This week marks the beginning of the class I am teaching/leading at Cross of Hope. With this in mind, I have decided to revamp my blog to help follow along with the conversation. In preparation for the first session, I would like to point out the particular initial 'neighbor-love' comments from the gospels.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all provide versions of this story which lay the groundwork for the call to love and serve the neighbor. Today, let's glance at Mark 12:28-34. The scribes ask Jesus,
"Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus' reply in Mark's gospel includes two scripture quotations. The first comes in verses 29-30, where Jesus is shown to quote from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, and the Greek version of Joshua 22:5 (according to the Lutheran Study Bible, 1683). The second quote comes in verse 31, where Jesus is quoting it seems from Leviticus 19:18.
The connections with the Hebrew scriptures here paint a picture that the love of neighbor is not something new with Jesus, but rather a constant call and mission which God has directed God's people to understand and embody. The way Mark presents this passage really places an emphasis on relationship- as great detail is given about loving God and being in relationship with God, but also being in relationship with the neighbor or one another. This has significance in the Biblical narrative, but most certainly also in an understanding today of who we are as individual Children of God, which we will continue to unpack.
SOURCE: The Lutheran Study Bible. (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 2009), 1683.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Friday, January 4, 2013
Putting Life and Character in Perspective...
Happy New Year and Merry Eleventh Day of Christmas! This should mark the return of the regular posting of this blog. I will be blogging alongside leading a faith formation opportunity about neighbor love at Cross of Hope Lutheran in Ramsey, MN.
I came across the following on Facebook tonight, and thought it was too good not to share. It was shared by a seminary friend, who had re-posted it from Church Funnies. Enjoy it, but also think about how often you and I might be just like this woman.
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I came across the following on Facebook tonight, and thought it was too good not to share. It was shared by a seminary friend, who had re-posted it from Church Funnies. Enjoy it, but also think about how often you and I might be just like this woman.
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Friday, December 14, 2012
Lost in the Night
"Lost in the night do the people yet languish, longing for morning the darkness to vanquish, plaintively sighing with hearts full of anguish. Will not day come soon? Will not day come soon?"
This Advent hymn rings through my mind today. It is too fitting of a reminder of the world we have now, and the fact that the kingdom is not yet complete. Today, news of the most horrific and senseless of acts- the murder of innocent children in an elementary school spreads across the internet, airwaves, and by word of mouth. There isn't much to say, except to pray "Come, Lord Jesus" and as the hymn concludes, "Come and save us soon! Come and save us soon!"
During Advent we are usually excited for the coming birth of Jesus on Christmas, but we also join the church in hoping for Jesus' return, a second Christmas. This would be the restoration of God's creation we all hope for. It's acts of evil like today's that make it so much more obvious of how much we need God to save us, and how important it is to know that God is with us (Emmanuel) and for us.
Lord, please be with the whole community and all families affected by this senseless act. May your justice and peace come. May your love and comfort spread. May we learn to live and do acts of love, justice, and mercy as you would have us do and spread this to others. Amen.
Credits: "Lost in the Night,” Nordic hymn, tr. Olav Lee, Finnish folk tune, Public Domain, (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1932), OneLicense, found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 243.
This Advent hymn rings through my mind today. It is too fitting of a reminder of the world we have now, and the fact that the kingdom is not yet complete. Today, news of the most horrific and senseless of acts- the murder of innocent children in an elementary school spreads across the internet, airwaves, and by word of mouth. There isn't much to say, except to pray "Come, Lord Jesus" and as the hymn concludes, "Come and save us soon! Come and save us soon!"
During Advent we are usually excited for the coming birth of Jesus on Christmas, but we also join the church in hoping for Jesus' return, a second Christmas. This would be the restoration of God's creation we all hope for. It's acts of evil like today's that make it so much more obvious of how much we need God to save us, and how important it is to know that God is with us (Emmanuel) and for us.
Lord, please be with the whole community and all families affected by this senseless act. May your justice and peace come. May your love and comfort spread. May we learn to live and do acts of love, justice, and mercy as you would have us do and spread this to others. Amen.
Credits: "Lost in the Night,” Nordic hymn, tr. Olav Lee, Finnish folk tune, Public Domain, (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress, 1932), OneLicense, found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 243.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving used to be one of my favorite holidays. It still is one of the most meaningful holidays for me, but I would be lying if I said it was my favorite. November has been a bit of a tough emotional month for my family.
My uncle Danny, whom I never met but am named after (in part) died the week of Thanksgiving in 1985. My Grandpa S. passed away in November of 2006, and then my Grandpa T. passed away the following November, 2007, during the night before Thanksgiving. Therefore, Thanksgiving has been a bit of a hard time for me. I guess part of me is thankful though that All Saints and Thanksgiving are so close together in the calendar, because they provide countless reminders of why we are thankful. (Maybe there was some symbolic reason that I also proposed to my wife during November... its a month of being thankful for the lives that we live, the lives that we will live, and the lives that have touched us.)
We are thankful for all that we have- our time, our partners, our family, our friends, our passions and joys, our vocations, our possessions, our very selves... but most importantly, we are thankful to have life and the hope and promise of life that is found and grounded in our faith. This year's appointed gospel reading for Thanksgiving I find very fitting. It comes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, and in it Jesus teaches about having trust in God and regarding life with thanksgiving rather than fear and anxiety.
Matthew 6:25-33, NRSV
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
God provides. Some times we may wonder how we will make ends meet. I know I have been wondering this lately, but I trust that there is a way. Therefore, we continue on because I know deep down that I have a purpose and a calling(s) and so do each of you. I am thankful for this, because knowing and believing this, makes bearing in uncertainty possible, and is more than enough grounds to say a loud and boisterous "Happy Thanksgiving!"
I am thankful to all of you- friends, family, strangers, who take the time to read this blog from time to time. I hope that my reflections, has varied as they are, are enjoyable and sometimes even helpful.
Thank you God for making this possible, for the gift of life and purpose, for the food that we shall all enjoy tomorrow, and for the love and support of so many wonderful people and a most awesome and inspiring spouse. Thank you for the gift of life and the promise of life eternal, and thank you for your continued presence and guidance. Amen.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
"The Church is Not A Building"
I just knew the CML person in me would be kicking and screaming at some point in my ministry life. I just didn't think it would be so soon after completing my MA in Congregational Mission and Leadership. But, alas, here we are.
The 1972 song "We Are the Church" written by Richard Avery and Donald Marsh, has been going through my head all day today. Perhaps you sung it in Sunday School or even in worship? The chorus goes, "I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus all around the world! Yes, we're the church together!" The chorus is simple enough, but really hits at the missional idea that the church is not some building. The church is the people gathered to worship, learn, serve, and be in fellowship together as part of God's work in the world. We as Lutherans are starting to learn this, especially as new ministries spring up in all sorts of settings. Perhaps my new favorite mantra uttered by many a church starter/planter, "more than enough cement has already been poured in the name of the church."
Well, consider where I am. I have the blessing to be an installed leader at a local congregation serving as its worship coordinator. Further, this congregation is on the tail end of a major construction project which it took a leap of faith to do in the midst of the worst economy in recent memory. However, as the project comes near to a close, I think we need to remind ourselves, that the building is not the center. The building is not the most important thing. I think, whether we want to admit it or not, the congregation has let it become so.
Returning to the song, Verse 1 reads, "The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is the people!" Amen! It doesn't matter how great a building you have, or how great a building that you are working on and constructing. It doesn't matter how fancy the doors and carpets are, or if all the chairs and office equipment match just right. What matters is the ministry that takes place within and outside the walls.
So, its with great hesitation that I ask this question, but I am going to ask it anyway. Is the congregation I work for willing and ready to put as much dedication, effort, and financial support behind the ministries as it has chosen to do so in nearly doubling its footprint and physical space? If so, praise the Lord! If not, then I fear this building project will serve as a coffin for the congregation, because the church is not about the building, its about the work of God in the world- the mission of serving others as we are called by God, and the piece of evangelism of spreading and articulating the good news.
As Lutherans we do this best by: 1) serving with joy first, because our service is our response to the promise and gift of life which we can never earn or hope to earn; and 2) when we evangelize, (and yes, Lutherans do evangelize), its often when we are asked "why do we serve," or "why are we choosing to help?" When asked these questions we are given the 'green light' so to speak to make the elevator pitch and evangelize. (I'll say more about what this looks like for me in an upcoming blog post.)
But as for the church and the building, if the congregation chooses not to make the same commitment to ministry, if it chooses not to support the staff necessary to fulfill the program ministry callings that the congregation yearns for, I fear that this building as nice as it is will be meaningless.
How do we make sure this doesn't happen? Well, here are three quick starter ideas, with no doubt hundreds more which could be expanded upon and added:
1) We build off the building campaign, and transition the campaign's energy towards one for mission and faith formation.
2) Make the same commitment to Faith Formation of all ages, as has been made towards Worship and Music. Only with these two ministries doing well, do they collectively do the best to teach and move the people of God forward in their lives, and in growing deeper in faith.
3) We tithe, and then move past the tithe to support the work of the church in the community and larger world. This means that not only we as Children of God do what we can, the church itself is called to tithe its budget, and other special campaigns. Further, the church should be giving at least 10% of its time/space for larger community usage with no direct link to the church in order to practice true community involvement and stewardship and be a beacon in the community and witness through its word and deed.
Anyway, what started out as a goal for 2 paragraphs today turned into a long exposition of some of my very basic CML feelings and thoughts. "The church is not a building." It is so much more. We cannot lose sight of this, and we cannot ever make the building the number one need or concern. Once we do this, the building becomes the idol and the center of our work. This can't be so. The center is God, and the work we are called to do is for and of the other, the stranger, the one in need, as God has called us to do.
It's nice to have a new building, but if we stop there, we are no better then the people with flowing robes who say long prayers and flaunt their wealth. I know we are not these people. So let's act and move in a way that proves me right, we aren't these people with flowing robes but humble servants who are heeding the call to love and serve the neighbor.
["We Are the Church," Richard Avery & Donald Marsh, (Carol Stream, IL: Hope Publishing, Co., 1972), CCLI Song No. 18510.]
The 1972 song "We Are the Church" written by Richard Avery and Donald Marsh, has been going through my head all day today. Perhaps you sung it in Sunday School or even in worship? The chorus goes, "I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus all around the world! Yes, we're the church together!" The chorus is simple enough, but really hits at the missional idea that the church is not some building. The church is the people gathered to worship, learn, serve, and be in fellowship together as part of God's work in the world. We as Lutherans are starting to learn this, especially as new ministries spring up in all sorts of settings. Perhaps my new favorite mantra uttered by many a church starter/planter, "more than enough cement has already been poured in the name of the church."
Well, consider where I am. I have the blessing to be an installed leader at a local congregation serving as its worship coordinator. Further, this congregation is on the tail end of a major construction project which it took a leap of faith to do in the midst of the worst economy in recent memory. However, as the project comes near to a close, I think we need to remind ourselves, that the building is not the center. The building is not the most important thing. I think, whether we want to admit it or not, the congregation has let it become so.
Returning to the song, Verse 1 reads, "The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is the people!" Amen! It doesn't matter how great a building you have, or how great a building that you are working on and constructing. It doesn't matter how fancy the doors and carpets are, or if all the chairs and office equipment match just right. What matters is the ministry that takes place within and outside the walls.
So, its with great hesitation that I ask this question, but I am going to ask it anyway. Is the congregation I work for willing and ready to put as much dedication, effort, and financial support behind the ministries as it has chosen to do so in nearly doubling its footprint and physical space? If so, praise the Lord! If not, then I fear this building project will serve as a coffin for the congregation, because the church is not about the building, its about the work of God in the world- the mission of serving others as we are called by God, and the piece of evangelism of spreading and articulating the good news.
As Lutherans we do this best by: 1) serving with joy first, because our service is our response to the promise and gift of life which we can never earn or hope to earn; and 2) when we evangelize, (and yes, Lutherans do evangelize), its often when we are asked "why do we serve," or "why are we choosing to help?" When asked these questions we are given the 'green light' so to speak to make the elevator pitch and evangelize. (I'll say more about what this looks like for me in an upcoming blog post.)
But as for the church and the building, if the congregation chooses not to make the same commitment to ministry, if it chooses not to support the staff necessary to fulfill the program ministry callings that the congregation yearns for, I fear that this building as nice as it is will be meaningless.
How do we make sure this doesn't happen? Well, here are three quick starter ideas, with no doubt hundreds more which could be expanded upon and added:
1) We build off the building campaign, and transition the campaign's energy towards one for mission and faith formation.
2) Make the same commitment to Faith Formation of all ages, as has been made towards Worship and Music. Only with these two ministries doing well, do they collectively do the best to teach and move the people of God forward in their lives, and in growing deeper in faith.
3) We tithe, and then move past the tithe to support the work of the church in the community and larger world. This means that not only we as Children of God do what we can, the church itself is called to tithe its budget, and other special campaigns. Further, the church should be giving at least 10% of its time/space for larger community usage with no direct link to the church in order to practice true community involvement and stewardship and be a beacon in the community and witness through its word and deed.
Anyway, what started out as a goal for 2 paragraphs today turned into a long exposition of some of my very basic CML feelings and thoughts. "The church is not a building." It is so much more. We cannot lose sight of this, and we cannot ever make the building the number one need or concern. Once we do this, the building becomes the idol and the center of our work. This can't be so. The center is God, and the work we are called to do is for and of the other, the stranger, the one in need, as God has called us to do.
It's nice to have a new building, but if we stop there, we are no better then the people with flowing robes who say long prayers and flaunt their wealth. I know we are not these people. So let's act and move in a way that proves me right, we aren't these people with flowing robes but humble servants who are heeding the call to love and serve the neighbor.
["We Are the Church," Richard Avery & Donald Marsh, (Carol Stream, IL: Hope Publishing, Co., 1972), CCLI Song No. 18510.]
Friday, November 9, 2012
Some theological reflections on the neighbor
Most of you know that I have a deep interest in a theology of neighbor love. It undoubtedly shapes my posts in this blog and the themes and topics which I engage here and in my jobs and involvement in the world.
In the previous post I provided this morning, I intentionally did not touch on theology. Now though, I would like to open up the theological imagination for a moment. If you have not read the previous post, I refer to a story expressed here. In the post I mention how I hope beyond hope that I am not like the woman a few rows ahead who is so focused on taking off on time that she asks people to stop making a scene. Such a move is a passive way of dismissing another, and amounts to ignoring the very scene which we are called to act and respond in love to. It reminds me immediately of the Good Samaritan scenario. What do we do when we are passing a victim. Better yet, what do we do when we are facing a victim in the very act of abuse? Do we turn our heads and walk away, or do we swallow our fear and stand up, hoping that another would do the same thing should we ever face such a situation ourselves.
I don't care what the reason for a disagreement is, there is NO justification for abuse- physical, emotional, theological, etc. I firmly believe this, but I wonder, would I be just like that lady who chose to turn away because I was so focused on myself and my own needs of the day?
We are called to love and serve our neighbor. Martin Luther goes so far in his explanation to the fifth commandment to say that by not doing what we can, we are effectively committing murder towards our neighbor because we are not using our resources (as few or many as they may be) to help someone who is in need.
So returning to this scenario, does the same passivity exist in our daily lives as it did on that plane prior to takeoff? Worse, does it exist in our congregations? I wonder if by not engaging and addressing this, by choosing to remain passive, we are ourselves committing just the same sin towards our neighbor in need. We are not extending the grace and welcome that we have all been extended by God in Christ. We are not acting as a reconciling community, called to come together despite our human differences, because we are one body in Christ.
How can we be one body in Christ though, if we are not willing to stand up for our neighbor and stranger, no matter how different they might be from us? After all, they are part of the same body of Christ, and they are created in the image of God, just like we are.
Many congregations have decided that the best way to stay together is to "agree to disagree" and to continue on. I myself have been a proponent of this. But after reading the post again, and thinking deeply about it, I can't stand in this group anymore. We are called to engage, not to disengage. We have something beautiful as ELCA Lutherans called "bound conscience." I respect this. I wonder though how many of these congregations who have "agreed to disagree" actually took the time to unpack what a "bound conscience" means. Did these congregations think deeply about how it relates to loving and serving each other in the congregation and being open and welcoming to the larger community and world which we are called to serve, preach and teach to, and most importantly be a part of?
I don't have the answers here. I just feel really moved today, and think its time to stand up for our neighbor. Being passive is as good as a judgment in my neighbor's eyes, and when you get down to it, it looks like the same in mine too. Aren't we called to extend a hand of grace and welcome? If we really believe this, this certainly has some deep implications and offers a true pause. What do you think?
In the previous post I provided this morning, I intentionally did not touch on theology. Now though, I would like to open up the theological imagination for a moment. If you have not read the previous post, I refer to a story expressed here. In the post I mention how I hope beyond hope that I am not like the woman a few rows ahead who is so focused on taking off on time that she asks people to stop making a scene. Such a move is a passive way of dismissing another, and amounts to ignoring the very scene which we are called to act and respond in love to. It reminds me immediately of the Good Samaritan scenario. What do we do when we are passing a victim. Better yet, what do we do when we are facing a victim in the very act of abuse? Do we turn our heads and walk away, or do we swallow our fear and stand up, hoping that another would do the same thing should we ever face such a situation ourselves.
I don't care what the reason for a disagreement is, there is NO justification for abuse- physical, emotional, theological, etc. I firmly believe this, but I wonder, would I be just like that lady who chose to turn away because I was so focused on myself and my own needs of the day?
We are called to love and serve our neighbor. Martin Luther goes so far in his explanation to the fifth commandment to say that by not doing what we can, we are effectively committing murder towards our neighbor because we are not using our resources (as few or many as they may be) to help someone who is in need.
So returning to this scenario, does the same passivity exist in our daily lives as it did on that plane prior to takeoff? Worse, does it exist in our congregations? I wonder if by not engaging and addressing this, by choosing to remain passive, we are ourselves committing just the same sin towards our neighbor in need. We are not extending the grace and welcome that we have all been extended by God in Christ. We are not acting as a reconciling community, called to come together despite our human differences, because we are one body in Christ.
How can we be one body in Christ though, if we are not willing to stand up for our neighbor and stranger, no matter how different they might be from us? After all, they are part of the same body of Christ, and they are created in the image of God, just like we are.
Many congregations have decided that the best way to stay together is to "agree to disagree" and to continue on. I myself have been a proponent of this. But after reading the post again, and thinking deeply about it, I can't stand in this group anymore. We are called to engage, not to disengage. We have something beautiful as ELCA Lutherans called "bound conscience." I respect this. I wonder though how many of these congregations who have "agreed to disagree" actually took the time to unpack what a "bound conscience" means. Did these congregations think deeply about how it relates to loving and serving each other in the congregation and being open and welcoming to the larger community and world which we are called to serve, preach and teach to, and most importantly be a part of?
I don't have the answers here. I just feel really moved today, and think its time to stand up for our neighbor. Being passive is as good as a judgment in my neighbor's eyes, and when you get down to it, it looks like the same in mine too. Aren't we called to extend a hand of grace and welcome? If we really believe this, this certainly has some deep implications and offers a true pause. What do you think?
Some Post-Election Reflections
I am not going to make this an overly political post. I will say I am overall very happy with how the elections went. Do I fear partisanship? Always. But I also know that in this country we need at least two strong parties in order to provide a check on each other, and so this is why I am thankful that the Democrats are not in charge of all areas of the government (because of the Republican majority in the House). I hope though that given this, the two parties will return to working across the aisle and find the middle ground around the "common good." Call me naive, but I think its possible. If we can't do this, not only are we bound to continue in the most partisan and polarized period in recent memory, we will continue to struggle to do the basic things that need to be done- building infrastructure; supporting education as our chief priority for a robust, innovative, and long-lasting economy; working for a fair tax system; and standing up for the rights of ALL citizens no matter if we agree with each other about particular issues. We do need to agree that we are all citizens and therefore that should entitle us to the same respect.
Now, in doing my morning reading of stories on major news sites and on Facebook, I found a blog post that I have linked here. On the one hand I am very proud of Alaska Airlines as I think you will be too. It is my favorite airline for a reason (not just because it is my hometown air carrier). On the other hand, I hope that should an altercation like this happen, I would be more vocal and not like the person a few rows ahead more focused on taking off in a fast and timely fashion. I worry about myself, and think I might be like her at times so focused on myself that I lose sight of standing up for each other and being in relationship and community with those around me. I hope beyond hope that I would never be like that woman in the face of injustice and intolerance. I was certainly taught better by my Mom and Dad, and deep down know that should I witness such a thing I would not stay silent.
I am happy to hear that Alaska Airlines didn't either. I just wish that this person would not have had to deal with this situation in the first place. It just goes to show we have more educating to do in this world in order to become a more just and civil society. I am not sure where this starts, but I know it has to start somewhere and I would like to think I am a part of it.
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