Of the Father's Love Begotten (Lutheran Service Book #384)

Of the Father's love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.

Oh, that birth forever blessed,
When the virgin full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Savior of our race,
And the babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.

This is He whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord,
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word.
Now He shines, the long expected;
Let creation praise its Lord
Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heav'n adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing.
Pow'rs, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Ev'ry voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.

Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
And unending praises be,
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory
Evermore and evermore. Amen.

Text: Aurelius Prudentius Clemens, 348-c.413; translation- John Mason Neale, 1818-66, stanzas 1-4; translation- Henry W. Baker, 1821-77, stanza 5

Tune: Plainsong, 13th century, mode V

Meter: Divinum Mysterium

Merry Christmas to one and all!!

Anger Cleansing

I was so angry while on my daily walk this morning. I won't go into detail about why I was angry, but suffice to say that it sure made walking more brisk than usual. I huffed and puffed for about 45 minutes and then continued my romp and stomp through the house and into the shower. I was so angry I was talking to myself out loud. In the shower. Then I schemed and planned to bring the perpetrators of my anger to justice. I thought of ways to make them pay through the nose, or at least ways to apply the screws even tighter and put them under my thumbs. All of this while I was lathering, shampooing, and rinsing.

But the more I talked and pretended to be the tough guy in the right, the angrier I got. I was turning into a beast. My breathing was shallow. I was shaking. I started to get dizzy. My face was turning red. That was one of the roughest showers I had ever taken. I've taken them before, but never like this. I'm surprised I didn't rip my own scalp off.

Where did all of this anger come from? It just welled up inside of me and reached boiling point. I'm glad I got to release it, but then what about my planning and scheming to right perceived wrongs committed against me? Will I still carry them out?

It was then that I realized something. I don't know where this came from, but out of the blue came this thought that said, "What you plan to do will only make things worse." I argued against that thought. It didn't seem right because, dagnabit, someone has to conform to my standards that, prior to today, did not exist.

But was that really fair? It was then that I remembered something I had read in my Pastoral Care Companion about anger-- anger comes from an unwillingness to forgive. I forgot the exact quote, so I went to the Companion to read exactly what it says. And here it is:

Sinful anger and bitterness are destructive emotional responses expressed an unwillingness to forgive others. When not dealt with, they devastate a person's relationship with God and the neighbor. The pastor will use the Law to reveal such anger and bitterness as a fruit of unbelief. (Pastoral Care Companion, p. 315)

Wow! That was a hard pill to swallow. A fruit of unbelief. I didn't like it, but somehow it rang true. It doesn't matter if I like it or not. I was exposed. But it didn't get rid of my anger. Now I was angry that I was angry. Being shown that anger is a fruit of unbelief cuts deep. I had harbored hatred toward those I was angry with, and I was paying the price. I was finally coming to my senses, realizing that I was just being a jerk, if only in my imagination. My anger began to subside.

The Pastoral Care Companion goes on:

Proclaiming the unconditional forgiveness won by Christ, the pastor will point to the love of Christ, which constrains us to relinquish anger and to forgive those who have sinned against us even as God in Christ has forgiven us.

That's ultimately what changes the heart-- Christ! I can't change it myself. I'll just look for more reasons to be angry. The Gospel reminds me that I've been cleansed from hatred and malice. It constrains and reduces me to forgiveness and mercy. Now I can breathe! Anger cannot exist in a clean house.

I'm sure that anger will come back someday to dirty things up again, and I'll make a mess of myself. But I think that's the whole point. I know that I'll always be struggling with things like this until the day I die. But the struggle is good, because then God shows His best work in Christ in reminding me of my cross-shaped identity. I'm covered and am drawn out from a will in bondage, to one that is free and clean.

A Personal Relationship with Jesus

Is there really such a thing as a personal relationship with Jesus? I struggle with that question because part of me answers in the affirmative, and another part of me answers in the negative. I'll deal with the latter, negative part of me first.

The skeptic in me senses that a personal relationship with Jesus involves the self setting the terms of the relationship. In other words, if one is going to have to have such a relationship it would be under the condition that Jesus sees things "my way". And aren't we really good at composing agendas for others to follow, especially demanding that Jesus conform to such an agenda? If that is what is meant by a personal relationship with Jesus, then I would have to say that there is no such thing. But there's also another dimension to this that is often overlooked.

Whenever in the Scriptures God deals with an individual, it was for the benefit of the whole. The covenant with Abraham was for him and his descendants, and ultimately his seed, who is Christ (see Galatians 3:15-18). Moses was given the stone tablets on Mt. Sinai for himself and for Israel. It was not a private affair between Moses and God. Jesus didn't die and rise for himself, but for all of us. It could be argued that Jesus had a "personal relationship with God", but that was only because he embodied all of humanity. Again, it wasn't a private affair between "me and God".

It appears that God deals with the individual, but only with the collective in mind. This is why it disturbs me when people look for "practical application" of the Scriptures, or when people ask, "How does this apply to me and my life?" Why is it so necessary that the Scriptures must have direct application to you? Or me? The Scriptures were not composed for the purpose of helping individuals live better or to give individuals a set of regulations that will guarantee happiness. The were written to gather a people, composed of individuals, yes, but not for the sake of the self. It is to take the self beyond the self so that the self is lost in an organic body of Christ which submits to the love and the grace of God. For we are one body and individually members of that one body.

Now answering in the affirmative, there is such a thing as a personal relationship with God insofar as it is recognized that said relationship is also true of other individuals in the body of Christ. Grace is all the same for everyone. God doesn't pay more attention to one person over another, although it may appear that way to us. But that is to misunderstand the relationship and misappropriate the grace of God as a talisman for the self. A personal relationship with Jesus is not measured by how many goodies one has but by membership in the body of Christ. By grace through faith we are granted membership.

Relationship with Christ automatically places us in relationship with others. The Christian tradition has always said that faith is never a private affair. It is always lived out in community for the life and salvation of the world.

So, in answer to the question of, "Is there any such thing as a personal relationship with Jesus?", it would have to depend on what is meant by "personal relationship".

Media Buffoonery

Did you happen to see an interview of the church security guard/former police officer who gunned down the shooter in Colorado Springs? I forgot which morning show I was watching, but I think it was the Today Show. It was a standard interview... "What was going through your mind?... What did you see?... How did you know what to do?"....

Typical, until the end of the interview. Before I continue, I need to mention one detail. The church security guard who gunned down the Colorado Springs church shooter is female, young, and extremely attractive.

Can you see where this is going?

The interviewer asked this attractive young woman, (paraphrasing) "The media at the press conference yesterday asked you if you were single. What was up with that?" Then they rolled the tape of that portion of the press conference.

Let's see-- innocent people were gunned down in two churches on Sunday, the gunman was shot down by this church security guard, and the big question of the day was about her marital status?

I know life goes on, but... sheesh! Is there no dignity after such a horrible incident? Yet another example of media slapstick and buffoonery.

The Hammer of God

I've just finished reading a book that I read back in my seminary days called The Hammer of God by Bo Giertz, a Lutheran bishop in Sweden. The book really didn't mean too much to me during my days at the sem. It's a novel about the heart of pastoral ministry. While it was an interesting story I didn't find it very helpful in learning how to be a pastor. That was then.

I happened to run across this book as I was sifting through some old boxes in my basement. I had forgotten the storyline so I thought it would perhaps be meet, right, and salutary to give it another read. I am so glad that I took the time!

I'll spare you the details of the story, but I will say that this novel is best read after one has been in the ministry for a few years. It's a good exercise in reorienting the trajectory and purpose of one's ministry, as it has now done for me.

The purpose of pastoral ministry is the proclamation of Christ. It's that simple. And it's that difficult. Simple, because Christ has equipped his Church with everything it needs in very earthy, concrete forms-- Scripture, water, bread, wine. All a pastor is called to do is implement these tools of the trade, these means and channels of God's grace. Difficult, because society prizes creativity and innovation. People want an "experience" of God apart from God's chosen means. And so, many look to their pastor for a spiritual high and warm, fuzzy feelings. There is the great temptation for pastors to adopt models of ministry that are based more on therapeutic processes and experiential spirituality. The focus is then turned onto the individual and his/her experiences rather than on the proclamation of Christ. It becomes all about pleasing the spiritual customer.

I will confess my forays into trying to adopt creative models for ministry. I've dabbled in church growth techniques, contemporary worship (whatever that means), and trying to be a superstar to the applause and accolades of the masses, or of those who came to church to hear me.

But now, as it was for the main character in The Hammer of God, a new day has dawned for me. I don't know where it will take me, but it really doesn't matter. What matters is that I proclaim Christ and the new creation, sticking with the Word of God, and being an instrument through which Christ hands out salvation, life, and forgiveness.

One Word

ZEPPELIN!!!!!

Marry Christmas

It's almost a first for me-- I have no weddings to officiate this month! It's amazing how many couples want to tie the knot around Christmas time. I've been spared this December. So far.

Shoppers and Seekers

I've been thinking about the kinds of people Trinity retains in its worship and membership. As many already know, New Lenox is a rapidly growing suburb of Chicago and many people moving in are looking for a church to attend.

Trinity is growing, but not as rapidly as other churches in town. We're wondering why that is, and I think I have a few answers. First, most of the people moving into town are Roman Catholic and seek the Roman Catholic church. St. Jude's is, by far, the largest church in town. Second, we seem to attract Lutherans who are beholden to the LCMS. They seek an LCMS congregation, period. They will join nothing else. They come, introduce themselves, and join, no questions asked. This is transfer growth, which is where the majority of our new members come from.

And then there are others who present, in my perception, an interesting phenomenon. They move into town are start looking for a church. They are not beholden to any denominational label, but they can be divided into two groups: shoppers and seekers. Many believe that anyone who's out looking for a church to attend are automatically "seekers". I disagree, which is why I believe the term "seeker sensitive" is a misnomer. Not everyone looking for a church to attend are "seekers". I would say the vast majority of them are "shoppers". There is a marked difference.

Shoppers are looking for amenities and conveniences. They look for a church that's entertaining, friendly, exciting, opportunity-filled, and has 24 hour day care (a bit of hyperbole on my part-- humor me a bit!!). Ask any of these people why they chose the church they attend and most will tell you how friendly the people are, how nice the pastor is, how fun and exciting the worship is, how good the messages are (read, they're entertaining and "practical"), etc. They are not true seekers.

It's interesting that very few of them will mention anything about Christ. These are the people Trinity has not retained. When a shopper visits Trinity, he/she will most likely not return, primarily because Trinity does not have what the church consumer looks for. We lack the niceties that this group desires in their idea of a church. For them, Christ is secondary. It's the goodies they're seeking.

Seekers, on the other hand, are looking for things beyond the goods and services they can obtain. They want to hear God speaking. They don't mind if no one says "Hi" to them, or if they don't get a cup of coffee, or if there's no children's church, or if there are no big screens or praise bands or sermons on stress reduction. They only want to listen deeply and edifyingly to God. That's all. They are the true seekers. And they're not looking for services that are "seeker sensitive" because they have very little consumer sensitivities when it comes to church.

There are not many of them out there. Most of the people looking for a church are shoppers. The true seekers are a decided minority. My experience has been that when a seeker, a true seeker, comes to Trinity, he/she stays. Why? Because there's a sense of transcendence and concrete expressions of the mystery of the grace of God. They know that there's something very special, tangible, yet beyond them, going on here. Through the reading and proclamation of the Gospel, the liturgy, the sacraments, the reverence, the hymnody, God is speaking for those who have ears to hear. Christ is proclaimed as the Author and Perfector of our faith. The ones who are truly seeking pick up on this and keep coming back.

Admittedly, Trinity would bore most people who are looking for something fun and exciting to do on a Sunday morning. But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. We're not a shopping mall or a jukebox or Starbucks. We are a little piece of the mystical body of Christ who recognize the human need for repentance and forgiveness of sins through Christ.

How Is It Possible?

How can anyone possibly out-sin the grace of God? God has been in the forgiveness business from the very beginning. That's thousands of years of human history. What would compel God to toss that all aside just because you had a fit of anger, or a lustful thought, or a couple of drinks too many? Are you arrogant enough to believe that you have that much of an effect on the Creator of the universe? What makes you think you can get God so steaming mad that He'll unleash His unencumbered wrath on you?

You are but a breath, a wisp of the paintbrush on the large canvas of time. You are a mere phantom as you walk to and fro. You are like the grass that withers and the flower that falls. The Word of the Lord endures forever! This isn't about insignificance. It's about perspective. You are not God, nor are you as big as God. You are not present everywhere. You don't know everything that can be known. You can't raise up mountains or carve out valleys.

Yet, God knows you. What are you that God is mindful of you? Everything you try to hide is laid bare before His eyes. Everything! You have God's attention, but not because you asked for it or because you're a distracting type of person. That's just the way God is. It has absolutely nothing to do with you (are you getting tired of me saying that?). This point cannot be stressed enough.

Christ Alone

You might be surprised to know that Christianity has nothing to do with Christians. It has nothing to do with how much money they have in their pockets, how many people they influence, or how good looking they are. It has nothing to do with how loudly they sing, how fervently they pray, or how often they attend Sunday worship. It has nothing to do with how many promises they keep or how friendly they are. None of that.

Christianity is about Christ. Christ alone.

Which brings up the issue of Sunday worship. It is not a time to cut deals, compare clothing, or impress people. It is the time when, for at least one hour, we gather corporately to listen to God speak in the various parts of the divine service--liturgy, hymnody, and preaching. Since Christianity is about Christ, Christianity's worship is about Christ. Christ alone. That's why it's called "divine" service and not "my" service. Christianity has nothing to do with Christians. In fact, it has nothing to do with anybody. Not even you.

A possible retort to the above could be, "If it's not about me, then why bother?" I understand that. That's the kind of culture in which we live. The great "me, myself, and I" is sovereign. We spend most of our lives maintaining the appearances of our supposed superiority over others. It's all about "me" all week long.

And that's precisely the reason why one should "bother"-- one finally is invited to participate in something that is not of themselves, but is a gift from God. We come with nothing except our failure to do what ought to have been done. We come with only the confession that we have failed; that we have lived our lives as if "me, myself, and I" mattered more than anything else. We do this, not to bludgeon ourselves into oblivion, but just as an act of sheer honesty that the great "me, myself, and I" isn't as great as I make it out to be. There's absolutely no self-help book, self-improvement program or Mike Ditka motivational seminar that can help me out of this predicament.

The only one who can release me is Christ. Christ alone. One might consider this to be disempowering to the self. But the problem is that the self has claimed too much power and is not willing to concede it. The self then becomes enslaved to itself. It's a vicious circle that no one can end. It's when we are led to realize that we can't fix ourselves, because it's not about ourselves, that grace comes pouring in like a flood. The chains come off, the old is put off, and we are made anew in the Kingdom of God.

War on Christmas-- What happened?

I haven't heard anything from the pundits who complain every year about the supposed "war on Christmas". Have you? Maybe I haven't been listening hard enough. Bill O'Reilly hasn't said anything as far as I know. I checked out his website-- not a word about it. Neither has Bob Gibson said anything, although he wrote a whole book about it, so that's probably complaining enough for a lifetime. Are we to assume then that the war on Christmas is over? Who won? Nothing is clear about this war, much like the war in the Middle East in which we are presently engaged.

Maybe that's how we fight wars in America now. We just complain and moan for a little while with no clear objective, perhaps except to just be heard and to make our presence known. That's all. Making any substantial change is far off of the radar screen. Bloviating seems to be the order of the day. Just be loud!

Back to the "war on Christmas". Christmas can never be eliminated completely because it is a Christian feast day. Got that? As long as there are Christians, there will be Christmas. What O'Reilly, et al were complaining about is the traditional cultural trappings of Christmas-- creche displays at city hall and retailers saying "Merry Christmas" are the two big ones.

Christmas was not developed by and for American society. To make the value of this holy day dependent on what a particular culture does (or doesn't do) civically or economically is to make a mockery of what Christmas is really about. It really doesn't matter at all if the traditional cultural trappings are mocked, or even outlawed. The real Christmas will survive in hearts of people and in the churches where the Christ Mass is celebrated-- where it matters most.

The celebration of Christmas has nothing to do with city hall and Wal Mart. Christmas is God becoming incarnate in the person of Jesus. It's more than the birth of a cute little baby asleep on the hay. It's God in the flesh on this planet to redeem and sanctify it, to begin a great deliverance and usher in the Kingdom of God.

Last week, one of Santa's elves wished me "Happy Holidays". I'm not bothered by that phrase one bit. American holiday tradition simply is not sacrosanct to me. We can burn all of the Christmas trees, smash all of the manger scenes, cut all of the wires on the strings of Christmas lights, fire all of the Santas and Salvation Army bell ringers, stop all Christmas music on the radio, schedule no Christmas television programming, and replace all of them with menorahs and crescents... there will still be Christmas! It can and will survive any so-called "war" as it has for centuries.