Category: Current Events

Monica Berndt

On October 1, we witnessed a tragedy that cut us all to the very core. A young man walked into a community college in Roseburg, Oregon and shot and killed nine students and wounding many others. He walked into one of the classrooms on the campus and ordered all the students there to get on the floor. He asked them to stand up and proceeded to ask them if they were Christian. If their answer was yes, he shot and killed them immediately.

This has become a sadly familiar narrative in our lives. Not so long ago, school and community shootings were less common, but that has changed quite a bit. It is not just the brutality of such shootings that is so shocking, it is the fact that they are increasingly being aimed at those who confess Jesus Christ as their Savior. The shootings in Roseburg, Charleston, and last year at Seattle Pacific University are stark reminders that Christians are not widely accepted or well received, wherever we go. With two of these shootings occurring within a 6-hour radius of where I currently go to school it makes me stop and think about why these shootings happen. Why does God “allow” these shootings to happen? What are we to do as we live our day-to-day lives?

The answer to the first question is that we live in a sin-filled world where sin’s power grips our flesh, and it resides in all our hearts and minds. God first created us to be complete, sinless, and holy before Him. There was no sin, no hatred towards God. All creation was in harmony with Him and with all creatures. However, Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They chose for their life the death of sin. As a consequence, they drug all of creation down with them. Murder, hate, and prejudice are a result of the fall into sin and they continue to wreak havoc on the world and in our lives. The world has no love for God or His creation. The world hates Him, despises His Christ, and therefore the world hates those who believe and trust in Savior God.

So then how do we live in the world as Christians? I saw a comment on a friend’s Facebook post that talked about how he hopes Christians will be more encouraged to study and confess their faith in the midst of these shootings. He points us to the truth that we have a hope outside of us and what we do. We have been given an eternal, indestructible hope in the death of Jesus Christ. In the Book of Acts, when Stephen is brought before the council, he knows he will be persecuted for preaching Christ crucified, but he does it anyway. He confessed Christ, because he knew that even in the midst of persecution and death, Christ had already died and saved him from this sinful world. St. Paul also said that living in this world would allow him to continue to preach the Gospel. But, if he was killed for confessing his faith, he would get to be with Christ-away from his present suffering.

Therefore, I encourage all my brothers and sisters in Christ, do not despair! Jesus has already died your death and been raised again for you, for all the sins, evil, suffering and death of this world. We will continue to live as we have always done, in love and service to our neighbor. We will continue to confess our sins and receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. He will sustain us in faith and love through our trials. He will strengthen us so that we never have to fear this world’s judgment-even a judgment unto death. We have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; what can this world’s persecution do to us?

May He continue to strengthen and keep us in saving faith from our last day until the Last Day!

My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray, take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day be wholly Thine!

While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread, be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day, wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray from Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream over me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love, fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!

LSB 702 vs. 1,3 and 4

Monica Berndt is a member at Messiah Lutheran Church in Seattle, Washington and attends the University of Washington. She can be reached at marb2@uw.edu.

Magdalena Olson

College is tough. Along with exciting new adventures and friends, Christian students can face challenges to their faith that can leave them feeling drained and alone. Remaining true to my Lutheran confession becomes even more difficult when I am frequently surrounded at school by discussions and debates with those who like to challenge my own theological foundation.

Serving as a Higher Things CCV has blessed me with a rare chance to join a Lutheran community that offers wonderful support and has provided me with some of my dearest and closest friends. Those five days in July when hundreds of Christ-confessing students gather to receive God’s Sacraments and study His Word has become a refreshing oasis in the desert that many of us face at school. The nourishment that can be found in the four daily church services along with the faithfully taught plenary lectures offer abundant doses of clearly taught Law and Gospel. Even in the hour long breakaway sections, specific analysis of church practice and history provides a remarkable opportunity to explore personal inquiry and engage in discussion about a multitude of theological subjects.

Surrounded by fellow Lutheran college students and a multitude of faithful pastors, I quickly learned to take advantage of this beneficial environment. Both intense and relaxed conversations fill almost every minute of our free time and supply much needed counsel and consolation after wearying semesters as school. The support and friendship I have received during my three years as a CCV often make me wish that I could live in a place where I could be constantly immersed in this wonderful teaching, friendship, and worship.

At this year’s conference, during our initial get-to-know-each other circle, we were asked what our favorite part of Higher Things is. There were a few varying answers, but as in previous years one familiar answer arose as the most popular: the worship. I thought to myself, “These people get it!” The daily services of Matins, Vespers, Evening Prayer, and Compline have become some my most treasured memories, starting with my very first Higher Things conference six years ago. It was at Higher Things that I first understood what the glorious treasure we have in our liturgy, which allows us to praise and glorify God along with those in the past, present, and future.

These times of worship have given me, through the historic liturgy, some of the greatest comfort and reassurance of God’s love for us. Some say that today’s youth are turned away by traditional services, but I have seen thousands of youth enthusiastically singing an ancient liturgy and reverently celebrating the Lord’s Supper. What a immeasurable joy it is to unite our voices together in praise every day!

Throughout the academic year, these theology-filled and worship-packed days remain with me and have even helped me endure some hardest times at college. I find the comfort of the worship and the community of my Lutheran Higher Things family when confronted by the trials and challenges of college. When we pray evening prayer together at my college, I remember with fondness and gratitude the thousands of voices at Higher Things conferences, and joyfully anticipate the time when I will hear them again.

Magdalena Olson is a senior at Hillsdale College majoring in history and German, the vice president of Hillsdale College Students for Life, and a member at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Marshall, Michigan.

Rachel Keseman

Throughout my junior high and high school years, I attended one of the annual Higher Things conferences almost every summer. I always had a blast making new friends, worshiping with likeminded Lutheran youth, and learning more about our merciful and mighty God and Savior. As I observed the College Conference Volunteers (CCVs) in action throughout those years, I always imagined how much fun it would be to be one when I got older, so I was ecstatic to hear that I was chosen to be a CCV at the 2015 Te Deum Higher Things Conference in Seward, Nebraska. I was doubly excited because the conference was held at Concordia University, where I attend college.

Hands down, my favorite part of the entire conference was the worship. The conference started off with a Divine Service when more than 1,000 Christians receive Christ’s Body and Blood together. During the week, we began each day by attending Matins. We heard God’s Word in Vespers after lunch and in Evening Prayer after dinner. Then right before bedtime, we ended the day with Compline. It was a calming and peaceful to start and end the day, surrounded by God’s Word and promises with so many fellow believers who were eager and excited to immerse themselves in the good news of our Lord and Savior. There are no words to describe the awe I felt when all of our voices joined to sing the opening hymn of the conference, “We Praise You and Acknowledge You.” A shiver went up my spine and goosebumps appeared across my arms. It’s not every day you hear 1,000+ voices singing and amen-ing together as you receive Christ’s forgiveness.

Each conference gives all the participants the opportunity to learn about the faith during a daily plenary session where two speakers focus in on the theme of the conference. This year I had the privilege to listen and learn from my father, Pastor Bruce Keseman, as well as Pastor William Cwirla on the meaning of Te Deum, which is short for Te Deum Laudamus, meaning “You, O God, We Praise.” Our praises are not me deum, meaning praising ourselves, but te deum, meaning the focus is on You (God). We offer praise, but it all starts with God’s gifts to us. During the plenary, I was reminded of how sinful I am, how selfish I am, and how so much of my life is focused on myself, when God should be my main focus because He is the source of my life and forgiveness, and yours, too! Thankfully, our dirty, selfish, sinful selves are forgiven by what Jesus has done on the cross for us. That’s always the primary message at Higher Things. The world around us is filled with sin and hate, disaster, temptations, and horrible events, but none of that should scare us. Even living Te Deum lives of praise in this hostile world should not frighten us, because we can hold on tightly to God’s promise that we and all believers will spend eternity with Him forever in Heaven.

Another incredible part of a Higher Things conference is the opportunity to attend six different breakaway sessions throughout the week. There are a wide variety of topics to choose from, including the basics of the organ (the sectional for which I was CCV), interpreting parables (taught by my dad), forgiveness, addiction and grace (the sectional I learned a lot in), and many other topics of faith. Each breakaway gives us so much information and clarity on topics that may have been confusing before, but usually comes down to one thing: the Gospel of what our mighty and wonderful Savior has done for each and every one of us.

Attending a Higher Things Conference is an amazing experience. What a privilege it is to be surrounded by so many Lutheran adults and youth who are so eager to sing and praise Te Deum, and, most of all, to learn about the promises of our gracious Lord to us!

It was difficult to say goodbye to the new friends I had made being a CCV this summer. My five days with them included not only far more work but also camaraderie than I had ever expected. Some of them I will see again very soon at school; others I will keep in touch with and hopefully get together with in the future. But I know that one day I will see them all again when Jesus comes again to bring me and all believers to live with Him forever in Heaven. Te Deum laudamus!



Rachel Keseman was a CCV the Higher Things Te Deum conference in Seward, NE.

Joseph Greenmyer

This was the first year I have ever attended a Higher Things conference. I had no idea what to expect but this trip was easily a highlight of the summer-probably the best part of it, as a matter of fact. It was filled with not only solid Lutheran preaching and teaching, but also a cavalcade of Star Wars movies. We decided early on in the trip that we were going to watch all 6 movies. The person most excited about this was Pastor Matt, who chipped in some colorful commentary of his own at some of the more ridiculous parts of the movies. Enough about the stars though-this trip was about a lot more “higher things.”

When we first arrived at the conference we all got assigned dorm rooms. As the boys began settling in, we quickly realized that the current sleeping arrangements wouldn’t do, so we all quickly shoved as many beds as we could fit into one room and designated it as our sleeping quarters. Once that was all arranged, we departed promptly for St. John’s Lutheran Church on campus for the opening divine service of the conference. We quickly realized we were in for a treat. Some of our favorite hymns were being sung reverently by 1,000 other people around our age. The preaching didn’t fail either: classic Law and Gospel-Christ crucified for sinners like us. We also got to receive His Body and Blood during this divine service as well as at our closing service. We were also blessed to have matins, vespers and evening prayer services each and every day.

This year’s conference theme was Te Deum, meaning, “We praise Thee, O God.” The hymn that utilizes these words is based on the account in Isaiah 6 where Isaiah is confronted with the Triune God and cannot help but say, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). The plenary sessions centered around the work of each person of the Holy Trinity. Those sessions were only part of our catechesis, however. We also had breakaway sessions every day that featured different subjects, ranging from “Jesus in a Gay World” to “Mormonism Exposed” and everything in between.

Everyday we woke up around 7:30 and went to bed around midnight, so needless to say we needed to wind down a bit when evening came around. Every night we were also allowed free time; we could use it however we wanted. HT staff provided many inflatable games to keep us busy. My personal favorite is Knocker Ball, in which you get into these giant blow-up hamster bubbles and run at each other as hard as you possibly can. I was a terror to all the freshman and junior high girls who played this game-ask anyone.

I think anyone who went on this trip will testify that it was a blast and we would all do it over again in a heartbeat if we could. We are so thankful to all our chaperones and everyone in our congregation who helped make this trip possible. It never would have happened were it not for the effort of the parents and adults of our church…so I’d like to thank you! I realize that I’m graduating high school and might not always be around Gwinner, North Dakota but if we decide to go to a Higher Things conference again next year you better believe I’m hitching a ride. Until then however we can all be content simply singing, “Te Deum laudamus.”

Joseph Greenmyer is a member at Zion Lutheran Church of Gwinner, North Dakota.

Rev. Dr. Matt Richard

I am no rookie when it comes to youth conventions and youth trips. Calgary, Seattle, Orlando, Estes Park, Southern California, and on and on: these are some of the places that I’ve brought some 200 different youth over the last 15 years. I’ve slept on a lot of church floors, eaten a lot of fast food, rented charter buses, and been to about every amusement park imaginable. I have also seen it all: Christian Rock Bands, Christian Rap Music, Christianized mosh pits, crowd surfing, Praise and Worship Bands, big projector screens, amped up decibels, dynamic speakers, Christian comedians, altar calls, and don’t forget fog machines. None of this though would prepare me for Higher Things.

Since I am new to The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (i.e., I colloquized, which means that I left my former denomination to join the LCMS), I was interested in taking the youth of my church to something different than what I had experienced before. Furthermore, according to national trends in Christianity, the younger millennial generation is seeking out and returning to the traditional and historical aspects of Christianity. Therefore, from what I could glean, Higher Things was exactly what I was looking for.

So, after a lot of planning in the church and connecting with other area neighboring churches, some 40 youth and chaperones from the region set off to Seward, Nebraska for Higher Things ‘Te Deum.’

While driving, I must confess that I feared how the youth would respond to Higher Things. I thought to myself, “Would the traditional aspects of Higher Things ruffle feathers? Would they be freaked out and overwhelmed by having to attend over 14 liturgical services in three-and-a-half days? Would they be turned off by the amount of teaching that they would receive?”

To my surprise, none of these fears came true. In fact, not a single youth asked to skip a session or a service, but rather, they attended every session and were typically early to the worship services. They even expressed in my post-Higher Things survey that the worship services were the highlight of their trip, even more so than the Wild West Water Park and the Omaha Zoo that we went to before and after the convention. Why was this so? I have a couple of theories.

The intent of a conference dictates the response

From the very get-go it was communicated to the youth and chaperones that we were at Higher Things not for a vacation or for entertainment reasons, but we were there to learn from the Word as we were grafted into the church’s historical liturgy. In other words, if a conference communicates at its opening session and through its marketing that it will be hip, cool, relevant, and entertaining, then the conference attendee will naturally expect to be entertained and will expect the entertainment factor to increase with the itinerary flow of the conference. Furthermore, if a conference goes this route of trying to ‘wow’ the conference attendee, then a consumerism mentality will develop leading the attendees to only attend that which appeases the consumeristic desire. Considering this, entertainment clearly was not the motive of Higher Things in its marketing or its opening service, but rather we were all there to hear the Word of God and to be pulled into the historical worship services of the church. It wasn’t about us, but it was about something more that we were a part of.

We were grafted into something bigger than ourselves

Secondly, in attending all the worship services, we encountered something that was totally foreign to our culture and every day lives: Matins, Vespers, Evening Prayer, etc… These services were conducted with albs, the sign of the cross, crucifers, bowing, a majestic organ, and robust chanting. Because of this, these services were not something that we could dismantle and take into our own religious experiences, but rather, we were taken out of 2015 and placed into another dimension where everything was different. At first I think this was a bit uncomfortable for many, but there was something matchless about singing complicated old songs with 1,000 other people from all walks of life. Indeed, there was something that intrigued the group. Was it the tune of the songs, was it the dynamic-ness of those leading, or was it something else? I believe that it was the fact that we were grafted into something higher and more developed than ourselves. Otherwise stated, these services were not wedged into our individualistic religious experiences or adapted to our modern sensibilities-like so many churches do today-but rather, we were inserted into something bigger and much older. We were implanted into the songs, melodies, singing, and theology of the historic church from the past and present, from North America to Africa. We were the church of the present, but also the church of the past. We were attending Grandpa and Grandma’s church; we were attending Martin Luther’s church; we were attending C.F.W. Walther’s church. We were of one voice with our forefathers and with literally millions across the world.

It all makes sense. Why would a conference attendee want to miss out on something like this? If it was merely entertainment, it could be accessed later on an iPhone. If it was just another religious experience, it could be watched on Youtube later.

Considering all of this, I am beginning to see first-hand what current research is assessing among the millennial generation, as well as what I witnessed with my youth. That is to say, in our every changing world, with its speedy technology and fast access to news and media, there needs to be a haven of security. There needs to be a ‘constant’ in a world of change. With all the blowing reeds in the wind, there needs to be that which does not bend, but stands firm. That constant is the historical church with her liturgy, theology, and unchanging confession of Christ-crucified for sinners, delivered in the unchangeable Word and Sacraments. This constant is not only found in many Lutheran Churches, but is especially found in and demonstrated by Higher Things.

Rev. Dr. Matt Richard is Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Gwinner, ND. He and his youth group attended Te Deum – Seward.

Claire Houser

I was so excited when I found out I was going to be a CCV (College Conference Volunteer) at this year’s Higher Things conference. As I anticipated the busy week months in advance, I thought about the activities, the adventures, the friendships that I would experience. What I think I was most thrilled about was this years theme, “Te Deum.” A hymn that begins te deum laudamus, ‘We praise you, O God.’ If you have never been to a Higher Things® conference, you should know that there is something truly breathtaking about a thousand young people singing the liturgy. I was excited to praise God with so many other fellow Lutherans.

Before the conference, I was excited for all of the things I was going to do. I would worship, I would learn, my faith would be strengthened by attending. I was thinking “te deum” was all about me praising God. Oh, how I was wrong! Pastor Bruce Keseman explained it perfectly in the plenary sessions. He pointed out that te means ‘you’, deum ‘God’, and laudamus ‘we praise.’ ‘Thee, o God, we praise.’ That changes everything! By correcting the word order we have changed the emphasis from us to God. We don’t go to the Divine Service to praise God but to receive Christ’s gifts and respond with thanks and praise by faith.

Although I knew this, I needed to be reminded of it. Through a week packed with catechism, I was reminded that my ugly, broken, narcissistic self has a new identity. No longer am I covered with the filth of sin, I am made holy. In my baptism, Christ took on my sins and gave me His righteousness. His innocent blood has covered me. God now looks at me and sees Christ. In Christ, I am perfect and holy.

Breakaways are another favorite at Higher Things. It’s common that groups will pick and chose which ones to attend, planning out not only where they will go but the fastest route in order for front-row seats. Similar to picking your fantasy football team, church groups carefully chose their break aways making sure they regrouped and recapped each detail after. I had the privilege of helping Reverend Preston Paul in his break away, Lord, Teach Me to Pray! He spoke about Genesis 2:7. God breathed into Adam and he breathed back. God speaks to us and we speak back! Everything we have and do has been given.

This conference was a blessing to attend. I needed to be reminded of the Law and the Gospel. I had assigned several expectations for this years conference, but I received even greater gifts. I received forgiveness of sins, unity with Christ, and the promise of life eternal. The amazing memories, life long friendships, and great adventures I made were certainly gifts from God. But, most importantly I received the gift, the gift of Christ for us.

The worst part? Leaving.

Worshipping in a beautiful church with a thousand people certainly feels like heaven. In the Divine Service we tasted heaven. God promised to come to us by His Word and Sacraments. Heaven is unity with Christ. We can rest assure that every Sunday we experience this at the altar. Saying goodbye to good, lutheran friends is hard, but I have already made plans to see them all soon! I know at the Lord’s table I will commune with them even if they are miles away. Unity with Christ is unity with his church.

Higher Things pointed me to higher things. It pointed me to Christ. I was excited for all the ways I could serve God, yet I was reminded that I can only serve Him because he first served me. He breathed into us, He loved us, and He died for us. Thee, o God, we praise!

Claire Houser was a College Conference Volunteer at Te Deum in Seward, NE.

Kaitlin Jandereski

Lounged against a wooden wall before chapel started, I thought deep and hard about my sins – the ones I knew, the ones I didn’t know. And while doing so, I surveyed the crucifix drooped from the ceiling as if it were an unexpected corpse sighting. The body was bruised and stripped of clothes. The nails dripped of innocent blood. There hung the man on it: defeated and dead.

This image – the image of Jesus Christ nailed to a cross – is the cornerstone for every Higher Things conference. Here, we learn, teach and confess Christ and Him crucified for sinners.

This past week was… wait for it, wait for it… no different.

To briefly recap, let’s cover when Pastor Riley taught us that Jesus went through even hell for us: “You’re not an alcoholic, a drug addict, a slut, a queer. You’re not anything but a baptized child of Christ. And, yeah, the Old Adam likes to say, ‘I got a lot of problems! How can I be saved?’ But Jesus likes to say, ‘You think you got problems? I died for you. I went to hell for you. Now, that was a problem. But alas, your sins are forgiven. You are mine.’

Confirmation is important, and Vicar Kyle Brown’s breakaway class reminded us of just that. We learned about our identity in Christ, “Name changes in the Bible are very significant. To help you understand, just look at us. When we received Jesus, our own names as Baptized Christians were placed upon our foreheads and upon on our hearts. We changed from who we were – lost and condemned – to who we are now: baptized, saved, forgiven.”

And in Friday’s plenary session, Pastor Mark Buetow taught us why we go to church weekly, “When your memory starts to go, the Word of God doesn’t. It sustains you. So, going to worship every Sunday might get boring as you say the same words and sing similar hymns, but it’s good to have them engraved in your head as they will be the last words you know, but the first words you hear when you open your eyes in paradise.”

Higher Things president, Pastor George Borghardt spent his time telling us that Jesus isn’t for the holy people, but for the lost sinners, “The Gospel isn’t there to alter your behavior, but it’s there to save dead and lost sinners. To bring them back to God each and every time they sin. I repeat: The Gospel is to save sinners. That’s the Gospel because that’s Jesus.”

We sang, too. Oh, did we sing! We sang hymns that pointed us to the Lord’s Supper, such as Chad Bird’s, “The Infant Priest was Holy Born:” “The body of God’s Lamb we eat, a priestly food and priestly meat; On sin-parched lips the chalice pours His quenching blood that life restores.”

I could go on and on, and I’m sure you’d listen. But, instead, check out a Higher Things conference for yourself next year. It’s a conference where high school students spend their time worshiping three times a day on the daily. Confessional, liturgical, Christ and Him Crucified plenary sessions, breakaway classes and late night discussions. It’s all about Jesus. All of the time. And the youth? Well, they devour it. That’s why they keep coming back.

Kaitlin Jandereski was a CCV for Grand Rapids, MI’s 2015 Higher Things’ conference and is a future deaconess. She currently lives in a small town called Bad Axe, Michigan.

Bethany Woelmer

Heaven came to earth this week at Higher Things. It sounds weird, doesn’t it? I mean, we live on earth, right? We have mortal bodies. We are the very dust of this earth, belonging to creation and living in this world as humans. We are sinners, every single one of us, from the very core of our being. There is no denying the fact that earth, even as it houses the greatest temples and treasures of our lives, is not worthy to hold heaven itself, even for a second.

But what if I told you that it does happen? What if I told you that there are things not of this world – higher things – that excel beyond the many temples we build, the riches we inherit, and the many other identities that this earth gives us?

This week in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an eight-sided chapel at Calvin College housed over 900 of God’s baptized children, weak in their sins, thirsty for God’s salvation, and hands outstretched not to offer the only “lower” things they possess but to receive the “higher” things promised in Word and Sacrament. “High above earth [God’s] temple stands,” excelling over all other earthly temples and giving to us the highest and greatest gift, that is, the Gospel. God, who became man in human flesh, came from heaven to earth, choosing to “live with us in love, making our bodies His temple,” as these forgiven sinners sang as part of the eternal family of Christ in heaven. Their song of “Te Deum” soared through the chapel in glorious unity under the cross. Even as church bells are ringing, even as voices are raising, and even as the Gospel is being proclaimed and taught, God’s message of salvation continues to shine.

Here at Higher Things, we profess boldly with an “Amen,” knowing that where Christ is, there also is His Bride, the Church. From the lips of our sinful mouths comes the sweet Gospel we sing that gives us faith – faith that comes only from Jesus and delights in Him. Here at Higher Things, we are called into God’s temple of Christ and also into the world as Christ lives in us. Here at Higher Things, God comes to us, stooping low to heal us when we falter by giving His Son in our flesh to be our Savior. Here at Higher Things, heaven coming to earth does happen, and that is certainly something worth singing about!

Bethany Woelmer is a member at Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, TX.

Dr. Adam S. Francisco

Islam is and will continue to be a hot topic when talking about religion. There are a number of reasons for this. First, is its historic and present connection to violence, and even though many often argue against this, it is the obvious one. Second, is the emergence of Muslim advocacy groups in the media.

However, the one that is sure to keep Christians interested in the discussion is the increasingly common assertion of Islam that it is a legitimate religious alternative to Christianity. In view of this, it is important that Christians understand Islam and equip themselves to address Muslims with the Gospel.

Islam is a relatively new religion. It began with the preaching of a man named Muhammad (570-632 A.D.) in the Arabian town of Mecca. Although he was initially ignored and derided as an imposter, he was eventually acknowledged by those who became Muslims as a prophet through whom the creator of the universe spoke.

His message was recorded about twenty years after he died from the memories of his earliest companions in a book called the Qurán. Even though it is virtually impossible to verify its claims, Muslims regard it as the very word of God, wherein humans are taught how to order their lives in pursuit of and preparation for the “Day of Judgment.” Over and over it promises eternal life to those who believe in and submit to the law of Allah (an Arabic term for “God”), and threatens those who do not do so with eternal damnation.

Muslims regard Allah as absolutely sovereign, completely inimitable (or matchless), and essentially “one.” This, however, should not lead one to think that Muslims and Christians worship the same God. It is clear from the Qurán itself that Allah is quite different than the One True God. The Qurán rejects the holy Trinity and claims that Allah does not and cannot have a son.

The Qurán views Jesus as a mere human, and it in no way conceives of Him as the eternal Son of God. In fact, it considers the biblical teaching of Jesus’ divinity and the doctrine of the Trinity as a whole, to be an outright abomination.

The Qurán does consider Jesus to be a prophet, though. It even teaches that he was born of the Virgin Mary and assigns him the honorific title of Messiah. He does, however, play a different role as a prophet of Allah who taught Islam long before Muhammad, and, because Christians deviated from his teaching, they believe Jesus will eventually condemn Christianity.

This significant theological difference is equally matched by some of the differences in the narrative of Jesus’ life in the Qurán. For example, Jesus is said to have spoken to Mary immediately after He was born. It claims that He performed a number of miracles, including bringing to life a clay replica of a bird. And most troubling of all, it asserts that Jesus was not crucified but instead ascended into heaven while someone was crucified in His place.

It is this last detail that poses a tremendous barrier in Christian-Muslim discourse. For if Jesus did not die on the cross, the Gospel-the Good News that Jesus’ death and resurrection reconciled sinners to God-is unintelligible. Moreover, if Jesus did not die, then He did not rise from the dead. This, according to 1 Corinthians 15, renders the Gospel false.

So what’s the Christian to do who finds him or herself in conversation with a Muslim about religious matters such as these? First, we must not run or hide from having such conversations, regardless of how uncomfortable they may make us. Second-and this may seem counterintuitive-we must embrace such conversations, for these are the sorts of interactions that get to the heart of the matter.

It is a demonstrable fact of any normal approach to the events of history that Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross. Two eyewitnesses-Matthew and John-record it. Two companions of eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life-Mark and Luke-record it. The first and second century pagan and Jewish (respectively) Roman historians Tacitus and Josephus record it. It was, in the ancient world, a public fact (see Acts 26:26). There is no good factual reason to deny the crucifixion and death of Christ. The fact that the Muslim relies on a seventh century text like the Qurán betrays the ideological bias of someone who refuses to consider primary sources written much closer to the time when Jesus lived.

The question this begs to answer is: Why did Jesus die on the cross? There are lots of ways to answer this. Paramount in Christian-Muslim discourse is the legal answer. He had claimed to be coequal with God the Father. This, in the Jewish context of first century Palestine, was punishable by death, and is what led to His crucifixion.

But this is only half of the story. The Gospel writers claimed-from what they learned through the ministry of Jesus-that His life, death, and resurrection would take away the sins of the world.

Now, it is one thing to claim something. It is an entirely different thing to prove it. But Jesus did just this when He rose from the dead three days after His death. It is this event-also testified to by eyewitnesses-that serves as the final evidence of Jesus’ deity, as well as the proof that our sins have been forgiven and our justification has been made complete. This great news is not just for us, however. It is for the Muslim, too. May the Lord grant every Christian the courage and wisdom to declare this witness to Jesus when the opportunity presents itself!

Dr. Adam S. Francisco is an associate professor of history at Concordia University in Irvine, California. He can be reached at adamsfrancisco@aol.com

Rev. Jacob Ehrhard

Despite repeated calls for peace, in the hours following the announcement that Officer Darren Wilson would not be charged in the shooting death of Michael Brown, the scene in Ferguson was anything but peaceful. Buildings burned. Looters smashed windows and grabbed what they could. Armored police patrolled the streets.

The unrest began back on August 10, the day after the shooting. What began as a peaceful protest soon turned into looting, destruction, and tense standoffs with police. For more than 3 months, peace has delicately hung in the balance as everyone awaited the decision of a grand jury as to whether the officer would be charged with criminal action.

I grew up in a town adjacent to Ferguson, and the road where many of the demonstrations have taken place was my daily route to high school. As I watch things things happening on the evening news, I can’t comprehend what would drive a person to seek justice in stealing from a local business. I don’t understand how someone thinks burning down a building is making a positive statement. But that’s just the thing about sin. Martin Luther writes in the Smalcald Articles (III.I) that original sin is such a deep corruption of human nature that no reason can understand it. The depth of our sin can only be believed by the revelation of God. We can only know how bad it really is with us from God’s Word. We don’t want to acknowledge it but the inclination, desire and ability to loot, to riot, to burn down a business, and even to shoot an unarmed man in cold blood is something that’s found in me—and in you. If you don’t think yourself capable of doing such things, you don’t have a very good grasp of human nature. The reason why peace is so precarious is precisely because of sin. We are by nature enemies of God. And if we are enemies of God, there is no hope for true and lasting peace here on earth. In the coming days and weeks and months and years, Ferguson will begin to return to normal. The damage will be cleaned and repaired. Businesses will return. But that does not yet mean that we have found peace.

Jesus says to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The peace of Jesus is a peace different than what the world gives. The peace of Jesus is a lasting peace, an enduring peace, a peace that calms troubled hearts. And HE gives this peace just hours before He will be executed for crimes He didn’t commit!

When Jesus suffers under Pontius Pilate, He suffers for sinners. When He dies on the cross, He dies for looters, for arsonists, for cops and criminals alike. He dies for me and for you. And His death brings peace—not just on earth, but true and lasting peace between God and man.

But true peace cannot stay buried in a grave. The first thing Jesus says to His disciples after His resurrection is, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). Then He shows them His hands and side. Peace is with you because Jesus was crucified. Peace is with you because He bled for you. A second time He says, “Peace be with you,” and this time He follows it up with the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” says Jesus, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” (John 20:22-23). This peace is yours when your sins are forgiven for the sake of the One who was crucified.

Peace for Ferguson—and for you—is not found in the absence of earthly conflict. True peace isn’t when the protesters have dispersed and the police can take off their riot gear. True peace is found in the wounds of Christ. This is a peace that surpasses all understanding. It’s a peace that no reason can grasp, but is yours by faith. It’s the only true peace for the residents of North St. Louis County, peace for Mike Brown’s family, peace for the protesters, peace for the police, and peace for you.

And this peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Jacob Ehrhard serves as the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, Missouri. He grew up Florissant, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis near Ferguson.