My Identity

A while back in our carport I hung a sign that reads "Parking for Germans only." The sign was a gift from one of our children. It reflects my heritage on my father's side of the family. I trace my descent back to England on my mother's side. My wife is German on all sides. 

This brings up the question of our family's identity. We used to be Minnesotans, having grown up there, but nearly thirty-seven years ago we moved to Texas, so now we are Texans, Houstonians and Aggies, among other things. The Aggie part is something I personally have adopted because two of my children and, so far, two of my grandchildren have attended Texas A&M. 

Here's a story about the Aggie side of my identity. 

An Aggie came into a store and couldn't find what he wanted. So he asked one of the clerks, "Where can I find some summer sausage?" 

The man broke out laughing and finally said, "You must be an Aggie." 

The Aggie got quite angry. "So what if I am," he replied. "What's that got to do with sausage? You wouldn't tell me I was a Mexican if I asked for tacos, would you? Or a German if I wanted some bratwurst. Or an Irishman if I asked for Irish Whiskey. What's the deal anyway?" 

The man was bending over by this time. He could hardly contain his glee. Finally he got control of himself. "It's just, it's just...that this is The Home Depot!"  

One thing about Aggies. We like to have fun and make fun of ourselves. As I write that I'm wondering if that might also be an important part of the most significant side of my identity, namely being a believer in Jesus of Nazareth, the promised Messiah and Savior of the world. In him I have every reason to be positive and delighted. I have every reason to see the positive side of life. I have every reason to look forward and laugh in anticipation, for in Christ Jesus I am certain that death has no more threats for me. With Jesus I share a life that will never end. 

So what if I am an Aggie? Or a German? Or an Houstonian? Or an adopted Texan? They're all important--to me and to my family. But the most significant thing of all is this wonder: I am a Christian, adopted and reborn into my forever family. 

Taking Christ Out Of Easter

If you are reading this I will assume that you will or have already celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on the First Sunday of Easter. This Sunday will be followed by others as the celebration continues. In fact, each Sunday is a renewed celebration of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead. Christ is Risen! Alleluia! This central truth defines who we Christians are: people who believe that Jesus is the Christ/Messiah and the Conqueror of death. Because He lives, we shall live also. 

The Apostle Paul put it this way two thousand years ago in his first letter to the Corinthians.  Speaking for us all, he wrote, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."

But that appears not to be the belief of all so-called Christians. In this weekend's news comes word from Canada about Taking Christ out of Christianity.  No need for Him any longer. He is unimportant. Here, in part, is what is reported from Toronto's West Hill United Church of Canada, one church in Canada's largest Protestant denomination.  

"Generally speaking, no divine anybody makes an appearance in West Hill's Sunday service liturgy. . . There is no authoritative Big-Godism, as Rev. Gretta Vosper, West Hill's minister for the past 10 years, puts it. No petitionary prayers ('Dear God, step into the world and do good things about global warming and the poor'). No miracles-performing Jesus given birth by a virgin and coming back to life. No references to salvation, Christianity's teaching of the final victory over death through belief in Jesus' death as an atonement for sin and the omnipotent love of God. For that matter, no omnipotent God, or god. 

"In her book With or Without God: Why the Way We Live is More Important than What We Believe...She argues that the Christian Church, in the form in which it exists today, has outlived its viability, and either it sheds its no longer credible myths, doctrines and dogmas, or it's toast."

Makes me wonder who will be toast, her and her kind or the rest of us who still believe that "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he that he was raised on the third day."

But then who is surprised? Not me. Jesus warned that as the time of his return draws nearer and nearer it will be more and more difficult for believers to resist the onslaught of false teachings and false gods. 

As for Ms. Vosper, I suggest that she had better enjoy the moments she still has on this earth. Paul advises her to "eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." And that death will not merely be the kind of death that separates the body from an eternal soul. No indeed. It will be the separation of both body and soul in an eternity of sorrow from the God who created us all. 

Meanwhile you and I will cling to this truth: Christ is risen! Alleluia! And because he lives we shall never die. 

Death Is But A Shadow

This week is celebrated around the world by Christians as the most significant week in all of human history. It is a week we call holy, because in this week our Lord and God in the person of Jesus Christ accomplished for us what only He could do. He offered up His life as full and final payment for our sin. And next Sunday we will celebrate His glorious return from death. 

There is an oft told story about Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, a beloved Bible teacher and pastor in the middle decades of the twentieth century. While still a young man in his thirties, his first wife died of cancer, leaving behind three daughters under the age of twelve. Dr. Barnhouse decided to conduct the funeral service for his wife. On the way to the service with his heartbroken children, their car came to a stop light just as a massive truck pulled up next to them, blocking the light of the sun. Seeing the immense shadow that had overtaken them, Dr. Barnhouse asked his oldest daughter if she would rather be run over by the truck or by the shadow of the truck. "By the shadow, I guess," she replied, "because the shadow cannot hurt you." Turning to all of his children, Dr. Barnhouse said, 'That's what has happened to your mother. Death cannot hurt her because the Lord Jesus Christ took her to heaven. It is only the shadow of death that took her from us."

I used that story in a sermon I preached last Sunday, pointing the congregation to Psalm 23, the text Barnhouse used at that funeral: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." Many in that assembled congregation thanked me afterwards. As I was taking off my robe in the sacristy, a man stepped in to tell me how important that sermon was to him and his family. His wife's 92 year old mother had just died the previous night. They were comforted to know that death has indeed lost its power. We prayed together at that moment, commending Mom into the hands of the Lord and thanking Him for the wondrous news that death is but a shadow for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. 

My prayer is that all of us will find comfort and strength in the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus and in His miraculous rising from the dead on Easter morning. 

Blasphemy in Great Britain and in the USA

I was troubled by the following article about blasphemy in the Houston Chronicle, my home town paper. Right now I'm sorting out exactly what troubles me. Is it because the British want to trash laws about blasphemy or is it because there is such a law? Quite obviously such a law could not be passed in the USA. We can't agree among ourselves that we're in favor of the Ten Commandments anymore and we certainly have no common understanding about who this God is under whom we are one nation. 

This is not to say that we are an especially godless or immoral nation. It's just that we worship many gods in this country and have no agreement about which one--or any-- we're blaspheming when, for instance, someone shouts the name Jesus or Jesus H Christ in frustration, anger or hate. Nor do some seem to understand what they're doing when they damn someone or something or tell them to go to hell. In fact, such statements have become so common in daily conversation and the entertainment media that we hardly even raise an eyebrow upon hearing them. 

But enough of this. Take a look at what is happening in Great Britain and then permit me a couple final shots.  

British lawmakers vote to abolish blasphemy laws : "A funny thing happened last November when Britain launched a righteous protest over the arrest in Sudan of a British school teacher who was accused of insulting religion by naming a class teddy bear Mohammed.

The Sudanese ambassador was summoned; Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a protest. It didn't take long, though, for someone to point out that Downing Street was standing on diplomatic quicksand: Britain itself has a law making blasphemy a crime.

Thus began a period of collective soul-searching on free speech and secularism, traditional values and the church that anoints Britain's queen. It culminated Wednesday in a 148-87 vote in the House of Lords to abolish the laws on blasphemy after a wrenching, two-hour debate.

'It is crystal clear that the offenses of blasphemy and blasphemous libel are unworkable in today's society,' Kay Andrews said in introducing the government-backed amendment, adding that 'as long as this law remains on the statute books, it hinders the U.K.'s ability to challenge oppressive blasphemy laws in other jurisdictions.'

But in a debate that underscored Britain's continuing strong roots in the Church of England, there was substantial doubt about the wisdom of abandoning what for many is a symbol of the increasingly multicultural nation's reliance on Christian values as a foundation for law and society."

So much for the Brits. We'll have to allow them to muddle around on this issue, along with several others. 

But what about us?  It seems that we who honor the name of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, very God of very God and Second member of the Holy Trinity, need to speak out loudly about how we are offended when those around us take His holy Name in such useless, vile and thoughtless ways as are common. At the very least they should know that we are offended when His name is disrespected. And we might also insist that they not damn nor curse any thing or anyone in our presence. Who knows where this might lead? It might even give us an opportunity to share why we believe that one day soon every knee under heaven will bow before the Name of Jesus and declare Him Lord and King of all, to the glory and honor of His Father in heaven (Philippians 2:1-11). 

Meanwhile, I do support and believe in the importance of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 

Biblical Fasting: What It Is and How to Do It

We are currently deep into the season of Lent (the word means springtime, the time when days lengthen). One of the ancient customs among Christians during this season is fasting. Lutherans, following their catechism, have taught that "fasting and bodily preparation are indeed a fine, outward training." However, very few of us--myself included--have ever done much of it. 

In searching the Internet I found a balanced and helpful website you may want to look at in that connection: Biblical Fasting: What It Is and How to Do It. Dennis Rupert, the author writes, "...I don't want you to feel overwhelmed by the thought of going without food for days and days. There are types of fasting that don't involve such a radical commitment. The Bible gives examples of many different kinds of fasting. " He goes on to tell about three types of fasts: 

1. The Normal Fast - One 24 hr. day, from sunset to sunset, based upon the Old Covenant's Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29;23:32). Other than not eating, no details are provided. Drinking water is not forbidden. 

2. The Partial Fast practiced by the famous "three men in the fiery furnace," Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, together with Daniel (Daniel 1:15). They ate only vegetables and water, a healthy diet promoted by many in our day. You may even be a vegetarian yourself and not consider this to be a fast at all. However, for those of us who are not vegetarians, this may indeed be the place to start. 

3. The Radical Fast during which you go without food for an extended period of time. The 40 days of Lent are built around our Lord's 40 day fast at the beginning of his public ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). This was also a re-enactment of the 40 years during which the Children of Israel were tested in the wilderness--and failed (1 Corinthians 10).

Following up on that history, the Apostle Paul wrote that everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial or constructive. That's why Lutherans have not been big on fasting, I suppose. It really isn't the matter of denying yourself food. The issue is that of training yourself to trust the Lord and His Word completely and radically. Interesting is the fact that the Word of God nowhere commands New Testament Christians to fast. Two Bible passages come to mind. 

1 Timothy 4:8 - "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." The Apostle's point is that godliness and reverence do not come from something you do, including fasting. They are what God does in and through His Word. The Word is the means used by the Holy Spirit to renew the image of God within. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 - In this passage the Apostle speaks about how he disciplines his body as athletes do in preparation for the various contests. He follows this comment with a discussion about Israel's wilderness journey in which they fell deep into temptation and lost any rights to the promised land. He ends that discussion with a Gospel promise. You can depend upon God, he says, because he will never allow a temptation greater than you can bear. He will always show a way out. 

If you fast during this Lenten season or at any other time, be aware that the whole discipline can be useful, but it is not a means of grace, a means through which the Holy Spirit works to strengthen and nourish faith and trust. That He always does through His Word and through the visible Words of the Lord's Supper and Holy Baptism.