Discipleship, Suffering and the Good News

Following Christ does not remove us from the world. “He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” (Mark 8:34) In this description, discipleship is not a picnic, sacrifice and suffering is involved. Picking up your cross does not save you, the Good News is that Jesus picked up His cross and saved us! In response to the grace and victory won for us on the cross, Christians are called to pick up their cross and follow so we may point others to the Cross of Christ. “...Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Why do Christians, good people, even children suffer? Jesus never said we would be removed from the world, in fact as the church, the body of Christ he gives us to the world and we are the earthly means through which the forgiving presence of Christ is present in the world. Followers of Jesus Christ, no matter the age are not immune to tragedy whether it is a tornado, cancer or violence. It is due to sin that we miss the mark and turn from God and seek to put our faith and trust in ourselves. We turn our backs often from the promises we have in Christ through the Holy Cross and are seduced by the finite and often false promises of our broken world. Many tragedies happen as a result of us putting ourselves first, but certainly not all. For example, whenever the market crashes and people suffer due to their own greed or directly and indirectly from the greed of others. That is a result of someone(s) putting themselves before God. Unfortunately innocent people suffer as a result and that is an injustice that the Scriptures speak much about and God seeks to make things right (read Mary’s Song of Praise in Luke 1:46-55). To say that all tragedies happen as a result of humanity’s absence from God is too simple. Generally speaking humanity’s absence from God (sin) is the reason for many tragedies in the world. We break the first commandment, we essentially break them all. So much of the heartache and tragedy in the world is due to our inability to be faithful to our God. If we don’t keep God at the center then it is easy to put our neighbor in harm’s way or literally kill him, or screw over our neighbor (steal) or literally screw our neighbor’s spouse (adultery) etc... However, many disciples have been martyred not because they were absent from God, but because they proclaimed who God in Jesus Christ is, and a broken humanity killed them, not God. A faithful person that dies from cancer didn’t die due to a lack of faith. God is ever present with that person and their family. God didn’t kill them, cancer did. A tornado takes the lives of many which included children in Oklahoma. God didn’t kill them, a tornado did. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) We are all sinners, we all deserve to die and will die (some sooner than others), but as Christians we believe that death does not have the final say over us. I don’t know why absurd tragedies happen in life, but I do know that Christ is with those who suffer. I know this because we worship a God who chose to suffer by taking up the cross. The church, the body of Christ is at the ground zero of every tragedy we see in this broken world. Whether it is 9/11, a tornado, hurricane, school shooting, tsunami, a hospital room, prison, shut in, food pantry, soup kitchen or homeless shelter Christ is present through His church. In the wake of tragic events I ask myself “why” as well and declare the tragedy to be absurd, mourning the loss of human life. Then God calls us as his church to remind the world that he is there in the midst of this darkness. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) The Good News is that ultimately tragedy doesn’t win Jesus Christ does! As people who are marked with the cross of Christ forever, we are a people of hope in a world in which suffering is a part of life.

A Word of Hope from Rev. Mark Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

These words from bishop Hanson serve as an Easter message in a time of darkness. A few weeks after Easter Sunday faithful Christians may wonder how the disciples, after encountering the risen Christ could be afraid of a dark and broken world.

We now find ourselves a few weeks after Easter Sunday afraid in the wake of the bombings in Boston. Bishop Hanson proclaims a living word of hope in the darkness we experience today.

A message from our Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. http://t.co/FiPn6MEOrw

posted from Bloggeroid

Look to the Cross in a Violent World

"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:17

The recent turmoil in the Middle East that resulted in the killing of  four Americans including a U.S. Ambassador causes fear and uncertainty to security and stability in the world. Once discussion over the political ramifications settled down I listen to my leaders hoping to be comforted. I deplore the senseless violence human beings engage in, and the desire to be immersed in its perpetual circle.  I look to God for security and comfort in times like this.

What I want is for God to rid the world of those who participate in evil acts that harm or take the lives of others. However, when I look to God I find him in Jesus Christ crucified on a cross. Christians not only look to the cross but proclaim Christ crucified. We speak about a God who is vulnerable, who seems weak through a human point of view. This is a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others (1 Corinthians 1:23). The cross in an instrument of pain, suffering and death that Christ has used to save us. Lutheran Christians are adamant about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross that declares us innocent of sin and brokeness.

As another Reformation Sunday approaches our witness to the world is still relevant.  Lutheran Christians are a religious tradition centered on the cross of Christ.  We believe in a God that does not want to participate in the perpetual circle of violence.  On the cross, Jesus Christ puts an end to sin, death and all evil.  I quickly realize that my initial desire to rid the world of people who cause harm would include me ("If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?" Psalm 130:3).  I also realize that It is the desire of our God for all to be saved (John 3:17).  I continue to pray for victims and all those affected by violence and warfare throughout the world.  I also pray for those that are responsible for the violence.  As people of faith the only weapon in our arsenal is the good news of Christ Crucified in a dark and broken world.  This message may seem like foolishness to some and serve as a stumbling block to others (1 Corinthians 1:23), but for people of faith, it gives us hope. Through the Cross the circle of violence is destroyed and life is eternal. God defeats evil with love and wins for us life through his death.  "For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." (1 Corinthians 1:25) Thanks be to God!

St. John Lutheran (Windfall) 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering

The theme for the 2012 ELCA Youth Gathering is "citizens with the saints."

"For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconicle both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:14-20)

Youth and adults from St. John Lutheran Church (Windfall) Cardington, OH are getting ready to travel to New Orleans, LA for the 2012 ELCA youth gathering.

I pray that the Holy Spirit transforms us through this experience! We have checked our bags and gone through security. Our fellowship on this trip has begun! Christ our conerstone with lead through some joyful surprises as this journey unfolds.

Keep us and the over 30,000 other Lutherans who are attending this gathering in your prayers.

posted from Bloggeroid

Maundy Thursday

Jesus commands us to love one another. He gives us the gift of the community of believers we call the church. What does this command mean in a society that values individualism? What does this command mean when popular versions of Christianity seek to emphasize a personal relationship with Jesus, as opposed to a communal relationship with Jesus Christ?

The world knows Jesus through the love that exists in and through the community of believers known as the body of Christ, the church.

How do we faithfully live out this command of Christ in our society today? Particularly in a context that seeks to preserve and survive rather than give and be vulnerable enough to receive.

Evangelical, Cathlolic and Reforming - A General Secretary and a Confirmation Retreat

Last weekend I was paired with another seminarian, to teach at a Confirmation Retreat at Mar Lu Ridge Camp in Jefferson, MD.  The program that contracted us to teach is known as TEY which stands for Theological Education with Youth.  The theme for this past weekends retreat was The Reformation, Luther and Media.

After collaborating with my co-teacher, we tailored the curriculum to the needs of the retreat.  We had 34 middle school aged youth with 6 high school youth serving as small group leaders.  Overall the retreat was a great experience.  The youth got along with one another.  They were engaged and had lots of fun.

The retreat began Friday evening, but earlier that day the Gettysburg seminary community received a wonderful message from Michael Kinnamon.  Michael Kinnamon is the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the USA.  The Faith and Order Commission of the NCC happened to be on campus that day and for our chapel service on Friday Michael Kinnamon delivered a short homily.

I had met Michael Kinnamon at the NCC General Assembly this past November in New Orleans.  His words reminded me about the gift of unity God has given the church, and the sense of urgency we should feel in receiving this gift.  I was reminded by Kinnamon about the need to point to God's gift of unity, while also lifting up the Lutheran theological tradition and heritage.

In fact, as I was trying to lay out how I would teach the Lutheran Reformation to the youth that weekend, three words had come to mind.  The words are Evangelical, Catholic and Reforming.  By the end of the weekend when we were wrapping up and reviewing what we had learned it seemed that this information had stuck!

I asked "What does it mean to be Evangelical?" a youth raised his hand and said "To be a messenger of the Good News."  I was thrilled to hear this response!  I responded, "What is the Good News?"  Another youth raised their hand and said, "That Jesus died for our sins".

The word catholic was a word that many had known.  They had a concept that it meant all or universal Christian.  This part of our identity was truly an opportunity to speak about the communion of saints and what it means to be part of the body of Christ.  Understandings of Justification and the Sacraments were not watered down but translated to concepts that the youth could grasp.

When it came to the word reform the synonyms that were offered got a bit tricky.  The word "change" was a common description of reform.  What was important to convey was that the Good News never changes, how we share that message has changed over the centuries.

I saw the General Secretary of the NCC proclaim a message that called us to embrace the gift of our catholicity, Christians being united by one Lord, faith and baptism.  In the chapel, around me at Gettysburg Seminary were seminarians, faculty and members of the faith and order commission.  Many at this assembly have wrestled with faithfully embracing these marks of the Christian faith.

Later that weekend I gathered with a different part of the body of Christ.  These were not seminarians or theologians but confirmation students.  Not only were they wrestling with their identities, what it means to be a Lutheran Christian, but their own individual identity.

Both assemblies are part of the one church, charged with sharing the Good News and discerning how the Spirits continual renewal and reform may continue to heal visible divisions and aid in our delivery of the gospel.