Did Jesus descend into Hell?

Congregational Question - Did Jesus descend into Hell?

The three official statements of faith used not only by the Lutheran Church but by most orthodox Christian churches; the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed, all have the statement that Jesus descended into hell. That may seem odd to us as we are used to viewing Jesus either on earth or in heaven looking down on us. A google image search on “Jesus in hell” or “Jesus descended into hell” provided only one fairly modern and poorly done painting on the subject. The word used for Jesus descent into “hell” is “Shoel” which is often translated as “land of the dead”. The very concept of hell as a place of torment is one that developed more fully after Jesus and was strongly influenced by the religion of Zoroastrianism. Given the development of the concept of hell at the time of Jesus and the words used, and the lack of early church artwork depicting this event, it would be quite easy to give an apologists answer that Jesus did not really descend into hell, but rather the land of the dead, a sort of purgatory, and there brought those destined to heaven into heaven. Though we really don’t know what hell is like any more than we know what heaven is like, I would like to take the approach that Jesus did indeed descend into hell itself. I base this less on Biblical clues of what Jesus did than on a theology based on Jesus actions and teachings while on earth.

While on earth, Jesus ministry reached out not just to those who lived well and were religious, but also, and especially to those who were in need of the good news of salvation. In fact Jesus often got in trouble with the religious authorities for hanging out with sinners and tax collectors and inviting them into the kingdom. After his entry into Jerusalem, he cleared the temple of the money changers and then openly healed the sick, blind and lame and welcomed children, all of whom were banned from the temple. Jesus began his ministry in Luke by stating that he came to bring good news to those most in need of good news. I believe that same ministry extended after his crucifixion as he descended into the very depths of darkness to bring the good news of God’s love. Given all that Jesus taught and stood for while on earth, what else could he do? Perhaps Heaven itself will not be complete until the last soul in hell responds to Jesus saying, “I love you, you are forgiven, come to the place I have prepared for you”. That is a God of Grace.

Last Minute

Congregational Question - Can a person who continues to sin and perpetuates evil ask forgiveness before dying and go to heaven just like a person who lives “right” throughout their entire life?

In Matthew 20 we hear the story of the laborers in the vineyard. This story was an affront to the up and coming religious leaders of the day, most of whom were well off and would be the ones doing the hiring in a situation like this. From the standpoint of the efficient land owner, the story makes no sense. Why would one pay someone who worked for one hour the same as someone who worked for 12 hours? From the standpoint of the laborers however, things look different. Laborers frequently made only enough in one day of work for one days food for themselves and their families. The needs of the laborers who worked 12 hours were the same as the needs of the laborers who worked one hour. In Jesus’ view of the kingdom, the question is not who deserves what, but rather who needs what.

We believe in a God of Grace. We believe that salvation is a gift from God given to us through the saving grace of Jesus. Luther also talked about us being simultaneously saints and sinners, capable of performing some of the most gracious acts of love and at the same time separated from God by our thoughts and actions. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us have put in a good 12 hour day in the kingdom. Our need however is to be with God, our need is salvation, our need is the gift of heaven. Whether we are 11 hour workers or 11 minute workers, our need for salvation is the same and is given to us as a gift. There is no higher heaven for those who have worked harder and there is no heaven slum for those who make last minute conversions. The only difference is that the 11 minute workers missed out on getting to work in the kingdom for the rest of the day. That only seems unfair if you consider working in the kingdom as drudgery you would rather not do. If that is the case, you have other issues to work on.

Go and do likewise

Saturday October 8, Matthew 21: 40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those tenants? What Jesus did was to come back from the grave and continue to love those who put him there in the first place. In the midst of some of the difficult things we go through in life, especially those things for which we could easily blame others, it is a good thing to remember. Go and do likewise.

Jesus never gives up

Friday October 7, Matthew 21: 36Again he sent other servants, more than the first time, and they treated them the same way. 37Finally he sent his own son to them, saying, They will respect and give heed to my son. 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, This is the heir; come on, let us kill him and have his inheritance. Jesus came into this world and welcomed the poor and the outcast. Jesus called the power elite for what they were and did not let them hid behind the system. Jesus brought hope to the down and out and those whom society had rejected and even used them as examples of faith that the power elite should aspire towards. They hung Jesus on the cross and thought they were done with him. You are never done with Jesus. Jesus will continue to prod and cajole until we respond in love. Somehow I get the feeling that if we do not respond in this life, Jesus will keep it up in the next life. That’s Grace.

Care to Share

Thursday October 6, Matthew 21: 33Listen to another parable: There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a hedge around it and dug a wine vat in it and built a watchtower. Then he let it out for rent to tenants and went into another country. We were given dominion of all of creation. To care for this planet earth as one would care for and love a child. God created it and stocked it full of wonderful surprises for all. We have horded and spent and used. We see ourselves as deserving while having women and children in sweatshops make our tennis shoes for us. We spend billions on war while children in our own nation pick through dumpsters for food. We have the best health care system in the world while more and more people are going without adequate health insurance. God has given us this earth to care for and to share. How are we really doing on that?

Priorities

Wednesday October 5, Philippians 3: 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. In time we all find out that all our stuff does not bring fulfillment to our lives. Fulfillment comes from being aware of Christ taking a hold of us. All the rest is just stuff. We buy it, we store it, we fix it, we fuss over it, we maintain it, and in the end if we are not careful, we are owned by it. And it is just stuff. Where are your priorities? What is first in your life? Where does your fulfillment come from?

How much stuff??

Tuesday October 4, Philippians 3: I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, Our economic system is driven by spending. I just read the other day that one of the economic fears is that as fuel prices go up, people may start to cut back on spending and may even move from a pattern of negative spending to saving. We as a people want and want more and our very economy is based on getting more and more stuff. How does all that stuff compare to the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord? How much of your stuff gets in the way?

A Pleasant Planting?

Monday October 3, Isaiah 5: 7For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry! Since the time of Christ, the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is all of us. God looks for justice, economic, social and political, but what does our Lord find in us? The gap between the haves and the have nots in this nation is the greatest it has ever been and the only solution we hear about is to give more to those who already have. As a nation we sell more in military hardware than any other nation. Are we a pleasant planting, or do we help bring about bloodshed instead of justice? What can we do about it?

Sour Grapes??

Sunday October 2, Isaiah 5: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. Our Lord has created us and this world out of and for love. We are called to live together in peace and to treat one another as brothers and sisters. Jesus forgives us again and again and calls us to the table. All we have comes to us as a gift from God. There are some hopeful signs out there but all in all we haven’t done so well as a people. What kind of grape are you today?

No Fooling

Saturday October 1st, Matthew 21: Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. The ones at the bottom of the moral heap are usually aware that they are at the bottom of the moral heap. They also know deep down inside that they have nothing left in this world except Jesus. It is the ones at the top of the moral heap that have the uncanny ability to fool themselves. They just don’t fool Jesus.

What is your prayer??

Friday September 30th, Matthew 21: 28"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29" 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. 31"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" I hear a lot of spiritual sounding words. I would rather see a little spirituality. Saying I'll pray for you is different than praying for someone. Saying Jesus loves you is different than loving someone as Jesus would love them. Public confession of sin is different than late at night soul searching. Everything we think, do and say, and the reasons we think it, do it and say it, are a prayer to our Heavenly Father. At any time, just stop and ask yourself, is this the prayer I want to be praying?

Power or Love??

Thursday September 29th, Matthew 21: 23Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?" Authority, authority, authority, everyone is interested in where one fits into the power structure. Jesus had little to do with the power structure, except perhaps being nailed to the cross. In doing so, Jesus showed that the only power the power structure has is that which is given to it. The worse the Roman power structure could do would only serve to prove Jesus’ point. In the end, after all the bravado has died down, love is the only thing that matters. If in doubt, ask anyone in the last days of their life. From that vantage point, if you look back over your life, what is important? The answer is not power or authority, but love.

Perhaps

Wednesday September 28th, Philippians 2: 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Somehow Christianity has forgotten this little gem in our present day. To follow Jesus is to be a servant. It is not about war, it is not about tax cuts for the wealthy, it is not about abortion or homosexuality, it is about serving. How did we miss that? Perhaps it is time we did something about that misunderstanding. Perhaps it is time for Lutherans to speak their mind and remind the world of what scripture says. Perhaps it is time for the Gospel to return to the world and perhaps, just perhaps, it needs to start with you today.

What If??

Tuesday September 27th, Philippians 2: 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. O that is going to fly in the real world……not. But maybe it should. What would happen if we did run the world in such a way that we consider the interests of others more important than our own interest? What would happen if we saw in the face of others, the face of God? What would happen in this world if we loved others even if they were not loving to us in return? It might be worth a try. We just might get rid of things like war, starvation, greed, hatred and terrorism. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. We have tried war; maybe we should try tenderness, compassion, humility and love. What have we got to lose?

What Shall I do??

Monday September 26th, Ezekiel 18: Children won't suffer for the sins of their parents, and parents won't suffer for the sins of their children. Good people will be rewarded for what they do, and evil people will be punished for what they do. Unfortunately, good people and evil people are one in the same most of the time. Luther said that we are simultaneously saint and sinner. God’s message is that you are not saint or sinner because of what someone else did or did not do, the sinner part is all up to you. The saint part is all up to God. No matter how bad the sinner part, God can make it a saint part, if we are willing to let God do that. Most of the time we are not so willing, God works with us then also. So here I am, free from sin every day if I choose. What shall I do as a saint today? What will you do?

Fresh Starts

Sunday September 25th, Ezekiel 18: The LORD said: 2Ezekiel, I hear the people of Israel using the old saying, "Sour grapes eaten by parents leave a sour taste in the mouths of their children." 3Now tell them that I am the LORD God, and as surely as I live, that saying will no longer be used in Israel. 4The lives of all people belong to me--parents as well as children. Only those who sin will be put to death. Let’s tackle that last line first. The wages of sin is death; the gift of Jesus is life. Sometimes the Old Testament gets a bit harsh in how it says things and we have to remind ourselves that we are resurrection people, now for the first part. There is some truth in the idea that a bad apple doesn’t fall far from the tree or that the sins of the fathers are visited upon the third and fourth generation etc., however, Ezekiel announces something new. It is good news. We are not bound by what has gone on in the past, either in our lives or in the lives of our parents. We are free. Sometimes that freedom is the freedom to make fresh mistakes and sometimes that freedom is the freedom to make the same old mistakes our parents made. One would hope that at the very least you are into making fresh mistakes. Jesus offers new chances in life through forgiveness. If you are like me you need new chances often. So, do your part, offer new chances and fresh starts to others. All it takes is a little forgiveness.

Matthew 20: The last shall be first and the first shall be last

A few notes from my bothers emails. His wife Kathy is working as a therapist at a relief call center. Here are some stories.

Friday Report from Bakersfield via Ray:

Kathy reports the call center is the largest in the nation;;;they took 7000 calls from families yesterday. She reports the poverty of callers is unimaginable...They have nothing..."The country can't conceive of the need". The callers are the kindest, most grateful people...Some are on hold for up to 12 hours and when they can talk they have no complaints about being on hold. This is for a mere $300.00 from the Red Cross. Most of the callers are single mothers with 2-3 of their own children in addition many have 2-3 children from relatives and neighbors that cannot be found or were abandoned years ago, in addition they often have a mother or grandmother with them. Typical is that at least 2-4 members of the family have a severe handicap, or serious illness....diabetes and heart problems very prominent esp. in the elderly family member. The single mothers, head of household show unbelievable caring and kindness to these "extended families in spite of experiencing trauma reactions from having watched friends, loved ones or strangers die from dehydration, lack of medication, lack of oxygen for elderly heart patients, sleeping on paved roads awaiting evacuation. Many are starting to experience serious depression...PTSD(Post traumatic stress disorder) and for those on anti depressant meds who have now gone 2 weeks without meds the old symptoms are coming back(most anti depression meds will have an impact for about 10 days after one stops). A Very Serious problem is that most have no medication, they do not have their prescription to refill(who carries that with them), and no acess to health clinic to get renewals. Many report that friends and relatives who cannot get life saving medications continue to die or be on the edge (esp those with diabetes, heart, kidney disease or are in need of oxygen).

Most of the Red cross volunteers are quite elderly and do not have the stamina for a 12 hour shift...blisters and exhaustion they experience after 7-8 hours. Decible level in call center is very high....300 people talking at once!!!!. They hold up signs indicating needs: Red=computer has crashed: Blue=Mental health or health/medication need: Yellow=I have to go to the bathroom.

Highlite quote from yesterday: Newly hired worker, previously homeless in Bakersfield now manning phones..."I was homeles till I got this job and going no where and this job is helping me pull my life together and I really am helping others who are in a worse situation than I was".

Thats it for Friday Ray

Kathy says " I am fine and good at this". More of the elderly Red Cross workers are breaking down physically...they are on their feet 12 hours ...no place to sit...blisters....asthma attacks...sobbing for not being able to do more....and just plain exhaustion. Many stories from the callers are freaking out the people who are taking the calls....it often triggers traumas that those who are trying to take the calls have had. Kathy reports working with staff and callers more and more. She says the stories are unbelievable...they call in and report that a family member died today...heart condition...no meds or exhaustion...( 2-3 more incidents on Friday). Lower class callers do not complain, they have resilance under such conditions. Upper class callers are bitching, angry, falling apart, and have little resilance. some are very upset that they are "treated as welfare recipients" and have never experienced what it is like to go without and ask for help. One example ....black person calls who is (was) a cook for a wealth family...and has no $.....Where is the family? Oh! they left the day before the hurrican and flew to their house in Paris. Did they leave you any money? Oh. no, they would not do that when I am not working.

Saturday:

First night Kathy not sleep well. Some of the stories are disturbing. Today is her first day where she will work 7-4PM and she is actually going to a movie tonight. She is now working with the workers and supervisors as much of more than on the phone with callers (about 10 yesterday). Most of staff are not sleeping, sobbing, having stress reactions from the stories. Kath reports that the Red Cross Volunteers are very competent, kind and helpful...one reports this is her 18th disaster she has worked for. She has the team leaders now working positively with their groups ("think of them as your family and you need to care for them") rather than yell and criticise.

One major difficulty is the location of Shelters around the country ....most are in the middle of no where in small towns or isolated areas...no transportation or health facilities....people don't have access to job opportunities, health, school etc.

No one in 4 days now has yet recieved the "government's $2000.00 that you read about or hear on TV." The Red Cross's $300 is all they are getting. Now they are getting some "fraud calls" ....typical is men calling saying they are single head of household with 5 kids and need money....as Kathy said "their just are no men head of households, they are the women." Problem is if money is sent to the men who use someone elses name and address that name is entered in the computer and they won't recieve any more....so if the real head of household calls they are denied the much needed $ and likely are the ones with the kids.

Cause for a sleepless night: Familly leaves ahead of Hurricane and then realizes they forgot some important papers, the children and relative proceed on and the parent returns to get the papers...storm is too close...FEMA closes all roads and no one allowed to leave....person spends time on roof and is swept away 4 times in the winds....in the water is bite numerous times by unknown creatures, recieves many abrashions and is finally rescued...goes to local hospital to get a tetnus shot...hospital wants $10 up front, which she does not have....guess what....she is denied the shot and sent on her way. "George Bushes health care plan in action....no $...no care!!!...I'm sure if the upper class got another tax cut that would not happen" Sometimes I think he and the right wing have played a sick joke on so many of us.

Big problem yesterday was lots of diabetics calling...needing insulin and no sources available. The vulnerable and chronically ill continue to die for lack of health care.

Generous Grace

Saturday September24th, Matthew 20: Are you going to get stingy because I am generous?' Let’s face it, we all get stingy, myself included. In those moments when we break through the stingy, we get to see just a glimpse of the kingdom among us. A glimpse is all it takes to let us know it is all worth it. God is generous and calls us to live that way also.

More than just an attitude check

Friday September 23rd, Matthew 20: 9"Those hired at five o'clock came up and were each given a dollar. 10When those who were hired first saw that, they assumed they would get far more. But they got the same, each of them one dollar. 11Taking the dollar, they groused angrily to the manager, 12"These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.' If your view of living as a child of God is slaving all day under the scorching sun, you might want to look at what your faith is all about. If your view of living as a child of God is the joy of working day by day with a loving God who has given you the gift of eternal life, and you get to experience a part of that now by working day by day with that loving God, then you might just have it right. It’s not just an attitude thing, its all about Grace.

Doubly Blessed

Thursday September 22nd, Matthew 20: 8"When the day's work was over, the owner of the vineyard instructed his foreman, "Call the workers in and pay them their wages. Start with the last hired and go on to the first.' In the Beatitudes (Matthew 5 or Luke 6:20 and following) Jesus teaches his followers about the special blessing of the down and out. It is how the kingdom works. The up and coming have already been doubly blessed. They are blessed first by being up and coming, and they are blessed secondly by being able to be a blessing to others. It is only those who selfishly see their blessings not as a gift from God, but as something they have earned who get upset about the last being first. Unfortunately, that is most of us most of the time.

It's all grace

Wednesday September 21st, Philippians 1: God will make all of this happen, 29and he has blessed you. Not only do you have faith in Christ, but you suffer for him. Following Christ is not compatible with being selfish. Following Christ means that we understand that all we have is a gift from God. Following Christ means to understand that we are blessed to be a blessing. Following Christ means living your life in such a way that shows love for others. As any parent will tell you, loving others means at least some sacrifice. It is all a gift from God; the grace we receive, the grace we show, the grace of loosing our selfishness, it’s all grace.

Right there in front of you

Tuesday September 20th, Philippians 1: 27Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. The good news is that Jesus loves us and that we are saved by grace. What does Jesus ask of us? That we live in such a way that our lives show a love for God and that we love our neighbor as ourselves, neighbor being defined as whomever God places before us. In the increasing global community that definition of neighbor has less and less to do with anything resembling borders or boundaries. What can you do today that brings honor to the good news about Christ? It’s right there in front of you.

Are we just upset about a vine?

Monday September 19th, Jonah 3: the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" The vine provided both shade and comfort to Jonah while he was brooding over God’s grace shown to Nineveh (Baghdad). Both the vine and the changed lives were gifts from God. Jonah is upset about the vine which was his gift rather than the changed lives which were God’s gifts to others. It seems petty doesn’t it? None of us are immune and we often find ourselves possessive of our gifts as we demonstrate a callous approach to others. The Kyoto accords are one example. To ascribe to them could have some negative short term affects on U.S. profits. It could also have some positive long term affects on millions of lives of individuals living in low lying and coastal areas throughout the world. Are we not in effect just upset about a vine? Are we not blessed to be a blessing, not just to ourselves, but to all humanity created in the image of God?

Is God trying to tell us something?

Sunday September 18th, Jonah 3: 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. Jonah was not only surprised, but angry. He did not like the people of the ancient city we now call Baghdad, he wanted them destroyed. God’s purpose is to see them as the children of God created in the image of God and love them. Do we see the present occupants of the City of Baghdad as the children of God, created in the image of God and loved by God? If we truly did, how would that effect the current situation? God works in strange ways. Last week on the anniversary of September 11th the assigned text just happened to be on forgiveness. This week, the assigned Old Testament lesson is about loving the people of present day Baghdad. Do you think God is trying to tell us something? Are we also to get the lesson given to Jonah?

Step two, practice forgiveness and graciousness

Saturday September 17th, Matthew 18: 32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." Step two, practice forgiveness and graciousness. When Jesus met with the disciples in the locked upper room after the resurrection, he breathed on them and said, “Now as the Father has sent me, I send you.” Instead of going into the world looking for what others are doing wrong, our calling as the children of God is to practice forgiveness and graciousness in thankful response to the forgiveness and grace we have been shown.

Step one, live in thankfulness and gratitude

Friday September 16th, Matthew 18: 23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. This part of the story is Jesus’ way of explaining how God deals with us. It is important to understand that as the basis of how we are to treat others. Understanding the magnitude of our forgiveness helps us to be gracious in the forgiving of others. Step one, live in thankfulness and gratitude.

Beat the Bunny

Thursday September 15th, Matthew 18: 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Jesus is not just leading Peter in a higher math class, he is calling him to forgive and forgive and forgive. And what does Peter do after forgiving and forgiving and forgiving, he is called to forgive again and again and again and again……. until the forgiveness works. We are called to do the same in our lives. It’s not always easy, it’s not always fun, it is the only thing in the long run that works. It is the way God forgives us. When it comes to forgiveness, God wants us to outdo the Energizer Bunny. Forgiving doesn’t mean being a doormat. Sometimes forgiving means we need to change our part of the equation. Continuing the conflict as is does not work, retaliation only turns us into what we dislike about the other, the only thing that works is to forgive and change the situation.

Hey roomy

Wednesday September 14th, Romans 14: 10So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly--or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. I have this reoccurring dream. In this dream, there is no heaven or hell, there is only life in the kingdom of God. It is just that when Hugo Chavez and Pat Robertson end up as roommates, there may be a bit of work to do before they realize it is indeed heaven. In this situation, who would be your roommates that you might have to work out some issues with? Why not get started now?

Tastes like crow

Tuesday September 13th, Romans 14: 1Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with--even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. There is a thin line, a very thin line, between being right and being self-righteous. Sometimes it is not a matter of being right or wrong, but a matter of seeking God’s will. It is not always easy to find, and sometimes it even tastes like crow. In the end, it is the only thing that matters.

WWJD, Continue killing, or seek reconciliation?

Monday September 12th, Genesis 50: 19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Joseph let God work through him rather than trying to fix things to his own liking. In the end, what he wanted most, a mended relationship with his brothers, was there before him. God can work through the evil others do and the evil we do in retaliation. What God wants most is for the healing to begin, for relationships to be mended and for the children of God to live in peace. We may be able to find many good practical reasons to continue the war. But I think it is time to ask, what would God want us to do? Continue the killing of the children of God on both sides, or seek reconciliation?

God's calling is for reconciliation

Sunday September 11th, Genesis 50: 15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept. I remember that morning. My daughter had on the TV and yelled at us to watch what was happening. It was horrific as first one building was on fire, then another plane hit, a second building on fire, finally followed by the collapse of the buildings. Then over the next several days, the stories of heroism, loss, death, fear and hatred begin to trickle in. Joseph’s brothers had done horrible things, the constant teasing, faked murder, selling into slavery, all sparked by jealousy. Now in time of grave need in their own lives, they used the occasion of their fathers death to formulate yet another lie to save their own skin. Joseph wasn’t stupid; he knew what was happening, he wept anyway. Weeping not because once again he was being abused, but weeping because maybe this time, in the midst of deceit, there was hope for reconciliation. That is our calling.

September 11th poem: 17th Sunday after Pentecost, Matthew 18:21-35

We share this world
this life
with the many who are the
Children of God
We live
and sin
and hate
and love
as do our brothers and sisters.
in forgiveness
Christ makes us one,
in envy
we try to become two
forgive one another
live not as the master
or gatekeeper
lest you find yourself one day
facing the gate from the other side
forced by your own insistence
on the upholding of the law
rather
than forgiveness
it is in forgiveness
that our division is united
and our soul healed once again
to see the glory of God
shinning into our lives
in love

Congregational question: Why don’t we clap as a church when the choir finishes singing?

Our participation in worship, our singing, our prayers, our responsive reading, the choir singing, they are all known as liturgy. Some have defined liturgy as the work of the people. I know this can be confusing because some churches refer to themselves or their worship as non-liturgical. That may sound good to them, but they are wrong. All worship that involves people is liturgical, it is the people gathered and responding in some sort of a group manner to their experience of God’s love in their lives.
When the choir sings, it is part of that response to God for the love that has been shown. As such, clapping for the choirs beautiful singing would be no different than clapping for the prayers, the sermon, the hymns or other parts of worship. In some sense, it changes it from worship to performance.
So what do you do when you hear the choir sing a beautiful song that moves you? You could tell the choir, or some members of the choir after worship that their singing was beautiful and moved you. Better yet, you could decide then and there that you were going to listen to that still small voice of God that seems to compel you toward joining the choir and show up some Wednesday at 7pm.
Now, what about someone singing or playing a solo. We have had some wonderful solo gifts of music in the last year. Well, this is a tough one. I still feel that, theologically speaking, it is best to wait until after worship and tell that person what a wonderful, moving experience it was for you. Then again, in spite of that, I find myself compelled to clap, and often do. Well, so much for theology. Sometimes, it just seems like clapping is the only thing you can do and you just need to do it. For those times, well I think God understands that also. Go for it as the spirit leads you and remember that even in worship, sometimes doing the wrong thing is the right thing to do.

Congregational question: How about speaking in tongues?

The gift of speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift that is practiced in many churches. The Lutheran church is not necessarily one of them. Does that mean that the Lutheran church somehow condemns speaking in tongues or looks down on those who do? No, not at all. If you read 1st Corinthians 12 & 13, Paul is writing to a church which has asked the question about speaking in tongues. This spiritual gift was practiced in other non-Christian groups in the Corinth area and the new church that Paul had established wanted to be able to demonstrate that they too were a spiritual expression of faith. When Paul lists the gifts of the spirit in Chapter 12, he includes speaking in tongues and the interpretation of speaking in tongues as gifts of the spirit. If you look at the order however, these gifts are the last ones on the list. Then in chapter 13 Paul launches into an editorial on spiritual gifts. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal is how he starts and then goes on to say something similar about the other gifts mentioned in chapter 12.
The potential problem of these outward manifestations of the gifts of the spirit is that they can sometimes lead to one-upsmenship in the family of God. In too many cases, those who speak in tongues can see themselves as being a bit more spiritual than others. Or in the case of some churches, the gift of speaking in tongues is required before one can receive a special baptism. Paul’s response to this kind of thinking is in the second half of chapter 12 where he talks about the body having many parts and each part being as important as any other part.
Speaking in tongues is not bad. When Pastor Odom and I get together for prayer and he prays for me by speaking in tongues, I don’t know what he is saying, but I know it comes from the heart. It is a gift shared in love. It fits into the proper use of the gift of tongues according to Paul in Chapter 13. When I pray for him, it is in English, it also comes from the heart and is shared in love. There is never any thought of one prayer being more spiritual or better than the other.
If you feel compelled to speak in tongues or find yourself speaking in tongues sometime in prayer, remember it is a gift. Also remember that any gift of the spirit is for the blessing of the community. The question is; how will you use your gifts of the spirit, which are many, to help and bless the family of God, and how can these gifts be used in love.