Know The Word; Know The Truth

And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.

I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

                                                                               (John 17:13-17 KJV)

On the night that he was betrayed Jesus prayed for his disciples. He prayed that they and we might be sanctified through the truth; that we might know the truth. 

There was a lot of heresy in the church of Martin Luther's day. There was a lot of superstitious nonsense promulgated by the clergy. I don't think that all of the clergy did this maliciously. I believe that they simply did not know the truth. Not all of them had regular and actual access to the word found in scripture. They taught and preached what had been taught and preached to them. A whole lot of that lacked truth.

Thankfully, much of that changed with the reformation. During that time period, Martin Luther translated the Holy Bible into German so that the pastors and lay people could read the word of God for themselves.

We have that access today in whatever language we speak. Yet, I often hear really crazy un-truths about what the word of God says coming from not just lay people; but, clergy as well. The lay people get many of these false ideas from the clergy.  They simply don't bother to read what the word has to say for themselves. 

I am not saying that you should not attend worship and hear the word of God through the clergy. You should!  Rather, I am saying that we all need to spend more time in daily devotions reading and meditating on the word of God so that we might know the truth. 

Thank God for the many saints who have come and gone before us. Thank God for the saints who have witnessed to the through the many generations since our Lord gave himself on the cross for us. Thank God and get to know him! Thank God for the word of truth who is Jesus the Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Death Is Not The End

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.                                                                    

                                                                                        (1 Peter 1:4-5 KJV)

We will all die. Unless the Lord comes before that time and takes us bodily to himself, we will all die. Death of the flesh is inevitable. But, thanks be to God through Jesus Christ this is not the end. Despite that some (including some clergy) say that death is the end, according to the word of the Lord, it is not the end! 

In St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians he wrote:

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

                                                                                 (1 Cor 15:50-55)

Christ has destroyed the power of death with his death. If we do not have to fear even death than why do we so often fret over the little obstacles in this world. Jesus, himself, tells us that we should not be worried; but to believe in him; to trust that he will take us to be with him.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

                                                                                (John 14:1-3)

Do not be afraid. Trust in the word of the Lord and live in peace no matter what would attack you; no matter what obstacles you might have to face. Just as the grass withers and the flowers fade so must our flesh. But, the word of the Lord stands forever. That word is the gospel, is the good news, of the eternal kingdom of God is at hand and is for you through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Do not fear. Trust in the word of the Lord that brings you such good news!

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

                                                                                 (John 14:17)

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Man or God Pleasers?

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

                                                                                     (Gal 1:6-10 KJV)

Since retirement last spring I have been church shopping in Florida since  it is not appropriate for Lutheran clergy to stay within the congregation that they served at. Yes, we might very well interfere. 

I have not found that looking for a new congregation to worship with to be an easy thing. I have attended a few and I am saddened to say that I was pretty uncomfortable in most. In some, I have heard only the law. In others I heard a  whole lot of forgiveness without any call to repentance. I have witnessed some pretty heretical things going on and being said during worship. The Word and the explanation of the Sacraments get watered down to make it more comfortable for the people in the pews. 

Regarding what we believe, Article VII (Of the Church) of the Augsburg Confession states: "Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered."

I am well aware that there are more than a few who would not wish to see me in their congregations. At the same time I am still looking for a congregation where worship is about pleasing God and not man.

God help us to be servants of Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Called To Serve? Count The Cost!

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 

                                        (Luke 14:27-28 KJV)

I have been concerned of late, to the rising number of newly ordained clergy who do not seem to quite grasp what it means to follow Jesus. There are a few too many who seem to not have counted the cost of answering the call to follow Jesus.

There are those who think pastors are dearly loved by all. Think again! There will be some who love you. But, there will also be those who will not and they will come against you. 

Even if you are called as a part-time pastor you are on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The congregation may pay you for part-time hours; but, Jesus calls you to feed his sheep and that doesn't mean once you have your hours in for the week you get to sleep or party or whatever it is that you like to do in your off hours. Certainly there will be time to socialize as you share the Good News in word and deed with both your family and friends (the Church). But, when the sheep need you, as a disciple of Jesus, you will be there for them no matter what time of the day or night it happens to be. So, if you have a family make sure that they are prepared for you to pick up and go whenever and wherever you are called. If they cannot be then maybe the call that you think you have isn't as legitimate as you might think.

My eldest granddaughter spent much of her growing up years with me. When a call came in the middle of the night, she would wake up and begin getting dressed while I was still on the phone. As soon as I got off the phone, she would typically ask, "Who died?" I would then drop her off with her grandfather who worked nights at our adult foster care or with her dad on my way to whatever crisis I was on my way to. She never complained. She was just as concerned about those who were in crisis as I was. 

There is a cost to being in ministry. The cost is to leave behind our cares and go and care for others, sharing with them the love of God, whether it is in word or deed.

The call of the ordained minister is not to go out and make everyone happy. It is not to go out and tell jokes, especially not off color jokes. It is to share the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ. 

If you happen to be in the midst of discerning whether God is calling you to ordained ministry, count the cost. 

And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

                                                                                   (Luke 9:57-62 KJV)

Jesus left everything behind him to do his Father's will and his Father's will was for Jesus to die so that we might be forgiven and live reconciled to God. He loves us so much he was willing to give up everything. He was willing to live a life in which he would be loved by some and hated by many. He had no home to call his own. He was willing to sacrifice every creature comfort for our sake. He was willing to give his life for us.

"Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." 

                                                                                     (Matt 19:27, 29-30)

Jesus became a servant to all; willing to suffer and give his life on the cross for all. His personal needs came last. He is now first in his Kingdom. He is the King of Kings! As a pastor, you need to consider if you are really willing to be last. Are you willing to put the rest of God's children before yourself? 

If you are considering a call into the ministry consider two things: 1. Is God really calling you to the ministry? 2. Have you counted the cost to yourself and to your family? 

One last reminder of what it might cost:

"While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."

                                                                                                        (Matt 12:46-50) 

As a pastor, your family will be greatly enlarged. The joys will be increased and so will the number of sorrows. The Christian brother who is in need of spiritual care takes priority over your spouse for his moment of need. You get to leave the picnic and go! The family who is grieving the death of a child takes precedence over your own children. 

It is a privilege to serve the Lord and his people, are you really ready for a privilege like dropping your personal life to go and share the Good News? Count the cost!

God's Peace - Pr. J

When You Abuse Others; You Abuse Jesus

 

     “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

   “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

   “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

   “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’"

                                                                                                      Matthew 25:37-46 NIV

I have had a lot to think about over night. I spent yesterday at the Sheriff's Department in Domestic Violence Training for clergy. I've been around for awhile so I'm pretty well aware of all of the symptoms and signs of abuse as I have witnessed a lot of it. But, I needed some help in what I, as a pastor, could possible do about it. How do I confront it in a way that is helpful to the survivor (and prayerfully there is a survivor)?

Often Christian survivors of abuse will make excuses; justify the abuser's actions, by using misperceived notions about what God demands of them in a relationship. They actually use scripture to justify the abuser's actions. They assume that God would want them to keep the vows that they made to obey the other without considering that Jesus has commanded us to love one another. Abuse is not love. We are to love one another even as Jesus loves us. Jesus does not and has not ever abused us. He has only loved us so unconditionally that he was willing to be abused for us! When someone abuses the person they have promised to love for the rest of their lives they have already broken the covenant that's been made between the two of them. The survivor should not feel as though they bear the burden of guilt for the broken covenant. (Psalms 55:20-21)

Jesus told the disciples and he tells us that what we do to others, and that includes our spouses, we do to Jesus. Would you really assault Jesus? Would you make excuses for anyone abusing Jesus?

What we do to others we do to Jesus!

May God teach us to love Him and others even as He loves us all.

God's Peace - Pr. J