Not just Gays - Abortion too - ELCA church leaving

One congregation (Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Columbus, Nebraska) recently voted to leave the ELCA. Their story is chronicled here.

I can understand WHY they are going. I wondered WHERE they are going. LCMC it seems.

Love and Scientology

Now, I am no ga-ga fan of Hollywood stars, and take only a passing notice of the latest "high-profile romances". But apparently I am in the minority, or at least the MSM thinks so. For weeks now, we have been subjected to gossip and coverage about the latest such couple: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes ("Tomkat", as they have been called). So what?

As I was getting ready for work this morning, I saw an interesting spot on the couple and on Ms. Holmes' openness to (involvement in) Tom Cruise's cult - Scientology. I don't recall exactly what she said, but it was very positive about the group.

Anyway it made me do some digging and I found THIS interesting article on how Tom's involvement in the cult has affected his movie career.

Here are some more resources on Scientology:

Official Scientology Home Page

Tom Cruise believing in spaceships is not acting

WELS Q & A on Scientology (1)

WELS Q & A on Scientology (2)

Local ELCA Gay Vote

Local synod backs ordination of homosexual pastors
Resolution will go to national ELCA assembly in August
By ALICE L. CHANG
achang@journalsentinel.com
Posted: June 4, 2005
The Greater Milwaukee Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America passed a resolution at its annual meeting Saturday recommending the Churchwide Assembly "permit gay and lesbian candidates in committed relationships to be considered for ordination on the same basis as other candidates."

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Amid what is a contentious resolution, Bishop Paul Stumme-Diers said it was important to maintain unity within the church.

"We are committed to remaining united even amid our differences, recognizing our center is not on our opinions but rather it is in Christ," he said.

The recommendation is one of up to 65 that are expected to be delivered to the Churchwide Assembly, which in August will consider whether to bless same-sex unions and whether to allow homosexuals to serve as rostered leaders - pastors, associates in ministry, deaconesses and diaconal ministers.

Discussion since late 1990s
The issue of homosexual unions and pastors has been discussed by the Greater Milwaukee Synod since the late 1990s. Homosexual issues have also been the subjects of intense debate by other denominations and were controversial in the most recent presidential election.

Nearly 20 synods are holding regional meetings this weekend, and it is unclear how many other synods have passed similar memorials, said John Brooks, a national spokesman for the ELCA, whose headquarters are in Chicago.

But, Brooks said, it is not unusual for the Greater Milwaukee Synod to pass such a resolution.

"The (Greater) Milwaukee Synod has a history of tending to be liberal on these matters," Brooks said. "The same has tended to be true historically in other metro areas."

3 components
The resolution components that will be recommended to the Churchwide Assembly are as follows:

• That individual congregations be allowed to disagree about whether to accept homosexual members and pastors.

• That homosexuals in committed relationships be allowed to serve as rostered leaders.

• That individual congregations be allowed to decide whether to bless committed same-sex unions.

The recommendation for the ordination of practicing homosexuals passed by a vote of 177-120.

The other two resolution components passed by such magnitude that votes were not counted.

Pastor Jennifer Thomas, 32, of Lake Park Lutheran Church on the east side of Milwaukee, said she was pleased with the results. "I believe the Gospel of Christ calls us to fully include everyone in the church. Homosexuality is not a sin," Thomas said.

But Pastor Jay Thorson, 45, of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Hubertus, disagreed with the vote. "Homosexual sexual behavior is a sin," he said. "I see the entire Bible as the inspired word of God. (Ordination of homosexuals) violates our understanding of the use of Scripture."

Two-thirds vote needed
For the Churchwide Assembly to revise national ELCA policies, two-thirds of the 1,100 voting delegates would have to approve a change.

The ELCA has 96,000 baptized members and 141 congregations in the Greater Milwaukee Synod, making it one of the largest Christian denominations in the area, second only to the Catholic Church.

Nationwide and in the Caribbean, the ELCA has 5 million baptized members and 11,000 congregations.

Hymn - “Our Teaching, Healing, Lord”

“Our Teaching, Healing, Lord”
Tune: St. Michael
(“The Man is Ever Blessed”
Hymn # 388 from Lutheran Worship)
based on Matthew 9:35-10:8

Our teaching, healing, Lord,
With such good news to share,
By word and deed compassion showed,
You proved how much you care.

“How helpless and harassed
How shepherd-less the sheep,
The harvest great, the workers few,
I send you now to reap.”

“To heal those with disease,
Authority I give-
To Cast out demons, cleanse the ill,
To make the dead to live”

“But more than all of this,
Go preach into their ear,
The good news that I bring to all-
Heav’n’s kingdom is come near”

In you the kingdom comes,
In your cross we are healed,
In empty tomb your powr’ shown forth,
Authority revealed.

For your dear shepherds, Lord,
And for their message, true,
We thank and praise your holy name,
All glory be to you.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

AELLP

Received this recent communique'. Sounds like an interesting idea to me.


Introducing the Alliance of Evangelical Lutheran Laypeople (AELLP)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Alliance of Evangelical Lutheran Lay People has been formed to
inform, educate and encourage fellow Evangelical Lutherans regarding
issues of concern in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

In order to accomplish this purpose, lay people will write about the
major issues in the church, striving to be factual rather than
expressing personal opinions. Each month, articles will be published
in our AELLP Newsletter, which will be e-mailed to congregations. An
e-mail list of lay people who wish to receive the newsletter and other
communications has also been created. Anyone interested in being
placed on the e-mail list may sign up on our website at
http://aellp.org. There will also be links to related materials.

Our hope is that Pastors will share these newsletters with their
congregations through church bulletins or inclusion with church
newsletters. We also hope that laity will sign up for AELLP mailing
lists so that they might read, learn, and share the information with
fellow members of the Body of Christ, especially their Pastors (who
might not know of the AELLP yet).

In addition to our newsletters the AELLP will host Confessional
Lutheran Forums in order to discuss topics of concern within the
Missouri Synod in more detail. We will be recording these forums and
making the audio recordings available online through Lutheran
Conversations (http://lutheranconversations.com) so that those unable
to attend can benefit from what was discussed.

Please visit our website at http://aellp.org in order to sign up for
our mailing lists. While there, you can view information on our
upcoming forums, as well as past forums that have been held. We have
also provided what we hope is a solid list of Confessional Lutheran
links for further enrichment.

In Christ,

The Alliance of Evangelical Lutheran Lay People

Gay Adoption: Bad Idea.

Interesting article here:

an excerpt:

Among children raised by same-sex couples, the report notes a significant increase in low self-esteem, stress, confusion regarding sexual identity, an increase in mental illness, drug use, promiscuity, STD's, and homosexual behavior, among others. Furthermore, the report shows that statistics have brought to light the fact that same-sex relationships betray a much higher instance of separation and break-up than heterosexual relationships, increasing the likelihood that the child will experience familial instability.

Sermon - 2nd Sun. after Pentecost - Matthew 7:15-29

2nd Sunday after Pentecost – May 29th, 2005
Matthew 7:15-29
“Working Around the Garden,Working Around the House"

I. Introduction –
Memorial Day Weekend… time off work, time to relax, maybe have a cookout. Also time to get some of those chores done. You know, those annual jobs many people do – gardening, or maybe fixing something, doing some spring cleaning. Working around the garden, working around the house. That of reminds me of our Gospel reading.

Here in today’s reading from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses two pictures to show us what the kingdom of heaven is like.

The first is a picture of a fruit-bearing tree. The other a picture of two houses with very different foundations. In both cases there is a contrast between the one that is bad, and the one that is good. In both cases, what makes the thing good is Christ himself, and his Good work.

Take a look at the pictures Jesus is painting, and see the tree with good fruit, and the house with the good foundation. Take a look a little deeper, and see the good work of our great Savior!

II. Good Trees, Good Fruit
Jesus warns his followers about false prophets – those who teach, but don’t teach the truth. He says they are like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But their disguise is not perfect. You can know the false prophet. There are clues. Likewise these words have a wider application to all unfaithful, unbelievers, who may also masquerade and pretend to be good. Maybe they even apply to us, in a way…

First Jesus calls up the image of a tree. You can tell what kind of tree it is, by the fruit it bears. A bad tree produces bad fruit – thorns or thistles. You wouldn’t want to eat those. But the good tree makes good fruit – tasty and nutritious. What is Jesus telling us here?

Fruit is a common scriptural symbol for works. The fruits of the Spirit are the works of the Spirit. Having many children, one is “fruitful” and multiplies. Hebrews tells us that the praise of God is the “fruit of lips that confess his name”. Fruit is the effect, the end result of something.

The end result of a false prophet is destruction. The lies he speaks lead only to death and despair. Likewise any unbeliever will produce works that we could call, “bad fruit”. Bad people do bad things. It’s just the way things are.

And ever since our first parents ate from the forbidden tree, we humans have all produced bad fruit. Sin leads to more sin, and heartache, disease, even death. Even us Christians, if we were to look only at our outward fruit, we might conclude that we too are “bad trees”, producing thorns and thistles. The problems, the worries of life. So many of our troubles we bring on ourselves. So much of life’s suffering, we have a hand in. In sin, we are bad trees, and no matter how hard we work, we can’t produce good fruits. Maybe we feel like we are masquerading, pretending to be so good, when we know deep down we are not.

How then, do we get good fruit? Remember, it’s the tree that makes the fruit. So how do we become a good tree? A change must take place. A miracle must happen. And for us, it has. And it all goes back to another tree, the tree of the cross.

The cross. The fruits of the cross. The redemption Christ won for us on the accursed tree is a fruit that makes us into good, fruit-bearing trees. His crown of thorns for our thorniness, his pierced hands and feet for our thistles. He bore the rot of all our fruits spoiled by sin, and there on the trash heap of Golgotha they are forever discarded.

By the cross, in the Christ, a change takes place and bad trees are made good. Sinful people are made holy. First in God’s eyes, then by the sanctifying Spirit, and finally at the completion of all things. Likewise, the works we do, God sees them as good fruit, even now. The Spirit guides us in His ways, and through him we do bear more and better fruit. And finally the fruit will fully ripen, to extend the metaphor a bit, when the final harvest is announced, and Christ comes to judge all. If fruit is not only the work, but the effect, the end result, then we must conclude the good tree is the believer in Christ, the person of faith. And such faith produces the fruit of eternal life.

III. Good House, Good Foundation
The second extended metaphor here is a contrast between two house-builders, the wise and the foolish. The foundation is the key – where is the house built? On a firm or shifting base? Rock or sand? Steady or not?

We’ve all seen pictures of those homes in California sliding off the cliffs into a pile of mud. That’s a not a bad visual for the foolish man’s house. When the storms, rains, and floods of life come – houses with poor foundations are easily washed away.

I remember as a child, building sand-castles, spending all day on a large network of bucket-formed towers and carefully shoveled castle walls. Large and grandiose were my sand creations in my mind. But then the tide came in. And the next day, the house was gone.

So often we take our stand on the sand, build our house on shaky ground. Trusting in your own powers, your own reason, or abilities. You will be washed away by the flood. Trusting in people around you, your house will not stnad. Trust in any other god or any other person or thing or idea – and it all comes crashing down sooner or later. Such is the ultimate fate of the unbeliever, who builds his house anywhere else than on Christ. But trusting in Jesus Christ, our rock and foundation, we are wise. He is the only unwavering strength we have or could have. He alone makes us strong to the end.

The metaphor of the two houses is good, but even Jesus only meant it to go so far. For the wise man who trusts in Him isn’t really the builder. Jesus is the builder. Or maybe we need to take the metaphor a little further:

Our spiritual house of faith is something God builds for us, through Word and Sacrament. Saved by his grace alone, we bring nothing to the table. He lays the foundation in Christ. He provides the materials. He brings the plans. He assembles the walls. He raises the roof. He opens the door and carries us across the threshold. He makes us his dwelling, and he keeps us – maintains us – for all eternity. All that we are and have and will be, we owe to him, and his work.

IV. Good Work, Great Savior!
In every aspect of our salvation, God is the doer of the good work. We are the recipients of his labor. We enjoy the fruit he has cultivated. We are given the house built on Christ.
And though in Christ the work is done, and “it is finished”, the work of God continues on in his church. When a child is baptized. When a young person is confirmed. When an adult kneels to receive the precious sacrament. When a word of encouragement or Christian love is shared. When sins are forgiven, and faith grows – the work of the Savior goes on. By His Grace. Through his Spirit.

I hope everyone has a nice Memorial day weekend. Maybe you’ll be in the garden, maybe working on the house. Maybe you’ll be working hard – and recalling the hard work Christ has done for you. Or maybe you’ll be taking it easy – and recalling that in Christ, the good work is all done. Either way, remember that he is our hope for salvation, and he alone gets the job done! Good work, great Savior! In Him, Amen.

V. Conclusion
Jesus uses two metaphors to describe the difference between believers and unbelievers. But either way, Jesus makes the difference by this work at the cross on our behalf.

Memorial Day Prayer

Here is the prayer I will use Monday at the Memorial Day "event" at the local cemetery. It is a "tweaked" version of a prayer for Armed Forces Sunday from the LCMS Commission on Worship:

With grateful hearts on this Memorial Day, we thank you, Lord, for the men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. They died honorably, protecting the life and liberty of so many others. Lord, make us appreciative of the blessings we enjoy as Americans, and of the lives which were given that we might live in peace in this land.
Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

Our Lord Jesus once said, “Greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for his friends”. May we seen in the soldier who lays down his life in battle, a reminder of our Savior who laid down his life at the cross.
Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

We also thank you this day for our men and women in uniform who so selflessly serve God and country. Be with them deployed overseas, in armed conflict or wherever their duties carry them. Grant them courage in battle, compassion on the wounded, and strength in your grace to endure unto victory. Be with the family of each serviceman
or woman who anxiously awaits their return, with the promise that you are with us even unto the end of the world.
Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

We pray for all who are in positions of leadership and great responsibility governing over the affairs of our nation. Grant them wisdom from above as they seek to administer justice and mercy rightfully in the sacred halls of government. Grant us your grace as a nation to be a beacon of hope and to establish a just and noble relationship with all other nations in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

Heavenly Father, how can we ever thank you enough for your enduring grace that sustains our life in trouble, comforts our souls in distress and shelters us from disaster. Through the presence of your Son Jesus, our resurrected Lord and savior, we remain strong, and through your Word we will endure unto the end. In a world filled with conflicts and wars, He alone is our source of true and lasting peace.
Lord, in your mercy, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

Hear now our petitions and receive now our thanks, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Hymn - "O Lord, Our Great Physician"

O Lord, Our Great Physician
Tune: Munich
(“I Lay My sins on Jesus”, LW Hymn # 366)
Based on Matthew 9:9-13



O Lord, our Great Physician,
O Healer of our race,
You call men to contrition,
To save them by your grace.
You came to bring your healing,
To those diseased by sin,
Your blood the balm of blessing,
The sin-sick soul to win.

You called the tax collector,
A publican by trade,
A Jew but a defector,
Now your disciple made.
He sought to gain taxation,
To earn his earthly fee.
You brought your medication,
Your riches set him free.

The Pharisees offended,
That sinners you received,
Your grace not comprehended,
Your mercy not believed.
But Healing God of Heaven,
Our only sacrifice,
To us true health you’ve given,
Your death and life suffice.

O Lord, our Great Physician,
O Healer of our race,
You call men to contrition,
To save them by your grace.
You ate with sinners lowly,
Now bless us with your Meal,
Your blood and body holy,
Our suffering souls to heal.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

Hymn - "A Righteousness From God"

A Righteousness from God
Tune: Darwall’s 148th
(“Rejoice, the Lord Is King” – LW Hymn # 179)
Based on Romans 3:21-28



A righteousness from God,
His people have been shown,
Apart from Law, and its dread rod,
He has made known,
That all who trust, in Him who died,
By His free grace are Justified.

A righteousness through faith,
Though tainted by the fall,
In Jesus Christ, God saves,
Redeeming one and all,
For all who trust, in Him who died,
By His free grace are Justified.

Now boasting we exclude,
No merit can we claim,
Instead we must conclude,
We’re saved in Jesus’ name,
So let us trust, in Him who died,
And by His grace be Justified.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

Rainbow Sashes and Holy Communion

The Associated Press
Sunday, May 15, 2005; 10:48 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A Roman Catholic priest denied communion to more than 100 people Sunday, saying they could not receive the sacrament because they wore rainbow-colored sashes to church to show support for gay Catholics.

Before offering communion, the Rev. Michael Sklucazek told the congregation at the Cathedral of St. Paul that anyone wearing a sash could come forward for a blessing but would not receive wine and bread.

Read More…

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What an interesting story. I believe it serves to illustrate an important aspect of the Lord’s Supper. That is the fact that partaking of the sacrament is not only about “me and Jesus”, but also a statement of confession – a profession of doctrinal unity. It seems that on some level, Rome understands this.

Traditionally, we Lutherans also practice “close(d) communion”. It has been the standard practice of the church until only recently, from a historical perspective. One simply does not commune with Christians of a different public confession – with whom we have doctrinal disagreement.

The case in Minnesota is a shocking one, perhaps. But sometimes we can see the issues most clearly in the starkest examples.

I submit these questions. Should an LCMS Lutheran refuse communion to members of the Rainbow Sash Alliance, as the priest did? What if they were wearing “other” kinds of sashes? What if the sash said, “Baptist” or “Presbyterian” or “Roman Catholic” or even “ELCA”?

What if the sash said, “Scripture is not God’s Word”? Or, “You have to decide to follow Jesus”, or “Christ isn’t really present in his meal”, or “You have to do good works to get to heaven”?

Having said all that, I do think there is one important difference with our story and my fantasy illustrations (and thanks to Pastor Poppe for pointing out this distinction): In the case of the Rainbow Sashers, they had been specifically told in no uncertain terms that they MAY NOT receive the sacrament while wearing the sash. Their attempts to do so anyway represent a blatant, knowing defiance of this instruction. When a Christian of another denomination comes to commune at an LCMS altar, they typically don’t do so in defiance of our practice, but in ignorance of it. Most, when the pastor is given the chance to explain our teaching, even if they do not agree or understand, are respectful enough not to challenge it in such a brazen way.

Veith on Star Wars III

A nice review from our LCMS member and World Magazine Guru, Gene Veith.

Check it out.

Indiana Jones He's Not...

The following story from boingboing.net , a crazy compliation of news-ish sorts of things:


Raiding the lost ark

Eccentric Texan archaeologist Vendyl Jones--often incorrectly named as the inspiration for Indiana Jones--claims that this summer he will finally excavate the real Ark of the Covenant from its hiding place in the Judean Desert. From Arutz Sheva:

Throughout the many years of his quest, Jones has been in close contact and under the tutelage of numerous Rabbis and Kabbalists. Extremely knowledgeable in Torah, Talmud and Kabbalah sources dealing with Holy Temple issues, Jones has now received permission from both known and secret Kabbalists to finally uncover the lost ark...

He believes the ark will be discovered by Tisha B'Av (Aug. 14), a day of repeated tragedy in Jewish history. Most notably, it is the anniversary of the destruction of both the First and Second Holy Temples.

Sith Stuff

Warning: Star Wars post.

Yes, I saw "Revenge of the Sith". I liked it. But of course, the eyes of a preacher see movies a little differently. So here are my observations/comments:

This was perhaps the most interesting Star Wars from a philosophical perspective (I hesitate to say "theological"). But nonetheless the tension between good and evil, the internal conflict of Anakin, and the contrast of Jedi and Sith all got me thinking.

Certainly the movie makes no claim to be Christian, but it still hinges on the question of "what makes someone evil". What I liked about the treatment here was that it showed how evil often begins with "good intentions". That is, Anakin wanted to save his wife from death, and this is, after all, a good intention. It's just twisted. Sort of like the good intention to "be like God", which the serpent twisted into temptation for our first parents, Adam and Eve.

Another interesting piece of the puzzle was the characters' focus on immortality. The Sith promised it, and craved it. There was the story the Emperor told Anakin of the powerful Sith Master who learned the secret of cheating death. He taught everything he knew to his apprentice, and then that apprentice killed him in the middle of the night. It seemed clear the apprentice was Palpatine himself. However, this story also foreshadows the Emperor's own relationship with Vader, who kills the Emperor in "Return of the Jedi".

Then there was the scene near the end in which Yoda promises the secret of immortality to Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yoda's advice to Anakin regarding the death of Padme was to "learn to let go" and "death is a natural part of life". But then when it's Yoda's own hide, a little immortality comes in handy, eh?

I liked the last scene. The juxtaposition of the birth of the twins and the "birth" of Vader (at least as we know him) was powerful, emotional, even creepy.

Birth, Death, Good and Evil - all themes we know well in our faith. Of course only Christ brings immortality, only Christ makes us good, only in Christ, by His Baptism, are we reborn.

As to the nature of Evil, here are some interesting ideas - how one uses power, to benefit whom, and in what way - these were not always such clear-cut differences for the Jedi and Sith. The "Ick-factor" was clear enough, though, with the darkness and gravelly voices surrounding the villains, and the major "Ick" of Anakin slaying the "younglings". Then we knew for sure he was evil.

What was missing was a clear source of moral authority. We Christians have that, in Scripture. But what about the Jedi code? Seemed rather flexible to me. One's feelings are another source of authority for the Jedi, but which feelings? Anger and fear, apparently are not feelings to be trusted; they lead to the dark side. But for Christians, we know that all of our feelings can fail us, lead us astray, for we are sinful by nature. We have God's unchanging word to rely on. I guess that's why it's better to be a Christian than a Jedi.

Kudos to Richard Fritz!

A Grace member, Richard Fritz, recently had this letter printed in the opinion section of our local paper. A fine analogy:


Oppose abortion

Recently the paper and other news media had published the horrifying store of the two young children in Zion, Ill., who lost their life by the hands of one of the fathers.

Another story that doesn't get much attention is one of a young woman with child that goes to Planned Parenthood for counseling.

Her child has a body, legs, arms, a brain that was formed 18 days into her pregnancy and a heart that was formed 22 days into her pregnancy with it's own separate heart beat. She now is counseled into having an abortion. The question is, what is the difference in these two stories? Answer: Murder in both cases. Life is a precious gift that we should honor as such.

Richard R. Fritz

Gallup Poll on Moral Issues

Results of a recent Gallup poll regarding moral issues from Abortion to Polygamy to Divorce to everything in between. Interesting.

Thanks to Watersblogged for pointing out the story.

Lutheran is as Lutheran does...

Whew... a Lutheran after all!

I took this test, here are my results. Worked for me, I guess!

Rank Item Percent
1: Lutheran (100%)
2: Eastern Orthodox (85%)
3: Roman Catholic (78%)
4: Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England (75%)
5: Presbyterian/Reformed (70%)
6: Congregational/United Church of Christ (67%)
7: Baptist (Reformed/Particular/Calvinistic) (50%)
8: Church of Christ/Campbellite (50%)
9: Methodist/Wesleyan/Nazarene (34%)
10: Baptist (non-Calvinistic)/Plymouth Brethren/Fundamentalist (21%)
11: Seventh-Day Adventist (21%)
12: Pentecostal/Charismatic/Assemblies of God (18%)
13: Anabaptist (Mennonite/Quaker etc.) (12%)

Lutheran Blog Directory

Introducing the Lutheran Blog Directory:



A free service with which you can submit your Lutheran Blog listing.

Guidelines:
Lutheran Blog Directory will list blogs pertaining to Lutheranism.

Personal blogs are welcome from clergy and lay alike, but content should reflect a Lutheran perspective.

Sites listed should be blogs. Church websites, and other site formats will not be listed.

All blogs submitted must be approved by the webmaster. I reserve the right to refuse listing for any reason.

Please feel free to link to us, and tell your Lutheran blogging friends!

If you have questions, comments, or complaints, contact me:
Rev. Tom Chryst, Owner: tomchryst@yahoo.com

Sermon - Pentecost - Joel 2:28-29

Pentecost Sunday (Youth Confirmation)
May 15th, 2005
Joel 2:28-29
“It’s Pouring!”

I. Introduction –
It is the day of Pentecost. Perhaps the third most important Sunday in the Church Year. Though Christmas and Easter both have quite a secular following, I doubt anyone outside of Christendom will wish you a happy Pentecost – if they even know it is today. If they’ve even heard of it!

But Pentecost is important. It’s right up there behind Easter and Christmas. Some have even argued that these three Christian Holy Days correlate with the three persons of the Trinity. God the Father showed his love by sending his Son - Christmas. God the Son showed his love by dying on Good Friday and rising on Easter. And on the Day of Pentecost, God the Holy Spirit showed his love by empowering the saints in a special way.

Today is also a special occasion for you 12 confirmands. As you have completed your instruction in the faith, and here before God and this congregation you will speak your vows. You are, in a sense, taking a step forward in your life in the Church. It’s the end of sermon reports and attitude points. But it’s not the end! It’s not the end of your learning or your involvement here, It’s a new beginning for you.

Pentecost has been called the “birthday of the Christian church”. It certainly marks a new chapter in God’s plan for his people. For on that day, the promised Holy Spirit was “poured out” on the disciples. Flames of fire marked the occasion. Miraculous speaking ensued. The Gospel was shared with many pilgrims. And the church of Jesus Christ grew.

The Holy Spirit usually gets a little more of our attention on Pentecost. The work of the Spirit is clearer. But that work always leads us back to Jesus Christ and his cross.

“I will pour out my Spirit” is the promise twice repeated in today’s reading from the prophet Joel. Peter goes on to quote this passage in his Pentecost Day sermon, found in Acts chapter 2. Well if it’s good enough for Peter, it’s good enough for us. Let’s approach our Pentecost reading with this key idea: “It’s Pouring!”


II. When life feels like a rainy day.

As I drove to church on Wednesday morning, it was pouring. Amidst the rain, the radio DJ sarcastically played a song, “I’m gonna soak up the sun”. It seems like we’ve had a lot of rain lately. I always thought the saying was “April showers bring May flowers”, but maybe they should change that to “May showers” – at least in Wisconsin.

Not that rain is all bad. In fact it is a blessing. We need it. I don’t have to explain why. But that doesn’t change the fact that rainy days often make us feel dreary and depressed. They seem to darken people’s mood. So much so that rain has become a common metaphor for the problems of life. There’s that other song, “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone… It’s gonna be a bright, sun-shiny day”.

Each life has its share of this kind of rain. The problems, the worries, the woes. Each person, even the Christian, has his share of suffering. We live in a world broken by sin and polluted by our own sin. Whether problems of our own making or not, each of us has our rainy day. It might even be longer than a day. Loss of a loved one. Struggling with a terminal illness. Stressing out over work or school. Trying to raise our children right – and everything seems to go wrong. Trying just to get along with family members, and live in peace. It’s this kind of rain that makes us want to say, “Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day.” Or better yet, don’t come at all.

III. Showered with blessings

But not all that pours upon us is so bad. God knows our sorry state, our dreary days deluged with sin and its consequences. And he pours out blessings on us. He showers us, drenches us with his good gifts.

If you ever watch a football game, especially an important one – a certain tradition has become popular lately. The winning team finds one of those big orange Gatorade coolers. And two of the teammates on the sidelines take it and sneak up on an unsuspecting coach. As a victory celebration, they drench the poor guy by pouring the entire thing over his head. Makes me glad I’m not a football coach.

But God showers us with blessings all the more. God the Father provides us with our earthly life and everything to support it – food, clothing, work, family, friends – all I need from day to day.

God the Son, Jesus Christ, showers us with even greater blessings. He, after all, is our Savior. His perfect life, his death on the cross, his resurrection, ascension, and his promised return – all he does for us – to save us, redeem us, forgive us, renew us, cleanse us, justify us and reconcile us with God. Jesus is the greatest blessing ever given. Without him, nothing else matters.

But we are not without him. Even though he has now ascended to his rightful heavenly throne. Even though we do not see him as his disciples once did. What he promised them he promises us – we are not alone. He sends his Spirit. The Counselor. The Comforter. And the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and of Jesus Christ, The Lord and Giver of Life who spoke by the prophets – he brings us countless blessings the same, though never apart from Christ.

Take the day of Pentecost. When the Spirit was “poured out” in such a spectacular way. It wasn’t the first time anyone ever had the Spirit, mind you. For Jesus told his disciples, “You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” In the Old Testament, the prophets often claimed, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon me…” It’s not like the Holy Spirit was a genie in a bottle, waiting thousands of years to finally be let loose on the day of Pentecost. He, God, with the Father and Son, was active even since Creation, when “The Spirit of God moved across the face of the deep”.

But here on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit is poured out in a special way, for a particular purpose. And that purpose is to bring people to Christ, the Savior. To shower them with the blessings of Christ’s Gospel!

It was a golden opportunity, you might say, to have so many pilgrims gathered there in Jerusalem. Believers from all over the known world had come to worship in the Holy City. And as the spirit was poured out on the disciples, the same Spirit overflowed onto them. By the preaching of the word, “declaring the wonders of God”, the Spirit brought some 3000 to faith in Christ that day alone. And they would carry that faith, that Gospel message, and that Spirit living in them – they would carry it back to their homelands, and sow even more seeds for the kingdom.

Those “wonders of God” could only be the life, the death, the rising again and the entire message and person of Jesus Christ. For the Spirit does not appear to draw attention to himself, but to the Savior. He creates faith in Christ. He points to the redemption offered in Christ. He blesses us, by making us Christ-ians.

Christ is what the Spirit is all about: He comforts us, with Christ! He counsels us, in Christ! He guides us, to Christ!

IV. The Baptismal “pouring out”

And how can we talk about the Spirit, and “pouring out” without mentioning Baptism? For it is there, as the waters of baptism are poured out upon us, that the Spirit too, is poured out upon us.

When Peter preached his Pentecost sermon, it ended like this, (Acts 2:37-38) “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be… baptized… every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The point of the Spirit’s work on that day of Pentecost – the point of the pouring out – was that baptismal water, and the forgiveness of Christ would be poured out in rich measure. That’s always the point when, in Christ, by His Spirit, it’s “ pouring”. We too share the blessings of that baptism. We too are daily cleansed by it, as God pours his forgiveness out continually.

You confirmands. God has poured out his blessings on you too. We remember today, especially, your baptism. You come here today to give thanks for and to respond to the blessings God has poured on you. Today you confirm, the church confirms, God himself confirms what was poured out years ago – His grace, forgiveness, His Spirit.

As you now also come to the Lord’s Table to receive his Supper, he pours out new blessings for you. And he’ll keep pouring out his blessings for you all your life. So remain strong in your faith. Stand firm on God’s word. And remember what you have learned from me and so many others. God will keep pouring his blessings. May you receive them always with a thankful heart.

In each life, the rain will come. After all, we’re sinners in a sinful world, and frankly, we deserve it. But God pours out blessings on us, in Christ, by His Spirit. As we have been washed in baptism, and as we live in His word, and receive His supper, God continues to shower us with his love. In his church, it’s ALWAYS “Pouring”. In Jesus Christ, Amen.

V. Conclusion
Sometimes it feels like the rain never stops, and life dumps everything on you. But remember God has poured His Spirit out on us – to guide and comfort, to counsel and encourage, and to point to Christ, our Savior. Baptized into Christ, by the Spirit, we are saved!

Hymn - "Triune God, Your Holy Nature"

Triune God, Your Holy Nature
Tune: Stephanos
(“I Am Trusting You, Lord Jesus” Hymn # 408 from Lutheran Worship)
Trinity Sunday

Triune God, your holy nature,
One and also three,
In your word, I know you truly,
Grace I see.

Father God, Creator mighty,
Source of all that is,
You have sent your Son to save me;
I am his.

Son of God, my dear Lord Jesus,
You have died for me -
Paid your precious blood, and from sin
Set me free.

Holy Spirit, Guide and Comfort,
Sent to sanctify,
When you raise me, I will live with
Christ on high.

Triune God, your holy nature,
Three and also one,
Hear my praise and thanks you for all that
You have done.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

On Eastern Orthodox Prayers

An online chum of mine, Jim Roemke, happens to be a Concordia Seminary student in St. Louis (about to go on vicarage).

Jim has an appreciation for iconography. While shopping online at an Eastern Orthodox bookstore, he ran across some morning and evening prayers which he found intruiging, and passed along to me.

Many of these prayers are un-prayable for a Lutheran, because they address saints, Mary, or someone (or something) other than God. But in the Lutheran tradition of saving the baby while throwing out the bathwater, I found some of these prayers actually worthwhile (with some minor editing).

In the "spirit" of Pentecost (pardon the pun), take a look at this evening "Prayer to the Holy Spirit":


O Lord, Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, show compassion and have mercy on me Thy sinful servant, and loose me from mine unworthiness, and forgive all wherein I have sinned against Thee today as a man, and not only as a man, but even worse than a beast, my sins voluntary and involuntary, known and unknown, whether from youth, and from evil suggestion, or whether from brazenness and despondency. If I have sworn by Thy name, or blasphemed it in my thought; or grieved anyone, or have become angry about anything; or have lied, or slept needlessly, or if a beggar hath come to me and I disdained him; or if I have grieved my brother, or have quarreled, or have condemned anyone; or if I have been boastful, or prideful, or angry; if, as I stood at prayer, my mind hath been distracted by the wiles of this world, or by thoughts of depravity; if I have over-eaten, or have drunk excessively, or laughed frivolously; if I have thought evil, or seen the beauty of another and been wounded thereby in my heart; if I have said improper things, or derided my brother's sin when mine own sins are countless; if I have been neglectful of prayer, or have done some other wrong that I do not remember, for all of this and more than this have I done: have mercy, O Master my Creator, on me Thy downcast and unworthy servant, and loose me, and remit, and forgive me, for Thou art good and the Lover of mankind, so that, lustful, sinful, and wretched as I am, I may lie down and sleep and rest in peace. And I shall worship, and hymn, and glorify Thy most honourable name, together with the Father and His Only-begotten Son, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Just two comments.

1. You gotta love the confession of sin here. It just about covers everything!

2. As a Lutheran, I would make it clearer that our sins are forgiven for the sake of Christ and his blood shed for us, not just out of the love of the Holy Spirit. But with a little tweaking, couldn't a Lutheran pray something like this?

PETA Kills Animals!

The "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA) has a PR problem, it seems.
Their problems don't stop there. But this is an amusing development.

Times Square Billboard Declares: “PETA Kills Animals”



My General thoughts on PETA:

As a Christian, our approach to animals is formed by scripture. God clearly places them, and all creation, in our care. We are to use animals for clothing, food, etc... But like all of God's gifts, we should treat them as such. They do not belong to us, ultimately, but to the Lord.

Nevertheless, they are not human beings created in the image of God. Christ didn't die for lions, tigers and bears - but for humans. The Fifth Commandment does not apply to Fluffy.

Still, we look forward to the "New Heaven and Earth" when this broken creation is restored. Will that include the animals? I think so! Does that mean your dog goes to heaven? That's a little tougher to say.

I think the scriptural, Christian approach is a balanced one. Unlike the PETA approach, which confuses many of these issues by claiming animals are equal to humans.

"Shacking Up" and the ACLU

Well once again the ACLU jumps into bed with a cause that seems to contradict Christian values.

So many news items nowadays seem to touch on church-state issues, and here is another. While the Bible clearly teaches the immorality of fornication, a sin against God's law, how does a society reflect this in its civil law?

Certainly not every law of God should be a law of the state. But it does seem that a just society will largely reflect the second table of the 10 commandments in its laws.

Marriage has been under assault from so many angles - homosexual "marriage", divorce, and the general acceptance of cohabitation. So is it really a surprise when the legal system seeks to bring current law in line with current practice?

The following is part of an article by Libertarian Ralph Bristol. While he too is against the law in question, he wants it dealt with via legislature, rather than judicial means. Either way, it's an interesting (and not too surprising) commentary on the spirit of our age.

May 10, 2005

A sheriff’s deputy is openly breaking the law and refuses to stop. What’s a good sheriff to do? He told her she had to quit breaking the law or quit being a deputy. She quit being a deputy. Former deputy Debora Hobbs has now sued Pender County, N.C. Sheriff Carson Smith, and the American Civil Liberties Union is standing with the deputy.

The law she deliberately violated was the North Carolina law against cohabitation. Smith found out that Hobbs and her boyfriend had been living together for three years. The sheriff says the cohabitation was both a moral issue and a legal question. He said he tries to avoid hiring people who openly live together but does not send out deputies to enforce the law.
ere are about 144,000 unmarried couples living together in North Carolina, and they are all violating a statute that has been on the books since 1805.

Six other states have similar laws. They are Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, Michigan, Mississippi and North Dakota. In January this year, the North Dakota House defeated a challenge to its cohabitation law on a 52 to 37 vote, so even though the laws are rarely enforced, they have not yet been relegated to the graveyard for the cultural obsolete.

The ACLU will argue that they should be. “Certainly the government has no business regulating relationships between consenting adults in the privacy of their own homes,” said Jennifer Rudinger, state executive director of the ACLU. “This law is 200 years old, and a lot of people are very surprised that we even have it on the books.”

Hymn - "With Sound of Violent Wind"

With Sound of Violent Wind
Tune: St. Thomas
(Hymn # 296 from Lutheran Worship, “I Love Your Kingdom, Lord”)
Based on Acts 2:1-21 (Joel 2:28-32)

With sound of violent wind,
The Spirit came from heavn’
And fifty days from Easter bright
The message would be givn’.

As tongues of fire came down,
A-lighting on their heads,
To pilgrims from both far and wide,
The Gospel message spread.

They spoke of Jesus’ death,
His rising and his word,
As each in his own native tongue
The blessed message heard.

Then scoffers sought to claim,
“They’re drinking too much wine”,
But Peter testified that day -
The message was divine.

“They are not drunk,” he said,
“Joel’s prophecy of old,
Showed how God’s Spirit would be giv’n,
The message was foretold.”

Pour out your Spirit Lord,
This day of Pentecost,
To point to Jesus Christ your Son,
Whose message saves the lost.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

Purpose Drivel?

No, not a type-o in the title. The following are some LCMS Lutheran perspectives on the best-selling book by Rick Warren.

The first one listed, by Scott Diekmann, is a more detailed, 23 page critique, which points to some flaws in "PDL" I had never heard of (i.e. the whole issue of Bible translations). Nice work, Scott!

Mr. Diekmann sent me his article recently, which prompted me to post the other critiques I have read. So here are those that I know about:

“The Purpose-Driven Life - A Lutheran’s Perspective”
by Scott Diekmann (LCMS Layman)

“A Critique of ‘The Purpose Driven Life’ By Rick Warren”
by Pastor Joe Fisher

“Reflections on The Purpose Driven Life in Light of the Doctrine of Vocation”
by Professor John T.Pless

The Lutheran Witness (online), April 2004
(pages 8 and 9 of the .pdf file)
Pastor Paul R. Naumann – (With a “friendlier” take on Warren)
Professor John T. Pless – (Sidebar with an “alternative suggestion”)

Issues, Etc. Broadcast Transcript
With Radio Host Todd Wilken


EDIT 3/31/06:
Check out these thoughts by Chris Roseburgh:
Extreme Theology

EDIT 6/19/06:
Satire piece by "HornSwoggled"
Lutheran Church to Study Koran

Don't Forget - Ascension Day!

Modern Day Nebuchadnezzer?

Bill Gates Gives Lutherans $539,000 for Sudan Relief Work



Bill Gates, arguably the most powerful atheist in the world, has donated a large sum of money to Lutheran World Relief (which is based in my home town of Baltimore).

Jeremiah 27:8 (New International Version)
8 "If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares the LORD, until I destroy it by his hand.

If the Lord could use mean old Nebuchadnezzer as his instrument, why not the "Overlord of Microsoft"?

The proceeds will fund humanitarian work in southern Sudan.

Schaivo and Herbert

Am I the only one who has thought about this connection? Probably not.

Here's the story of a brain-damaged man, a fire-fighter by the name of Donald Herbert. He recently awoke from a 10 year coma:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=725541

The story mentions another person who was "under" for 19 years.

Now, I am sure that the cases aren't exactly the same, but it sort of makes you think about Teri Schaivo, doesn't it?

Plagiarism - The Sincerest Form of Flattery?

Well, people, I am a shameless plagiarist. Maybe that's too strong a word. But I have no compunctions about stealing a good idea when I see it. So just to give credit where due, here's a word of thanks to Rev. Scott Stiegemeyer, of Burr in the Burgh for the several blog mod ideas I have officially ganked off him. Thanks, Scott!

By the way, I highly recommend his blog, full of insightful and wise, bold yet not overwhelming, apprehendable yet digestion-worthy, both pithy and profound Lutheran... uh... stuff.

And cool bells and whistles too!

Sermon - Easter 6 - 1 Peter 3:15-22

Easter 6 – May 1st, 2005
1 Peter 3:15-22
“Hell, Flood and Baptism”

I. Introduction –
Today’s Epistle reading is from 1 Peter 3:15-22. It’s a little bit of an odd passage- but that’s part of what attracted me to it this week. It’s also a very “busy” reading. There is a lot going on – much for the preacher to choose from. It starts out with some words of encouragement about giving answer for our faith, in gentleness and respect. It speaks of enduring suffering and of doing good, keeping a clear conscience.

But it’s also an Easter passage. Peter tells again and a Christ’s death and resurrection. But there is more here. The shape of the passage takes us on a journey – following the work of the resurrected Christ and all he has done for us. For the sake of time, let’s pick up these three destinations today – Hell, Flood, and Baptism.

II. Christ’s Descent into Hell – The Victory Lap
“he went and preached to the spirits in prison, who disobeyed long ago…”
This passage is forms the basis for that statement of the Apostles’ Creed, “He descended into Hell”. Hell – the prison here – holds those who disobeyed God (and were not saved by grace through faith).

Many of them were from the days of Noah, when God wiped so many wicked people from the face of the earth– but not all. There would be others there too – not to mention Satan himself. Wretched, rebellious enemies of God, steeped in sin and hatred for him. These were no friends of Jesus he was dropping in on.
And he had come there for a purpose. Some people think he went to Hell to suffer – after all, Hell is the place of punishment. But there’s two problems with that. For one, Jesus did all his suffering on the cross, and then proclaimed “It is finished”. If the condemnation of Hell is God turning his back on you, then Jesus suffered such abandonment when he cried, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”. No, Jesus didn’t descend to Hell to suffer. Then why?

The reading says he was there to “preach” . But what does this mean? Was he there to give one last sermon to those wicked people? To give them one last chance to believe? That they might somehow escape from eternal damnation? Was this, in fact, a jail-break? No. For scripture makes it quite clear that man dies once and then the judgment. That the fires of Hell are eternal. That once we die, there is no turning back. “A great chasm has been fixed between there and here” So says Abraham in one of Jesus’ parables about Heaven and Hell. Jesus wasn’t there to save those condemned souls. Then why?

A better translation of the word “preach” here is “proclaim”. Because the real purpose of Jesus’ descent into hell is not to suffer or to save those already condemned. He goes there to announce his victory to the forces of evil, and to Satan himself!

Remember, it was just a couple of days before that Christ had died. I can picture the party that must have been thrown in hell. The hymn “He’s Risen, He’s Risen”, written by Walther – the founder of the Missouri Synod – puts it this way:

“The Foe was triumphant when on Calvary,
The Lord of creation was nailed to the tree.
In Satan’s domain his hosts shouted and jeered,
For Jesus was slain, whom the evil ones feared”

And with the hellish celebration perhaps reaching its peak, Jesus crashes the party. Their collective jaws drop as they see him, ALIVE. Glorified and victorious, Jesus takes his victory lap through hell, announcing their defeat, and his triumph – our triumph. For as faithful saints of his, we too share in the victory of Sin, death, and all the forces of Hell. Jesus descended into Hell – for us!

III. God’s Patience with Evil
The text mentions those spirits in prison, who “disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.”

In scriptural terms, there are few examples of sin getting out of hand as glaring as the wicked people living at the time of Noah. Genesis says, of man’s wickedness at that time, “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time”. Now that’s bad. But God was patient with them. He gave them ample opportunity to repent, for the ark wasn’t built in a day. God is slow to anger, and patient in his judgment. He was then. He is now.

We may look at the evil world around us, and wonder, “How long, oh Lord?” How much worse can things get? How much more evil will you allow in this world? It may seem like things are getting worse and worse and worse and that God has forgotten or is powerless to DO SOMETHING about all this evil. When we see the evil-doer prosper, when we see people lie, cheat, steal, and take advantage of others to get ahead – and NOTHING bad happens to them. We might wonder, “Lord, are you going to let them get away with that???”

But one day God’s patience will run out. Like it did when the raindrops started to fall, and the wickedness of man was washed away in the flood. So too God promises a judgment to come. He is patient, but his patience has its limits. And when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead, then all will be set right. Divine justice will finally be served. The flood reminds us that God’s patience with the wicked will not last forever.

IV. Saved in the Flood
And remember, God deals mercifully with us – just as he did with the faithful 8 of the ark. The true story of Noah’s ark, and Noah’s flood – it’s more than just good material for children’s literature. It’s a story of divine judgment for sin, and divine mercy for some – who walked with God in faith.

Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives – the only people to escape the judgment – saved through the waters. The same waters that wiped out their evil foes, floated the ark safely through the flood.

Peter draws the connection here – he says the flood of Noah is a symbol of baptism. We can see the connection. For in Holy Baptism God drowns the evil, sinful man within us – the “old Adam”. And out of the waters rises the new creation – the fresh start – the child of God. Peter says that baptism actually saves us!
But that water is nothing without the word. And that water and word are nothing without the resurrection – the real power for us to be reborn is that Jesus was reborn from the grave. Just as our victory of the forces of evil is only made real in his victory. And our heavenly destination is promised, because he already resides there. You see, all depends on Jesus – and what he does for us. His death for us. His resurrection of us. His descent into hell for us. His ascension and heavenly reign and his promised return – for us!

These are deep mysteries – deeper than the floodwaters themselves. Deeper than the depths of Hell. For in Christ we are lifted up above the flood of judgment. We are lifted out of the jaws of death and hell and Satan. And we are promised the heights of Heaven – by him who lives and reigns there on high, now and forever – Jesus Christ, the VICTORIOUS ONE! In His Name. Amen.

V. Conclusion
Peter tells of Christ’s death, resurrection AND descent into hell for us. Just as the flood washed away the evil doers, so in Baptism our sins are drowned and we are saved!

Hymn - “Christ Jesus Lifted High”

“Christ Jesus Lifted High”

Tune: Vruechten
(“This Joyful Eastertide”
Hymn #140 from Lutheran Worship)
for Ascension Day

Christ Jesus lifted high,
His heav’nly throne assuming,
Now caught up in the sky,
His rightful place resuming.

Refrain:
Christ Jesus, glorified,
His work on Earth, thus ended,
Now reigns for us on high,
For Christ, our Lord ascended, ascended, ascended,
Praise now the Christ ascended.

Returned to God’s right hand,
Christ Jesus for us reigning,
True God, yet still true man,
Our crown of life retaining.

(Refrain)

The Lamb who once was slain,
Alive again, victorious,
Redemption he obtained,
His cross the symbol glorious.

(Refrain)

Until he comes again,
With all his hosts attending,
Our trust in him remains,
Our faith is never-ending.

(Refrain)

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

Hymn - “Lord Jesus In High Priestly Prayer”

“Lord Jesus In High Priestly Prayer”

Tune: O Grosser Gott
”O God of God, O Light of Light”
Hymn # 83 from Lutheran Worship
Based on John 17:1-11

Lord Jesus in high priestly prayer,
Who knew his death was drawing nigh
His cross to face, our sins to bear
Prayed to his Father, “Glorify!
For you have given all to me,
That I might give eternal life.
My work for you is now complete.
Hear, now, my prayer, O God on high.”

“Concerning those you gave to me,
They still are yours, your word they hear
They in the Son the Father see,
And Holy Father, you they fear.
I pray for them, remaining here,
Protect them in all that they do.
I pray for them, O Father, dear,
As I will soon return to you.”

“Protect them by your holy Name
Protect them with its pow’r of love,
That Name I bear, which is the same,
As soon I’ll reign with you above.
O make them one, as one are we
With truth and Spirit sanctify,
O grant to them true unity,
And by your Son be glorified!”


© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

CHRYST AGREES WITH HANSON... sort of.

Well, write down this date. You thought it would never happen. But for once, I find myself in agreement with the leader of the increasingly troubled ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America).


(surprised "Preachrblog" reader)


Bishop Hanson has commented on Senator Frist's recent telecast to churches regarding the Bush judicial nominees and the Democratcic filibusters. You can read the full text of his letter here.

But the highlights, IMHO, are italicized, and commented on:

As Lutherans, we share a common faith in Jesus Christ, a love of the gospel and, in the tradition of Martin Luther, a healthy respect for the separation of church and state

Ok, Rev. Hanson. Though we don't use that language to express the idea, preferring Luther's terminology of the "Right and Left Hand Kingdom", "separation of church and state" is the nearest reasonable facsimile in non-theological terms.

And I too, have a problem with politicians pushing political issues in churches.

NOT that I don't have STRONG political beliefs... I do. I just don't feel it's my place as a preacher of God's Word to mingle my own personal beliefs and politics with the preaching of the truth of the Gospel.

Hanson goes on: ...respectfully ask that you cease judging whether or not people have faith by how they choose to express that faith on political issues.

Yes. Faith in God doesn't mean voting Republican or Democrat.

My approach to political issues, as a preacher, is this: Teach what the Bible says on the "issues": Homosexuality, Gay Marriage, Abortion, Love for Neighbor, etc... And where the Bible stops - STOP!

The people of God can "connect the dots" on these issues - figuring out how to apply best what the Bible teaches in terms of public policy.

Oh, and on "issues" to which the Bible doesn't speak, REMAIN SILET. I would argue that "rules about filibusters for judicial nominees" falls into this category.

Well, I'm definitely not a Taoist!

I just took the BELIEF-O-MATIC quiz. Here are my results (the religious groups I am most in agreement with - according to the quiz):

1. Eastern Orthodox (100%)
2. Roman Catholic (100%)
3. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (98%)
4. Seventh Day Adventist (86%)
5. Orthodox Quaker (78%)
6. Orthodox Judaism (71%)
7. Islam (65%)
8. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (60%)
9. Hinduism (59%)
10. Jehovah's Witness (56%)
11. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (54%)
12. Sikhism (44%)
13. Bahá'í Faith (40%)
14. Liberal Quakers (35%)
15. Jainism (33%)
16. Reform Judaism (31%)
17. Unitarian Universalism (27%)
18. Mahayana Buddhism (26%)
19. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (26%)
20. Theravada Buddhism (25%)
21. New Thought (21%)
22. Scientology (20%)
23. Neo-Pagan (19%)
24. Nontheist (18%)
25. New Age (11%)
26. Secular Humanism (8%)
27. Taoism (6%)


Where the heck is Lutheran????

This was an interesting test, if only that it suggested which religions are closer, and further away.

Oh, and there was the one question about salvation - and NONE of the answers reflected being saved by "grace alone". Sad.

So then I started to take the "What's Your Spiritual Type?" quiz, and then stopped. The answers to their quiz questions don't really offer a Lutheran good options.

Hymn - “Christ Jesus Once, For All Has Died”

“Christ Jesus Once, For All Has Died”
Tune: Ich Singe Dir
(Hymn # 151 from Lutheran Worship
“O Christ, Our Hope”)

Christ Jesus once, for all has died,
His righteousness to give.
His Spirit brings us back to God,
His death so we may live.

The Spirit who had raised the Christ,
Then brought the Christ to Hell,
To Satan and the spirits there,
His victory to tell.

Those who in Noah’s day had known,
God’s judgment in the flood,
Would hear a proclamation now,
From Christ, the Son of God.

As waters cleansed the ancient earth,
And saved those faithful eight,
So in the waters of His grace,
God saves and recreates.

Praise Christ, once risen from the dead,
Ascended now on high,
At God’s right hand, in power now,
He makes us, too, alive!

Based on 1 Peter 3:18-22

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

Sermon - Easter 5 - John 14:1-6

Easter 5 – April 24th, 2005
John 14:1-6
“Which Way?”

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I. Introduction –
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, so the saying goes.

An old man lived alone in Idaho. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was backbreaking work, and his son, Bubba, who used to help him, was in prison.

The old man mentioned it in a letter he sent to his son by saying, “I’m not sure exactly what to do. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. It looks like I won’t be able to plant that garden this year after all.”

A few days later, he received a short letter from his son, “Dad, For heaven’s sake, don’t dig up that garden that’s where I buried the bodies!”

At 4 a.m. the next morning, a crew of police officers, and the FBI arrived to find the bodies. After digging for hours, they gave up and apologized to the old man and left.

That same day the old man received another letter from his son.
“Dear Dad, under these circumstances, that’s the best I can do, go ahead and plant your potatoes now.”

Bubba couldn’t do it himself, so he got the garden dug a different way.

We live in a world which teaches there are many ways to do things. Many ways to write a letter, paint a picture, raise a child. But there are some things that doesn’t work with. For some things, there is only one way.
Or, there is the right way and the wrong way.

When it comes to things spiritual, there is really only one way. And that way is Jesus. He says so himself. Let’s get a handle on this beloved passage from John’s Gospel, by focusing on this question, “which way?”


II. Where are we going?
“Where are we going?” So the wife asked her chauffer (who happened to be her husband) as they drove down the road. “Trust me” he said, “This is a shortcut”. “Why don’t you stop and ask for directions!” “Because I know where I’m going”. Yeah. Right.

Everyone wants to go to heaven. But how do we get there? Where are we going? Can we be sure? Do I have to be a good enough person – do lots of charitable, loving things? Follow the Ten Commandments? What if I break one, or two, or a few more than that? How good must I be? The Bible says perfect. How do I do that? Where am I going? How do I get where I want to be?

Often, we are lost. But we don’t want to admit it. Thomas had no problem admitting his confusion, his lack of understanding, his lost-ness. “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Sin muddies the waters. It takes us off course. It turns us all around. In fact, according to our sinful nature, our destination is not a very pleasant one at all, “Broad is the way that leads to destruction”, so it is written.

Sin is a road that leads to death. And it is so steeply downhill, this road, that we cannot escape the destination. We are barreling headlong and helpless toward a dead-end, in every sense of the word.

Jesus, who knows our condition well, knows which way we’re going. But which way is Jesus going? That’s important too!

III. Where is Jesus going?
Unlike us, Jesus knows where he is going. Unlike us, he is not lost or astray. When Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, his series of “farewell addresses”, he knew that soon he would be leaving them, and leaving this world. He would be returning to his father, and he would no longer be present among them (at least in the same exact way).

Jesus had a course charted out. He knew the way. And that road, that path, led always to the cross. The way of the cross. That’s Jesus way. When Jesus says he is going to prepare a place for the disciples, he means he is going to the cross. There, at the cross, Jesus pays for our sins and pays our way to heaven by his blood. There at the cross, Jesus builds for us mansions in heaven – and guarantees us eternity with the father. It’s not after his ascension that he goes to prepare a place for us – but it is there in the suffering and dying for our sins that the work is done, that “it is finished!”

In his empty tomb we can see the way it will be for us – as we too will rise from the grave and live. He the firstborn of the dead, he has led the way for us to follow in him.

And yes, though he has now ascended to the Father, Jesus does promise to return for us someday. Either when we too pass through the grave and gate of death – or if we should live to see the day that he comes again in glory.

Where is Jesus going? To the cross for us. To death and to life again for us. To the right hand of the Father for us. Why? For us – to be OUR WAY – truth and life.

IV. “I AM THE WAY”
Jesus says, very clearly, “I am the way… No one comes to the Father but by me.”

That means there is an exclusivity of the Christian faith that our postmodern culture is not comfortable with. That Jesus claims to be the ONLY way – well, that offends people. People want to respect the other “ways”:

We’ve been studying various other religions in our Sunday morning Adult class. We’ve seen how Buddhism teaches that the ultimate goal is Nirvana where all pain and suffering exist no more. And the way to reach this Nirvana is by following the 8-Fold Path to Enlightenment, and then you reach that place of total nothingness.

In Hinduism, the ultimate goal also is Nirvana, but Nirvana is different. Instead of being snuffed out like a candle, Nirvana for a Hindu is being reunited with the all- pervading force of the universe through reincarnation. Depending on how you live your life determines whether you move up or down the food chain.

In Islam, heaven is a paradise of wine, women, and song. And the way to achieve this blissful paradise is, ironically, to abstain from these things in this world. In addition, a Muslim must follow the Five Pillars of Islam to achieve paradise.

And, of course, Judaism denies that Jesus Christ is Lord. That it is through the following of the Law that one obtains eternal life. But one is never able to live up to the Law 100% so…what do you do?

These so-called ways to God and to paradise completely contradict Christianity. They contradict Christ. Each, in its own way, teaches that the way to get there (heaven, Nirvana, whatever) is through YOUR human effort.

Even many Christians give a nod to the idea that each religion is a different way to God. But if you could get to heaven and to the Father any old way – if the Jew and the Buddhist and the Muslim and the whatever – as long as you really believe SOMETHING. Then why the cross? Why the resurrection? Why did Jesus bother at all? If my own efforts can prevail – or if there is another way – then Jesus was wasting his time and his holy precious blood.

And some Christians get off the track here, thinking there is another way WITHIN Christianity. How many prayers are offered to Mary or some other saint – as if they too are a way to the Father. But doesn’t scripture say, “there is one mediator between God and men – the man Christ Jesus”? (1 Timothy 2:5) Some Christians think that a strong enough commitment to Christ or decision for him is what is needed. But he says, “You did not choose me, I chose you!” (John 15:16).

The truth is: Jesus is the only way. And thank God he has made himself known to us. Thank God he has shown us the way, himself. That he comes to us, still, in his word. That he forgives us, still, by our baptism. That he strengthens us for the journey with his Holy Meal. Through Him, we are lost no longer. Through Him we can see the holy light of heaven at the end of life’s tunnel. In Him, and by Him alone. For His is the way.

That Jesus is the way – provides comfort that cannot be found elsewhere. It’s why he can say, “do not let your hearts be troubled”. Because trusting in God and trusting in him – we know we are in good hands. Trusting in ourselves – well, we fail. We get lost. But Jesus knows the way, for He is the way. Jesus tells the truth for he is the truth. And Jesus gives us life – his own life – that we too might have life in him. That’s the way! That’s the only way. In Jesus Christ. Amen.


V. Conclusion
The many ways of the world may leave us, like the disciples, confused. But Jesus is the Way. Through Him we know the Father. And in Him, we have Truth and Life.

Showdown at Parkside

So yesterday I participated in a panel discussion at Parkside(our local UW campus).
The appointed hour was 12:00 P.M.

The topic, I was told, would be Gay Marriage (pro/con). The topic, it turned out to be, was "Homosexuality: Is it a Sin?". OK. Close enough.

I was under the impression there would be 3 pro and three con panelists - local clergy of different flavors. It turned out to be:

Pro-gay
A Buddhist (a student)
A Wiccan (a student)
A Unitarian Clergy-woman
A Native American Shaman (a student, I think, though older)
An ELCA Pastor

No-gay
Me (of course)
A C.O.G.I.C. Deaconess
A Muslim woman
A "Non-denominational" Student
A Student rep. from Campus Crusade for Christ (or was it Inter-varsity?)

So with so many voices, it was hard to get a word in edgewise, especially in the short time allotted. I was surprised there was no Roman Catholic representative, but I suppose they are a little busy this week with the new pope and all.

Seriously, though, it seems that this 31-flavors approach did not present an accurate cross-section of our society, at least in terms of the sheer number of adherents represented. I mean, how many Wiccans and Buddhists are there around here, anyway?

I am not sure much progress was made, but the discussion was at least civil (more so than I expected). I found myself speaking much of sin and repentance, also forgiveness in Christ.

The ELCA pastor talked about the "gift of homosexuality" and claimed it wasn't spoken of in the Bible (at least, not in its current form - you know, the committed relationships). I don't recall him mentioning Christ. He did, however seem to have adopted much of the language of "faithful journey" and "having the conversation" that spews from the ELCA oligarchy.

The others spoke, largely, as I expected. Except I was impressed by the student from CCC, who actually QUOTED LUTHER! Nice.

Because of the time constraints and competition to say anything memorable, I found myself speaking more and more in "soundbytes". We each got a chance to make a closing statement, and I decided to keep mine short:

"In today's world, it's becoming more and more, that the only sin left is to tell someone they are wrong. I think THAT is wrong."

Hymn - "Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled"

Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled
Tune: Angel’s Story
“O Savior, Precious Savior” Lutheran Worship Hymn # 282

“Let not your hearts be troubled
Believe in God and me.
I’ll soon go to my Father,
But this I guarantee:
When I go to his mansions,
And place for you prepare
Then will I be returning
So you may join me there”

“We know not where you’re going,
How can we know the way?”
Tell us, Lord, how to get there,
Direct us, Lord, we pray.
“If you would know the Father,
If God you want to see,
You already have seen him,
For he is here in me.”

“I am the Way to Heaven,
I am the only Truth,
The Life of all the Living,
My resurrection proof.
Let not your hearts be troubled
And rest your souls at ease
None come unto the Father
Except who come through me.”

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

"The Law is but a Mirror Bright..."

Every pastor has his favorite story which he uses again and again to illustrate a point. Mine has to do with the second use of the law - the law as a mirror.

When I was a vicar in Warren, Michigan, one of my duties was to give a brief devotion at the local nursing home each month. The staff would wheel in all the residents to the large common area, and park them there to hear me.

Most days, I was sure no one heard much of anything, as some suffered from dementia, and many slept the whole time I spoke (which was good practice for being a preacher - just kidding).

Anyway I tried to keep the talks simple. I was talking one day about the law of God, and how it shows our sins - like a mirror. In fact, I had with me a hand-held mirror as an object lesson. As I looked in the mirror, I talked about all that I noticed about myself that was wrong - everything I didn't like.

"Maybe I see my eyes, and I don't like their color. Maybe I see a blemish or a scar. Maybe I don't like the shape of my chin..."

And just when I was about done and ready to make my next point, one gravelly voice from the back of the hall spoke up loudly...

"AND YOUR NOSE IS TOO BIG TOO!"

Great. At least I knew someone was listening.

But that voice. The voice from the back of the hall - that too is the voice of the law, pointing out sin. Just when you think you have exhausted it - just when you think you know your many sins - the law speaks up again and shows you somthing else.

Lex Semper Accusat. Indeed.

Planning Your Funeral

Pastor Todd Wilken, of "Issues, Etc..." posed some interesting questions on a recent edition of the program. What hymns and passages would you choose to be sung and read at your own funeral?

Here are my current favorites:

Hymns:
1. This Joyful Eastertide (my favorite Easter hymn)
2. A Mighty Fortress (of course)
3. Abide With Me (for the sappy sentiment factor)

Passages:
1. Psalm 51 (I have always identified with David)
2. Matthew 28, the Great Commission (and my Confirmation passage)
3. Romans 1:16-17 (I am not ashamed of the Gospel... the righteous live by faith)

What would you choose?

ELCA and HOMOSEXUALITY - Moving Closer

The Churchwide Council of the ELCA took steps this week to move forward with the recommendations of their recent "study". Namely, to continue disapproving of practicing gay clergy, but not to enforce such disapproval. This summer's convention will consider the pertinent resolutions, and we will be watching very closely what happens.

It seems the ELCA is marching headlong into acceptance of the gay agenda, and drifting further from Scripture all the time. Pray for those faithful Christians fighting to keep the ELCA from going down this road.

Rev. McCain has posted the most recent news release and a commentary on these events from a leading Southern Baptist theologian. Well worth the read.

Jesus - Not a Wimp!

An interesting article about a new book "Why Men Hate Going to Church" by David Murrow.

Read the article here

My favorite blurb:
...churches need to "recover the masculinity of Jesus." The author says Jesus as described in scripture was and is "a very bold, aggressive character, but we [in the modern Church] have turned him into a wimp -- and men don't follow wimps. They follow leaders."

Hymn - “Lord, Faithful Shepherds Grant Your Sheep”

“Lord, Faithful Shepherds Grant Your Sheep”
Tune: Just As I Am
“O God of Mercy, God of Light”
Hymn # 397 from Lutheran Worship

Lord, faithful shepherds grant your sheep,
That all you call, you also keep.
May they your word and voice so speak,
That all is done in you.

Since you have called your sheep by name,
Guard and defend us all the same,
For in the waters you did claim,
Our lives belong to you.

Keep and defend us from the thief,
From his temptations, grant relief,
So that in all our joy or grief,
We rest secure in you.

Bless us, your flock, and be our gate,
Through you we find a heavenly fate.
Until you call us home, we wait,
Then we shall live with you.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

Revelation - The Movie

How many times can this be done, really? A Hollywood scheme to tap into our fascination with the occult, mingled with a misunderstanding of Holy Scripture. Let's see... Schwarzenegger did it... Demi Moore.... How many other apocalyptic knock-off movies have there been? Puh-leez. Too many.

Having said all that, yes I will probably see this one too. I get asked about these kinds of movies, and I think it helps me answer the questions if I have seen it too.

Here's the link if you wanna see what I am complaining about:

http://www.revelation-movie.com/

At least they got it right and didn't call it "RevelationS!"

That's an even bigger pet peeve.

Hymn - "The Road to Emmaus"

“The Road to Emmaus”
Tune: Walther
(Hymn # 138, "He's Risen, He's Risen" from Lutheran Worship)

The road to Emmaus Christ Jesus now walks,
Along with those disciples the Risen Lord talks.
“Where have you been, stranger, oh have you not heard?
For Jesus they killed, He who brought us God’s word.”

“A powerful prophet, in word and in deed,
We hoped he was the one who would Israel redeem,
But chief priests and elders, they handed him o’er,
Oh stranger, this happened, just three days before.”

“But early this morning, the women, they say,
That Jesus’ tomb was empty, and we are amazed,
For angels they saw, and to our great surprise,
The angels proclaimed that the Lord was alive!”

“How foolish,” said Jesus, “How slow to believe,
For all you have spoken the prophets did see”
He opens the scriptures, he opens their eyes,
To see how the Christ had to suffer and rise.

The journey continues ‘til evening is nigh.
“Oh stranger, now stay with us, say not goodbye”
At table, the Lord, who had once been concealed,
With bread broken, for them, he now is revealed.

Our hearts burn within us, we ask you to stay,
To walk with us and speak, and to bless us this day.
Your body, your blood, in the wine and the bread,
Receiving your gifts, we no longer are dead.

© Thomas E. Chryst, 2005.

Sermon - Easter 2 - John 20:19-31

Easter 2 – April 3rd, 2005
John 20:19-31
“Eyewitness News”



I. Introduction – Here we stand, one week away from the empty tomb of Easter. For the rest of the world, it’s time to move on. But for the Chrsitian church, Easter goes on. Not only is Easter celebrated every Sunday, we have a whole season – 6 weeks after Easter, in which to reflect on its meaning and significance.

Today we read the traditional text for the week following Easter – it is the story of Jesus’ 2 appearances to the Apostles – one, actually on Easter Sunday. The second, a week later. Usually the preacher offers a sermon on doubting and faith, and recalls old “doubting Thomas”. But there’s more to this Sunday than the Sunday School story.

The theme running through each of our readings, besides that Christ is risen, is that there were witnesses to his resurrection. People who saw him alive again. And it is these witnesses who shared the news with others, and others, and throughout the ages – so that we have finally heard the news, and believed. Eyewitness accounts of Jesus Christ – living, breathing, eating, speaking, and being touched. He truly is alive, that’s the good news of the Easter Gospel!

So as I thought about all this, I recalled that growing up in Baltimore, we watched local news on channel 13 – “Eyewitness News” And I got to thinking. How the message of our faith, that is, the Good News of Easter – has come to us: It too has come from Eyewitnesses. But more than any local, late-breaking, evening news… this morning we recall again the old, old story – that news which makes us new. Jesus is alive! And by him, so are we.

II. Top Story: Peace and Forgiveness
The newscast- any newscast- begins with the top story. The most important, or at least the most urgent. Fire in an apartment building. Scandal at City Hall. Terrorist attack kills dozens. Bank robber on the loose.

So often, the news in our world is bad news. Oh, they may try to soften the blow by adding a fluff piece on a dedicated teacher, or a cat saved by a fireman. But really, does that take away the sting of the school shooting or the earthquake in Indonesia, or the Court-sanctioned starvation of a brain damaged woman? Sin is all around us. But it’s not just the sin of others that is “bad news”. We have enough sins of our own to worry about. We surely don’t want our sins, our dirty laundry to make the news. But God would know our faults and failings. He knows all.

Then there’s Jesus. Oh sure, there was some bad news concerning him, too. He had been convicted and executed. The whole city was abuzz with the news. The great prophet, teacher and miracle-worker was crucified. Some found that to be good news. But for his followers, it was devastating. For his disciples, they feared they might be next…. Huddled in a room with doors locked. Perhaps they were trying to figure out what to do, where to go next. Perhaps they were just shell-shocked. Peter and John had come with the story of the empty tomb. The women were talking about angels, and even seeing Jesus themselves. Fear, confusion, and uncertainty ruled the day.

And then, there is Jesus! He appears to them. Miraculously, the Risen Lord comes. And the first words he utters are not an excoriation for the disciples. He doesn’t scold them for deserting him in his hour of need. He does not criticize them for their fear of the Jews. He does not up-braid Peter for denying him three times. Instead, he offers peace. “Peace be with you”. It’s an absolution. It’s as if Jesus says, “Everything is all right now. All is forgiven. I am alive!”

His “Top Story” is not the bad news of Good Friday, but the Great Good News of Easter! His first priority is to bring peace and forgiveness.

The disciples then receive a gift, a charge from the Lord. The power to forgive sins in his name. We learn about this in our catechism as the “office of the keys”. Jesus means for his forgiveness to be given not only to these apostles, but to all who would believe in him. As he breathes his spirit on them, he is really breathing forgiveness on the whole church. For Jesus, the top story is always the Gospel – the forgiveness of sins found in Him.

III. Film at 10: Seeing and Believing
What newscast today doesn’t try for the great footage, the intense video? We’ve all seen the poor reporter who is sent out in the middle of a hurricane, just to give us a visual of how strong the winds really are. It seems with any story, be it at City hall or at the top of a ski hill, a reporter is sent to the scene. To see it first hand, to bring you an “eyewitness” perspective.

Poor Thomas. Whatever he was doing that first Easter, he missed the Lord’s appearance. And rather than believe the eyewitness account of his fellow apostles, he goes on a rant about needing proof - even touching the wounds of Christ. For Thomas, seeing was believing. And we have poked fun at him for thousands of years, we in the church, chuckling at his silly disbelief and doubt.

But as we do so, we do it to ourselves. For we all have our doubting Thomas moments. Our faith flags and wavers, especially in the tough times. We are not immune to the Thomas syndrome – the doubting of our Lord and his life and his love. We need the encouragement and the reminders just the same. We need forgiveness too, for our doubt.

So our Lord appeared to Thomas, met him where he was, gave him what he needed, and more. Thomas confessed his faith, “My Lord and my God!” and Jesus grants him that blessing. But more blessed, Jesus says, are those who do not see and yet believe. Jesus was thinking future believers. Like us.

Though we don’t see him, hear him and touch him like Thomas did, we do see him, hear him and touch him in other ways. Though he is not present in our midst the same as he was on those Sunday appearances, he is present in our midst each Sunday in this place. Jesus is present in his word. Jesus is present in his meal. He lives in us by our baptism, as does his Spirit.

We do not see him as they did long ago, with their very eyes. But we see him through the eyes of faith. We do not see him, physically, as they did, but we will one day when he returns in glory. We do not touch him as Thomas did, but we touch him in the bread and wine. We do not hear him as the apostles did, but we hear him in the voice of absolution, “I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. It’s our own Christian multi-media experience of the Risen Lord Jesus!

IV. Health Report: Believing and Life

And what news program is offered today without a health report, often by the designated “health reporter”. But our news report today is not about the benefits of granola, or the fading popularity of the Atkins diet. While getting your exercise is certainly a good thing to do, the health John writes about brings more than cardiovascular benefits.

John piques our imagination by hinting at the many other miracles Jesus performed. But the point here in John’s Gospel is not sensationalism, or tabloid journalism. What he records, he does with a purpose. That even though we have not seen, we may believe. And that by believing, we would have life in his name.

Life. That’s the real point of the Gospels, of the Scriptures, of the Resurrection and of the Resurrected one. Jesus came to bring life – to us who were dead in sin, who were helpless and hopeless. He brings life, abundant, full, real, eternal. We have it already in him. We will have it more fully in the world to come.

Such is the life that he gives – it comes by faith in Jesus. It comes through the word and in the sacraments. And such life is eternal. Like Jesus, who lives forever, so shall we. That’s the ultimate health report. He lives, and we live in Him!

Eyewitness News. It’s more than an evening television show, it’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ – brought to you by those who saw him risen from the grave. For he brings peace and forgiveness to us all. He grants faith and blessings even though we haven’t seen. And such faith brings life.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed” Indeed. In His Name, Amen.


V. Conclusion
Thank God for the faithful witness of those who have gone before us. As they report Jesus’ resurrection, and we believe the news – we too have “life in His Name!” Amen.