Bethany and Concordia

In a discussion Tuesday night at Lutheran Family Fellowship, we talked about how the Ten Commandments were given to Israel. I said that I thought Moses was required to write the text of the commandments on the second set of stone tablets, but he wasn’t. God wrote on the second set, just as he wrote the first. The difference was that Moses had to make the second set of tablets himself, while God had provided the first set that Moses broke. So the overall sequence (with some time between steps for other things) was:

1. God spoke the Commandments out of the cloud to the entire assembly of the children of Israel at Mt. Horeb (Exodus 20),

2. God gave Moses the commandments in written form on two stone tablets (Exodus 31:18, 32:15-16), which Moses broke upon seeing the syncretism of Israel (Exodus 32:19),

3. God had Moses make new tablets, and He wrote upon them the same thing as on the first tablets (Exodus 34:1-2, 4, 28-29).

A former professor at Bethany Lutheran College, candidate for Minnesota governor, and long-time member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod has publicly pointed out a strong anti-marriage bias in the health care legislation that’s been so much in the news lately. You can see the news article at WorldNetDaily.

As we prepare to enter the season of Lent for 2010, there is much planning to do in our little parish. We are blessed in many ways, not least in having Vicar Gullixson and his family among us. Lord willing, that will continue at least until June. After their stay with us, we will have to readjust to a parish life without a vicar.

In the meantime, we expect to celebrate the confirmation of some of our Jr. Members at both churches on Palm Sunday. We anticipate joint mid-week Lent services, beginning on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 17) at 6:30 PM, at Bethany, and then alternating weekly between the two churches until Palm Sunday. After Ash Wednesday, we’ll have a “Soup & Sandwich Supper” at 6:20, followed by a Lent service at 7. Candidates for confirmation will have a public examination in those services.

After Easter, everyone is invited to the Emmaus Conference, held at Parkland Lutheran Church in Tacoma. This will be its third year. The Jacobsens are planning to take some vacation time after April 11, while Vicar Gullixson will be here to “watch the shop.”

In May, Bethany is planning to celebrate its 25th year with a special service. We hope that Pastor Frank Fiedler will be able to attend and preach. Well before that happens, Bethany’s narthex project should be finished, so that we can dedicate it to the glory of God, with thanksgiving for His merciful goodness. (At present, the only essential thing remaining is some fine-tuning of the new outer doors.) As the Summer season approaches, we can be thankful again that God provided the means to replace our air conditioner in 2009.

2010 is already a banner year for Concordia, since we have adopted a revised constitution that we can fully uphold in practice. It will be submitted to the synod this year for review. At our annual meeting, we elected office-holders with a one-year term, since our constitution calls for an election in every odd-numbered year. Also, the narthex renovations at Concordia seem nearly complete, with a beautiful, new, level floor and a fine, custom railing made from local materials. Our guests should already find a welcoming, pleasant atmosphere as they enter the building, and we hope to improve it further as we finish the project. Our maintenance budget this year will be reduced somewhat due to an emergency furnace expenditure, but we can be reasonably certain now that the new furnace blower will be reliable.

As we continue our outreach Bible classes in Klickitat, it has become apparent that we should use a basic introduction to the Bible and to our faith. Meanwhile, our members who are more experienced students of the Bible would also benefit from a fresh approach to a more in-depth study of holy scripture. While I intend to continue using the Gottesdienst class as an overview of Christian teaching and worship, I have found a more comprehensive program for presenting the critically-important elements of Bible study. This program not only introduces the Bible to those less familiar, but provides the tools and skills needed for every disciple of Jesus to continue growing in God’s Word. The course covers many topics, from Bible interpretation through parts of the Old Testament, and also the New Testament. Every member of Bethany and Concordia would find it greatly beneficial, from about 10 years old and older. Our challenge will be to arrange it so that our members and guests will be less likely to miss any classes and fall behind. Your advice is welcome.

At the moment, I am considering a schedule where three presentations of the same class session will be held weekly: one at Bethany, one at Concordia, and one at Klickitat. That way, if a student in one place has a schedule conflict, he can plan to attend the same class at one of the other places that week. As long as the church schedule allows it, I would present all classes in each unit, then take a month or two off before the next unit begins. I could begin teaching the first unit (10 lessons) in May. Again, your advice is welcome.

Let us thank God for His many blessings upon us, and pray for His continued providence — especially the providing of His pure Word and Sacraments, wherein we find and receive the forgiveness of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Soul Cafe is really a church! Beyond being a youth center on 12th St. in Hood River, it’s a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). That’s the largest church body in the United States that calls itself “Lutheran.” We also call ourselves “Lutheran,” but we mean something different by it than does the ELCA. We consider the label “Lutheran,” when applied to a church, to mean the particular confession of faith to which that church holds in its teaching. Specifically, we consider a Lutheran church to be one that holds (without compromise) the teachings confessed in the Lutheran Confessions, because they fully and faithfully agree with the Bible.

Soul Cafe’s church body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, acknowledges that the Lutheran Confessions have historical importance, but no normative importance over present-day Lutheran teaching. Therefore, we would not describe the ELCA with the adjective “Lutheran.” Appropriately enough, Soul Cafe seems to avoid that label.

If you’d like to confirm for yourself that Soul Cafe is a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, have a look at its web site. Be sure to scroll to the bottom. If you’re still not convinced, you can look it up in the ELCA congregation directory.

Soul Cafe’s web site uses some of the code language of homosexual advocacy (”open and affirming”), extending it to accept and affirm many different social choices that the Bible considers to be sinful. It promotes an organization called “Lutherans Concerned/North America,” which advocates the acceptance of homosexuality in Lutheran churches, contrary to several passages in Holy Scripture. The person it calls “pastor” has written several statements there that show a radical separation from historic Christianity. She alludes to the Lutheran Confessions (specifically, Augsburg Confession article 7), but only to claim that most of what the Confessions say should be considered “adiaphora,” meaning “that which is neither commanded by God nor forbidden.” The effect is to dismiss the Confessions, as well as much of the Bible’s doctrinal content as a matter of mere personal opinion. More troubling, she seems to deny the trinitarian foundation of the Ecumenical Creeds:

I have learned that the Trinity is not some complex theological doctrine. The Trinity is the experience of God the Father/Mother, Son, and Holy Spirit in relation, in community with one another and in relation, in community with all the world. The Trinity is the perichoretic God—the God who circulates and dances through the neighborhood, working healing and wholeness.

Any church that persistently denies the Trinity, or even the authority of God’s Word in all matters of faith and life, is not a Christian church, though it may still claim to be. Christianity is not a matter of being nice to others, nor a matter of merely living a certain way. It is a matter of what we believe, which then flows naturally into the way we live. When we confess that God’s Word is right about our sins, and then trust in the forgiveness He applies through Jesus Christ, we have begun to be Christians. This faith continues with a confession that God is right about everything else that His Word addresses. Unfortunately, the heritage of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America includes theological liberalism, which does not consider the Bible to be God’s Word. Therefore, there is very little to prevent a congregation like Soul Cafe from completely losing the character and doctrine of the Christian Church.

We should pray for our friends and neighbors influenced by such places as Soul Cafe, and do what we can to help them avoid such places. We can offer them so much more, beginning with the certainty that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, and has died and physically risen to life again as the atoning sacrifice for every sin — even sinful life choices like homosexuality. Some may still not be convinced that Soul Cafe is a church. Remember Matthew 7:15-20, where Jesus predicted such things:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

To those preparing for the Final Advent of our Lord, My family and I feel very blessed to be among so many wonderful people. You have been very generous and kind to us. Thank you for your hospitality and the opportunity to serve you. I knew preaching and teaching God’s Word would be enjoyable, but it is made all the more enjoyable when people are appreciative and understand the value of it in their daily lives. When I first came to Concordia and Bethany, I understood that there was a desire for more opportunities to study God’s Word. This is a desire that is truly pleasing to God and can only come from His work in your hearts. This is also a blessing for Pastor and me since this is the very reason that we are among you – to teach and preach God’s Word to His people. In this Advent season, we key in on the truth of Jesus’ coming. At Christmas time, we celebrate His first coming to this earth, being born of the Virgin Mary so that as both God and Man, He could live perfectly for us and take away our eternal punishment. But this first coming would mean nothing to us if He did not come into our hearts. This gracious coming happens only through His Word (the Bible) and Sacraments (Holy Baptism and Holy Communion). In His Word, God tells us that Jesus will come again on finally on Judgment Day. Jesus gracious coming to us is essential for both benefitting from His first coming and preparing for His final coming. This gracious coming is why we Christians continually desire to come together around the Means of Grace – Word and Sacrament. In the 3rd Commandment, God reminds us that the day of rest, was for both the body and the soul. Jesus is your Sabbath rest. “Come unto Me ye weary…and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) So I invite you to come and rest in your Savior. There are many opportunities happening every week.

At Bethany:

Sunday 9:30 AM – Sunday School and Confirmed/Adult Bible Class * Going through the life of Jesus

11:00 AM – Divine Service * Going through Old Testament History through the Church year

1:15 PM – Confessing Jesus * Going through the Confessions of the Lutheran Church: the Book of Concord – currently studying Luther’s “last will and testament”: the Smalcald Articles.

Tuesday 5:15 PM – Lutheran Family Fellowship (2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month) * Office of Compline: At the end of Luke (a chapter at a time.)

7:00 PM – Bible Study * Going through the book of Acts

Friday 9:00 AM – Confirmation Class

9:30 – Advanced Bible History * Starting with the Creation

10:30 – Gottesdienst * Studying the Catechism through the Liturgy

12:00 – Junior Members

Saturday 7:00 – Private Absolution * This is a good time for examination and preparation for Communion.

At Concordia

Sunday 9:00 AM – Divine Service * Going through Old Testament History through the Church year

10:30 AM – Sunday School * Going through the life of Jesus

10:30 AM – Confirmed/Adult Bible Class (on Sundays with Communion and 5th Sundays of the month) * Going through the life of Jesus

1:15 PM – Confessing Jesus (Through Skype) * Going through the Confessions of the Lutheran Church: the Book of Concord – currently studying Luther’s “last will and testament”: the Smalcald Articles.

Thursday 5:15 PM – Lutheran Family Fellowship (1st & 3rd Thursday of the month) * Office of Compline: the Gospel of Mark (a chapter at a time.)

7:00 PM – Gottesdienst * Studying the Catechism through the Liturgy

At Klickitat Thursday 5:00 PM – Gottesdienst * Studying the Catechism through the Liturgy

A couple months ago, I was talking to one of our members about a new Bible Study coming up, which she was excited about. She said something that hits the nail on the head. She said, “You know, I just have to do something for me.” She is exactly right. Learning about God’s Word is “for you.” I would encourage you to take some time “for you.”

God Bless, Vicar Gullixson

Christmas for Kids 2009

Here are some photos from our Jr. Members hike at the end of October.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is splitting over its recent decision to ordain openly practicing homosexuals as ministers. While we may rejoice that some recognize that God’s Word should not be compromised, it must be pointed out that there are many other areas where the teaching of the ELCA departs dramatically from self-interpreted Holy Scripture. For example, the Bible claims to be the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and completely sufficient Word of God. ELCA disagrees. The Bible assigns gender-based roles to men and women, particularly in churches. ELCA disagrees. The list could go on.

We should pray for our friends in ELCA churches, and those who will be leaving the ELCA, encouraging them to stand upon God’s pure and unchanging Word alone, no matter what the world around us may think of it.

But the holy orders and true religious institutions established by God are these three: the office of priest, the estate of marriage, the civil government. [See Large Catechism, 4th Commandment, 158, and the Augsburg Confession, Article XVI] All who are engaged in the clerical office or ministry of the Word are in a holy, proper, good, and God-pleasing order and estate, such as those who preach, administer sacraments, supervise the common chest, sextons and messengers or servants who serve such persons. These are engaged in works which are altogether holy in God’s sight.

Again, all fathers and mothers who regulate their household wisely and bring up their children to the service of God are engaged in pure holiness, in a holy work and a holy order. Similarly, when children and servants show obedience to their elders and masters, here too is pure holiness, and whoever is thus engaged is a living saint on earth.

Moreover, princes and lords, judges, civil officers, state officials, notaries, male and female servants and all who serve such persons, and further, all their obedient subjects — all are engaged in pure holiness and leading a holy life before God. For these three religious institutions or orders are found in God’s Word and commandment; and whatever is contained in God’s Word must be holy, for God’s Word is holy and sanctifies everything connected with it and involved in it.

Above these three institutions and orders is the common order of Christian love, in which one serves not only the three orders, but also serves every needy person in general with all kinds of benevolent deeds, such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, forgiving enemies, praying for all men on earth, suffering all kinds of evil on earth, etc. Behold, all of these are called good and holy works. However, none of these orders is a means of salvation. There remains only one way above them all, viz. faith in Jesus Christ.

For to be holy and to be saved are two entirely different things. We are saved through Christ alone; but we become holy both through this faith and through these divine foundations and orders. Even the godless may have much about them that is holy without being saved thereby. For God wishes us to perform such works to his praise and glory. And all who are saved in the faith of Christ surely do these works and maintain these orders.

(AE 37:364-365)

Note that neither the three broad categories (churchly, domestic, and civil) that Luther describes, nor the examples he gives, are meant to be mutually exclusive. Our church Treasurer supervises the common chest, but also holds other churchly responsibilities, as well as responsibilities in the other categories.

As I write this, the coming Sunday will be our celebration of Reformation. The Sunday after that is All Saints. At Reformation, we remember those who stood upon scripture alone, over against all the contrary opinions of men. On All Saints Day, we rejoice in God’s blessings upon the departed believers, who are made holy by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

Reformation Day reminds us that we live in the Church militant, still struggling against the devil, this evil world, and our own evil and worldly nature. All Saints Day reminds us that we are also made holy in God’s sight through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior.

We carry these two aspects of Christian life into the rest of the year, too. Usually, evil rears its ugly head within a Christian’s relationships with other people, sometimes originating in ourselves, and sometimes in others. It can happen in any season, and in any place. It even happens between Christians, and even within the same church. It is never more important to remember that we live in the Church militant, and that every Christian is a saint in God’s sight by faith alone, without having deserved it in the least.

Our God and Lord provides much guidance for dealing with life in the Church militant. He is not always gentle, because much of the time, we need to hear the Law. In Matthew 18, Jesus has several points to make. Verse 35 warns, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” That leaves two questions: (1) What will He do to us? and (2) What kind of forgiveness does He mean?

You can answer the first question by reading verses 23–35. You will see that anyone who refuses to forgive is not considered to be a Christian. That should make us all think back to any unanswered grievances we may have had with another person. Did I express my grievance to him, as a Christian should, or did I hold it in and savor its foulness, as a dog chews on an old bone? Perhaps my awkward conversations with someone today can be traced back to an unknown, unrepented, and/or unforgiven sin in the past.

You can answer the second question by reading Matthew 18:15. Don’t reveal your grievance to anyone else, until you have spoken to the offender. Why not? Because you would be asking another to break the 8th Commandment, and sit in judgment over the one who has offended you. Instead, let the offender hear your grievance in full, so that he might repent and ask for your forgiveness. We fail in this so often because even those who are offended have a sinful flesh, which likes to chew on a grievance so that sin may grow.

Jesus is so concerned about the way we deal with one another’s offenses that He even commands us to work them out as Christians instead of participating in worship. (See Matthew 5:23-24.) Worship can wait, because its benefit is easily spoiled when our hearts are poisoned and distracted by unforgiven sins. In the ancient Christian Church, it was even customary to demonstrate the mutual forgiveness between Christians at worship by pausing the service briefly so that those in attendance could bestow the “kiss of peace” upon one another.

Every group of Christians on earth will experience disagreements, and offenses. After all, though we are saints, we are also still sinners. Yet God commands us in His Word how to deal with it: individually, and personally. The greatest offense ever given was my sinfulness against God’s will. Yours too. Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ bore our sins in His body upon the cross. He paid that greatest price so that He could say to penitent sinners, “Your sins are forgiven.” No strings attached. No special merit required. In that knowledge, we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”