They just don’t understand (redux)

Got some comments the other day about my explanation of why I'll commune all baptized (regardless of age) and I stand in awe at how sometimes what you say can be received as intended by 125 people, yet somehow not received that way at all by a handful of others.

The gist of it is that I made a self-deprecating comment about how even after four years and many thousands of dollars worth of theological education, including some significant accomplishments, I cannot offer a satisfactory explanation of how Christ manages to be in under and through the elements of the eucharist because it is not a matter of knowledge, but rather of faith. Apparently some people took that as though I were belittling them for their lack of theological education (I assume that nobody was upset at their lack of theological debts).

While the majority got it, it disturbs me to be misinterpreted, after all, the gospel is supposed to be proclaimed from me in an educated fashion each week how can I be sure that what I proclaim is heard? ( I know, I know, sin boldly)

Of course there's the fact that I heard about these comments second-hand. I was actually thrilled when someone came in recently to take me to task for my failings because that demonstrated to me that I was a real person in the parishioner's eyes and that they felt comfortable speaking to me directly. I'm running through the Generations of Faith book to try and see how I can win the confidence of those who tend to not confront.

I want the criticism, If I knew everything I'd have skipped the parish and run for Bishop, but if the questions do not reach me directly, then neither can the answers reach those who should hear them. Second-hand criticism lacks the passion of the person who originates it, and second-hand replies run the risk of bad transmission.

I love this place, I hate it when things are too smooth.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer, and more than that, may they always speak the truth about you and about your love so that never will I be heard to say that your salvation is a weight laid across our shoulders but a light that we may see ourselves as we are. May the weight of caring for others seem like softest down because of the sight we gain in your love; may the need for justice vanish as we stride in confidence toward the future when there will be no more need for outcry and swords will be known no more; and may your people cling together bound by love and see in the eyes of the other, the eyes of our Lord.

They don’t understand

I have spent some time around a british pub here in Orlando during breaks and after the conhas ended each day. I have explained the basic tenets of the Lutheran faith as well as how it differs from other to a wide variety of people. I have been met with the widest of smiles, the warmest of embraces and the heartiest of laughs.

Why don't they understand that people of faith are mostly like me? (or are they?) The television does little to promulgate a good image of the Christian faith, the preachers of duty and prejudice are all represented but the preachers of grace find no audience.

Maybe we should move our ministries into the pubs? People of all stripes go there, they bring their families (especially the English) and they have seldom heard the word of grace and love from the clergy that they have known. Where the sinners are is where we need to be, it seems, not ensconced in churches insulated from the disdain. It needs to be met head-on, confronted and given a human face. the face of faith that lives as they do, with uncertainty and fear, with failings and weaknesses, with hope and love. The world needs the message of grace but if we simply buid it and expect them to come, then we may be disappointed.

Holy and eternal God, into the breach we cast ourselves, meeting the forces that would seek to separate us one from another. Guide our hearts and our voices that we may portray a loving heart, a willing hand and a seeking spirit so that we do not seem to be stolid and holier-than-thou, but warm and human. Remind us not to judge but rather to accept the failings of others as our own failings have been azccepted, noted and forgiven through your love.

Tastes Great, Less Filling

How do I manage to decide? I want to keep learning new things, and I'm an analytical enough person (and I have a lot of unashamed critics) that I can learn a lot of things by doing them (wrong, mostly), even deeper theological things.

I love the academic atmosphere, but that's what got me this "scholar body" that i have protruding over my belt. I'm a great student, I love the classroom and the esoterica of theology.

But I love being out here, doing the actual work of representing Christ to a group of people who have invited me into their hearts and homes and their church to be the official speaker of the word to them and to love them unabashedly.

which side of my heart to I listen to? I actually use the things I learn in classrooms. Sometimes I hesistate in conversation with parishoners because I am translating "theological-speak" into English in my head before I whip out a bunch of Luther for them to digest, so none of that abstract learning has done me much harm.

ah . . . decisions . . . so lucky to have them be my burden . . .

forgive me, Lord, when I complain that my soft and padded world contains too many possibilities. Remind me to be thankful for what i have and to then use my own blessings to be a blessing to others, demonstrating your love for me in my love for them. may the plethora of opportunities include the opportunities to speak your word into the dark places, and bring light.

ugly truth

The truth of the mater is that the Pastoral portion of this could be handled in about a day. So much of what I am hearing is reminder of CPE and Pastoral Care classes only without the verbatims, that i find myself very surprised by the occasional ideas that are new to me.

The strength of the stsyem is the system. Being able to approach the idea of lay pastoral ministry from a systematic angle leaves so much free time to manage finding referrals and doing the job of pastoral ministry. But you could teach me the system in a morning session, the fundamentals of referrals (according to the Stephen Ministry criteria) and the methodology of teaching new ministers in the afternoon and the rest could be mostly dispensed with.

took a survey with the stopwatch on my phone. The longest that the presenters spoke today without trying to sell something was 38 minutes, the shortest was 61 seconds.

Moved away from a table fo conservatives today, I could no longer hold my tongue and had to move or vent my piece, and it was neither the time nor the place for this particular theological debate (theophany).

Crucified and risen Lord, remember us, when you come into your kingdom, and seek us out as has ever been your will, so that we may not pass from this world without feeling the warmth of your love. Let those who preach you as harsh and capricious feel again the brush of you in their hearts and know that your love is greater than their pain, than their judgment and their ability to comprehend. Let them at last come to peace and cease trying to find the answers inside of their hearts and see that the answers are with your own heart, broken by our sin, yet pouring forth still the love that captures and saves.

But you’re alright . . .

I met a couple of Englishmen tonight, watching a soccer match after class.

Met the face of resistance to faith (having read a USA today article about the death of faith in Europe)

made some progress, explaining that we're not about money (an easy mistake to make in the days of televangelists) but are about caring for the whole of creation. Over a few beers we talked about the experiences of people who have distanced themselves from the church. It was fascinating that people so full of grace could have never had it explained to them how that occurs in their lives. It reminded me that people who have never heard the word (truly preached) or felt the benefit of the sacraments (rightly adminstered) might think of all of us as money grubbing folks who only dispense grace as it suits us, to our own benefit.

I considered it a great victory that they said " . . . but you're alright!" after telling me what they find distasteful about people of faith. Have we forgotten that we are just as subject to sin as anyone else? Shouldn't we let that fact slip now and again? I confess that I am in bondage to sin, but if i try and portray some kind of holiness I cannot hope to attain, do I do damage to the ministry of Christ?

On the other hand, there's V and E. Making me pretend to be Christ-like in all that I do . . . It's a quandry . . .

gracious and forgiving Lord, hear my prayer. Let me be truly human in all that I do, erring and falling, that all may know that grace extends to all of those with feet of clay for you have made so much clay, Lord. Let the witness of those of us who still claim your grace and love despite our humanity stand as a beacon for those who feel unworthy, or judged, or marginalized by those who pretend to holiness. Let the witness of your love in the face of our failings be inspiration to those who seek love without judgement, and may they find it as we have, in you.

strikingly uncomfortable

Is it that I actually miss my congregation!?!?!?

I'm uneasy, restless. I want to be at my desk figuring out how I can go an call on everyone who needs a visit, planning a presentation for my worship committee, laughing with Mary in the office and being about the business of ministry instead of being sold over and over again the line that if only I will make my congregation and Stephen Ministry congregation (emphasizing the ministry early and often) then everything will be just fine while sittin in an uncomfortable chair, no less.

I naturally miss my family, i understand what Dave was talking about when he spoke of the absent beloved. The feeling of pothos is palpable in my bearing and my every move. I miss Debbie so much and Caitlyn is constantly on my mind.

While this is important for me, Faith Lutheran is where I belong, caring for the people there, and proclaiming the gospel that claimed me.

Precious Lord, strengthen me in my time of loss and grief. The ones that surround me are filled with your Spirit but I find them cold, almost wooden because they are not the ones who have made me a minister of Your word. When I return fill me with the joy that is life in you, among the people who are the body of Christ and remind me of this longing when I approach the rail and the font and remember that the day is comign when this longing will cease and I will live in your presence again.

Odd observations

Have been sitting in a Stephen Ministries Leader training session all day, will be here for the rest of the week and some things occurred to me.

Good idea. Fine motives, extension of the ministry of caring beyond the pastor's office and all that.

sort of troubled by the Aristotelian emphasis on learned behavior, how we can become acculturated to kindness and caring. I wonder if Dave F has poisoned my perceptions of practices that rely on discipline to make good Christians. I agree with the poisoning, don't get me wrong, the Gospel should never be a burden, but I am wondering if this colors the perceptions I have of programs to be implemented and unfairly makes me skeptical.

I love being skeptical, but I need to be able to embrace good programs no matter what the intentional basis of the creators may have been.

Another thing that strikes me is what a sales bonanza this kind of thing must be. Each and every module includes suggestions about how to get your congregations to embrace the program so "they'll never think of ending the program" and then there's the pitch for another of their products (you don't even have to buy, you are given little stickers that have your personal leader number as well as the church's number so that you can be billed)
Today we were given the "opportunity" to participate in a study of churches that have gone through dramatic changes in the recent past. My (cynical) presumption is that another line of church management products is in the works and they need data and a test market.

Is it just me or is it somewat disconcerting when ministry organizations branch into secular management seminars? Stephen Ministry now offers a management seminar that focuses on secular managers but centers itself around Christ. What would Luther say?

Precious jewel of our lives, shine ever the brighter when your name is marketed, sold and slapped onto a product. Bless those efforts that bring your kingdom into view and guard our hearts against those that would simply use your name to do something other than save the lost. We live in the light of your love, shine that light into each crevice of our lives so that the darkness of our own brokeness cannot frighten us into changing your word to suit our own ends.

For Edna

Today we are mourning the passing of sister Edna, who has this morning claimed the promise of her baptism. Many hours spent with the family, hours spent in prayer with and for Edna and her sone and his family (large and extended) and we rest this epiphany on the promises of Baptism, the trust that as we approach the throne we will come as lost and penitent sinners, but be welcomed as children of God.

Precious Lord, To call you Lord is to know that your life amongst us was a taste of the love that you have brought into the world, the promise that your love will always shelter us amidst the storms of this life. Let the departed finda home in that love, and may we who remain be confident that your promises are the only truth we need to dwell here in your creation, and remain with you in the final reunion forever.