I recently passed along a story about an insurance salesman who was doing God's work of ministry. It's time to comment on some other professions...like teachers, for instance.
When I think of teachers doing ministry, I remember my second-grade teacher, Lurie Rindahl, who was also a great-aunt through marriage. I was sick over half of my first year in school with various respiratory ailments and would have repeated first grade the next year. However, my father died that summer, and we moved to stay with my aunt Myrtle. Lurie, her sister-in-law, lived just a block away. She tutored me through the summer and got me to pass my first-grade tests, so that I could move on to join her class in the fall. That wasn't all, however. She and her husband provided a home-away-from-home where I could go to visit and play Yahtzee and other such games. They were childless, but they were like grandparents to me.
When I think of teachers as ministers, I think of a couple of math teachers, Mrs. Walker and Mr. Haugen. I would stay after school and talk (about what I don't remember), and they would oblige by listening. I think of Mr. Gander, the shop teacher, who taught me things my father probably would have taught me had he lived. I think of Mrs. Matthey, in sixth grade, who showed her special TLC to those who misbehaved in class (luckily, I wasn't among them), and who nearly always bought what I happened to be selling door to door. And I think of Mr. Boe, the principal--he of the thick Norwegian accent--who provided me with a job as student janitor and with it some needed male comraderie during my adolescent years.
Our school now has a program called "Teachers as Advisors," where teachers take time periodically to meet with students about their learning goals and other more personal matters. But another role has always been there, I believe. It's not a program; it's a calling. It's called teachers as ministers.
This one's for you, Cheryl. I hope that other teachers might see this, too.
Blessings,
John
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
THEY SAY IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!
Today is my 53rd birthday. It’s a day to celebrate another year that God has given me to do his work in the world. People who have lived through life-threatening situations like car accidents or cancer often report discovering a renewed meaning and passion for life. Some who have been told they have only a year more to live have discovered the same thing.
So…if you suddenly had another year added to your life, what would you do with it? What difference would it make to your family, to the work you do, to the world?
I thought of at least one thing I would want to do with an extra year: I would want to spend time with my grandchildren. That, in turn, implies two things to me.
1. I will have to live long enough to see them! My mother lived for seven months after our first child was born. My father didn't live to see any of his grandchildren. My wife Holly and I were about as old as my own parents when we got married, so if I want to be around to see my grand children, I’ll want to eat, exercise and live in a way that helps sustain my own life. I'll also want to help my children to do the same thing! Wanting to be around to see my grandchildren is a good incentive to do both.
2. I will want to nurture my relationships with my children. No one can guarantee where their children will wind up, and thus how often we might be able to see our grandchildren, but at the very least I ought to be nurturing my relationship with my children, so I have a reasonable chance of being on good terms with them when they grow to be adults and have families of their own. That also probably means that I’ll want to maintain a good relationship with their mother, as she is bound to have an impact on how I relate to my kids and grandkids now and in the future. Practicing saying “I love you,” learning how to listen and communicate effectively, and refraining from abuse and verbal put-downs can go a long way toward establishing the kind of relationship with my children that will make it more likely that my goal of hanging out with my grandchildren an extra year (or two) will be achieved.
Hmm…working on just those two things would make for a pretty good start to the extra year that God has given me to live on this earth, if I do say so myself!
Blessings,
John
So…if you suddenly had another year added to your life, what would you do with it? What difference would it make to your family, to the work you do, to the world?
I thought of at least one thing I would want to do with an extra year: I would want to spend time with my grandchildren. That, in turn, implies two things to me.
1. I will have to live long enough to see them! My mother lived for seven months after our first child was born. My father didn't live to see any of his grandchildren. My wife Holly and I were about as old as my own parents when we got married, so if I want to be around to see my grand children, I’ll want to eat, exercise and live in a way that helps sustain my own life. I'll also want to help my children to do the same thing! Wanting to be around to see my grandchildren is a good incentive to do both.
2. I will want to nurture my relationships with my children. No one can guarantee where their children will wind up, and thus how often we might be able to see our grandchildren, but at the very least I ought to be nurturing my relationship with my children, so I have a reasonable chance of being on good terms with them when they grow to be adults and have families of their own. That also probably means that I’ll want to maintain a good relationship with their mother, as she is bound to have an impact on how I relate to my kids and grandkids now and in the future. Practicing saying “I love you,” learning how to listen and communicate effectively, and refraining from abuse and verbal put-downs can go a long way toward establishing the kind of relationship with my children that will make it more likely that my goal of hanging out with my grandchildren an extra year (or two) will be achieved.
Hmm…working on just those two things would make for a pretty good start to the extra year that God has given me to live on this earth, if I do say so myself!
Blessings,
John
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
DOING MINISTRY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE
Ministry is not confined to the church. It happens right where you live and work. A retired seminary professor shares this story:
Years ago I met an Episcopal bishop who told me he once visited the office of an insurance executive who invited him to look at some personal files to see what his work was like. When he saw how this executive had handled the case of a high school dropout, helping her continue in school and eventually achieve a significant position, he said, "This is Christian ministry." The executive replied, "I thought my ministry was being a church council member where for fifteen years I have tried without success to get the janitor on social security." With tears in his eyes he said, "Bishop, nobody ever told me what I do here at work is ministry." I told the bishop, "You had the authority to ordain him on the spot!" He laughed and replied, "'Pastorizing the laity' is not where it's at, but helping people discover their daily work is their ministry. That's where the Spirit's gifts empower us."
Dear God, you make the common holy. Help me in whatever I do this day and wherever I go to be your servant, your minister, whatever that task might be. Amen.
Loren Halvorson
Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology, Church & Society
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Years ago I met an Episcopal bishop who told me he once visited the office of an insurance executive who invited him to look at some personal files to see what his work was like. When he saw how this executive had handled the case of a high school dropout, helping her continue in school and eventually achieve a significant position, he said, "This is Christian ministry." The executive replied, "I thought my ministry was being a church council member where for fifteen years I have tried without success to get the janitor on social security." With tears in his eyes he said, "Bishop, nobody ever told me what I do here at work is ministry." I told the bishop, "You had the authority to ordain him on the spot!" He laughed and replied, "'Pastorizing the laity' is not where it's at, but helping people discover their daily work is their ministry. That's where the Spirit's gifts empower us."
Dear God, you make the common holy. Help me in whatever I do this day and wherever I go to be your servant, your minister, whatever that task might be. Amen.
Loren Halvorson
Professor Emeritus of Pastoral Theology, Church & Society
Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN
Monday, January 26, 2009
GOD'S E-MAIL
A friend and ministry colleague I'm mentoring/coaching seems to call me whenever something comes up in his life or ministry. Good or bad. Sometimes two or three times a day. While by calling he gets an immediate response to the issue at hand, it's not always convenient for me; in fact, it gets a little annoying sometimes. I don't have any other friends who call that often, however, so I grin and bear it.
I also have a friend and colleague who is mentoring/coaching me. We talk via computerized phone connection once a month. Between calls I e-mail him as things come up. He, in turn, reads and responds on his own schedule. If I write on Sunday, it might be Tuesday before he gets back to me. It might take longer if he's gone on vacation or at a meeting somewhere. I've been know to send two or three e-mails a day, but since they're e-mails, he can respond to them as he has the time and the ability to think about what I've written. While it's more convenient for him, it can be hard for me to wait.
There is an advantage to his slower response, however: it gives me time to think about what I've written. Sometimes I come up with my own answer to a question or problem before he has a chance to get back to me. It's like what used to happen to me in school. I'd go up to my math teacher's desk with a question, and by the time I'd get to her, I'd already have the answer!
People have compared prayer to a telephone call to God. I think it's probably more like my e-mail exchanges with my mentor. Sometimes you have to wait a while to get an answer. However, when you do get a response, you know you can trust it. In the meantime, you have the opportunity to sort out some answers for yourself. The only difference is that, unlike a human correspondent, God is also involved in our sorting things out, even when he doesn't seem to give us a direct response.
So send your e-mails to God. He reads them all and responds to them all--at a time best suited to his purposes and to our spiritual growth.
I also have a friend and colleague who is mentoring/coaching me. We talk via computerized phone connection once a month. Between calls I e-mail him as things come up. He, in turn, reads and responds on his own schedule. If I write on Sunday, it might be Tuesday before he gets back to me. It might take longer if he's gone on vacation or at a meeting somewhere. I've been know to send two or three e-mails a day, but since they're e-mails, he can respond to them as he has the time and the ability to think about what I've written. While it's more convenient for him, it can be hard for me to wait.
There is an advantage to his slower response, however: it gives me time to think about what I've written. Sometimes I come up with my own answer to a question or problem before he has a chance to get back to me. It's like what used to happen to me in school. I'd go up to my math teacher's desk with a question, and by the time I'd get to her, I'd already have the answer!
People have compared prayer to a telephone call to God. I think it's probably more like my e-mail exchanges with my mentor. Sometimes you have to wait a while to get an answer. However, when you do get a response, you know you can trust it. In the meantime, you have the opportunity to sort out some answers for yourself. The only difference is that, unlike a human correspondent, God is also involved in our sorting things out, even when he doesn't seem to give us a direct response.
So send your e-mails to God. He reads them all and responds to them all--at a time best suited to his purposes and to our spiritual growth.
Friday, January 23, 2009
PLAYING DEFENSE
My son Zachary surprised himself and others tonight by playing aggressive defense on the basetball court, blocking shots and causing the other team to turn over the ball. "He's such a nice, quiet boy," a former teacher remarked, surprised at his play. Her daughter was less surprised. She'd watched Zachary play basketball before. But as I said, even Zachary himself was surprised. He goes into a tournament tomorrow knowing, now, that he can play tough "D."
I'm afraid that Christians are not always so good at playing defense. At least Lutheran Christians. One of our problems is that we don't spend a lot of time even talking about the opposing team. Other Christian talk a lot about the sin, devil, and the forces of evil. Most Lutherans do not, which is sort of surprising, since Martin Luther himself talked quite a bit about the opposition.
Jesus faced the devil in the wilderness and won by knowing his Bible better than his opponent. Luther used God's word, too, as well as the knowledge that he had been made a child of God in baptism. Luther's knowledge of God's word and his identity as one claimed and saved by Christ helped him through some very difficult times, when the enemy threatened to take the lead.
In order to be able to defend against the forces of evil, we need to be able to recognize their tactics. Here are three of them and a way to defend against each, based on God's word:
Tactic: Trying to convince you that you are no good.
Defense: Remember Gen. 1:26, which says, "And God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness.'" If are made in the image of God, then it cannot be true that we are no good. We sin, yes. We rebel against what God wants for us, yes. But we are still made in God's likeness and intended to do good. As Paul wrote, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).
Tactic: Pointing out other people's faults while persuading you to ignore your own.
Defense: Remember Jesus' own complaint: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5). Taking care of your own faults first is not only good defense for your own faith but it might eventually help you to defend your neighbor, as well.
Tactic: Using advertising or your own pride to get you to work harder and harder to accumulate more money and things, meanwhile ignoring your faith, family, and friends.
Defense: Remembering Jesus' words, "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Luke 12:27). Another possible defense would be to volunteer for a mission trip to a developing country. That might change your perspective on what it means to be wealthy.
No doubt you can think of others. I invite you to think about the tactics that wind up defeating you and how you might defend against each. The tactics could come from the inside or the outside, be "quick and dirty" or subtle and intricately designed. Each one will probably require a slightly different defense. But know that the Bible provides some excellent defensive--as well as offensive--plays that you, too, can learn if you take the time to read it.
Taking the time to focus on your defense can go a long way toward helping you in your daily struggles with the forces that want to take you down. With a little to practice, who knows? You might surprise yourself and others, too!
I'm afraid that Christians are not always so good at playing defense. At least Lutheran Christians. One of our problems is that we don't spend a lot of time even talking about the opposing team. Other Christian talk a lot about the sin, devil, and the forces of evil. Most Lutherans do not, which is sort of surprising, since Martin Luther himself talked quite a bit about the opposition.
Jesus faced the devil in the wilderness and won by knowing his Bible better than his opponent. Luther used God's word, too, as well as the knowledge that he had been made a child of God in baptism. Luther's knowledge of God's word and his identity as one claimed and saved by Christ helped him through some very difficult times, when the enemy threatened to take the lead.
In order to be able to defend against the forces of evil, we need to be able to recognize their tactics. Here are three of them and a way to defend against each, based on God's word:
Tactic: Trying to convince you that you are no good.
Defense: Remember Gen. 1:26, which says, "And God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness.'" If are made in the image of God, then it cannot be true that we are no good. We sin, yes. We rebel against what God wants for us, yes. But we are still made in God's likeness and intended to do good. As Paul wrote, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).
Tactic: Pointing out other people's faults while persuading you to ignore your own.
Defense: Remember Jesus' own complaint: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5). Taking care of your own faults first is not only good defense for your own faith but it might eventually help you to defend your neighbor, as well.
Tactic: Using advertising or your own pride to get you to work harder and harder to accumulate more money and things, meanwhile ignoring your faith, family, and friends.
Defense: Remembering Jesus' words, "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these" (Luke 12:27). Another possible defense would be to volunteer for a mission trip to a developing country. That might change your perspective on what it means to be wealthy.
No doubt you can think of others. I invite you to think about the tactics that wind up defeating you and how you might defend against each. The tactics could come from the inside or the outside, be "quick and dirty" or subtle and intricately designed. Each one will probably require a slightly different defense. But know that the Bible provides some excellent defensive--as well as offensive--plays that you, too, can learn if you take the time to read it.
Taking the time to focus on your defense can go a long way toward helping you in your daily struggles with the forces that want to take you down. With a little to practice, who knows? You might surprise yourself and others, too!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
CENTER YOUR SERVOS
The Boy Scouts in Wessington Springs are working with robots these days. No, they’re not using them to light their fires and erect their tents. They are building them to learn technology and communication skills. The “Boe-Bots,” as they are called, are not the humanoid robots of science-fiction movies but amount essentially to a circuit board on wheels. They can sense their surroundings and move accordingly, based on instructions their operators give them via computer.
One of the first steps in preparing these robots for their work is what’s called centering the servos. The servo motors that control the wheels of the robots arrive not having been finally adjusted at the factory. The boys have to make small adjustments so that a given command from the computer will result in the expected response. This is done by adjusting the motors so that a stop command from the computer actually results in the motors being stopped. If a screw on the motor is turned too much to the right, the motors will keeping going in one direction, even though the computer says, “Stop.” Too much to the left, and it will go in the opposite direction. Center the screw just right and the motor stops in its tracks, ready to take further commands correctly. However, if the builder does not take the time to go through this very important step, every command or situation encountered will result in something very unexpected, and the Boe-Bot will be rendered virtually uncontrollable.
Human beings are obviously not robots, but we, too, need to be “centered.” If not, the various “input” we receive in the course of everyday life can send us careening off in unexpected and even dangerous directions. Unlike the robots, we can’t be centered by turning a screw. Our centering takes place when we take the time to focus on our Lord and his design for us. God has created us in his image and has placed his own special “circuitry” within us. If we center ourselves in him and prepare ourselves to receive the commands he gives us, we will respond appropriately and faithfully to the situations we encounter in our everyday lives.
Such centering can happen when we take the time to study and meditate on God’s word in the Bible--or simply sit in silence listening to him. As we begin this new year, I invite you to take the time to center your spiritual “servos” by taking the time to focus on our Lord Jesus Christ.
As an aside, in this time of political transition, it is important for everyone to realize that Jesus is not on the “right” (conservative) or the “left” (liberal), but Jesus himself is the centering point on which everything in life depends and in whom it finds its resting place.
Take the time daily to center yourselves, and your actions will be much more likely to in line with his design. You may still go off in the wrong direction on occasionally, human beings being what we are, but you will be better prepared to stop and evaluate our actions, based on his commands.
Blessings to you this day.
John
One of the first steps in preparing these robots for their work is what’s called centering the servos. The servo motors that control the wheels of the robots arrive not having been finally adjusted at the factory. The boys have to make small adjustments so that a given command from the computer will result in the expected response. This is done by adjusting the motors so that a stop command from the computer actually results in the motors being stopped. If a screw on the motor is turned too much to the right, the motors will keeping going in one direction, even though the computer says, “Stop.” Too much to the left, and it will go in the opposite direction. Center the screw just right and the motor stops in its tracks, ready to take further commands correctly. However, if the builder does not take the time to go through this very important step, every command or situation encountered will result in something very unexpected, and the Boe-Bot will be rendered virtually uncontrollable.
Human beings are obviously not robots, but we, too, need to be “centered.” If not, the various “input” we receive in the course of everyday life can send us careening off in unexpected and even dangerous directions. Unlike the robots, we can’t be centered by turning a screw. Our centering takes place when we take the time to focus on our Lord and his design for us. God has created us in his image and has placed his own special “circuitry” within us. If we center ourselves in him and prepare ourselves to receive the commands he gives us, we will respond appropriately and faithfully to the situations we encounter in our everyday lives.
Such centering can happen when we take the time to study and meditate on God’s word in the Bible--or simply sit in silence listening to him. As we begin this new year, I invite you to take the time to center your spiritual “servos” by taking the time to focus on our Lord Jesus Christ.
As an aside, in this time of political transition, it is important for everyone to realize that Jesus is not on the “right” (conservative) or the “left” (liberal), but Jesus himself is the centering point on which everything in life depends and in whom it finds its resting place.
Take the time daily to center yourselves, and your actions will be much more likely to in line with his design. You may still go off in the wrong direction on occasionally, human beings being what we are, but you will be better prepared to stop and evaluate our actions, based on his commands.
Blessings to you this day.
John
Monday, January 19, 2009
WHAT ABOUT ME?
It's the sort of question that I expect church officials hear all too often:
When are you going to send us a new pastor?
When are you going to find me a new congregation?
Why don't you pay more attention to the small churches?
Why don't you pay more attention to the growing churches?
What about me?
That wasn't the sort of question Jesus asked when he walked this earth. He asked people to focus on the needs of the poor and the outcast. He sought to glorify his Father in heaven. In fact, the only time Jesus was even tempted to focus on his own needs and wants, it was Satan doing the tempting (see Matthew 4:1-12). And when from the cross he said, "I thirst," it was to verify what had been predicted centuries before and recorded in the Bible (see John 19:28).
One thing I have learned through the years is that at the right time, God will act, whether it is to provide for me or help me to provide for someone else. My job is focus on what GOD wants, which is that his reign over all things might be acknowledged and practiced by everyone, and that everyone all over the world might be reconciled and returned to him through his Son, Jesus Christ.
God will take care of me, so I can glorify him. That's true for the individual Christian as well as for the church.
God's blessings to you this day.
When are you going to send us a new pastor?
When are you going to find me a new congregation?
Why don't you pay more attention to the small churches?
Why don't you pay more attention to the growing churches?
What about me?
That wasn't the sort of question Jesus asked when he walked this earth. He asked people to focus on the needs of the poor and the outcast. He sought to glorify his Father in heaven. In fact, the only time Jesus was even tempted to focus on his own needs and wants, it was Satan doing the tempting (see Matthew 4:1-12). And when from the cross he said, "I thirst," it was to verify what had been predicted centuries before and recorded in the Bible (see John 19:28).
One thing I have learned through the years is that at the right time, God will act, whether it is to provide for me or help me to provide for someone else. My job is focus on what GOD wants, which is that his reign over all things might be acknowledged and practiced by everyone, and that everyone all over the world might be reconciled and returned to him through his Son, Jesus Christ.
God will take care of me, so I can glorify him. That's true for the individual Christian as well as for the church.
God's blessings to you this day.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
It All Depends How You Use It
Last month I joined Facebook, the popular social networking website. While it can be a great way to connect with people (sometimes people you haven't seen or heard from in a long time), my initial complaint was it seemed to me to be simply a place for people to talk about what they are doing at any particular moment:
"John Doe is vegging out watching TV."
"Jane Smith is at her grandparents' house and feeling bored."
Or for people to proclaim their affiliations:
"Sam Jones is a fan of Legos."
"Tammy Black is a fan of South Dakota."
I've not yet figured out what all is entailed in being a fan on Facebook. Perhaps it reflects my age that I'm not really interested. However, today I discovered a new way to use Facebook: writing on other people's "walls"! I'm not talking about graffitti here, but everyone home page has a place for people to write them messages that anyone who goes there will see. It's not a new thing. A lot of people write on other people's walls. The message might just say, "Hi, how are you!" It could say, "Where were you when I tried to call last night?" Or there could be an ongoing conversation about some issue of importance to the correspondents.
But the message also might be a way to express an affirmation for someone you know could use one (and who can't?). It could even be a way to announce when you've "caught" someone doing a good thing.
"Mary, I saw you give up your place in line for a younger kid in the lunch line today. Good going!"
"Bill, I appreciated the friendly way you dealt with a difficult customer today."
That sort of thing. The person him/herself might not even know they did it. Or they might not have intended anyone to know, but good deeds deserve to be proclaimed from the rooftops by others who happen to see them.
Jesus told his followers, "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). We can be bearers of the light for others, when we give voice to the good things that they do.
Any means of communication might become shallow and self-serving. Or it could used to serve others, or even God. It all depends how you use it.
"John Doe is vegging out watching TV."
"Jane Smith is at her grandparents' house and feeling bored."
Or for people to proclaim their affiliations:
"Sam Jones is a fan of Legos."
"Tammy Black is a fan of South Dakota."
I've not yet figured out what all is entailed in being a fan on Facebook. Perhaps it reflects my age that I'm not really interested. However, today I discovered a new way to use Facebook: writing on other people's "walls"! I'm not talking about graffitti here, but everyone home page has a place for people to write them messages that anyone who goes there will see. It's not a new thing. A lot of people write on other people's walls. The message might just say, "Hi, how are you!" It could say, "Where were you when I tried to call last night?" Or there could be an ongoing conversation about some issue of importance to the correspondents.
But the message also might be a way to express an affirmation for someone you know could use one (and who can't?). It could even be a way to announce when you've "caught" someone doing a good thing.
"Mary, I saw you give up your place in line for a younger kid in the lunch line today. Good going!"
"Bill, I appreciated the friendly way you dealt with a difficult customer today."
That sort of thing. The person him/herself might not even know they did it. Or they might not have intended anyone to know, but good deeds deserve to be proclaimed from the rooftops by others who happen to see them.
Jesus told his followers, "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). We can be bearers of the light for others, when we give voice to the good things that they do.
Any means of communication might become shallow and self-serving. Or it could used to serve others, or even God. It all depends how you use it.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Starting Simple
My daughter Angela got a ukelele for her sixth birthday. She was so excited to learn how to play it! I looked at the lesson book that came with it and discovered a song that used only one chord--C. And that C chord used only one finger! So I tuned the ukelele, showed her the C chord and played her that one song. She took off from there. She even made up a song using that C chord.
"What chord do you want me to learn next, Daddy?"
"I don't know. What looks easy?"
She gave me a list of three. I picked one, and she was off again.
I wonder sometimes if we don't make Christianity too difficult for people. We've had some new people come to our church lately. When they've asked whether we have classes for them to take, I've given them a six-session DVD that teaches the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective. I let people watch that on their own. Then I have them come together for a session to summarize the lessons and to learn some things about Our Savior's congregation specifically. I think that's pretty simple.
But what if someone came and said, " I want to learn about being a Christian. I don't know anything."? Would I give them that six-session video? Would I drop the Bible in their lap and tell them to start reading? Would that make them want to come back for more? I'm not so sure.
The Jews of Jesus time had 613 commandments and a host of rituals that people were supposed to learn and do. Jesus took those 613 commandments and boiled them down to two: "Love God with your whole being, and love your neighbor at least as much as you love yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39, my translation). And in case that should be a burden, one of Jesus' followers wrote this: "We love because God first loved us" (1 John 4:19). You can learn quite a bit about God and the Christian faith just from those two verses. What's more, they might result in more qustions.
"How can I love God?"
"How do I know God loves me?"
"Who is my neighbor?" There's a great story that goes with that one!
There's even a children's song to go with the verse from 1 John. I wonder if you can play it with just a C chord.
Blessings to you.
John
"What chord do you want me to learn next, Daddy?"
"I don't know. What looks easy?"
She gave me a list of three. I picked one, and she was off again.
I wonder sometimes if we don't make Christianity too difficult for people. We've had some new people come to our church lately. When they've asked whether we have classes for them to take, I've given them a six-session DVD that teaches the Christian faith from a Lutheran perspective. I let people watch that on their own. Then I have them come together for a session to summarize the lessons and to learn some things about Our Savior's congregation specifically. I think that's pretty simple.
But what if someone came and said, " I want to learn about being a Christian. I don't know anything."? Would I give them that six-session video? Would I drop the Bible in their lap and tell them to start reading? Would that make them want to come back for more? I'm not so sure.
The Jews of Jesus time had 613 commandments and a host of rituals that people were supposed to learn and do. Jesus took those 613 commandments and boiled them down to two: "Love God with your whole being, and love your neighbor at least as much as you love yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39, my translation). And in case that should be a burden, one of Jesus' followers wrote this: "We love because God first loved us" (1 John 4:19). You can learn quite a bit about God and the Christian faith just from those two verses. What's more, they might result in more qustions.
"How can I love God?"
"How do I know God loves me?"
"Who is my neighbor?" There's a great story that goes with that one!
There's even a children's song to go with the verse from 1 John. I wonder if you can play it with just a C chord.
Blessings to you.
John
Friday, January 16, 2009
Out of the Pew, and into the World
I've been going to church since I was a baby, and going there by my own choice since I was nine and lived a half a block from Mayville Lutheran Church in Mayville, ND. I've enjoyed going to church. Many people do, but going to church is not the limit of Christian activity. It's only the beginning. Just before he left this earth, Jesus said, "Go into all the world and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). You see, going to church is great, as long as when you're done, you go back out in the world and do what Jesus instructed us to do: help others learn what it means to be a disciple--that is, a follower--of Jesus.
This blog is one attempt to take what we do and talk about in church out into the world, and to help people who are living their lives out in the world to see how they might live them better by following what Jesus taught and did.
Since there is room for comments, it also means that this blog is an opportunity to bring what's going on in the world into the church, so that church people (including yours truly) might have a better idea about how to talk about Jesus when we are out in the world.
So, here we go...out into the world!
This blog is one attempt to take what we do and talk about in church out into the world, and to help people who are living their lives out in the world to see how they might live them better by following what Jesus taught and did.
Since there is room for comments, it also means that this blog is an opportunity to bring what's going on in the world into the church, so that church people (including yours truly) might have a better idea about how to talk about Jesus when we are out in the world.
So, here we go...out into the world!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)