I am amazed when the church acts like the chuch of the 1st century. Today, our congregation held a benefit for one of our members who is suffering with ALS. It was amazing to see all of God's people work together distributing the food (brats and hotdogs), selling baked goods, helping cook, clean, and overall supporting one another. It was a great success and you could see many people from the community amazed at how well it all went.
It reminds me of Acts 5 that I just got done reading the other day. After Ananias and Sapphira were dropped dead for lying to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit was working through wonders. They shared everything. Te part that I had never read struck me epecially while watching God's people today: "None of the rest dared join them (unbelievers), but the people held them (Christians) in high esteem (Acts 5:13-14)."
This is my prayer for the church today. Never losing hte bold proclamation of the risen Lord. And even though, people may not join us, may not believe in the Risen Christ, they will see that we show mercy to all people. That we love as the Lord Jesus has loved us. That we love the people whom others do not (maybe crazy neighbors) and support one another in the time of need.
Lord have mercy
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Pray for my wife's family with the passing of her grandma
This morning, my wife's grandma fell asleep in Jesus. She had gone through quite a bit over the last few months. She was a believer in Christ and His redemptive work. She was a born and bred WELS Lutheran and had such a deep love for her Lord and the church that she heard this great message. The funeral is on Monday and I pray that her faithful WELS pastor will give us Christ.
It is a constant reminder that when I preside over a funeral, how much the family is grieving. They have just lost a loved one that they will greatly miss and they need to know of hope for the next day without this individual. Without Christ, we grasp for straws to find hope. May we as ministers of the Gospel remember that we are called to give the hope of Christ and Him crucified.
Lord have mercy
It is a constant reminder that when I preside over a funeral, how much the family is grieving. They have just lost a loved one that they will greatly miss and they need to know of hope for the next day without this individual. Without Christ, we grasp for straws to find hope. May we as ministers of the Gospel remember that we are called to give the hope of Christ and Him crucified.
Lord have mercy
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Who is God? Jesus
"Jesus is love, therefore we have to ordain gays and lesbians." This is another great statement from the ELCA assembly last week. The argument was being made that since Jesus is love (I John 4:8), therefore the loving thing would be to ordain gays and lesbians. If we don't, we are not showing the love of Christ.
The question is more what defines the love of Jesus. We know that Jesus loves ALL people (Lame, poor, sinners, prostitutes, gays, murderers, tax collectors, etc). Yet, does that mean that Jesus doesn't call for repentance? Does that mean that all should be pastors? Did Jesus tell the woman caught in adultery, "Go and get your freak on?" No, He said, "Go and sin no more." He gave qualifications to overseers (Titus 3, 1 Timothy 3) and the scriptures constantly tell us of repentance.
I would argue that one of the greatest ways to show love is by good order. Kind of like showing love to your kids by giving them an orderly life (schedules, clean house, order of events for bedtimes, etc). In the same way, God has instituted His love through an orderly way to have his church function and His children live a Godly life. Therefore, should gays and lesbians be loved as children of God? Yes. Should they be ordained because God loves them? No.
Lord have mercy
The question is more what defines the love of Jesus. We know that Jesus loves ALL people (Lame, poor, sinners, prostitutes, gays, murderers, tax collectors, etc). Yet, does that mean that Jesus doesn't call for repentance? Does that mean that all should be pastors? Did Jesus tell the woman caught in adultery, "Go and get your freak on?" No, He said, "Go and sin no more." He gave qualifications to overseers (Titus 3, 1 Timothy 3) and the scriptures constantly tell us of repentance.
I would argue that one of the greatest ways to show love is by good order. Kind of like showing love to your kids by giving them an orderly life (schedules, clean house, order of events for bedtimes, etc). In the same way, God has instituted His love through an orderly way to have his church function and His children live a Godly life. Therefore, should gays and lesbians be loved as children of God? Yes. Should they be ordained because God loves them? No.
Lord have mercy
Who is God? Holy Spirit
"The Holy Spirit is doing a new thing!" Proclaimed a delegate at the ELCA assembly. This was in reference to a vote concerning gay and lesbian clergy. She was promoting that one should vote for the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy due to the obvious work of the Holy Spirit providing men and women who were already doing good ministry, yet were denied simply because of whom they love.
However, how do we know if it is the Holy Spirit or some other move of another god? Two ways:
1) Does it point us to Christ to ourselves? (John 16:13-15), and 2) Does it contradict Scripture? (Romans 1:26, I Timothy 1:10, etc). In both cases, the answer is a problem. If it does not point to Christ then it can't be the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit just wants to get out of the way. Currently the focus of the homosexual debate clings to individuals and not Christ. Secondly, if what we think the Holy Spirit is doing contradicts what Scripture says, then we must ask the question, "Is this from God or somewhere else?"
The Holy Spirit "enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps me in the truth faith." Anything outside of that, is NOT the Holy Spirit.
Lord have mercy
However, how do we know if it is the Holy Spirit or some other move of another god? Two ways:
1) Does it point us to Christ to ourselves? (John 16:13-15), and 2) Does it contradict Scripture? (Romans 1:26, I Timothy 1:10, etc). In both cases, the answer is a problem. If it does not point to Christ then it can't be the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit just wants to get out of the way. Currently the focus of the homosexual debate clings to individuals and not Christ. Secondly, if what we think the Holy Spirit is doing contradicts what Scripture says, then we must ask the question, "Is this from God or somewhere else?"
The Holy Spirit "enlightens, sanctifies, and keeps me in the truth faith." Anything outside of that, is NOT the Holy Spirit.
Lord have mercy
Sunday, August 23, 2009
A plane ride next to the nicest person I have ever met...by the way he was a Mormon
I entered the plane on my way to JFK airport from Detroit after missing my flight by 5 minutes to Burlington, NY. Needless to say, I was not real happy. I sat down and a young man sat next to me which showed his nice appeal from the moment he said hello. He and his wife had two small kids (which made me miss my own) and we instantly started to talk about life and obviously theology. He revealed to me that he was a Mormon and did a mission trip to Italy when younger. Like I said, he was probably the nicest guy I have ever met.
I didn't reveal right away that I was a pastor, but it did come up. I asked questions about the Mormon faith such as: Who is Jesus? How is one saved? When are you baptized? What is the goal of life? The unfortunate thing at the end of the discussion was that everything was about works. How is one saved? He gave me a list of about 4-5 things (faith in Jesus, repentance, good works, and a good family). Who is Jesus? (not God, but the son of God). When are you baptized? (When it feels right). What is the goal in life? To eventually be sure that you will be at the highest level in heaven. A lot of works and not much hope of God's work. We exchanged emails and I hope to continue the discussion. It was my first Mormon discussion and I hope it will not be my last.
Thanks be to God that we cling to the great words of Paul, "Therefore we are saved by grace through faith, not by works so that any man may boast." Our hope is in the work of Christ for us and not our rung up the ladder! Lord have mercy.
I didn't reveal right away that I was a pastor, but it did come up. I asked questions about the Mormon faith such as: Who is Jesus? How is one saved? When are you baptized? What is the goal of life? The unfortunate thing at the end of the discussion was that everything was about works. How is one saved? He gave me a list of about 4-5 things (faith in Jesus, repentance, good works, and a good family). Who is Jesus? (not God, but the son of God). When are you baptized? (When it feels right). What is the goal in life? To eventually be sure that you will be at the highest level in heaven. A lot of works and not much hope of God's work. We exchanged emails and I hope to continue the discussion. It was my first Mormon discussion and I hope it will not be my last.
Thanks be to God that we cling to the great words of Paul, "Therefore we are saved by grace through faith, not by works so that any man may boast." Our hope is in the work of Christ for us and not our rung up the ladder! Lord have mercy.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The worst decision at the ELCA assembly wasn't the homosexual votes...
Another great article from Rev. Paul McCain. Is there a bigger issue than the homosexual vote? Probably when a church joins another that doesn't believe in very basic things that are Scriptural (real presence, baptismal regeneration, etc). Here is his article on facebook...
Obviously, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s decisions about gay clergy are getting most of the attention from the media, and apparently from most Lutherans, but the worst decision The ELCA has made this week is the decision to enter into full communion with the Methodists. It is easy to express our “outrage” over the homosexual decision, but in fact, the greater error is the declaration of altar/pulpit fellowship with the United Methodist Church. This is even more symptomatic of a theological system that is sick unto death.It would be tempting for those who are not in the ELCA church to assume a posture of, “We told them so!” and “Thank God we are not like those kind of Lutherans.” But if we take that attitude we are disregarding God’s Word which warns us all: Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (Read all of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13)On a previous post, Dr. Holger Sonntag offered these very important observations in a comment and I post them here:Great. Thank you, Paul! Finally somebody says something about the ELCA-UMC fellowship. If you look at the vote that made this deal a reality (958-51), one is amazed: there are apparently a bunch of people in the ELCA (and at this year’s churchwide assembly) who have a problem with homosexual pastors (559-451), and I salute them for it. But how few people seem to care, e.g., about the vast difference in the understanding of the Lord’s Supper (THE gospel, as we’re always told) between genuine Lutheranism and Methodism? Years of flawed catechesis, where even the “conservatives” had adopted the “Leuenberg” Position that brought “peace” between Lutherans and Reformed (”personal presence of Christ”; exact “mode” of presence not really important), have done this to this church body. That’s even sadder, in my opinion. You can see Hermann Sasse (and Luther and Paul Gerhardt) turning in his grave now even faster…I can’t really grasp why so many conservative, confessional Lutherans get fired up about a law-issue like homosexuality, but so few mention the Methodist-agreement. Now, don’t get me wrong: I recognize that God’s law is important, that it’s unchanging, and that it calls homosexuality, in whatever “social context” it may be practiced, a sin. End of story. Sinners need not be provided by the church with excuses and explanations for their condition and actions. Sinners need to be called to confess their sins.And then they need to be called — to what? To the gospel! Tampering with the law is bad, and perhaps it’s done because you don’t believe the gospel anymore, that there could be full and free forgiveness even for the “bad” homosexual, like for every other sinner like you and me.In other words, as I already remarked over at “The Brothers of John the Steadfast,” I’m concerned that our “outrage” that’s again focused mainly on the homosexual issue is regrettably less than Lutheran and, in fact, quite “moralistic.” We’d expect this from Evangelicals, but Evangelical Lutherans should know better: we distinguish the law and the gospel, recongnizing that the gospel is “more important” because we’re saved, not by not being homosexuals, but by faith in Christ alone.
Obviously, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s decisions about gay clergy are getting most of the attention from the media, and apparently from most Lutherans, but the worst decision The ELCA has made this week is the decision to enter into full communion with the Methodists. It is easy to express our “outrage” over the homosexual decision, but in fact, the greater error is the declaration of altar/pulpit fellowship with the United Methodist Church. This is even more symptomatic of a theological system that is sick unto death.It would be tempting for those who are not in the ELCA church to assume a posture of, “We told them so!” and “Thank God we are not like those kind of Lutherans.” But if we take that attitude we are disregarding God’s Word which warns us all: Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (Read all of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13)On a previous post, Dr. Holger Sonntag offered these very important observations in a comment and I post them here:Great. Thank you, Paul! Finally somebody says something about the ELCA-UMC fellowship. If you look at the vote that made this deal a reality (958-51), one is amazed: there are apparently a bunch of people in the ELCA (and at this year’s churchwide assembly) who have a problem with homosexual pastors (559-451), and I salute them for it. But how few people seem to care, e.g., about the vast difference in the understanding of the Lord’s Supper (THE gospel, as we’re always told) between genuine Lutheranism and Methodism? Years of flawed catechesis, where even the “conservatives” had adopted the “Leuenberg” Position that brought “peace” between Lutherans and Reformed (”personal presence of Christ”; exact “mode” of presence not really important), have done this to this church body. That’s even sadder, in my opinion. You can see Hermann Sasse (and Luther and Paul Gerhardt) turning in his grave now even faster…I can’t really grasp why so many conservative, confessional Lutherans get fired up about a law-issue like homosexuality, but so few mention the Methodist-agreement. Now, don’t get me wrong: I recognize that God’s law is important, that it’s unchanging, and that it calls homosexuality, in whatever “social context” it may be practiced, a sin. End of story. Sinners need not be provided by the church with excuses and explanations for their condition and actions. Sinners need to be called to confess their sins.And then they need to be called — to what? To the gospel! Tampering with the law is bad, and perhaps it’s done because you don’t believe the gospel anymore, that there could be full and free forgiveness even for the “bad” homosexual, like for every other sinner like you and me.In other words, as I already remarked over at “The Brothers of John the Steadfast,” I’m concerned that our “outrage” that’s again focused mainly on the homosexual issue is regrettably less than Lutheran and, in fact, quite “moralistic.” We’d expect this from Evangelicals, but Evangelical Lutherans should know better: we distinguish the law and the gospel, recongnizing that the gospel is “more important” because we’re saved, not by not being homosexuals, but by faith in Christ alone.
ELCA Assembly accepting of homosexuality as members and in church work
In a surprising unsurprising vote, the ELCA voted by 55% to allow practicing homosexuals to be ordained into the Holy Ministry. Some people are shocked and appalled, I'm just glad that what they hav ebeen practicing for years is now in the open. No longer can people in the ELCA say, "Well, the LCMS and ELCA are pretty much the same." Or even better, "Pastor, their aren't any LCMS churches in the area I live, so I must go ELCA!" A better solution? Start an LCMS church to be faithful to the Word.
It is a reminder once again for us all to cling to the Word of God. As my grandpa says, "If you don't believe in anything, you will fall for everything." The arguments in the assembly were centererd on emotions and personalities. They did not begin with the Word and then wrestle with other issues.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in the ELCA and hope for faithful churches to find a safe, Christ centered denomination to be part of.
It is a reminder once again for us all to cling to the Word of God. As my grandpa says, "If you don't believe in anything, you will fall for everything." The arguments in the assembly were centererd on emotions and personalities. They did not begin with the Word and then wrestle with other issues.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in the ELCA and hope for faithful churches to find a safe, Christ centered denomination to be part of.
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