MANNA: 12/18/12

Third Week of Advent

Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah,...
Luke 1:30
"And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary,..."
Matthew 1:20
An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear..."
Luke 2:10
And the angel said to [the shepherds], "Fear not..."

If your church is like mine, then your church is preparing to be visited by...angels, as well as the whole cast of characters in the children's Christmas pageant.  Angels are described in traditional interpretation as innocent and beautiful.  Well, I ask you...is there anything that strikes the soul with more innocence and beauty than a child dressed up in white and gold with a halo and wings?

Angels are an intrinsic part of the Christmas story.  Christmas simply would not have happened without these God-sent messengers.  In truth, we don't know whether or not the angels were clothed in white robes, whether they had halos or even whether or not they flew with wings.    What we do know is that these angels carried the heart of God to frightened people whose roles were instrumental in the story of Christmas.

Angels appear four times in the traditional Christmas story and each time, although they carried different pieces of information concerning what was to happen, their message always begins the same way, "Do not be afraid!"  It was what the angel said first to Zachariah, then to Mary, then to Joseph and finally to the shepherds on the hillsides of Bethlehem.

"Do not be afraid!"

I believe that this is the message before the message, of Christmas.  Before we can believe that God entered human history in the vulnerability of an infant boy...we need to hear the heart of God say to us, "Do not be afraid!"  Before we can believe that God is with us, preparing us, sustaining us, empowering us for whatever life throws at us next, we need to hear the heart of God say to us, "Do not be afraid."

As we consider the horrible evil that befell Sandy Hook Elementary, we hug our kids, and ask, "WHY?"  And the question, like so may other questions of despair, remain unanswered...Yet, still, God does not remain silent as so many mistakenly assume.  He comes to us with the message of the angels, "Do not be afraid."  Before we can embrace the possibility that God truly does enter a fallen world to heal the deepest wounds, comfort the deepest hurts, bridge the widest chasm of despair, we must first hear and believe that we need not be afraid.

Prayer:
As we send our kids to school...As we face personal trials...As we answer God's call...As we grieve...May the message of angels remind us that we need not be afraid.  Amen

MANNA: 12/14/12

2nd Week of Advent

Luke 3:15-17

"He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

While Danielle and I were visiting my family back home in Wheeling, we made a stop at Oglebay Park.  We toured the mansion and glass museum, and got to watch a local artisan blow glass into a beautiful Christmas Tree ornament that we purchased.  It is now a cherished ornament that hangs on our tree.

Our Blown Glass Ornament

Have you ever watched someone blow glass?  I don't think you can fully realize the artwork and the skill that goes into this craft until you actually see someone do it.  Sand is the primary ingredient.  It's heated in a fiery furnace until it forms a molten lava.  Using a long pipe, the blower scoops out of the furnace a glob [that's the technical term, I'm pretty sure.:-)] of this lava.    He then begins his craft.  He blows, and turns...re-heats, molds, blows, turns...over and over, until the idea in the artisan's imagination comes to be.  I remember when the glass blower presented this Christmas ornament to us, the look in his eye was one of pride and joy for what he was able to offer us.  In that moment I realized that this was so much more than another glass ball for our Christmas tree.  This was a gift!


This memory comes to mind when I try to understand what John the Baptist meant by saying that Jesus would baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  When we're nothing but a shapeless, purpose-less glob in the fiery furnace of life, Jesus scoops us up.  Like a master glass blower, he breathes the Holy Spirit into us, inspiring us and encouraging us to new life.  He then turns, molds, re-heats, blows, turns...day after day, year after year.  Life is series of moments some are heated, some inspired, and some turned.  Through all of life's joys and sorrows, celebrations and failures Jesus is there, God with us, Emmanuel...blowing, turning, molding.  Over time, we begin to become what the Master imagined us to be.

Sometimes...when it's hard to see the miraculous work of God in the gift of our lives, I think it helps to look past our self ..to see the Master still at work.

May you see the Master still at work with you, using fire and the Holy Spirit to craft you with pride and joy.

Blow, turn, re-heat, and mold me, Lord, that your pride and joy might show through me like a cherished ornament.  In Jesus' name.  Amen  

MANNA: 12/12/12

2nd Week of Advent

Luke 3:7-18

BEEP..BEEP..BEEP..BEEP..BEEP..BEEP

My alarm clock is not my friend.
I am definitely not a morning person.  Waking me from my cozy dream world, where I am warm in bed, will rarely garner appreciation from me.  Whether you're a morning person or not, I think we could all agree that the alarm clock's duty is never going to be one that is too fondly welcomed.  

Every year, by the second week of Advent we are fast asleep in our little Christmas dream world, buying presents, decorating the house, preparing for guests, planning meals.  Every year, we fall asleep, denying the reality of our lives, our finances, and our time.  Then, like an alarm clock, the Baptist shows up in our Sunday worship service.  His announcement is a harsh reminder of realities of life and sin.  His cry is a wake up call.  He calls us out of our comfort zones, and re-directs our attention away from the image of cozy and warm child in the manger, to a cold world in need of forgiveness and mercy...the grace found in the gift of naked and cold man who dies on a cross.  It's no wonder the likes of Herod and others found him so offensive, and had him beheaded.  They too were sleeping in the denial of reality, and John wanted to wake them up.  

This time of year, we could all use a wake up call.  It's too easy to doze off, allow ourselves to over-indulge on so-called "holiday cheer", then find ourselves drowning in credit card bills, overwhelmed with preparations, stressed the point of yelling at our kids, and generally missing the real gift of Christmas.  

Our alarm clocks are not our friends, but we need them to wake us up so that we might see the light of day.  Likewise, John the Baptist is not a welcomed friend, but we need his cry of preparation to wake us up from our holiday dreams, so that we might see the light in the good news that Christ is with us, even now...Emmanuel!

So.......WAKE UP!!   

God is with you....Emmanuel!  

The only thing, truly necessary for Christmas, is a prayer...

Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus.
To see him caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the bereaved.
Open my hands, Lord, I want to help Jesus.  

MANNA: 12/7/12

First Week of Advent

Luke 1:46-55:  Mary's Magnificat

Luke 1:68-79: Zechariah's Song of Prophecy

The Good News of Jesus Christ is announced with songs that cannot be kept from singing.

Luke's gospel begins with the announcement of God doing a new thing with two miraculous births.  One is to Zechariah's wife Elizabeth, and the other is to a virgin named Mary.  Zechariah bursts forth with a song of prophecy at what God has done in the birth of John.  And Mary cannot keep from singing her Magnificat at the announcement that she will give birth to Jesus, the long awaited messiah.  Then, in chapter two, a choir of angels sing to shepherds their song of announcement that Jesus has been born in a manger.  The gospel of Luke is bursting with songs that announce the coming of Christ.

The season of Advent finds us bursting with songs as well.  Choirs caroling at the mall.  Christmas music played on the intercom in department stores, during TV commercials, over loud speakers in the city, on the radio during your commute.  Everywhere you turn there literally is music in the air.  Christmas music is familiar music, too.  So familiar to all of us that we might find ourselves unable to resist the urge to sing along.   And the latest new thing is the flash mob.  If you find yourself suddenly surrounded at a public place by a group of strangers serenading you with Christmas carols, well, just go with it.  Sing along and consider yourself blessed.  Then, go home and see if you can find yourself on YouTube.  :-)

What's fascinating about all of this music is that much of it is actually the sacred music of the church.  Sure there's songs about reindeer, snowmen and a fat guy in a red suit, but "Silent Night", "Away in a Manger",  "O Little Town of Bethlehem", "Angels We Have Heard On High", "O Come, All Ye Faithful", "Joy To the World" are all found in our Lutheran Book of Worship.  These, and many others, are hymns of the church.  They are songs that announce the gospel message...that Jesus was born, and he is the Son of God, Savior of the world.  At any other time of the year, if a choir were to sing sacred hymnody at the mall or any other public place they would quickly be asked to stop.  If they didn't do so I'm sure they would be arrested for disturbing the peace.  But not now.  Not during this very special season of the year.  During this season, the world seems to be unable to resist the urge to sing about Christmas....the birth of Christ, the Savior of the world.

Whether people realize it or not, God is announcing the coming of his Son to us and to the world, and just like the days of old, He does so with songs that the world cannot keep from singing.

Prayer:  Lord God, thank you for the gift of songs that announce your Son's birth.  Open my ears to hear your choirs of angels announcing, even now, that Christ comes to bring peace on earth, and open my heart that I might sing along to share your joy with others.  In Jesus' name, Amen!

MANNA: 12/6/12

First Week of Advent

Philippians 1:3-11

"I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

Paul wrote this to his friends in Philippi from a prison cell.  There is little we know for sure of the treatment this "ambassador in chains" received during his two-year stay as prisoner in Rome.  But, it goes without saying that the circumstance of prison itself would have posed considerable pain and suffering.    Yet, he writes not of his discomfort or plea for help, but of his confidence in God's completion of his work in his friends.  

That is a sure and certain hope!

Before my grandmother died, she had a short time of conversation with us.  She was 93, dying of cancer, and we had all made peace with it as she laid unconscious in a hospital bed.  But, for a brief moment, she spoke to us from a kind of semi-lucid state that seemed almost crystal clear.  Emerging from her fog of  morphine induced dementia, she looked up at those of us who were gathered there and began to ask us things...the kinds of things a mother asks her kids before they leave her for an extended period of time.  "Do you have all that you need?"  "Are you happy?"  "Do you know the way?"   As strange as this moment was to us, we quickly responded, "Yes" to her questions, reassuring her that we were going to be alright.   This seemed to satisfy her and she drifted back into her unconscious private world.  She died a couple days later.

She was not asking us if our lives were full of parties. She wasn't asking if our lives were without difficulties or challenges. She wanted to be sure, before she went to be with Jesus, that our lives were heading in the right direction...the same direction she was heading.  Before she left this life, she wanted to be sure that we would meet up again in heaven.  Looking back, it was with the same sure and certain hope we find in Paul's letter to his friends in Philippi that we were able to say "yes" to her that day.

We buried my grandmother next to my grandfather.  We commended both of them to Almighty God with a sure and certain hope!

Thank you, Lord, for the sure and certain hope you give to us in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

MANNA: 11/29/12

Jeremiah 33:14-16

This Sunday begins the church season of Advent; a very special time of preparation and anticipation.  Children make their lists and wait for Santa.  Homes are decorated in anticipation of visitors.  Churches get ready for Christmas Eve worship.  But, if we were to pull back the curtain on all this preparation and anticipation, we would find one of the most important gifts of God's providence...hope!

Hope is something we are all desperate for.  This is why we are vulnerable to so many false hopes in the world.  We are so easily misguided by those who use our desire for hope to manipulate us.  Have you ever gotten a piece of mail or a phone call announcing that you have won the BIG JACKPOT, or the SWEEPSTAKES?  Did your adrenalin not rush for just an instant at the possibility that maybe you had in fact won?  Did you not give the message a glimpse of great expectation?  And, was your flash of joy not crushed in disappointment when you heard or read the fine print where it said, "If you...then..."

There it is..."If you...then..."  It doesn't matter what words fill in the blanks.  The promise of one thing that was hoped for is now lost, cheapened and reduced to a manipulative conditional statement.  We are inundated with false promises, and they are immediately recognized by some form of this conditional phrase.

But, God doesn't make false promises.  God's hope is real.  God makes a promise that is a clear exclamation with no strings attached.   Through the prophet Jeremiah God declares, "I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel."  There is no conditional terms of agreement required from Israel before God fulfills the promise, just God declaring the time is near.  With God there is no fine print.

The fulfillment of God's promise was the messiah, a baby born to a virgin in Bethlehem who was Emmanuel, God with us.  He came, just as God promised.  And, today, we have hope because of him.

God has no interest in manipulating us or trying to coerce us to do things a certain way.  God comes to us in the humblest of ways.  He inspires us, teaches us, guides us and most of all saves us and claims us as his own forever.  God gives us real hope, in the promise to save us forever.

Prayer:  Lord God, help me to hope only in you, with your saving grace as my big jackpot.  Give me the faith to live my life into your promise, and the courage to keep the promises I make with others. In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.

MANNA: 11/14/12

QUICK....WHAT IS THE ANTIDOTE FOR FEAR?

If you said FAITH, you are probably a Lutheran.....and you've probably heard more than a few sermons on the topic

But....read 1 John 4:18

"Perfect love casts out fear"

The presidential election has been over for a week, but the pundits are still stoking the fires of fear as if it's the end of the world.  This is not a political shot at the conservative media, because if the results of the election had gone the other way I have no doubt that the liberal media would be doing the same thing.  This is not to discredit the anxiousness about the future that is very real among all of us in this country for a variety of reasons.

My son is six years old.  I am constantly struck by theological truths brought to life in the practical matters of  my relationship with him, and him with me.   As a matter of fact, I would have to say the theology I'm learning from my son rivals that which I learned in four years of seminary.  My son is afraid of one thing: spiders.  That's it....spiders.  Nothing else.  Not even roller coasters, or the dark.  But, here's my point.  At his age, he is supposed to be afraid of spiders.  It occurs to me that he is fearless, and oblivious of the things that I'm afraid of.   I'm anxious over real world stuff, just like everyone else, and I assume even you.  But, my son, the six year old...fearless of these things.  Interesting, when you think about it.  He's able to be fearless, even naive and oblivious of these adult fears because of one thing that he knows and trusts will not let him down...me.  

My love for him is far from perfect.  I can't count how often I lose patience with him, misunderstand him, or just plain blow it as a dad.  But, even my imperfect love for him, is enough to cast out his fears.  This makes him free to be his truest self around me.  Think back to a time when you lost yourself in a project, or a moment of time with your spouse or kids...I mean really lost your self.  Do you remember how free you felt to just be the person God made you to be in those moments?  Those are moments when the love from the person you're with or the project you're into allowed that moment of grace and freedom to truly be who God made you to be, free from the usual fear of rejection and and failure.

God's perfect love for you is like the love of a Father who protects you and cares for you.
God's perfect love for you is also like the love of a spouse or friend who frees you to be the real you.

No matter what the future holds, believe and trust in the God who holds your future.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I'm afraid of ___________________________________________.
Remain with me, and carry me through the days ahead.  Remind me that, with you, I have nothing to fear, for you are God, and you are my God.  In Jesus' name.  Amen

Sermon from 11/4/12

Read Psalm 146

In two days, the nation goes to the polls. The country has been badgered and battered by attack ads, polls and policy-mongering for almost two years. Tuesday, it comes to an end, until the next go round.  Today, as politicians make their final blitz of promises to us, I would like to offer five promises from God.  

And Psalm 146, is remarkably apropos.

Promise 1.God will still be our God.

Presidential campaigns have become a slug-fest, and most of us are not feeling particularly pleased with either candidate as we prepare soon to enter the voting booth. But regardless of what happens on Election Day, the earth will keep turning, the seasons will change, babies will be born, and God will still be in control of his complex and often contentious creation.

Psalm 146 begins with the command, “Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long”

In our society today, we often praise people for taking political stands we agree with, or making speeches that move us. But do such leaders really deserve our praise? Certainly, we should support our candidates and work with them to advance the causes that are important to us. But praise them? No. Praise is a word that should be reserved for the one God who holds thing together when the politicians make a mess. 

Consider the roots of the word “politics,” If you break it down, “poly” means “many,” while “ticks” are “blood-sucking parasites.”  :-)

After a long and brutal race for the White House, we need a few laughs.

For the most part, politics is not worthy of praise.

Psalm 146 is a celebration of the One God who promises to still be God no matter what kind of mess we make with His creation.

When we offer praise we are saying God is God, and we are not.

Neither is Mitt Romney nor Barack Obama.  

Promise 2. God’s constituency is eternal.

We take a chance when we rely too heavily on political leaders to claim us as their constituency.   We buy into a lie when we believe that an elected official will do whatever they can to help us, because they are as flawed, weak, biased, disloyal, and limited as any other human being on earth.  The Psalm warns us, “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish”.

The humorist Dave Barry joked, “Democrats are the kind of people who would stop to help you change a flat, but would somehow manage to set your car on fire. I would be reluctant to entrust them with a Cuisinart, let alone the economy,”  “The Republicans, on the other hand, would know how to fix your tire, but they wouldn‘t bother to stop because they’d want to be on time for Ugly Pants Night at the country club.”

Funny….but sharp words about our two major political parties. The point, is that everyone has weaknesses and limitations, from the left to the right of the political spectrum. The Psalm warns us against putting our trust in mortals, because every one of us is made of dust, and to dust we shall return. Our complete faith should be directed toward the One eternal God, maker of heaven and earth.  

God has claimed us in our baptisms, and joined us to the eternal constituency of the kingdom of heaven.  Put your trust in Him.  

God's promise number 3. God will continue to bless us.

With all the energy that goes into a presidential campaign, we can certainly forgive voters for wanting their favorite candidate to bring them joy and satisfaction. But such an expectation is truly unrealistic. Whether the victor is a Republican or a Democrat.

But rather than be afraid of what may happen if the “other” party wins, there is a more faithful perspective for us to keep: Unreserved confidence that no matter what, God will continue to bless us, just as He has until now.  

“Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,” says Psalm 146, “whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever”.   

Better for us to look for happiness in a relationship with God,  the one who made heaven and earth, and who is eternally faithful.  God is the source of every good and perfect gift, and He is a God who keeps His promises. With God, we have a leader who can be trusted to provide for us, and to know what we need even before we ask.

Even more importantly, when we focus our perspective on God’s blessings we find that true happiness and peace is a gift from God, and we ground ourselves in the great commandment of Jesus to “love the Lord your God with all your heart … and your neighbor as yourself”. With our faith and perspective oriented toward God's blessings, we are not looking for a politician to bring us joy and satisfaction, but instead find joy and satisfaction in our relationship with God and with the people around us.  

This past week we weathered the storm of Sandy.  In the aftermath, we got one more opportunity like that of many other others, where we hear story after story from people who have lost everything...but when asked about the devastation, they reply something to the effect of, "We've lost our house and everything in it, but we still have each other."  God's blessings are most powerfully realized when everything else gets taken away, leaving behind God's blessings. 

Promise 4. God’s will will be done.

Psalm 146 says that God is the one “who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind”.

This is God’s will, according to the Psalm.  And while good Christians will certainly debate the ways that our society can address these concerns, there should be no disagreement about their priority to God.

When our Lord, Jesus, taught us to pray, one of the petitions he gave us was

“Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

To be clear, this is not a petition that asks if God’s will will be done.  It is a prayer that asks that God’s will be done on earth…here among us, and even further, by us.  When we pray that line in The Lord’s Prayer, we are asking God to let us be active participants in God’s will being done on earth. 

So then, when you enter the voting booth, vote for the candidate who you believe is best aligned with God’s will. 

Justice for the oppressed — candidate who stands for equity and opportunity for those who have been mistreated, shoved aside, or ignored.

Food to the hungry — candidate who stands for access to necessary resources, in developing countries, and for Americans who are poor.

Freedom for prisoners — candidate who stands for both spiritual liberation while incarcerated and work opportunities once released.

Opening the eyes of the blind — candidate who stands for not only physical healing, but is willing to open his own eyes and the eyes of Americans to new visions of a better future for America.

These are part of God’s will, and they under-gird what the Psalm tells us about God: “The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin”.

We like to think that God is fair...that God has the same concern and priority for all people equally.  But, this just doesn't hold up to Scripture.  The truth is, God has a special concern or priority for the strangers, the poor, the oppressed...those who have no way to provide for themselves.  Once again, there will always be honest disagreements about how best to fulfill God’s will, but God’s will itself on these matters is indisputable.

Justice, generosity, concern for others, righteousness — this is God’s will and with or without us, it will be done.   Our prayer is that we might be a part of God's will being done through us.  One way that is possible is for us to vote for the candidate who is best aligned with God's will.

Number 5. God will reign forever

If you are joyful on Election night, don’t get overly elated. And if you are disappointed when the election is over, don’t get too depressed. The next presidential campaign will begin before you know it, and the political pendulum will begin to swing in the other direction.

As Christians, the most important leader in our lives is God, and Psalm 146 reminds us that “the Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!”   With God's grace, we are joined to a community of faithful people who are linked together across the generations.  The church has seen countless political victories and defeats, as well as numerous times of national celebration and heartache.  Election days may be divisive and difficult, but they do not prevent us from looking up to God together, and taking the long view of human history.

There is nothing that can happen on Election Day that should shift our focus away from giving thanks and praise to the God who has created us, redeemed us, and sustained us throughout the course of life.

When we live by faith in the God who will reign forever, we can rejoice in all circumstances, because no matter what, God will make it right in time.  When we live by faith, we take the long view of history, and we give thanks to God in good times and in bad. 

So, remember these five promises both this election day and every day.

No matter what...

God will still be our God!

God's kingdom is eternal!

God will continue to bless us.

God's will will be done.

God will reign forever.

Amen.

MANNA: 10/30/12

Hurricane Sandy has just blown through with greater than 75mph winds and more then 10 inches of rain.  There is widespread flooding and power outages.  As I type this, I am reminded of how thankful I am to have power.  The news channels are reporting relief efforts that have begun in my area, and there is a  forecast of huge amounts of snow in WV as the storm moves west.  

How vulnerable and small we are.   

Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.


God is our refuge and strength.
                    Breathe....inhale, exhale....
                                       God is our refuge...
                                                       and strength.

One of my favorite authors/preachers is Rob Bell.  A few years ago, he and his media team put out a video series called Nooma.  The first in the series was titled RAIN, and with it Rob Bell captured the essence of what it means to trust and believe that "God is our refuge and strength".  

Watch the video, see for yourself.

Prayer:  God, you are my refuge and strength.  you hold me tight through the storms.  You whisper your Word of hope into my soul.  You know the way home.  Lead me, guide me, deliver me, carry me.  I'm yours.  Amen




For more about Rob Bell, here's a few links.

Rob Bell Wikipedia

The Work of Rob Bell

Rob Bell's Church

Sermon: 10/28/12

Read Psalm 34:1-8,19-22

Many of us love to be scared.  Check your local theaters...the only thing you'll find this weekend are horror films.  

Exactly 40 years ago, the year 1972 earned an odd distinction: 189 horror movies were released that year, the most in any single year. Since then, the horrors have continued.  Let's see how you do with a little horror film trivia:

• Which movie remains the No.1 horror movie ever, grossing over $470 million?*
• Whose frightening novels have been turned into 37 feature films?*  
• Who became known as "The Scream Queen" by starring in six horror movies between the 70s and 80s?*  
• What is the only horror film ever to win an Oscar for best picture?*

And of course the Twilight movies and True Blood television series have made vampires more popular than ever. This fits a longstanding obsession with Count Dracula, the most-often portrayed character in horror, appearing in 162 films.

The writer of Psalm 34 says, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears”.  In times of trouble, we want to be delivered, and yet — at the very same time — we seem to like to be scared. We even have a holiday for it.

Halloween is just days away, the day on which normally well-behaved boys and girls become something they aren’t and enjoy dipping their toes in the water of fear.  And it is not just a children’s holiday anymore: Adults currently spend an average of $70 per person on their Halloween costumes. The holiday has expanded to include a month of lawn decorations, plus weekend parties for adults and children. The National Retail Federation estimated that 70 percent of Americans celebrated Halloween last year, spending $7 billion. That’s a lot of money. And spending has doubled since 2005.

Clearly we like to be scared by horror movies, and we also enjoy dressing up on Halloween and letting out our inner witch, vampire or zombie. What’s going on with this? Should Christians be concerned that a pagan holiday has become big business in the United States, involving 70 percent of the population? 

I don't think so.  In fact. I propose we take back Halloween.  

Halloween actually has Christian origins — it means “All Hallows’ Eve,” the night before All Hallows’ Day, more commonly called All Saints’ Day. But even though it has a Christian origin, Halloween has pagan roots that go deep into the Celtic festival called Samhain, which means “summer’s end.”  Samhain was a time of transition, in which farmers prepared for the cold winter months that were coming; it was also a time when the physical and supernatural worlds were believed to be very close to one another. Magical things could happen, according to the Celts.

Once Christianity became the dominant religion of Europe, these ancient beliefs took on a Christian flavor. The souls of the dead were believed to wander the earth until All Saints’ Day, and Halloween was the last chance for angry ghosts to gain vengeance on their enemies. So what did Christians do? Put on masks and costumes to disguise themselves. The tradition continues when we dress up as witches, vampires and zombies.

Halloween clearly contains some problems for Christians today, rooted in its traditions of magical occurrences and wandering ghosts. Not that any of us builds bonfires to ward off evil spirits, as the Celts did, or dresses up in costumes to hide from angry ghosts, as European Christians did. But still, problems can arise for Christians.  But, this is only if you believe that this night before All Saints day is a kind of time that breaks down a barrier between the physical and the supernatural worlds.  In truth, Christianity does not teach that there is a separation, such as this, between a physical and a supernatural world.  We believe and teach, as it says in Genesis, that God made all things and called them "good".  There is not a "bad world", or a distinction between the physical and spiritual whereby the physical is bad and the spiritual is good.  This kind of dualism contradicts the character of a good and merciful God who is clearly described in the scriptures.  What we do teach, on this matter, is that there is sin and it destroys and corrupts all things. Sin has corrupted all things, including people, decisions, systems.  All creation is broken and corrupt.  This is not merely a matter of morality; this is much bigger, and more insidious. 

The results of sin are truly terrifying.  We might be playful this time of year with things like ghosts and vampires, and horror films, but the pain and suffering of sin are no joke to any of us.  Sit in the hospital with a mother and father when their child is having life-threatening surgery...that's true terror.  Talk with a soldier about post traumatic stress, and you'll hear about true horror.  Listen in to the stories told at an AA meeting, and you'll hear about men and women facing true demons.  

But, it's Martin Luther who once wrote, "The best way to drive away the devil, is to laugh at him and flout him, for he cannot bear to be mocked."  We have been given the gift of the promise of life in our faith in Jesus Christ.  This faith overcomes our fears.  The writer of today's Psalm identifies with all of us who endure through the challenges of sin in this world.  He says, "I sought the Lord and He delivered me from all my fears."   Our faith allows us to hold on tight to Christ's promise of deliverance through all that threatens us.  We are too small and vulnerable to face alone the very real threats of and curses of sin and sin's destructive forces.  But, we are not alone!  We have faith.  Faith in the promise of Christ, and faith in the friendship of the church.  When one of us is weak, the rest of us can be strong.  We give the efforts from this a fancy word.  It's called ministry, when the church becomes the strength to help others hold on tight to the promises that carry us through the terrors of life.  With the church, and with our faith, we can mock the devil and his empty promises.

This is why I propose we take back Halloween.  It gives us the precise opportunity to mock the forces of evil and the devil. We can dress up in images of fear and horror, and then laugh at it with fun.  It gives us an opportunity to teach our children that no matter what happens, we need not be afraid, because God is always with us.  

So, what are some ways the church can take back Halloween:

Some churches, like ours, bring Halloween into the church because they believe that it is safer for children to dress up and get treats in church than to teach them to run around the neighborhood in the dark and do so. Others celebrate the holiday as Reformation Day, which shares the same date — these churches throw Harvest Festivals or Reformation Festivals, and invite people to wear masks and costumes just to literally take them off as a sign of the freedom from fear that grace and truth offers us.  

Another approach is to acknowledge that the ancient Celts were right to focus on “summer’s end.” Halloween is about the transition from summer to winter, from life to death. Even young children are beginning to wonder about mortality, so what is the harm in having them dress up as ghosts or skeletons? We might think of it as a teaching moment about the promise of life, in the ability to take off the "clothing that scares".

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me,” says Psalm 34, “and delivered me from all my fears.”. When children become frightened of witches, ghosts, zombies and vampires, these are teaching moments for us to share with them the good news that God is with them and has the power to deliver them.  A child is never too young to learn that.   

We can take back Halloween by remembering that Halloween points us to All Saints’ Day. It is, after all, All Hallows’ Eve. Halloween reminds us that “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”, a heavenly congregation of faithful servants of God who have gone before us.  On Halloween, we should remember that the barrier between the physical and spiritual really is quite thin — thin in the sense that we can easily see the examples of the graceful and loving relatives, friends, colleagues, and fellow church members who have entered everlasting life with God.

On All Hallows’ Eve, let’s not focus so much on the living dead — zombies that pop up on movie screens.  Instead, let’s remember the dead who are still living as saints of God, and as inspirations to us.

Amen

 

* Jaws, Stephen King, Jamie Lee Curtis, The Silence of the Lambs

Fall Newsletter: 2012

Who should I vote for?

A friend forwarded this story to me about a church’s reasoning for collectively agreeing to not vote in a particular election. It seems the members actually came to agree as a whole that it was against God’s will to vote. Not that they determined voting, or democracy are evil, but that the political process has become so corrupt that it is now an abomination and lacks the potential to produce the fruit of God’s will. So, as a congregation they all agreed to not vote.

This ought to sound extreme, because it is. But I think most of us can relate to the concerns of these church members, even if we cannot agree with their resolution. After all, isn’t politics known more for its corruption, divisiveness and deceit than anything else? As Christians, are we not called to reject all that defies the will of God? My father is a perfect example. He hasn’t voted in decades. When I challenge him on this his answer is always the same, “Why vote? We can’t trust any of them to do what they promise.” Personally, I think answers like this are a cop out. But, as a Christian we are called to defend our actions with a bit more than just knee jerk reactions, even when it seems we are overwhelmingly correct. These days, I think Christians need to grapple with the question about why it is God’s will that we vote.

We are not just citizens of the United States. We are Christian citizens.

We are living in a time like no other in America’s history when it comes to matters of faith and religion. According to a survey conducted this year by the PEW Research Group, the number of those who claim no religious affiliation has climbed to 16% of Americans. That’s the highest it has ever been, and it is trending upward. This number has doubled just since the time when the people surveyed today were children. Meaning, the primary reason for the rise in this number is due to people being raised by people claiming to be Christian, but now their children are not following in their parent’s faith. Among Americans between the ages 18-29, the number of those who claim no religious affiliation is 25%. That is a staggering statistic, when considering the Christian roots of our particular democracy in this country. Meanwhile, the number of those who claim Christianity as their religion continues to decline, with mainline Protestants, like us, slipping to 18%, an all time low. Clearly the “mainline” in American Christianity has become more of the “sideline” today.

This is precisely why it is important for us to not merely vote as citizens, but to vote as Christian citizens. Our particular voice needs to become relevant again. There is no other time when it is easier for our voice to be made relevant than when we are given the opportunity to vote for a president.

What does it mean to vote as a Christian citizen?

It means we take seriously a few things that an increasing number of others do not. First, that God is sovereign to our politics. No matter what others may say, God is still in charge. We are still able to claim to be one nation, but only so long as we are able to claim in the same breath the source of that unity. We are one nation under God. All authority belongs to God. This means we are never truly independent. We are always dependent upon God for guidance, support and mercy. The candidate who recognizes this will demonstrate it by “walking humbly” as the prophet Micah explains. We should expect an element of elitism, and entitlement in candidates who are running for the highest office in our nation. It would be foolish to think that a person could rise to such a station in life without being surrounded by such an element. With forgiveness, then, we should look deeper into the character of the candidates. We should look for humility. When faced with opposition or set back, which candidate is humble enough to admit their flaws and mistakes. Or, which candidate draws upon child-like patterns of behavior that are more arrogant, such as blaming others, finger-pointing, back-pedaling, and denial. As Christians, we believe in God who does not expect us to be perfect. We are only expected to do our best, and walk humbly with God. We ought look for humility like this in the candidate we choose.

Second, it means we take seriously that Christian values contribute positively to society as a whole. Jesus gave us the mandate to love others as he has loved us. The value of service to others, generosity, and personal sacrifice are values that we should look for in a candidate, and in that candidate’s decision making practices. Jesus’ love is also one that places the value of righteousness over that of success, justice over that of fairness. Doing what is right is not necessarily always going to be what is considered successful. We recognize when a candidate chooses the pursuit of success because it is often at expense of doing what is right. For instance, making choices that conserve and promote renewable sources of energy, reducing our dependence on foreign nations is fundamentally right. However, this is not likely to be popular or very successful, at first, due to the dramatic changes required in the industry and infrastructure, as well as the risk of trial and error inherent in testing new ideas and technology. 

Likewise, making decisions that promote justice may not always be considered fair. Making choices that aim at justice in matters of health care, education, and immigration are not going to be decisions that all people believe are fair. Some will be asked to give so that others may receive. As Lutheran Christians, we teach that the blessings we receive are the result of God's grace. In the economy of God's kingdom, the grace He gives to us promotes justice and peace, but it is certainly not fair. If God's will was to promote fairness, then all of we sinners would receive the punishment we very fairly deserve. Thankfully, God isn't interested in being fair, His will is to produce justice through us by His grace.  And, from a Christian perspective, the work of justice in this world is never going to be understood as fair to all people involved. With the economy playing such a significant role in this election, Christians ought to look for the candidate whose choices demonstrate a willingness to take the risks that promote justice.  

And my final point here is really the simplest. We need to take seriously what St. Paul says in Romans chapter 13, where he exhorts the church to obey government leaders because all authority comes from God. Here’s the catch for us here in America. We are the leaders! We need to remember that. This means we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our nation, our laws, resources and government. What is our task as Christian citizens? To see that it is run in a way that gives honor to God, and to raise up leaders from among us who will judge and decide what is right for our nation according to God’s will. We need to raise up people who make Godly choices in politics, and pray for, encourage and applaud those who do so. We publicly demonstrate our faith in God by exercising our rights and privileges in an honorable way as citizens. That means, among many other things, voting. God has granted us authority here in this nation to be good stewards of the gifts we have been given.

So, then, who does the Christian citizen vote for?

We vote for the one who best exemplifies our faith and values. In this election this is a little harder to get at. In a recent Gallup poll, only 34% of Americans correctly answered that President Obama is a Christian, and 11% incorrectly answered that he was a Muslim. Why are we so confused about our President’s religion? It could be because his actions have adequately left Americans guessing. In 2008 we heard from his infamous UCC pastor, who offended many people with his rantings about race. Obama, possibly trying to distance himself, has attended many different religious institutions for worship since entering the White House. Four years later and his personal religious affiliation seems generic at best. On the other hand, Mitt Romney, who once held the high ranking office of Bishop, has brought Mormonism to the foreground more than ever before.

So, who do we vote for when one’s Christianity is generic, and the other is a Mormon?

Well, I don’t propose by this writing to be offering a foolproof plan to choosing a president. That would be ludicrous. I am proposing, however, that we at least lift up and consider a few things to do with the faith we share prior to making our decision. Choosing a president is a purely secular event, even for Christians, but that does not mean it should be uninformed by our personal faith. In short, Christian voters act appropriately when they evaluate candidates for public office based on anything that is relevant to how Christian values are used to inform the candidate’s ability to perform the duties of the office. This means we can vote for a president based upon our best guess of how the candidate’s values and abilities line up with our Christian values, regardless of whether or not the candidate is actually faithful or religious at all.

Good citizenship sets an example for generations to come. But, responsible Christian citizenship passes down blessings upon blessings to those who come after us. It seems frighteningly clear that secularism and humanism are going to continue to erode the values that we Christians hold dear. Yet, when we have an opportunity to vote, how many of us do so with our Christian values at the foreground of our decision making process? Too many of us make the choice of a candidate based solely upon what we hear our favorite news channel supporting. Christian values, as well as our nation's integrity, become like sheep led to the slaughter when we do this. Remember, we are the leaders of this great nation. We need to turn off the auto-pilot, which is CNN and FOX, and take the wheel again. I believe that as we trust in God with prayer and obedience in each of our elections, and act as good stewards of our nation's politics, laws, and government we begin to pave the way for generations of blessing.

May God bless the USA with the fruits of our election this November.

MANNA: 10/16/12

"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind  and the same judgment."

1 Corinthians 1:10

Paul emphasizes the main point of his letter to the church in Corinth.  "agree...no divisions...united...same mind...same judgment."   Unity depends on faithfulness to Christ, not chasing one's own agendas or ideas.

With politics winding their way toward the general election in a few weeks, the topic of national unity is in the air once again.  Each candidate offering their own spin on why their opponent would not be the best choice to unite our nation.  How ironic!  As the two of them point the finger of judgment at each other they model the same division they promise to correct.

One thing politics reminds us about unity is that it is much easier spoken of than accomplished.   Maybe our search for unity should look beyond the president of our nation.

Unity may be a difficult goal to accomplish, but Paul's message to the church in Corinth helps us to focus our efforts on a way that leads us in the right direction.  The road to unity goes through selfless compromise and forgiveness.

Are you trying to keep your family, friends, etc. together, or are you trying to force your will upon them?
Is unity your true goal, or is it actually to get things to go your way?

When our road to unity is going through our own agendas and ideas then we would be wise to let go of our power struggles, confess our selfishness, and look for ways to work toward a compromise.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to force my own agendas or ideas on the people around me.  Help me to trust in your way of forgiveness and compromise.  Let me see more clearly the gift of your saving grace in Jesus Christ to free me from the self-destructiveness of my own selfish ways.  Thank you, Lord, for the gift of today to correct the mistakes of yesterday.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

MANNA: 10/11/12

Verse For The Day: 1 Chronicles 16:34

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

for his steadfast love endures forever!

David has rescued the ark of the covenant from Israel's enemies, and re-established worship for the people.  This line, in 1st Chronicles, actually comes from the first verse of Psalm 106.  The scribes to King David decided to quote from this Psalm, and two others, to express Israel's joy and thanks.  

How best to express our emotions to God than to use the ancient words of the Bible?  Personally, I find it so inspiring to come across quotes like this.  It's as if the Bible itself can't come up with any better words than that which the Bible has already said in another place of the scriptures.  

Sometimes God leaves us speechless!

In times like these, God's Word speaks for us.

God knows our thoughts and feelings before we can come up with the words to express them.  

I like to say that one thing the Bible gives us is a language for our soul.  It's a language that unites our thoughts and feelings with that of generations of believers who have turned to those same words through the centuries.  The more time we spend with the Bible the more our "soul's language" improves it's vocabulary.  

Today's verse might be used as a prayer all by itself.  You might pray it over and over.  As you do so, listen to the way the words take on different meanings that are fitting for your soul's necessities today.  

Prayer: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.  Amen!