“This will be your opportunity to bear witness” (Luke 21:13)
In 1958, Time Magazine published an article entitled the “The New Lutheran.” Released during Holy Week, the article described Dr. Franklin Clark Fry – the president of the United Lutheran Church – as the most influential leader of world Protestantism. The article went on to say, “People are pouring in to the Lutheran Church attracted by billboards, magazine ads, TV programs, and the Lutheran Hour... congregations are springing up at the rate of one every 54 hours” (Time Magazine, April 1958).
How times have changed. In the last twenty years the Lutheran Church has seen a dramatic decline. Instead of opening congregations we are closing them. Instead of sending missionaries we are bringing them home. Even worse, our church leaders have been enamored with a liberal Protestantism that speaks with certainty on social issues but with uncertainty on core theological truths. We receive statements about Palestine, sexuality, and abortion but when was the last time we received a statement on the two natures of Christ? When was the last time our leadership said anything about justification (the article by which the church stands or falls)?
Many of us wonder what to do. Do we stay or do we go? If we stay what do we say? If we go where are we to go? Questions easily enough asked but terribly difficult to answer.
I, by no means, have a simple answer for this complex issue. However, I would like to share one Scripture passage that helps me to stay in the ELCA. The passage is Luke 21:5-22. In these verses, Jesus is speaking about the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus warns his disciples that there will be destruction, false teachers, and betrayal by “parents, brothers, relatives and friends” (21:16).
Talk about a horrible situation. Home is supposed to be a place of security. But in the days preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, home became a place of strife. What is important for our predicament is that Jesus did not tell his disciples to give up or complain in some corner. Instead, he gave them a charge in verse 13: “This is your opportunity to bear witness.” Every word is important. “This” refers to the destruction of the temple, the false teachers, and the persecution within the home. “Opportunity” means a chance, occasion, and opening. “To bear witness” (martyr, in the Greek) means to publically proclaim Jesus in a manner that might lead to death. By saying, “This is your opportunity to bear witness”, Jesus is telling his disciples that the destruction, false teaching, and persecution, is the very opportunity, chance, occasion, and opening for his disciples to share the gospel in a public manner.
How can Jesus make such a statement? Does he mean to say that suffering actually creates the opportunity for the gospel? Does he mean to say that false charges and betrayal would be the very occasion for preaching a message of forgiveness? Yes! That is exactly what he is saying. Jesus is calling his disciples to follow the way of the cross. He is calling them to proclaim the gospel in the very midst of persecution.
For all of us who lament the state of the church these words are for us. It is true that the ELCA is in a terrible spot. We were raised with the catechism, raised to trust our church leaders, raised to have faith in Christ. Over the years we have experienced betrayal. Our catechisms are seen as unimportant. We have been forced to question our church leadership. Our simple faith in Christ is no longer seen as relevant. The Church is supposed to be a place of security but has become a place of strife. The temptation is to leave or sulk in some corner. Instead, the gospel calls us to see that this denomination, warts and all, is the very denomination God has called us to. This is our opportunity, chance, occasion, and opening, given to us by God to bear witness. He will take care of us. He has promised: “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish” (21:17-18). We need not fear.
With dark days ahead for the ELCA, it is my hope that many people will stay and seize this opportunity to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In His service,
The Reverend Russell Lackey
Reformation Lutheran Church
Westminster, California
In 1958, Time Magazine published an article entitled the “The New Lutheran.” Released during Holy Week, the article described Dr. Franklin Clark Fry – the president of the United Lutheran Church – as the most influential leader of world Protestantism. The article went on to say, “People are pouring in to the Lutheran Church attracted by billboards, magazine ads, TV programs, and the Lutheran Hour... congregations are springing up at the rate of one every 54 hours” (Time Magazine, April 1958).
How times have changed. In the last twenty years the Lutheran Church has seen a dramatic decline. Instead of opening congregations we are closing them. Instead of sending missionaries we are bringing them home. Even worse, our church leaders have been enamored with a liberal Protestantism that speaks with certainty on social issues but with uncertainty on core theological truths. We receive statements about Palestine, sexuality, and abortion but when was the last time we received a statement on the two natures of Christ? When was the last time our leadership said anything about justification (the article by which the church stands or falls)?
Many of us wonder what to do. Do we stay or do we go? If we stay what do we say? If we go where are we to go? Questions easily enough asked but terribly difficult to answer.
I, by no means, have a simple answer for this complex issue. However, I would like to share one Scripture passage that helps me to stay in the ELCA. The passage is Luke 21:5-22. In these verses, Jesus is speaking about the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus warns his disciples that there will be destruction, false teachers, and betrayal by “parents, brothers, relatives and friends” (21:16).
Talk about a horrible situation. Home is supposed to be a place of security. But in the days preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, home became a place of strife. What is important for our predicament is that Jesus did not tell his disciples to give up or complain in some corner. Instead, he gave them a charge in verse 13: “This is your opportunity to bear witness.” Every word is important. “This” refers to the destruction of the temple, the false teachers, and the persecution within the home. “Opportunity” means a chance, occasion, and opening. “To bear witness” (martyr, in the Greek) means to publically proclaim Jesus in a manner that might lead to death. By saying, “This is your opportunity to bear witness”, Jesus is telling his disciples that the destruction, false teaching, and persecution, is the very opportunity, chance, occasion, and opening for his disciples to share the gospel in a public manner.
How can Jesus make such a statement? Does he mean to say that suffering actually creates the opportunity for the gospel? Does he mean to say that false charges and betrayal would be the very occasion for preaching a message of forgiveness? Yes! That is exactly what he is saying. Jesus is calling his disciples to follow the way of the cross. He is calling them to proclaim the gospel in the very midst of persecution.
For all of us who lament the state of the church these words are for us. It is true that the ELCA is in a terrible spot. We were raised with the catechism, raised to trust our church leaders, raised to have faith in Christ. Over the years we have experienced betrayal. Our catechisms are seen as unimportant. We have been forced to question our church leadership. Our simple faith in Christ is no longer seen as relevant. The Church is supposed to be a place of security but has become a place of strife. The temptation is to leave or sulk in some corner. Instead, the gospel calls us to see that this denomination, warts and all, is the very denomination God has called us to. This is our opportunity, chance, occasion, and opening, given to us by God to bear witness. He will take care of us. He has promised: “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish” (21:17-18). We need not fear.
With dark days ahead for the ELCA, it is my hope that many people will stay and seize this opportunity to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In His service,
The Reverend Russell Lackey
Reformation Lutheran Church
Westminster, California
8 comments:
The passages you used are probably not the ones others would commonly use. But they strike me as being the kind that when you hear them while going through a tough spot, they really take on new meaning. The ELCA as Jerusalem, in all that means, good and bad — What an image!
What an encouraging word in the midst of what seems like chaos. When each & every day, you labor, strive for, and your heart aches for people to know freedom that comes from the Gospel alone, instead of continually being enslaved to the law. Instead of hearing five ways to be a better Christian or being made to feel guilty for not giving back to your community enough, I long for my congregation to hear the sweet words of love found on the cross and seen in the empty tomb. It's so easy to become disheartened. Thank you for the good words & reminding me yet again of the reason God has called me to this place.
Colossians 1:29
Wonderful reminders of just it is we serve. I stayed in the ELCA when I was at a crossroads a couple of years ago when I had a chance to leave for somewhere else (I was UMC, going to Luther Sem and waiting internship). I was lead to feel that if I left at that time it would have been for my needs and desires, not God's. That my "cross" was to stay in this, not for me, but for all those in the pews who are at the mercy of what is being spewed out by so many under the sway of this different gospel (not that there is another gospel).
I may leave one day, but it will be at the end of trying my hardest and even at times, loudest voice crying in the wilderness.
Thank you!
"Many of us wonder what to do. Do we stay or do we go? If we go where are we to go? Questions easily asked by terribly difficult to answer."
As a pastor in the Sierra Pacific Synod, I have just been through a "removal" process in which the Bishop actively consulted with congregational members who used the "constitution" to remove me as pastor. Sometimes it is no question at all. If they want you gone, you will be gone!
Once removed, even if there were no "disciplinary" grounds, try finding another call. See how many "there are no congregations that match your skills" letters you receive from the synod bishops of the ELCA. If the leadership of the ELCA knows you stand against their "agenda," the questions will no longer need to be asked! You will be given the answer. - "It doesn't matter where you go, just go!"
I am sorry for what has happened to you in the Sierra Pacific. It is a painful reminder of the fallenness of the ELCA. Thank God our hope is not in the ELCA but Christ. He is the Good Shepherd. The religious hirelings are not. Christ loves you and will continue to provide pasture to you. He has promised. If you want to talk please feel free to email me: pastor@reflutheran.org
Yours,
Russell Lackey
Been there. Got the T-shirt. Got the scars. And it was in a faithful, orthodox synod. If some members decide they don't like you, you are toast and blacklisted forever. I'm currently in a great but struggling congregation, but thank God that I am able to live on a salary in 5 figures less than I got in the congregation that fired me almost a decade ago. Please keep in conversation with others; Russell has already made the offer. And remember that God is faithful and it is He who has called us.
Steve Shipman
If the draft statement on Sexuality is any evidence of the leadership and holiness within ELCA, we can see why we have the decline. CORE's statement on the draft was very weak, in my opinion. I'm not sure it's online but Christianity Today had an article in Sept. 28, 1973 issue which could have shown us where we were going. It didn't start with the charge in 2001.
Thanks for the great work you are doing trying to bring the ELCA back onto the rails.
I'm a menber of an ELCA congregation in Corona del Mar, CA. Our pastor is like you guys...he knows what is happening, has tried to discuss some of the issuses with the powers that be and they wanted nothing to do with it.
So we do what we can to proclaim God's law and His gospel faithfully in our congregation and go from there.
Recentlt we had a sub pastor sent to us from the Synod. God help us. When our pastor leaves we are in big trouble if we get a guy like they sent us. Almost everyone liked the guy. He was intelligent and affable, but his sermon stunk the place up and almost everyone loved it. We are in big trouble.
Anyway, thanks for your efforts.
- Steve Martin San Clemente, CA
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