Category: Current Events

by The Rev. Bruce Keseman

If God is as great as the Bible says He is, then why didn’t He stop that earthquake in Haiti? Why didn’t He step in to prevent the destruction? Weren’t the poverty-stricken people on that island suffering enough already? Did God take a vacation on the day the earthquake struck Haiti? And the day Katrina hit the Gulf Coast? And the day the tsunami overwhelmed southeast Asia? No. God never takes a vacation. Which means He isn’t vacationing when tragedies strike your life, either. So where was God when the earthquake destroyed Haiti?

God was on His throne

God was at the same place He was on Good Friday when His Son was suffering for you and for the people of Haiti. God was at the same place He is right now. God was and God is reigning on His throne, ruling all things for good.

Satan points to Haiti and says to you, “See, God isn’t good. A good God wouldn’t allow something so horrible.” Don’t believe His lie. Believe the truth. The truth is that we sin. The wages of sin is death. So if God gave us what we deserve, we would all suffer much worse than a devastating earthquake. We would be dead. We would be in hell.

Since we deserve to suffer, how come we aren’t experiencing the kind of devastation that the Haitians are suffering? Because God is merciful. God does not give us what we deserve. He gives His Son what we deserve. At the hands of Pontius Pilate and Roman soldiers. I don’t know why He allowed an earthquake to destroy Haiti instead of striking the New Madrid fault near where I live. I don’t know why their lives were wrecked, and I was spared. Despite his claims, Pat Robertson does not know either. But God knows. And that is what matters.

Our Lord has a plan. It is a plan that includes your salvation, my salvation, and the salvation of a whole lot of people in Haiti. God is carrying out His plan. God is using this tragedy for good. Romans 8: “All things work together for good for those who are called according to His purpose.”

I can already see a few ways that God is using the earthquake for our good. We Americans tend to be self-obsessed individualists. But for the past two weeks, we have reached out to help in ways that are absolutely amazing. Our priorities have been rearranged. We’ve contributed vast amounts of money to charities, and we’ve helped fill airplanes and ships with supplies and rescue workers. Even so, I can’t see how God is going to bring more good than evil out of this earthquake. Then again, if I had been standing at the foot of Christ’s cross 2000 years ago, I would have been sure that God could not possibly accomplish anything good out of that execution. Yet God used that gruesome event to accomplish the greatest good in all of history–that cross was His power of salvation for you, for me, and for the people of Haiti. So when He allows an earthquake, do not doubt that God is using it to do His incredible mercy work.

Where was God when the earthquake devastated Haiti? On His throne working for good in ways we can’t possibly see.

God was here with His people

Where else was God when that earthquake hit? He wasn’t just on His throne above. He was also down here with His people. He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things” (Romans 8:32). Since God cares enough to provide for our greatest need of all by giving up what is dearest of all to Him–His Son–there is absolutely no doubt that He’s going to take care of all our other needs as well–including getting Haiti through this tragedy and us through every tragedy in our lives.

We do not have a God who is unable to sympathize with our weakness. We have a God who came down out of heaven and lived a life filled with nothing but suffering on this earth—suffering even deeper than what the Haitians are enduring. We have a God who has been through the carnage of the cross. Jesus knows exactly the feelings of the people who are homeless, hungry, mourning, and even dying because of that earthquake. He knows exactly what you are going through when you face tragedy. He’s been through it Himself. That’s why He is able to help.

That’s why Christ’s baptized people respond with love in times of tragedy. Maybe you’ve contributed to the earthquake relief. Maybe you’ve been praying for the Haitians who are afflicted—and for all the relief workers, many of whom are putting themselves at risk to help. Jesus says, “As you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me” (Matthew 25:40). You are baptized. You belong to God. You were redeemed at the holy cross. Unlike the blood that so often gets shed in tragedies, Jesus’ blood was shed for a good purpose, for our salvation. It is the blood that He serves us with His body at His holy altar. It is the blood that He serves with His body to our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in Haiti. It is His promise to them and to us: “I will not leave you or forsake you” (Josh. 1:5).

Where was God when the earthquake hit? Right here with His people.

He was in heaven preparing a place

Where else was God when that earthquake hit? Not only was He on His throne working all things for good, not only was He here caring for us, but He was also in heaven preparing a place for us.

People ask, “Why didn’t God do something about all the destruction caused by that earthquake?” God did do something about it! He came down to earth as a human and dropped dead on the holy cross. He took into His body all the death and destruction that we should have experienced.

After 9/11, I remember reporters struggling to find words to describe all the rubble and ruin. One simply said, “This is hell.” No doubt the same has been said about Haiti. There has been so much heartache and so much hurt that it might in a few ways resemble hell. But as gruesome and painful as the tragedies of earth may be, they pale in comparison to the real hell.

God gives His help even to unbelievers in Haiti. But in hell, there is no God to help anyone. There is no God to end the suffering. Hell is what we all deserve. But hell is what none of us will suffer when we’re clinging to Jesus. Because He suffered hell for us. I don’t mean he suffered hell figuratively. I mean he suffered hell literally. He endured on the cross what we should have endured for all eternity—total abandonment. That’s why He said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). He was totally abandoned by His Father, so that you and I and all the people of Haiti can be sure that, no matter how horrible the tragedy, we will never be abandoned by His Father. He suffered hell for us so that we can have heaven—where tragedy and suffering, earthquakes and floods and hurricanes and even death will never ever happen again.

Jesus says that earthquakes are one sign that the end of the world is near (Mark 13:8). This earth is falling apart. This planet is passing away. And I say, “Good riddance!” I can’t wait for this fallen world to be replaced by the new heaven and new earth that our Lord has promised. Then we won’t have to worry about earthquakes, terrorists, hurricanes, tsunamis, or any other tragedy. Have you heard some of the incredible confessions of faith Christians in Haiti have spoken? Those sisters and brothers in Christ remind us that we, too, can stare tragedy in the face–we can even stare death in the face–and say, “I’m not afraid of you. My Lord went to the cross for me, came out of His tomb alive for me, and even now is preparing a place in heaven for me. Even if I die, I live.”

Where was God when that earthquake hit? He was not on vacation. He has not abandoned His people. He is on His throne working all things for good; He is here, caring for His people; and He is in heaven, preparing a place for us because this messed up world is coming to an end. We do not need a God who is a meddler. We do not need a God who steps in to stop every tragedy. We need a God with nail-scarred hands, we need a God whose death guarantees the day when all tragedies will be forever ended. Look at the holy cross and see: that’s exactly the God we have.

HT-Online subscribers will find a bible study on the Haiti Earthquake at the HT-Online members page.

The Rev Bruce Keseman is Pastor of Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Freeburg, IL and a member of Higher Things Board of Directors.

We give thanks to God for the birth of Lucille Rose Lemon, born November 6, to Stan (our Webmaster!) and Sara Lemon. We also celebrate and give thanks to God for Lucy’s second birth from above by the waters of Holy Baptism on Sunday, November 15, 2009. Congratulations, Stan and Sara! Welcome, Lucy, to the Higher Things family! 

by The Rev. Rich Heinz

This year several people found joy in quoting Pastor Mark Buetow, saying that at Higher Things, we emphasize the “Three W’s”: Worship, Word, and … Fun (?) No matter how you look at a Higher Things conference, these are the clearest and best way to describe our four days together. But for now, let’s look at these in reverse order.

Fun! 
At Higher Things, there is always fun. The campus at Grand Rapids provided opportunities for various games, whether something like Jenga with a CCV in the Commons, a spontaneous game of Red Rover with some 40 youth and a few pastors, or Karaoke. Kramer Entertainment joined us on campus, providing simulators and thrills.

Flexibility is key for working with youth, especially at conferences. Thursday was supposed to see some stormy weather in Grand Rapids. The decision was made to call off the picnic and games at Millennium Park. But get this – the capable CCV leadership and Entertainment Coordinator rolled with the punches and provided an evening of great fun. Besides opportunities to swim, watch The Chronicles of Narnia, or just hang out with HT friends, a new event was created: Hymne-oke!

Hymne-oke was a hymn sing in the chapel, led by the gifted organist, Mr. Chris Loemker. Well over 150 youth and some pastors and leaders spent an hour and a half singing great hymns from Lutheran Service Book. As we concluded, a youth came up to Pastor Borghardt and said: “Pastor, can we do this every year?!”

Word!
At HT, we have three categories for our catechetical (teaching) sessions. Plenary sessions are the main teaching times, when all of us gather to hear the Word of God taught to us. This year we had the gifted and dynamic Pastors Bruce Keseman and William Weedon. Both pastors engaged us with the powerful message of SOLA, bringing God’s Law and Gospel to the forefront of our attention.

In-depth sectionals have three periods throughout the week. These are provided for topics that take more than 45 minutes to “unpack,” such as Pastor Cwirla’s topic of Answering the Atheists, or Pastor Stuckwisch bringing the liturgy into our daily lives, beyond the Divine Service.

Breakaway sectionals give 45 minute electives on a wide variety of issues. Quite a few Pop culture items surfaced, such as my “Finding the Gospel in Star Wars,” or Pastor Drew Newman’s “The Shack: Reimaging God or Help with Suffering?” Each person attending Sola had the opportunity to hear four breakaways.

In all three settings, no matter what the topic, the Gospel is at the heart of it all. Discussion always comes back to and centers on Christ crucified and risen for you.

Worship
It has been said that the heartbeat of the Church is the Lord’s Supper given in the Divine Service. The Conferences this year built up to the Divine Service as the final service of the week, with joyous anticipation all week long during Matins, Vespers, and Evening Prayer. Each full day has three services. Matins is the organized Morning Prayer of the Church. Vespers among Lutherans is another prayer service for afternoon or evening.

Some question these prayer offices (services) as too historical, too traditional, too foreign to youth. Experiencing an HT conference, you would never guess that. The singing and chanting of liturgy and hymns is amazing! The youth love the challenge of joining the Church of all ages in these prayers and songs.

The highlights? On Thursday we sang the hymn version of the Te Deum, “We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God.” Timpani, cymbals, other percussion and wind instruments joined the organ. Adults and youth alike sang their hearts out. Chills ran down spines, and tears flowed. Is such emotion the reason for our worship? Absolutely not! But here, people were moved by the awe and joy of joining the Church of all ages and all places in a 21st century setting of this honored, ancient hymn.

Yet for all the Twittering and Facebooking about the Te Deum (myself included), we must remember that the most important and most amazing moment of the conference was actually the Divine Service! The heartbeat of the Church is what nourishes our faith and gives us life. What a joy and privilege to hear the Word of God and receive Christ’s Holy Supper in the midst of our friends that make up Higher Things!

Once again, I left the Higher Things conference renewed and refreshed. Christ gave His gifts for my forgiveness, life, and salvation. Gift received. Amen!

Now I am home. Actually, I’m in the middle of moving to my new home. And as I do, I look forward to next year’s HT conference, where His Gifts will be GIVEN.

The Rev. Rich Heinz is Pastor-elect of St. John’s Lutheran Church & School in Chicago, Illinois. Sola was his third HT conference.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

So long to Sola! The Conferences are over. School looms on the horizon. You’re back at home and you miss all the friends you saw and met at the Higher Things Conference this summer. Let’s face it: you’ve probably suffering from the Post-Conference Blues, that sad syndrome that means the Conference is over and you miss all the fun and learning that was going on. But while you had a chance to have the Gospel poured upon you in many ways at the Conference, that same Gospel isn’t just at the Conference! The Lord gives it out to you right where you are in your home church too! So here’s our prescription for those Post-Conference Blues.  

Step One: Be at the Divine Service! Go to church and sing like there are 900 other kids around you! Listen as your pastor reminds your of your Baptism and absolves you of all your sins. Pay close attention as the Word of God is read, declaring to you the Lord’s loving work in and through Jesus Christ. Open your ears and hear Christ crucified preached in the sermon. Kneel at the altar of the Lord and receive the Bread of Life as He comes to you with His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. The Divine Service is where Christ comes to you. The same Jesus that was so wonderful to see and hear in the Conference worship is right there in the worship you have every Sunday! He’s not only at a Higher Things Conference: He’s right there at home, too! 

Step Two: Be in Bible Study! You learned so much from those wild and crazy pastors who taught on so many different topics. Your pastor at home has the same job: opening your eyes and ears to the wonders of God’s holy Word, showing Christ in the pages of the Holy Bible, discussing and answering your tough questions, and helping you apply the forgiveness of sins to your daily life with others. Bible Study is the place to ask questions, dig deep and be refreshed from the “pure stream of Israel,” as you see the riches of God’s Word come alive in pointing to Christ and delivering Him to you through your hearing of God’s Word. 

Step Three: Grab some Youth Group Friends and have some fun! Call them up. Go bowling. Go see a movie. Play some board or card games. Or just hang out over some burgers and sodas! You are a child of God. Your sins are forgiven. In the freedom that comes from being in Christ, go out and just have some plain old fun. Who knows? You might end up in a game of “Red Rover” or even sing some karaoke somewhere. The point is, enjoy the life and gifts with which your heavenly Father has blessed you.  

Sure, the organ might not sound the same. Your pastor may or may not be as wacky as some that taught you at the Conference. And there aren’t 900 kids to hang out with all at once. But whether your church has 100 members or a thousand, whether your youth group is 4 or 40, rejoice in the wonderful opportunities the Lord gives you right in your own home congregation. One Conference attendee said, “I’m going to church but it won’t sound the same.” To which one pastor replied, “But same Jesus!” Same Jesus indeed! After all, Christ and what He has done for us was the great celebration of Sola 2009. And Christ and what He has done for us is the great celebration every week right there in the congregation where you belong! Christ alone! Grace alone! Faith alone! Scripture alone! But never home alone! For that same Jesus is always with you wherever you are, with all of His Word and gifts! And all that while you can also get ready for “Given!” next year! See you then! 

If you tuned in last night to TLC on your cable box you were probably looking for the show, “Jon & Kate Plus Eight”. Last night, after months of turmoil and paparazzi the couple announced that they had come to a pivotal crossroads and made a decision which would change their life forever. That decision was to split up and file for divorce.

My wife and I first started watching this show after we got married. That was just three years ago and my wife in particular was fascinated with Kate and her strong personality as she managed a house with eight kids in it. I specifically remember her being impressed and amazed as Kate struggled to cook healthy meals within a reasonable budget. There was something appealing to this Christian couple who had chosen to follow through with a pregnancy of six and then to try and raise them in a wholesome environment all while showing individual and unconditional love.

The first season we watched didn’t always sit well with me. Kate was clearly the dominant personality and to a certain extent she ruled with an iron fist. She wasn’t always nice and at time she was even disrespectful to Jon. Meanwhile, Jon would grumble and make sarcastic remarks about Kate’s behavior and the whole while it became evident that their lifestyle was changing with the success of their show.

I remember the season Kate underwent plastic surgery and the rationale that followed, and then later Jon took her shopping to renovate her wardrobe. Next Jon was getting hair implants and Kate was going on speaking gigs to New York because of her book. It seemed to me that maybe they had shifted from showcasing their multiple blessings to capitalizing on them.

Pause for a moment, because if you didn’t see last night’s episode coming, think about the underlying transformation the Gosselins have endured with their fame. As the seasons have progressed, they’ve become more and more engrossed with themselves. Perhaps the real breaking point was when they decided to abandon their friends and pseudo-family for a new house on lots of property. They weren’t so much interested in the kids’ needs as they were with themselves. If you still don’t think so, flip back to the first and second season and look at the way Jon dressed, walked and even talked.

It’s unfortunate to see a marriage dissolve, and it’s horrible to watch it unfold to the whole world at the expense of eight little children. Yet here the Gosselins aren’t just parting ways and calling it quits, they say they’re doing it for the sake of their children.

If you caught the episode, you also saw that the kids were getting new play houses, called “Crooked Houses”. These little play houses were pretty cool. They were built to look like little kids had made them. Things weren’t quite square or level and each little play house exploded with creativity and color. But the real crooked house wasn’t being built in the backyard, instead it had already been built by Jon and Kate.

Kate kept saying over and over that her and Jon parting ways was best for the kids, and I honestly think she believed that was true. That just shows you the twisted and upside-down ways the world now views marriage! What’s best is no longer what God has erected but what man wants to tear down. What Gods has said will not go asunder man insists must, and all purportedly for the sake of these eight cute and sweet little children. The truth of the matter, and as Kate made evident at the end is that it’s going to be very hard for the Gosselin 8. Because of Jon’s and Kate’s actions, these precious children have been reduced to nothing more then a statistic reflecting America’s continued despising of traditional marriage.

Ultimately that’s what Jon and Kate comes down to, another episode in the unraveling of Holy Matrimony. What makes Jon and Kate different from Will and Grace? In the end marriage between a man and a woman is no longer holy and sanctified, but something that can simply be disregarded by fantastic ratings and an episode of cable television.

This is not what God intended for man and woman. God did not intend for Jon and Eight plus Kate and Eight. He did not want Jon and Kate to separate. What God intended was that those eight precious little children would look to their parents and see His love in the self-sacrificing of Jon for Kate, and the honor and devotion of Kate for Jon. Those eight sets of trusting eyes are supposed to see the love of Christ for His Church as He hung on the Cross for their sins. Instead of the kitchen cabinets with God’s Holy Word taped to the cupboard doors, these kids get the unfamiliar doors of a new home in a new place without the loving presence of both of their parents. And that is truly sad.

God in Christ Jesus forgives all these things. He forgives our infidelities and our unfaithfulness to Him and to each other. Where the house that man built tends to stand a little crooked, the house that God has built stands sure and strong on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Tonight, as the credits rolled for the latest episode of “Jon and Kate Plus Eight” and news of their decisions to break God’s Holy Covenant of Marriage set in, I realized how truly sad this episode was. The only hope after an episode like that is to be found in the spilt blood and crucified body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who died on the Cross to deliver us from sin, death and the devil. Let’s pray that Jon and Kate might return to each other and to the Lord, for their sake and for the sake of their children; and that they might remember the love of God in Christ Jesus and the forgiveness He won for them and how that love mends all things, even our crooked houses.

Going further…

Bible Study Discussion Questions

1. Read Genesis 2:19-25. The Lord gives Adam the gift of a wife, a helper comparable to him. How is the woman made? How is she presented to Adam? Why does Adam rejoice?
2. What does Jesus have to say about divorce in Mark 10:2-12? What does He say about breaking apart a marriage? What sin often results from divorce? Why do you think Jesus wants marriage to be preserved and honored?
3. Read Psalm 127. This song speaks about marriage and children. Who is needed to build a good marriage? Why do you think children are called a blessing?
4. Review the Sixth Commandment and its meaning:
   

   You shall not commit adultery
   What does this mean?
   We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.

   What does it mean for a husband and wife to love and honor each other?

5. Read Ephesians 5:22-33. How should a wife act with respect to her husband? How should a husband act with respect to his wife? Of what is marriage a picture? What truth is denied by divorce (or same-sex marriage, or living together without being married, etc.)?
6. Imagine that Jon and Kate are your personal friends. What advice and counsel would you give them at this point in their marriage?
7. Is divorce the “unforgivable sin?” How does Jesus’ death on the cross point us to the greater marriage of Christ and His church? Read John 19:34. What do blood and water point to? How does this point the union of Christ and His church? (Recall how Eve was made!)

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Scientists this week announced that they’ve found what they call the “missing link.” No, it’s not a problem on our website. It’s a cute little animal fossil named “Ida” that is supposedly 47 million years old and shows very clearly a specific branch in the human evolutionary tree. At some point, little mammaly things split, one branch becoming lemur-like creatures and the other branch becoming monkeys, apes and finally humans. Scientists are really excited because they say this proves beyond doubt that their evolutionary theories are right and unquestionable. Remember, the theory of evolution suggests that all life evolved from some glob of proteins that was floating around billions of years ago. From some one celled organism, more complicated life developed. Fish things became crawly things and those became all kinds of organisms. Eventually, you get to “Ida” the little fossil they found which is part-lemur with some “human” characteristics. The missing link! Evolution is proven! God is dead! Blah, blah, blah!

As always, the Word of God demolishes the wisdom of men. In the book of Genesis, it clearly states that when the Lord spoke His Word to create, He made everything “according to its kind” and everything He made He said would reproduce “according to its kind.” Those words are important! They teach us that apple trees make apple trees, petunias make petunias, cows make cows, and people make people. People don’t come from monkeys and birds don’t come from dinosaurs. Our heavenly Father, in all of His infinite creative genius, made our wonderful world with all its diversity of life by the power of His Word. That includes Man, whom God’s Word clearly says was crafted by the Lord Himself and into which He breathed the Spirit of life to make Man a living being.  

But the evidence! The fossil! It proves evolution! The Christian faith is doomed! The book of Genesis really must be a made up mythic story! Nonsense! Little “Ida” the lemur fossil doesn’t prove anything. Evolutionary scientists have long suspected there was some relation between man and other primates and mammals and now they suppose they have this “missing link,” this missing piece of the puzzle. But that’s no missing link. Show me a fossil that’s part fish and part mammal. Show me the fossil that proves some form of life between a fish and a tree. For being a link in the human chain, Ida sure has a big tail! The fact of the matter is this: evolutionary scientists have a certain understanding of how they think life has evolved and when they find some fossils, they are very good at making the evidence conclude what they already think has happened.  

Don’t be fooled by the propaganda. The demand to be shown a “missing link” is a challenge presented by those who believe what God’s Word says about our origins. For these evolutionary scientists to claim they’ve found the “missing link” is a direct attack upon the Christian faith. It’s as much as to say, “See? Science is right. The Bible is wrong. Christians are stupid. Faith is silly. God doesn’t exist. Evolution is how things really work.” The fact is, those who trust in their theories of evolution rely upon a huge amount of faith and trust in their view of the world. It’s faith at least as much as a Christian has to trust in God’s Word. There isn’t space in a little article like this to refute evolution at every point but believe it when I say there are plenty of intelligent scientists who don’t buy it. In any case, genuine science is in the business of experimenting and collecting data and the fact is, you can’t prove evolution anymore than you can prove creation because nobody can create something from nothing. 

But the Lord can! He can and did create everything out of nothing. The problem with evolution is not simply that is denies the book of Genesis. The problem with evolution is that it assumes humans are no more special than the creatures they supposedly evolved from. It supposes that death is the natural order of things. It denies that there is a personal God who made us and takes care of us in favor of thinking everything happens by random chance. Against all this we have the testimony of Christ Himself who is God in the flesh. What is unique about the faith of the Christian Church is not that we believe there is a Creator, but that the Creator took on flesh, came to His creation, and saved us from the sin and death we brought that ruined this creation. Christians acknowledge that things are not right with the world but the One who made the world has come down to us and put things right by His death on the cross and His resurrection. Evolutionary scientists look at the suffering and problems of this world and say, “Well that’s just the way it is.” There’s no comfort there! No peace. No wonder these crazy theories are believed by so many: they’re a tool of Satan to confuse and cause despair. 

What we need is not a “missing link” in the monkey tree but a link from us to God. Evolution says there is no such thing. The Word of God says that “missing link” is not missing at all. It’s Jesus Christ! He is the link, the connection between us and God because He Himself is true God and Man. It is Jesus who lifts us up out of the pit of sin and death which we caused ourselves to fall into and raises us to the heavenly places at the right hand of the Father. Where evolution assumes things will get better or at least be different for no particular reason, the Christian faith is not afraid to confess that this world is passing away and only getting worse. But the Good News is that in Christ we have not just biological life, but spiritual and eternal life forever with the One who loved us and made us and has remade us in His Son. So they found a “missing link?” Don’t let that bother you! The Word of God will always have the final say. And it doesn’t say you share a common past with some monkey thingy. God’s Word says you have been created uniquely by Him and it promises that you share an eternal future with Him in Jesus Christ.

Rev. Eric Andrae

“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:21-30)

Sadly, very sadly, I am not surprised by the shooting spree at Virginia Tech. In an ultra-violent culture that happily feeds the depraved mind and offers incredibly and immorally easy access to means of bloodshed, to guns; in an academia that teaches the Darwinist lie that you are a meaningless result of chance and the post-modernistic fantasy that there is no objective truth; in a society in which the family “is under siege” and “opposed by an antilife mentality as is seen in abortion, infanticide and euthanasia; scorned and banalized by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery, mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions and cut in two by divorce;” (Cardinal Francis Arinze, as quoted in Julia Duin, “Criticism of Gays by Catholic Cardinal Riles Georgetown University,” The Washington Times, 30 May 2003); in such a context, this comes as no surprise at all. But, nevertheless, we must not lose our focus. A “theology of glory” focuses on what we do; and when it does focus on God, it focuses on his power and majesty: his providence and sovereignty are allowed to overshadow, perhaps even obliterate, his mercy and grace. It teaches that Jesus is more-or-less Mr. Fix-it-man, that the Bible is a manual for happy and successful living, and that when we “decide” to become Christians, all will be right and we will be happy. It is typical “American Christian” religious nonsense – it permeates most churches’ teachings, focuses on our works, and, if logically followed, would finally deny the necessity of the Cross.

However, Biblical Christians – whether mourning the Virginia Tech massacre or daily repenting or clinging to Jesus for life and breath – hold to “the theology of the cross:” that it is only in the weakness and foolishness of the cross that the Lord helps us (1 Corinthians 1:21-30); through small things like bread and wine, water, words, men – in other words, the Means of Grace: Holy Communion, Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, Holy Bible, Holy Ministry, Holy Church. “The theology of the cross” focuses on what the Lord does; as the Creed confesses: he creates, he saves, and he sanctifies us. But the Lord does not deal with us as he did with ancient Israel, with armies and by direct revelation. Rather, he deals with us, the New Israel, mediately in weak sinful pastors and through his Means of Grace. Being marked with the Cross in Holy Baptism, we acknowledge suffering, though not good, as a real part of this fallen world and of the Christian’s life in it. But can there be any purpose of suffering in the Christian life? Yes. It mysteriously unifies you with Jesus, who is the Suffering Servant (cf. Isaiah 53); it provides an opportunity for you to give glory to God (cf. John 9:1-3); it tests and thus strengthens your faith (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-9); it teaches you to love God for his own sake, and not for the sake of prosperity; it conforms and shapes you into the image of Christ (cf. Romans 8:17); it humbles you, reminding you that the servant is not greater than the master and therefore prevents self-righteousness from closing you to his gifts (cf. John 15:20); finally, it teaches you that our theology is indeed and ultimately one of the cross, of glory after going through suffering, of Gospel but only after Law, of forgiveness after repentance, of life through death (cf. Luke 9:22-24; Psalm 34:19-22; Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalm 22).

Suffering is the result of evil, of collective sin, of satanic temptation and human cooperation. But even out of suffering, even this suffering, God can and does and will bring good. Suffering, punishment, is certainly not the way the Lord reacts to our sin; he reacts to sin by offering his Son into death instead of us; he reacts by forgiving the repentant sinner, removing the sin (see especially Psalm 103:8-12, John 9:1-3, and Luke 13:1-5; also Psalm 130 and Jeremiah 31:31-34). So, we know why suffering happens: it is because of sin, individual and corporate. But we must also be willing to say “I don’t know” when it is the honest answer, for we do not know why specific sufferings happen to specific people at specific times: We do not know why those specific 33 people perished instead of you or me (cf. Luke 13:1-5). As Christians, though, we need to stick to what the Lord has revealed to us to know: that the crucified and risen Christ comes to comfort us with consolation, peace, and forgiveness in bread, wine, water, words: the different forms and means of the Word that he is for us.

Let us pray for all who are anxious or troubled:

Most merciful God, the Consolation of the troubled and the Hope of all who cast their cares on you, may the hearts that cry unto you in their anxiety, distress, and tribulation find rest in your grace and mercy, knowing that all things must work together for good to them that love you and are called according to your purpose. Grant unto us all that peace which passes all understanding, so that with a quiet mind we may view the storms and troubles of life, the cloud and the thick darkness, ever rejoicing to know that the darkness and the light are both alike to you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (The Lutheran Liturgy, 280-81, adapted).

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). Amen.

Rev. Eric Andrae is the campus pastor at First Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, serving students at the University of Pittsburgh, Duquense, Carnegie-Mellon, and others. He is a member of the Christ on Campus Team.

Edward Shillito

If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.

The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.
If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.
The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

Edward Shillito was an English minister who survived the horrors of artillery, machine guns, and trench warfare during World War I.

by The Rev. Mark Buetow

Friends, Romans and Youth, “Lent me your ear.” Today, Ash Wednesday begins the Holy Season of Lent. What is Lent? Lent is a Holy Season of the Church Year lasting 40 days. But what is Lent about? Well, it’s not about things people borrowed from you and it’s not about that fuzzy stuff that sticks to your pockets. No, Lent is a season in which Christians pay close attention to Jesus going to the cross for sinners and taking the opportunity to receive even more of Christ’s gifts to us in Word and Sacraments. (Usually with the Supplemental Church Lenten Wednesday Service).

The season of Lent has a long history in the church. First of all, the 40 days of Lent remind us of a bunch of “Top 40s” in the Bible. There was the 40 days and nights that rained during the Flood in which Noah was safe in the ark. There are the 40 years of the Children of Israel wandering in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. There is the 40 days of repentance declared to the city of Nineveh by the prophet Jonah. Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days fasting and praying when He was tempted by the Devil and laid the Word-of-God smackdown on the Evil One. There were 40 days after Jesus rose on Easter until He ascended into heaven. All of these “40s” were the basis for a time of reflection and devotion in the Church Year. The 40 days of Lent was a time to remember that God’s people are still in the “wilderness” of this life and our Lord is there taking care of us. 

But, as sinners like to do, Lent gradually became a season that was less about Jesus and more about “me!” When sinners pulled a big whopper, the priests would say that they could only come back into the church after a time of fasting and prayer. That was the main part of Lent: the “penitents,” the people who had really blown it, were working their way back into the good graces of the Church. Think of it as a Spring Semester with no Spring Break. But, of course, that had more to do with people trying to overcome their sins than Jesus overcoming them for us. 

So, after the Reformation, Lent was again given its place as a time to focus and rejoice on the suffering and death of Jesus for our sins. Sure, we think about our sins because they caused Jesus to go to the cross. But we rejoice that He went to the cross to take away our sins. Think of Lent as the time to pay close attention to what exactly Jesus has done for you. In Lent, we have more opportunities to hear the Good News that Jesus is our Savior and to receive His holy gifts of absolution and His body and blood.

But beware! Most people, when they hear of “Lent” only hear “giving something up.” Some people give up chocolate for Lent. Some give up TV or candy or other things they like. I once joked with my Dad that we should only use slow Internet for Lent. Why do people give things up? It has to do with the tradition of fasting. Fasting means having less of something or giving something up. That’s a good idea if there’s something that you really like so much it consumes you. Lent is the time to give it a rest and learn to live by God’s Word rather than the things you love more than God’s Word. But be careful! Some people think the point of giving something up in Lent is to deny themselves some pleasure and so make themselves more sad or mopey. Baloney! Remember: Lent isn’t about YOU. It’s about Jesus. If you want to give something up, give it up so you can have more Jesus not because Jesus will like you if you stop eating ice cream or brownies.

You might get ashes on your forehead on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. The ashes remind us that “we are dust and to dust we shall return.” But pay close attention! Those ashes are smeared on your forehead in the sign of the cross so that you never forget that the Lord came and died and rose for us crumbly piles of ashes. He gave Himself into death for our sins so that we, who die, will have eternal life with Him who rose again and conquered sin and death. So off we go into Lent! It’s solemn. But it’s not joyless. After all, how can we not rejoice when our Lord is headed to Calvary for our sins? He died and rose for us and that makes Lent a really great time of year! 40 days of what, you say? 40 days of Jesus all for you!