Still Living in the Tension

 

I began my professional ministry in 1969.  I was called to youth ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, located just south of Perry County, where the Saxon Lutherans established their first church and seminary.  Lutheran tradition ran deep in Cape Girardeau.  It was a town of 35,000 with four active and growing Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congregations, plus a Lutheran campus center that served the students of Southeast Missouri State University.

Trinity was not only the largest Lutheran congregation in town, but one of the largest in the LCMS.  There were three traditional services held each Sunday.  All three were well attended.  The 11 am service was broadcast live over the local radio station. 

I immediately sensed a tension.  Winds of change were wrestling among the teens.  Part of it was having a youth center that was located just a block from a major state university.  The Jesus Movement was beginning.  That was happening amid anxiety over the Viet Nam war and racial conflict.  The reality that the town was highly segregated was obvious to the kids who made up my flock.

There was fresh spirit among the kids.  They were very much aware of the guitar driven music of the of the Jesus Movement.  I had been introduced to contemporary Christian music in my youth ministry classes in college.  Now it was avital part of my ministry. 

It did not go on noticed, and quickly led to a response, “It is okay in the youth room but don’t even think about bringing those guitars into the sanctuary.” 

It was not just worship style that caused tension.  My youthful flock was very aware of the cultural tensions.  We actively discussed the issues in the youth room.  We did Bible studies on how scripture applied to the issues of the day.  The core group of youth leaders had grown up in the church and attended the parish school.  Lutheran sacramental theology was in their blood, but so was a desire to speak to the needs of a changing world.

Reflecting, more professional church workers came out of those three years than in the rest of my ministry combined.

I share these memories now because in many ways the same anxiety still exists today. 

Our church body still is in tension.  How do we maintain our rich theological tradition and still meet the needs of contemporary culture?  How do we navigate change while staying true to our heritage? 

People often asked me about my feelings on the church, particularly the future of the LCMS.  I see the reality of a denomination that like other Protestant bodies has been in decline for decades.

My experience tells me that we are going to be okay.  I say that because I am confident God has me, in the palm of His hand.  God is faithful.  We need to personally stay faithful and focus first and foremost on our own relationship with Him. 

I say this reflecting on 55+ years of ministry.  I have seen many changes, including a split that deeply affected the church and impacted my own family.  I have seen leaders come and go.  Each decade seemed to have a new program that was going to impact and change things. 

Through it all I have been okay, because my God is faithful. 

We just need to tone down the voices and listen more to the Spirit of God.

 

He Made us Uncomfortable

 

The tension was high in the boarding area as I waited to board a flight back to Dallas.  The increased anxiety was brought about by an approaching storm.  The sky was darkening outside. People checked the weather app on their phones. It was obvious our flight was going to be delayed. 

Above the anxious murmurs came a boisterous plea, “Can anybody tell me the gate for the flight to LaGuardia.”  It was the distinctive “New York accent” that caught my attention.

The lack of a response caused an additional, “Can somebody help me.  I need to catch the flight to LaGuardia.  It’s an airport in New York.”

I looked up and immediately identified the source.  He was wearing a Yankee’s cap and T-shirt.  My life experience also told me he was likely a functioning autistic adult. 

There was a sense of uneasiness in the gate area. All seemed uncomfortable and threatened by the man. 

Suddenly a strong female voice, addressed him.  “I can help you, but you need to come over here.”  It was a Southwest Airlines gate agent.  She called to the man but was also headed in his direction.

Once at the podium, their conversation was not private.  He used the same animated tone.  I was close enough to hear her calm response. “Can I see your boarding pass.”  Once that was secured, she was able to reassure the man that he was at the right gate, but the flight did not leave for another two hours.  Other flights would leave from that gate before then.  She also explained the weather, “there might be a delay in your flight.”

She pointed to an open chair that was convenient to the podium.  “Wait there, and we will keep you informed.”

“Thank you!” the man proclaimed in the same unsettling tone.

I had observed but I also took time to reflect.

We are surrounded by people who are calling for help.  Often their cries make us uncomfortable.  Because of their demeanor, their skin color, their ethnicity or social status, we ignore, or turn away.  All of us in the gate area heard his cry, only one person responded.  She also had the information needed.

What the man required was someone to listen to him, to hear his problem and help him find his way.  Basically, he needed to be reassured he was okay.

During his earthly ministry, many times Jesus interrupted his journey because someone was calling out in a voice of panic and pain. He always stopped and rendered aid.  In some cases, the demeanor or physical state of the person made the disciples anxious. 

I believe he is calling us to do the same.  It might make us uncomfortable, but that should never keep us from being Jesus to others.  By showing care and compassion, we might nudge them closer to a personal relationship with The Savior.

 

Family Legacy

 

As I write this, I am concluding a brief trip to Michigan where I joined with others in celebrating the 50^th anniversary of my brother Jim’s ordination in the pastoral ministry.  It was great family gathering has my siblings and I had the opportunity to spend some time together.  It also served as a reminder of how blessed we are as a family.  We all have various aches and pains that accompany the senior years, but we are all still relatively healthy and mobile. 

The reunion caused me to reflect on our family’s ministry legacy.  In addition to my brother Jim and his pastoral ministry, my sister, Carol, is a retired Lutheran educator and my brother David, while not in full-time ministry, has always been an active layman, singing in the church choir and currently serving as an elder in his congregation.

It continues with the next generation.  All three of our children are in full-time ministry and so are my brother Jim’s, his son is a Lutheran school principal and daughter a director of family ministry.  My brother David’s son in also an ordained pastor, in addition to his full-time job. 

Recently our son Peter’s oldest boy started a DCE internship at a church, making us a three-generation DCE family.  While Peter is a pastor, prior to that he was a certified DCE. 

I share this not to be boasting, but rather to focus on our faith legacy.  I point to my parents, and before that my grandparents and aunt and uncle.  While none of them were trained ministry professionals, they were all involved in the life of the church.  Faith, church and family were the cornerstones of our existence.  Church attendance was not an option.  Family celebrations were an opportunity to celebrate faith milestones. 

I view three things as being vital if the faith legacy is to be passed on.

The foundation is personal faith.  It begins with daily devotions, prayer and personal Bible study.  It also requires that we be in community, in terms of worship and Bible study. We need people to hold us personally accountable.

Secondly, it requires intentionally passing on our faith heritage.  That requires both intentional teaching and modeling faith in action.

Lastly, we must live grace-fully.  Family life can be messy.  Siblings do not always see eye to eye on issues.  Feelings can get hurt, but we must always be quick to forgive.  Healing always begins with us and our relationship with Christ.  The fact that Jesus is Our Lord and Savior is the most important fact.  We always live under grace.

I become more aware of this as I age, joyfully waiting in expectation to join those who have gone before me in the heavenly choir.