Serving the World as Christ.  In all these things we are first-and-foremost recipients:  those who have been loved by God and made new creations by the death and resurrection of Jesus!  But now we also represent the God who has loved us and God uses us to gather people to Him, build believers in their faith and walk with Himself, and serve the world because Jesus, our savior and lord, came to serve. 

Pastor Bernard’s presence among us, however, raises a question we have not yet answered.  It is this:  What is next for our work with Haiti? 

To listen to all the good Pastor Bernard and his congregation is doing in Haiti captures one’s imagination.  Their ministry to children through their schools – feeding, teaching, and evangelizing them – is compelling.  Their efforts at providing indigenous funding by selling chickens and urging giving from the people of the congregation are highly commendable.  (I was impressed that Pastor Bernard made it clear that they had need, while he also showed us they were working hard to provide for themselves!)  Seeing pictures of the construction financed by donations of fifty-cents to twenty-dollars was inspirational. 

During our mission trip to Haiti we went to the beach one day.  It was between Leogane, where we were helping to build houses, and Port au Prince.  The coast runs east/west there, but one can see the coast make an almost ninety degree turn to head north.  I remember sitting and wondering about that part of Haiti, and a strong desire to see that part of Haiti filled my heart.  Perhaps our next step is to go to Cap Haitian.  That being said, once you’ve been to Haiti, the need and opportunity in that land is evident wherever you go, and perhaps the work we did in May is intended to be a starting place for future work.  I don’t know, and I commend this to us all to pray about. 

The one thing that is clear to me in this situation is that we cannot turn away from our brothers and sisters in the ELCH any more than we can turn away from Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry or Hope in the City.  I am convinced that these are organizations that give us the opportunity to be Christ’s ambassadors; even as we are His ambassadors our neighborhoods in the Hudson, Stow, Twinsburg Corridor. 

Please join me in praying about God’s vision for Gloria Dei and asking Him to lead us in His mission to gather people, build believers, and serve the world…

  

Some Questions to Ponder

-          Look at 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.  What is the driving force behind Paul’s desire to proclaim the Gospel?  How does that apply to us?

-          As God reconciles people to Himself, what does He not count?  What does that mean in regard to being a new creation?

-          Verse 21 is a powerful statement of Gospel.  Who is “him who had no sin”?  What is the promise of this passage in regard to our sin? 

-          As Christians we are dual citizens.  We are citizens of the United States (or some other nation) and of the Kingdom of God.  If we are Christ’s ambassadors, as 2 Corinthians 5 says, what are the implications for our interactions with our neighbors and fellow (earthly) citizens? 

-          It is easy to see need in a place like Haiti.  What are the needs of Twinsburg, Hudson, and Stow that we can meet with Jesus’ love?  (I would love to hear your thoughts on this.)

-          Have you ever prayed about the amazing message that Jesus took your sin and gave you His righteousness?  What are the sins you are most ashamed of?  What guilty thought bothers you?  This verse tells us that Jesus has borne all of that sin, and it is atoned for.  Pray a prayer of confession, thanks and praise for the salvation Jesus won for you.  

The Problem of Wealth

Monday through Wednesday of this week my wife and I were at the Ohio District Pastors and Wives Conference.  The two main topics were on ministering to families dealing with children who have declared they have a same sex attraction and a theological presentation by our synodical president, Matt Harrison, on The Church and the Office of the Ministry by C.F.W. Walther.  Both topics were interesting and thought provoking.  Thank you for providing us the opportunity to continue to learn and grow! 

On Tuesday evening there was a banquet at which we celebrated anniversaries, milestones and achievements.  You should know that Gloria Dei was recognized by Pres. Cripe as a congregation that makes an impact with its investment dollars.  We currently, as a congregation and members combined, have over a million dollars invested in Church Extension Fund (C.E.F.).  Congregations, church workers, and ministries are able to use C.E.F. as a source for loans at low interest rates, and they also grant large sums of money to support the church.  Our investment helps make that possible. 

I was privileged to speak at this conference on Monday evening about the impact of mission work within the congregation.  It was exciting to share some experiences and to think about what mission trips to places like Haiti bring to a congregation.  We are at the very beginning of our mission work, so perhaps we have not seen so much, but I am convinced that mission work helps to clarify priorities, acts as a rallying point for people, calls people to ministry, and helps people grow in Christ.  We will take another step in our mission work this Sunday when Pr. Eliona Bernard from First Lutheran Church, Cap Haitian, Haiti will be with us to preach.  Please be sure to be here if you can, and invite a friend who may be interested. 

Mission work allows for participation across a broad spectrum that includes the entire congregation.  The obvious level of participation is seen in those who go.  Yet they would not go if they were not sent and supported spiritually, emotionally, and financially. 

That leads me to last Sunday’s message.  The Gospel lesson was Mark 10:23-31, which records an interchange between a rich young man and Jesus.  The account ends with the young man going away sad because his wealth stood between him and following Jesus. 

Wealth can be both a blessing and a curse.  If, like the young man in our scripture lesson, our wealth becomes the source of our comfort, the focus of our lives, or our reason for being, wealth is a curse that separates us from God.  Such dependence and adoration of wealth breaks the First Commandment:  You shall have no other gods.  If that is how we feel about our money we need to turn to the cross and repent!  We need forgiveness for such sins, and that is why Jesus died for us!

Wealth can be a blessing though.  Make no mistake sanctuaries are built with money.  Mission trips are funded with cash.  It takes funding to pay workers’ salaries, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide heat in the church, and purchase communion wine.  The proper use of our wealth is an important thing!  It is one of the ways we can show our love to God as we return tithes and offerings to Him in response to all of His benefits to us.  Our use of wealth is also a tool to show love for our neighbor as care for them for Jesus’ sake.  These are also powerful witnesses to others. 

I urge you to pray about your giving and the way you use your wealth.  Include a thank you to God for all the things He has provided for you – not the least of which are your life and salvation!  And ask God if your giving reflects the importance of His work and mission in your life, and if that’s okay with Him.  See how He leads you as a beloved, forgiven, blessed Child of God!

Questions to Ponder from Mark 10:23-31

-          When the young man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life how did Jesus respond?  How have you lived in relation to the Commandments?  Have you, “kept all these,” from your youth? 

-          What was Jesus’ attitude toward the young man?  What did Jesus ask him to do after he said he had kept all of God’s commands?  What did that reveal about the young man?

-          How has God blessed you – spiritually, physically, financially, etc.?  Try to think through every aspect of your life and see how abundantly God has blessed you.

-          How did you learn to give?  When you put your offering in the plate why do you do that? 

-          Try this the next time you put your offering in the plate or see your Simply Giving draw:  Pray, “God, thank you for all I have.   In Jesus’ name, Amen.” 

A Word on Prayer

Today was the very first Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) meeting here at Gloria Dei!  There were a dozen ladies here, who all have preschool aged children, coming together to learn and grow in the ever-so-important vocation of being a mom. 

I played a very different role than I usually do in ministry settings as I went up to the loft and served as the A/V guy for the first part of the meeting.  The women watched a brief video which spoke to the purpose of MOPS describing the support, encouragement, and help that MOPS gives to mothers.  Part of the video that grabbed my attention was a statement to the effect these moms were the right moms for their children.  So often in life we feel inadequate for the task set before us – and that is certainly true of parenting!  It seemed to me a powerful affirmation that God gives us the gifts that we need to serve Him and others as we wear the various “hats” of different stations of life we fall into.  (For instance I wear the “hat” of pastor, but also husband, father, son, brother, citizen, consumer, etc.) 

That being said, one of the “hats” that we wear is that of being a disciple – a follower of Jesus.  And that “hat” gives us a wide variety of blessings and opportunities.  The chief of the blessings is the forgiveness of sins through which we are reconciled to God and can even begin to think of ourselves as His children!  This blessing opens the door to eternal life, reconciliation with our neighbor, joy, peace, and much more.  Among the opportunities we receive are those of hearing God’s Word (I am often by struck by the idea that as we hear God’s Word read to us that, if God is present in His Word as He promises, He is touching and tickling our ears to help us hear Him) and praying to Him.  It is on prayer that I’d like to focus our attention for a little while. 

Prayer is a great privilege.  God speaks to us in the Word, and we get to speak to Him in prayer.  He is a God of conversation and community!  He enjoys the time we spend with Him as we speak and listen, and whenever we pray we pray out of a relationship.  The Lord’s Prayer makes this clear.  Jesus said to pray this way, “Our Father who art in heaven….”  We teach our confirmation students that, “With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.”  (Small Catechism)

Over and over in Scripture we are urged to pray.  This past Sunday, James 5:13-18 was read in worship, where we are told to pray if we have trouble, if we are happy, when we are sick, when we have sinned, and more!  It sounds to me like we are encouraged to pray in about every kind of circumstance! 

We pray because God loves us.  We pray because He promises to hear us.  We pray because He commands us to.  We pray because we love God. 

Sometimes people get hung up on how to pray, though.  You may feel like you need special words or the right kind of piety to pray.  (You don’t.)  You may feel unworthy to pray.  (You are in yourself, but Jesus has made you worthy in His death and resurrection.)  You may feel like God is far away, your need is insignificant, your needs don’t matter, or even that you don’t matter.  I say this:  Look to the cross where God showed you how much He loves you, then pray – talk to Him.  If He loves you so much, surely the words you speak (no matter how informal), the needs you have, etc., surely matter to Him.  So pray. 

Questions to Ponder

-          Take a look at James 5:13-18.  What are the benefits of prayer?

-          Verse 16 tells us that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.  Who are the righteous?  Look at Romans 3:23-24.  (Hint:  In the language the New Testament was written in “righteous” and “justified” are from the same word.)

-          What does James 5:17 say of Elijah?  How does that help us?

-          When do you pray?  What kinds of things do you pray about?

-          Have you ever had a prayer answered in an unexpected way?  Is there something that you have been praying about that hasn’t been answered as you desire?  How can knowing God’s love help you in both of these circumstances?

-          Why can you be confident that God hears and answers your prayers?