What do you think?

Have you ever known a pastor to be speechless? Believe it or not, it does happen on a rare occasion. It is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when said pastor wants to give others an opportunity to speak, or at least to ask some questions. The Bible in 90 days is a program that has been going on at Our Father since September. We will finish up in December and then a new sessions of classes start in January.

However, I am thinking of doing something new for CrossRoads during that 9:30 time, and I want to give you an opportunity to let me know what you think. I am thinking that we would be downstairs in the community room and what we would do is have a series of discussions on a variety of topics. What those topics are would depend on the people who show up. We could talk our way through a book of the bible. We could look at theological concepts or talk about something that is happening in the news. It would not be a formal class, but would be more of a discussion of a whole hosts of things. It is a good time to ask questions and to dig deep. It is a good time to hang out and be together. It is a good time to learn and grow.

The conversation would then continue throughout the week on this blog. I think that it could provide some exciting opportunities for discussion, and would allow people to participate even if they are unable to make it on Sunday mornings.

I am excited about the possibilities of what this presents and wanted to throw it out there to see what you think. There are so many wonderful things in life and theology to explore together, and I pray that this opportunity will be a blessing to all involved. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments.

I pray God's peace and blessings for you this week and always.

Sincerely,

Pastor CJ

P.S. There will be no blog next week, as I will be on vacation. But we will be back on schedule the following week.

A Question about Isaiah

The topic for this week's blog comes from a question from the readings of the Bible in 90 days program. As always, if you have any questions about theology or Scripture, send them to me and I will address them in future posts.

 

I have the Concordia Self-Study Bible and so I have those helpful introductions to read.  So, I am reading Isaiah and in the very beginning is says "The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah Son of Amoz saw . . ."

 

So my confusion is this, I am just now at Chapter 4 and I have been asking myself the following . . .

 

All the condemnation that I am reading about . . . is this still the vision that Isaiah is talking about, or has this already happened?  Furthermore, it was a vision can one suppose that Isaiah is talking about the vision he had (as in past tense) or are we reading it as though it was "freshly occurring".

 

The main question I have is, at this point in Isaiah, am I reading prophecies, or am I reading what has already happened?  (You know it shouldn't surprise me that I have these questions when I read when I am tired!!!)

 

 

Are you reading prophecies or are you reading what has already happened? The answer is yes. Don't you love those good Lutheran answers? So let me explain what is going on.

 

1. What you are reading is something that was, in some cases, spoken or received before they happened, and then written down latter.
   
2. You are reading some things that have a meaning for the current time and place, but also pointed to something in the future. So when we are told that the virgin will conceive and give birth we are reading about a short period of time in that specific time and local, and at the same time a prophecy about the birth of Jesus.
   
3. You are reading some things that promise a future that has not yet happened. So when we read about the wolf lying down with the lamb.
   

 

So what does this mean, or how do you keep this straight? Well, for starters don't lose sight of what the words are actually saying. Context is indeed important. You can't sell that short. But don't, miss the words for the sake of the context. What is God saying? What is important to God? Where do these verses intersect with my life? If a place is being condemned, why? If promises are being made, what are they?

 

You get the idea. Isaiah is one of the greatest books of the Hebrew Scriptures. You don't want to miss too much of it.

 

I hope that helps. If you need more clarification, let me know.

 

I cannot understate how blessed we are to be able to freely read and study and discuss God's word like this. I pray that for all of you who read this blog, whether or not you are doing the Bible in 90 Days program, that your time in God's word is a source of strength and blessing to you now and always.

Sincerely,

Pastor CJ

Confirmation

Confirmation was this past weekend for us here at Our Father. 17 young men and women affirmed their baptismal faith. It amazes me to be a part of the process. Sometimes it can be so frustrating that it makes you want to pull your hair out, and yet, at moments like this, it kind of seems all worth it. Standing up there and talking to them, it gave me an appreciation for them that I had not had before. I was hopeful for them. Not because of who they are. Like I said, I wanted to pull my hair out, but because of who they are in Jesus. I see a lot of potential in these people, and I am very proud of them.

I wonder what the future will hold for them. Did I do the best that I could in setting them up to endure the storms that life will bring? Did I lay the foundation that will keep them strong and secure? I certainly tried. But if it was dependant on me, then they are in trouble. Thank God for the presence of his Spirit. Thank God that he is the one who keeps his church on track and doing the right thing.

Dear God, pour out your Spirit on all of us. Pour out your Spirit fresh and new. Ignite in us passion for the work you are doing in this world. Give to us the strength and the tools that we need to do the work you have called us to do. Amen.

 

That's my prayer in this time. Join me in offering up this prayer this week too. May God's presence be for you a constant source of comfort and strength.

 

Sincerely,

Pastor CJ

Part III Article XV

This week's article can be found here.

It took a little longer than we may have anticipated, but we finally made it through the Smalcald Articles. You should be proud of yourselves we have had a good journey.

This weeks article is one that says the things that human beings make up and do, are not things that merit salvation or the forgiveness of sins. We live in a world where we like to be in charge. We like to do things and to have the ability to control what is going on in our world. We like to think that what we do earns God's forgiveness, that way we can say we earn it. Well, maybe I should qualify that last statement. Our sinful nature likes things to be that way.

Instead this article lifts up and reminds us that none of the things we do can earn us anything before God. Not only is this the case, but we should reject any ideas that would try to say that this is even possible. This is the case because it would then take something away from the salvation that we have in Jesus. This means that we would not be saved because of Jesus, but that we would be saved because of Jesus and something else that we do.

Yet on the other hand, this is true because we do not want to be in a position where we see ourselves or make ourselves out to be better than someone else. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We all need that salvation that is freely offered to us in Jesus. We all need to live in that great gift.

It truly is a great gift, and one that I pray is a source of comfort and encouragement to you this week and always. Blessings.

Sincerely,

Pastor CJ

A Question About Grace

I got a question that will serve as this week's post.

Pastor CJ,
I'm working on a Bible Study called the Church that Loves and today's lesson called for us to study the Book of James.
I've heard that Martin Luther was less than enthralled with the book, but hadn't really focused on Chapter 2, verse 24 until today. "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."
As a hard shell Missouri Synod Lutheran, I'm more than a little bit shaken by this verse, since it seems to clearly contradict Ephesians 2: 8&9. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
not by works, so that no one can boast.
I would sure appreciate your help in reconciling these two verses.
Thanks and Blessing on your day.

Dear Old Lutheran,

In order to understand how these two verses fit together you have to ask yourself what you understand faith to be. Is it something that we do: i.e. intellectual assent to a series of statements and ideals? That is, if we know the right things then we are justified by that knowing? Or is faith something that the Holy Spirit gives to us and through that faith we are saved?

The answer is the second one. We too easily associate faith with knowledge and having the right answers. But faith is a gift from God. Faith is the hand that holds on to the promises of Jesus. This faith is a gift from God. It is what saves us. So Ephesians asks the question of how we are saved. We are saved by faith. Hands down, no questions asked, end of story.

But how do we know we have faith? Ah, this is the question that James is speaking to. He is talking to people who are saying, "All I have to do is have the right answers." And James is saying, "If you have faith, we will see it in your actions."

If you want to know what someone believes, you look at their lives. If I go to a doctor and I believe that that person has my best interest in mind, I will do what the doctor says, even if I would not chose that on my own. If I don't believe that that person has my best interest in mind, I will not do what that doctor says. So you can tell what I believe about the doctor by my actions in following or not following the advice of the doctor.

Therefore I could not say that I believe and trust the doctor and then not follow the doctor's advice. My actions would not match up with my words.

Ephesians and James are answering two different questions. They are looking at the same thing from two different perspectives. Our works do not save us. They cannot. It is impossible. We are saved by grace for the sake of Christ (Ephesians). Having been saved by Christ, we are then sent out into the world to proclaim and show the love and grace and mercy and forgiveness that exists in and through Christ alone (James). They are two sides of the same coin. Do not separate them from one another. If you have Ephesians without James you end up with cheap grace. And I do believe that you rejected that in your pervious comment. If you have James without Ephesians you get works righteousness and that is just as bad as cheap grace.

And, you will be interested to know that Ephesians 2:10 talks about the good works that we were created to do. The NRSV renders this as "Which was created to be our way of life."

Isn't nice to know that in this complicated world of ours we have a God who loves us so simply and makes us his own? May that truth be a source of joy and comfort for you this week and always.

Sincerely,

Pastor CJ

Part III Article XIV

This week's article can be found here.

There doesn't really seem to be much to add to these words. Can't really argue with it, after all what this is getting at is that we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is not given to us through our actions. It is important to understand the context here. In that time it was believed that the vows and the lifestyle were what earned salvation. This is not salvation for the sake of Jesus, but based on our own works and merits and therefore this idea must be rejected.

Since this is the case, what do we do? How do we live our lives? Does the free gift of Salvation apart from our works (and in spite of our works) mean that we can live in any way that we chose (cheap grace)? No.

Mr. Old Lutheran, you may want to read that last part again. Our lives don't earn anything, but that does not mean that we can live anyway we want or selfishly. But instead we should live our lives to the glory of God. We do this, not because it earns us anything, but because there is no better way to live.

Things like prayer, fasting, worship, alms giving, these things are known as spiritual disciplines. They do not make God give us anything or love us more. But they are very beneficial. For they cause us to be in a place and position where those things that we give too much importance or too high of a place in our lives can be removed so that nothing becomes more important in our lives than God. It is a good thing. The Fall retreat this year will be spending some time on this topic.

I pray that you would know God's presence and grace this week and always.

 

Sincerely,

Pastor CJ

Bible in 90 Days Week 3

This week another question comes from the reading of the Bible in 90 Days. If you have questions about this, or anything else, and you want to see something about those posted on this blog, send them to me and I will address them. Your identity will remain anonymous.

 

The Israelites did not get everyone out of Canaan, right?  So in Judges, you read about how several of the Judges had to "take back" control.  In one instance they talk about how Anakites were defeated (I think it was the Annakites? . . . or some other kingdom that was originally destroyed by Joshua and the Israelites.)  So this is my question . . . Israel had all this land with the help of God through Joshua.  The fact that they turned away and started marrying into the families of some that were not destroyed and turned to their gods . .  . is that why God allowed these once "dead" kingdoms to subdue the Israelites?

 

The issue here is the obedience of the Israelites to God. Here is the important thing to keep in mind. God wants the Israelites to be separate from the cultures around them, not because he hates those other cultures, but for the sake of the other cultures. Israel is called by God, set apart in order for them to be witnesses to the cultures around them to who God is and what it is to live in relationship with him. Now, one cannot be a witness to something else when you are exactly the same as the people you are witnesses to.

So when the Israelites disobey God, the implications are much bigger than just Israel. From a big picture perspective their disobedience affects not just them, but the people around them. That is why God deals with this the way that he does. Because those people around the Israel are important to God too. It may seem harsh, but what we are talking about is significant.

What we see happening here is God using the other nations the give to Israel a bit of a reality check and to call them back into the way that they are supposed to be living their lives, to call them back into life according to the covenant made at Sinai. Now we can look at this and think that God is been tough on them. But consider this; the fact that God calls them back into that right relationship and does not give up on them, is a sign of his grace and mercy. And God's grace and mercy are certainly good things.

I pray that you would be able to see that grace and mercy in your life and that it would be a source of comfort and strength for you. Blessings.

 

Sincerely,

Pastor CJ