The Mutual Consolation of the Brethren
It is December 1st.
This day is very special to me for some personal reasons I will get to in a second, and for the purpose of this short blog entry. First, I know it's Advent and the topic of "mutual consolation of the brethren" is a little off beat, but please bear with me for a moment. It certainly has to do with edifying one another until we see the Day of our Lord's second Advent upon this earth! As it says in Romans 14:19:
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
The day is special to me professionally because usually most things are done in preparation for the busy Advent and Christmas seasons. There is a time to pause and simply do the more routine tasks of ministry: see people, pray with them, enjoy the services and Bible studies.
But it's also special to me for a personal reason. On this day in 2007, a friend of mine called me at my house in Illinois; he called just as I sat down at my kitchen table and put my head in my hands, and sighed. You know: one of those deep sighs that means, "I have no idea what to do next." I will try to just quickly summarize by saying that my life at that point--it was in transition. I was moving to Colorado. But I was still a little uncertain as to what I would do when I got here. I had talked with "district presidents" (what we call bishops) and family members, but there were still very few answers coming my direction. Then my friend calls from Indiana.
It is a phone call that I remember quite well--suddenly everything made sense. He described a class that I could take, and a viable career path. Whatever the outcome, as a good pastor he kept assuring me that the Lord has me in his stead. Look, I have GIVEN that sermon before! But it's amazing what happens when the promises of God's Word become real and true for you, isn't it? As I write this, with my toddler playing on the floor and my wife (whom I met at a church in Denver) now going to work at her wonderful job here, I cannot help but think that on December 1st, 2007 the Holy Spirit moved my friend to call me. It was all totally unprompted by me, and helped all of this-- my new life become possible. I cannot help but think that God had in mind my new family. My wife, who is so understanding and patient with me. My son, who is a miraculous joy and gift to us each and every day.
That the Heavenly Father knew ALL of my doubts and fears.
And that He heard my prayers.
So, this Advent remember: you could be that friend to someone. "Stay alert," the Scripture reminds us often. "Pray continually." "Strengthen the weak, remember the orphan and the widow." Etc. And for some very, very good reasons.
Go and do what you were called to do, people of God!
We don't need great credentials or intellect. We need to keep our minds and hearts on the Word of God, and on waiting for him.
Waiting with all humanity.
Waiting for His second advent.
+PD
Reformation for Beginners
Happy 499th Birthday, Lutheran Church!
You may not have even realized that we're entering the 499th year of our existence, counted from the day that Martin Luther nailed 95 Theses (adademic statements) on the castle church door in Wittenberg, Germany. That day was Hallow's Eve, as he wanted it to be read by most of the educated folks as they went in to church the next day, All Hallows/All Saints Day.
This opening paragraph has possibly raised a few questions for you. If so, I think that is okay. Instead of curiosity killing the cat, I'm sure you know, it's also said that "you don't know if you don't ask," and "those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it"!
And so, sinning boldly, allow me to explain several terms:
1. Martin Luther - a friar of the Augustinian order who was teaching "Romans" at the University of Wittenberg, Germany, when he wrote his 95 statements.
2. By most of the educated folks - What do I mean by that? Well, Dr. Luther wrote his statements in Latin. Most of the people attending church the next day could not read Latin, except for the Latin in the church service--and even then, comprehension was touch and go. His intention was to start a scholarly debate on the topics of the forgiveness of sins and the sale of Indulgences (papers that the Pope in Rome was selling, said to release people from sin and a place of discipline after death (purgatory). Obviously, he disagreed with indulgences and when he was swiftly condemned by the Pope and his Cardinals instead of listened to and engaged academically, the stage was set for the Reformation of the Western Church.
3. Hallow's Eve - in these words you can hear the modern English/American version, "Halloween." Maybe your kids' costumes could reflect great saints of the past, then? And speaking of "saints"....
4. Saints - ANY baptized believer. You are a saint when you confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins. The practice of "canonizing" various people as saints based on number of miracles performed and other factors is a Roman Catholic error and found no where in Scripture.
5. All Saints' Day - A day to celebrate all of the "holy ones"/hallowed who have gone before us into death. Our teaching, with the Apostles, is that they are asleep in Jesus now (I Corinthians 15:20-21) awaiting the Resurrection of all flesh from the dead (I Corinthians 15:51-55). We cannot pray to or venerate them because they cannot hear us. Only God receives prayers through Jesus Christ, the one Mediator between God and men (I Timothy 2:5-6).
6. Reformation - each year we celebrate this church festival that marks the week of Luther's bold action on October 31st, 1517. Much happened after that Halloween, much music was written, many papers were written, and many wars fought. This year Reformation Sunday is October 30th. The color on the Altar and up front in church is always red, for the work of the Holy Spirit who came as tongues of fire on the Apostles on the day of Pentecost.
I know this can be a lot of church jargon and history, but bear with us, please! This really is a fantastic heritage and a wonderful doorway to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love our national church body's theme for this: "Reformation 500: It's STILL all about Jesus!"
And it is.
In Him,
Pastor Dieterichs
Pastor_Joel@live.com
May I Suggest a "No thank you"?
A Longer Essay Very Much Worth Your Time
Friends in Christ,
In place of a regular "Pastor's article" in a Newsletter or Web site like this one, I am going to share an article. I don't usually do this because, in my experience, people rarely take the time to read what I write, much less examine an article or book I lend them. But I am going to beg you--PLEASE take the time to read this one:
"Salt of the Empire," by Mike Aquilina. http://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=17-04-038-f#ixzz3Htg2Mk8B
The article includes history. But, as they say, "those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it." In this case, however, if we DON'T repeat history, we will be in some trouble, and rather fast. Believe me. At the same, TEST me. What do you think? How will you apply what you learn in this article?
Let me know! Talk it up, saints! And, enjoy a blessed Holy Week and Easter!
See you around the church building (there's a reason I say it that way...),
Pastor Dieterichs
pastor_joel@live.com
Roof-deep in The Water
Recently we sat down around our TV at home and watched the roof of a family home float down a swollen river and slam into a bridge near St. Louis, Missouri. Flood waters crested there on New Year's Day, just last week as I write this. When interviewed by a news channel, the father of the family said, "Well, everyone is safe, you know--the important thing. I just didn't expect my house to go floating away!"
Nobody expects that one day their house will go floating away. Yet in our dangerous world, waters rise and rivers swell beyond their banks. The same is true for our souls as we face the challenges of life and stare down the many temptations that are around us. ...Wait a second. Didn't Jesus say something about this?... Why yes, he did:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." MATTHEW 7:24-29
And so our goal is/should be very simple: hear the Word of Christ. Put it into practice. In this way, we build upon the Rock. Easy, right?
Well...the devil knocks us off track. All. Of. The. Time. And how he loves it when we settle for the spiritual equivalent of a tent on a flood plain. Will this protect our family? "Who cares," we say, "Sunday is my only day to catch up on household chores."
Look: Resurrection Lutheran Church is not about making Lutherans, or strengthening a particular denomination. It is about YOU, building on the Rock before the floods come, or even WHILE the flood waters are cresting. Period. The fact that our church is IN a denomination means that we all can receive encouragement and strength from other congregations, District officers who have a wider perspective, health plans and benefit programs for me and other staff members (if we had other staff), etc.
I hear loudly and clearly the drum beat of my generation, believe me: "we want something authentic, exciting, and REAL, man!" And so they often abandon The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and denominations like it. Well, when put into this perspective in this article, I pray that you might see all of the denominational stuff differently. It could be said that the Lutheran Church is simply 500 years of disciples building on the Rock. And the story of what they have learned while doing so under different types of governments, in different lands, among different kinds of culture and people groups.
You see? This is about building on the Rock. I am your trained servant of the Word. Notice I did not say, "fearless leader" or "passionate speaker." I know I am not the greatest preacher of all time. But I DO get excited about the Word and I want you to be excited about it, also.
Join us for Divine Service Sunday or Wednesday night. Join us for Bible study on Sunday mornings. Buy a good Lutheran study Bible. Or, bring forward suggestions for other Bible studies you'd like to see around church. Studies can be held in your home. I can help you start one. This is more than theological exploration. This is building on the Rock.
Roof-deep in the waters of holy Baptism we are, ideally, being fed and led by Christ our Lord, growing as living stones upon the Rock who is Christ our Lord. Come what may.
Our children need to know that: come what may. This should be our chief priority.
Yours in the Savior,
