Image by thriol via Flickr

Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

For some reason, people often think of faith and reason being contradictory, that somehow, when you become a Christian, you must check your brain at the door. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our reason is a gift from God, and He calls us to use that reason to His glory.

In order to do so, we go to Holy Scripture in faith, knowing God is the truth, and His Word is the truth by which all other truths are judged. As we read Scripture, we use our reason to understand it and interpret it, seeing how it fit not only into the lives of its immediate historical audience, but our lives today. We look to see the life of Christ, how God prepared the people for His coming and prophesied about Him that we may recognize Him, and how He still comes to us today.

But we can approach Scripture in two ways, and yes, there’s a right and wrong way to do so.

The “Majesterial Use of Reason” places human intellect above and beyond God’s knowledge and wisdom. Man’s knowledge, based on our limited experience and only what we can detect with our impaired senses, is considered the truth by which we judge the Bible. If something in the Bible doesn’t fit with our understanding of reality (or it makes us uncomfortable), we reject or change it. Of course, placing human reason above God’s not only reflects incredible hubris, it mirrors the words of Satan to Eve: “Did God really say…?”

With the “Ministerial Use of Reason,” reason becomes a minister, or servant, to the Word. The Word directs and guides us. We set aside our presuppositions and expectations and let God speak to us. If we understand a passage in such a way that conflicts with another passage of Scripture, we know we’ve misunderstood it and need to read it again, as God knows all things and cannot lie. But still, we use our reason and look out into His creation, see what we find there, and see the hand of the Creator and the beautiful work He has accomplished.

Ultimately, His Word points us to our sin and the price Jesus paid to free us from it on the cross. He assures us that we can rest firmly in the knowledge that He has created all things, sustains all things, and has redeemed humanity with the death of Christ, followed with the promise of eternal life.

May our Lord keep you in the one true faith to eternal life and bless you with ability to see His work and point it out to others that they too may praise Him for His excellent work.

Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

This week, we celebrate St. Valentine’s Day, although the “Saint” in the name is usually dropped. We see images of hearts, red and pink decorations, and depictions of Cupid, the Roman god of physical attraction. But what’s with that name?

According to Wikipedia:

The first representation of Saint Valentine appeared in the Nuremberg Chronicle, (1493); alongside the woodcut portrait of Valentine the text states that he was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II, known as Claudius Gothicus. He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome. Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner — until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor — whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn’t finish him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273.[

So we see the connection with marriage, although much of the activity associated today with St. Valentine’s Day would appall St. Valentine, making a mockery of marriage, and the fact that a Roman god is used to celebrate the day when Rome killed St. Valentine leaves a sour taste in my mouth that candy hearts won’t fix.

That said, in marriage, we see the relationship between a man and a woman being a lesser sampling of the love of Jesus for His bride, the church (all Christians everywhere). (Ephesians 5:22-33)

According to legend, while in prison, Valentine wrote to the Christians to encourage them, and at the end of his letters, he’d sign them, “Your Valentine,” and some believe this marks the source of sending cards and letters on that day.

Regardless of the truth of the legend, as we celebrate God’s love as shown through the life of Valentine and other martyrs, we find a greater love than that offered by the card and candy stores. God has given us His Son and has shown us the greatest love. (John 15:12-13)

So as you celebrate, whether married, single, or somewhere in between, know that St. Valentine’s Day is for all people, a day to celebrate true love, the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

Image via Wikipedia

Earlier this week, a man scammed several churches in Akron by sending fake utility bills to them. When reported on TV, the reporter commented that the churches must now choose between justice and forgiveness.

But that reporter didn’t understand that churches (and Christians in general) need not draw this distinction and can (and should) choose both.

We live in two kingdoms at the same time. God’s Kingdom of Power, also known as “The Kingdom of the Left,” includes lawful government. Government is called on to carry out justice for the benefit of its citizens. This means punishing criminals to deter crime and protect the law-abiding citizens. The government’s job is to see to it that people get what they legally deserve.

But the church is God’s Kingdom of Grace, or “Kingdom of the Left.” The church’s job is to forgive, to love, and to share God’s undeserved love. We support the lawful government and let it do its job, and at the same time, we love even those who seek to do us harm.

How does this play out in real life?

While the churches need to press charges, they also need, in whatever way they choose, to say, “We believe that you need to face justice and learn to avoid that sin in the future, but Jesus died for your sins, too.” If the man is jailed, members or the pastor should visit him in jail if allowed. They should invite him to attend their services or other events and go out of their way to get to know him and make him feel loved. Let him know that, yes, sin is serious business, but God forgives.

But this applies to our lives, too. Who has wronged you recently? Is this something that you’re in a position that you should correct it somehow? More importantly, how can you reach out to that person in love and forgiveness the way God has reached out in love and forgiveness to you through Jesus? We tend to care more about the justice end of the equation, but even justice, in our personal lives, must be loving. But thank God that He has not only modeled that love to us, but given it to us in forgiveness through His Son!

Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

Last month, I challenged all of you to intentionally seek out those in your life who are not connected with a church. I’ve seen some of that happen already, which I find encouraging, and I look forward to meeting more of your friends and neighbors.

But a life of discipleship goes beyond Sunday morning (or Wednesday evening). Remembering the Sabbath means remembering Christ, our Sabbath rest, Who brings our worries and cares to an end and gives comfort and peace every day.

What does that look like? In many ways, it’s a matter of living out your vocations: doing your job to the best of your ability with the knowledge that you do that job to glorify God, loving your spouse with the same love Christ and His church share, loving and teaching your children (no matter how old) about our loving Savior by telling them about and showing forgiveness to them.

It also means being in the Word and prayer every day. Set aside time each day for prayer. For different people, that can mean different things. Maybe for you, the best time is right before bedtime or when you get up in the morning. Maybe it would work best for you to pray before supper, but instead of “Come, Lord Jesus,” take a couple minutes to give each person in the family to pray together about whatever is on the mind and end with a prayer thanking God for providing food. (Parents, this will also help you know what’s on your kids’ minds.)

I’d also like to see everyone involved in at least one group Bible study each week. If none of the studies we offer on Sunday morning or evening work for you, talk to some friends, whether from Shepherd of the Ridge or other Christians, and find a time you can get together with them each week for a round table-style Bible study, where each person reads a verse or paragraph and offers a thought about how that passage applies to your life. Another impromptu method of study is to work through a book of the Bible, asking how each passage relates to God’s plan of salvation. Think of it as a group getting together each week to solve a mystery, and work together to unlock that from the passage.

If you’ve gotten this far and said, “None of that will work for me,” then this is your chance to get creative. Don’t give up! Maybe you have coworkers who’d like to share a devotion during your lunch break. Maybe you have Facebook friends who’d like to discuss a passage on your “wall” each day. If you have friends or relatives you call regularly on the phone, suggest doing a phone study with them!

What other suggestions do you have? Leave a comment below!

Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

I just got this note from Lutheran Church Charities. If you’re looking for a way to help, here’s your chance.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat… The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Matthew 25:35, 40)

As you are aware, yesterday afternoon Haiti was hit with the worst earthquake in 200 years. Most of the capitol city, Port-au-Prince, has been destroyed.  In addition, there have been over 30 aftershocks, which makes the situation even more dire.  Having been to Haiti numerous times, I know that Haiti is always in dire circumstances without a disaster!  But disasters such as this allow the Christian Church to show the Compassion and Mercy of Christ to those who do not know Him (over half the population in Haiti practices Voodoo).

Some of the ministries that Lutheran Church Charities works with in Haiti are all right since they are not located in the Port-au-Prince area.  Pastor Isaac and his orphanage are safe.  However, they will be indirectly affected since Port-au-Prince is the key hub for Haiti.

Haiti, The Poorest Nation in the Western Hemisphere

Few countries are as vulnerable to natural disaster as Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere. Wracked by political instability and poverty, and hammered by a series of hurricanes in 2008, Haiti faces a tough recovery ahead.  Poor communications are making it difficult to immediately assess the extent of the damage and fatalities, but as daylight comes, the scale of the quake’s destruction is slowly coming into focus.

International Red Cross spokesman Paul Conneally said an estimated 3 million people (one third of Haiti’s population) may have been affected by the quake and that it would take a day or two for a clear picture of scope of the destruction to emerge.

I have been in communication directly or indirectly with those in Haiti and with the Lutheran and Christian ministries that LCC works with. I have also been in contact with ministries in the United States such as LCMS World Relief and Human Care (Rev. Glenn Merritt) to find out what their immediate needs are.

We have a mission group scheduled to leave for Haiti on March 11th, headed by Susan Gross at Christ Orland Park and other congregations.  We will be able to send relief efforts over with them.

The Immediate Need And How You Can Help

Given that Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere – food is ALWAYS a need.  With four out of five people living in poverty and more than half in abject poverty, any financial assistance to help with food and water is desperately needed at this point.

Lutheran Church Charities has a program called “Feed The Invisible Guest” based on Matthew 25, where for .50 a day a child can be fed.  You can contribute to the “Feed The Invisible Guest” fund here.

Make A Difference!

Having spent time in Haiti over the years, I can testify to the great need there, even before the earthquake.  With the earthquake hitting Port-au-Prince the whole country will be affected as Port-au-Prince is the main hub.

LCC always guarantees that every dollar given goes directly for its intended purpose with NO administration charges taken out. We will work through the Lutheran Church in Haiti for the distribution of the food.

Thank you for your compassion and help!

Serving Together, Serving Christ, so we can serve others IN HIS NAME,

Tim Hetzner

See our web site for the most current updates.

Web site: www.lutheranchurchcharities.org
phone: 866-455-6466

Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

First off, let me throw some statistics at you. According to a recent survey, as many as 96% of “unchurched” people are at least somewhat likely to attend a church service if invited by someone with whom they have an established relationship, a friend, coworker, etc. At the same time, only 21% of active church-goers invite anyone to church over the course of a year. In addition, 70% of the unchurched say nobody has ever invited them! And one more statistic from that study: “For the vast majority of the unchurched, the church is still relevant today. Indeed many of them perceive the church to be the most relevant institution in society today.”

Now, let’s do a little math. Our average Sunday attendance is right around 90 and has been for at least the past 10 years. I bet all of you, if you think about it, could think of at least three friends or coworkers, probably more, who don’t attend a Christian church on a regular basis. Some of those, should they accept your invitation, will bring spouses or families. So if we shoot low and assume at least 2/3 will accept the invitation and, on average, bring one additional family member (some are single, but some have kids, so it averages out), that’s 90 x 2/3 x 2 = 120 visitors per year in addition to those who find the church through other means. If half of those friends are willing to come more than once (Don’t stop with the once!), that’s 160 per year. In short, that means we should see, at the very least, an average attendance spike of 3+ visitors per week. Even at that bare minimum rate, we’ll be up to an average attendance of 130 in just 10 years, and that’s not counting any other evangelism programs we implement during that time.

All that said, I firmly believe that many of you have more than 3 unchurched friends. On any given week, about 10% of the town attends a service somewhere. That means that, of your 10 closest friends, 9 are home on Sunday morning, waiting for you to invite them.

So here’s what I’d like everyone, young and old, adult or child, to do:

• Make a list of all your friends and coworkers with whom you have a personal relationship.
• Cross off anyone that you know attends a Christian church regularly.
• Who’s left? See if you can come up with twelve separate households.
• Write their names on a calendar, one per month. If you have less than 12, just fill in the first part of the year until you run out. Maybe God will provide someone else to be added to the end of the year.
• Each month, make a point of inviting that person. Offer to drive. Kids, ask your parents about having a Saturday night sleepover, then bring your friend to church and Sunday School the next day.

The Fine Print

• Following this will not make you a better Christian. It will not make God love you more. (He couldn’t possibly love you more than He already does.)
• This is not about numbers. In fact, if your friend is a member of a Christian church but just doesn’t attend, if you think they’d be more willing, offer to go to their church with them! This is about bringing people to hear the Gospel so the Holy Spirit can give faith and eternal life to your friend.
• You cannot do anything to create faith in your friend. Only the Holy Spirit does that, but He works through the Gospel, so your job is simply to bring the soil to the seed and watch God make it grow.
• Make sure to answer any questions about what to wear or anything else. Let them know you’ll sit with them and answer any questions they have. Many people don’t come simply because they’re intimidated and worry that they won’t know what to do, so let them know that we put step-by-step directions in everyone’s hands.
• If your friend isn’t comfortable with a service, keep an eye on the church calendar for picnics, movie nights, Bible studies, or other activities to help them connect with a church community and help them see that these are friendly, fun-loving, non-judgmental people.

God has put us here in the middle of a hurting world, and He has given us the Cure. The more we share it, the more our joy increases. May your year be filled with the joy of a life lived as a forgiven and eternal child of God.

Originally written for Shepherd of the Ridge Lutheran Church, apply these ideas to your local context.

Christmas is almost upon us, but too often, we celebrate God becoming flesh by leaving the malls’ and radios’ music to tell people about Jesus. Yet just today, I heard about a child who doesn’t even know that Christmas has something to do with a baby in a manger. Consider these suggestions to help your friends and family members know why Jesus is the reason for the season.

• Invite them to a Christmas service, and offer to drive.
• Take them to a living nativity. Offer to drive.
• Find other church-sponsored Christmas events: concerts, etc. Offer to drive. (Yes, I’m making a point here.)
• Talk about your favorite Christmas song and why its lyrics speak to you.

What suggestions do you have? Leave a suggestion below.