Ask a Pastor

What happens to people of other faiths?

2013-05-20T04:34:00-06:00

My husband and I try to discuss, but not very successfully, the point that we are saved through Jesus Christ alone. Well, how about people of the Jewish faith, or all our friends or family who do not practice any faith or even my son, who is atheist. Can’t they be saved? I believe in my heart that they can, but I can never explain it. — Helen Joudin, member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Venice, Fla.

David: Helen, thank you for your question. I believe in the promise of Holy Baptism and the assurance that those who believe in Jesus Christ will be welcomed into the kingdom of God. I trust those promises because (in my opinion) God has made them clear and manifest. About the Jewish people also, I think Scripture is very clear — God has made a promise to Israel, and God will not break that promise.

So what about those outside of the church?

That is between them and God. I am not the judge of all creation. I proclaim the promise offered through Jesus, because that is what I am called to do — and because I find such joy and peace in my faith that I want to share it with others!

“There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12)

God has been gracious and merciful to me. That I know with certainty, and in that I trust. I leave the decision as to what will happen to those outside of our faith in God’s hands.

Ron: Dear Helen, I find that these conversations are the most helpful “face to face,” but since we don’t have that opportunity, I will share what I believe. First of all, the passage that keeps running through my head is probably one you have heard before, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Coupled with that is Romans 5:1-2: “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.”

I also believe that God, being God can do whatever God wants to do. Whenever I have been asked a similar question to yours, I also go to the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Here Jesus clearly tells a story about people who are called or chosen to come and work at various times of the day. At the “end” of the day the owner even calls more workers. When it comes time to “settle up” all the workers receive the same pay. I believe that we who wear and bear the sign of the cross are called to believe and trust in Jesus Christ. For as we hear in the Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me” (John 14:6).

It seems to me that the book of Acts and the letter to the Romans are very helpful in providing a foundation and basis for this belief.

Monica: Dear Helen and husband, what a deep and relevant question. One of my favorite books on the subject is “Christ Crucified: A 21st-Century Missiology of the Cross” by Mark W. Thomsen. At the risk of being a heretic and with the hope of reclaiming the profound Lutheran understanding of God’s salvific work on the cross, I contend that God in fact saves the whole world and all peoples through Jesus Christ alone and that this salvation extends to all, including Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists, etc. For where there is love, there is God. Scripture says, we cannot love God whom we cannot see if we do not love our neighbors whom we can see (1 John 4). At the core of our Christian faith is love. And at the core of God’s work of salvation is love. I believe in a God who loves all his created beings — regardless of religion, creed or disbelief. So, why be a Christian? Christians/Lutherans have much to offer to this hurting world by building relationships of love — the love that we experience in Jesus.

Do you have a question you’d like answered by an ELCA pastor? Send your question to livinglutheran@elca.org, and you might see it answered by one of our pastors. You can also find out more about our pastors on our “Bios” page. LivingLutheran.com offers a platform for ELCA members to share their diverse experiences of what it means to live Lutheran.

You might also want to read:
My neighbor’s religion
Building bridges between faiths
Preaching to an interfaith congregation

Being Lutheran is more than 'renouncing the devil,' right?

2013-05-13T04:34:00-06:00

Adult baptism at St. Paul’s Lutheran, Medford, Wis.

I love the Lutheran church. I love the Lutheran church because I have been given the opportunity to wrestle with my faith and learn to love Jesus in a way that matters in this world. But, being Lutheran is more than “renouncing the devil,” right? When I attend worship and we welcome new members, have a baptism or rite of confirmation, (one of) the very first questions we ask is: “Do you renounce the devil?” Everything comes to a screeching halt for me. Why do we ask this first or even at all?— Melissa Minieri, Grace Lutheran Church, Conroe, Texas

Brian: Melissa — you are not alone in being confronted, confused or confounded by these words. In doing baptismal counseling with parents, I try to explain that this is a compact phrase for a complex commitment. “Renouncing” is more than a mere formula — it’s a commitment to a true “turning away.” And “the devil” refers to the embodiment of all evil, of all that would draw us away from or interfere with our relationship with God.

Think of it in physical terms. The short phrase, “renounce the devil” is the equivalent of looking out the entrance of the church at all the things that could become priorities or idols for us — wealth, power, security, fame — and then turning around to face the cross, in order to say “My life’s priorities will be ordered by the cross and not by all the empty promises of the world.”

Whether you call it renouncing, repenting or reorienting, the gift of baptism is our daily opportunity to turn to the life to which we’re called and away from the tempting but empty promises that surround us.

Elizabeth: When I was in the parish, some of the confirmation class kids brought one of their friends to Wednesday night catechism. Let’s call him Ben. Ben’s home life was chaotic. He had no experience with church. The only time Ben had heard the name of Jesus was when his parents uttered it as a curse. Ben picked up on their colorful language. Ben also liked to fight.

Ben came to catechism for two years. He found a family in the church. Ben heard about the love of Jesus and decided to become baptized. When Ben and I met to talk about being baptized, I told him that saying yes to God’s love in Jesus means that we have to give up our old way of life. In Ben’s case that meant he was going to have to give up swearing and fighting. The confirmation class worked with Ben helping him to walk half a block at a time to and from school without swearing or fighting, then a block and finally the entire route. Ben was baptized. He wasn’t always able to resist swearing or fighting, but he got to live in a new way.

The first question we ask a candidate is not “Do you renounce the devil …” It is “… called by the Holy Spirit, trusting in the grace and love of God, do you desire to be baptized into Christ?” After the candidate says, “I do,” he or she turns away from the old life and allegiances. The devil is everything that opposes God. For Ben it was the chaos of his home manifested in his fighting and swearing. He made a deliberate and difficult choice to accept Jesus’ invitation to follow him. Renouncing the devil and all the forces that defy God is a public, intentional break with our past so that we may enter into God’s future.

David: Thank you, Melissa, for this very good question! Yes! Being a Lutheran (being a Christian) is more than the renunciation of the devil. This is a question (often a set of three questions) that we ask during a baptism and during subsequent affirmations of baptism (which is what we are doing in the rite of confirmation and the receiving of new members).

Being a Lutheran is more than this. In fact, being a Lutheran is more than baptism. But this is the beginning. This is the start. You cannot start the new thing until you have left the old. In the words of St. Paul, we “put off the old Adam.” This is a way for us to acknowledge this in our ritual. We have put to death — crucified with Christ — our old selves, in order to be raised to new life with Christ.

In the ancient world, this was powerful as most new Christians were quite literally rejecting the gods of their family in order to claim faith in Jesus. In the modern world is it usually more subtle, but we have our other gods, too: wealth, influence, materialism and many more things. And we must reject those gods in order to claim faith in Jesus. As Jesus said, we cannot serve two masters.

Monica: Dear Melissa, great question! Lutheranism is definitely more than “renouncing the devil.” I am guessing that the word “devil” may make some a little squeamish but during a baptism or confirmation (affirmation of baptism) the sacrament begins by remembering the wonderful news of God’s love, God’s will for new life, forgiveness of sin, and the promise of resurrection and eternal life. All of this good news pumps us up to be able to confidently renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God, including those powers that move us away from God, and our sin.
These things no longer have power over us on account of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Being Lutheran is far more about the love and grace of God. I experience the profession of faith and renouncing of the devil as an expression of Romans 8:38-39. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ron: Dear Melissa, thanks for paying attention to the words and thoughts of the liturgy. Just the other day I was talking with a 12-year-old boy who wants to be baptized on his 13th birthday. He has been reading the Bible and has come to the conclusion that he wants to join the family of God. I had a great conversation with his parents who shared with me that there are some friends who have been praying for this young man.

He’s active in his school, especially in track. As I walked him and his parents through the baptismal service, I shared with them that the words about “renouncing” come from how and when as Luther said we are tempted, “by the devil, the world and our flesh.” In baptism God “claims us, gathers us and sends us out into the world.” As part of the baptismal service or Affirmation of Baptism, the baptized (if they are able, otherwise sponsors and parents answer on behalf of them) respond to God’s initiation and invitation. God has already said through the waters of baptism, “I claim you as my daughter or son.” In “renouncing,” the baptized or those affirming their baptism state what they basically will not do, but then it is also coupled with the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

We often sail right over this question quickly, but it should give us pause. We should spend more time talking together about what it means for us to reject all of our idols and cling to Christ alone. Thanks, Melissa!

You might also want to read:
Is God in control?
… but God
If you are …

Eternal life for all?

2013-05-06T04:34:00-06:00

Recently I heard a very fundamental nondenominational pastor say, “We will all live forever, the difference being where we live it.” Is that biblical? — Dee

Ron: Dear Dee, I have always found great power and wisdom in the Ash Wednesday liturgy when we say, “You are dust and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19). It is a basic truth that we all die. So, I’m not totally sure what it is that the pastor was trying to say or actually did say. I do believe that quite often Christians understand that the kingdom or reign of God is something that happens after we have all died and gone to heaven. But Jesus was pretty clear about announcing the good news that the kingdom is unfolding right before our very eyes.

Monica: Dear Dee, there are many who seek to bring salvation to people by way of threatening eternal damnation. It’s a fear tactic. Recently I asked my congregation if they had heard of the “Rapture.” A lot of heads nodded! Then I asked, “Has anyone ever told you that you better get your life in line or else?” Again, a lot of heads nodded. Our Scripture reading for the day was Revelation 21:1-6. As we near the end of Scripture in Revelation 21 and 22, nowhere is the “rapture” mentioned. It’s not biblical, and it’s poor theology. God does not destroy the earth while saving a select few. This is not the God who sent his only Son not to condemn but to save. Again not just a few — but the whole world! No matter what challenges life brings we can remember that Jesus himself descended into hell, conquering even the darkest of places. And then, only after conquering hell, Jesus ascended into heaven. This is the promise of the resurrection — that we too shall ascend. Will we be judged? Yes. Where will we spend eternity? I trust the God of love who first loved us in Christ Jesus.

David: Dee, this is a big question, and I don’t know if I can give you a really good answer in 200 words. But I’ll give it a shot.

The short answer is no — or at least, the statement of the pastor you heard is pretty incomplete. The idea of an immortal soul owes more to Greek philosophy than it does to the Bible. Most of the Bible assumes that if the soul continues to exist after death, it does so only because of the power of God — not because souls are eternal. For example, 1 Timothy 6:16 speaks of the resurrected Jesus Christ saying that “he alone has immortality.”

The Christian church has affirmed that when Christ returns, there will be a judgment. (See for example, Matthew 25:31-46). The question is whether only the righteous will be resurrected, or will both the righteous and the wicked be resurrected at Christ’s return? And on that question, many very intelligent and faithful people (much smarter than I) have written at length and disagreed.

At the end of the day, the answer resides in God’s control and not in mine. My trust is in God’s grace, and my hope is in the resurrected Jesus Christ. I will let myself be satisfied with the mystery, and know that all will be clear when God makes it so.

You might also want to read:
My sister’s opinion of ‘Left Behind’
An eternity with my darling love?
The righteous and the accursed

An incomplete lectionary?

2013-04-29T04:34:00-06:00

Why does the ELCA lectionary include just pieces of certain books, instead of the entire Bible? — Steve and Linnea, ELCA members from North Carolina

Ron: Once I was told that there are three ways to answer most questions: (1) yes; (2) no; and (3) I don’t know, but I’ll find out for you. So, this may not totally satisfy your question, but I went to do a little bit of research on the Revised Common Lectionary. As you may know, the ELCA follows the Revised Common Lectionary. There is basic information about this at this ELCA website.

I did a little more digging at this second website, and it stated that the arrangement of the lessons fits a format of:

A lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures (or Acts during the Season of Easter)
A Psalm
A lesson from the Epistles or Acts
A lesson from the Gospels

According to the website, during Ordinary Time, there are two sets of Hebrew Bible readings. One set progresses semi-continuously through the Patriarchal/Exodus narratives (Year A), the Monarchial narratives (Year B), and the Prophets (Year C). Likewise, during Ordinary Time, there are two Psalm readings, one that corresponds to the semi-continuous Hebrew Bible lection and one that corresponds to the theme of the Gospel lection. The Hebrew Bible lections during the rest of the year are thematically related to the Gospel lections, which are in turn connected to the seasons of the Church Year.

So, we might be getting closer to an answer to the question of why there are “just pieces of certain books” used in the lectionary. Given the fact that there are 1,189 chapters in the Bible consisting of 31,103 verses, there probably just aren’t enough Sundays in a year to cover all the books. And while the Daily Lectionary (which you can find here) doesn’t cover all the books either, that might assist you in your quest for scriptural fluency.

I have led discussion groups in our congregation with the resource from Augsburg Fortress, “The Greatest Story,” which in 16 sessions does a nice high-level overview of the Bible. For something a little more intense and rigorous, “The Bible in 90 Days” might be of interest to you.

Anne: While many ELCA congregations use the Revised Common Lectionary, some are using the Narrative Lectionary (a relatively new resource out of Luther Seminary) and still others do not use a set lectionary at all but rather readings chosen by the pastor or other congregational leaders. I’m not aware of any churches, Lutheran or otherwise, that work their way through the entire Bible during worship.

There are plenty of reasons not to use the entire Bible in worship. The Bible isn’t a single book; it’s more like a library or a collection of many books. The Bible is not in chronological order and many books overlap in content. Some of the content would be tedious to read out loud, like the census data recorded in the book of Numbers. Other texts would be difficult to divide into lessons short enough to use in worship while still giving a sense of their larger context.

So, how do we use Scripture meaningfully in the context of worship? The goal of the Revised Common Lectionary is to tell the story of our Christian faith in a way that corresponds with the seasonal church calendar (stories about Christ being revealed during the Sundays after Epiphany, readings of preparation and expectation during Advent, etc.). In this way, even without hearing passages from every book in the Bible, we get a sense of the larger scope and narrative of our faith. Hopefully, these excerpts from the Bible get us interested enough to delve into Scripture more deeply and fully through study outside of worship, both at church and at home. Also, the readings for the day are far from the only Scripture we receive on any Sunday: hymns, liturgy, art and stained glass windows — these all surround us in the fullness of God’s word.

I love the Revised Common Lectionary in part because I love knowing that, on any given Sunday, we are hearing and praying and examining the same words of Scripture with millions of Christians around the world. That said, if you’re only reading the parts of the Bible we read in worship, you’re not getting the full picture, whether your congregation follows a lectionary or not. Reading and studying the Bible takes time and effort — it can’t just be a Sunday morning thing!

David: Steve and Linnea, along with at least a dozen other denominations in the United States, the ELCA uses the Revised Common Lectionary — a three-year cycle of readings. The history of the Revised Common Lectionary goes back to the very similar lectionaries that were in use in many denominations in the late 1960s.

Like all of the preceding lectionaries, the Revised Common Lectionary does not include all of Scripture. Over the course of three years, much of the Bible is read in worship but there are still some gaps. The goal is to expose people to the most essential elements of Scripture, recognizing that there are limits to what you can accomplish in (on average) a one-hour worship service every week. There is an assumption, I suppose, that people who would benefit from a study of (for example) the genealogies of Genesis 5 are engaged in personal and corporate Bible study.

There are many daily lectionaries that provide appointed readings for personal devotion every day and cover more of the Bible (there is one in “Evangelical Lutheran Worship” on page 1121). Many congregations will also occasionally do a program like “The Bible in 90 Days” or “Read through the Bible,” or leave the lectionary for a period of time to go more in-depth on a text. Check with your local congregation and see if there is a Bible study you can take part in.

Monica: Dear Steve and Linnea, I am so happy you know of the lectionary! Many ELCA congregations use the Revised Common Lectionary published in 1992, which follows a common list of Scripture readings for worship. Gail Ramshaw authored, “A Three-Year Banquet: The Lectionary for the Assembly,” published by Augsburg Fortress. This is a wonderful resource all about the lectionary. The Revised Common Lectionary is not unique to the ELCA. Developed over time through ecumenical commission, the Revised Common Lectionary is used by several denominations.

Regarding the Bible, Gail notes, “A lectionary assists us in encountering the breadth of scriptures.”(p. 11) The purpose of the lectionary is to proclaim Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Typically lectionary readings include: Old Testament, Gospel, and an Epistle (Paul’s letters). The lectionary is a three-year cycle that reflects an extensive selection of Scripture readings built on the liturgical year. As Gail describes, “The selected biblical readings proclaim the meanings of the festivals and the seasons of the Christian year.” (p. 24) The creation of the Revised Common Lectionary focuses on what happens in Sunday worship in which the Risen Christ is experienced. One reason the lectionary includes selected passages instead of the whole Bible is because not every passage of Scripture is equal in enlightening the proclamation of Christ. Lastly, with only 52 weeks in a year, it would be very difficult to read the entire Bible during Sunday worship while still celebrating liturgical seasons.

You might also want to read:
Words of life
Unity in the words of worship
A blank canvas

Sealed in baptism?

2013-04-22T04:34:00-06:00

I have heard it said that the Holy Spirit seals me in baptism. What does this phrase mean? I know that God gives us Holy Baptism as a gift rather than a work that we are to obey. Yet, I have trouble understanding things since I came to believe in God and read the Bible from cover to cover before I ever joined a church. — Tracy Craft

Monica: Dear Tracy — awesome question! There is a lot I could say about the work of the Holy Spirit in baptism. But what I will share is what it means to me to be “a child of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”

For me, these words are a reminder that I belong to God. No matter what I do or fail to do, God’s salvation is a gift to be received. Being marked with the cross of Christ is a once and forever thing — nothing and no one can take that away. God’s love for me and the world is unconditional. The promise then of these words is that we will never be without God.

David: Tracy, near the end of the service of Holy Baptism, the pastor makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of the baptized and says, “(Name), child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”

There is a great deal of meaning in that one little sentence. As Lutherans, we use this phrase to talk about a) being adopted as a child of God, b) being given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and c) being united with Jesus Christ. All of which are God’s irrevocable gifts, given to us in Holy Baptism.

In particular, being “sealed by the Holy Spirit” is how we talk about the gift of the Holy Spirit. To borrow words from another, being sealed by the Holy Spirit shows that “You were anointed by the Holy Spirit and received him by God’s grace. He is yours, and remains within you” (Theodore of Mopsueta). To put it simply: Being sealed by the Holy Spirit is God’s promise of faithfulness — God’s Spirit will dwell within you and will not abandon you.

Anne: Great question! I find it helpful to think of it less like sealing a piece of Tupperware and more like putting an official seal (like a beautiful gold sticker or a wax stamp with an imprint on it) on a letter or a certificate. It’s a way that God puts a mark on us, a signature that says, “This one is mine!”

Ron: Great question. In the baptismal service, after the child/adult has been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, there is a prayer regarding the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts are listed in Isaiah 11. Then the pastor takes oil and makes the sign of the cross on the baptized person’s forehead, as per the rubrics stated:

The presiding minister marks the sign of the cross on the forehead of each of the baptized. Oil prepared for this purpose may be used. As the sign of the cross is made, the minister says: (Name), child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Amen.

The Greek word (sphraizo) used in the following two passages has its roots in the whole notion of a signet ring. If a ruler “signed” or “sealed” a document with that ring, it meant there was the influence or even authority or ownership of the Royal One conveyed upon the person who was “sealed or signed.”

So, this phrase means that because we are God’s child we have been “marked/sealed” with that Holy Spirit. We are connected. We belong to God and each other. Our congregation has produced a video as to what this all means. Check it out here.

In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).

You might also want to read:
Affirmation of Baptism in word and sacrament
The challenge (and promise) of baptism
A welcome at the end of the day

Against the laws of nature?

2013-04-15T04:34:00-06:00

It’s evident that violations of the laws of nature do not occur in our universe. Christianity depends on the existence of events that violate those laws. How can an intelligent human being be a Christian? — Bob Lawrence, Chicago.

Anne: I assume you’re referring to the resurrection of Jesus, the central event of the Christian faith. It does violate the laws of nature as we define them: dead people stay dead. You could also include the virgin birth as another event, central to our faith and part of our creed, that just doesn’t make sense. And yet, many intelligent people persist in believing this nonsense. Why?

I could argue that there is a kind of intelligence that goes beyond the purely rational. I could contend that it takes great intelligence and analytical depth to negotiate a theology full of paradox, grey area and creative tension. That’s all true, but it misses the larger point.

You don’t have to be intelligent to be a Christian. The Christian family includes the greatest thinkers of all time and people with severe intellectual disabilities and neither has the edge on the other when it comes to faith. Faith is a gift from God. It’s not something we get by our own intelligence, good works or effort.

I baptized a baby yesterday. He’s a very smart baby, but he doesn’t understand baptism, communion, the resurrection, the virgin birth, or any other central event or practice of Christianity. And yet, in his baptism, God gave him the gifts of faith, grace and forgiveness. As this baby gets older, his understanding of these things will grow and change, and at some point he’ll probably wonder why he should believe in something that seems so contrary to human reason. With the Spirit’s help, he may find he’s drawn to Christianity because it doesn’t make sense, because it is about something bigger and more powerful and more wonderful than human reason and intelligence. Whether he’s intelligent or not, God has given him the gift of faith, a gift beyond human understanding.

Neddy: It is true that the Bible has many stories that appear as if God is violating the laws of nature. Since I just can’t doubt God’s existence (God has just shown me enough signs of his loving presence in my life), what I have asked myself is: Why would a creator God violate the laws of his already awesome creation to convince us of his presence and love for us?

I really don’t have a definite answer for that question yet. The only ones I have heard that kind of make sense to me are: God is not done with his creation yet; we cannot say we know all the laws of his creation, so nothing should surprise us. Perhaps God wants us to believe that with love, anything can happen. God is love, and God is the creator also, so God can do whatever God wants with his creation to complete it.

In my own spiritual life, I have had dreams and premonitions leading my life journey which I have no way of understanding “scientifically.” I think there is a way of knowing God that can only be experienced when we allow mystery and wonder to fill our lives. Reason is just one way of knowing, but there are others, too. Reason is also faulty in its own way. If scientists later come up with another reason for things, then our theory falls. The other answer may be that God has never tried to impress us at all; God is just being God and doing what God needs to do to lead his creation to a state of real peace.

I do not doubt the possibility that Jesus could calm a storm, be born of a virgin Mary, be resurrected after death, and heal the sick with a touch or even long distance. These types of stories were common during his time. He was not the only one with special powers. The question in the minds of the people was: What is the source of his miracles? Today, we may also wonder what is the source when miracles happen. Science has one way of explaining it, and it may be right, but we know the source of all blessing is God after all. You may find a different answer to your question just by “feeling” God, rather than trying to “understand” God first.

David: Bob, Thank you for your wonderful question. Let me begin by saying that I do not believe that anyone can be convinced by logic to come to faith. And I am not out to convince you of the reasonableness of the Christian faith — because I believe it to be inherently unreasonable to believe in a crucified God.

And yet, there are otherwise intelligent, reasonable people who count themselves as Christian. Why? I can’t offer an answer for anyone else beside myself, so here is my answer: I have experienced something greater, something beyond the laws of nature. I know that I can’t fully explain it to someone on the outside looking in, but the experience is there nonetheless. And that experience is tied to the God who is identified as the father of Jesus.

I don’t believe that this faith of mine requires me to believe that the laws of the nature are invalid or not to be trusted. I don’t believe that this faith requires me to reject reason and science. What I do believe is that there is something bigger than it all.

You might also want to read:
Seeing is not always believing
Why the virgin birth matters
Believing Thomas

A limit to God's patience?

2013-04-08T04:34:00-06:00

Is there a limit to God’s patience? — Olin from Elgin, Ill.

Ron: My quick answer is, “I certainly hope and pray there isn’t.”

Whenever I receive a question or comment about God or the “mind of God,” I immediately think to passages that I have learned along the journey. I give thanks for the faith formers who helped me learn passages by heart so that I might hold onto them and that they might hold onto me. Two passages jump out:

“He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:10-14).

“The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

There are many other passages that echo the themes stated here. I suppose if the questioner is asking from a point of frustration, “How long is God going to forgive that person who drives me crazy?” my sense would be that is a whole other question. However, we just heard a few weeks ago of the Parable of the Prodigal Son (or the Waiting Father). In that particular instance there was forgiveness and grace after so much water had gone under the bridge. There was such great joy and rejoicing for “what was lost has now been found.” If the questioner is asking for herself or himself from a perspective of, “is it too late for me?” The answer is “no, come home.” God “knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.”

Monica: Dear Olin — what an intriguing question. I have been pondering how to respond. The Bible has several stories showing God’s patience toward his people — the Israelites, the response of the prophets, Jesus’ overwhelming compassion yet stern guidance and occasional temper loss, and the Holy Spirit’s tenacity and persistence in the formation of the early church through the apostles.

So, is there a limit to God’s patience? I turn to the story of Noah. Humanity let down God with our sinful nature (Genesis 6). The Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart (v.6). But God found favor with Noah. And God said to Noah, ‘I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth (v.13). And God said to Noah, build an ark and I will establish my covenant with you. Oh, and bring with you two of every kind of living thing (male and female) as well as all the food needed.

The earth flooded and all life died (Genesis 7). But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with Noah in the ark (8:1). Then God restored/redeemed all of creation (Genesis 8). From this day forward, God made a promise! God said, “I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done.” (v.21) This is the promise to Noah and all his descendants including you and me.

According to the story of Noah, as I interpret it, there was a time when there was a limit to God’s patience. However, that limit was drowned in the flood, thus putting an end to God’s limited patience with humanity. Time and time again, God’s patience has been tested by humanity — even today I’m sure we test God’s patience, yet God has kept his promise — a promise that began with Noah!

God’s overwhelming compassion shines in the sign of the rainbow, a reminder of the covenant — an expression of God’s desire for redemption and hope for creation — that we/humankind become the stewards of creation expressing love and patience as God intended.

Anne: I’m thinking about this question the day after I preached on the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32), so I’m inclined to say, “No. No limit. God’s grace is limitless and so is God’s patience. Welcome home and come on in for the party.” Would I have answered your question differently last Monday, after the Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:1-9)? God, the loving gardener, seems to give a deadline to the fruitless fig tree. And there is a lot of impatience in the book of Amos and other prophetic texts. God does seem to have very little patience for injustice, especially when we fail to care for the most vulnerable members of society.

There’s a great song by the Lutheran artist Lyle Lovett that talks about loving, forgiving and trusting someone who has been repeatedly unfaithful. The chorus goes, “Well God does, but I don’t, and God will, but I won’t. That’s the difference between God and me.” I think about that song when I reach the end of my limited patience. I do my best not to impose the limits of my own patience onto God. In fact, when my own patience runs out, I take comfort in the idea that God’s patience is bigger than mine, as is God’s perspective on whatever is making me lose my patience that day. And I pray that God will give me the patience and perspective to be a loving, forgiving and trusting messenger of grace.

David: Olin, I sure hope not, because if there is we are all in trouble!

We are advised by Jesus that we should forgive not just seven times, but 70 times seven. God’s forgiveness must be even greater than that near limitless equation that Jesus offers to Peter. Even from the cross, Jesus forgives those who have unjustly put him to death.

I do not claim to know the depth and breadth of the infinite mind of God and would not presume to know the limits to any thought or emotion within God. But I would return again and again to the promise of the 136th psalm: The steadfast love of God endures forever.

You might also want to read:
Are we there yet?
How God gives: grace alone
The lost boy

The mother of our church?

2013-04-01T04:34:00-06:00

Why do we Lutherans not venerate Mary as mother of God and mother of the church and our intercessor? — from Anzarabi, a Lutheran in Tanzania

David: Anzarabi, what a great question! Along with the broad tradition of Christianity, Lutherans do address Mary by the title: mother of God. That is actually a technical title (“Theotokos” in Greek) affirmed by the ecumenical council of Ephesus in 431. Martin Luther himself spoke of Mary with great reverence and respect, and Lutherans ought to continue to do so.

However, the Lutheran tradition has continued to affirm that Jesus Christ is our intercessor before God, and he can be addressed directly by any believer. There is no need to pray first to Mary, but instead we are to take our prayers directly to Christ. This very question is addressed in one of our foundational documents, the Augsburg Confession: Christ “alone has promised to hear our prayers. According to Scripture, in all our needs and concerns it is the highest worship to seek and call upon this same Jesus Christ with our whole heart.” (Augsburg Confession 21)

As Lutherans, we respect Mary and we look to her example of faithfulness. But we bring our intercessions to Christ, our great high priest before the throne of God.

Monica: Dear Anzarabi, you raise a good question for all Lutherans. I would be interested in your Tanzanian experience of Lutheranism and the relevance of Mary. I first encountered Marian Theology [or theological views about Mary] as it relates to Lutheranism during my internship in Texas in a Latino Spanish-speaking congregation where many of the members were formerly Roman Catholic. Mary, the mother of Jesus, holds great cultural, devotional and religious significance for many Latino people (i.e., Virgin de Guadalupe).

Lutherans in general affirm the virgin birth and hold Mary in high esteem. Mary was the bearer of God’s love and favor. I don’t know that Lutherans currently hold Mary as the mother of the church since the book of Acts affirms that the church came into being by the power of the Holy Spirit. But the importance and role of Mary was an important topic for Martin Luther, which he wrote in his 1521 Commentary on the Magnificat which informs Lutheran theology and liturgy.

Martin Luther opposed intercessory prayer to Mary for fear that the practice would diminish Christ’s role in our salvation and give the impression that the merits of the saints could be added to the work of Jesus Christ to save humanity.

One perspective on the significance of the Virgin of Guadalupe from a Lutheran lens is that in Guadalupe the power of the Holy Spirit was at work to bring release to the captives (El Pobre) “the peasant people” from the oppression associated with colonialism. In the Virgin of Guadalupe lies the gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray to God/Jesus/Holy Spirit and at the same time can give thanks for his messengers/prophets who even in this day proclaim to us the good news in Jesus Christ.

There is a great article on Wikipedia on Lutheran Marian Theology, which offers more reflection and resources on the topic.

Ron: Dear Anzarabi, someone once said, “When you sing, you pray twice.” I am mindful of a verse in the hymn, “For All the Faithful Women” (ELW 419) verse 6,

Mary, Mother of Our Lord

We honor faithful Mary,
fair maiden, full of grace.
She bore the Christ, our brother,
who saved our human race.
May we, with her, surrender
ourselves to your command
and lay upon your altar
our gifts of heart and hand.

So, here you hear and see what high regard Lutherans have for Mary, whom Luther called “Theotokos” — the bearer of God. A great example of Luther’s devotion for Mary is witnessed in his 1521 Commentary on the Magnificat. However, as Article XX1 of the Augsburg Confession reminds us. “it cannot be proved from the Scriptures that we are to invoke saints or seek help from them.” Then the following verse is cited: “For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human” (1 Timothy 2:5). Consequently, we confess that Jesus, “who is the only savior, the only high priest, the advocate, and intercessor before God.

Anne: Thank you for this question, Anzarabi! One of the things that I love to do as a pastor is reintroduce Lutherans to Mary. Many Lutherans grow up with the idea that the way we view Mary is the main thing that separates us from Roman Catholics: Catholics “worship” or “pray to” Mary, and Lutherans don’t. I have to admit, I thought the same thing before I fell in love with a Roman Catholic. My husband helped me understand what it means to pray through — not to — an intercessor, like Mary or another saint. He asked me if I ever ask someone else to pray for me or for my concerns, someone I know is powerfully devoted to prayer. I do that all the time! Praying through Mary is the same idea — she becomes your prayer partner, and the communion of saints add their voices to yours in prayer. Like us, Roman Catholics are free to pray directly to God, and they worship God, not Mary. The word you used, venerate, is a great word for it — Catholics honor Mary in ways Lutherans have been taught not to, even though Martin Luther himself honored Mary as an example of a life lived in humble service and faith.

In Mary, Lutherans have an incredible opportunity to not only move beyond our ignorant prejudices about Roman Catholics but also discover for ourselves one of the most important figures in our shared Christian story: Mary, not only for what she did, but for who she was and what that says about how God’s power is revealed in weakness, how God is found “under the form of the opposite,” in the last possible place you would expect to find an all-powerful deity. The last place you would expect to find God is in the womb of a poor, unwed teenager, a virgin with no position or power of her own. If we honor the cross as the central image of our story, the prime example of God showing up in unexpected places, we must also honor Mary. From even before he was born, Jesus was turning the world and its expectations upside down.

You might also want to read:
Mother Mary, come to me
Mary, the mother of Jesus
Mary: Less is more

What is glory?

2013-03-25T04:34:00-06:00

Dear pastors,

My six friends and I, all male, retired teachers, get together every Wednesday morning at 7:30 in the basement of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd, Minn. In the past few years, we’ve been trying to define a word that has crossed our paths so many times, whether in our studies each time we meet or in the text of a choir piece we’re doing, and we wonder: What is “glory”? There are so many uses of the word in the Bible, so many songs with the word, but what exactly is it? — from Charlie Johnson, Casey Stengel, Ray Frisch, John Matthews, Bob Johnson, Ted Kotyk

Monica: Thank you for your excellent question. Let me begin with a few linguistic definitions. The word “glory” comes from the Latin word “Gloria,” meaning exalted praise and honor. Glory of God comes from the Latin “Gloria Dei” which means “The divine essence and attribute of God as absolutely resplendent and ultimately great” (see Revelation 21:23) and “the praise and honoring of God as the supreme Lord of all” (see 1 Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 2:11). To be “Glorified with Christ” is the promise of sharing in Christ’s heavenly glory given to those who share his sufferings on earth (see Romans 8:17). — Definitions from Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms (Louisville: John Knox, 1996), 114.

We give glory to God because of all that God has done for us. God created us and all that can be seen, imagined and known. We give praise to God for his son, Jesus Christ, who came not to condemn the world but to save (John 3:16) us and the whole earth. By the waters of baptism we are adopted into God’s family and become inheritors of God’s heavenly glory as sons and daughters in Christ. Compelled by the Holy Spirit to live in faithful relationship with God and neighbor and we participate in God’s mission in the world: to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s Supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people in the ways of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace throughout the earth. People of Bethlehem, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). God’s blessings to you and your ministry!

Ron: “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!”

Ever since I was a child in Lutheran grade school, my favorite hymn has been, “Isaiah in a Vision Did of Old” (ELW 868). The words and music were both written by Martin Luther. It is basically the words and scene of Isaiah 6 put into song, (“A Vision of God in the Temple”). This close encounter with God is all about glory. The angels are there singing their praises. God is in the temple and all is right all over the world. To me that is a prime example of what glory is. However, I also want to say that I’ve seen some amazing sunrises and sunsets that reveal the technicolor glory of God. I’ve seen rainbows that take me back to Mount Ararat when Noah and his family along with all the animals of the earth disembarked from the ark. I have been in intensive-care rooms when life has been miraculously restored through the wonders of modern science and prayer and there is the glory of God in that room. I’ve heard amazing orchestras and choirs majestically proclaim the glory of God at Christmas or on Easter Sunday. I have, like Elijah, also experienced the glory of God in a still, small voice.

Maybe “glory” is hard to define, but when you find it or more accurately, when glory finds you, you know it!

Anne: This question would make a great congregation-wide focus or Bible study! You could gather examples of “glory” used in Scripture and songs and, with the Spirit’s help, come up with a shared understanding of what God’s glory is all about. I think what you’d find is that the glory of God is revealed in very unlikely ways and through unexpected people and places. In contrast to the theology of glory that is common and popular in our culture, you’ll find that God’s strength is revealed in weakness, and most gloriously of all, in the cross. I love that God’s glory can be revealed in Christ’s face shining on the mountaintop and God’s voice booming from the cloud and then, immediately after that, in the valley where he casts out demons and touches and eats with the poorest and most outcast. Blessings on your studies!

You might also want to read or watch:
To God alone be the glory
Living is believing
The miracle of wine from water

The problem with problems

2013-03-18T04:34:00-06:00

How do you deal with someone who has a hard time believing they have a problem? Problems both with home and drinking, and do they go hand in hand? — from Emily

David: What a hard situation to deal with Emily!

First, recognize that this person is not going to get any help until he or she decides to. You cannot make that decision for them. Unfortunately, many people cannot bring themselves to get help until they hit the bottom. But know that you are not responsible for their unwillingness to get help.

Second, talk with other family members. If this is a serious drinking problem that affects the whole family, then you all will need to love and support one another. Talk with your local pastor, who should be able to direct you to recovery programs and resources. While you are at it, find a local chapter of Al-Anon, a support group for the relatives and friends of alcoholics.

And pray. Pray for God’s strength and patience. The road to recovery is neither fast nor easy. And know that others are praying with you. You and your loved ones are certainly in my prayers.

Anne: Emily, this is such a hard question, and my heart breaks with yours when I think about all the pain we witness, and the helpless feeling of watching people we love hurt themselves and others. The only answer I can really give is: never alone. We can’t deal with it alone. Being in relationship with someone struggling with drugs, alcohol and other addictions can be incredibly isolating (and being the person with an addiction is incredibly isolating, too.) Even when we feel entirely alone, God is with us and at work. The more resources and connections you can make with other people in similar situations, the better.

Ron: Dear Emily, I hear the challenge and frustration in your question. What I have learned over the years is that it depends on who the person is. For example, if the person is an employee at church or in a business where you have supervisory capacity for them, there are usually protocols established by Human Relations which can assist such a difficult, caring (and necessary) conversation. Often it is helpful to have documentation of how a person’s substance abuse has impacted their work or family life. In the arena of friendship it can be very difficult to raise these issues because there is the fear that due to denial one may not only upset the person in question, but potentially lose their friendship as well. I believe the best course to take is to prayerfully engage in a caring conversation (along with another person or two) and to express one’s concern about the other person’s well-being, share with them how the behavior has negatively affected the relationship and then be prepared to offer them assistance and willingness to help them address the health issue in a caring and loving manner.

Monica: Dear Emily, you are not alone in your struggles. Not only can you rely on God for strength but many families have struggled with alcoholism and addiction. This is an issue in my own family. As I have found strength to cope, and as I have ministered with many families I have gained a few insights. 1) At the end of the day the only person you can control and have responsibility for is you. You cannot change others. The most important thing is to care for yourself. Take care of you so that you may care for others. Perhaps consider counseling and/or join an Al-Anon group which provides support to family members of alcoholics/addicts. 2) Alcoholism/addiction is when a person is dependent upon a substance(s) and the use of the substance no longer becomes a choice. Alcoholism/addiction is a disease/illness where chemicals actually change the way the brain functions. It is a medical issue that causes behavioral concerns interfering with daily life. 3) Domestic abuse or emotional abuse is never OK. In such a relationship it is important to seek professional support and counseling (these insights are from my personal experience and are not to be taken as professional medical advice).

Let us pray: Compassionate God, your Son brought healing and wholeness to people stricken with disease, death and demons that destroyed the joys of family life. Look with favor upon families as they struggle against addiction and all the harm it brings to loved ones and those who love them. By the power of the Holy Spirit give wisdom in confronting addiction and grant your strength to cope with the difficulties of each day. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

You might also want to read or watch:
Addiction right between the eyes
Naming the elephant
Anatomy of a changed heart — a video

An eternity with my darling love?

2013-03-11T04:34:00-06:00

Twenty-five years ago, I met and eventually married the girl of my dreams. A bit over a year ago, cancer took her away from me. Recently, a nice girl began showing an interest in me. We haven’t dated, but it got me to thinking that if I were to re-marry, how does that work in heaven, assuming I qualify to get in? I’d really like to spend eternity with my darling love, but that doesn’t seem very fair to the second gal. Is it weird to feel this way about my wife and even consider seeing someone else? — from Donald in Phoenix

Neddy: A lady at my church asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago. We looked at the Bible, searching for answers. In Genesis 15:15, God tells Abraham that when he dies, he will join his ancestors. So it appears that our relationships on this earth will be recognized in heaven. But in terms of marriage, in the New Testament (Matthew 22:30, Luke 20:34-36) we have Jesus telling his disciples that in the time of the resurrection we will be like angels: sons (and daughters) of God. So it appears that the love we feel for each other will keep us united in the greater love of God, but when we die, we are released from the law of marriage (Romans 7:2).

Ron: Dear Donald, it seems to me that you had a grand relationship for 25 years. As is often the case after a dear one has died, it takes time for one to process the stages of grief. So, I’m just wondering, have you participated in grief workshops or classes at your church or in your community? You may find that by expressing your feelings about the loss of your dream girl, you will be able to totally fall in love with another. As you indicate, if you are still full of love for your first wife, that raises the whole question of fairness for the person you would marry in the future.

Secondly, and I don’t want to get too technical here, but I want to spend just a bit of time with your comment, “assuming I qualify to get in, how does that work in heaven?” What qualifies one for heaven is not what we have done, but rather what has been done for each one of us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. On a related note, it’s curious and somewhat timely that a major section of Mark 12 is based on dealing with questions related to two current topics, “taxes and death.” Since, you didn’t ask a tax question (and I’m not qualified to give tax advice), let’s talk about the issue of death.

When Jesus was asked about this he said, “For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong” (Mark 12:25-27).

So, it seems that when we die, there is a new way of being which is different from our current way of being or existing. I am not sure what that is, but I am sure that it will be grand.

Blessings to you on your journey through grief and the prospect of establishing a new relationship.

Anne: I’m sorry for your loss, Donald, and don’t think it’s weird at all to be considering seeing someone else and asking these kinds of questions. It’s hard to imagine the most significant relationships of our lives ending with death, and it can be hard to imagine having such a significant love again. I hope that, as time goes on, you will be able to imagine that possibility of love again. That kind of love is truly a gift from God. I don’t think God would give that gift if we were going to then be faced with some sort of terrible choice in heaven. That’s part of the reason our marriage vows and prayers include many references to death — specifically that death parts us. Sometimes, in the middle of such a happy occasion as a wedding, talking about death like that seems grim. But it is a reminder that we trust our eternal life to God. We don’t have to worry about qualifying to get in, or how it will work. My thoughts and prayers go with you as you miss and remember your beloved, and as God continues to guide and bless your love and life.

David: Donald, first, may God grant you comfort as you continue to mourn the death of your wife. You obviously loved your wife deeply — and that is a wonderful thing, there is nothing to apologize for there. Even if you re-marry one day you will still love your wife, and that is perfectly normal.

Jesus is repeatedly asked about life in the kingdom of God, and over and over again he answers elusively. Clarity eludes Paul too, when it comes to talking about resurrection life (1 Corinthians 15). The point seems to be that we will be the fullest expression of who God has intended us to be. In some ways that will be similar to our life in this world, and in some ways it will be wildly different and inexpressible.

So what to do? Live your life, and let God worry about eternity. If you fall in love, and find yourself called to marriage, then go for it (with appropriate prayer and discernment, of course). Trust that God will take care of God’s kingdom in a way that we will all be more joyous and content than we could ever imagine.

Monica: Dear Donald, God blessed you with a wonderful wife with whom you spent many years. Men and women alike who are widowed are often curious about dating and remarriage, and if children are involved, relationships are even more complex. Luke 20:27-40 (c.f. Matthew 22:23-33) reports how the Sadducees questioned Jesus about the law of marriage. After multiple brothers married the same woman following each of their deaths, as was customary according to the law, it was wondered whose wife she would be since seven had married her. “Jesus said to them, ‘Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. … Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’”(Luke20:34-36, 38)

So here’s the thing, you are not dead. Having feelings and the desire to build another loving and faithful relationship is normal. I wouldn’t let concerns or worries about the afterlife interfere with living your life with happiness and fullness here on earth. And as with all decisions and relationships, pray about it and God will guide you according to his will.

You might also want to read:
Standing on the promises
From ruin to resurrection
After the empty tomb

Is God in control?

2013-03-04T04:34:00-06:00

Do you believe that God is in control of everything? Do you believe that sometimes there is an evil force that is battling God — especially times when there are bad times in our country? — from Megan, an ELCA member and student at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

Anne: Good question, Megan! You may have heard the argument that all the evil we encounter in the world is the result of human sin — people being free to make choices that hurt themselves, others and creation. This is a helpful way to think about it because it means God isn’t responsible for evil; we are. But there is so much evil in the world that is too big and powerful to be just the result of an individual’s bad choice. There is evil that is so big it seems to have a life of its own: institutionalized racism is an example. This systemic sin is bigger than any individual’s choices, but not bigger than God. Ultimately, there is no evil — not even death itself — that can separate us from the love of God. The struggle is real, and the evil is real, but God is working through us and through all creation in ways we can’t even imagine.

David: The short answer is that yes, I do believe that God is in control of everything. God is the creator of all things and rules over all things.

Evil is very real and very powerful in this world. But I do not find a lot of comfort or wisdom for myself in thinking about where that evil comes from. The more important question, the question that the gospel drives me to ask of myself, is “What am I going to going to do about it?” Rather than worrying about the source of evil in the world, I feel called by the gospel to be a part of comforting those who suffer because of the evil in the world.

Most importantly, the promise of the Christian faith is that evil will not be victorious in this world. The same God who defeated death on Easter morning will bring light into the darkness and conquer every evil.

Monica: Dear Megan, what a great question! Here are my latest ponderings on God, God’s power, and evil/devil. God, the creator of the universe, gave to humanity the great responsibility to care for all creation (including all humanity). I believe God has given to us the power to make choices in life. God has given us the gift of “Free Will.” Jesus was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; Mark 1:12-13) and so are we. Forces that desire to pull us away from God and neighbor, seek to test our faith and the truth of the gospel. No matter what happens in our lives or in the world we can pray as our Lord Jesus taught us: “Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”

You might also want to read:
Descended into where?
After Aurora
Who is to blame?

Can prayer change God's will?

2013-02-25T04:34:00-06:00

Can prayer change God’s will? — From Linda, a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Mesquite, Texas

Here’s what our pastors had to say.

Anne: Dear Linda, I was drawn to your question because it’s come up in my life, too, and I’ve never found a completely satisfying answer. So, while I can’t promise a satisfying answer, I’ll share some thoughts and resources that have helped me through times when I’ve wondered what impact my prayers were having on God.

There are some stories in the Bible where it seems like prayer changes God’s plan. My favorites are conversations between God and Moses during the wilderness wanderings: check out Exodus 33:12-23, Numbers 11:10-23 and Numbers 14:13-25. Moses advocates for the people of God and appeals to God’s mercy when punishment seems immanent. When I read these passages, I believe that God was engaging in a genuine back-and-forth, a real conversation that had an impact on Moses, on God’s people, and on God.

God says to Moses: “I will do the very thing that you have asked” (Exodus 33:17). We don’t usually get such direct feedback from God when we pray. We do know that God wants us to pray: persistently, unceasingly, and boldly asking for what we really want (Luke 18:1-8, for just a quick example). Prayer must be more than just a game for God and more than a futile exercise for us.

When loved ones are sick or dying, or when life takes a desperate turn, the idea of “God’s will” can be a comfort or a burden, and prayer can seem powerful or completely pointless. If you’re going through a difficult time and still looking for resources, there are two I can’t recommend enough. The first is William Sloane Coffin’s eulogy for his son, Alex, who died at 24 after a car crash. You can find it online. The other is a wonderful book, “When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayer” by Jerry Sittser. Drawing on his own experience of tragic loss, Jerry delves into all kinds of difficult questions about prayer with profound honesty. No satisfying answers, but thoughts that will shape your understanding of and relationship with God, and maybe offer some healing, too.

Monica: Dear Linda, you ask a deep question and I am sure that my answer will not be sufficient. My heart immediately turns to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. A deeply disturbed Jesus prayed for God’s will to be fulfilled. It’s not what Jesus wanted but he trusted his Father. The darkness of the world moved Jesus to the cross. But then, the unimaginable happened, death is swallowed up by God’s love. God’s will for humanity and all of creation is always life; renewing and restoring life on earth and the promise of life eternal. In our earthly life we may experience grief, pain, suffering, illness, isolation, depression, hopelessness, desperate situations, violence, etc. These experiences are not God’s will nor are they punishment for sin. Like Jesus we can cry out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” God hears our prayer. May God assure us that we do not walk alone through the valley of the shadow, but that Christ’s light is leading us into life.

Ron: Prayer at its most basic form is conversation. Good conversation has two parts to it: speaking and listening. I think of Jesus praying at the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:42):

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.”

Clearly Jesus was making a request for something to happen, but at the same time he was also praying to be in “alignment” with God’s will and plan for the world.

I also think of Abraham who in “conversation” or prayer with God negotiated with God in Genesis 19 in regard to what God was going to do at Sodom and Gomorrah. Additionally, Moses in Exodus 32:11-14 “implored” God to forgive the people and the text tells us “God changed his mind.” Another part of the equation that this excellent question raises is the whole idea of discernment. I love the following passage from Romans 12:2.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God — what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Prayer is that place and space where we talk to God and listen to God so that we might have our will changed as well.

David: Linda, What a wonderful question!

Many of us were taught, or absorbed at some point, the idea that we shouldn’t argue with God. But the God of the Bible seems to encourage us to engage, to argue, to discuss. One of my favorite stories in the Bible centers on this sort of relationship with God. While Moses is talking with God on top of Mount Sinai, the Israelites build a golden calf and worship. God decides to destroy the Israelites, but Moses argues with God. And, as a result of Moses’ arguing with God, “the Lord changed his mind” (Exodus 32:14).

To be in a relationship with a person is to change in response to them. Indeed, this is what it means to pray that God will be merciful — to show mercy is to change from anger to forgiveness, to change from punishment to love. Every time we pray for God’s mercy or God’s forgiveness, we are asking God to change.

And, at least insofar as God has been revealed to us, it does appear that God changes. Just as loving your child changes a parent, just as loving a spouse changes a person, loving us changes God.

You might also want to read:
Struggling with prayer
When you haven’t got a prayer
Please stop praying

More than I can handle?

2013-02-19T04:34:00-06:00

Why did God give me two children with autism? Many people say, “God will never give you more than you can handle,” but sometimes I wonder. Being a parent of not one, but two special needs children makes you question a lot about life. I love my babies (we have five total) and feel blessed for all of them, but parenting a special needs child takes on a world of its own. Help me understand. — Casey, an ELCA member in Florida

Here’s what our pastors had to say.

Ron: Wow, first of all, let me say, “I don’t know.” But, I do know a parishioner and a friend, Nickie, who has a child with autism. So I called her to chat because I don’t want to send a message to you that is a cliché or something that compounds any pain or sadness which you may already have.

Nickie said the following, “Nobody really understands what you are going through. Nobody knows what the cause is or what the outcome will be. It is a thing where not only do you have to deal with it all day long, but sometimes all night long, too.” She lovingly said that what had helped her was that she likes “to help other people and help them to have compassion.” She also said, “Some people I know have said that this has helped them to ask for help and also receive help. It teaches one about vulnerability.”

So, I don’t have an answer to the “why” question, but it seems to me that sometimes there is a grace, a place and a space where one is able to make the shift or move from asking “why?” to asking “when.” In other words, as Rabbi Harold Kushner has suggested when certain things happen which are perceived to be “bad” or “unfortunate” we are able to re-orient and say, “Now when this has happened; what or how do I respond?”

James: Dear Casey, your question is a great question about who our God is: If God is all good, how come I struggle if all I have done is loved my children? I also believe that God will never give us more than we can handle, but life sometimes does; I do not make God responsible for everything that happens in life. I also ask God sometimes: “God, why did you allow this to happen?” And even though I may never know, or understand it years later, I do trust that even in the midst of difficulties, God is always there — loving us, caring for us. And not just God, but the Spirit of God inspiring many others to support us, to pray for us, to accompany us, to do what our bodies in their own strength can no longer do alone. We can trust in God’s love, no matter what. God is good all the time. I believe that God wants us to have a good life, an abundant life, and is struggling with us each day to make it happen. It is just that sometimes, we need to convince the world of that, so they join us and support us in the effort, and so we never doubt God’s love.

David: Casey, I get uncomfortable when people claim to know with certainty what goes on in the mind of God. And I also don’t put a lot of stock in platitudes. They are not biblical, and while they are very well-meaning, they often reduce God to just a nice feeling.

A reality that we confess in the Lutheran church is that this world and all of us in it are deeply broken. We call this “The Fall,” and it is not just about human sinfulness but about all of creation. One way to understand the burdens and hardships of life is not as a challenge given to us by God, but as an unintended result of the Fall.

All of which is to say that I would not identify God as the source of your children’s autism. God is the one walking beside you as you care for your children. God is the one beside you in your anxiety and worry for them. God is the one among the community of believers, called to support you and your family. God is in the therapists and doctors who are helping you care for them.

I don’t say, “God will never give you more than you can handle,” because I don’t know that I blame God for the things that I have to “handle” in life. What I do know is that God is always right there beside me, often in unexpected ways, as a shoulder to cry on and a support to hold me up when life throws me a curveball.

God bless you, and your beautiful children. I will be adding your family to my prayers.

Monica: Dear Casey, I can sense your exhaustion. I think parenting is the most difficult vocation on the planet, and you definitely have your hands full. First, I want to say your love for your children is evident. Second, having autistic children is not because you did anything wrong. Every parent I think has an image of the “perfect child” and rarely are parents prepared for news of “special needs.” You said it yourself; your babies are a blessing, all of them. They are all “perfect” in their own way; each born by the love of God. Psalm 139 is beautiful. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (v. 13-14). I pray that you may find support in your partner, family, church family and friends to help. Many communities have autism support groups. As the saying goes: “It takes a village to raise a child.” For your family, it may feel it will take a city! When things become tough, you can lean on God for support, strength and patience. Lastly, remember your baptism — you are God’s child, in his arms you may rest, and with you he is well-pleased.

You might also want to read:
Tic tales
Will we ever get settled?
One Sunday morning

Does tithing matter?

2013-02-11T04:34:00-06:00

Is tithing important to show faithfulness? In today’s economy, it can be so difficult. — Kathy, from Flint, Mich.

Here’s what our pastors had to say.

Neddy: Tithing is a way of being thankful for the many ways God cares for us. It is a recognition that what we have belongs to God (Psalm 24:1). Tithing is a choice to continue trusting in God’s care and in the church as a divine instrument to spread God’s love throughout the world. But there are many ways of being faithful to God. We also have our strength, our vocation, our spiritual gifts, which are all given to the people of God, for their personal wellbeing, but also for the blessing of the community. It is important to discern what gifts God has given us, and put them to good use. As a pastor of a Latino ministry, I also struggle with the issue of tithing. Most members in our congregation are low income and each month most of them send money overseas to help their families. In some ways, they are tithing because they are caring for one another, not just themselves. As a salaried pastor, I do need to worry about the bills. But what I have seen so far is that while some may not be able to tithe in the traditional way, we all have gifts to share. And when we all do our part, no one goes hungry, and the mission of the church is done in the world.

David: Kathy, we have gotten turned around in our approach to money. We think of it as ours, and very often, we give as we are able. As in: I happen to be in church this Sunday, and I happen to have an extra $20. Such giving is easy. It makes very little impact on how we live.

Instead, the Bible reminds us that all that we have is God’s. How we use God’s gifts, including what we use for the ministry of the body of Christ, needs to be a central part of our life. To be clear: God does not want you to be unable to feed your family because you gave your whole paycheck to the church. However, we are called to take a hard look at where our money really goes, and what that says about our relationship with God and one another.

So does tithing matter? Yes, but it is not a law. More important is the underlying principle: All that we have is God’s, use it wisely and generously.

Monica: Dear Kathy, you are so right. In today’s society tithing is a challenge to family budgets and to faith. When Jesus was asked about faithfulness, he said it is important to love God and love neighbor; everything in life is dependent on this. Tithing is one expression of faithfulness. Sharing your time with others is also an expression of faithfulness. Using your talents/skills to make a difference in your family, neighborhood and world are also expressions of faithfulness. We talk of stewardship as time, talents and money. In 2011 according to the ELCA Mission Investment Fund, the ELCA’s churchwide average for member giving was 2.3 percent. Imagine if we grew more in love and trust with God so that every member of the ELCA desired to give even just a little more so that God’s love can be shared even more fully with others. Our faithfulness could truly transform today’s society!

Ron: Absolutely, yes! Perhaps it is even more important when things aren’t going so well. Tithing is a way to set aside gifts in a sacred space; to take a portion of what we have received from God and to declare that to be a gift that we will share with God and the people of God. I’d like to also point out that often when we hear the word “tithing” we normally think of just money. But, since all of life is a gift from God, let’s expand our understanding to include all of our life, our time, our energy, our hopes and our dreams.

You might also want to read:
Against tithing: tipping, justice and ignorant pastors
The things God has minted
Giving back to God