This is what pro-life looks like

I am pro-life.

But I wasn't always.

I came of age in the late 1980's. Here in Canada there was a lot of attention on "the abortion issue" around that time. Up until the late 60's/early 70's (I forget exactly) abortion under any circumstances was illegal in Canada. It was illegal to perform one and illegal to have one. Then good old Trudeau decided that "the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation" and the abortion legislation was changed to permit abortions that were performed in hospitals, reviewed by a committee and deemed to be necessary to protect the health of the mother. All other abortions remained illegal. Then in 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the existing abortion legislation as "unconstitutional". Since then, there have been no new attempts to legislate abortion, so in effect any and all abortion is legal in Canada.

As well, in 1989 there were two high profile abortion cases that made the national news. They both involved pregnant, unmarried women seeking abortions. Nothing new there, right? What made them of interest to the country was the fact that their boyfriends (the fathers of the unborn children) sought and were granted injunctions against their girlfriend having the abortion. The courts eventually overturned the injunctions and said that fathers can't "force" mothers to carry children they don't want to, but neither woman waited that long. Both of them defied the injunctions and had abortions performed in the United States.

I remember these cases quite well. I was pregnant at the time with Kirk, so they hit close to home. And I'll be honest...at the time I had mixed feelings about it all. I feel differently about it now, but back then I didn't think it was right that the man could force a woman to remain pregnant against her will. It just seemed wrong to me. But abortion seemed wrong to me too. I was decidedly conflicted on the matter.

Of course, those were different times. My attitude towards abortion has migrated into the staunchly pro-life camp. It's not because my attitude about men forcing women to carry babies has changed - I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's still something wrong about that to me. What has changed is my attitude and understanding of the sanctity of life. It changed over time; as I got older and my understanding of the Scriptures matured I became convinced that God regards all life as sacred and that we are obligated to protect life in all circumstances.

Lately though, I've come to understand that opposing abortion doesn't necessarily equate to being pro-life.

We have a new foster daughter. She has been living with us since the end of January. She is 18 and she is almost 6 months pregnant. We did not know when we took her in that she was pregnant - I'm not sure if it would have made a difference...but it might have. We might not have wanted to take that on. I'm not trying to justify that - just being honest.

In fact, there have been moments when I have questioned the wisdom of having her living with us. It has been, quite frankly, somewhat disruptive for our family. We've had to deal with things I never dreamt I'd be doing at this point in my life. We are now in the position of guiding and influencing the course of at least two young lives - Timika's and the baby's - and the burden of this responsibility weighs on me. I must admit I feel utterly unequal to the task. I've gone back and forth on whether we are doing the right thing. Would she be better served if we were to find her a maternity home to live in, with professional folks who are trained to help her deal with her situation? I've thought about it.

Recently, I heard the following quote from Dr. James Lamb, director of Lutherans for Life, on Issues, Etc.:

"We don't see it (abortion) as just a moral issue that needs correcting or a political issue that needs strategizing; it's a spiritual issue and that needs to take priority for us in our lives to move us in the decisions that we make, the issues that we support and defend and so forth.

We as God's people need to reach out and influence those around us who are not like us, living in the real world. And that means if we are going to influence our neighbor...we are to love our neighbor. And so the manner of reaching out becomes very important. So there's a call for sharing the truth in love and there's a call for acting out in love. "

I have taken those words to heart. Timika will stay here and we will walk with her through this. I think this is what Dr. Lamb meant by acting out in love. We covet your prayers.

In the shadow of the Cross

Been reflecting on the Cross. Some thoughts:

"His power is made perfect in weakness."

The cross is where God accomplished salvation for mankind. What looked like crushing, agonizing defeat was in fact victory over sin, death and the devil. Looking up at the cross from Calvary, it must have seemed like anything but victorious. There hung the supposed Messiah - abandoned by his followers, convicted as a criminal and sentenced to die in the most painful, humiliating fashion the Romans could devise, beaten, scourged, mocked and spat upon - and seemingly powerless to prevent any of it. The cross represents - no, IS - the worst of man's evil.

And yet this is precisely where God's power to overturn the evil forces in the world is made manifest. This so-called "defeat" is where our salvation was secured. The cross = power hidden in the form of weakness.

It is a paradox. Consider the words of this hymn:

How strange is this great paradox to ponder:
The Shepherd dies for sheep who love to wander;
The master pays the debt His servants owe Him,
Who would not know Him.

What kind of love does it take to die for those who will struggle to remain faithful to the one who paid their tremendous debt? Or for those who refuse to even acknowledge Him, let alone the debt that they have incurred? What kind of a God makes Himself vulnerable to man's continued rejection; paying all that is owed only to be rebuffed for his love?

We expect victory to look like victory, and power to look...well, powerful. And the Cross, when seen unfiltered through the eyes of faith, certainly does not resemble what we expect an all-powerful God to look like.

Yet it is the weakness that is the source of the power. Christ Himself said that no one takes his life from Him; He lays it down willingly.

So what does all this mean for me, living in the shadow of the Cross?

Well, first of all, if God demonstrates his power through the weakness of the Cross, then He does through my weakness too.

"All things work together for the good of those who love God..."

The Cross is proof of this. In the Cross, the devil was tricked and evil was subverted for good.

The Cross changes everything. It turns what we think we know about God on its ear.

The world sees suffering as a curse; through the lens of the Cross, we see it a blessing.

The world sees servanthood as lowly; the Cross exalts the servant-hearted.

The world views self-sacrifice as weak and submissive, but it is through self-sacrifice in service to others that I reign with Christ.

This is incredibly humbling.

Jesus promises to come again with glory and I can't help but wonder - in light of the Cross, what will that glory look like?

I think it might very well look a lot like suffering, and weakness and defeat.

Something to think about, isn't it?

A reader asks...

In an email, Beth from Arizona asks,

“Is the Holy Spirit within all people including non believers? If not, then how does God communicate with or guide us before we are baptized? Isn’t something leading us to the desire to be baptized?"

Blessings, Beth

Thank you for your email and your questions, Beth. The answers, happily, can be clearly drawn from the Scriptures.

The Scriptures indicate in a number of places that there are those who are in the Spirit and those who are not.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

Forthe one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:8

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

Just as a distinction was made between the Isrealites - God's chosen people - and the Gentiles, so too is there a distinction between those who have been regenerated by the Spirit and those who have not. All are God's creatures, but not all are His children.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

Believers have been adopted into the family of God and are heirs to the Kingdom. Believers hear and understand the that which is of the Spirit, while unbelievers do not - indeed cannot.

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

But God does not speak to us exclusively through his indwelt Spirit - he uses ordinary physical means to communicate with us as well. Scripture teaches that God's grace is conveyed to us through the Gospel (that is: God's saving word about His love for us in Jesus).

When we hear the Gospel preached - which comes to us by sound waves carried across space to our ears - we hear God's very own Word spoken. When we read the Scriptures - paper and ink bound in a book - we are seeing the the Word that God wanted to preserve for us so that we may know about the Saviour. God uses all these physical means to convey his Word to us.

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

The Holy Spirit creates faith in us by the Gospel, and all who receive this Word in faith are saved. If we desire to be baptized, it is solely by the work of the Holy Spirit in us. (1 Cor. 12:3 again: "no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit".)

I hope this is helpful to you Beth. Anybody else care to chime in?

My only hope

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in thee;

let the water and the blood,

from thy wounded side which flowed,

be of sin the double cure;

save from wrath and make me pure.

Not the labors of my hands

can fulfill thy law's commands;

could my zeal no respite know,

could my tears forever flow,

all for sin could not atone;

thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,

simply to the cross I cling;

naked, come to thee for dress;

helpless, look to thee for grace;

foul, I to the fountain fly;

wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,

when mine eyes shall close in death,

when I soar to worlds unknown,

see thee on thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in thee.

Words: Augustus Toplady, 1776. Music: Thomas Hastings, 1830.

gratitude

I do not show my thanks as I should. Ever.

I do not even know all the Good that I ought to acknowledge.

But I offer my weak and feeble thanks nonetheless, knowing that even for that much I owe a debt of thanks to You.

Everything I really needed to know about Jesus I learned in Sunday School

Last week our Sunday School lesson was about Moses and the Bronze Serpent.

Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread." So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
Numbers 21:4-9 (NKJV)

Now that I'm teaching the Grade 1 class, (I formerly taught Grade 5) I have to remember to keep the lesson objectives simple. For our craft, we cut and paste a serpent onto a wooden pole and Jesus onto a cross. Then as a quick game, I asked them to hold up the correct pole when ever I said "God saved the Isrealites from the snakes" or "God saved us from sin". That's basically what the lesson boils down to - just as God saved the Isrealites in the wilderness from dying from the serpent's bite, so He saves us from the death that we deserve as a consequence of our sin.

Call me a cynic, but I can't help wondering how many Isrealites died because they didn't look at the snake. I'm pretty sure I would have died. Because it doesn't really make sense. Think about it: I'm lying on the ground, feverish and convulsing from the snake venom that's coursing through my blood. A snakebite is the cause of my suffering and will soon be the cause of my death. And then along comes Moses who tells me to look at an effigy of the snake - the very cause of my suffering! - and I will be saved from death by snakebite. (Uh...yeah. Sure Moses, anything you say.) It just doesn't make sense, does it?

In fact it seems like the opposite should be true. The snake, apparently, was called "Nehushtan" (2 Kings 18:4). The word "Nehushtan" is not only a combination of the Hebrew words for "bronze" and "snake" but it also sounds much like the Hebrew word that means "unclean thing". And my intellect tells me that I have no good reason to believe the "unclean thing" will be of any help to me. In fact it tells me the opposite: the unclean thing can't be trusted.

Yet obviously some of the Isrealites believed and looked at the bronze serpent and were healed. Despite the fact that it made no human sense whatsoever, they trusted that God would be true to His word and looked up for their healing.

In the same sort of paradoxical way, Luther had this idea that the Cross turned everything that we think we know about God on its head. From a human perspective what kind of Messiah is a dead messiah? How are we supposed to trust a Messiah - killed in the most shameful way that the Romans could devise, whose followers appeared to have deserted Him and who seemed to lack the power to stop even his own unjust death sentence - to save us? Like the serpent on the pole, the Messiah on the Cross as a means of salvation makes no sense.

Yet Luther insisted that the shame and agony and senselessness of the Cross is precisely where God best reveals Himself to us. God hides himself (Isaiah 45:15) in what appears to be weak and foolish yet paradoxically this is where the very power and wisdom of God are found. God, who is all-powerful, hides Himself in weakness. God, who is all wise, hides Himself in foolishness. God, who is living, hides Himself in death. Luther called this the "Theology of the Cross".

To fully understand the implications of Theology of the Cross (if such a thing is even possible), one must first understand it's converse: what Luther called the Theology of Glory. Under such a theology, man seeks for himself the glory that belongs to God alone. Thus, theologians of glory see themselves as having the capacity to understand God - and even approach Him - apart from His final Revelation to man, which is Christ. The theologian of glory applies his human reason to understand what God is like.

This is why the Sunday School lesson is so powerful. Human reason tells us that a bronze snake on a pole is not going to save us from a poisonous bite. And human reason tells us that a dead man on a cross is no help to us either. Yet in both cases our human reason deceives us.

The children in Sunday School, whose faith God began in their baptisms, accept unquestioningly that God saves through a lifeless bronze serpent and they accept equally unquestioningly that Jesus dying on the cross saves them from death. They don't believe it because they have applied human reason, or reached an "age of understanding". They believe it because God, who revealed His greatest promise in the paradox of the Cross, gave them faith to trust that His promises are true.

Here endeth the Sunday School lesson.

Spykids

Yesterday was our big Sunday School Rally. Our Sunday School goes on hiatus during the summer months and starts up again in September when we go back to two Sunday morning services. (We have an "early" service at 8:30 am, a late service at 11 am and Sunday School for the kids/Bible study for the adults in between.)

There is no grade 5 class this year so I am helping out with the grade 1/2 class instead. Our first lesson was about the 12 spies that God told Moses to send to Canaan so we made the kids be the "spies" and told them they had to find out about the land and the people. We gave them "ID" cards and took their pictures and their fingerprints for their cards. Then we gave the the story and the had to listen for the "clues".

The kids seemed to enjoy it. One little fellow came out of the classroom waving his ID card. "Look!" he said, showing his brother his card. "I'm working for JESUS!". Too cute.

A quote...

The Gospel doesn't say "Do", it says "Done".

Credit

Updated: To answer Sara's question of What Does This Mean?

I think it refers to our human tendency to try to make the Gospel into Law. We say and think things like, "If you want to be saved, all you have to do is..." and "If a person is truly saved then he will not do..." etc.

When Lutherans are concerned about the mixing of law and Gospel, they are concerned with the loss of the promise-nature of the Gospel - and it is the promise nature which is the Holy Spirit's way of calling forth faith *and of sustaining faith*. "For the Word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who ARE BEING SAVED it is the power of God." [1 Cor. 1:18] And this mixing invariably means speaking "Gospel" (or what we think of as Gospel) in such a way that it is not experienced by the hearers as promise. The dread of uniting law and Gospel together for Lutherans is that if there is a pathway from the one to the other, then the Gospel has ceased to be pure promise and has become instead something due, owed to our fulfilment of some condition. It is immediately rendered doubtful and uncertain.

People ask: Well, isn't faith a condition? No, faith is what appropriates, takes the promise, holds it, the trusting of it, and rejoicing in it - but such faith is never a condition for a Gospel promise. Rather than say: If you believe, your sins are forgiven you. Better to say: Your sins are forgiven you, blotted out by the blood of the Son of God. Believe it, for it is true.

"If the word becomes an appeal, faith becomes its performance in action. If the word becomes a demonstration, faith becomes insight; if it becomes a statement, faith becomes knowledge. Finally, if the word becomes an expression, faith becomes a ground of experience given with human being as such. Only if the word is promise (promissio) is faith really faith." [Oswald Bayer, Theology the Lutheran Way, p. 139]

More credit

He takes after my side of the family

My son Kirk is tall and gangly like his father. Well, gangly like his father used to be at that age. I met Ken at precisely the age Kirk is now. I keep expecting Kirk to look and act like Ken did then, but he doesn't.

In fact, he takes after my brother Stephen quite a bit; so much so that it's kind of eerie. He resembles him quite a bit physically, but that's not where it ends. He talks like Stevey. His tone and phrasing and choice of words - Stevey. Gestures, mannerisms, quirks - all Stevey. Even a lot of Kirk's attitudes and the way he looks at the world remind me more of Stephen than they do of his father.

Truthfully, it frightens me. A lot.

I don't think I've ever said much about my brother Stephen. I might have mentioned "my crazy brother" in passing, but I'm pretty sure I've never blogged any particulars. Stephen is currently estranged from our entire family. And when I call him "crazy" I actually mean it. As in he has a mental illness.

It's very difficult for me to talk about him. I have very mixed up, jumbled feelings about him and I have a hard time keeping any objectivity. He has, by his actions, hurt our family very deeply. A part of me understands that it's his disease that makes him like this, but another part of me wants - needs - to hold someone (him!) responsible for the havoc that he wrought on us.

It was around the age that Kirk is now, maybe a little earlier, that Stephen first started to exhibit signs of mental instability. I remember that out of the blue he would become unreasonable, irrational even, over small little things. And he seemed angry a lot of the time.

This is why I am frightened. I am seeing some signs in Kirk that worry me. He seems overwhelmed by the everyday. He has a hard time coping with...just everyday life. Well, I know anxiety when I see it and I see it in him. But where I will get weepy when things get tough, Kirk's go-to emotion is anger. It reminds me a lot of Stephen.

Over the years Stephen's quirks grew into full blown mental illness. (Look, I should say upfront, that he has never had a diagnosis, because he refuses to acknowledge that he has a problem. But if you were to spend, oh, I don't know, maybe 30 minutes with him, I'm pretty sure that you'd come away with the same impression. He's just not rational.) But the point is, it started out small. At eighteen it was easy to dismiss his peculiarities as teenage angst. Teenagers are known to be moody, so it wasn't that hard to attribute his radical mood swings to hormones. And because Stephen moved out of the house when he was only 19, his illness was hidden to us a great deal of the time...but it grew.

This morning Kirk had "an episode". I came downstairs to find him weeping as he should have been leaving for work. I was alarmed and asked him what what wrong. He couldn't answer - he honestly didn't know. He said the moment his alarm went off and he had to get up for work, he burst into tears. The thought of having to go into work was utterly overwhelming to him. And the fact of this made him bewildered and angry all at the same time. Now, understand that for months now, I've been wavering, wondering if I'm really seeing what I think I'm seeing. But you know, people don't just wake up in the morning and fall apart because they have to go to work. That's not normal. So this morning I decided that I'm not going to wait and wonder any longer. We have a history of mental disorders in our family and it is entirely possible, if not likely, that Kirk could develop one too.

So after breakfast I called the doctor. I told them what I saw and I told them what I suspected and I made an appointment to have Kirk come in to talk to the doctor. And then I worried all day how Kirk would react. *weak smile*

But maybe, just maybe he's not like Stevey after all. Because Kirk didn't get angry and deny that he was having problems. He didn't try to justify his behaviour and try to manipulate me into thinking I was overreacting. He was relieved. And grateful. And hopeful that there is help out there for him.

I understand how hard it can be to open up to someone and tell them that you're having a hard time coping - period. That everything in life is brittle, and harsh and too bright...and there's no good reason why it should feel like that. I remember those bleak days, and when I think of my son having to endure them, it feels like my heart is being squeezed right out of my chest.

As always, Jesus is my consolation. I feel like I'm hanging on to Him with my fingernails, but I know that isn't true. If it were up to me and my strength, I would have let go by now. It is He who holds onto me. And that gives me more comfort than I can describe. I wish I could wax poetic about it but his faith of mine isn't the most elegant. I seem to lack the eloquence to give voice to all that it is to me. But it is a sturdy faith. Servicable and practical. And pointed firmly towards the cross, the only place I'm sure of. It is the faith that God has given me and like all His good gifts, it is sufficient.

Thank you Jesus, for sending your Holy Spirit to sanctify me and keep me in the true faith. This hasn't exactly been my best year ever, but by faith like Job I can say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

A short update

I have my hands full with teenage angst right now. *One* teenager in particular. Our whole family covets your prayer right now. It feels like everything is coming apart at the seams right now. Things will settle down eventually - they always do - but while we're in the midst of it its hard to remember that we are being held in His hands. I hate sin. I hate that there is sin in the world and that it infects me and those that I love. I hate that despite the fact that I am a new creation in Christ, the old Adam still resides in me and I sin and I despair over it. I need the Eucharist desperately. I have no strength of my own and I need the body and blood of my Lord. I can't wait until Sunday. If I called my pastor he would come and bring it to me but I hesitate to call because then he might see how horribly wrong things are in our lives. What is the matter with me that this pride would keep me from the comfort and strength offered to me in the supper?

Will I ever blog again?

Sheesh. Been almost 2 weeks since I last posted.

I'm seeing these "Blogging without obligation" buttons around on some blogs. You know what? I feel absolutely NO obligation whatsoever about where/when/how I blog. Seriously. I don't even feel obligated to TELL people that I don't feel obligated. I guess I just did. Tell, I mean. But I didn't feel obligated to do so, *grin*.

Sara and Sue and I have been going back and forth about what people blog about and what motivates them to do so. I have come to the realization that I mentally make assumptions about what motivates people to blog about what they blog about. Sometimes the motivation is obvious - the blogger states up front what they blog about and why. Other times they don't say and I'm left to fill in the blanks. Probably shouldn't be doing that though.

I suppose people probably wonder why I call my blog "Ask a Lutheran" and then I blog about my husband going fishing, or me doing laundry at the laundromat or just about anything that is NOT specifically related to being Lutheran. I really couldn't tell you why either. I just blog what I feel like.

Some of the blogs I read are so well written I wonder why they aren't writing professionally. But to be honest with you, I much prefer the blogs that are written by the everday writers who write about their everyday lives. Sometimes what they blog about is mundane. Sometimes it is profound.

Posts about "Lutheran stuff" take me the longest. I want to be sure that I precisely relate the confessional Lutheran position. Often I have to stop and pull out the Bible, my catechism and the Book of Concord to make sure that what I'm writing is accurate. Sometimes I draft, and edit and agonize over the choice of a single word. I really do take it seriously - but it is a lot of work.

The fluffy stuff that I write is so much simpler. I sit down and type. It comes out. Does anybody care about this stuff? Is the blogosphere a better place because of it? I struggle with this. I feel like if I am not writing something deep and profound (or at least informative) then it's just so much wasted bandwidth.

Today I was listening to an episode of Issues, Etc. It was an older episode about "Vocation: God's Will For Your Life" and as I listened to them talk about vocation being that which God has given us to do, for the good of our Neighbour, in service to Him, I made a connection to blogging. They used the phrase "ordinary life, for ordinary saints". The premise is that we serve our Lord when we go about our daily lives; we don't have to be doing "super-holy" works to be serving Him. Ack. I'm not explaining this well at all. Listen to the episode here if you like. (In fact, listen to any of the episodes. Its realy good stuff.)

Anyways, I've concluded that this is can be an ordinary blog about ordinary things. And there's nothing wrong with that. If I happen to blog about something explicitly Lutheran, I'm doing it because I AM Lutheran. Not because I have a special call to write super-holy stuff about Lutheranism.

Huh. I guess maybe I do feel a little bit obligated after all.

It's here!!

My new Bible, compliments of A Soldier's Wife. Once again, thank you SO much!!

Anita and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

I had a bad day today. Not at home - at work. It was so rotten I really don't even want to blog about it. I feel all weepy and mopey and I just wish I had my mommy right now. You ever have one of those days?

Sometimes, when I read about other women who have quiet time (or devotions, or whatever you want to call it) and how close they feel to the Lord during those times, I feel a bit jealous...and a bit like maybe there's something wrong with me. That closeness, that sense that Jesus is present - that doesn't happen for me. Times like this, when I'm feeling down and really discouraged, I wish I could go to my Bible, or into prayer, and really feel like Jesus is right there with me.

When I spend time in the Word, it's more of an intellectual thing for me. It's almost...well, work. That is not to say that there are not times when the Word speaks comfort to me, or that I can't find beauty in the Scriptures. But when I read God's Word, I'm looking, working, digging for something. I must concentrate and it takes effort. I might find meaning, deeper understanding, or relevance, but I've never had an experience where it felt like I was spending time alone with Jesus.

I am not a great pray-er. I must say - thankfully, joyfully - that this is an area where I have seen God's grace at work over the years. Praying comes easier than it used to and I do feel something approaching closeness when I am in prayer...but in truth, there is still a part of me that feels disconnected. As if my prayers must cross a great distance. I have never had a feeling like Jesus is right next to me and we're just talking.

I don't want to make it sound like I'm putting my trust in a feeling. I know, whether it feels like it or not, that Jesus is present. And I don't mean to imply that because I don't have a strong emotional response to being in prayer or in the Word that somehow my faith is not authentic.

It's just that I long for contact. Sometimes I wish that Jesus was right here and that he'd give me a hug. (And how dumb is that? I mean, the Creator of the universe - for the sake of a miserable sinner like me - came down from his throne in heaven, suffered the indignity of becoming a helpless child, lived a blameless life in my place and suffered a horrible and unrighteous death so that I might be reconciled to God...and I'm complaining that I want a hug??)

But isn't that what we all want? Some contact? A friendly voice to comfort us? (Beth, is it any wonder that I picked tonight to call??) Something tangible to hang onto in the midst of pain and confusion? And you know what? I think God knows this about us and understands. More, He provided for this very real need that we have - the need to touch and hold onto something solid - by becoming a man and walking with us.

And I think it's also why (or at least part of the reason why) he comes to us bodily in the Eucharist. Because he knows how fragile we are, and how much we need to be able to hold onto Him, not just in a spiritual sense, but in a real, physical way.

I wish I could describe to you exactly what it is like for me when I receive the Body and Blood of the Lord - the very Presence of God - in the Sacrament. I'm not sure that you can understand what that Presence is like any more than I can understand the closeness that some have in prayer and Bible study. I can only tell you that it is real. And not in a subjective way, not a "feeling" that I have (although I do experience it as a feeling too, if you get what I mean).

I believe that the True Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist is an objective thing. I believe it because Christ himself - in his last will and testament before his disciples - says so. I believe He really meant it. When He comes to me in, with and under the bread and the wine, He strengthens me. He comes to me because He knows how much I need what only He has to offer. Forgiveness of sins. Comfort for my hurting soul. Strengthened and renewed faith in His promises. So He comes in a way that I can grab hold of tangibly, so that I may have no doubt whatsoever of His presence.

This went in a way different direction than I thought it would when I first started this post. The Holy Spirit is like that sometimes - the words just come tumbling out of my fingers. I think I've said enough for now.

Shepherd

Therefore, and overseer (pastor) must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive. He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fal into the condemnation of the devil. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (1Timothy 3:2-4; Titus 1:9)
~ The Small Catechism, Table of Duties: For Bishops, Pastors and Preachers

On June 22 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Depew, NY, Galen Michael Purpura Jr. was ordained into the Holy Ministry. "Vicar Galen" is now Pastor Purpura.

Have you ever been to an ordination? It is a powerful, wonderful thing to witness: the Lord of the Church placing his called servant into the office of the ministry. Jesus was given all authority in heaven and on earth. It was by this authority that he called and ordained the first apostles, and it is by this authority that he continues, through the means of his church, to call and ordain pastors who are to preach the word and administer the sacraments. When Jesus ordained his apostles, he breathed on them and they received from him the Holy Spirit and the authority to act by his command and in his stead. Today Jesus confers his authority to his called servants through the church. The laying on of hands by ordained ministers during the ordination signifies this. Jesus' authority does not, as some suppose, pass on "from" or "through" one minister to another. The authority that Jesus confers comes from Jesus. It's his authority - only he can confer it. Therefore, Galen's call to St. John's Lutheran Church as Associate Pastor is no human thing; it is a divine call.

Galen didn't just wake up one morning and decide to become a pastor. In fact, he'll tell you that, like Jonah, he resisted God's call for a while *smile*. I don't even think it's accurate to say that he - or any called servant for that matter - "decides" to be a pastor. Pastors are called and a call to the holy ministry is from the Lord of the Church, Jesus himself. He extends that call to his chosen servant (who may recognize it as an "inner call") and then he confirms it through the Church.

I look at that table of duties and the obligations that are laid upon a pastor and I really can't blame him for wanting to resist. Being a pastor is serious business. Peoples souls are at stake. Gulp. Who wouldn't be intimidated by such a prospect?

But Galen doesn't go into this alone.

First and foremost, he is accompanied by the Holy Spirit:

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6

[You] through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation. 1Peter 1:5
...the word of God which is at work in you who believe. 1 Thess. 2:13

Second, he is being held up in prayer by his congregation (and by his friends and family):

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests .... Always keep on praying for all the saints Eph 6:18

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel Eph. 6:19

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 Thess 3:1

I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30

I pray that now at last by God's will, the way may be opened for me to come to you. Romans 1:10

Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. Hebrews 13:18

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ... Col 4:3

Third, God has given him a helpmeet:

And the LORD God said, [It is] not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Gen. 2:18

He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22

When Galen was our vicar last year I witnessed first hand the qualities that God gifted him with that will serve him well as a pastor. He has an engaging, affable way about him - you can tell he genuinely LIKES working with God's people. He demonstrated real care and concern for our parish members, the youth and the elderly in particular. He's solidly confessional and he can preach. Boy can he preach!

Galen, if you’re reading this, I'm not trying to suck up. *grin* We love you and we're proud of you...and humbled too, to have been a part of the process that God used to confirm your call. Thank you Galen and Jenny for being obedient to the Lord and serving his church as his called servant.

I won, I won!

Oh my goodness! I am so excited! Also, a little bit guilt-ridden.

A Soldier's Wife was having a giveaway contest for one of two brand-spanking new Bibles...and I won!! I won a new Bible, and not just any Bible, but this Bible.







That's a nice Bible, folks.

I feel a bit bad though too, because I meant to put up a link to her contest, partly to give her some linky-love and partly so that my friends could go and enter the contest too. No, really. I meant to. But, I never got around to it. (Actually, I haven't blogged much at all this month...)


Anyway, I want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Yippee!!

Lutheran preaching at its finest

One of the real blessings of blogging is I've gotten to "meet" Lutherans from other parts of the world that I probably would not have met otherwise. If you read here, you have likely seen Beth and Sue around from time to time. The Lutheran Church Canada is a relatively small church body so you kind of get to "know" a lot of the pastors, or at least their names. So it was kind of neat to find blogs for Pastor Alex Klages and his wife Kelly. Pastor Klages is Canadian and his lovely wife is American; Pastor Klages shepherds two parishes in Manitoba. Two real treasures that I stumbled across are the blogs of Pastor William Weedon (Weedon's Blog) and Pastor William Cwirla (Rev. Cwirla's Blogosphere). These two guys are among the finest preachers I have ever heard.

This is probably bad blogging etiquette, but I've cut and paste a sermon that Pastor Weedon had posted on his blog. I think it is an outstanding sermon in and of itself, but I picked it because it is a good example of a typical Lutheran sermon. If you are not well acquainted with Lutheran preaching, it is probably different than what you are used to. Lutheran sermons are all about preaching the Gospel. They are all about what God has done, and continues to do, for us. They're not about "right living" or "Christian precepts" or what we "do" for God. You might hear about how we ought to live in light of the Gospel, but the focus is firmly on what God has done for us through Christ.

The Bible is all about Jesus, from beginning to end and the purpose of the Bible is to reveal Christ to us. It's not surprising then, that our servants of the Word, in accordance with Paul's instruction to Timothy, preach the Word; that is, Christ crucified.

Anyways, here's the sermon...enjoy!

Homily for Trinity 2 (2008)
[Proverbs 9:1-10 / 1 John 3:13-18 / Luke 14:15-24]

“Blessed is everyone who WILL EAT bread in the Kingdom of God!” That’s what the fellow cried out. The man who was reclining at Table with Jesus, hearing Him preach and teach and sharing the meal together with Him. He was so focused on the future, that He was in danger of missing the present. The fellow was thinking of how wonderful heaven must be. You can almost hear the wistfulness in his words.

Jesus’ reply is rather shocking. He basically says: “You think so? Most people don’t. And here’s the proof. Because what you’re thinking of in the sweet bye and bye is exactly what I am offering in the sweet here and now. Feasting with Me IS heaven. Communing with Me IS life. But would you look at what happens!”

And so the parable. A great banquet. A banquet first announced (that would be by the prophets – as we also heard in today’s first reading from Proverbs) and then prepared. A banquet to which people are invited without having to bring a single thing, not even a side-dish to share – ALL supplied in full, ALL gift. “Come, for everything is now ready.” Which is just the same as saying: You want heaven? What about I give you a bit of heaven right here and now?

And what response does this invitation receive? “I have bought a field and must go inspect it. I have bought five yoke of oxen and I go to examine them. I have married a wife and therefore I cannot come. Please have me excused.”

The gift of heaven itself offered to the citizens of the earth, and they are so preoccupied with the business and pleasures of this age that they simply have no time for the joys of the age to come; and even worse, by preferring the pleasures and occupations of this life, they show that they have no real desire for heaven after all. That is what actually stands behind the excuses: we’ve got more important things to do in our lives right now, God, than to eat bread with You in Your Kingdom. Farming, boating, golfing, sleeping in, reading the newspaper, picnicking, camping, partying with our friends. You name it. But it all comes down to this: Your offer isn’t as appetizing to us as the fun of this world. And so we give our hearts to the things temporal that we are bound to lose; and neglect to our unspeakable hurt the things eternal.

The banquet is a gift. First, foremost, always. Gifts are offered; not coerced. God offers them in freedom without compulsion and we can reject them in freedom without compulsion. Heaven is a gift. Even heaven on this earth. Our God will never force a person to receive it. But the invitation does not ring out over any one person’s life indefinitely. There comes a time when the invitation moves on to others. And so in the parable, it moved on to the poor, the crippled, blind and lame, the people of the highways and hedges. They filled the banquet hall that others had spurned. They gratefully attended to the heavenly feast that our Father prepares for His children on earth. And all who heed the invite find a welcome that astonishes and a feast more lavish than anything they could ever imagine, desire, or certainly deserve.

And so the story has gone on through these many centuries. Our God keeps setting up His banqueting table among us and He summons any who will to leave behind the preoccupations of this life, who will lay aside all earthly cares, to come and feast with Him. To listen to Him as He reveals in His Word the joys He has prepared for those who love Him, and then to receive the food that He has readied for them: the unimaginable feast of His Son’s body and blood. Yes, the very sacrifice by which atonement was won for all people on the Cross becomes the sacrament by which atonement is applied to all who come to receive. The body that was broken for the remission of sins upon Golgotha, is the body that He reaches you at this table. The blood that blotted out the sin of the world is the blood He wants to pour into you from His chalice.

And why? So that you may have communion with your Savior. So that you may live in Him and He may live in you. Your sins forgiven, your death destroyed. This is the meaning of life itself. This is the banquet which is wholly gift and which the Heavenly Father has set for you so that you may already here and now by faith partake of the life that He has prepared for you in eternity.

But what will you answer Him? Wisdom invites: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and live, and walk in the way of insight.” There is no insight greater than that the Blessed Trinity has so created and so redeemed you that you might live in communion with Him. You are the objects of such great love! “By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us.” And where else do you taste that love but at His banquet, His Divine Service where the table of the Word and the table of the Supper overflow with gifts of life for each of you, His beloved children?

Do you want to go to heaven? Do you want to eat bread in the Kingdom of God? Do you want to recline at table with saints and angels and feast forever in the joy of God’s presence? Do you want to hear the hymn of praise that never ceases? Do you want to be with your loved ones who have died in the faith and passed behind the veil? You don’t have to wait. He reaches you the gift here and now, and He reaches it to you every week. And the more you experience what He offers here, the more you will realize that there is nothing on earth that could ever satisfy you like this. For here is the love, the peace, the joy you ache for. Here is total acceptance, pardon and love. Here is the family of God gathered as one around the Savior, some few seen, and multitudes upon multitudes unseen. Not in the sweet bye and bye. But all here and all now. Waiting. For you. “Come, for everything is now ready.”

Amen.

Iglesia Luterana Synodo de Nicaragua

In the early 1990s, the vast majority of Nicaraguans were nominally Roman Catholic. Many had little contact with their church, however, and the country's Protestant minority was expanding rapidly, particularly Assemblies of God (Pentecostal) churches. Roman Catholicism came to Nicaragua in the sixteenth century with the Spanish conquest and remained, until 1939, the established faith. The Roman Catholic Church was accorded privileged legal status, and church authorities usually supported the political status quo. Not until the former President José Santos Zelaya came to power was the position of the church seriously challenged. Over time, syncretism with pre-Columbian pagan elements had crept into the Church, to the point where the Gospel had been seriously obscured. In the mid-1980s, there was approximately 1 priest for every 7,000 Roman Catholics, (a ratio lower than the Latin American average) making proper cathechisis an extremely difficult task. It was under this climate that the Lutheran Church Canada was invited to come to Nicaragua to preach the Gospel.

At the height of the Contra-Sandinista conflict in the 1980s, a man named Sandor Arguello - fearing for the safety of his family - fled Nicarauga and came to Montreal, Canada. It was in a Lutheran church in Montreal that Sandor says he first heard the Gospel - the free gift of salvation through Christ - preached. It was literally life-changing. He entered the seminary and became an ordained servant of the Word. At first he and his family remained in Canada, but in the 1990s the Lutheran Church Canada was invited by some Nicaraguans to come to Nicaragua to establish a mission and preach the Gospel. Rev. Sandor Arguello was called by the church to be the missionary to Nicaragua.

At first the work was disappointing and unfruitful. Rev. Arguello was viewed with suspicion by those he attempted to preach to. The people had all kinds of distorted impressions about Lutherans - that they weren't really Christians, that they worshipped Luther, etc. - that made the work difficult.

But then something totally unforeseen happened that changed the situation - Hurricane Mitch. The hurricane devastated the country. It triggered mudslides in the area of Chinandega that killed 3000 people in one night. Rev. Arguello reported the devastation and desperate needs of the Nicaraguan people and the Lutheran Church Canada mobilized into action, sending wave after wave of much needed relief supplies. The once suspicious Nicaraguan people now viewed the Lutheran church much differently. They now saw God's love in action and they began to respond to the Gospel call.

Since that time, the mission work in Nicaragua has flourished. I'm not sure exactly how many churches have been planted over the last 10 years - dozens though. Earlier this year, the Nicaraguan mission of the Lutheran Church Canada became it's own autonomous church body - Iglesia Luterano Synodo de Nicaragua (Lutheran Church Nicaragua Synod). The church continues to grow rapidly and has begun to expand missions into Honduras and Costa Rica. Missions to Latin America are desperately needed as syncretism in the established RC church is rampant. The LCC has helped ILSN to establish a seminary and a mission centre in Nicaragua and we continue to help the new church financially.

I know that some Catholics are offended when Protestants send missionaries to nominally Catholic countries. I think it's important to note a couple of things...

First and foremost, the LCC and now the ILSN have gone into these countries because they were invited. The church has responded to persistent calls from native Latin Americans to bring the Gospel to their countries.

Second, the rampant syncretism throughout the RC church in Latin America has seriously obscured the Gospel message. Understand - I'm not saying the church is teaching syncretist docrine, but the people, who have little regular connection with their church, have picked up many false teachings that have distorted their understanding of the Gospel. As a result of this, many (like Rev. Arguello before them) have never truly heard the Gospel in truth and purity until it was preached to them by a Lutheran missionary.

Third, clearly the RC church has not made sufficient resources available in these countries to reach their own people and correct the false doctrine that has corrupted them. (Note: I'm NOT judging this inaction - I have no idea what the particular circumstances are down there. I'm simply stating a fact.) In the absence of remedial action from the RC church, the Lutheran church has stepped in to fill a void. We're not "stealing" Catholics. We are preaching to the lost.

For more information about the mission work in Nicaragua and Latin America, see here.

Making it count

Today I read two posts - written by two of my dear friends - that pricked my conscience. The first was by Kari, here, and the second was by Beth, here.

Kari has written a number of times recently about the cyclone that has devastated Burma and taken so many lives. Today she wonders (and rightly so) why so many of her fellow bloggers (me included) have touched on the recent tragedy in the Chapman family, yet so few have found time to spare a few words for those whose lives have been devasted in Burma and China.

Ouch.

Kari's post convicted me: it matters what you write about.

For the most part, this blog is a "friendship vehicle". I've never really had a single purpose for blogging and my posts reflect that. I post pretty much whatever strikes my fancy. And I guess there's nothing wrong with that per se...except, the blog IS named Ask A Lutheran after all. Most people, when I tell them what my blog is called, assume that it is a Lutheran apologetics blog. And truthfully, I did have the intention, when I first started blogging here, to do more of it. Apologetics that is.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't regret a single moment that I have spent blogging about family matters and what's going on in our lives. That's the friendship part of the blog - it's how we got to know one another and became friends, and my friendships here are worth nurturing.

But there's been some fluff too, stuff that is neither apologetics or friendship related; stuff that I used as filler when I had nothing better to say. As if you come here to be entertained or something. Shame on me for thinking so. I ought to value your time more. Of all the millions of blogs there are out there to read, you choose to come here day after day. The least I can do is have something worthwhile for you to read when you get here. Something that nurtures our relationship. Or maybe something that makes you think.

Which brings me to the second post; Beth's. Ironically, Beth's post is also about the Chapman tragedy, but Beth's post convicted me in an entirely different way.

What I took away from her: it matters what you believe.

Now poor Beth. She's gonna think I'm picking on her. *smile* I recently posted a long apologetics piece in response to a question that she had for me about the role of man's will in salvation. I have known for a long time that I, as a confessional Lutheran, have a markedly different understanding of some key Christian doctrines than, well, most of my friends and readers. That post addressed to Beth, a true apologetics piece if ever I've written one, clearly defines one of those differences. And I have to tell you, it was hard for me to write so openly in seeming opposition to a friend. I worry, you see, that I may cause offense, or even confusion to others. And frankly, I just don't want to get into an argument with a friend!

What stuck a chord with me today in Beth's post was this line: "this man's music brought me back to Christ." When I read that I drew in my breath sharply. "No Beth," I thought to myself, "the Holy Spirit brought you back to Christ - if indeed you ever were truly away from Him."

Now, I know Beth well enough to know that what she probably meant was, "the Holy Spirit used this man's music to renew my joy in the Lord" or something similar. I KNOW she doesn't believe that mere music has the power to convert the unbeliever. That's not what she meant...it just came out that way. Christian shorthand, if you will. But it got me to thinking about how many Christians have no problem believing that the Spirit can work through means like music (or even the blog posts of others) to effect a response in us, but can't believe that the same Spirit can work through means like simple water and bread and wine to effect salvation in us. (And that folks, is another apologetics piece all its own...)

It matters what I write about, and it matters what I believe. What I write about is always going to be influenced by what I believe. And what I believe should be reflected in what I write. I am a Christian, yes, but I am a Lutheran Christian and I truly believe that Lutherans have unique perspective among Christians, one that is rich and profound, centred not on the works of man, but on the completed work of Christ.

I love sharing this perspective. I hope that it enriches you when I do.

Tragic

This is so incredibly sad.

Daughter of gospel star Steven Curtis Chapman hit, killed by car

Do you remember this song (below), by SCC, from 5 or 6 years ago? It's almost prophetic. I always found the song comforting and shared it with my friends Morley and Heather when they lost their 18 month old son Evan in an accident two years ago.

Lord, send your Spirit to your broken ones.

With Hope

This is not at all how

We thought it was supposed to be

We had so many plans for you

We had so many dreams

And now you've gone away

And left us with the memories of your smile

And nothing we can say

And nothing we can do

Can take away the pain

The pain of losing you, but ...

We can cry with hope

We can say goodbye with hope

'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end, oh no

And we can grieve with hope

'Cause we believe with hope

(There's a place by God's grace)

There's a place where we'll see your face again

We'll see your face again

And never have I known

Anything so hard to understand

And never have I questioned more

The wisdom of God's plan

But through the cloud of tears

I see the Father's smile and say well done

And I imagine you

Where you wanted most to be

Seeing all your dreams come true'

Cause now you're home

And now you're free, and ...

We have this hope as an anchor

'Cause we believe that everything

God promised us is true, so ...

So we can cry with hope

And say goodbye with hope...

We wait with hope

And we ache with hope

We hold on with hope

We let go with hope...

I'm no theologian, but...

Beth has a question for Beth:

Anita - I didn't want to post to Beth because I don't know her well and don't want her to take offense but I have a Q about her post.


My understanding is that God is always present and always "there" and that He has given us freewill. He never "steps away" from us but unfortunately we can choose not to follow Him. Thus, while our Salvation has nothing to do with us and is entirely due to His grace, we still have to make the choice to come back into relationship with Him for it to occur.


I understand what she's saying about the gift of faith but my impression has been that the progression isn't gift-realization-relationship but realization-gift-relationship.


Does that make sense?

Beth - this is a really good question and I'm sure that Beth wouldn't be offended at all!

What you have described is a fairly common understanding of the "coming-to-faith" process. This understanding of the salvation process is known as "synergism" - that is, God's grace + man's choice = salvation. Both participate in the process; both "do" something.

To be fair, there is some language in Scripture that seems to imply that a choice is involved. Some of the ones that come to mind are:

"Choose this day whom you will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" Joshua 24:15

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..." Rev. 3:20

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

While it's true that God gave us free will at Creation, our will has been in bondage to sin ever since the fall. What's more, Scripture clearly indicates that man can't choose to come to God:

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." John 15:16

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12

In fact, the Scriptures describe our natural condition as being spiritually dead, an enemy of God.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins," Ephesians 2:1

Just as a corpse cannot restore itself to physical life, unregenerate man cannot restore himself to spiritual life. Rather, we must be regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit. We contribute nothing; God does it all. This view is known as "mongergism" and Scripture describes this passive reception of faith and salvation in a number of places:

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." John 6:63

"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:4

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:5-8


So if the Scriptures teach that we don't - in fact can't - come to him by our own strength or will, how do we reconcile that with the Scriptures that seem to imply that a choice is involved? If you look at the verses that I used as examples, it sure sounds like there's a choice, doesn't it?

Steve Newell (a Christian apologist) says: "So if we cannot make a decision, then why do we see people "making a decision" for Christ in the Bible? What gives life in God’s word? In Romans 10:14-15, Paul writes that it is the hearing of Gospel that gives one the ability to call on the name of the Lord. Through the book of Acts, people’s ability to respond to the Gospel is always preceded by the proclamation of the Gospel. What they take for "making decision" is actually their responding to what God has already done. In Peter's proclamation of the Gospel to Cornelius' household, the Holy Spirit came down on those who heard the message (Acts 10:44)Later, the Apostles stated that it was God who gave the Gentiles that ability to repent (Acts 11:18). Even our ability to repent is a gift of God."

Look at those "Choice" verses again: If you look at them in context you'll notice that they aren't written to unbelievers, but to believers. The first two are exhortations to believers to choose to remain faithful/return to faithfulness; the last is not a "formula" for salvation, but a description of what (by the power of the Spirit) has already occurred.

Trust me Beth, I know this one is a toughie. My husband struggled with this for years. He told me how, when when he was younger, he "walked the aisle" dozens of times to "dedicate" and "rededicate" his life to Christ because he was never sure that he was really saved. I could never understand this. I asked him: Didn't he believe God's promise? His response: He trusted God's part, but he didn't trust his own part - he could never be sure about his decision, whether is was sincere enough.


I think that's just heartbreaking, but I get where he's coming from and I understand how he could be so terrified. Because the reality is, as sinful human beings, we never ARE sincere enough - and we never will be. Not on this side of heaven anyways.


Thankfully, God has not made our salvation provisional. It's not "grace + my works". It's not "grace + my choice". It's grace + nothing. That's the only equation that works, because the moment you introduce a human element, the equation becomes tainted. Only God has the power to save us and we must not usurp that power for ourselves. To do so is to reject the completed work of Christ on the Cross.


"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8


It may sound as if I am judging the faith of "decision makers" as false. I'm not. The understanding of how they came to faith may be imperfect, but the faith itself- given as a gift of God - is not.


"I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." Romans 12:3


I know that in my husband's case, the realization that his salvation was a 100% God-done thing was literally life-changing. I guess that's part of why I get so passionate about it. I hope that helps you understand where Beth and I are comig from when we say No Choice!