Friday Randomness

Sometimes you have so many things floating around in your mind that you just have to release them all at once.  Each one may not get the full attention it calls for, but each one has some level of importance in how your mind processes things.  With that said, a few random things that have been floating around in my mind recently.

-God's work of forming us as His people never stops while we live in this world.  We may be eight, or eighty-eight, but God continues to form us.  Yes, the work of redeeming us was done once and for all with Jesus' death and resurrection.  The work of re-creating us doesn't stop in this world as long as the sinful flesh still lives.  When we start to think that we have little left to learn, we're now resisting God's work of re-creating us.  Doesn't take us out of the realm of salvation, but definitely hinders our walk in Christ Jesus.

-It's amazing how quickly we catch on when we repeat things.  My family typically prays the Lord's Prayer each day together, at some point.  Even when my son was young, I would say the Lord's Prayer, Apostles Creed, and the Evening Prayer to him to help him sleep.  Now, not quite three, he knows the whole thing.  My daughter, a couple of years older than him, knows many verses, prayers, and songs because we repeat them.  The Small Catechism's emphasis on repetition exists for a reason, folks.

-That said, I'm also amazed how some people react to songs or hymns that repeat verses or choruses.  One criticism about some "contemporary" (I actually don't really like that word, but don't have a better one to use) songs is that they simply repeat the same thing over and over.  Yet, then the repetitiveness of things like Bible verses and the Small Catechism are emphasized.  It would seem that repeating things in song would also be a good thing.  Sure, they can have more depth, but there is a place for repeating even simple thoughts about God.

-Way too often in this world, we get caught failing to listen.  This plays itself out in many ways.  Sometimes we listen only to catch something upon which we can build our rebuttal.  That isn't actually listening.  Sometimes we make issues about something else (i.e. kneeling for an anthem in protest of racial injustice then being construed as though it's anti-military), and we fail to listen to what those others are saying with whom we disagree.  Rather than being reactionary, it's usually much better to simply shut our mouths, open our ears, and then proceed with respect and kindness.  Outrage, social media posts, and the like typically through fuel on the fire rather than serve to achieve reconciliation.

-With that said, it's amazing how much we simply want to be proven right.  The definition of sin that I learned in my theology classes is that of the self turned in on itself.  When we find that we want to be proven right, and we want to have others know how right we are, we have turned in on ourselves, and could potentially be making ourselves out to be god.  For sure, we are failing to love our neighbor as we should when we simply want to prove that we are right to them.

-We are a society still fascinated by sexual issues.  Recent revelations of sexual assault and harassment show that there is nothing new under the sun.  This has been a problem since Adam and Eve chose for themselves instead of following the Word of God.  God's Story is replete with stories of sexual sin, despite the fact that God Himself spoke about that quite often.  While it is good and right that we speak against such practices, I don't hear the desire to bring forgiveness, restoration, and reconciliation to the situations.  Most often the sense is more, "I want so and so to pay."

Well, that is a rather full post.  Since I haven't been posting regularly lately for a variety of reasons, some of these have been rattling around for some time.  Perhaps in future posts, I'll spend more time on them, but for today, they just come out shotgun style.

The Place Where Hope Ends

In my Christian tradition, every year we work through a cycle we call the "Church Year".  It starts in late November or early December each year, as we hear the promises of God sending a Savior into the world.  The first major celebration is the birth of Jesus, followed by His baptism, His transfiguration a few weeks later, His death and resurrection, His ascension, and the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.  Then we focus on the continuing work that God does as the message of Good News in Jesus goes forth through the world.  Then, as November rolls around again, we anticipate Jesus' promise of reappearance, to usher in the new creation to His faithful people.

You may have looked at the title for this entry and wondered about it a bit.  "The Place Where Hope Ends."  That's not a place that we typically think that we want to be.  We want to be somewhere that hope abounds.  We don't want to think about hope ending.  After all, if hope ends, so do our dreams, our reason for pressing on.  We don't want to think about what would cause our hope to end, with the expectation that it would be painful, a dark place with no escape.

In a sense, that's true.  During our lives in this world, hope is a precious commodity, something that can give us strength even in the weakest hours.  We hope for a better life.  We hope for a better marriage, a better family, a better life situation, a better future.  If those hopes come crashing down, we mourn and weep because we have lost the thing that keeps us going.

Yet, there is a place where hope ends, but all things actually are better afterward.  That is the place and time when Jesus reappears in this world.  For those who have put their flickering trust in Him as their Redeemer and Salvation, hope ends, and gives way to reality.  A new creation, in the world that He kills and burns and then makes new.  Hope ends in the furnace of His judgment and His glorious presence, but for those who have cried out to Him, that ending actually leads to something better than before.  It leads to a place where we are with Him forever, and where nothing separates us from Him.  It's a place where the messiness, ugliness, and brokenness of this world are gone, and we are introduced to a place where none of that will ever have any effect on us again.

The place where hope ends starts with Jesus' cross, because there we see the price that is demanded.  The place where hope ends starts, for us personally, when we are touched by the water and God's Word, where God kills, but God also makes alive.  The place where hope ends, for us all, is that moment when God the Father declares that it is time and sends forth His only Son to be Judge and Redeemer, eventually to turn all things over to the Father once more.  For those who are sealed to Jesus through grace, through baptism, and through His Word, hope ends, but it actually ends to an improvement far beyond what we could ever hope for.

Book Review: Night Driving, by Chad Bird

In our day and age, many people who write about their personal journeys do so either to excuse their actions, to explain why they did what they did with an eye toward gaining more understanding for their actions, or simply to show that what they did wasn't really all that wrong.  There is none of this in Chad Bird's "Night Driving".  Even as Chad takes the reader through his personal journey, he utilizes his story to focus on someone else's story, that of our God who reveals Himself in Jesus, the Christ, who redeems lost, broken, fallen, sinful people.

Throughout his story, Chad presents his story in a way, not to gain sympathy for himself, but to show how God can truly reach into the darkest places of our broken, sinful lives, and redeem us.  His story then serves as a springboard to share so much of the message of good news in God's redemption through Jesus, and truly points to the vital role and importance of God's grace, an element of God which is sorely missing in many Christian circles today.  The scandal of grace is the very point which seems to drive Chad to write his story, linking it always back to the unfathomable grace that God has shown to His people.

Personally, there are many parts of Chad's story that resonate deeply with me.  As another Texas born and bred boy, I have followed some of the same steps.  Study at a seminary, serving in a congregation as a pastor.  I have even shared some of the goals of one day teaching and molding minds, though I came to a realization that such an outcome simply was not reasonable for me.  And while they may be different, the seductive whispers to fall away resonate strongly, and cannot be ignored.  I believe one powerful aspect of Chad sharing this story is to promote a much more open discussion and forum for talking about such things and looking for strength and support in them, rather than pridefully presenting ourselves as though we are unaffected.

Another aspect of Chad's book that would call for specific attention is how God's people react to those who are revealed as sinful among them.  As he quotes from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, it's truly saddening that we act so surprised when we realize that a true, honest to God sinner lives among us.  His story shows us that the Church's reaction to fall back on the law often brings so much more harm to a soul that is already hurting and in need of grace.  The need for grace to infiltrate throughout the Church, and especially when we realize that there really are darkly sinful people among us, is a loud call to which we would be wise to listen.

If you are looking for a story that will ultimately make you feel good about yourself, this is not the story for you.  However, if you are looking for a story that shows that God does indeed bring redemption, even into the darkest, lowest of places, then this is the story for you.  In fact, in reality this is the story of every single on of us.  Few of us are bold enough to share it with anyone who would read, much less let our story point to God's great Redeemer, our Lord Jesus.  For this, I cannot recommend "Night Driving" highly enough.

Book Review: The Myth of the Millenial

Recently I obtained a copy of "The Myth of the Millenial", by Theodore and Chelsey Doering, church planters outside of Austin, Texas.  As millenials themselves, they take a look at what is often though of millenials by other generations, and then dive into why so many of those generalizations and stereotypes may be true, as well as how these stereotypes are often found in other generations.  They also then bring very helpful suggestions in how these different generations can lovingly deal with one another, especially with the Gospel message being at the heart of what needs to be communicated.

Essentially, I would summarize what the Doerings say in just a couple of phrases.  The first phrase would be to "respectfully listen."  Listen to hear what the other person is saying, whether Millenial, Gen-X-er, Boomer, or others.  Listen, not to make your next point, but to hear what they are saying.  Listen, but as you listen, listen respectfully.  Don't automatically negate what they say by responding with stereotypes.  Show respect that they have lived their life, and that life has created questions and experiences that have impacted who they are, what their struggles are, and how the Gospel message can impact them.

The other phrase that I would use to summarize the book would be "apprenticeship", or "be a mentor."  Yes, that phrase can go both ways, as we never get too old to keep learning.  There are many things that the older generations can pass along to the younger, but it proves largely beneficial to do so in the context of a developing relationship.  Starting out by simply making efforts to get to know one another is a huge step toward being able to pass along what you have learned.  Also, as part of that, be willing to learn from what the younger generations have learned, from their experiences.  They also have much that they have done and experienced that can be of benefit to the older generations.  Ted and Chelsey bring these points out repeatedly throughout the book.

Overall, one of my best takeaways from the book is to have an intentional focus on developing relationships, no matter what generation.  This is just as important for older generations as it is for younger generations.  It is in the context of relationships that deep, meaningful conversations can take place.  We often place a higher priority on what people say to us when they have taken the effort to get to know us better.  We are often more able to hear the hard truths that they bring when we know they care about us, and want to maintain the relationship, and are looking out for our good.  The beginning of that relationship is often accomplished through respectful listening, which can lead to being a mentor to each other.  All in service to our Lord Jesus, and His message of good news.

I recommend this book highly, especially if you have a desire to connect with other generations, especially those younger than you.

Christian Formation: The Sunday Formation

Throughout the Bible, there are times when God's people gather together. In practically all of these instances, the people hear from God and what He says with the expectation that they are formed by what they hear. This gathering continues now on this side of the cross and resurrection.

Sundays are, for many, the designated day of worship. We come together with others of God's people to hear of His forgiveness in Jesus, as well as what it means to be His people. We are formed by what we hear, especially as we work it into our daily lives. When we hear we are forgiven, and then practice forgiving others, we are formed. When we hear that God says certain things are either to be about or done, and then we attempt to do so daily, we are formed.

The Sunday gathering, or to use the more accepted word, worship, is a strong formational place. We are worked on by God. We are sharpened by each other. Our songs and praises form us, as do our conversations and interactions. We hear God's word, and His Spirit works in us. We are renewed as a new creation, and that new creation seeks God's directing.

This week we focus on the formation that takes place in worship. I pray that you grow in appreciating the formation that takes place when we Christians gather.

Christian formation: Baptism part Four

Formational events in life are ones that impact who we are and help determine how we live our lives. Sometimes these are significant, one-time events that change something about us. Others are not single events, but rather a series of things or people that slowly shape our lives. Yet others are people who work in our lives, who encourage us to improve, or who lovingly point out areas where we can grow.

In Baptism, we are introduced into a whole community of people that share much in common. In fact, when we are baptized as children, the whole community into which we are introduced takes on the responsibility of shaping us in the image of Christ. They do so by sharing the story of God with us, by pointing us to God's action throughout history, and especially by pointing us to God's great saving work in Jesus, the cross, and the resurrection.

We are formed in our interactions with God's people. In the Proverbs it says that, as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. We are formed by the presence of other Christians in our lives. That is why it is so vitally important to be with other Christians, and to be grown by those further along the faith road.

We are formed by our fellow Christians, and they are also formed by us. While our Christian faith is intensely personal, it is also pervasively communal. Without others, our formation suffers. With others, we are formed and grow. Painfully at times, yes, but those painful times often form us the most.

Christian formation in Baptism, part three

As I continue this series on Christian formation in Baptism, today we look at something vitally important; the gifts in Baptism. Gifts are something that we understand. We like those occasions when we receive gifts. Birthdays, Easter, Christmas, Mother's day, Father's day, and the like are special because we are often given gifts to celebrate.

Now, to start this, I want to say something quickly about gifts. Gifts are given freely to us from another. A true gift carries no obligation on the part of the recipient. If you get a gift, but you sense that the other person expects something in return, they haven't given a gift, but an obligation.

In Acts 2:37-40, Peter speaks of two great gifts that come through Baptism. These two are the forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit's presence. In Baptism, God gives these as gifts. They were yours when the water and God's name combined on you. God gives them freely, because He sees you then just as He sees Jesus.

That has much to do with your Christian formation. When you come to know that God gives you such costly things, but that He gives them freely to you, you are formed. Think about how you are formed in a relationship, say, when a husband gives his wife an unexpected gift, such as flowers. The depth of relationship grows. The attachment increases. The one receiving sees a glimpse of the other's care. Such things form us in deep ways.

Likewise, God's gifts in Baptism form you. That's why it is so sad when Baptism gets seen as something we do for Good. Then we lose our on seeing how much we matter to Him. We lose out on the gifts that show the depth of that care. We fail to see ourselves as the apple of His eye, but instead see ourselves as proving ourselves to Him. Those are two far different things.  And each forms us differently.

For now, know this. The gifts God gave you in your Baptism form you as you see his great care for you. Being cared for in such a significant way forms you. I hope that you continue to be formed as those gifts are renewed in you each day by God's promise.

Christian Formation, Baptism Part 2

So yesterday we started taking a look at the beginning point of Christian formation in the lives of people, the action of God on us we call Baptism.  We mentioned yesterday that this action brings us into relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit, according to the words of Jesus.

Yet, that is not all that happens in this action.  One thing we also find is that it not only brings us into connection and relationship with God, but it also connects us with God's greatest work on our behalf, the saving work of Jesus in His death and resurrection.  Writing about this to a group of Christians in Rome, St. Paul would write that when we were baptized into Jesus, we were baptized into His death.  Okay, so what does that mean?  It means that, when we were baptized, everything that happened to Jesus has, in essence, happened to us.  Jesus died bearing our sins, and so, when we were baptized, it is as though the same thing has happened to us.  Who we are as a fallen creature died with Jesus.  Everything wrong and broken (the Bible word is sinful) died, and as a result, it no longer haunts us.

However, there is even more than that.  We were baptized into Jesus' death.  But Jesus didn't stay dead.  He rose back to life, raised by the Father, reclaiming His own life that He had lain down.  The amazing thing is, through Baptism, we are also connected to that resurrection.  A few verses later Paul would write "just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."  (Romans 6:1-14 at work here)  With Jesus raised from the dead, we also have a new life, a life connected to His perfect, eternal life lived in perfect harmony with the Father.

So that's the theological background, but now you ask, "What does this have to do with Christian formation?"  Well, everything, but that's hardly the answer you were probably looking for.  So we'll focus on a couple of things in particular.

In Baptism, you died with Jesus.  As part of your formation as a Christian, that also means that all those wrong things (Bible word: sin) that you have done that you feel sorry about (Bible word: contrition) have died and no longer have any impact on you.  Imagine, for a moment, that you could live as though you hadn't done those, that those things would no longer be held against you.  That friendship you betrayed, well, it's forgiven and over with.  Those unfortunate words that slipped out of your mouth that really hurt another person, forgiven and over with, not held against you.  Just imagine the new life that you could have with all those things forgiven, with you being able to live as though they weren't held against you.

That's formational in your life!  You essentially get a new life when that happens. And wouldn't you know it, that's one part of the new life that is yours in Jesus because you are also connected to His resurrection.  Now you can have a bold, daring confidence in living according to God's design and will because you know you have that new life in Jesus.  That gives meaning.  That gives fulfillment.  That gives purpose.  And that gives you something to form your life around.  Yes, Baptism truly is a part of our Christian formation, as we will hear more tomorrow.

The Beginning of Christian Formation

For many, the beginning of their Christian formation took place before they were even aware of what was going on.  It began with an event that is spoken very highly of throughout the New Testament, one that continues to be one of the ways that God does His work into the lives of those whom He would claim as His own.  It's an event that takes place when water (in whatever quantity, and applied in whatever way) touches a person at the same time as the name of God is spoken upon the person.  This washing of water with God's name is called simply Baptism.

There is a lot that happens in this simple action, though what it is really doesn't seem readily understood by many Christians, and even more seem to take these great and amazing things for granted.  How do we discover what all happens here?  Well, we simply go to the Bible, to God's Word, to hear what He has to say about it.  And as we dive into those gifts that God gives in Baptism, we also see that this action is the beginning of our Christian formation.

Now, to go into all these details, we'll take a couple of posts, at least, to get through them all.  For example, the very first thing we start off with.  It is where Jesus speaks about His desire to have people of all nations baptized, that most familiar of Bible references in Matthew 28:16-20.  Most translations say that Jesus says to baptize them "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  Not to get all Greeky on you, but it's perhaps better to translate the first word of those quotes as "into" rather than "in". 

What big difference does that make, you ask, and how does that impact Christian formation?  Well, rather than just simply having some name spoken over you when you are baptized, "into" actually carries the deeper meaning of you being brought into an intimate connection with the Father, Son, and Spirit.  Your Christian formation begins when you are brought into that intimate connection with God in His full essence.  And notice that this isn't something that you do.  This is God bringing you into Himself as the water and His name are spoken on you. 

When you are brought into that relationship with God, your Christian formation begins.  There is more to this action than what we have covered today, and we'll dive a bit more into it tomorrow.  But this truly does point us to the place where our Christian formation begins: when we are brought into our God, who created us, redeemed us, and sustains us.

New Day, New Theme

I'm a bit ashamed to admit that I haven't posted an entry since last December.  While many things have happened since then that have contributed to my absence, it's all on my shoulders.  However, I do plan on starting to re-kick things off yet again.

One brief update for those who may not personally have a lot of connections with me.  I have recently moved, from the Atlanta, Georgia area to St. Louis, MO.  Instead of working in a congregation, I now work at an institution of higher learning, a post that I began early in June.  The actual call was extended in February, and my family and I prayed and deliberated on it for some time, until I announced that I was accepting the call on April 2.  At that point, we started the challenge of wrapping things up in the congregation in Georgia, getting the house ready for our stuff to move and for the house to sell, finding a place to land in Missouri, and figuring out what the new position would have me doing.  It's been an interesting journey.

However, rather than looking for your empathy at all that, I actually want to focus on something else for a while.  My new position is one which has a focus on formation.  One of the things that drew me to this position was that I am part of the process of finding where God's Spirit is at work in the lives of men and women, preparing them for ministry.  That was and is very attractive to me.

A large part of my background, studies, and interests are in the formation of God's people as Christians, and how we can take that from the cradle to the grave, creating life-long Christians who hold firmly to God's good news.  Formation is something that has great interest to me, and something that I want to see done in the lives of God's people.  I want to see God's people, baptized into Christ Jesus, brought all the way to the fulfillment of their hope, their eternal life that God gives through Jesus when they cross the doorway of death and receive new life in Jesus.  I want to see God's people continue to grow and challenge themselves in living out God's will and design in their lives, not merely when it is convenient, but at all points in their lives.

To that end, don't be surprised that much of what you will start seeing here will deal with Christian formation.  It's something that starts the moment God's Word and the water touch our heads and hearts, and only ends when Jesus calls us to our eternal inheritance.  Our whole life in between is one of being formed in the image of Christ Jesus, who loved us and gave Himself for us.  So you will see a lot of thoughts on what this looks like, what God is doing, how it gets played out in our lives, and other such random thoughts and pieces along the way.  As always, if you have questions, feel free to make use of the comments section, which I plan to be more active in engaging as we go forward.

In Christ,
Scott