What Lies Beneath

We drove home yesterday, on the heels of the deaths of a famous mother and daughter this past week:  Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia from Star Wars) and her mother, Debbie Reynolds - an actress from my late father's favorite movie:  "Singin' in the Rain."  (Lest I forget about George Michael:  80's pop singer who died on Christmas day at the age of 53).  As we drove across the rolling hills of Missouri, we passed by the Wheeling Cemetery.  It isn't much of a cemetery:  an aging wrought iron fence surrounding it, numerous tombstones marking the final resting place of a few hundred deceased who have been buried there over many years, and so on.  But it had the unique distinction of being right off US 36, and thereby directly visible to us as we drove west.

Now perhaps as a pastor, and one who has buried many people over the years, I notice things like this much more than the non-pastor, but what I saw immediately set me thinking.  The blue awning from a funeral-just-concluded was was being taken down, and I'm assuming they had either just sealed the vault or were preparing to lower the casket into the ground, as the last of the cars exited the cemetery from a service that had freshly concluded.  Not seeing the graveside service itself, it's hard to conjure up an image of how many folks were there, but given the handful of chairs I observed, I would guess an "average" group of - say - between 30 and 50.  I immediately wondered how many people even were aware of the passing of the person who was just buried, or for that matter how many cared.  And yet their death was inevitable - whether from natural causes, accident, murder, or whatever, they were going to die - eventually.

For some reason, our society believes that 2016 has been a horrible year because of the number of celebrities - "famous people" (like Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds) - who have passed away.  Now many of them died as a direct result of a questionable lifestyle - the drugs and alcohol abuse of fame that can lead to a shortened life span.  Indeed many famous people have died this past year.  And yet should their death matter any more than the nameless, faceless death I witnessed the conclusion of yesterday?  Society seems to think so.  I don't.  People have been dying since the dawn of time and people - celebrities included - will continue to die in 2017 as well.    Guess what?  Some of you who read this might die in 2017.  I COULD DIE in 2017.  My point is that death is the great unknown in life and it is going to happen to all of us eventually.  It could be due to accident.  It could be old age or natural causes or disease.  It could be any number of things, but death is the final outcome of this life, and what makes the anonymous person's death and burial yesterday any less important or significant than George Michael's?    I believe that the death of the anonymous person in Missouri, whose funeral I saw conclude yesterday, is every bit as significant as the death of Carrie Fisher.  And I believe that each death matters not because of how important they were in life, but because it is a personal crossroads that, once crossed, cannot be undone.

You see, that so many celebrities died this past year about to be concluded is not nearly as important to me as whether or not they knew Christ Jesus.  If they didn't they were lost, and that saddens me deeply.  Despite all their flaws, or despite mine, or despite the flaws of the anonymous deceased in Missouri, if the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord and savior is not included, it truly is a sad day, and - celebrity or not - that is what we should truly mourn.  Not death, not the loss of any icons in our lives or from our childhoods, because it has all happened before us and it will all happen again after us.  The real question to be asked is are we going to learn from this reality and accept the reality of what God's plan has truly been for us?  It is not in murder and the destruction of those who differ from us, but in knowing and trusting that God has our best interests at heart in providing salvation for us.  It is in the example and witness of Christ Jesus making us better, more compassionate people in this life and letting the salvation offered us in His name usher us into the next when this life ends.

I'm beginning to believe that one of the reasons society in general is so uptight about celebrity deaths is that we've lost sight of what truly lies beneath death or beyond life - society simply doesn't know how to handle death because we've lost the hope that overcomes it through Christ.  For me, 2016 was a great year.  Yes it was marked by all manner of personal setbacks and tragedies, but the Chicago Cubs (my team from when the barber threatened to cut off my ears if I wasn't a fan when I was 5) are FINALLY World Series champs!  On the negative side, I didn't get out to finish a hike started years and years ago, due to my own advancing age (I'll admit that is ultimately what was at stake in it).  I, like everyone, have had ups and downs in this past year:  those mentioned and many left unspoken.  Some deaths yet some celebrations as well are included.  I choose to focus on the positive, not the negative.  I plan on being positive again next year and look forward to seeing what it might bring.  But no matter who may live or die next year, one thing is constant:  Jesus is still King of kings and Lord of lords.  I pray that this will make me a better person in 2017, and I pray that more will come to know this truth in the coming year.

This is what I reflect on as this year comes to a close.  May you all have a prosperous 2017, no matter who lives or dies, because people will die in 2017 as they have each year prior.  May more people come to know Christ in 2017, and may it impact their lives in a positive way, and may that impact change those around them for the better as well.

Wilderness and Conquest - parts 5 & 6

The number 40 has significance throughout the Bible.  So do wilderness journeys, both as consequence of sin but also of personal and spiritual discipline.  During Advent, it only seems appropriate then, to summarize the most significant wilderness journey:  that of Israel, even as we ourselves undertake a journey through this season of Advent - knowing that we wander in the wilderness as well until that time when Christ returns.  With that:  the next two installments in our Bible summary.

Continuing after the Exodus (Part 4), upon crossing the Red Sea, where God destroys the armies of Pharaoh, the Israelites immediately set out upon a journey that will take them ultimately to the land promised to Abraham in the covenant God made (Part 1), thereby fulfilling the second part of the promise.  (Parts 2 and 3 can be found here).  Despite the spectacular nature of the “Exodus” event itself, the Israelites not only grumble constantly against God, but also continue to disobey God, seemingly forgetting the amazing things God had just done - all for them.  This results in a 40 year period in a barren wilderness as a consequence of sin.

Not long after, the Israelites find themselves encamped at the base of Mount Sinai (historically seen as the Mount Sinai at the southern end of the Sinai peninsula, present day Saudi Arabia).  It is there that God again appears to them in spectacular fashion through earthquakes, dense smoke surrounding the mountain top, thunder and lightning - all of which we call a “theophany.”  Moses climbs the mountain, where God establishes a second “covenant” with the people - this one a covenant of “law” that tells them how to copy Godly behavior, live in community with one another, and experience the blessing of truly knowing God as their Lord. Today, these are what we call the “Ten Commandments” (Exodus 20). Instructions were also given regarding worship and worship space (the tabernacle - Exodus 26) and the storage of the covenant in the “ark”  - a golden box that would contain the actual tablets of the covenant (Exodus 25).  Many other instructions regarding worship and its leaders or priests are given in the following chapters.  However, during this time of instruction by God to Moses, the people once again quickly forget what God had done, and fashion a false god in the shape of a golden calf (ch. 32).   Read Aaron’s “whopper of a lie” in how it transpired in 32:24!
Sadly, it would not be the last of such occurrences, leading to all manner of plague and other punishment by God, including wandering in the wilderness for 40 years before reaching the land promised to Abraham clear back in Genesis (part 1).

To complete the journey through the “Penteteuch,” (a fancy word for the first 5 books of the Bible), Leviticus is a book that presents the young nation of Israel with a series of holiness codes and purity codes.  While we generally are not bound by them today, many of them still make perfect sense, such as washing before eating, the possibilities of contracting parasites from certain meats (because they were often consumed undercooked), and so on.  Certainly as well, treating our worship with sense of reverence and respect is also something that shows the seriousness with which we take it and our devotion to God today.

The Book of Numbers chronicles their 40 year wilderness journey.  Remember that the lengthy journey to the “promised land” is a result of their sin before God.  In fact, Moses is told that he would see - but never enter - that land (Numbers 14:30).    The grumbling continues, and it seems that Israel’s sin becomes more brazen.   In one instance, it was so great that they claimed to have no food, and in the same breath complained that they hated the food provided!  This resulted in God sending poisonous snakes into their camp, forcing them once again to turn to God for help.  Moses was instructed to craft a bronze serpent, place it on a pole in the center of camp, and anyone who looks on this “idol” would then live (Numbers 21).  This incident is cited again in The Gospels: John 3:14.  Israel’s general response to God was not with faith, gratitude, and obedience, but with unbelief, ingratitude, and downright rebellion against God.

The book of Deuteronomy retells the laws as a covenant - stressing the need for the people to show a total commitment to God. Why?  Because of what God had already done for them in rescuing them from the Egyptians and bringing them out of bondage to slavery.  Finally, Israel is now about to take possession of the land of Canaan, promised by covenant with Abraham nearly 500 years earlier.

Moses has now died, having led his people out of Egypt, and to the eastern side of the Jordan River, across from the land of Canaan.  Remember that Abraham never had a permanent home, but God’s covenant had promised this land would one day be called home for his descendants.  The book of Joshua recounts the conquest of the Holy Land by God’s command, and the allotment given to each of the 12 tribes, who were the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob.

Though some of the eastern territories (east of the Jordan River) were previously conquered in the latter chapters of Numbers, Joshua is the name of the Israelite put in charge of the conquest of the land of Canaan.  Moses, true to God’s promise, was allowed to view the promised land, but was not allowed to enter it, in punishment for Israel’s continual disobedience toward God, Deuteronomy 34:4.
As the plans are made for conquest, the manna finally ceases to fall from heaven (5:10-12), as the men go to spy out land and strike a deal with Rahab, a prostitute in the land (ch. 2).  In addition, before conquest can proceed, the covenant must be reestablished, meaning all men born during the 40 year wilderness wandering must now be circumcised (5:2-9).  In addition, God alone is the commander in chief of the invading army(5:13-15).

Famous battles include the battle for Jericho (5:13-6:27), and the day where the sun stood still (10:1-15).  Chapter 12 provides a list of cities and kings defeated in conquest.  Much of the latter chapters of Joshua provides for the division of the land.  It is also important to note the establishment of “cities of refuge,” (ch. 20), where a person may find safe refuge from “accidental” crimes.

Though their conquest is not completely done, there is a renewal of the covenant God made at Sinai, in chapter 24.  It is important to note that this Sinai covenant is a conditional one- things will go well for the people if they worship the Lord only, and things will go horribly if they don’t.  Their wandering in the wilderness, and even their first failed campaign against the city of “Ai” (ch. 7) demonstrate that God is serious about the people not turning to foreign gods and idols, but  living in covenant with him alone.

Joshua recounts in rather gruesome detail some of the horrors of war.  There are many place names also included, some of which are unknown today.  What stands is the impressive list of cities Israel (ch. 12) was able to capture with God on their side.  Historically, there is little debate over this conquest.  Yet some want to question the integrity of God in calling for such genocidal behavior and taking a lead role in it.

Perhaps it is important to remember that far worse crimes or atrocities have been committed throughout human history, and this is not a matter of genocide per se, but rather God’s purposeful demonstration that it is He, and not us, who is the maker AND owner of all things, including our very lives.  He is at work in calling all to repentance, and to understanding his purpose and his purpose alone for the world (HIS world).  The intent all along was in knowing that Israel would not influence those native in the land to worship God, but rather the natives in the land would influence Israel to turn to pagan gods, in opposition to what God commands.  Or, as the NIV (1984) Study Bible states, “The battles for Canaan were therefore the Lord’s holy war, undertaken at a particular time in the program of redemption.  God gave his people under Joshua no commission or license to conquer the world with the sword but a particular, limited mission.  The conquered land itself would not become Israel’s national possession by right of conquest, but it belonged to the Lord.  So the land had to be cleansed of all remnants of paganism.”

Without that campaign carried out completely, what God knew would happen - namely that Israel would quickly turn toward pagan gods - did, in fact, happen.  And that leads us to the next chapters in the Bible's fantastic Divine Drama.

Would the REAL St. Nick please stand up?

Yes, there really is a Santa Claus.  He does not, however, look like today's modern, secular image.  But his character in real life is even better than how he is portrayed by the guy in the red suit.

Rather, he is but one of many in nearly 2000 years of those who have heard the message of Christ Jesus and have lived it in their lives - and some who are what we might call today, “extreme” Christians: or the Saints.  And one of those saints is one who appears in iconic form quite a bit this time of year: Saint Nicholas, whose “day” is Today:  December 6.

There is growing interest in reclaiming the original saint in the United States to help restore a spiritual dimension to this festive time. For indeed, St. Nicholas, lover of the poor and patron saint of children, is a model of how Christians are meant to live. A bishop, Nicholas put Jesus Christ at the center of his life, his ministry, his entire existence. Families, churches, and even some schools are embracing true St Nicholas traditions as one way to claim the true center of Christmas-the birth of Jesus. Such a focus helps restore balance to increasingly materialistic and stress-filled Advent and Christmas seasons.

Quite a bit is known of this Saint, and where history fails, legend and tradition continue. Lets face it: though early Lutherans tended to reject the saints based upon their critique of the veneration of the saints in the Catholic tradition, America was not settled by Lutherans only.  In fact, Lutherans comprise but a fraction of those who settled, and so as the first ships began arriving in the new world, Saint Nick came along for the ride as someone who was widely respected and remembered from their worship in Europe.  In fact, Jacksonville, Florida (quite a bit warmer today than here) used to be named St. Nicholas Ferry, after this 4th century saint.  The Spaniards, Dutch, and German immigrants all brought this Saint with them, because he was widely venerated as a saint for the ordinary person.  In fact it was the Dutch who had a tradition of Saint Nicholas visiting homes and leaving sweets, nuts, and foods on windowsills on New Year’s eve.

It was not until 1821, however, that in America, an anonymous poem had “Sante Claus” as a rider in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer coming in from the north and delivering presents to those children who were good.  And thus the American legend of Santa Claus was born, being depicted in the more popular story, “the night before Christmas,” and appearing as a roly poly white bearded gentleman in a red suit in a series of ads by the Coca Cola company in the mid 1900's, and thus the legend continues - even now supplanting the legend of St. Nick worldwide.

The historic Saint Nicholas, as Bishop of the region of Myra, (present day Mediterranean Turkey),  attended the Council of Nicea (325 AD) and is partly responsible for the historic confession of faith, the Nicene Creed.  In fact, legend has it that the heretic, Arius, who was refuted in Nicea, got so loud at one point that Nicholas walked up to him and slapped him.  He was an ardent defender of the faith, and even apologized for his physical outburst to Arius, despite Arius being branded a heretic by the council.  He was a defender and helper of the poor, the orphans, and children in general.  This is the real Saint Nicholas, and it shows us that Santa Claus puts Jesus first, middle, and last.  He takes his call as a Christian first to be the most serious, so that when the Gospel calls us to make Christ known, we too should follow the sage wisdom of Nicholas and respond as well.  This is the real spirit of Christmas, handed to us by Saint Nicholas, and I hope we all hold this spirit in our hearts.  Advent calls us to repent and prepare for Jesus’ return.  Christmas calls us to hold that Christ-filled spirit of Saint Nicholas not just this time of year, but throughout.

It's been a long journey from the Fourth Century Bishop of Myra, St. Nicholas, who showed his devotion to God in extraordinary kindness and generosity to those in need, to America's jolly Santa Claus, whose largesse often supplies luxuries to the affluent. However, if you peel back the accretions, he is still Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, whose caring surprises continue to model true giving and faithfulness.  That’s the spirit.  Let’s claim it.  Let’s reclaim it.  Lets live it.

Exodus: God vs. "gods" (Part 4)

So I started this a while back:  putting into the blog a complete Biblical synopsis of the fantastic Divine Drama that unfolds in human history contained in the pages of Scripture.  So getting back to it in lieu of another entry this week, it is appropriate for Exodus to be next simply because this is a week when we all should be focusing on thanksgiving (never mind that this is something that should be done throughout the year!)  To get back to the previous entry in this synopsis, you can go to part 1 and parts 2&3.  So here we go:

(continuing the Bible's fantastic story...) Where we left off at the end of the book of Genesis, the stage has now been set for the greatest and most spectacular event of the Old Testament: The Exodus from Egypt around the year 1446 BC, which is also recorded in other historical records besides the Bible.  God’s promise to Abraham is slowly but surely being fulfilled, for his descendants have indeed grown through subsequent generations and now number possibly close to a million people.

Two hundred years after Joseph, however, a Pharaoh who didn’t know about Joseph and his deeds in Egypt called for the enslavement of the Israelites because there were too many in his land (Exodus ch. 1).  He even instituted a heinous form of population control by instructing that all the Hebrew males must be killed after birth.

Eventually, Moses is born.  To avoid his death also, he was set afloat in the Nile river, and Pharaoh’s daughter eventually found him and raised him (ch. 2).  As a young adult man, Moses ended up fleeing Egypt after he killed an Egyptian who was beating one of the Hebrew slaves.  While in hiding in Midian (believed to be along the shore of the Red Sea), he marries, has children, and encounters God in the form of a burning bush (ch. 3).  “I AM,” or “Yahweh” in Hebrew (the “name” of God), gave Moses a great task:  to be his messenger to Pharaoh that God was putting an end to his peoples’ suffering and enslavement.  As a sign that God was going with him, his staff turns into a snake (ch. 4).  Moses is reluctant, and also fails to follow God’s decrees to his own peril, but eventually reestablishes the sign of God’s original covenant through circumcision.  Thus begins the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart by God (4:21) in order that the people, through the coming signs and wonders, will know that he is indeed God (6:1-8).

The initial request by Moses causes Pharaoh to force the Israelites to make their bricks without the aid of straw, making the task much harder since they now had to gather their own (ch. 5).  What follows are ten plagues caused by God, so terrifying in their own right that most rational people would believe in the Lord: The Nile river turns to blood, killing its wildlife (ch.7); the land is infested with frogs (ch. 8); then come the gnats, flies, the death of Egyptian livestock (ch. 9), a plague of boils (lesions), hail, locusts (ch. 10), darkness, and the final plague: the striking down of all the Egyptian firstborn (ch. 11) in answer to Pharaoh’s initial decree to kill the Hebrew firstborn males.

It is here that God institutes the “Passover” meal (ch. 12, AND the foundation of the Lord’s Supper): to eat in haste while marking the doorposts of the Hebrew homes as the angel of death comes through the land, carrying out God’s terrifying plague and “passing over” the homes of God’s people.  Pharaoh finally relents, and orders all the Hebrews to leave his land, which they do immediately, being led by God himself as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day.  Upon encampment at the Red Sea, however, Pharaoh has a change of heart and pursues them once again.  The pillar of cloud envelops the Egyptian army (ch. 14) while Moses holds his staff over the water.  The water divides, and the Israelites escape across the sea on dry land, with “a wall of water on their right and on their left” (14:22).  Pharaoh’s army pursues.  God sends the water back into place and destroys the armies and chariots of Egypt.  The Israelites see the awesome power of God and trust in God, singing a great song of triumph in “Moses and Miriam’s song” (ch. 15).

God has rescued and delivered his people out of bondage and slavery!  This becomes a recurring and prominent theme throughout the Bible - delivery by God out of bondage and slavery!

Anger

Sigh.

Here we are a week after the election.  People are still stunned at the outcome.  People are still puzzled how the two leading candidates were both so seriously flawed in character.  On the one side, we had a candidate who often said things rude, insulting, and inappropriate.  On the other side we had a candidate who, as it turns out from leaked documents, was complicit in rigging the primary elections, cheated in the debates by getting questions ahead of time, and lies about the lies they have told.  Those on the winning side voted because they were fed up with being referred to as "flyover country," while those on the losing side are grasping at anything and everything, including the hope that when the Electoral College meets to make the results official, enough of them (that would have to be at least 37 of them) will switch their vote to give it to Clinton.   It's wishful thinking and it has been rumored since George Bush's first term, with the contested Florida outcome.   Those on the losing side are calling the winning side stupid (and this after they were referred to as deplorable, irredeemable, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, and the list goes on...).  Rumors abound of those who are truly acting racist and hateful in targeting minorities for harassment, assuming this is what Trump stands for  (sadly, conflicting reports on many of these cast doubt on which ones are accurate and which ones are not).  All the while those who supported Clinton are rioting, burning, looting, and assaulting those who are either identified as or at least suspected of being Trump voters.  Correction on that:  At least in one city (though I suspect it's true across the nation), over 70% of those arrested in these protests didn't even vote.  And of the protesters, many are being bused in and/or paid to protest, responding to ads on Craiglist and other places.  Sadly, these as well have conflicting reports in the media so it is difficult to know fact from fiction.  And speaking of the mainstream media, which got all the prediction polls wrong, and which even by their own admission was now horribly slanted toward the democratic candidate, what little credibility they had on unbiased reporting has now vanished with the majority of Americans.  To top it off, people share things without ever bothering to check their truthfulness, and there are a lot of fraudulant "clickbait" sites out there these days.  I've just provided a whole bunch of sites that you even need to check me on, because the internet is such a cesspool of deception and lies!  To quote the article linked just above:  "folks are being fed what they want to hear and they’re eating it up like a starving person. The most important thing in a functional society is a well-informed public. What we have now is not only uninformed but misinformed masses. That’s something that should scare us all."

And then there are those who are so upset they need cry rooms, therapy puppies, coloring books, and the like.  We have a cry room here at church.  It's for infants.  And all of the hate, and all of the anger, and all of the division (of which our soon to be former commander-in-chief created and furthered much of it) is getting old, and is threatening to destroy this country from within.  This is to say nothing of the hatred spewing from social media, including many liberal elements either wishing for or directly calling for assassination (which is a federal crime, by the way, to even suggest such a thing).

It is rather funny in a pathetic sort of way, really.  I mean, the same conditions existed in 2008, except that in this instance, it was the liberal, progressive candidate Barack Obama who won the election.  Do you remember when all of the conservatives then rioted, began burning flags and buildings, and beating up liberals?  Neither do I.  And yet today, it is those who claim to be the most tolerant and inclusive bunch who unfriend people on social media all because they voted differently (hatred and anger), one day claimed that "love trumps hate" and the next day demonstrating that they really didn't believe that by their anger and hatred in looting and destroying property and livelihoods, and refuse to accept the election that was the clearest margin of victory in recent history.  (and no, I'm not going to debate the electoral college here as it, like our system of governance, provides checks and balances and distributes the power of the people in an effort to be the most equitable).  How do we overcome this great divide?  It's not with giving free reign to any anger felt on either side.

Now I will say that for me to be saying such things might seem odd to some of you, as I've dealt with anger management issues often in my own life.  But yet the difference is in recognizing it, and seeking to overcome it:  to live in accordance with the Proverbs that identify anger being the fire in which we burn, to paraphrase the consequences of anger.  Specifically, the proverb quoted in the banner photo:  "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but the wise man keeps himself under control."  If love really does trump hate (and it does), then it would seem the place to begin is there:  to put aside anger and thereby stop playing the fool.  Of course it is easier said than done, as too often, we believe our anger to be righteous and thereby justified.  But no angry outburst or display has authority to destroy other's livelihood or person.

What is the answer?  Can the increasing divide in this country be healed before it comes to another civil war?  Of that, I am uncertain.  What I am certain of, however, is that the love of Christ has sustained this country in the past, as well as directed it in a unified path.  Yes, sometimes that path went into dark territory, and this nation has many sins to confess from it's past.  Yet the strength of any nation is its' willingness to recognize those sins and seek to correct them in the future.  One of our greatest sins today is not the a-morality, the vulgarity, the perverted and deviant behaviors celebrated as normal, but rather simply that we have, collectively, turned our backs on God.  Psalm 33 says "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.  From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth...No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.  A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.  But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love..."  (Psalm 33:12-18).

So don't be foolish and let anger be the fire in which you burn.  Be wise and thereby live to put an end to hate and division, in letting love triumph, despite the flaws that we all have in our character.  Make America great by putting God at the center of our lives.  These are my thoughts today.  Thanks for reading.

Bogus

The internet is a Cesspool of deceit and chicanery.  There, I said it.  Sorry to be so negative, especially considering where this blog ends up (that is, on the internet), but it needed to be said.  The contradictory posts on websites and social media surrounding presidential candidates, that are even seen on mainstream media news sources on both sides, demonstrate that there is no longer any such thing as truth these days.  One such post was a perported Twitter statement made by a certain Presidential candidate in 1990.  (Twitter began in 2006, invalidating any "tweets" from 1990...)  Quite frankly, I'm sick of it.

One of the more common things seen swirling around the internet these days are photos, memes, and the like that often attribute quotes to famous people, and especially the founders of the United States.  Today's case study is just such a quote, from a website called "Go Left."  I am presuming that it intends to make the case that religion should be kept out of politics, which is generally not borne out by anything the founders stated, either in the official charters of this country, or in their personal writings.  Here is the image in question:

 

A part of the quote I would take as at least a partial truth in terms of what the founders intended.  (All Heresies in the church itself always contained a kernel of the truth, but then morphed into things never intended by the original kernel of truth)  But the whole quote is problematic, and doesn't seem to be borne out by many other things Jefferson said both publicly and privately.   Now attempting to verify anything found on the internet is itself a difficult task, much like salmon swimming upstream to spawn.  But the best place I could find as an actual source came from two locations.  One site shows it to be personal commentary by website's author on a number of other Jefferson quotes related to church and state.  Clicking on the link will yield the quote at the top of the page, not itself attributed to Jefferson.

From there it gets more troublesome.  I stumbled on a US News blog from 2009 in which it automatically assumes that a reader's use of this perported quote is factual and true, and so they quote it as the basis for their entire post.  Now what is fascinating about this is that the quote is also source cited as from a letter Jefferson wrote in 1808 to the Virginia Baptists.  Both a government site showing the original letter and the printed text of the letter (linked above) match, and nowhere within that letter do those words from the meme quote exist.  Yet multiple "quote" sites not only attribute it to Jefferson, but they also attribute it as coming from this letter, linked above.  Not only can you find multiple sites that obviously have never actually checked the source on it, but if one looks hard enough, you'll find previous efforts at debunking this mythical quote as well!  And from all this:  bogus and intentionally deceptive quotes and news are born.

P.T. Barnum perportedly said "There's a sucker born every minute."  Oddly enough, we cannot even be certain he ever said that.  Regardless, it appears whoever first said it knew what they were talking about.  The more we buy into the internet as containing truth, the more we are intentionally deceived and tricked into believing that which is simply not true, nor had it ever been.  Remember this commercial from a few years ago?  Let's not be like the young lady dating her "French Model."  Let's seek the truth in all things, and let's assume that if it's on the internet, it's likely bogus.

Retreat

Well, it happened again.  I allowed myself to get sucked into someone else's social media political rants, simply because I couldn't stand by and let outright lies rule the day.  One happened to be an article discussing the a-morality of American society in general.   Yes, there are exceptions, but when rap lyrics say the same things as Donald Trump, Both Hillary and President Obama have been caught on video doing the same things, and Miley Cyrus/Beonce/etc can grab crotches/perform faux sex acts on stage in front of millions and it is referred to as "expression," we have a problem, both in terms of bias and morality.   And lest we lose sight of the simple fact that there are over 300 million people in America, and our choices in this upcoming election all deserve to be at or near the bottom of the barrel.

Yes, I believe that God is in charge.  Yes, I believe that we are ultimately doomed as a society.  I find no reason to hope, simply because I believe that a major social correction is coming.  I believe that is what will ultimately shake up the fabric of this nation, because until individual hearts begin to recapture some semblance of morality and outrage over the "deviancy as the new normal" policies in society, we cannot and must not survive.  Why, you may ask?  Simply because we cannot trust our government, which protects the powerful and destroys those with whom their chosen party disagrees.  We cannot trust those to whom are charged with our protection and safety: politicians.  We cannot trust the news outlets, who spin, deceive, and outright lie to further their own agendae.  We cannot trust the FBI, who prosecuted other people for committing the same crimes as Hillary Clinton, and yet give her a pass  on her perjury, treason, and crimes.  In short:  the world is rapidly descending into chaos, anarchy, lawlessness, Godlessness, and a-morality.  And we are responsible.

Cardinal Frances George of the archdiocese of Chicago passed away last year, losing his fight against cancer.  What is fascinating is a statement he made a couple of years prior, that though he claimed was not prophetic, certainly seems - based on history  - to be playing itself out before our eyes.  Here is what he said:  “I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square. His successor will pick up the shards of a ruined society and slowly help rebuild civilization, as the church has done so often in human history.”  Indeed, we are living in a time of outright hostility toward the church of Jesus Christ, and also outright rejection of God.  This immediately makes me think back to another time in history in which the church found itself in retreat from the world's rejection and hostility toward it.  It helped give rise to the monastic communities that in some measures, still exist today.

Granted there was much more to their development than a mere retreat in the face of worldly hostility, and it is not my intent to go into history here.  Rather, as we look ahead at the inevitable chaos that is coming (and it is indeed coming should we continue on the course this country is on), the church will either be forced underground once again, or must choose to retreat to such a position simply because of the world's hostility toward it.

I realize how pessimistic this sounds.  Believe me:  the only hope I can take right now for our future comes through knowing that Christ Jesus will come again, and that God is ultimately in control.  Aside from that, we are not.  And we are so far off the rails I fear we can never get back on track.  I also know that the church can and will survive, and will, as Cardinal George somewhat prophetically uttered, one day help to pick up the shards of yet another ruined society and proclaim Christ to a people once again ready to listen.  That day is not today.  But I fear there is indeed a storm coming.  Whether now or later, we may retreat, but we will never surrender.  This I promise, by the grace and help of God.

Nebachudnezzar

Let's jump right in here and state the whole premise of this entry:  The Word of God must correct us as much as it encourages us.  Let me state that again:  God's Word contained in the pages of Scripture must correct us at least as much as we take encouragement from it.  And honestly, the fundamental problem with today's Christian church is that it fails to either see this or put it to practice. If God's Word (and the church's proclamation of it) fails to bring about that correction and amendment of our ways at all, then we've done nothing more than resort to the "I'm OK/You're OK" mentality of feel-good religion.  

Our 6 AM Wednesday Men's Bible Study is currently studying the book of Daniel.  Daniel is a fascinating book, and I will admit it is one that, until we began regular "Bible in 90 Days" campaigns each year, I often ignored it.  But over the last 3 years, being "forced" to read it while reading the entire Bible through, I came to have a profound respect and admiration for what it teaches.

Now I'm not going to get into any of the so-called "historical-critical" thinking on Daniel.  There is no point in discussing progressive views on it as far as date, authorship, reality-vs-symbolism and the like.  Suffice to say it is enough to take the book at face value, and especially to look at one of it's primary characters: King Nebachudnezzar of the Babylonian Empire.  Nebachudnezzar on multiple occasions acknowledges the sovereignty of the God of Israel, and yet it doesn't seem to cause any real amendment in his life or behaviors.  In other words, he pays lip service to God, but it ends there.  There is no change, no correction, and no amendment to his life based on the multiple encounters he has with God:  The telling AND interpretation of his dream (chapter 2), the fiery furnace (chapter 3), the restoration of Nebachudnezzar's sanity (chapter 4), all end with this lip service being paid, and yet life continues on unchecked and unbridled for him.  No correction to his life occurs.  In fact just the opposite:  that we have these 3 encounters in a row demonstrates that for Nebachudnezzar to acknowledge the sovereignty of God time and again shows that is all it is: lip service and nothing more.  There was no subservience on his part.  In fact with the fiery furnace, he has set himself up as a god, even after acknowledging the power of the God of Israel from the dream of chapter 2.

Israel's problem was the same:  throughout the Old Testament, they were great at paying lip service to God, but what got them into trouble was that it meant nothing more in the end.  They continued to set up other gods and idols - all of whom made salvation dependent on human action, much the way every other religion on the face of the earth today makes individual salvation dependent on our ratio of goodness to bad-ness.  Christianity is the only one that leaves the business of saving up to God in the end, simply because we can never be good enough to save ourselves.  That said, it doesn't let us off the hook in seeking to "be better."  The universal call, like to Nebachudnezzar, is to be corrected by the Word of God as much as we take encouragement from it.

This failure at amendment of life permeates our society as well.  The complete lack of common sense and morality today (either intentional or through complete ignorance) is at the core of the increasing lawlessness seen, either through the looting, destruction, and murder in the aftermath of police shootings, or through politicians who skirt above the law with their lies and deception.

If the church wishes to be relevant from here on, it is beyond time to start emphasizing the corrective aspect of the Scriptures once again.  Mega church models and the Joel Osteen mentality of feel good Christianity can only take us so far.  If we go no further, we run off the rails.   This is the proper balance of Law and Gospel.  It was, after all, not all that long ago that the church's confession and absolution contained within it that we were also given "time for the amendment of life."  I've got a long way to go in that process.  As do we all.  So let's get busy.

Hopeless

I'm seriously contemplating deactivating Facebook - at least through the end of the election this year.  I am stunned at the level of downright hatred and vitriol I see - sometimes from people with whom I even agree and often have great respect for.  Not this time.  When someone can actually post a photo which decries "I feel safer in the hands of ISIS than I do in the hands of a white cop,"   I recognize all this for what it is:  complete and total insanity, lacking in any shred of reality or truth.  People will say anything these days, and I challenge anyone to say face to face what they find no problem posting in the relative obscurity of the internet.

...and all of this leaves me feeling hopeless.  In despair.  I find no hope for our world at least in its present form.  I was growing up in the 60's but as a student of history, find that the divisions along racial and political lines are now as worse as they've ever been - even the '60's.  And we have no one to blame but ourselves.  WE have brought this about with our own hatred.

I recall one of the great life lessons I learned coming at the hands, of all people, from my high school cross country and track coach.  Ken Jakalski was an optimist.  Even in the face of reality which perhaps wasn't always that good, especially when it came to team talent, strength, and outlook, he always accentuated the positive.  "Envision yourself winning.  See yourself doing the best yet.  Enthusiasm is the key to success."  It was always a positive attitude so that no matter the expected outcome - we worked for and envisioned the best we could.  And it paid off numerous times.  That life lesson continued in college with the same kinds of attitudes coming from Coach and English Lit professor, Paul Olsen.  "Focus and work toward the positive, not dwell and obsess on the negative"  was the lesson to apply in matters of training and competition, to be carried on into life as well.  Oddly enough, that lesson comes from Scripture, where St. Paul says "do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good"

Today, no longer.  It seems that as a society, we want to focus on the worst in people, and not the best.  Certainly we have lost sight of any semblance of potential that exists within any individual, and we use our flaws, failings - our sins - to divide us, often with a "holier than thou" attitude along the lines of "well I would CERTAINLY never do that!"  Frankly, this is at the heart of our problem.  We live in a world that defends societies that believe in killing anyone with whom they disagree.  Islamic culture has this tenet as a core of its beliefs, and yet we support and defend such countries as Saudi Arabia as a matter of course, and then attacking the religious core of this country - Christianity - which teaches all people to "love one another" (and the aforementioned overcoming of evil with good), and who takes on the philosophy that we are willing to die for our beliefs, rather than the Islamic tenet of being willing to kill for them.  Right along with that, society is attacking the foundational premises of this country, that all rights derive from God, because when we place that responsibility into our own hands, humans can just as easily grant rights as take them away.  Humans can just as easily create rights that exist more within the realm of evil than they do those in the realm of good.  It's why the founders appealed to God, knowing that for humanity, absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Why is our society the way it has become?  Because it is also becoming increasingly godless and a-moral.  The two go hand in hand.  Take God out of the equation, and the net result is seen time and again throughout human history.  What is the solution?  It is to find hope in the midst of hopelessness in turning to Christ Jesus.  Yes, one would expect me to say this.  Yes, as a pastor, I certainly ought to have this as my focus.  But it goes beyond that, in that the corrections we've had to make in this own country's history have always been because of recognizing that we were not, in fact, living up to the premise that rights come from God and not by our own hands.

Now I have failed at this throughout my life thus far as well.  I am one who can indeed only obsess over the negative, and not work toward the positive.  Yet I resolve, because my faith in Christ demands it, to be one who remains positive about the future.  I resolve to re-learn those life lessons from my high school and college coaches, and to see the good as best as I can, and to live it in my life.  I resolve to apply Romans 12 and to the best of my ability overcome evil with good.  I guess that also means that Facebook stays on for now, and from this moment forward, I pray, work, and live toward a brighter future.  Will you join me in this pledge?

There Be Dragons Here...

So last night we went to see the new Disney movie "Pete's Dragon."  Honestly, it was well done, and a great, if quite predictable storyline.  In short:  it is a movie about a boy (Pete) who at the age of about 4 is the sole survivor of a car crash deep in the forests near mountains, and as he wanders away from the crash site, is saved from the wolves by a lone dragon who lives in the forest, and presumably was separated from his dragon "clan."  The boy is then helped by the dragon to survive for a number of years in the deep forest.   The heroine is a forest ranger, and the "villain" is played by Karl Urban - the new McCoy in the reimagined "Star Trek" genre.  If I were a movie critic, I would rate it well, and certainly somewhat family friendly.  Of course, it contained some moral implications for society as well:  BUT all within the bounds of a purely fictional tale that is fantasy and not reality.

The movie got me thinking, however, about how we live in a society in which reality and fantasy are often skewed when it comes to the natural world, and sometimes even completely mixed up. Conversations with a parishioner last week centered on all of the wildlife encounters in Yellowstone that end badly for the tourists and even sometimes for the wildlife.  "Buffalo selfies" in which the buffalo gores the unsuspecting selfie-taker while their back is turned are becoming commonplace.  Such an incident happened late last summer, in fact.  multiple people are gored, mauled, or otherwise attacked by wildlife each year, and mostly because they are approaching the wild animals or presenting a threat when young are present.  Replace buffalo with any number of other wild animal (i.e. bears, grizzly bears in particular, elk, moose, and so on...) and it seems our society has become completely ignorant of the reason we call it "wildlife."  Granted, with proper respect and caution, most chance encounters with wildlife end well:  I've had several chance run ins with bears, rattlesnakes, mountain goats, moose, elk, and even buffalo, in which they were always given a wide berth, and all passed without incident.

The prevailing theory from the aforementioned parishioner is that Disney has skewed society's perception of reality when it comes to wildlife.  Let's face it:  "Bambi" portrays wild animals as benign, loving, and pacifistic, while man becomes the villain - ever ready to destroy any and all wildlife at a moments' notice.  Whether the reason or not, the majority of society do not have any respect for the "wild" nature of wildlife.  For whatever reason, many people have no concept that a wild animal can quite possibly kill you, if not injure you severely, which is why in our national parks there are abundant warnings to stay a minimum distance away from such animals.

Now, for some (I would include myself in this), we can see Disney as just entertainment that exists within the realm of fantasy.  But many cannot, and take a fictional movie quite seriously as gospel truth.  It honestly made me wonder how many people might now go out in search of the mythical forest dragon.  For whatever reason, the lack of respect for God's creation (specifically here:  wildlife) is what gets us in trouble.  This lack of respect goes far beyond wildlife, I would add.  We need to know that the more we mess things up in nature, the more it will come back to haunt us.

So go see "Pete's Dragon," and be entertained for a good 1.5 hrs.  But for heaven's sake, whether real or not, recognize nature as what it is:  containing animals and forces which we do not have the capacity to stand in the way of.

The Culture Clock Strikes Midnight

If we compare culture or society to a 24 hour day as some have done with the history of the universe, the results are not promising.  It is unclear who first said it, but the sentiment is a valid one:  "those who repeat history have failed to learn anything from it."  Our society and world are crumbling around us at an alarming rate, but it is not from the reasons that some would identify.

And yet there are generations (or at least classes) of people who believe that the world is a fine place, and that we are getting better as a humanity.  The clock is not about to strike midnight, they might say, but the morning of a new day is just dawning.  Oddly enough, the question of midnight blackness vs. morning sunrise was taken up by C.S. Lewis in his fictional novel "The Great Divorce."  In it, passengers catch a bus which takes them from hell to heaven.  In hell, everyone fights, no one lives on the same block because hatred of neighbor runs so deep, and the twilight is about to give way to total darkness.  In heaven, however, the twilight is giving way to dawn, as all those who made the journey are asked to give up and reject everything about them from hell that they carried with them.

Now without getting into any theological discussions on the merits of Lewis's book (I for one find that as a work of theological fiction, it is a fantastic little read, not for it's theology so much but for its' portrayal of the chasm between heaven and hell, and the total contrast of the two as it applies to human existence and behavior.  And it is that behavior that I see here, that tells me that the culture clock is about to strike midnight.  The "classes" of people who believe in the goodness of humanity are varied, but often they comprise the more socially and politically liberal elements of society.  It is one thing to see this in society, but when those who are theologians fall into such a category, it is absolutely baffling.  Why?  Because it is a complete and total denial of the human condition - one which is clearly and articulately spelled out by the church time and again.  Christianity as a rule does not believe in the "goodness" of humanity, but rather the complete and utter depravity of it.  The greatest and best of history are still, in the final analysis, sinful - having committed errors, sins, and negative acts toward others.  And so for theologians to take such a view is, in the final analysis, a denial of the Christian belief in the power of Christ to save, not to mention that any "goodness" on humanity's part comes only through our collective wills being captive to God's.

Take the recent San Francisco 49'ers quarterback controversy:  Colin Kaepernick's refusal to stand for the national anthem.  Many of the same people who laud him for his courage in publicly making his statement absolutely ridiculed Tim Tebow a few years back for praying on the field.  If you are one of those people, YOU are what is wrong with America.  This is the problem today:  right is wrong, up is down, and good and evil have been thoroughly confused.  Many want to compare society to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, and while that comparison might have merit, quite simply history shows that any affluent society eventually develops apathy toward the very thing our founders point to as the source of all rights:  God.

So where do we go from here?  How do we get to a new day dawning?  It's pretty simple, really.   What made America great once was it's religious conviction at the core of its existence.  That has been lost today.  So as the old country preacher says, "its not where you've been, but where you go from here."  Want a new day?  Want to make America great again?  Want to be stronger together?  It starts by getting out of the hell that C.S. Lewis depicts, and seeking once again the presence and providence of God, along with all the necessary changes to the human ego and behavior that are demanded of those who are captive to the will of God.   Stop being offended by everything and everyone.  Start living as though life and others truly matter in this world.  Start living in accordance with the will of God who calls us out of the evil of the human heart, and into the goodness of the Christ who teaches us to love one another as we have been loved by God.

If the clock strikes midnight, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

Random Musings on Gender Identity

I am, for the record, trying to avoid political commentary in social media, and aside from defending my own views, trying to also avoid social commentary as well.  I mean it:  REALLY trying.  Yes, I fail at it from time to time.  No, it's not that I'm open to all possibilities.  Yes, I believe that honest debate will not happen in any social forum, and in fact, the very concept of honesty is a virtue that is lacking in society today.  See?  I have now failed at my opening statement.  But hey, this is my blog and you aren't forced to read it!

That said, should you be curious, read on.

The issue of gender identity is a fascinating one to me.  There are generations now who believe that gender is self-defined - that is, that you can be whatever you want to be.  Recent controversies over inclusive bathrooms (which itself has already proven to be a bad idea when implemented, as if no one saw THAT coming...), gender identity in general, the gender identity of Jesus (!), and a whole spectrum of "gender" roles, have only served to further confuse and muddy the waters of an increasingly godless society.   It has even gone so far now as to self-identify NOT as male or female, but as another species entirely!  Heck, if we could do that, then I would self-identify as a "Founder" (the shape shifters) of the "Dominion" on "Star Trek, Deep Space Nine!"   In all seriousness, however, there are people today who believe themselves to have more in common (genetically?  biologically?  socially? ??) with animals, pets, and so on.    We really can't make this stuff up because it is real.

And yet, genetically and biologically, a male identifying as a female does not a female make.  Caitlyn Jenner is still genetically a male, and there is no surgery that will change that.  No surgery will change a female into a male at the genetic level, either.  So it would seem that all of this talk of gender identity ultimately denies the very basic foundations of what could be called "natural law" - namely that there are certain things inherent in nature that are not open to discussion, debate, or change.  Gender is one of them.

So imagine my surprise when I notice the Google search page logo today, which celebrates Nettie Stevens and Edmond Beecher Wilson, the two who independently discovered the XY chromosome significance.  I guess I was stunned that such a thing would even be mentioned, since it flies in the face of a progressive "gender" agenda, namely the above mentioned self-identifying generations who choose to be whatever they want, in spite of a genetic code that cannot be changed.  There are no gender roles, there is no spectrum, and there is no self-identity.  It is male and female.  Which oddly enough, is exactly what Jesus, supporting the creation account itself, says when "In the beginning, God created them male and female..."

Once again, it would seem it is past time to stop self-identifying and start identifying with our creator.  If you still refuse to believe in God, who created all things, then at least begin with seeing that nothing we say or do will ever change nature.

Divide and Conquer

A sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - June 12, 2016 - Rev. Jeff Cottingham, STS
"The next Reformation must unite the orthodox denominations."  (Romans 14)

"I am a Lutheran because..."

At one time, most, if not all, could finish that statement in America.  You name it:  "right understanding of Law and Gospel;" "being simultaneously saint and sinner;" all summed up by Dr. Walter Sundberg:  "Luther got it right."  At one time, most Lutherans could indeed finish that statement.

No longer.  Today, what makes us distinctly "Lutheran" is lost on a great many people.  The same could be said of virtually any denomination today.   A brief look at the Lutheran bodies show vast, irreconcilable differences in what is claimed as doctrine or belief, or at least certainly in practice.  Why?  It is because the divisions that exist are no longer according to particular practice and application of Scripture.  Rather, they are purely political in nature:  Orthodox vs. Progressive, or Conservative vs. Liberal.  Those who are Orthodox generally hold to the authority and intent that the Declaration of Independence and the Charters of Freedom espouse, namely that God is the ultimate arbiter of truth and freedom, (and yes, we are talking the God of Christianity here).  On the other side, Progressives generally diminish or deny the authority of God altogether, thus seeking to put authority in our hands, ultimately.  It comes down to who is ultimately in charge:  God?  or Man?

So who falls into which category?  It isn't as clearly defined as I'm about to do, but in a broad sense, the Orthodox side includes some Lutherans, some Catholics, some Episcopalians/Anglicans, most non-denominationals, Pentecostals, handfuls of Methodists, some baptists, and so on.  The Progressive side includes the rest of the Lutherans, Catholics, Episcopalians, most of the UCC, and the like.  Now obviously there are exceptions to this rule, as this is more of a broad generalization of the political/theological divisions that exist today.  That said,  I would contend that you can’t be a Lutheran AND be Progressive if you can finish that opening statement with strong conviction and a proper understanding of Luther, as the supremacy of Christ and the ultimate authority of God, along with the complete subordination of man to these things were critical to his understanding of theology.

And now:  on both sides of the political (and now theological) spectrum, all of them are fighting amongst themselves now, instead of fighting the real enemy, which is that unholy trinity of Sin, Death, and the Devil.  Why?  Because of the old Adam.  From the beginning, it’s been about us being in control of God’s Word and in control of our destiny, which oddly enough is the end game for the liberal or progressive movement.   And so the church being divided up into denominations ended up being the very thing that is enabling us to be conquered.

Don't get me wrong:  the Reformation was a good thing - then.  The church had indeed gone progressive and needed to be reigned in.  However, I contend that it is not a good thing now.  Luther never intended to begin a new church, and had hoped for reunification with Rome, as all Lutherans today should also hope.  We will likely not ever reunify with Rome though that is still the intended goal, but even without that, the orthodox Christians must learn to stand together, and never make denominationalism (that which divides us) greater than Christ our head.

And what once was a good thing has now become how Satan defeats the church:  to Divide and conquer.  First, the church divided up into denominations.  The purpose was noble and good:  to recapture the original essence of what it meant to be Christian, even while understanding that such essence has evolved with the times to a degree. But then, within the denominations, the church divided again, but now according to Orthodox and Progressive (Political) divisions.  And thus the church, with its noble imperative and great commission, are now being rendered irrelevant.  We can no longer stand with one voice, and therefore are failing in our God-given task of being disciples and all that it entails.

Take a look at Romans 14 - yes, it is specifically about food and the pagan practices of the time, BUT it has broad application in this situation as well.  "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall."  (Romans 14:19-21).  The whole chapter is applicable here.

And yet division comes when we begin to believe we are in control - of the Word, the church, our lives, our society, etc. - and this comes both in the form of deep devotion to any set of beliefs that somehow creates in us a "holier than thou" attitude.  As soon as such an attitude sets in, it is no longer Christ who reigns supreme in our lives, but we ourselves.  Idolatry.  Sin.  That which yet again separates us from God, and demonstrates that there is indeed nothing new under the sun, as we've been doing it for thousands of years.

Now as I said, and it bears repeating, I'm not suggesting that we remove the word "Lutheran" from the church sign - far from it.  The reformation was a good thing. We will always be Lutheran.  We will always hold to the basic tenets set out by Martin Luther and the reformers, especially those found in the church's confessional writings, which we identify as valid witnesses of Scripture.  However, I challenge you all to understand and know just exactly what that means, and HOW we finish that statement:  "I am a Lutheran because..."  A great place to start is in the Holy Bible as we more fully understand the 6 habits of disciples in the early church, and the history that got them there to that point.  Then we move on to the Lutheran Confessions:  The Book of Concord or "Concordia," which Ties us to the great tradition of the church, but bids us also move into the future in witness to Christ.

But I also say that being Lutheran cannot ever rule the day when it comes to being Orthodox Christian.  If Christ is only penultimate to being Lutheran, Being Lutheran must go, because it contradicts the very end of that statement:  "I am a Lutheran because..."  Denominations may never reunite.  Lutherans may never once again join the Roman church.  But if we don’t work together with all orthodox churches, to seek to overthrow Satan, who divides us in order to conquer us as a Christian witness, our divisions will have allowed us to be conquered.  We will have waved the white flag in capitulation.

It was Julius Caesar who first coined the phrase "to divide and conquer," and put it to practice in an effort to control the Roman Empire.  Indeed, he was conquered eventually.  They too were conquered.   Jesus himself said "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall."   So I challenge us all to never define ourselves as Lutheran first or only, in order that the battle we’ve enjoined against Satan can be effectively waged, not wasting our energy in bickering with one another.  This applies not only to our denomination, but even within our very church or families, as the divisions we may allow to develop will divide us in the end as well.  Rather, remember the gift you've been given, and the price that was paid for your salvation, that Christ is the Lord of our lives not just in words but in practice.  Amen.

Betrayal

This morning as I prepared to face the day, my mind continually drifts back to the news that came out yesterday regarding a former teacher of mine in high school. Honestly, I'm not sure why I'm surprised that even in the seeming innocence of youth, I was around an environment of mistrust, deceit, and evil. Classmates of mine were molested by a teacher and coach. This was from a man who was highly respected and trusted, and a man who eventually went on to become 3rd in line for the presidency.


Once again, we learn of the abuse years after the fact. We learn of the horrific scars left behind by this mistrust. We learn that at least in one case, it led to suicide. It leaves me feeling tired. Betrayed. Saddened that sin reigned so freely in what I once thought was one of the more pure or innocent times of life. And I cannot even begin to imagine how the weariness I feel from it all is magnified by those who were the real victims.


No, I am not naming him here. Many of you reading this, especially my high school classmates, know who this is about. Who it is does not matter in the end. What does matter is the actions themselves, as they demonstrate yet again just how broken, how evil, and how twisted our society and our thinking have become. The stunning hypocrisy appears everywhere: everyone (and I do mean everyone) that comments on this is angry, mad, calling for his blood, and so on. And yet as a society we are currently debating on whether or not a biological male has the right to use a female bathroom all because he feels he's female. It is our leftist policies that have put us into this mess, and by leftist, I do not necessarily equate them with liberal, but rather with the intent to purge God, morality, and virtue from our society. And so yes, it leaves me worn out, dejected, tired, and even depressed at where we are going from here, because I see such things only happening and being exposed more and more frequently if we continue down this path.


Yes, he should face punishment. Yes, he should face the kind of punishment that he, himself, advocated as a lawmaker. Yes, once again it is proven that there is no such thing as innocence in life. And yes, we must all temper the absolute division and hatred that comes out in the face of such evil. And once again, I must appeal to the only thing that can overcome that dark evil that went on in the hallways of Yorkville high school. Only Christ overcomes. Not fines. Not penalties. Not calls for blood. Only the blood already shed by Christ Jesus can offer the hope for the future. It does not undo the past, but it provides a way to move forward. It makes no pretension that such abuses never occurred, but offers a hope for a brighter future ahead. And no matter how evil are the deeds of him who abused these young men, we must all remember, as St. Paul reminds us: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground..."


This is what I'm reflecting on today. May we all seek the greater virtue and good to be found in knowing Christ Jesus our Lord. But not just knowing him - following him as well.

The Evolution of Sin (Parts 2 and 3)

Continuing with a brief synopsis of the Bible's Fantastic Divine Drama...

Part one left off with God’s promise (covenant) with Abraham, promising 3 things in addition to the promise to be Abraham’s God.  The creation account is very broad, but with Abraham, the Bible’s focus becomes very specific now.  So land (Canaan, the land “flowing with milk and honey”), offspring, and “descendants being a blessing to all nations” becomes the focus of this divine commitment by God (Genesis 12 and 15).  It also establishes a mission for Abraham and his descendants: to not only be God’s chosen people but also to be God’s instrument to speak to the world about his true nature, over and against the nature of all the false gods and idols.   However, almost as soon as God’s promise is made, and though initially, “Abraham believed God...” (Genesis 15:6), mistrust of God begins soon thereafter.  They begin to have children from Abraham’s mistresses because Sarah was unable to conceive initially (ch. 16).  God reminds them again of his divine promise through a physical reminder: circumcision - which is to be an ongoing sign of God’s promise to Abraham and his offspring.  Still there is doubt about God’s promise - and Sarah again scoffs at the idea of bearing children as God promised, even in the presence of the three angels, thought to be the Holy Trinity (ch. 18).   We see that sin is still as rampant and perverse as ever, with the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (ch. 19); Abraham becomes quite good at deception by lying to kings and Pharaohs for his own personal gain (ch. 20); and it seems that Abraham is out to bring about the results God promised on his own, rather than truly trusting God.  Finally a true heir is born of his wife, Sarah, and they name him Isaac (ch. 21).  Abraham is tested to see if he truly trusts God, and it seems as though he does, as he is prepared to kill his son and heir, all the while telling an inquisitive Isaac that “God will provide the lamb” for the sacrifice, which God does indeed do in the end (ch. 22).

What follows then is a history of Abraham’s line through Isaac, to Jacob, then to Jacob’s twelve sons (who become the “12 tribes”), along with Ishmael’s sons (the child of one of Abraham’s mistresses) that eventually lead to the Palestinian people and the religion of Islam today.  Jacob’s twelve sons were extremely jealous of Jacob’s favorite: Joseph.  Joseph sharing his dreams of having authority over his brothers (ch. 37) certainly did not help, and so through trickery and deception, they sold him into slavery and told his father, Jacob, that he had been killed!  (ch. 37).

        God’s promise of offspring to Abraham had indeed come true, but continually we see deception and sin amongst his descendants.  Joseph’s history is indeed a colorful one, more so than his coat of many colors (Genesis 37).  Because Joseph was his father’s favorite, and because he told his brothers about his dreams of being their master one day, envy and hatred existed amongst his 11 brothers.  They sold him to a band of Ishmaelites (who would be distant relatives of theirs and also the forefathers of the Palestinians and of Islam). They in turn took him to Egypt and Joseph was purchased as a slave by Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officials (ch. 39).  Reuben, one of his brothers, unsuccessfully tried to prevent this from happening (ch. 37:22).  His brothers took his coat and made it appear to have been ripped to shreds by a wild animal, causing Jacob to believe that his son, Joseph, was dead.

In all of this, and including the subsequent deceptions and trickery by not only those who enslaved Joseph as well as his surviving brothers, God was with him, and continued to have events unfold according to His divine plan!  Joseph is thrown into prison in Egypt based on a lie (ch. 39), and while there, interprets dreams correctly for another of Pharaoh’s officials.  Eventually Pharaoh himself (the ruler of Egypt, who proclaims himself a god), has dreams of seven fat cows being consumed by seven sickly looking cows.  The dream repeats, but with heads of grain in place of the cows (ch. 41).  The dream’s interpretation given to Joseph by God indicates that there will be seven years of plentiful harvest, followed by seven years of famine.  Pharaoh believes Joseph, and so he is now put in charge of storing up food during the seven good years, in order that the Egyptians will be able to survive the coming years of famine.  So Joseph has gone from favored son, to slave in a foreign land, to prisoner, and now to one of Pharaoh’s top officials!

Eventually, the famine becomes so severe that people from all over the region travel to Egypt to see about securing food from the surplus stored up by Joseph.  This includes Joseph’s brothers, sent there by Jacob (ch.42).  Joseph instantly recognizes them, but they do not recognize the brother they hadn’t seen in years.   Though he initially toys with them and has them imprisoned, accusing them of being spies, he eventually reveals himself to them (ch. 45) and tells them, “do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”  (v. 5).  The brothers return home and bring Jacob and all of their families back with them to Egypt.  Though it is not the land promised to them by God, nonetheless God blesses them, and they continue to become a great nation with numerous descendants through many generations, enjoying prosperity in Egypt.  And so the stage has now been set for the greatest event of the Old Testament: The Exodus!

The Beginning... (Part 1)

While there are many unfinished drafts I've accumulated over the last year and a half, I've opted to begin a blog series that is really just a recreation of something I wrote for a bulletin series and am now using for Confirmation as well.

God is revealed to us in a very general way through the creation:  we see God's handiwork everywhere.  God is also revealing himself to us in a very specific way, and that is through His Word.  Yes, there are many purported writings claiming to be God's Word out there, and often very contradictory of one another.  It is my intention to demonstrate not only what God has been up to throughout human history, but also what makes Christianity unique and thus the correct path, when compared to every other religion on the face of the earth.  Two things set it apart.  One:  Christianity is the only religion which identifies humanity as incapable of its' own eternal salvation, and therefore God effects salvation on our behalf.  Two:  Christianity is the only religion that, as a rule, calls people to be willing to die for their faith.  The majority of other religions call for people to kill for their faith.  Yes there are exceptions on both sides, but for the Christian, there is no room for random, wanton killing for the sake of faith in light of the teachings of Jesus.

So now, what will follow are a series of summations to demonstrate how the Bible is God's Drama, but it's our story.  Part One:  The Genesis...

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  Six times we are told about creation, “it was good.”  So when sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, did God make a mistake?  No.  Everything is unfolding according to God’s plan.  Does the account of creation explain to us “how” God does things?  No, except that we see the sheer power of God’s Word: All God must do to create out of nothing is to speak.  And it was good.  And we begin to understand the nature of our creator from the beginning.

Satan under the guise of a serpent (literally meaning “one who deceives”) tricks Eve by telling her that she will become like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis Ch. 3).  She gives some to Adam too, and instead of becoming like God, they become ashamed.  God administers punishment for violating his law: banishment from Eden forever.  And yet in all of it, God provides clothes for them, showing that there is grace, even in the midst of judgement by God.

What follows is a repeating pattern of human sin/God’s judgement/God’s grace.  Cain kills Abel over a feud on who’s offering was better (Genesis 4), God banishes Cain from the human community forever, but protects his life with the “mark of Cain.”  Soon we see a bizarre account of how sin has even entered into the heavenly realm with “angels” mating with humans.  God’s judgement is swift and final: destroy the earth by flood (Genesis 6-9), but God’s grace prevails again with a remnant preserved through Noah and the Ark.  Yet again, humanity tries to become like God as the human race builds a tower in a vain effort to take heaven by storm (Genesis 10-12), and God confuses their language and scatters them all across the known world.

Where’s the grace in that, you might ask?  Well, it comes in God’s focus, which is now centered on one man: Abraham (Genesis 12-15).  As God slowly reveals himself to humanity (his creation), now God has approached Abraham and established a promise of 4 things with him: He gets to have God as his God, He will receive the land of Canaan (present day Israel) to live in (an ongoing source of political strife), He will have so many offspring and descendants as to become a great nation (the Hebrew people), and through his descendants, ALL nations will be blessed.

Who is this descendant, you might ask?  Well, St. Matthew goes to great lengths to inform us that Jesus is indeed an ancestor of Abraham.  So our story as it unfolds even at the beginning ultimately leads through Jesus!