Churches are reopening again. What does this mean for you? First, whether you go back is not a test of your faith. If you’re at risk or worried, stay home a while longer. Second, social distancing when we are around each other is how we love our neighbors right now. Third, now is a good time to volunteer. There’s extra work to be done for churches to be open.
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Sounds used: Ship’s Bell – Mike Koenig at SoundBible.com
It’s ok to be a sheep. God saves sinners, not just religious people. It’s easy to start thinking that the more we do at church, with church, around church…the more saved we are. And then we start to despise the ones who only show up on Sundays. There’s nothing wrong with serving the church, it’s a good thing to do. But it doesn’t save you. Only Jesus saves you.
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Jesus it the door. He’s the entrance to eternal life. Is He REALLY the door? Yes! Is He a symbolic door? No. He’s the one that you enter through to get eternal life. The Good Shepherd stands in the gap of the sheep pen and gives up His life for the sheep. In Him being the door, you are saved. Entering through that Door, you have eternal life.
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You’re trying to be a good citizen, lower the curve, love your neighbor. But you’re missing church, too. Feeling a little bit guilty about that? We don’t want to say, “Oh, it’s alright, I have extenuating circumstances…” We always have “extenuating circumstances” for the things we do. Don’t try to excuse yourself. Just confess your sins, and receive forgiveness.
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Church attendance on the Sunday after Easter usually tanks. From the Introit: Like newborn babes crave spiritual milk, so we all….skip church? It’s the most ironic Sunday to be staying home. We’re all staying home these days. So this week, make a point of watching your church’s stream of Sunday’s service! Make an appointment to get the Lord’s Supper. Tune in!
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Sounds used: Ship’s Bell – Mike Koenig at SoundBible.com Railroad Crossing Bell – Brylon Terry at SoundBible.com
Why exactly do we celebrate all of those feast days on the Church calendar? Who are all of these “saints” and why exactly should we care about them? And what does any of that have to do with ME?
Tune in and subscribe to Higher Things’ newest media production, “Dead Christians You Should Know About.” This episode, we explore the stories surrounding Saint Patrick, shedding some light on his history in a quick, fun, and easily accessible video.
Watch for new videos each month on YouTube and our website, higherthings.org. Dead Christians You Should Know About will fill you in on history you might not know yet. You’ll learn about those saints that fill the church calendar — and even some you might not have ever heard of before!
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Churches are full of sinners who have flare-ups. They do stupid, hurtful things. The only hope they have is for you to show them mercy and love. Your pastor needs you to treat him (and the rest of the church) with the same mercy and grace that you expect God to treat you with. From Jesus to you, and from you to others — including your church and pastor.
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Terrorism. Drones. Missiles. IEDs. Attack. Retaliation. Deployment. We read and hear these words in the news every day — words that bring concern and worry. None of these things are in our control, and that powerlessness can lead us to despair as we realize that human pain and suffering cries out and we have no human means to respond. For the World War II generation, the attack on Pearl Harbor meant that America had to enter a war and send her military into harm’s way. For the middle generations, September 11, 2001 began a “Global War on Terror” that continues to this day.
In recent days, those too young to personally remember 9/11 are confronted with the darkest side of humanity’s sin and rebellion against the Creator. Recent events in the Middle East have reminded us that the kingdoms of this world will, just as Jesus said, have “wars and rumors of war” (Matthew 24:6). Ancient lands including Iraq and Iran, known in the Bible as Babylon and Persia, remain the scene of modern conflict. Only the Lord of history knows how or when these events will conclude.
Two Kingdoms
There are Christian groups that reject all participation in warfare. Some even reject self-defense in the face of evil. Lutherans have taken a different approach. The Lutheran position is that a Christian is a citizen of not one but of two Kingdoms. The Kingdom of the Right is the Church where God rules in mercy, grace, and peace. The Kingdom of the Left, however, is the government of a nation. Importantly, God rules even the Kingdom of the Left for the sake of His redeemed people, the Church.
Let’s first think about the Kingdom of the Left: the nations of the world. Paul tells us that the governing authorities are established by God and have the duty to “bear the sword” (Romans 13:1-4). Peter also teaches us to submit to the government the Lord has established (1 Peter 2:13-14). But Peter also limits that obedience in the event that the governing authority demands that we stop proclaiming the Gospel because “we must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). For citizens of the United States, the “sword” is wielded by a government elected by its people and given both the duty to protect us and the authority to do so.
But let us also consider where we find our first and eternal citizenship: the Kingdom of the Right; that is, the one holy, Christian (catholic), and apostolic Church. Over Her the Lord rules and within Her He has established the authority of the called and ordained Holy Ministry. But unlike the state with its kings and presidents and military commanders, the Church does not wield the sword of the world’s justice and warfare. Instead, She, the Church, wields the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17).She proclaims justice fully accomplished at Calvary and announces that God is at peace with us. This sword does not bring death and destruction but life and restoration. This Kingdom does not have birth certificates issued by human authority denoting a state, province, or nation but a baptismal citizenship grounded in union with Christ in His death and resurrection and in union with all who are baptized. The Church knows no national boundaries or ethnic identity; Her citizens are of every nation, tongue, and time, called to the Blessed Sacrament at altars great and small.
A Lutheran Response
So what is a Lutheran to do as we live with words like “terrorism, drones, missiles, IEDs, attack, retaliation, deployment,” and a host of others describing the world’s conflict? First, there is no single “one-size-fits-all-Lutherans” answer. These are matters of the Kingdom of the Left and Lutherans will think and respond as citizens of that Kingdom, yet may or may not come to the same conclusions. One might support a particular military action and another might oppose it. Each must exercise citizenship by participating in the public arena in voting, speaking, writing, and, for some, holding public office. Others will choose to serve in the military and go forward into war in order to protect their nation, homes, and families.
Second, Lutherans must pray. And our “prayer list” is long! We pray for our president and elected lawmakers no matter who they are. We pray for those who serve in the armed forces and defend our nation. We pray for peace. We pray that evil might be restrained by God. We pray for our brothers and sisters in lands torn apart by conflict and in places that participate in the persecution of believers. And yes, we pray for our enemies, that God might not only restrain them but that they might hear and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. To this list you can add all that is on your mind. And together we can bind our prayers as we pray, “Lord, remember us in you Kingdom and teach us to pray.”
Finally, Lutherans must renew their dedication to the evangelization of the world. Nothing matters more than this. You see, the world is vast and filled with diverse people who share one thing in common. It is not politics, economics, geography, or language. It is the need to know the love of their Creator in the one Person in whom that love is shown: Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world. Only by grace through faith can this deepest human need be met. No political or military solution offers anything at all for what truly matters. Only the Gospel can change human beings and, since war and violence come from people, the world needs that change.
Courage!
Now for a full disclosure statement. As I reflect on this, I do so as a pastor who served for 28 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy. I have known the presence of Jesus in Word and Sacrament as He comes to warriors in very dark and frightening places. Nobody detests war more than I do, having seen war and the pain and suffering it brings. But I have also seen the peace of God sustain and strengthen those of us with no other source of strength.
And so, my young brothers and sisters in Christ, be of good courage! No matter what happens in this broken world, you have something no one can take from you. The world does not give it and world cannot remove it. You have Jesus and because you have Him, you have peace with God, forgiveness, and a life that is eternal. Wars will come. Conflict will consume the nations. But remember the promise of your Savior: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28).
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Your brother in Christ and fellow pilgrim,
Daniel
The Reverend Daniel L. Gard, Ph.D. Guest Professor, Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne President Emeritus, Concordia University Chicago Rear Admiral, Chaplain Corps, United States Navy (Retired)
daniel.gard@ctsfw.edu
Have you ever asked, “Why do we sing all these different hymns during church?” I have. Wouldn’t the service go much faster if we just started with the Invocation instead of singing all of the verses of some hymn before it? Do we really need a Hymn of the Day, doesn’t that just take up more time? I guess communion hymns are okay, they give us something to do while everyone else is receiving communion. Does Pastor really need to make the service even longer by having a closing hymn? What’s the point?
I used to think about those things. When I would see that we were singing a hymn with six verses I would feel like it was some kind of torture. If you can’t fit all the stanzas in between the music than it must be too long.
But now, if you haven’t guessed, my view of hymns has changed since then. We don’t sing hymns to keep us entertained during the service. If they were just to entertain us, then we’d probably have Pastor up front dancing and singing them to a karaoke track or something.
No, hymns aren’t there to keep us entertained. They are there to teach us. They are gifts to remind us of all that Christ has done for us and is doing for us. One of the hymns that do an exceptional job at this is found in the Lutheran Service Book, #602, “The Gifts Christ Freely Gives.”
The gifts Christ freely gives He gives to you and me
To be His Church, His Bride, His chosen, saved and free!
Saints blest with these rich gifts are children who proclaim
That they were won by Christ and cling to His strong name.
This stanza states that Christ’s gifts are not only free but that they are given to each of us. We are blessed with the gift of being His Church, His bride. He loves us as a husband is to love his wife. He loved us by giving His own life for us. We are chosen by Him in our Baptism where He marks us as saved and free from sin, death, and the power of the devil. In Baptism, we can also proudly proclaim that we were won by Christ and we are comforted by His name which He has placed on us.
The gifts flow from the font where He calls us to His own;
New life He gives that makes us His and His alone.
Here He forgives our sins with water and His Word;
The triune God Himself gives power to call Him Lord.
The gifts freely given by Christ are given to us in Baptism where we are continually called His children. In Baptism, we are given new life–an eternal life, a life that only children of God can have. This life is not only one that is free from sin but it never ends! That is certainly a remarkable gift that only Christ can give.
The gifts of grace and peace from absolution flow;
The pastor’s words are Christ’s for us to trust and know,
Forgiveness that we need is granted to us there;
The Lord of mercy sends us forth in His blest care.
Absolution is a great gift that we receive. It is given to us during the Divine Service and during the prayer office, Compline. Your pastor probably also has times set where he offers Private Confession and Absolution. If not, feel free to ask him about it. The pastor’s words are usually something like this, “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Those words are Christ’s words. All of our sins are forgiven by Christ right there. We can then go on in the Peace of Christ knowing that we are forgiven.
The gifts are there each day the Holy Word is read;
God’s children listen, hear, receive, and they are fed.
Christ fills them with Himself, blest words that give them life,
Restoring and refreshing them for this world’s strife.
God’s Word is a gift to us. Each day we have the chance to study God’s Word, but especially in the Divine Service, we hear about Christ and what He has done for us. The Word brings us life and salvation. It strengthens us, restores us and refreshes us throughout all this world’s strife.
The gifts are in the feast, gifts far more than we see;
Beneath the bread and wine Is food from Calvary.
The body and the blood remove our every sin;
We leave His presence in His peace, renewed again.
The Lord’s Supper is freely given to us in every Divine Service. We see bread and wine, but what we don’t see is far greater. In, with, and under the bread and the wine is Christ’s Body and Blood, broken and shed for us on the cross at Calvary. In this gift of His Body and Blood, we also receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.
One of the gifts that Christ loves to give to his children is the ability to praise Him. Through the gifts of God’s Word, Baptism, Holy Absolution, and The Lord’s Supper we can sing with all honor, sincerity, and praise:
All glory to the One who lavishes such love;
The triune God in love assures our life above. His means of grace for us are gifts He loves to give; All thanks and praise for His Great Love by which we live!”
As Lutheran Christians, we have a lot of freedom when it comes to using art in the church. You may have seen a wide variety of art forms in different churches you’ve encountered. But church art isn’t just a matter of style and personal preference. The way a church uses art communicates its beliefs. So whether your church is simply or ornately decorated, there are some common denominators in Lutheran art that paint a very distinctive picture of our faith.
Freedom to Use Art
We are free in Christ to adopt art forms that are beautiful, reverent and reflective of the truth of our faith. Lutherans aren’t iconoclastic (against pictures and statues), like some other Protestant churches. Paintings, statuary, wood carving, stained glass, and other kinds of art are welcomed in the church as a way of teaching the faith and beautifying our houses of worship. Because these things are neither commanded nor forbidden in the Scriptures, we are free to use them.
Art Confessing the Faith
The great, central teaching of the Lutheran faith is justification by grace through faith in Christ alone. Lutheran church art (like its sermons) will be very concerned with communicating, above all, the importance of Christ crucified for the forgiveness of your sins. This is portrayed in many ways. For example, you should never be surprised to see a crucifix in a Lutheran church or home, because it is such a clear and direct picture of the reality of our salvation.
Art Highlighting the Word and Sacraments
Also, Lutherans teach that this Gospel, that Jesus himself, comes to us in concrete ways through God’s Word and sacraments. So in a church sanctuary, your eyes will be drawn front-and-center to where those means are delivered to us: the pulpit, the altar, and the baptismal font. Many churches decorate these objects in a spectacular fashion so there is no doubt that what happens there is of great importance. Even in churches with simpler decoration, these things are usually placed in such a way that they are the most prominent things that you see in church.
Art Teaching Us What Worship is About
No matter how simple or elaborate the sanctuary is, it will be obvious that it is a set-apart place for a holy purpose (the word “sanctuary” comes from “sanctus” meaning “holy”). Because we believe that in the Divine Service, we actually encounter God in the flesh through His Word and gifts, church is distinct from everything else that happens in our Monday-to-Saturday lives. So your standard Lutheran church will look deliberately different from an entertainment center, movie theater, rec room, lecture hall, etc. This is not where we go to merely get information about God and life, or to seek thrills. It is a unique and holy place where we get to actually encounter the God of the universe to receive His blessings.
What Art Isn’t
Art itself isn’t a means of grace or a mystical portal into another spiritual dimension. No veneration of weeping Madonnas or praying “through” icons will happen in a Lutheran church, and of course the art itself is not an object of worship. Nor is it proper to use the arts to manipulate emotions to the extent that the feeling of tugged heartstrings is mistaken for the Holy Spirit. We look only to God’s Word and His Sacraments to receive God’s grace and forgiveness. Manmade means, no matter how attractively packaged, have no power of this sort. Art forms may adorn the means of grace, but they should not compete with them.
Art Reminds Us the Church is Bigger Than We Are
Not all forms of art must be exactly the same in all places (e.g., using only one painting style to depict Christ and the saints), but may vary according to Christian freedom. However, Lutherans also recognize the catholicity (or universality) of the Christian faith. That is, rather than reinvent the wheel for every generation, we acknowledge that we are part of the church of all times and places. This means that we use the best, most Christ-honoring traditions that have been handed down to us, and we continue to share them with other churches throughout the world.
For example, when you walk into any Lutheran church on Pentecost Sunday, odds are that everything will be decorated in red. At a different Lutheran church, you would probably also see many Christian symbols that you would recognize from the artwork at your own church. These are things that we hold in common from a long heritage together, and they help to communicate our unity. An emphasis on catholicity also means that the art forms used in church will seek to avoid a “dated” look that comes from mimicking pop culture trends. The artwork is more likely to be of a timeless quality that seeks to transcend one specific culture or era, since the body of Christ itself transcends one culture or era.
Artist is a Holy Calling
Another distinctive Lutheran teaching is that of vocation. Being an artist or craftsman is an honorable and God-pleasing calling when our neighbor is served by the good works that are done. As such, using art in the church is not categorically decried as a “waste of money.” Communicating truths about God through the arts, and doing it well, is a very important task for those creating church art. (And, of course, church art isn’t the only kind of artistic vocation honorable to God.) Doing art poorly can, perhaps inadvertently, communicate things about God or worship that aren’t true.
So, art isn’t an indifferent thing—it’s meant to tell you something. Next time your mind wanders at church, let your eyes rest on the art that you see, and ask yourself why it was put there. The answer is always the same—it’s meant to point your eyes, ears, and heart to Jesus.
