Memorial Day Reflections

On Memorial Day we honor those who have served our nation, those who have given of themselves, sacrificing their time, their careers, and their families to stand in the gap to defend our freedom.  It is a day for thanking those veterans who have lived among us, those who were discharged from the service with honor and distinction.  I remember three of my now-deceased grandfathers, George Reuss (Marine, Pacific Theater, WWII), James Bantz (Medic, WWII and Korea), and David Meier (Army, European Theater, WWII).  They experienced something akin to hell on earth and lived with those horrific memories the rest of their lives.  I also recognize the veterans I know at Peace Lutheran Church: Jon Tangen, Phil Sorom, Paul Spafford, and Aaron Szuberski.

Memorial Day is a day for thanking those who currently serve in our military. I personally thank Pastor Bill Tesch (currently chaplain in Kyrgyzstan), Joe Urquhart (who just returned to Germany from a tour in Afghanistan), Tanya Reiman (currently in the reserves, previously serving a tour in Iraq) for their service.

Memorial Day is also a day to remember those who do not live among us…those who now rest in graves throughout our world…those whose service ended with a bullet…or grenade...a mortar…a roadside bomb...or other tragic end.  These did not serve for a few years and move on in life.  They sacrificed everything for the cause of freedom.  They left behind wives and husbands, children and neighbors and friends.  Today, we honor them and vow to remember what they have done.  I personally remember my grandfather Charles Dodd, killed in France on October 31, 1944.  My mother hadn’t been born at the time of his death.

War is inherently evil.  It serves to kill and destroy.  Unfortunately, at times war is necessary.  It is never something to enter into lightly, for the effects are long lasting.

A prayer from the United Church of Christ is quite appropriate:

Gracious God, on this Memorial Day weekend, we remember and give thanks for those who have given their lives in the service of our country. When the need was greatest, they stepped forward and did their duty to defend the freedoms that we enjoy, and to win the same for others. O God, you yourself have taught us that no love is greater than that which gives itself for another. These honored dead gave the most precious gift they had, life itself, for loved ones and neighbors, for comrades and country – and for us. Help us to honor their memory by caring for the family members they have left behind, by ensuring that their wounded comrades are properly cared for, by being watchful caretakers of the freedoms for which they gave their lives, and by demanding that no other young men and women follow them to a soldier’s grave unless the reason is worthy and the cause is just. Holy One, help us to remember that freedom is not free. There are times when its cost is, indeed, dear. Never let us forget those who paid so terrible a price to ensure that freedom would be our legacy. Though their names may fade with the passing of generations, may we never forget what they have done. Help us to be worthy of their sacrifice, O God, help us to be worthy. Amen

Isn't it great that God agrees with me?

“If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor.” Voltaire

Last week I attended a pastor’s lunch with evangelical speaker Tony Campolo which really got me thinking.  When we think of God, do we proclaim a God who likes what we like and hates what we hate?  When we worship God, are we really worshipping … ourselves? 

Of course we claim to worship Jesus Christ!  We proclaim the basics: Jesus died for our sins, we do not earn our way to God, God loves God’s people.   Do we add layers to all that, worshipping the ‘version’ of Jesus that fits with our worldview?

If I’m on the political right, do I worship a Jesus who focuses on personal responsibility and moral action? Do I gravitate to Scripture passages that talk about discipleship and consequences for our actions? 

If I’m on the political left, do I worship a Jesus who focuses on loving the neighbor?  Do I gravitate to Scripture passages that talk about caring for the poor, the widow, and the orphan? 

If I live in a wealthy nation, do I worship a Jesus who wants His followers to be happy and successful?  Do I gravitate to Scripture passages that talk about God blessing faithful people?

If I live in poverty in a Third World country, do I worship a Jesus who fights against oppression and who cares specially for the poor?  Do I gravitate to Scripture passages that talk about God’s wrath against those who oppress? 

Do we use the Bible to create the God that we want?  It’s easy to say, “The Bible says this,” and then pick out some verses here or there that fit with what we want to believe.  We attack anyone who thinks differently than we do.  We KNOW that we worship the correct God because God agrees with US.

What happens when we stop picking and choosing verses (often verses that people we agree with tell us to look up)?  If you can read the Bible and not get REALLY uncomfortable with the way that God is portrayed, you’re not reading the Bible!  God doesn’t fit into our little boxes.  God is not limited to liking what we like and hating what we hate.

How do we open ourselves to hearing God speak in ways that make us uncomfortable?  How do we let God…be God?

Seriously? Another 'end of the world' prediction? Come on!

THE END OF THE WORLD IS ALMOST HERE!

HOLY GOD WILL BRING JUDGMENT DAY ON MAY 21, 2011

(Harold Camping, Family Radio Ministries)

Dear Mr. Camping,

For centuries people have tried to predict the date that Jesus will come again.  People assumed it would be in the year 1000.  All through the Middle Ages people ‘knew’ the day and the hour.  It seems that every year the news media picks up on another prediction.  You will probably notice that all of these previous statements that the world would end have one thing in common: they were all wrong.  The last I looked in the mirror, I’m still here.

You claim that “The Bible gives us the correct and accurate information about that Day,” May 21, 2011.  I’ve read your rationale as to how the Bible ‘clearly’ sets that as a date, but I have to admit you lost me.  It seems to me that you picked the date out of thin air, though I admit that May 21 has a nice ring to it.

In 1994 you made a lot of news by telling the world that it would end that September, but apparently you simply made a mathematical error in your calculations.  You KNOW that May 21, 2011 is the date this time.

Never mind that Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone” (Matthew 24:36).  Apparently you know more than Jesus, which I find quite fascinating.

To be honest, Mr. Camping, it’s not your bizarre predictions that frustrate me the most.  I take issue with your perception of the Jesus that comes to judge.  He sounds pretty angry to me!  You claim that we “learn from the Bible that Holy God plans to rescue about 200 million people (that is about 3% of today’s population).”  I’ve read the Bible for years and haven’t seen anything regarding those numbers.  If only that many people will make it, the implication is that I need to get to work and make sure that I’m worthy to be counted in that number.   It sounds like it’s all about me and the faith that I can muster up in myself.  (as an aside…if only 200 million people will get saved, why do you bother letting people know about it?  What if you convince 200 million people that you’re right?  Might they be more ‘holy’ than you, leaving you on the outside looking in?)

Mr. Camping, this is where I find your predictions the most off base.  You proclaim a Jesus who is ready to kick butt and take names.  You talk over and over about ‘worthiness’ and ‘being ready.’  The last time I read my Bible (and yes, I read it too), I encountered a Jesus who was willing to die for people’s sins.  I found a Lord who sought people out and loved them as they were.  Yes, Jesus calls people to repent.  Yes, people who encounter the Risen Christ have changed lives.  I get that.  You focus on us and how good we can be.  The Bible focuses on God and how gracious God can be.

Your fear-mongering predictions do more to drive people from the faith than to call them to it.  You talk of Jesus’ coming as a day of terror.  Might we instead see it as a day when the one who has forgiven us will come and call us home?   That’s the Biblical approach I take!

I’m sorry, Mr. Camping, but I have plans for May 22^nd.  The judgment will not come on May 21.  I’ll work to proclaim a God of forgiveness and hope in the midst of your proclamations of terror and fear.

I look forward to hearing from you next week.  Perhaps you will have had another mathematical error?

Sincerely,

Pastor Pete

Not the same...and that's OK!

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)

There’s nothing like variety to keep things interesting!

Last Friday and Saturday I joined with Curt Olson, Davina Knuth-Sorom, and Sara Knuth (FYI, her name does NOT end in an ‘H’!) at our Synod Assembly** in Rochester.  We spent two days with over 500 other Lutherans from southeastern Minnesota (and around the world).  As we met, I marveled at the wonderful diversity in the body of Christ!

We joined with people from large, urban churches … and small, rural churches.  We talked to people who preferred worshipping with organs … and people who prefer guitars and drums.  I saw pastors who are comfortable wearing full robes and stoles for worship … and pastors who are comfortable in jeans.  We chatted with people passionate about caring for the poor… and people passionate about proclaiming Jesus to people with no church homes.  We heard from people from Sudan … Norway … Tanzania … Colombia … and even a man from Guyana!  There were moments that were quite serious … and moments that were very light hearted and goofy (guess which ones I was in charge of!). 

We do not live a cookie-cutter faith.  The Assembly brought together people who live out their lives faith in a wide variety of ways.  God doesn’t make all people exactly the same, so why should God make all churches exactly the same?

It can be tempting to see the world only through our own eyes.  Sometimes we assume that everyone should think like we do.  If something is good for us, then it must be good for everyone.  That’s not the case!  God has created us with different passions, different abilities, different interests, and different preferences.   

Our Lutheran heritage proclaims this.  One of our basic Lutheran documents (the Augsburg Confession) proclaims:

For it is sufficient for the true unity of the Christian church that the Gospel be preached in conformity with a pure understanding of it and that the sacraments be administered in accordance with the divine Word.

I thank God for the amazing diversity of our church.  I am a part, not just of a congregation in Eyota, but of a wide body of believers with a wide range of styles.  I long for the day when Christians can celebrate that diversity without demanding that others do things the ‘right’ way. 

**What is a Synod?  It’s a fancy word that means “A bunch of churches together.”   I have no idea why we use such odd words…I guess we prefer ‘churchy’ words because they sound impressive!  A Synod Assembly is an annual meeting of all the churches in the synod (in this case, the Southeastern Minnesota Synod).

Osama bin Laden's Death

Late Monday night I joined much of the rest of the world in hearing the shocking news: Osama bin Laden was dead.  That news brought a wide variety of responses.

Crowds gathered in New York City to celebrate.  People proclaimed that justice had been served.  Some voices were disappointed that bin Laden had been buried at sea with dignity (since many 9/11 victims did not get a proper burial).  I heard voices angry that he had not been captured alive and brought to trial.  Other people insisted that bin Laden had died in 2001 (or 2002) and this was all just one vast conspiracy.

Amid all those responses, I simply felt a sense of relief.  The man behind so many terrorist acts would not plan another. 

I cannot bring myself to join in the celebration.  As a man of faith, I will not rejoice in the death of any man or woman.  Jesus ministry consisted of love and forgiveness, not of death and getting even.   As Jesus proclaimed,

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹ If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.”  Luke 6:27-28

In our broken and sinful world, there are times when we are forced to make hard choices.  We like for the world to be black and white, good and evil.  The reality is that the world is much more complex.  There are times when we are forced to choose between two very bad options.  In such cases we work to choose the one that is ‘less bad.’ 

It’s like a woman who faces abuse from her husband.  The Bible is clear that divorce is wrong and hurtful.  Forcing the woman to stay in the relationship and continue to face the abuse is wrong and hurtful.  This isn’t a choice between good and evil.  It’s a choice between two very bad options.  Either choice will bring pain.  Most would agree that divorce is the better of the two bad options in this case.

For me, bin Laden’s death falls into this same category.  The God who created each and every one of us does not rejoice in death.  We proclaim that the Holy Spirit seeks ALL people (even people who have done as many evil things as bin Laden), working to bring them to faith.  Killing is never ‘good.’ 

On the other hand, bin Laden continued to work to plan death and destruction.  I believe that his death will keep many innocent people alive.   We will never achieve ‘victory’ over terrorists as long as there are people in this world filled with hate, but in the death of bin Laden one of the leaders of the movement has been removed from power.  I pray that the movement will lose some steam without him.

Faced with a choice between the death of bin Laden and the future deaths of many people due to bin Laden’s planning, I have to agree with many that his death will save lives.  I do not rejoice that we have ‘gotten even.’  I do not celebrate that one of God’s creations lies dead on the bottom of the ocean.  Hard choices had to be made. 

I now do what I’ve been doing for the past 10 years.  I continue to pray for peace.