Category Archives: Ancient Future

Treasuring the Eucharist, (and the other sacraments)

Thoughts that carry me to Jesus, and to the Cross

“Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up,and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear like the sky itself.But he did not lay a hand on the leaders of the Israelites, so they saw God, and they ate and they drank.” (Exodus 24:9–11, NET)

In summary, if God were to bid you to pick up a straw or to pluck out a feather with the command, order, and promise that thereby you would have forgiveness of all sin, grace, and eternal life, should you not accept this joyfully and gratefully, and cherish, praise, prize, and esteem that straw and that feather as a higher and holier possession than heaven and earth? No matter how insignificant the straw and the feather may be, you would nonetheless acquire through them something more valuable than heaven and earth, indeed, than all the angels, are able to bestow on you. Why then are we such disgraceful people that we do not regard the water of baptism, the bread and wine, that is, Christ’s body and blood, the spoken word, and the laying on of man’s hands for the forgiveness of sin as such holy possessions, as we would the straw and feather, though in the former, as we hear and know, God wishes to be effective and wants them to be his water, word, hand, bread, and wine, by means of which he wishes to sanctify and save you in Christ, who acquired this for us and who gave us the Holy Spirit from the Father for this work?

Ministers plant seeds in soil plowed by life’s circumstances. Many of the seeds take root. Some we’re aware of; others we aren’t. But by teaching biblical standards with biblical illustrations or illustrations from life, people beginning to go through those kinds of experiences often appropriate those principles. They experience the remedial effect of preventive counseling.

Due to some rather unique circumstances, my nights have not been filled with sleep and wonderful dreams. But lying their in bed, trying to be still and quiet gives me time to think.  Last night it was about what I could teach about ministry.

I narrowed it down to three, one of which was to make the most out of liturgical worship, in order that people find comfort and the peace of God–and as the Lutheran Augsburg Confession states, “be drawn to Communion and Mass” (Article XXIV, Augsburg Confession).

Oh that more people would realize the benefit of the Eucharist–and receive it as often as possible!

And as I looked at my devotional reading this morning, I see a similar notion, the passion for Luther for people receiving as a treasure and treasuring the Sacraments, these conduits of grace that God established for us! And the grief that comes from when they do not!

While Shelley doesn’t mention the sacraments as the Biblical illustrations that plant seeds, they are! How we treat them, both the ministers and the one’s ministered too, either nourishes our growth, or can hinder it greatly. For every sacrament offers a renewal of the remedy, a chance to see again the work of God cleansing and healing our broken souls, hearts and minds.

This is especially true as we feast with God, as we eat His Body and drink His blood as He commanded, knowing Him through this sacred act-His act.

It is the feast seen in the day of Moses, as the elders, newly forgiven, eat and drink with God, in His presence. It is the wedding feast of the lamb, which is described in the book of the  Revelation of Jesus the Christ.

It is the joy of God, celebrating with His people, as He gathers them home, both now and forever. There is nothing else like it.

And knowing the truth it reveals, that God is indeed with us” is what will sustain us,

Plant these seeds, do it with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, as you live the truth of these moments in which the Spirit transforms us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robinson, P. W. (1539). On the Councils and the Church. In H. J. Hillerbrand, K. I. Stjerna, T. J. Wengert, & P. W. Robinson (Eds.), Church and Sacraments (Vol. 3, p. 437). Fortress Press.

Shelley, M. (1986). Helping those who don’t want help (Vol. 7, p. 67). Christianity Today, Inc.; Word Books.

The Priceless Value of Being Spiritually and Physically Broken

Thoughts which carry (or perhaps drag) me to Jesus, and to the Cross

“My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.” (James 1:2–4, NET)

With the Christ as leader, he resolved “to do great deeds,” and with weakening limbs and dying body, he hoped for victory over the enemy in a new struggle. True bravery knows no real limits of time, for its hope of reward is eternal.

In one of George MacDonald’s books, there is a woman who has met a sudden sorrow. “I wish I’d never been made!” she exclaims petulantly and bitterly: to which her friend quietly replies, “My dear, you’re not made yet. You’re only being made—and this is the Maker’s process.”

Christian believers are wrongly taught if they believe that the Christian life is a guarantee against human trials and problems. If they believe that, they have mistaken earth for heaven and expect conditions here below which can never be realized until we reach the better world above….
If we cannot remove our problems, then we must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. We will learn, too, that problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting.

My complaint today is that God keeps stealing my pity parties!

It is no big secret that i have had a lot of health issues over the last 40 years, and face more to come. There are times, like the last week, where it seems like something else is going to be added, another thorn in the flesh. If it is not me, its my staff, (one with covid, one with severe bronchial issues) or this friend (dealing with a staff infection that keeps coming to the surface) or that friend. (hmmm, maybe it’s not good to be close to me?)

These kinds of things are wearying, and take a tax on me spiritually, and when it comes to my own health, I wonder when they will render me ineffective, useless, worthless. Is there a day soon coming when I can’t disciple people, a day when I can’t preach, or play in the worship liturgy band, or even do my greatest love, handing people the Body and Blood of Christ at the altar.

Giving place to those anxieties and fears is emotionally and spiritually debilitating! The thoughts alone can paralyze you, as they drain your faith, as well as your confidence, and leave me like a lifeless pile of dead leaves…

SO then God steals my pity party.

First, in my “on this day” memories on FB, there is a picture of one of the holiest ladies I know, who sat in our church office for over 40 years, just loving and caring for people, for the kids, and for the 7 pastors that were blessed to serve her over the years. Then I thought of another lady of faith, Grandma Myrtle, and also my wife’s mother, who though both bed bound- find a lot of meaning and usefulness in praying for others.

And then I get to my devotional reading, and the prayer of St. Francis that even though life was slowly fading from his body he believed that God still had great things for him to accomplish through prayer–recognizing the assault on his emotions and faith to be demonic. As i read that, I realizing it is not the health issues that wipe me out, but the fears and anxieties, the feelings of helplessness and worthlessness that are the problem. And these problems are demonic, trying to hide the grace of God which would allow me, as James says, to rejoice in these things.

The other readings also tug strongly at me, as they attempt to separate me from my self-pity, despair and depression. The idea that I am not “made” yet, but being renovated, and made for eternal life is indeed comforting and empowering, sustaining Francis’ belief that God will still work with me now. And as Tozer points out – any suffering is part of the process of making us–of perfecting us.

I can, even tired and worn, alive and with meaning because the Lord is with me. (you too!)

 

 

Pasquale, G., ed. (2011). Day by Day with Saint Francis: 365 Meditations (p. 271). New City Press.

Shelley, M. (1986). Helping those who don’t want help (Vol. 7, p. 45). Christianity Today, Inc.; Word Books.

Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2008). Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings. Moody Publishers.

Give thanks for “them”! God is Using “Them” to Make You Holy!

Thoughts which carry me to Jesus, and to the Cross

“And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.” Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.” (Hebrews 12:5–8, NET)

“O LORD, restore our well-being, just as the streams in the arid south are replenished. Those who shed tears as they plant will shout for joy when they reap the harvest. The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed, will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.” (Psalm 126:4–6, NET)

Wherever they may be, let all my brothers remember that they have given themselves and abandoned their bodies to the Lord Jesus Christ. For love of Him, they must make themselves vulnerable to their enemies, both visible and invisible, because the Lord says: Whoever loses his life because of me will save it in eternal life [Lk 9:24; Mt 25:46]

174    Don’t say, “That person bothers me.” Think: “That person sanctifies me.”

The art of being a disciple of Jesus requires you to embrace God disciplining you.

Many books which talk about the practices of Christian Discipline, I have used and been blessed by them. Authors like Dallas Willard, Richard Foster, John Michael Talbot, Fr. Timothy and ancient classics as well. They are full of good advice, as they recommend ways to deepen your prayer life, meditate on scripture, and do things to promote what is now called Spiritual Formation (a kinder, nicer title!)

But there is an aspect of discipline I rarely see talk about, the discipline of the Lord.

The art of receiving the discipline of God.

That discipline that happens, when God separates us from our sin, and because we stubbornly cling to it, the discipline isn’t easy. It can feel like all of God’s wrath is being poured out on us, or at least God removed His protection and providence. As Hebrews notes, it can be painful, but it is necessary, and more, it is proof that we are God’s children, for He cares enough to punish, so He doesn’t have to condemn us. It is part of the transformation of repentance that God’s disciplining occurs, and is effective.

One of the challenges of such discipline, is how God chooses to discipline us.

In the Old Testament, for example in the books of Joshua and Judges, Ezra and Nehemiah, God uses the enemies and adversaries of Israel and Judah to disciple them. Those enemies and adversaries conquer God’s people, enslave them and torment them. Sometimes, it would take decades to achieve God’s purpose, when God’s people cry out to Him, to remember them and rescue them. God had warned them, as Moses delivered the Covenant to them, that these punishments could happen if they sinned.

They sinned, they chased idols, dishonored their parents, were unfaithful, stole and gossiped, etc…

So God disciplined them, and they came back.

God hasn’t changed.

So will accept it when God confronts our sin? When God allows us to experience some of the consequences, that He can heal us, as He comforts and cleanses us?

Will we remember – as Francis points out, that we turned our lives over to God? That when we lose our life and let God mold it, we gain our lives in an incredible way?

Will see Escriva’s point, that those who are “bothering us” are being used by God to draw us to Him, because any other option is simply too frustrating and too trying?

Will we see them as examples of God’s love, calling us back to Him, as He uses even these “relationships” to draw us close, to transform us into the likeness of Christ?

And once you see this – can you give thanks for their presence in their lives?

This is strong discipline, and it requires us to grow in our trust and dependence of God.

That is a good thing, btw.

 

 

——-

Pasquale, G., ed. (2011). Day by Day with Saint Francis: 365 Meditations (p. 267). New City Press.

Escrivá, Josemaría. The Way (p. 47). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.

 

He’s a Bit Possessive…

Thoughts which carry me to Jesus, on the cross


“However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,”
”” (2 Timothy 2:19a, NET)

Many of us are interested in walking with God and pleasing God and resting in the promises of God. We have discovered that such a life on this earth begins with a complete change in relationship between God and the sinner; a conscious and experienced change affecting the sinner’s whole nature.

Preaching—the preaching of Christ crucified—is the word of God. Priests need to prepare themselves as best they can before carrying out such a divine ministry, the aim of which is the salvation of souls. Lay people should listen with very special respect.

St. Josemaria makes a bold and very accurate statement – that preaching only happens when Christ is shown to be crucified. That is what preaching is, the revelation of God’s love for us, shown in the death of Christ.  (he would have gotten extra points if he had tied out baptism to it, for there we die with Christ that we may live with God forever!)

This cross is the foundation for who we are, it is the basis for our knowing we are his. Our baptism, in the God’s name, is where He marks us HIs own. It is no coincidence we make the mark of the cross over the person’s head and heart as we baptize them on God’s behalf, as as noted, in His name. It is that name that seals us to Him, that marks us indelibly as his

It is that promise that begins our walk with Him, as we have been born again, as we have been risen with Him, a new creation. The relationship changes, as we become His born again children, friend of Jesus, as we become part of the community, the family.

That is why preach has to be the proclamation of Christ crucified – for us. It is the reason we have hope, it is point of union with our incredible God.

Who is, more than a bit possessive of us, why He is a jealous God, and why the first commandment is that we can have no other God, but Him.

We are His… sealed into this relationship in Baptism.

AMEN!

 

Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2008). Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings. Moody Publishers.

Escrivá, Josemaría. The Forge (p. 200). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.

The Age of the Church Plant is Over in the USA

Thoughts which carry me to Jesus, and to the Cross:

“But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the LORD caused the sin of all of us to attack him. He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth. He was led away after an unjust trial— but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded.” (Isaiah 53:4–8, NET)

“Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.” (Ephesians 5:1–2, NET)

The first work that blessed Francis undertook, after he had gained his freedom from the hands of his carnally-minded father, was to build a house of God. He did not try to build a new one, but he repaired an old one, restored an ancient one. He did not tear out the foundation, but he built upon it, always reserving to Christ his prerogative, although unaware of it, for no one can lay another foundation, but that which has been laid, which is Christ Jesus

959         When they take their little children in their arms, mothers—good mothers— make sure they do not have any pins in their clothes which could hurt them. When we deal with souls, we should have the same gentleness, together with all the determination required.

It was nearly 30 years ago that I was told, “just close the church, start a bunch of Bible Studies and re-open the church in 6 or 9 months with a new name.”

So said my mentors, experts in planting churches and in church growth. The church under discussion had diminished to the point where attendance could be counted on two hands and a foot, and all but my wife and I were over 70.

11 years later I was told – don’t accept the call to that church, it will kill you and it will die within 2-3 years. The people are too broken, too argumentative, too divided. No pastor can change that. DON’T TAKE IT.

Yesterday, I saw a young pastor suggesting that such “dead” churches can find growth by simply becoming a “church plant”, and using the same strategies that you would if you were starting from scratch.

What I believed in my young naivete, I know now to be true. Do that, and you will have a nice empty building to sell, and underwrite more church planting failures.

What if, instead of forcing their hand, writing the old guard of the church off and running them off, we actually imitated Christ in their presence. What if we joined them in their brokenness and carried it to Jesus with them? What if we lived in love for them, sacrificing what is needed, and didn’t care if the rest of the world noticed?  What if we treated them with the pastoral care that a mother has for her little children.

Francis didn’t try to build a new church, but rebuild the ancient one. These churches that once thrived and were community centers. welcoming broken people and offering them life in Christ. Oddly enough, that church is still there, centuries later, still pointing to Jesus, still telling people their sins are forgiven, still giving out the sacraments. It’s “life-cycle” didn’t end at 40 years, its meaningful ministry keeps going.

I firmly believe the age of church planting is over. What we need in the USA and Europe is too rebuild on the ancient foundations of Christ. It will take sacrifice, it will mean joining people in their brokenness, it will means ministry…and prayer,

SO be it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Escrivá, Josemaría. Furrow (p. 162). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Pasquale, G., ed. (2011). Day by Day with Saint Francis: 365 Meditations (p. 230). New City Press.

Life’s Unfair I Cry… and then realize I am glad for that…

Thoughts which carry me to Jesus, and the Cross

“For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14, NET)

When they arrived in the Spoleto valley, going back to their holy proposal, they began to discuss whether they should live among the people or go off to solitary places. But Christ’s servant Francis, putting his trust in neither his own efforts nor in theirs, sought the pleasure of the divine will in this matter by the fervor of prayer. Enlightened by a revelation from heaven, he realized that he was sent by the Lord to win for Christ the souls which the devil was trying to snatch away. Therefore he chose to live for everyone rather than for himself alone, drawn by the example of the one who deigned to die for all.

You stir us so that praising you may bring us joy, because you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is unquiet until it rests in you.

Christians who understand the true meaning of Christ’s cross will never whine about being treated unfairly. Whether or not they are given fair treatment will never enter their heads. They know they have been called to follow Christ, and certainly the Savior did not receive anything approaching fair treatment from mankind.
In language the word “unfair” seems altogether innocent but it indicates an inner attitude that has no place among Christians.

It’s ironic that one one the most evil rulers in all of history had the opportunity to receive any blessing he desired. ALl he had tro do was ask, and God would have granted it, to prove that he was trustworthy. And despite the king’s refusal, God provided him a sign, the birth of the Messiah, All to prove what is contained in the name of the Child provided.

Immanuel – “God is with you!”

It’s something we should never tired of hearing.

Even when we are as obstinate as the King of Israel, or as evil as his wife. God is at work, stirring us, trying to awe us with His love, that we might fins the peace we so desperately need, so our heart can rest from the “unquiet”

And from there, even as we  desire more peace and rest, like Francis, we find at the end of our prayers a desire to live fro others. We learn to stop whining about what is fair or cry out for justice for our sake. For it wasn’t fair for Christ to come and die for me, but he embraced that sacrifice, that injustice, for me.

And so dealing with things that are unfair…

Those things become meaningless when we find the joy that comes when we realize we can worship God–for we know God’s love for us, and knowing that we can rejoice in Him. Knowing why we can rejoice in Him, because of his extravagant, incredible love for us.

That’s where it comes down to – experiencing the love of God that goes beyond what theologians can write about, or make a Youtube about. The love of God needs to be experienced, it needs to be lived in!

It is so incredible, embracing that which is unfair, in order to help people experience it is well worth it, indeed, we will come to rejoice in those times of life being unfair – for we know the opportunity it brings, to testify to how Jesus embraced us, even as our sins were unfairly carried by Him, nailed with Him to the cross….

The tears will come, as will the pain, but God will use it all for good, even if we don’t understand. He promised and we can depend on it.  AMEN!

 

Pasquale, G., ed. (2011). Day by Day with Saint Francis: 365 Meditations (p. 214). New City Press.

Saint Augustine. (2012). The Confessions, Part I (J. E. Rotelle, Ed.; M. Boulding, Trans.; Second Edition, Vol. 1, p. 39). New City Press.

Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2008). Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings. Moody Publishers.

Christians are simply beggars… if we do things right.

Thoughts which carry me to Jesus, and to the Cross:

“In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”” (2 Corinthians 5:19–20, NET)

They are expressions of the one great heresy, which is as old as fallen mankind: Man refuses to accept the external word and the external means of grace and develops his own religion, which places man where God alone has the right to stand: “Ye shall be as gods!”

I have met Christians who were so intent upon winning souls to Christ that they would not talk to you about anything but God and His goodness!
Such a man was the Canadian, Robert Jaffray, one of our early pioneer missionaries. His family owned the Toronto Globe and Mail and as a young Christian he was disinherited because he chose to follow God’s call to China rather than join the family business.
That good godly man spent his lifetime in China and the south Pacific, searching for the lost—and winning them! He was always reading maps and daring to go to the most difficult places, in spite of physical weaknesses and diabetic handicap. He sought out and lived among the poor and miserable, always praying to God, “Let my people go!”

On my bookshelves I have numerous books about church growth, about having a missional spirit. Others talk about forensic apologetics and evangelism. Many of these approach the topic with a clinical approach, looking at statistics, looking for patterns that can be replicated, looking for logical presentations of the gospel that give overwhelming proof – which we hope will covert the heathen.

We know, for we ourselves our guilty, of the great sin of self-idolatry, of narcissism. Even in thinking “we” can prove the gospel, we are take up a burden that is rightfully the Holy Spirit. Far too often in the church, we create our own religion, putting ourselves in charge of saving the world.

Yet there are those, who in humility simply follow the Spirit, as they are compelled to not shut up about Jesus. Jaffray was one, Eric Liddell comes to mind, as does Barton Stone, and Wyneken and Luther. Each spent their lives, or a great deal of their lives not arguing, but pleading that people would be reconciled to God – a work already accomplished by Jesus.

I think that word pleading is important – it has the emphasis of desire built into the request. It doesn’t come from a place of power, or even authority, but of someone is so worried about the person they beg them to let God in, to receive the love and mercy. It comes from seeing people living without hope, without peace, assaulted by the world, and by their own guilt and shame.

And we have the antidote to that which poisons their life.

How can we get them to receive it? How can we get them to trust in a God they do not yet know of, that they have yet to experience, that they haven’t allowed to bring them to life, remove the guilt and shame of sin, and restore them?

This is the passion Paul had, this is why some cannot shut up about the love of God.

We can beg them, the Spirit opens their hearts, Christ has reconciled them to the Father.

This is our call… we simple beggers on a this journey called life…

Sasse, H. (2001). This Is My Body: Luther’s Contention for the Real Presence in the Sacrament of the Altar (p. 191). Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2008). Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings. Moody Publishers.

Know Thyself…Socrates Said. (It was simpler than he thought!)

“Then in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought to me, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Previously I had not been depressed in the king’s presence.So the king said to me, “Why do you appear to be depressed when you aren’t sick? What can this be other than sadness of heart?” This made me very fearful.” (Nehemiah 2:1–2, NET)

Neo-Platonism provided him (Augustine)  with a vocabulary, and stirred in him a desire, for mystical union. Yet the One to whom Augustine aspired was not the remote, indifferent reality of Plotinus, but the God who constantly seeks, attracts, guides, heals, stoops toward us, forgives and loves us. He is the humble God of the incarnation. The Neo-Platonists had glimpsed the country Augustine sought, but could not show him the way there (VII,20,26; 21,27).
The God revealed in the Old and New Testaments is, moreover, the God who forms a people. He is the God encountered in the Church.

Benedict’s encyclicals and other papal writings invite the reader to have a personal relationship with Christ. “Encountering Christ” is the phrase that pervades all of his texts. In this light, Benedict’s Christocentric approach offers a fresh and deeper understanding of the concept of revelation. Benedict prioritizes Christ the Logos over Scripture and Tradition.
One might venture to conclude that Ratzinger’s /Pope Benedict XVI’s lasting legacy is to state vigorously that revelation in Christ is the definitive, personal self-disclosure of the triune God—and thereby, also as the identity of the human being.

“Remember, Tozer,” he said, “death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person!”
For the Christian, death is a journey to the eternal world. It is a victory, a rest, a delight. I am sure my small amount of physical suffering has been mild compared to Paul’s, but I feel as Paul did: “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far!” (Philippians 2:23).

Nehemiah was not himself

It was so obvious that the King he was enslaved to serve noticed, and was concerned over a relatively minor person in his Kingdom. We use the phrase, “he wasn’t himself,” rarely these days, but it is a growing phenomenon as people try to identify themselves with this movement or that movement, with this star, or that politician, Often the “not being themselves” draw them into more extreme positions, even within the church, as they look for their true identity.

They are correct in their realization that relationship defines their existence, that it gives a picture of who we are. To often these relationships become idolatrous, as we define our identities by one different than our primary relationship- our relationship with the Father through Jesus.

Like Augustine, the existence of the search for identity can be part of what helps us find (actually be found by) Jesus – who is our identity. HIs dabbling with Neo-Platonism would leave him with a desire to be with God, even as its vision of God was not right,..it led him to the place where, when God came to him, he was ready to see his need for God.

That’s why Pope Benedict championed the cause of encountering Jesus. All of his knowledge, all of his theological understanding, all of it was only valuable if he recognized at the end of the day the presence of Jesus. It doesn’t take much imagination to see Pope Benedicts or Augustine, Luther or Melanchthon or Josemaria Escriva smile as they heard Philippians 1:21 read ““For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” (Philippians 1:21, NET) or to see the sigh of relief as people respond “and also with you,” during the mass or daily gatherings for prayer.

Ultimately, defining our identities, finding our identity in Christ leads us to recognize what Tozer’s mentor was pointing out. Death becomes less and less a threat, as we long to be in the presence of God the Father. If we knwo as ourselves as children of God, then it becomes natural to want to be home with Him, to enjoy His presence.

This is to know ourselves, to recognize that we are simply His children, His people, His beloved.

Saint Augustine. (2012). The Confessions, Part I (J. E. Rotelle, Ed.; M. Boulding, Trans.; Second Edition, Vol. 1, p. 19). New City Press.

De Gaál, E. (2018). O Lord, I Seek Your Countenance: Explorations and Discoveries in Pope Benedict XVI’s Theology (M. Levering, Ed.; pp. 201–202). Emmaus Academic.
Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2008). Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings. Moody Publishers.

Navigating the Revitalization and Renewal of the Church

The church, is always in the midst of a storm… but safe in Him

Thoughts which drive me to Jesus, and to His Cross

“With antiphonal response they sang, praising and glorifying the LORD: “For he is good; his loyal love toward Israel is forever.” All the people gave a loud shout as they praised the LORD when the temple of the LORD was established. Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders—older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established—were weeping loudly, and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout. People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly that the sound was heard a long way off.” (Ezra 3:11–13, NET)

Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved, save that the parts sung in Latin are interspersed here and there with German hymns, which have been added to teach the people. For ceremonies are needed to this end alone that the unlearned be taught [what they need to know of Christ].

In promoting development, the Christian faith does not rely on privilege or positions of power, nor even on the merits of Christians … but only on Christ, to whom every authentic vocation to integral human development must be directed. The Gospel is fundamental for development, because in the Gospel, Christ, “in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his love, fully reveals humanity to itself.”

I have been thinking about my “career” as a pastor recently. It was 27 years ago this month I went from being a part-time to a full-time pastor. It’s been 23 years in August that I moved from being a non-denom pastor to becoming a Lutheran one, and last week-it was seventeen years since I received the call to become pastor in this place.

In that time I have seen a lot of changes in the world, the church at large and in my Lutheran group. Some of them quite good, some of them heartbreaking. I know the joy of Ezra’s people, as they saw God’s promises re-established for them, and I also understand the heartbreak of those who remember the past and its glories.

I am the one who wails over the losses, and yet I am the one who screams for joy at the renewal I see. A foot in both worlds, a foot which wants to deny the existence of the other….

I have tried to help both sides realize the other exists, not because i want to create a form of toleration, for that is worthless, and to be honest, vain.

In my devotional reading this morning, I came back to the answer–provided by the Lutheran Confessions and Pope Benedict. The answer isn’t to dwell in the past, failing to recognize its failure. It isn’t about just rejoicing in the victories of the moment–ignoring its shortcomings.

The answer is simply this – living in Christ, and revealing Him to those who so desperately need Him. To revoice in the enlightenment the Spirit provides in them–the relationship that is reformed, renewed, reborn! To sound more academic — to rejoice in the delivery and reception of grace, rather than comment on the color, texture and design. To dance with God and the angels over new life.

To be revitalized, not just an interested observer of it.

Then the church weeps and rejoices together, for God is good, and His mercy is forever!

 

Melancthon, P. (2006). The Augsburg Confession (1530). WORDsearch.

De Gaál, E. (2018). O Lord, I Seek Your Countenance: Explorations and Discoveries in Pope Benedict XVI’s Theology (M. Levering, Ed.; p. 197). Emmaus Academic.

Dealing with Traditionalism in the Church. Its easier than you think!

Thoughts which draw me to Jesus, and to the Cross

The first time you did not carry it; that is why the LORD God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.”The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command. David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.” (1 Chronicles 15:13–16, NET)

“Tell the nations about his splendor, tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds! For the LORD is great and certainly worthy of praise, he is more awesome than all gods.” (1 Chronicles 16:24–25, NET)

Ratzinger observes that in the reception of revelation, the reality of the Christ-event becomes our own through faith. If we accept him, we accept his revelation. As the faithful are parts of the Mystical Body of Christ, Christ lives among them, continuously revealing God the Father through the continuous guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Many, many have failed to note Peter’s Pentecostal emphasis: the important thing in God’s plan was the fact that Jesus had been exalted in heaven

Everyone and every church has traditions that are not to be treaded upon, things that have been elevated to being “divine” or nearly so.

The obvious ones are those attached to a liturgy done in Latin (or German) or in a specific hymnal. Very similarly are those who elevate one Bible translation above all others, such as those who say everything but the King James is demonic in origin.  But traditions don’t have to be centuries old, or even decades old. Churches and their people can be just as deadlocked in modern traditions, stating with “certainty” that their practices are the reason for their success and all other ideas are inferior. You have to use this program or that, you have to use music from these sources not those, if you only follow our ways, you will grow and be holier and…. make no mistake – that is traditionalism.

So my reaction to traditionalism may surprise you….

I don’t care about what you traditions are, except for two things, on lesser than the other. I urge you, in fact, to bury yourself deep in them , to understand them, to get the most of them in regards to the greater thing

So the lesser thing is simple – don’t force your traditions on others, either directly or with nuanced reasoning that if only they follow your traditions, they will be holier, they will grow, and they will be better people. Your traditionalism isn’t really right, and if you are blesing it on its success over centuries, or the last decade, I can always show you an older tradition.

And example is David’s orders for a rock band to accompany worship. No organ mentioned, no master 4 part choir.  Way before the Latin Liturgy some are in love with, the first liturgy was in Aramaic. Before the KJV, there was the Bishop’s Bible, the Geneva Bible, the Douay Rheims. (and there have been Bibles after the NIV/ESV). Before there was Rooted, the was Alpha, before that, PDL, before that LSS. Before Mirco-Churches, there were K Groups, Small Groups, Cell Churches.

All of these things have been used to “tell the nations about His splendor!” All of these have the ability to explain “the LORD is great and certainly worthy of praise! He is more awesome than all Gods!” ( I really dislike my translation above not using exclamation points, or not capitalizing pronouns referring to God.)

That’s the most important thing – does your tradition, your practice point you to Jesus, to His work in your life, to His presence, love, mercy. If you tradition/practice reveals Christ in you, the hope of glory, keep it! But also realize that the only reason you do is to point you to Christ Jesus. Apart from that your tradition has no value, and can easily become an idol, as you tie your hope to it, rather than the Lord is it supposed to reveal.  This is Pope Benedict’s point, for when Jesus is revealed, His death and resurrection become ours, we are raised with Him, and are part of His family. It is what Tozer points to about Pentecost–and what saves 3000 men and their families that day. It is about Jesus, not the speaking in tongues, not the massive crowds, or the 12 apostles speaking like trained professionals. Its about the fact they killed Jesus (as did we) and that Ha risen, and we, having risen with are His.

If your tradition/practice does that – don’t praise it, praise God…

De Gaál, E. (2018). O Lord, I Seek Your Countenance: Explorations and Discoveries in Pope Benedict XVI’s Theology (M. Levering, Ed.; p. 177). Emmaus Academic.

Tozer, A. W., & Smith, G. B. (2008). Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings. Moody Publishers.