Month: July 2011

Casey Anthony: Seeking justice or vengeance?

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The two most vilified words in the America today are Casey Anthony.  They spark rage, frustration, shock, horror.  And why not?  They have become synonymous with the tragic death of a little child, probably just like the one Jesus placed on His knee as He taught those around Him about the Kingdom of Heaven.  Many people believe that Ms. Anthony was the murderer, if not at least a cause in her daughter’s death.  People look at her and believe that SHE should die, just like that little girl.  One woman in Texas even followed another woman who looked like Casey Anthony and crashed into her car, injuring the look-alike.  We exclaim that justice should be done, and “an eye for an eye,” and cry foul when the ends do not meet our expectations.  We want JUSTICE, we say!

Is that true, though?  Do we seek justice for Caylee, and punishment for the accused?  Is justice even the right world for it?  Justice is the “adminstration of what is just” from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.  It is the result of the actions of a judge.  And who is the judge for Casey Anthony?  Are we?

Vengeance, on the other hand, is “punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense” (same source).  Which one sounds more like us?

What has Casey Anthony done to us?  Has she inflicted an injury to us?  Or do we just find her offensive?  Maybe that is it.  We see the death of a child as an offense because it is so close to us.  We all have children like Caylee in our lives.  Little ones who are our sons or daughters, nephews, nieces, or children of our friends or family.  We seek an outlet for our anger and we point to the one who SHOULD HAVE CARED FOR THE CHILD!  That much is true.  However, we are not the judges of Casey Anthony.  And our anger is not just.  It is a sin.  We have sinned against Casey Anthony when we call for her head and spit venom on her.

Romans 14:10, “Why do you pass judgment on your brother?  Or you, why do you despise your brother?  For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”

And two chapters earlier, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'”

Let God be the judge of man, and Casey Anthony.  He knows what is in her heart.  And if she seeks the forgiveness of the Lord for her sins, whatever they may be, He will grant it to her.  And He will grant the same to you, even when you sin in anger against your neighbor.  Pull out Luther’s Small Catechism and read the Fifth and Ninth Commandments and their meanings.  Seek the Lord and the forgiveness He brings in the Gospel.  Remember that it applies to all, no matter the sin or the stain.  Thanks be to God.

Contemporary Christian Music is Trash…?

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So, my wife and I have been going back and forth for a while now about contemporary Christian music. She really likes it and has a number of artists she follows. I still listen to my copy of “Jesus Freak” by D C Talk and haven’t moved past it. She tells me that I am really missing out on some great music, and I say it sounds too much like every artist is trying to write the next big worship song.

We’re both right. There is some great music out there today. She just introduced me to a new song by Sidewalk Prophets called “You Love Me Anyway.”. What a great song!

Yet, too many churches put this music into worship, thinking that it will make them hip and relevant and enjoyable. They use music to entertain and bring people in, when they’ve forgotten that the true purpose of music in the service is to teach about and give praise to God. When the song is about us and not the Lord and what he has done, then it misses the point of the service. Sunday morning worship is the time in which God gives to us all of the things we need and desire from Him: forgiveness and the strengthening of our faith through Word and Sacrament.

Too many times the purpose of contemporary Christian music is to build up our emotions and uplift our earthly spirits. That’s a blessed and much needed thing throughout the week. When I’m feeling down or I need to get the blood going, I like to use music because of it’s cathartic nature. But I can’t rely on those emotions to get me through the crisis of faith when it arises. And they certainly don’t give me the faith I need, because that faith comes from Scripture directly, not the personalized, me-centered pop music of today’s Christian artists. “Faith comes by hearing” as Paul says in Romans; and he means the actual, true, inerrant Word of God.

So, I agree, the answer to the title of this post is, “No, contemporary Christian music is not trash. Shame on me for implying so.” But keep it out of worship and let it do the job it was meant to do (which is sell records…or in today’s world, downloads for iTunes). Sunday morning music must, as the old spiritual says, “Give me Jesus!”

Gospel of the Week – July 17th

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Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 – The Parable of the Weeds

It’s about patience, plain and simple.  Learning to wait for God’s time while here on earth, even among the weeds (those of the evil one).  They will live among those of the Lord, unable to be told apart.  But the Lord will, at the end of days, separate the weeds from the wheat, and the weeds will be burned in the fire for all eternity.  Yes, that’s right, it’s hell.  And those of the Lord will be gathered together afterwards.  It’s pretty straightforward, but important to recognize the warning in the text.  Satan has sown evil ones among the children of God, be wary of those who may seem like the good, but do not bear fruit.  However, be not quick to judge.  That is the purview of Christ.  He will be the judge of the weeds, who will be bound together and burned in the fire.  It is not our concern to find the weeds.  Instead, we are to grow and prepare for the harvest.  The Lutheran Study Bible notation for v. 24-30 is informative.  Also, read 2 Peter 3:8-15.  It gives great insight into the patience of the Lord.

And, as always, there’s Pastor Fisk’s Greek Tuesday for the Gospel lesson of the week.

Quote of the Week

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Using “Quote of the Day” last week was a little misleading, or a least inaccurate, as not every day has a quote on this blog.  So, instead, on with the “Quote of the Week”:

This quote is an interesting thought I ran across in Pieper.  There’s been quite a bit of discussion as of late about confirmation at my church, and I think Pieper has a quote which certainly brings perspective to the matter.

“We must beware of supplanting Baptism with confirmation.  There is a trend in our day, also among Lutherans, to exalt confirmation at the expense of Baptism.  Dr. Walther (Pastorale, p.266) issues this caution:  ‘The pastor must guard against representing confirmation as  a complement or supplement of Baptism received in infancy, as though, e.g., the confirmand now for the first time makes the confession and pledge given by his sponsors his own.  Rather the rite of confirmation should primarily serve vividly to recall to the confirmands, as well as to the entire confgregation present, the glory of their Baptism, received in infancy.  To invest confirmation with a sacramental character is one of the aberrations so prevalent today, particularly among those who want to be regarded, above others, as strictly Lutheran and churchly.'”  – F. Pieper – Christian Dogmatics:  Volume III

Wait…confirmation isn’t a sacrament?!  :0)

Would the DCE like to weight in?

When putting your feet up is a bad thing…

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Having gotten justifiably indignant earlier today about a conversation I had regarding the Lord’s Supper, I was all prepared to write a post of the efficacy of the Sacrament.  I was reading in Luther’s Large Catechism when I came across an interesting passage, and felt the need to share.  So I figured I’d let my head cool a little while discussing a different topic.  But, never fret, we will have discussion on The Sacrament of the Altar soon, for it is a topic that requires regular treatment.  But I digress…

Luther says in his Large Catechism, in Part V:  The Sacrament of the Altar:

“Therefore, the Sacrament is given as a daily pasture and sustenance, that faith may refresh and strengthen itself [Psalm 23:1-3] so that it will not to fall back in such a battle, but become ever stronger and stronger.  The new life must be guided so that it continually increases and progresses.  But it must suffer much opposition.  For the devil is such a furious enemy.  When he sees that we oppose him and attack the old man, and that he cannot topple us over by force, he prowls and moves about on all sides [1 Peter 5:8]  He tries every trick and does not stop until he finally wears us out, so that we either renounce our faith or throw up our hands and put up our feet, becoming indifferent or impatient. Now to this purpose the comfort of the Sacrament is given when the heart feels that the burden is becoming too heavy, so that it may gain here new power and refreshment.” – Concordia:  The Lutheran Confessions, ed. Paul Timothy McCain.

It is this phrase “throw up our hands and put up our feet, becoming indifferent or impatient” that caught my eye the most.  How true is this when thinking about service for the Church?!  How many times have we all felt this way?  We are put off by the slowness of our congregations, or the lack of “getting things done,” and we choose to ignore the problem.  Or we walk away and say to ourselves, “Let somebody else worry about it, I’m done!”  We become agitated or aggrieved by our congregation’s actions, the decision at a Voters’ Meeting, or upset about the discussion with members of a Board on which we serve.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  Luther mentions this verse specifically.  But what if the lion is not roaring and gnashing his teeth?  Instead, what if he is just slowing, quietly, chewing our leg off?  (Happy metaphor, I know…)  Seriously, though, why must Satan always seek to tear us limb from limb, when he can softly extinguish our faith with the breath of indifference and unattentiveness, like blowing out a candle?

This is why faithful attendance on Sunday morning is so important.  The burning flame of faith can only be brightened and strengthened by God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit working through the Word.  Regularly receiving the Lord’s Supper strengthens faith and forgives sins.  It builds us up to fight off the devil’s efforts, whether like the lion or the wind.  It keeps us steadfast in our faith so that indifference or impatience cannot take root.  Isn’t it interesting that the thing which makes the membership of a church function most successfully (faith) is the thing the church comes together to build in the membership, through the power of that which built the church in the first place (God and His Word)?  Let that one soak in for a while…

Waiting for God…Oh?

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Here is an email I wrote many years ago to some friends of mine as a devotion.  It’s amazing to look back on it now and realize that God works in His own ways at his own times (some of those times may not be here, yet, either).  You may also notice that the beginning of the email is the title of this blog (I’ll save that story for another time).

Dear Christian Friends,

There are many things that I want in this world. A loving, caring, beautiful family that I can take care of. A fulfilling, uplifting job as a pastor in the Lord’s church. World peace. Things like that. And I want them NOW. As you can tell, I, like many of us, have a problem with being impatient. I swear that God seriously doesn’t have a watch that works. And it’s not that I don’t get what I need when I need it. Matthew 6:25ff is very true. God does provide. It’s just that God has a way of giving me what I need when I have my eyes set on something else I want.

Well, I’ve come to a realization. I’m not ready for what I need when I want it, usually. Oh sure, when I need a home, a friend, or a turkey sandwich on wheat, God’s always got one ready. But the things I think I WANT, that “I can’t live without,” or the things that I need to have soon, I am not ready for.

I want to be a husband and a loving father. Yet, time and again, I fail to realize that I need to spend the time I have preparing to fulfill a job that the Lord wants me to do down the road (1 Peter 1:13). My time is best spent, right now, working on preparing myself to serve Him in love and faithfulness, waiting patiently for the good things that He has in store for me. Romans 8:25, “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Let me give you an example from my own life. I want, and I mean really want, a female companion to share my life with. But, I realize, that God knows that I am not ready to share my life with someone; I am not ready to commit to a lasting relationship, because He has things that I must do and skills I must learn. I am not ready to tackle the problems and stress of marriage. I mean, I’m not ready to tackle the problems and stress of a Monday morning yet. How can I possibly be ready for marriage? But, I know that God and I will work together to see fit that I have the tool and knowledge to deal with sharing EVERYTHING with another human being. My purpose right now is to live a God-centered life, to make Him and His plan my number one concern, to take care of my problems, struggles, and stumbling blocks, before I can move into new responsibilities. The good things will come, that I am sure of. Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Even later in life, I have a job to do. God wants me to spread His love to the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). He wants me to love Him and my family and friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. I need to make sure that my mind is not cluttered with overzealous plans and desires when my one focus should be on Him. Now, I’m not saying that you can’t think about what you would like in this world, but what I am saying is make sure that what you want doesn’t get in the way of the Lord and your devotion to Him.

Remember, make God and His plan for you your focus right now. Let Him be your guide, and He will help you, love you, and give you all that you need. He has given gifts to you to use in this life, and you need to remember to learn them so that you can use them when He fulfills your wants and needs.

Jeremiah 29:11-13, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.'”

See also Proverbs 19:21, Psalm 37, Romans 8 (one of the greatest chapters in the Bible), Philippians 2:12-18, 2 Timothy 2:14-26

The difference between accepted and received…

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There was a discussion I used to have with an old coworker who was a non-Lutheran Evangelical (right now my Pastor is screaming “We’re the Evangelicals! They stole our name!”) during which we would discuss the meaning of Ephesians 2:8-9.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

He would say, rather profusely, that a gift is free, to be sure, but you must reach out and take the gift. It is our job, he would argue, to accept the gift that God gives us. And, of course, I would look at him like he had three heads and say, “No, the gift is free. It is given to us and we don’t have to do anything to get it.”

This would go back and forth for a while until our boss would come out of her office and tell us to get back to work. And then, a few weeks later, we would do it all over again. I would say, “Accepting God’s grace is a work,” and he would disagree. You can see how this went on, over and over.

It was only recently that I come to realize the flaw I was missing. His point of view left out the key to the whole discussion. What does “accept” really have to do with this? Nothing, actually.

See, we don’t accept God’s grace. Any good Lutheran will tell you that. We receive it. That’s the real rub of the matter. My coworker’s argument holds water in the human mind if you don’t move the method behind it to the proper place. Even Baptism looks like a work if you don’t take into account the power of God’s Word.

God gives us His grace. In fact, He gives us our faith through hearing His Word. Our salvation comes from the Lord. How wonderful it is to know that we do not have to make ourselves believe, or turn our hearts to God, or feel His Sprirt in order to get the gift of grace. Because, to be honest, I feel like a pretty bad person a lot of the time. I constantly sin. It’s impossible for me to go for any amount of time without doing something against God, others, or myself. The doubt in my own ability is enormous. How can I feel an assurance of my salvation when this is what I have to deal with all the time? And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.

How glorious it is then that we know God has given to us, by faith, the saving grace of His love. We only need to hear His Word and receive the faith from the Holy Spirit that we are redeemed through Christ.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”. Romans 5:1-2

By Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Amen and amen.

The Gospel for this Week

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From the Lectionary (Series A) – Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 – The Parable of the Sower

This is an excellent parable. Be sure to read it this week (before Sunday morning…it’s a good habit to get into, and the readings for the following Sunday should be available in your church bulletin). Then ask yourself this question:

“If I could sow the seed (speak the Gospel of Jesus Christ) only on the good soil, could I still make it grow?”

Perhaps an even better question is:

“Who is the sower, and who is the soil?”

And, while you’re at it, check out this Tuesday’s Worldview Everlasting!

So I said to the wife…

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I regularly find myself apologizing to my wife. Not in the sense of “Oh, sorry, honey,” with a tone that says, “I don’t really mean this, but I’m saying it anyway because I have to so you don’t make me sleep on the couch.” Instead, I find myself asking for her forgiveness because I am truly guilty and seeking repentance in her eyes.

Before you think I am a horrible, evil husband (or have a guilt streak a mile wide), hear me out. It’s important for me to clarify my position. I find myself apologizing to her because I sin against her. I get angry, and I say something with malice. I ignore her and do what I want. I find myself being uncaring at times, or not supportive, or lazy. I don’t do the proper things for her. I find myself not living up to the Bible passage from our wedding, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church, and gave himself up for her,” Ephesians 5:25 (No, we didn’t have the “Love Chapter” read at our wedding…you can ask about that story if you like…).

I am a sinner, it is true. I am a sinner against my wife, the person whom I love the most in this world. Even love cannot stop my sinfulness. As Paul said in this week’s Epistle from Romans 7:15b, “For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing that I hate.” And do I ever sin against her. It breaks me down when I do. My heart aches and I feel terrible and wretched. That is why I apologize. They are the apologies of a man torn and disfigured by sin. I do not just say, “I’m sorry,” but instead, I seek repentance. That is the way God asks for us to show contrition.

“For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” – Psalm 51:16-17.

I go to my wife as a man who is broken under the Law, unable to stand before her sinless. And she, wonderful and gracious follower of Christ, forgives me! How amazing it is! She forgives me because of our shared faith in Jesus, who has come to remove these sins from our lives. She forgives because of Colossians 3:13b “as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” She, as a child of God and faithful servant of Christ, accepts my repentance. We then can, and do, go together to the table of Christ and receive His Body and Blood for our forgiveness together. We listen to the Gospel together and share the Good News of Christ with each other. Growing faith together, we live in love together and the words of Ephesians 5. It is the gift we are able to share with each other every day in our marriage: faith, which brings love.