Notes from Pastor Renstrom |
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On this page, you can read selected Grace Notes articles from Pastor Tim Renstrom from past months and study them in closer detail. Enjoy!
July 2020
And Life Goes On
He [Jesus] said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8 EHV)
We’ve all been there. We’re all there right now. We’ve all had those ‘life’ events that trigger the questions, “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?”
The questions are usually triggered after personal or shared disasters: death of a loved one, loss of a job, serious illness, serious accidents, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes...you know what they are. The question can also be triggered by significant joyous events: weddings, retirements, graduations, etc.
Of course, the current event common to all of us that causes us to wrestle with these questions is the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?”
We face conflicting information from leaders and scientists. We have our own independent ideas, based either upon fact or perceived fact. And we each respond—or freeze—differently, based on our personalities and our pasts.
What’s the answer to the questions? Perhaps we can take a cue from Disney’s movie Frozen II. Now, don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing intentionally Christian about any of Disney’s movies. But they do often, perhaps unintentionally, promote Christian ideology.
In Frozen II, there is a place in the movie where the character Anna has to face life after believing that she has lost two of the most important characters in her life. As is typical of all musical productions, she bursts into song: “The Next Right Thing.” As the title of the song suggests, she concludes she simply must look to do the next right thing. (The song really is a pretty good song!) And, perhaps, that is good advice for us in whatever situation we find ourselves. Do the next right thing.
But what’s the “next right thing’? Instead of looking inside of ourselves for a ‘tiny voice’ to give direction, we, baptized Christians, look to God’s Word. The “next right thing” for the apostles after Jesus death, resurrection and ascension, was, in God’s Word, to receive power from on high and be his witnesses to the world. It is a pattern that repeats throughout Scripture from beginning to end. Ours is not to determine the “why” of all of the workings of the world and God’s interactions therein. Ours is enough to know that sin is in the world, disasters happen because of sin, but Jesus is in the world reconciling us to himself.
And the next right thing for us to do? In the power we have received from Baptism—the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, forgiveness of our sins, and faith to believe our forgiveness—the next right thing for us is to be who we are. We are witnesses to the work of God in the world around us and through us.
And what is the work of God in the world around us and through us? Love. Salvation through the faith that looks to and trusts in the work of Jesus on the cross. Mercy. Justice. Healing. In salvation we are tasked with telling the world of the good of God in the face of the evil with which we seem surrounded.
The Christian Church is essential to the world in all times, especially now. Not just to feed her own members (how selfish!!), but to proclaim and bring hope to a world which has lost its direction. You are the Christian Church.
We find ourselves in the midst of multiple ‘major’ events...and life goes on. “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?” All but the youngest among us knows that the impossible happens—and life goes on. How can it? How can we cope with it? In the cross of Jesus and all that it means. What do I do now? Take a step—in the footsteps of Jesus—into his Word. And through his Word, share his love with all. And He is and will be with you always, leading and carrying you to your next steps. And life goes on!
And Life Goes On
He [Jesus] said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8 EHV)
We’ve all been there. We’re all there right now. We’ve all had those ‘life’ events that trigger the questions, “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?”
The questions are usually triggered after personal or shared disasters: death of a loved one, loss of a job, serious illness, serious accidents, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes...you know what they are. The question can also be triggered by significant joyous events: weddings, retirements, graduations, etc.
Of course, the current event common to all of us that causes us to wrestle with these questions is the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?”
We face conflicting information from leaders and scientists. We have our own independent ideas, based either upon fact or perceived fact. And we each respond—or freeze—differently, based on our personalities and our pasts.
What’s the answer to the questions? Perhaps we can take a cue from Disney’s movie Frozen II. Now, don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing intentionally Christian about any of Disney’s movies. But they do often, perhaps unintentionally, promote Christian ideology.
In Frozen II, there is a place in the movie where the character Anna has to face life after believing that she has lost two of the most important characters in her life. As is typical of all musical productions, she bursts into song: “The Next Right Thing.” As the title of the song suggests, she concludes she simply must look to do the next right thing. (The song really is a pretty good song!) And, perhaps, that is good advice for us in whatever situation we find ourselves. Do the next right thing.
But what’s the “next right thing’? Instead of looking inside of ourselves for a ‘tiny voice’ to give direction, we, baptized Christians, look to God’s Word. The “next right thing” for the apostles after Jesus death, resurrection and ascension, was, in God’s Word, to receive power from on high and be his witnesses to the world. It is a pattern that repeats throughout Scripture from beginning to end. Ours is not to determine the “why” of all of the workings of the world and God’s interactions therein. Ours is enough to know that sin is in the world, disasters happen because of sin, but Jesus is in the world reconciling us to himself.
And the next right thing for us to do? In the power we have received from Baptism—the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, forgiveness of our sins, and faith to believe our forgiveness—the next right thing for us is to be who we are. We are witnesses to the work of God in the world around us and through us.
And what is the work of God in the world around us and through us? Love. Salvation through the faith that looks to and trusts in the work of Jesus on the cross. Mercy. Justice. Healing. In salvation we are tasked with telling the world of the good of God in the face of the evil with which we seem surrounded.
The Christian Church is essential to the world in all times, especially now. Not just to feed her own members (how selfish!!), but to proclaim and bring hope to a world which has lost its direction. You are the Christian Church.
We find ourselves in the midst of multiple ‘major’ events...and life goes on. “Now what? What do I do? How can I possibly do anything?” All but the youngest among us knows that the impossible happens—and life goes on. How can it? How can we cope with it? In the cross of Jesus and all that it means. What do I do now? Take a step—in the footsteps of Jesus—into his Word. And through his Word, share his love with all. And He is and will be with you always, leading and carrying you to your next steps. And life goes on!
June 2020
Please note! The information in the following letter is very important and a change from what we have been doing! Please read carefully for the information about your congregation’s worship!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 CSB)
Changes…
Temporary Worship Schedule changes:
· St Stephen’s resumes regular worship on May 31, 2020 with a time change.
· St John’s resumes regular worship on June 7, 2020 with a time change.
The Sunday schedule is as follows:
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church 8:00 a.m. (Must wear a mask)
St John’s Lutheran Church 9:15 a.m. (Masks encouraged but not required)
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church 10:30 a.m. (Masks encouraged but not required)
Welcome home! Our church Councils’ have made some changes (temporary) in how we are doing things—isn’t it great to remember that Jesus Christ is always the same?
In response to expert recommendations surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we are resuming our Sunday Worship with the above changes in time, and with some further protocols. These protocols may need to be adjusted and/or changed as we learn to adjust to them.
Protocols include, but are not limited to:
We are working with our janitors in each space to provide for proper cleaning before and after our services.
The reasons for the time changes: based on our average worship attendance, St Stephen’s has the greater likelihood of a greater number of participants, hence, we wanted to offer additional worship opportunities. Splitting the times, St Stephen’s at 8 and 10:30 with St John’s at 9:15, gives time for proper cleaning between services.
Also, please note, at St Stephen’s we are offering a Worship time for “masks only”. This is for our members who feel most comfortable wearing masks and being around people who wear masks. Please do not attend this service if you do not intend to wear a mask. We honor your choice, but we also want to honor those who choose otherwise. We do have the 10:30 worship which is for all—masked or nonmasked. We make no distinction between them. We ask that you do not make any judgments based on whether people want to wear masks or not. The St John’s 9:15 service is for all—masked or unmasked.
In both congregations we encourage people to use proper PPE (personal protection equipment). If you have hand sanitizer, we encourage you to bring your own, but we will have some available at the churches—depending on delivery dates!
I think that’s enough to try to digest in one letter—too much, probably. But the information is important to get out. But the most important information is what we started with: Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has always been with us. His Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, moves us to faith, and Jesus forgives our sins because of his work. And Jesus has been with us throughout this pandemic wherever we’ve been. He guides us to abundant life, just as he has given us eternal life.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
Please note! The information in the following letter is very important and a change from what we have been doing! Please read carefully for the information about your congregation’s worship!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 CSB)
Changes…
Temporary Worship Schedule changes:
· St Stephen’s resumes regular worship on May 31, 2020 with a time change.
· St John’s resumes regular worship on June 7, 2020 with a time change.
The Sunday schedule is as follows:
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church 8:00 a.m. (Must wear a mask)
St John’s Lutheran Church 9:15 a.m. (Masks encouraged but not required)
St Stephen’s Lutheran Church 10:30 a.m. (Masks encouraged but not required)
Welcome home! Our church Councils’ have made some changes (temporary) in how we are doing things—isn’t it great to remember that Jesus Christ is always the same?
In response to expert recommendations surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we are resuming our Sunday Worship with the above changes in time, and with some further protocols. These protocols may need to be adjusted and/or changed as we learn to adjust to them.
Protocols include, but are not limited to:
- Members who, for whatever reasons—age, vulnerability to the virus, family members who are vulnerable, if you have a cough, a fever, or a sore throat and a multitude of other reasons—are unable to attend are encouraged to continue to use the virtual worship options we are continuing to offer—radio, tv, Facebook and website.
- We will have no more that 25% of our capacity in our enclosed space. In each of our spaces that number is about 70-80. This is why we are offering two worship times at St Stephen’s.
- We will need to maintain our 6 foot social distancing recommended by the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Members of the same household can be closer than that, but we need to maintain 6 feet between members of other households—as we are entering and exiting and as we are sitting in the pew. Please don’t stand in the entries and visit. It creates a roadblock for others who want to get through. Outside, away from the doors, in nice weather, is a very good place to maintain distancing and catch up with each other’s lives.
- Our services will be modified from what we are used to. They will be somewhat shorter, and will have no singing (singing propels the aerosols from our mouths farther than talking; shorter because we want to limit the time we are together). There will be no ‘coffee time’.
- Offerings will be received in an offering plate at the entry to the sanctuary.
- Bulletins. Each congregation will do bulletins differently. At St John’s the service will be shown on the screen and only a few bulletins will be printed for those with limited eyesight who are unable to see the screen. At St Stephen’s the bulletins will be laid out on a table as the participants enter for us to pick up.
- I know this is going to be weird—but—as you come in, please fill in from the front of ·the church. If you do that, not everyone needs to walk past you to find their seat and it’s easier to figure out the 6 foot social distancing. And, when you exit, we ask the people in the back of the church to exit first and that those in the front would wait patiently for the others to exit.
We are working with our janitors in each space to provide for proper cleaning before and after our services.
The reasons for the time changes: based on our average worship attendance, St Stephen’s has the greater likelihood of a greater number of participants, hence, we wanted to offer additional worship opportunities. Splitting the times, St Stephen’s at 8 and 10:30 with St John’s at 9:15, gives time for proper cleaning between services.
Also, please note, at St Stephen’s we are offering a Worship time for “masks only”. This is for our members who feel most comfortable wearing masks and being around people who wear masks. Please do not attend this service if you do not intend to wear a mask. We honor your choice, but we also want to honor those who choose otherwise. We do have the 10:30 worship which is for all—masked or nonmasked. We make no distinction between them. We ask that you do not make any judgments based on whether people want to wear masks or not. The St John’s 9:15 service is for all—masked or unmasked.
In both congregations we encourage people to use proper PPE (personal protection equipment). If you have hand sanitizer, we encourage you to bring your own, but we will have some available at the churches—depending on delivery dates!
I think that’s enough to try to digest in one letter—too much, probably. But the information is important to get out. But the most important information is what we started with: Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has always been with us. His Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, moves us to faith, and Jesus forgives our sins because of his work. And Jesus has been with us throughout this pandemic wherever we’ve been. He guides us to abundant life, just as he has given us eternal life.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
May 2020
Perspective
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. (Revelation 21:3-4 CSB)
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
It has been a long time since we have had the opportunity to gather together. Please, be assured that I miss all of you. By the grace of God we’ve been able to keep connected in some different ways, but it is not the way that most of us prefer. And, likewise by the grace of God, the time will come again when we will gather around Word and Sacrament to hear and share the saving story of our salvation through the work of Jesus, by grace, through faith. Amen. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Depending on which church’s newsletter you read (St. Stephen’s or St. John’s), the details of this following information may or may not be available to you. But I want to share with all of you, so that all of you can know God’s continuing work among us. In the past month we have celebrated 4 baptisms and 1 funeral, as well as a number of individuals and families requesting and receiving the Lord’s Supper in our combined ministry. Thanks be to God, he does not practice ‘social distancing’! He comes close at all times and reaches out his saving arms to rescue redeemed sinners.
A few words by way of further encouragement.
When I was a young child my father modeled a very important lesson for me: Perspective. He wouldn’t call it that. He would simply always point out, to my obvious frustration, that there are always at least two sides to every argument. As I grew older, I quickly learned that there could be several sides to any argument—and, I learned, that if one was going to be successful in debate or negotiating, it was critical to be able to argue the ‘other side's’ point of view even more effectively than they could. Knowing the other side’s perspective didn’t mean that the other side was ‘right’. It just meant that you could see things from their perspective.
This is a vital lesson to be learned in many areas of life—not just negotiating or debating. It is helpful to have perspective in dealing with people richer or poorer than one’s self. It is good to try to understand urban\suburban thinking vs. rural thinking—they are quite different and each can be quite frustrating to deal with when one doesn’t know the differences. There are different perspectives when one looks at our nation from a ‘saltwater’ state perspective vs. a Midwestern state perspective.
As you can imagine, the above thoughts are not exhaustive. But they begin to give you an idea about perspective. This now brings us to our current world-wide ‘crisis’. You may begin to understand why I put ‘crisis’ in quotes in a moment as you consider the following statistics.
The Worldometer is an internet tool. It tracks statistics of various sorts and makes estimates in an ongoing fashion. I’m always skeptical of anything I find on the internet, but this has mostly favorable reviews. So I will use their numbers to try to put the COVID-19 event into perspective. Please understand, that as I do this I consider one death too many and all lives are extremely valuable.
As of 5:00 p.m., April 21, world-wide there were an estimated 177,179 deaths since January 1, 2020, caused by the COVID-19 virus. Yes. That’s a lot of deaths.
In the same period of time, there were an estimated 328,000 suicides; 413,000 traffic deaths; 514,000 deaths from HIV/AIDS; 1,529,000 deaths from smoking; 2,512,000 deaths from cancer; and...drum roll, please...13,004,000 deaths by abortion. That’s a lot more deaths.
But, as one person said, “Those are all things I have control over…”, thus implying what many of us are feeling, we fear the unknown. My question is, where’s the ‘crisis’ call, the ‘social distancing’—the government cry for drastic public action—for suicides, traffic deaths,...abortion? But that’s not the point of this message.
The point of this message is perspective. Ours. God’s.
Our perspective is we have death all around us—some over which we think we have some control and some which frightens us to paralysis because we see no one with control.
God’s perspective is shown in the verses from Revelation 21 quoted at the beginning of this message. His words are both proclamation for today and predictive of the future. The Lamb is victorious over Satan, sin and death. The Bridegroom has come and is coming for his bride. Christ Jesus is the sacrificial lamb whose death on the cross pays for the sins of all humanity and whose resurrected life gives the sure and certain hope of abundant life in the presence of God while we are in this world and when we enter eternal life in heaven, the new Jerusalem, when this present age is brought to its end.
God’s perspective is that we are his. His sheep, his family, his lost sinners made righteous by the blood of the lamb. Jesus’ promise at the end of Matthew holds true, always: “I am with you always…” It isn’t broken because of pandemic. It isn’t broken because of ‘social distancing’. It isn’t broken by our sin. It isn’t broken by the consequences of our sin. Jesus is always true to his Word. By grace through faith, Jesus says to us “Your sins are forgiven. You are mine.”
God’s perspective is right—righteous. Ours is fogged-in in the sin-filled world that surrounds us. In the grace that is ours in Christ Jesus, I encourage you to look to his Word for understanding, and to see the right perspective—that the way through all the events in this life of ours—is through the one that is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Christ Jesus our Lord.
Perspective
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. (Revelation 21:3-4 CSB)
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
It has been a long time since we have had the opportunity to gather together. Please, be assured that I miss all of you. By the grace of God we’ve been able to keep connected in some different ways, but it is not the way that most of us prefer. And, likewise by the grace of God, the time will come again when we will gather around Word and Sacrament to hear and share the saving story of our salvation through the work of Jesus, by grace, through faith. Amen. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Depending on which church’s newsletter you read (St. Stephen’s or St. John’s), the details of this following information may or may not be available to you. But I want to share with all of you, so that all of you can know God’s continuing work among us. In the past month we have celebrated 4 baptisms and 1 funeral, as well as a number of individuals and families requesting and receiving the Lord’s Supper in our combined ministry. Thanks be to God, he does not practice ‘social distancing’! He comes close at all times and reaches out his saving arms to rescue redeemed sinners.
A few words by way of further encouragement.
When I was a young child my father modeled a very important lesson for me: Perspective. He wouldn’t call it that. He would simply always point out, to my obvious frustration, that there are always at least two sides to every argument. As I grew older, I quickly learned that there could be several sides to any argument—and, I learned, that if one was going to be successful in debate or negotiating, it was critical to be able to argue the ‘other side's’ point of view even more effectively than they could. Knowing the other side’s perspective didn’t mean that the other side was ‘right’. It just meant that you could see things from their perspective.
This is a vital lesson to be learned in many areas of life—not just negotiating or debating. It is helpful to have perspective in dealing with people richer or poorer than one’s self. It is good to try to understand urban\suburban thinking vs. rural thinking—they are quite different and each can be quite frustrating to deal with when one doesn’t know the differences. There are different perspectives when one looks at our nation from a ‘saltwater’ state perspective vs. a Midwestern state perspective.
As you can imagine, the above thoughts are not exhaustive. But they begin to give you an idea about perspective. This now brings us to our current world-wide ‘crisis’. You may begin to understand why I put ‘crisis’ in quotes in a moment as you consider the following statistics.
The Worldometer is an internet tool. It tracks statistics of various sorts and makes estimates in an ongoing fashion. I’m always skeptical of anything I find on the internet, but this has mostly favorable reviews. So I will use their numbers to try to put the COVID-19 event into perspective. Please understand, that as I do this I consider one death too many and all lives are extremely valuable.
As of 5:00 p.m., April 21, world-wide there were an estimated 177,179 deaths since January 1, 2020, caused by the COVID-19 virus. Yes. That’s a lot of deaths.
In the same period of time, there were an estimated 328,000 suicides; 413,000 traffic deaths; 514,000 deaths from HIV/AIDS; 1,529,000 deaths from smoking; 2,512,000 deaths from cancer; and...drum roll, please...13,004,000 deaths by abortion. That’s a lot more deaths.
But, as one person said, “Those are all things I have control over…”, thus implying what many of us are feeling, we fear the unknown. My question is, where’s the ‘crisis’ call, the ‘social distancing’—the government cry for drastic public action—for suicides, traffic deaths,...abortion? But that’s not the point of this message.
The point of this message is perspective. Ours. God’s.
Our perspective is we have death all around us—some over which we think we have some control and some which frightens us to paralysis because we see no one with control.
God’s perspective is shown in the verses from Revelation 21 quoted at the beginning of this message. His words are both proclamation for today and predictive of the future. The Lamb is victorious over Satan, sin and death. The Bridegroom has come and is coming for his bride. Christ Jesus is the sacrificial lamb whose death on the cross pays for the sins of all humanity and whose resurrected life gives the sure and certain hope of abundant life in the presence of God while we are in this world and when we enter eternal life in heaven, the new Jerusalem, when this present age is brought to its end.
God’s perspective is that we are his. His sheep, his family, his lost sinners made righteous by the blood of the lamb. Jesus’ promise at the end of Matthew holds true, always: “I am with you always…” It isn’t broken because of pandemic. It isn’t broken because of ‘social distancing’. It isn’t broken by our sin. It isn’t broken by the consequences of our sin. Jesus is always true to his Word. By grace through faith, Jesus says to us “Your sins are forgiven. You are mine.”
God’s perspective is right—righteous. Ours is fogged-in in the sin-filled world that surrounds us. In the grace that is ours in Christ Jesus, I encourage you to look to his Word for understanding, and to see the right perspective—that the way through all the events in this life of ours—is through the one that is the Way, the Truth and the Life, Christ Jesus our Lord.
April 2020
On Words that Begin with “F”…
Charlotte has a shirt—I know that you are all glad to hear that! Let me start again: Charlotte has a shirt—that has these words printed on it, “Let your Faith in God be bigger than your Fear; John 14:27”. Good point.
The direct quote of John 14:27 is “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful” (CSB). Jesus is talking to his disciples in the upper room on Thursday night before (what we call) Good Friday. He knows what he is going to go through. He knows what they are going to go through. He is telling them that he is “going away” but that he is not leaving them alone. He has promised them the Holy Spirit is coming. Jesus is warning that the “ruler of the world” (Satan) is coming—but that Satan has “no power over me [Jesus]”.
And Jesus has left them with “peace”.
Peace. Likely “shalom”, considering it was highly likely that Jesus spoke to his disciples in Aramaic or Hebrew—although it is highly probable that he also spoke Greek. In Greek it would be the word from which we get the name “Irene”.
Peace. Being whole, intact, having prosperity. Harmony, tranquility, wellbeing, health. Salvation given from God. In the midst of a great trial, some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples are about peace. Shalom.
These words would have to be what would carry these followers through the next three days! Jesus is forcibly arrested, brutally beaten, driven through the city carrying his own cross, crucified, died and was buried. The followers knew, if any of the Temple leaders identified them, that the same was in store for each of them! Still, Jesus said, “Shalom. Peace.”
Fear...our first “F” word. Fear drives out peace. It splinters the community. It brings about disharmony. It causes physical, emotional and mental illness. It brings about economic poverty, as well as social and mental poverty. There is no tranquility, only an uproar that gets louder and louder as we are enveloped by fear.
The fear the disciples were facing was great—huge. In some ways it was similar to, and in some ways different from the fear we face in response to this COVID-19 epidemic...because fear is fear. It is no respecter of logic.
I read an article about our responses to our current situation (“Why some people just won’t stay home despite the advice” by Scottie Andrew). I think it identifies us pretty well. No matter what the age of people is, there are three basic responses to fear—1.) over-responders; 2.) under-responders; and 3.) the in-betweeners. Over-responders are the panic buyers—like those who have months of toilet paper on hand. Under-responders are those young people on the beaches on spring break, or the senior citizens who fill the aisles at Walmart just to get out of the house. (In-betweeners are those who are doing what they are supposed to be doing.)
Both the over-responders and the under-responders are reacting out of fear—in an attempt to maintain some control over the situation and their lives. Fear does that. The uproar has gotten so loud that fear makes everything feel out of control. We just want the world to slow down—STOP the merry-go-round! I want to get off!
The other “F” word...Faith.
Faith conquers fear. Remember the words from the liturgy (Divine Service, Setting Four, Lutheran Service Book)—the “alleluia” before the Gospel? “These words are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” In John 20, from which these words are quoted, the following words finish the sentence: “and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Faith. Believing. The same thing in Bible talk. Faith that Jesus is the Christ conquers fear. Believing that Jesus is the messiah conquers fear. Faith, believing that, yes, Jesus died on a cross, but he died to pay for the sins of the whole world, for mine and yours, so that we can be and are forgiven, and in being forgiven we are moved from death to life—even everlasting life with him in heaven and abundant life here on earth. That faith gives birth to hope and that hope conquers fear.
Faith conquers fear in a time of an epidemic. Whether this is a short-term or long-term epidemic only God knows. But we know that we do not face this alone. Faith knows that. Faith isn’t the absence of fear—that would be insanity. In this world we have much to fear: COVID-19, heart disease, cancer, evil people, and Satan, just to name a few things. Faith conquers fear. It looks to Jesus, who conquered death and Satan, and trusts the peace the he gives to us.
Peace, Jesus’ peace, will carry us through this difficult time, just as it carried the disciples through those hard days before Easter—and even through the rest of their lives. It changed them. The disciples still suffered. They still died—most of them from violent means! But they lived and live in peace. Likewise for us. We’re changed. Faith, given to us by God, does conquer fear so that even in difficult, even dangerous times, we still live. Because God’s faith conquers fear.
Let your Faith in God be bigger than your Fear; John 14:27.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
On Words that Begin with “F”…
Charlotte has a shirt—I know that you are all glad to hear that! Let me start again: Charlotte has a shirt—that has these words printed on it, “Let your Faith in God be bigger than your Fear; John 14:27”. Good point.
The direct quote of John 14:27 is “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful” (CSB). Jesus is talking to his disciples in the upper room on Thursday night before (what we call) Good Friday. He knows what he is going to go through. He knows what they are going to go through. He is telling them that he is “going away” but that he is not leaving them alone. He has promised them the Holy Spirit is coming. Jesus is warning that the “ruler of the world” (Satan) is coming—but that Satan has “no power over me [Jesus]”.
And Jesus has left them with “peace”.
Peace. Likely “shalom”, considering it was highly likely that Jesus spoke to his disciples in Aramaic or Hebrew—although it is highly probable that he also spoke Greek. In Greek it would be the word from which we get the name “Irene”.
Peace. Being whole, intact, having prosperity. Harmony, tranquility, wellbeing, health. Salvation given from God. In the midst of a great trial, some of Jesus’ last words to his disciples are about peace. Shalom.
These words would have to be what would carry these followers through the next three days! Jesus is forcibly arrested, brutally beaten, driven through the city carrying his own cross, crucified, died and was buried. The followers knew, if any of the Temple leaders identified them, that the same was in store for each of them! Still, Jesus said, “Shalom. Peace.”
Fear...our first “F” word. Fear drives out peace. It splinters the community. It brings about disharmony. It causes physical, emotional and mental illness. It brings about economic poverty, as well as social and mental poverty. There is no tranquility, only an uproar that gets louder and louder as we are enveloped by fear.
The fear the disciples were facing was great—huge. In some ways it was similar to, and in some ways different from the fear we face in response to this COVID-19 epidemic...because fear is fear. It is no respecter of logic.
I read an article about our responses to our current situation (“Why some people just won’t stay home despite the advice” by Scottie Andrew). I think it identifies us pretty well. No matter what the age of people is, there are three basic responses to fear—1.) over-responders; 2.) under-responders; and 3.) the in-betweeners. Over-responders are the panic buyers—like those who have months of toilet paper on hand. Under-responders are those young people on the beaches on spring break, or the senior citizens who fill the aisles at Walmart just to get out of the house. (In-betweeners are those who are doing what they are supposed to be doing.)
Both the over-responders and the under-responders are reacting out of fear—in an attempt to maintain some control over the situation and their lives. Fear does that. The uproar has gotten so loud that fear makes everything feel out of control. We just want the world to slow down—STOP the merry-go-round! I want to get off!
The other “F” word...Faith.
Faith conquers fear. Remember the words from the liturgy (Divine Service, Setting Four, Lutheran Service Book)—the “alleluia” before the Gospel? “These words are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” In John 20, from which these words are quoted, the following words finish the sentence: “and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Faith. Believing. The same thing in Bible talk. Faith that Jesus is the Christ conquers fear. Believing that Jesus is the messiah conquers fear. Faith, believing that, yes, Jesus died on a cross, but he died to pay for the sins of the whole world, for mine and yours, so that we can be and are forgiven, and in being forgiven we are moved from death to life—even everlasting life with him in heaven and abundant life here on earth. That faith gives birth to hope and that hope conquers fear.
Faith conquers fear in a time of an epidemic. Whether this is a short-term or long-term epidemic only God knows. But we know that we do not face this alone. Faith knows that. Faith isn’t the absence of fear—that would be insanity. In this world we have much to fear: COVID-19, heart disease, cancer, evil people, and Satan, just to name a few things. Faith conquers fear. It looks to Jesus, who conquered death and Satan, and trusts the peace the he gives to us.
Peace, Jesus’ peace, will carry us through this difficult time, just as it carried the disciples through those hard days before Easter—and even through the rest of their lives. It changed them. The disciples still suffered. They still died—most of them from violent means! But they lived and live in peace. Likewise for us. We’re changed. Faith, given to us by God, does conquer fear so that even in difficult, even dangerous times, we still live. Because God’s faith conquers fear.
Let your Faith in God be bigger than your Fear; John 14:27.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
PASTOR"S LETTER REGARDING COVID-19
March 18, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” (Romans 12:12 CSB)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3 CSB)
In the midst of difficult times our sure and certain hope rests in Jesus, even when we have to make decisions we’d rather not make. But, through prayerful consideration and thoughtful conversation we still make those choices. To that end…
In light of the infectious spread of the COVID-19 virus, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church are cancelling all worship services and large group church activities—member and nonmember—through March 29, 2020.
At this time the offices will remain open on their regular schedules. After March 29 we will reassess as we look forward to Palm Sunday (April 5), Holy Week and Easter (April 12).
Two things are for certain:
I am available for individual/family confession and absolution and communion by appointment. Please call ahead of time as I hope my calendar gets filled with these opportunities!
We are working on ways to connect via video on facebook and our websites. We are planning to continue, in some form, our Sunday morning worship broadcast, 11:00 a.m., WCMP 106.5 FM and 1350 AM out of Pine City. Please be somewhat patient with these as some of this is a new venture for us. Allow me to also encourage you to watch “Main Street Living” on tv channel 29 in most locations—it’s a very good program!
A brief word regarding financial stewardship: It is easy for us to not remember our church offerings when we aren’t in church—we’re human! However, our expenses continue, even when we are unable to attend worship in times like these. If possible, please continue to consider your response to God’s love in your life and, according to His blessings to you, mail your offering to the church.
This is not a decision with which any of us are happy, but I believe it is the right decision and the God-pleasing decision. I remind all of us of God’s Word in Romans—“in all things, God works together for the good of those who love him”—and in Matthew—“I am with you always.”
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J Renstrom
March 18, 2020
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” (Romans 12:12 CSB)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3 CSB)
In the midst of difficult times our sure and certain hope rests in Jesus, even when we have to make decisions we’d rather not make. But, through prayerful consideration and thoughtful conversation we still make those choices. To that end…
In light of the infectious spread of the COVID-19 virus, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church are cancelling all worship services and large group church activities—member and nonmember—through March 29, 2020.
At this time the offices will remain open on their regular schedules. After March 29 we will reassess as we look forward to Palm Sunday (April 5), Holy Week and Easter (April 12).
Two things are for certain:
- Jesus was born, lived, suffered, died and rose again to pay for our sins, forgive our sins and give us hope for each day and eternity!
- God willing, whether we recommence our Sunday worship on April 5 or “August 16”, together we will celebrate Easter in a big way!
I am available for individual/family confession and absolution and communion by appointment. Please call ahead of time as I hope my calendar gets filled with these opportunities!
We are working on ways to connect via video on facebook and our websites. We are planning to continue, in some form, our Sunday morning worship broadcast, 11:00 a.m., WCMP 106.5 FM and 1350 AM out of Pine City. Please be somewhat patient with these as some of this is a new venture for us. Allow me to also encourage you to watch “Main Street Living” on tv channel 29 in most locations—it’s a very good program!
A brief word regarding financial stewardship: It is easy for us to not remember our church offerings when we aren’t in church—we’re human! However, our expenses continue, even when we are unable to attend worship in times like these. If possible, please continue to consider your response to God’s love in your life and, according to His blessings to you, mail your offering to the church.
This is not a decision with which any of us are happy, but I believe it is the right decision and the God-pleasing decision. I remind all of us of God’s Word in Romans—“in all things, God works together for the good of those who love him”—and in Matthew—“I am with you always.”
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J Renstrom
March 2020
What’s New?
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:8)
I know that it will be hard for many of you to imagine, but I’ve always been a bit of a troublesome child. Back in my teen years, when my parents would complain about how bad I was, and how bad my generation was, and how the world was going to fall apart if we (my generation) were ever to be in charge of things, the smart aleck in me would respond, “And I suppose your parents never said the same thing about you?” You can rightly imagine that I only said that out loud—once! (Yes, I am a sinner. I did not always treat my parents with honor.)
But, sin aside, it is true. Each preceding generation is concerned about the succeeding generation’s attitudes, dedication and leadership. Builders complained about Boomers. Boomers complained about “Xers”. And everybody blames the Millenials! And we’re getting ready to cast blame on “Zs”, next… And, each time a preceding generation has turned the world over to the next generation, they’ve turned it over to them in a mess.
Here are some examples of generations complaining…
Hesiod, a Greek who lived 800 years before Jesus came in the flesh, wrote, "I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint".
Sound familiar? At least the thought behind it? Or, maybe this quote from Aristotle who said it 350 years before Jesus came in the flesh: “They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things -- and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning -- all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything -- they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else.”
Here’s a quote from an ancient sermon by Peter the Hermit, 1274 A.D.: "The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress."
It seems that in 1907 (that’s already 100+ years ago!) a Kenneth John Freeman, in his Cambridge dissertation, summed up the ancients’ complaints about young people this way: 'The children now love luxury; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are tyrants, not servants of the households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize over their teachers.'
(The above quotes were found at https://proto-knowledge.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-wrong-with-young-people-today.html)
It is always easy to magnify the sins of others and to minimize my own sins. So let’s bring this home to the church, today. I recently read an article by David Zahl which I will summarize by saying that, generally speaking, young people today are more like their parents than many previous generations. There are negatives and positives when one considers that statement.
First the negatives: Grandparents—you worry about your grandchildren’s church attendance and faith. Rightfully so, because, while church attendance does not earn eternal salvation, faith gives eternal salvation and faith is fueled by regular feeding in God’s Word and sacraments. So, considering the statement above, grandparents, how did you raise your children? You grandchildren aren’t much different than they are. What attitude did you have in working with church people and church attendance? What did they see? What did they hear? Was it God-pleasing? Or, did they hear, “I guess I have to do this…”?
Parents—are you struggling with your children and the exercise of their faith? Perhaps you could honestly examine yourself?
This is much too short an article to address the many issues this can bring up. The challenges of Godly parenting are far too complex to be addressed this simply. But, if it’s true that young people are more like their parents than many previous generations, perhaps this is a good beginning point?
I said that there were positives…and there are! You who are older…you have faith given to you by the Holy Spirit. If the younger people are like you, and I believe that they are, they have received saving faith from the Holy Spirit through God’s Word and Sacrament. I can’t guarantee that it is still with them, as Scripture does warn us against losing our faith, but it also promises that if we raise our children in the ways of the Lord, when they are old they will return to the Lord. Good news! In spite of all that we do to mess our kids up, God raises them well and keeps them in his care!
Older people have much to offer. They have already struggled with the challenges of youth—and in some situations—still are struggling. How did you deal with the answers that you got and aren’t terribly happy with? How did you share that struggle with younger people? Honest conversation with Christian parents and grandparents goes a long way in helping young faith.
When I was young, the rallying cry was, “Don’t trust anyone over 30!” Today young people still aren’t sure that the grownups know what’s really going on. And they may be right—when I look around, I’m pretty sure they are. But we know the one who does know what’s going on. He is the Triune God from which came Jesus, the Son of God, to give us hope and wisdom and faith. How can we, across generations, talk about how we see God bringing faith into the challenges of church and life? And, how do we talk about it?
Solomon once said that there is nothing new under the sun. Inspired by God, he’s right. All the problems of the world, our lives, and our faith keep repeating themselves. But the promise of God is not new, either! Our sins are forgiven in Jesus’ work, by grace through faith. That doesn’t change. And that’s way more assuring than worrying about how badly the young people are taking care of the world!
What’s New?
What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:8)
I know that it will be hard for many of you to imagine, but I’ve always been a bit of a troublesome child. Back in my teen years, when my parents would complain about how bad I was, and how bad my generation was, and how the world was going to fall apart if we (my generation) were ever to be in charge of things, the smart aleck in me would respond, “And I suppose your parents never said the same thing about you?” You can rightly imagine that I only said that out loud—once! (Yes, I am a sinner. I did not always treat my parents with honor.)
But, sin aside, it is true. Each preceding generation is concerned about the succeeding generation’s attitudes, dedication and leadership. Builders complained about Boomers. Boomers complained about “Xers”. And everybody blames the Millenials! And we’re getting ready to cast blame on “Zs”, next… And, each time a preceding generation has turned the world over to the next generation, they’ve turned it over to them in a mess.
Here are some examples of generations complaining…
Hesiod, a Greek who lived 800 years before Jesus came in the flesh, wrote, "I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint".
Sound familiar? At least the thought behind it? Or, maybe this quote from Aristotle who said it 350 years before Jesus came in the flesh: “They [Young People] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things -- and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning -- all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything -- they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else.”
Here’s a quote from an ancient sermon by Peter the Hermit, 1274 A.D.: "The world is passing through troublous times. The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they knew everything, and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for the girls, they are forward, immodest and unladylike in speech, behavior and dress."
It seems that in 1907 (that’s already 100+ years ago!) a Kenneth John Freeman, in his Cambridge dissertation, summed up the ancients’ complaints about young people this way: 'The children now love luxury; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are tyrants, not servants of the households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize over their teachers.'
(The above quotes were found at https://proto-knowledge.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-wrong-with-young-people-today.html)
It is always easy to magnify the sins of others and to minimize my own sins. So let’s bring this home to the church, today. I recently read an article by David Zahl which I will summarize by saying that, generally speaking, young people today are more like their parents than many previous generations. There are negatives and positives when one considers that statement.
First the negatives: Grandparents—you worry about your grandchildren’s church attendance and faith. Rightfully so, because, while church attendance does not earn eternal salvation, faith gives eternal salvation and faith is fueled by regular feeding in God’s Word and sacraments. So, considering the statement above, grandparents, how did you raise your children? You grandchildren aren’t much different than they are. What attitude did you have in working with church people and church attendance? What did they see? What did they hear? Was it God-pleasing? Or, did they hear, “I guess I have to do this…”?
Parents—are you struggling with your children and the exercise of their faith? Perhaps you could honestly examine yourself?
This is much too short an article to address the many issues this can bring up. The challenges of Godly parenting are far too complex to be addressed this simply. But, if it’s true that young people are more like their parents than many previous generations, perhaps this is a good beginning point?
I said that there were positives…and there are! You who are older…you have faith given to you by the Holy Spirit. If the younger people are like you, and I believe that they are, they have received saving faith from the Holy Spirit through God’s Word and Sacrament. I can’t guarantee that it is still with them, as Scripture does warn us against losing our faith, but it also promises that if we raise our children in the ways of the Lord, when they are old they will return to the Lord. Good news! In spite of all that we do to mess our kids up, God raises them well and keeps them in his care!
Older people have much to offer. They have already struggled with the challenges of youth—and in some situations—still are struggling. How did you deal with the answers that you got and aren’t terribly happy with? How did you share that struggle with younger people? Honest conversation with Christian parents and grandparents goes a long way in helping young faith.
When I was young, the rallying cry was, “Don’t trust anyone over 30!” Today young people still aren’t sure that the grownups know what’s really going on. And they may be right—when I look around, I’m pretty sure they are. But we know the one who does know what’s going on. He is the Triune God from which came Jesus, the Son of God, to give us hope and wisdom and faith. How can we, across generations, talk about how we see God bringing faith into the challenges of church and life? And, how do we talk about it?
Solomon once said that there is nothing new under the sun. Inspired by God, he’s right. All the problems of the world, our lives, and our faith keep repeating themselves. But the promise of God is not new, either! Our sins are forgiven in Jesus’ work, by grace through faith. That doesn’t change. And that’s way more assuring than worrying about how badly the young people are taking care of the world!
February 2020
Changing Attitudes
Greetings in the name of our incarnate, crucified, risen and ascended savior, Jesus! May his blessings overflow in your lives as you grow in confidence in the faith he has given to you. It is my joy to give thanks for you as we are yoked together in his service in this world so that others may come to the same faith we have and receive eternal life by grace, through faith, because of his work.
A short time ago someone at church asked me this question: How do you get people to change their attitudes?
I think the answer to the question is simple (but hard to achieve!). To change attitude one needs to bring HOPE and have ACTION!
For us as Christians, the first part is easy. We have the hope of the world! We follow a church calendar that allows us to celebrate all that God has done to bring us this hope—Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. The ancient Christians set up this calendar to bring to us, and remind us of, this hope on an annual basis. And we’re still smart enough to follow it! We hear the Word preached to us from our pulpit, we receive the sacraments as offered. This is hope! It is because of Jesus—because it is Jesus!
We are not like the rest of the world which has no hope. The world without Jesus has no purpose—it is just here by chance. It has come from nowhere and has no idea where it is going—perhaps, it thinks, to oblivion. It wants to “grab gusto” because it “goes around once,” but all around it experiences depression, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, accidents, poverty, ignorance, hard work…you get the idea…and death. Life is hopeless.
We who have hope experience the same things. But with a ‘but!’ There is a difference. Hope. With hope we have a purpose given to us by our creator God—to serve one another and care for the creation in which we are placed. We receive abundant life in this life—all that is good for us is available for the asking from our redeemer God. And we know where we are going, by grace, through faith—to heaven: the new heavens and earth remade for us where there is no more sin, sickness or death. And we have a sure and certain hope that we have and will receive these things because of the promises of God. So we know that as we experience these same things listed above that we have divine help instead of depression and despair.
So, to change attitude from despair one needs to bring hope. We have it. But there is one additional element to change attitude. To me it seems to be the harder element to achieve. To change attitude one needs to have action!
This is time to ask and answer the question: Why do we need to change our attitude? Because we’re like big flat rocks lying at the bottom of a hill. To be of any use we need to be at the top of the hill for whatever building is happening. But we can’t roll ourselves up there! So we despair and we think, “What’s the use?” and just lie there. We are apathetic.
Apathy. It creates inertia, just the opposite of action. I think the “action” side of this equation is harder because the devil has worked so much apathy into our congregations. We’re stuck at the bottom of the “mission hill” and think that there’s nothing we can do.
But hope brings action, too! Unless we choose to be stuck as a flat rock at the bottom of the hill, this hope—this Jesus—picks us up and moves us to the top of the hill—into his mission!
Bottom line? We have Jesus, who redeems us and moves us into his work. Bottom line? If we’re satisfied despairing like the world which has no hope, if we’re satisfied being worried about existence and reminiscing about the past, we can be a rock lying at the bottom of the hill. Jesus will likely honor our unbelief and allow us to damn ourselves. If we want something different for the future of our congregations, if we want a ‘change of attitude’—we have the hope of the world! We have Jesus!
Changing Attitudes
Greetings in the name of our incarnate, crucified, risen and ascended savior, Jesus! May his blessings overflow in your lives as you grow in confidence in the faith he has given to you. It is my joy to give thanks for you as we are yoked together in his service in this world so that others may come to the same faith we have and receive eternal life by grace, through faith, because of his work.
A short time ago someone at church asked me this question: How do you get people to change their attitudes?
I think the answer to the question is simple (but hard to achieve!). To change attitude one needs to bring HOPE and have ACTION!
For us as Christians, the first part is easy. We have the hope of the world! We follow a church calendar that allows us to celebrate all that God has done to bring us this hope—Advent, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. The ancient Christians set up this calendar to bring to us, and remind us of, this hope on an annual basis. And we’re still smart enough to follow it! We hear the Word preached to us from our pulpit, we receive the sacraments as offered. This is hope! It is because of Jesus—because it is Jesus!
We are not like the rest of the world which has no hope. The world without Jesus has no purpose—it is just here by chance. It has come from nowhere and has no idea where it is going—perhaps, it thinks, to oblivion. It wants to “grab gusto” because it “goes around once,” but all around it experiences depression, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, accidents, poverty, ignorance, hard work…you get the idea…and death. Life is hopeless.
We who have hope experience the same things. But with a ‘but!’ There is a difference. Hope. With hope we have a purpose given to us by our creator God—to serve one another and care for the creation in which we are placed. We receive abundant life in this life—all that is good for us is available for the asking from our redeemer God. And we know where we are going, by grace, through faith—to heaven: the new heavens and earth remade for us where there is no more sin, sickness or death. And we have a sure and certain hope that we have and will receive these things because of the promises of God. So we know that as we experience these same things listed above that we have divine help instead of depression and despair.
So, to change attitude from despair one needs to bring hope. We have it. But there is one additional element to change attitude. To me it seems to be the harder element to achieve. To change attitude one needs to have action!
This is time to ask and answer the question: Why do we need to change our attitude? Because we’re like big flat rocks lying at the bottom of a hill. To be of any use we need to be at the top of the hill for whatever building is happening. But we can’t roll ourselves up there! So we despair and we think, “What’s the use?” and just lie there. We are apathetic.
Apathy. It creates inertia, just the opposite of action. I think the “action” side of this equation is harder because the devil has worked so much apathy into our congregations. We’re stuck at the bottom of the “mission hill” and think that there’s nothing we can do.
But hope brings action, too! Unless we choose to be stuck as a flat rock at the bottom of the hill, this hope—this Jesus—picks us up and moves us to the top of the hill—into his mission!
Bottom line? We have Jesus, who redeems us and moves us into his work. Bottom line? If we’re satisfied despairing like the world which has no hope, if we’re satisfied being worried about existence and reminiscing about the past, we can be a rock lying at the bottom of the hill. Jesus will likely honor our unbelief and allow us to damn ourselves. If we want something different for the future of our congregations, if we want a ‘change of attitude’—we have the hope of the world! We have Jesus!
January 2020
From The Devotional Bible; Historical Meditations for the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, CPH 1948, pp. 24-26.
Wise Men Still Go to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-15)
Surely the star did not whisper that the King was born! How, then, did the Wise Men of the East know that this unusual star announced the coming of the King of Kings? They learned this the same way that you and I know this truth—through the Word of God.
Centuries before the coming of the Christ Child, King Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Palestine and led many Israelites into captivity. In this Babylonian exile the people of God spoke of the hope which was theirs that God would raise up unto Israel the Greater Son of David, who would establish an everlasting Kingdom. And though this promise of God was misunderstood—for many thought of an earthly kingdom—nevertheless this hope was expressed again and again by the captives of the East. The Wise Men surely knew the story. When they saw this unusual star, they put two and two together and concluded that the King had been born.
So they traveled to Jerusalem to do the King homage. There again, through God’s Word, they were directed to Bethlehem, where they found the Christ Child and worshiped Him as their Lord God and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." (Matthew 2:1-15 RSV)
We, too, go to Bethlehem in spirit and worship the Christ Child as our Lord and Savior. We know from the Scriptures that this Babe of Bethlehem is the Messiah of prophecy. Jesus is the Star of Bethlehem.
He is the Star of Peace. He came to reconcile us to His Father through His death on the Cross. Once more we can come to the bosom of the eternal God and know that He loves us. We are at peace with God and therefore at peace with our own conscience.
He is the Star of Hope. All the weary and heavy-laden can turn to Him and find rest for their souls. We can look into the future and see heaven with all its glory. This hope takes the sting of disappointment out of our hearts, our lives, our homes.
He is the Star of Comfort. Life is filled with sorrow and tears and death. But Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life; He heals broken hearts and promises that we shall live, because He lives.
He is the Star of Joy. Bethlehem’s angels announced good tidings of great joy. Sin is forgiven, salvation is certain, heaven is our home.
Wise men still go to Bethlehem. We, too, are wise if we go. Only if the Christ Child finds room in our hearts, shall we go on daily rejoicing that unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.
Prayer: Christ Child of Bethlehem, enter Thou into our hearts, and cleanse them from all sin, that we may worship and adore and serve Thee, who art the King of Kings and the Savior of us all. Amen.
From The Devotional Bible; Historical Meditations for the Gospel According to Saint Matthew, CPH 1948, pp. 24-26.
Wise Men Still Go to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-15)
Surely the star did not whisper that the King was born! How, then, did the Wise Men of the East know that this unusual star announced the coming of the King of Kings? They learned this the same way that you and I know this truth—through the Word of God.
Centuries before the coming of the Christ Child, King Nebuchadnezzar had invaded Palestine and led many Israelites into captivity. In this Babylonian exile the people of God spoke of the hope which was theirs that God would raise up unto Israel the Greater Son of David, who would establish an everlasting Kingdom. And though this promise of God was misunderstood—for many thought of an earthly kingdom—nevertheless this hope was expressed again and again by the captives of the East. The Wise Men surely knew the story. When they saw this unusual star, they put two and two together and concluded that the King had been born.
So they traveled to Jerusalem to do the King homage. There again, through God’s Word, they were directed to Bethlehem, where they found the Christ Child and worshiped Him as their Lord God and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him."
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: `And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.'"
Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him."
When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." (Matthew 2:1-15 RSV)
We, too, go to Bethlehem in spirit and worship the Christ Child as our Lord and Savior. We know from the Scriptures that this Babe of Bethlehem is the Messiah of prophecy. Jesus is the Star of Bethlehem.
He is the Star of Peace. He came to reconcile us to His Father through His death on the Cross. Once more we can come to the bosom of the eternal God and know that He loves us. We are at peace with God and therefore at peace with our own conscience.
He is the Star of Hope. All the weary and heavy-laden can turn to Him and find rest for their souls. We can look into the future and see heaven with all its glory. This hope takes the sting of disappointment out of our hearts, our lives, our homes.
He is the Star of Comfort. Life is filled with sorrow and tears and death. But Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life; He heals broken hearts and promises that we shall live, because He lives.
He is the Star of Joy. Bethlehem’s angels announced good tidings of great joy. Sin is forgiven, salvation is certain, heaven is our home.
Wise men still go to Bethlehem. We, too, are wise if we go. Only if the Christ Child finds room in our hearts, shall we go on daily rejoicing that unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.
Prayer: Christ Child of Bethlehem, enter Thou into our hearts, and cleanse them from all sin, that we may worship and adore and serve Thee, who art the King of Kings and the Savior of us all. Amen.
November 2019
This month’s article comes from a part of a writing by C.F.W. Walther, 1st president of our Missouri Synod.
Matthew 7:28-29
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
A person may pretend to be a Christian while in reality he is not. As long as he is in this condition, he is quite content with his knowledge of the mere outlines of the Christian doctrines. . . . However, the moment a person becomes a Christian, there arises in him a keen desire for the doctrine of Christ. Even the most uncultured peasant who is still unconverted is suddenly roused in the moment of his conversion and begins to reflect on God and heaven, salvation and damnation, etc. He becomes occupied with the highest problems of human life.
An instance of this kind is afforded by those Jews who flocked to Christ and also by the apostles. Those multitudes heard Christ with great joy and were astonished because He preached with authority and not as did the scribes. But the majority of these hearers never advanced beyond a certain feeling of delight and admiration. The apostles, too, were uneducated people, but they acted differently. They did not stop where the rest stopped, but propounded all manner of questions to Christ. . . . It is, therefore, quite true what the Apology says: “Men of good conscience are crying for the truth and proper instruction from the Word of God”
—C. F. W. Walther
This month’s article comes from a part of a writing by C.F.W. Walther, 1st president of our Missouri Synod.
Matthew 7:28-29
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
A person may pretend to be a Christian while in reality he is not. As long as he is in this condition, he is quite content with his knowledge of the mere outlines of the Christian doctrines. . . . However, the moment a person becomes a Christian, there arises in him a keen desire for the doctrine of Christ. Even the most uncultured peasant who is still unconverted is suddenly roused in the moment of his conversion and begins to reflect on God and heaven, salvation and damnation, etc. He becomes occupied with the highest problems of human life.
An instance of this kind is afforded by those Jews who flocked to Christ and also by the apostles. Those multitudes heard Christ with great joy and were astonished because He preached with authority and not as did the scribes. But the majority of these hearers never advanced beyond a certain feeling of delight and admiration. The apostles, too, were uneducated people, but they acted differently. They did not stop where the rest stopped, but propounded all manner of questions to Christ. . . . It is, therefore, quite true what the Apology says: “Men of good conscience are crying for the truth and proper instruction from the Word of God”
—C. F. W. Walther
OCTOBER 2019
On Being Present
Most of you already know this...I believe I’ve mentioned it a number of times...I enjoy watching people. In fact, it’s about the only thing I enjoy about flying. I’d get back into a corner and watch people from all cultures...macro, mini and micro...and watch them interact with ‘the airport’, with the horde of people coming through the crowd, and with their friends and family. It was a unique learning experience!
Did I tell you that it’s likely been over 10 years since I’ve flown? Things have changed. It’s not as much fun anymore...the reason? The wonderful invention referred to as the ‘smart phone.’ More and more people of all different groups are joining the ‘head bowed to the glass screen’ culture, oblivious to the world around them.
Are they present? In a way, one could argue, they are. They are present with those with whom they are interacting on the other end of the invisible cable, even as they are not present with those they with whom they are bumping elbows.
Does it matter? I don’t know…
Are we ‘present’ with those by whom we are surrounded? We are called to be Christians, called by Word and Sacrament to agape—unconditional, other centered, always serving others—love. It’s the whole “Love your neighbor as yourself” command. Can we live the love to which we have been called if we are not ‘present’ with those who surround us?
I have to honestly say that I am not always present. And I can honestly say that, from time to time, the glass screen culture captured me, too! It is amazing how, even on vacation, when that little box buzzes, we have to answer, or at least glance at it, for fear we might miss out on something! I am not writing about a culture that I stand above and look down upon. I am writing about a culture that I am within and of which I have been a part for over 20 years.
Present...It was a third of the theme for the National Youth Gathering that eight of us went to this summer. One presenter that some of our youth went to see—an NBA professional—equated it to being “where your feet are”. There is a time to be on the phone texting important information. There is a time to be in conversation with someone on a phone. There is also a time to set that stuff down and to be present with someone in the same room or the same building as you are.
But glass screens aren’t our only distraction to being present. Maybe it is some other electronic device, like a TV. Maybe it’s a situation. Maybe it’s a thousand other distractions that lead us to not be present with others...or ourselves. How many times do we engage in a conversation...and can’t wait for it to end? That’s not being present! How many times do we ask someone, “How are you?”, and don’t listen to the answer? Or hope they don’t answer truthfully?
Some don’t like to be alone with our self. The worries, the struggles or everyday life are easier to deal with when one is not present.
On another level, how many believers are truly present with God? How many times are we “where our feet are” in worship? In prayer? In meditation? How many times are we presenting solutions to God for our situations rather than listening for him? Or planning our afternoon? Or preparing Sunday afternoon activities? How many times are we going through the motions rather than gladly hearing and learning God’s Word?
God tells us to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And he tells us “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Our God who forgives our sins and sinful behavior because of the work of Jesus, his Son, is always present. Our sin doesn’t drive him away. He removes it. He is present. Our phones don’t drive him away. He breaks through the static. He is present. Our distractions don’t drive him away. He gets our attention and fixes our focus—our eyes fixed on Jesus, the starter and finisher of our faith.
On Being Present
Most of you already know this...I believe I’ve mentioned it a number of times...I enjoy watching people. In fact, it’s about the only thing I enjoy about flying. I’d get back into a corner and watch people from all cultures...macro, mini and micro...and watch them interact with ‘the airport’, with the horde of people coming through the crowd, and with their friends and family. It was a unique learning experience!
Did I tell you that it’s likely been over 10 years since I’ve flown? Things have changed. It’s not as much fun anymore...the reason? The wonderful invention referred to as the ‘smart phone.’ More and more people of all different groups are joining the ‘head bowed to the glass screen’ culture, oblivious to the world around them.
Are they present? In a way, one could argue, they are. They are present with those with whom they are interacting on the other end of the invisible cable, even as they are not present with those they with whom they are bumping elbows.
Does it matter? I don’t know…
Are we ‘present’ with those by whom we are surrounded? We are called to be Christians, called by Word and Sacrament to agape—unconditional, other centered, always serving others—love. It’s the whole “Love your neighbor as yourself” command. Can we live the love to which we have been called if we are not ‘present’ with those who surround us?
I have to honestly say that I am not always present. And I can honestly say that, from time to time, the glass screen culture captured me, too! It is amazing how, even on vacation, when that little box buzzes, we have to answer, or at least glance at it, for fear we might miss out on something! I am not writing about a culture that I stand above and look down upon. I am writing about a culture that I am within and of which I have been a part for over 20 years.
Present...It was a third of the theme for the National Youth Gathering that eight of us went to this summer. One presenter that some of our youth went to see—an NBA professional—equated it to being “where your feet are”. There is a time to be on the phone texting important information. There is a time to be in conversation with someone on a phone. There is also a time to set that stuff down and to be present with someone in the same room or the same building as you are.
But glass screens aren’t our only distraction to being present. Maybe it is some other electronic device, like a TV. Maybe it’s a situation. Maybe it’s a thousand other distractions that lead us to not be present with others...or ourselves. How many times do we engage in a conversation...and can’t wait for it to end? That’s not being present! How many times do we ask someone, “How are you?”, and don’t listen to the answer? Or hope they don’t answer truthfully?
Some don’t like to be alone with our self. The worries, the struggles or everyday life are easier to deal with when one is not present.
On another level, how many believers are truly present with God? How many times are we “where our feet are” in worship? In prayer? In meditation? How many times are we presenting solutions to God for our situations rather than listening for him? Or planning our afternoon? Or preparing Sunday afternoon activities? How many times are we going through the motions rather than gladly hearing and learning God’s Word?
God tells us to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). And he tells us “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Our God who forgives our sins and sinful behavior because of the work of Jesus, his Son, is always present. Our sin doesn’t drive him away. He removes it. He is present. Our phones don’t drive him away. He breaks through the static. He is present. Our distractions don’t drive him away. He gets our attention and fixes our focus—our eyes fixed on Jesus, the starter and finisher of our faith.
September 2019
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A couple of days after I am writing this for our newsletter, I have the privilege of presenting the opening devotion to the Circuit Visitors Conference up in our MN North District office. Then I get to hear and wrestle with a presentation given by a colleague for whom I have a great deal of respect, Rev. Dennis O’Neil, as he leads a discussion on a paper written by one of my old seminary professors, Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs.
His paper is entitled “The Myth of ‘Righteous Anger’”.
It intrigued me when I heard of it. So I looked it up. I think that this should be a very interesting discussion and want to share some of it with you! Dr. Gibbs writes in the opening paragraphs of his paper:
... as I have been talking with other Christians, some clergy and some lay, about this study and about what I’ve been finding in the Scriptures, most people have objected to and at times even instinctively rejected the clear, simple answer to the question, “What does the Bible, and chiefly the [New Testament], say about anger?” These friends and colleagues have not wanted to talk about what the Bible actually says about anger. They’ve wanted to move quickly, instinctively to other topics. People have offered special circumstances, or qualified the scriptural testimony—seemingly anything to avoid being confronted by the answer to a question that, once you search for it, is not hard to find and is really quite clear. If I may speak frankly, without exception my Christian friends and colleagues have wanted to justify their anger; each time they have done this, they have appealed to the category of “righteous anger.”
“They wanted to justify their anger…” Hmmm. Sounds like all of us! Dr. Gibbs moves in pretty ‘churchy’ circles, living in St. Louis, Missouri, teaching at our Concordia Seminary, and he points out that “without exception” when confronted with the question of what the Bible says about anger, his contacts wanted to justify their anger. And, I’m willing to wager, so do we all.
Dr. Gibbs points out, that in his study, people usually went to Ephesians 4:26 for a justification for their anger. “‘Be angry, yet do not sin.’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (EHV). We Christians want a Biblical excuse for our all so human anger, so we cling to a verse and twist it around so that we can be angry. We think that since God can be angry, we should be able to be angry and God would be ok with it, as long as we are angry about the same things that He is.
Yet this verse really doesn’t allow this. Dr. Gibbs, writing about Ephesians 4:26-27 and James 1:19-20, again:
The testimony of the NT barely acknowledges the presence or possibility of “righteous anger” in the sense that people normally use this phrase. There is certainly no direct teaching about or encouragement to such a thing. Whatever people may mean by “righteous anger,” it is a construct based on actions of various people (Moses, the prophets, Paul, etc.). But there is no such thing as a genuine, clear, biblical definition of or justification for “righteous anger”—unless the anger is the Father’s or the Son’s wrath. Far more often—in fact, almost exclusively—Christians are warned about the dangers of anger. The texts rarely, if ever, distinguish between the emotion of anger and sinful thoughts or words or deeds that may arise from that emotion. Here, simply and clearly, is the New Testament’s teaching about human anger: it is spiritually dangerous, and at times it can straightforwardly be called sin.
I would add, that within in the structure of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the discussion of anger is under Paul’s urging in 4:1-2, “As a prisoner in the Lord, therefore, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Live with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love” (EHV). He goes on to talk about peace and building up one another in love, and to put off the old self. Nothing encouraging anger—everything encouraging peace.
I think Dr. Gibbs has some very good words for us here. We should confess our sin of anger, not justify it, repent and receive the forgiveness earned for us and given us by Jesus on the cross—through his Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
If you want to read the full article it’s online… https://concordiatheology.org/2018/11/jeff-gibbs-the-myth-of-righteous-anger/ . If you can’t get it, ask, and I can print out a copy for you.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A couple of days after I am writing this for our newsletter, I have the privilege of presenting the opening devotion to the Circuit Visitors Conference up in our MN North District office. Then I get to hear and wrestle with a presentation given by a colleague for whom I have a great deal of respect, Rev. Dennis O’Neil, as he leads a discussion on a paper written by one of my old seminary professors, Dr. Jeffrey Gibbs.
His paper is entitled “The Myth of ‘Righteous Anger’”.
It intrigued me when I heard of it. So I looked it up. I think that this should be a very interesting discussion and want to share some of it with you! Dr. Gibbs writes in the opening paragraphs of his paper:
... as I have been talking with other Christians, some clergy and some lay, about this study and about what I’ve been finding in the Scriptures, most people have objected to and at times even instinctively rejected the clear, simple answer to the question, “What does the Bible, and chiefly the [New Testament], say about anger?” These friends and colleagues have not wanted to talk about what the Bible actually says about anger. They’ve wanted to move quickly, instinctively to other topics. People have offered special circumstances, or qualified the scriptural testimony—seemingly anything to avoid being confronted by the answer to a question that, once you search for it, is not hard to find and is really quite clear. If I may speak frankly, without exception my Christian friends and colleagues have wanted to justify their anger; each time they have done this, they have appealed to the category of “righteous anger.”
“They wanted to justify their anger…” Hmmm. Sounds like all of us! Dr. Gibbs moves in pretty ‘churchy’ circles, living in St. Louis, Missouri, teaching at our Concordia Seminary, and he points out that “without exception” when confronted with the question of what the Bible says about anger, his contacts wanted to justify their anger. And, I’m willing to wager, so do we all.
Dr. Gibbs points out, that in his study, people usually went to Ephesians 4:26 for a justification for their anger. “‘Be angry, yet do not sin.’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (EHV). We Christians want a Biblical excuse for our all so human anger, so we cling to a verse and twist it around so that we can be angry. We think that since God can be angry, we should be able to be angry and God would be ok with it, as long as we are angry about the same things that He is.
Yet this verse really doesn’t allow this. Dr. Gibbs, writing about Ephesians 4:26-27 and James 1:19-20, again:
The testimony of the NT barely acknowledges the presence or possibility of “righteous anger” in the sense that people normally use this phrase. There is certainly no direct teaching about or encouragement to such a thing. Whatever people may mean by “righteous anger,” it is a construct based on actions of various people (Moses, the prophets, Paul, etc.). But there is no such thing as a genuine, clear, biblical definition of or justification for “righteous anger”—unless the anger is the Father’s or the Son’s wrath. Far more often—in fact, almost exclusively—Christians are warned about the dangers of anger. The texts rarely, if ever, distinguish between the emotion of anger and sinful thoughts or words or deeds that may arise from that emotion. Here, simply and clearly, is the New Testament’s teaching about human anger: it is spiritually dangerous, and at times it can straightforwardly be called sin.
I would add, that within in the structure of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, the discussion of anger is under Paul’s urging in 4:1-2, “As a prisoner in the Lord, therefore, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. Live with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love” (EHV). He goes on to talk about peace and building up one another in love, and to put off the old self. Nothing encouraging anger—everything encouraging peace.
I think Dr. Gibbs has some very good words for us here. We should confess our sin of anger, not justify it, repent and receive the forgiveness earned for us and given us by Jesus on the cross—through his Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
If you want to read the full article it’s online… https://concordiatheology.org/2018/11/jeff-gibbs-the-myth-of-righteous-anger/ . If you can’t get it, ask, and I can print out a copy for you.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
August 2019
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.” (The words of Jesus, Matthew 25:35-36.)
This is going to be old ‘news’ for some of you. Others may think, “I sort of remember hearing something about that?” Still, for others, this will be brand new. So let’s try to get everyone up to date so that we are all in ministry together at the same time!
Way back, early last spring, St. Stephen’s members will remember that we listened to a presentation by New Pathways Interim Executive Director, Mary Ann E.R. Westlund, after one of our worship services. Following the presentation, questions were asked and answered.
Prior to that meeting, the St. Stephen’s leadership had been praying about an opportunity to partner in ministry with New Pathways, and had also met with Mary and representatives from other area churches who were already in partnership.
Following the conversation after the worship service, four (4) members indicated an interest in facilitating St. Stephen’s ministry. With that interest indicated, the Council, believing that it is God’s will that we serve, encouraged the group to ‘go ahead’ and signed a contract with New Pathways.
Which brings us to the good Lutheran question… “What does this mean?”
If you have internet access, I encourage you to research www.newpathwaysmn.com. But, to give you a brief idea from their website…
New Pathways’ mission is to build a stronger community by providing shelter and support services to homeless families with children. Supporting families is a team effort, which is why our Path to Home shelter chose a model that relies on hundreds of local volunteers. Our hope is to connect families with people and resources that will help them to be successful long term. We want to see families thrive, as opposed to just survive. This includes meals, a safe, warm place to sleep, and skills and resources necessary to find and maintain housing.
St. Stephen’s ministry is to provide two weeks of hospitality for up to five families from our five county area—one week at a time. Our first week is September 22-29, 2019. Our Sunday School and youth rooms will be transformed into temporary bedrooms, the fellowship area will be their common area. They will arrive at about 5:00 p.m. and leave about 7:30 a.m. each day, Sunday through Sunday. We have the privilege of serving dinner to them and providing breakfast ‘fixins’.
The above information is just a brief overview of the ministry. We have scheduled a ‘training session’ for August 25—come for food at 5:00 p.m. and training from 5:30-8:00. This is for everyone to attend, whether you believe God has called you actively to serve in the ministry or if you are a casual bystander. It is important for you to know what God is doing through your congregation.
By now our St. John’s brothers and sisters have stopped reading, thinking this is just information for St. Stephen’s. That would be a wrong conclusion! The committee is planning to ask St. John’s to participate in significant ways—to be volunteer hosts for a night, to provide dinner(s), to donate needed bedding and other supplies…you can begin to get the drift! St. John’s members are very much encouraged to attend the meal and training on August 25!
Matthew 25 (above) puts it in perspective for us. Jesus expects us to be physically concerned about the needs of those he has placed around us. Our savior even goes so far as to claim that if we aren’t willing to help, that we may not have saving faith! What an opportunity Jesus is giving us to examine our faith and live it in his name!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.” (The words of Jesus, Matthew 25:35-36.)
This is going to be old ‘news’ for some of you. Others may think, “I sort of remember hearing something about that?” Still, for others, this will be brand new. So let’s try to get everyone up to date so that we are all in ministry together at the same time!
Way back, early last spring, St. Stephen’s members will remember that we listened to a presentation by New Pathways Interim Executive Director, Mary Ann E.R. Westlund, after one of our worship services. Following the presentation, questions were asked and answered.
Prior to that meeting, the St. Stephen’s leadership had been praying about an opportunity to partner in ministry with New Pathways, and had also met with Mary and representatives from other area churches who were already in partnership.
Following the conversation after the worship service, four (4) members indicated an interest in facilitating St. Stephen’s ministry. With that interest indicated, the Council, believing that it is God’s will that we serve, encouraged the group to ‘go ahead’ and signed a contract with New Pathways.
Which brings us to the good Lutheran question… “What does this mean?”
If you have internet access, I encourage you to research www.newpathwaysmn.com. But, to give you a brief idea from their website…
New Pathways’ mission is to build a stronger community by providing shelter and support services to homeless families with children. Supporting families is a team effort, which is why our Path to Home shelter chose a model that relies on hundreds of local volunteers. Our hope is to connect families with people and resources that will help them to be successful long term. We want to see families thrive, as opposed to just survive. This includes meals, a safe, warm place to sleep, and skills and resources necessary to find and maintain housing.
St. Stephen’s ministry is to provide two weeks of hospitality for up to five families from our five county area—one week at a time. Our first week is September 22-29, 2019. Our Sunday School and youth rooms will be transformed into temporary bedrooms, the fellowship area will be their common area. They will arrive at about 5:00 p.m. and leave about 7:30 a.m. each day, Sunday through Sunday. We have the privilege of serving dinner to them and providing breakfast ‘fixins’.
The above information is just a brief overview of the ministry. We have scheduled a ‘training session’ for August 25—come for food at 5:00 p.m. and training from 5:30-8:00. This is for everyone to attend, whether you believe God has called you actively to serve in the ministry or if you are a casual bystander. It is important for you to know what God is doing through your congregation.
By now our St. John’s brothers and sisters have stopped reading, thinking this is just information for St. Stephen’s. That would be a wrong conclusion! The committee is planning to ask St. John’s to participate in significant ways—to be volunteer hosts for a night, to provide dinner(s), to donate needed bedding and other supplies…you can begin to get the drift! St. John’s members are very much encouraged to attend the meal and training on August 25!
Matthew 25 (above) puts it in perspective for us. Jesus expects us to be physically concerned about the needs of those he has placed around us. Our savior even goes so far as to claim that if we aren’t willing to help, that we may not have saving faith! What an opportunity Jesus is giving us to examine our faith and live it in his name!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
July 2019
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Please be praying for Amanda, Chloe, Elissa, Jacob, Jordan and Montgomery. They, along with Renè and I, are your representatives at the LCMS National Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, July 11-15. They will be rubbing elbows with another 20,000 (a conservative guess) young LCMS members to worship, to grow in the knowledge of their faith, to grow in faith and to witness to their faith as they experience their Christian culture in a way most of them have never really thought about.
Even though this Gathering is closer to us than any that I have known about in recent history and, therefore, it should seem easier to prepare for...I’m discovering it’s actually harder to prepare for! Because we’re not going to some ‘exotic’ place like Orlando, or New Orleans, or San Antonio, or Denver...We’re just going to Minneapolis...it seems hard to get any excitement generated (I’m the same way!) when you’re just driving down the road an hour! It’s hard to believe that it’s going to be special!
But it will be as special for each of our young people as God makes it special and as they allow it. In addition to praying that we would be safe and well, please pray that we will be open to hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ; please pray that we can positively respond to everything that is happening around us; please pray that we can be a strong witness for the hope we have in the salvation we have been give by God in Jesus; and please pray that our faith finds new promises of God to cling to! And please pray now and often!
I’m hoping, after we get back, that I’ll be able to convince these 6 young Christian members of our congregations to give us some feedback on what God used this Gathering to teach them! Please encourage them!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim Renstrom
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Please be praying for Amanda, Chloe, Elissa, Jacob, Jordan and Montgomery. They, along with Renè and I, are your representatives at the LCMS National Youth Gathering in Minneapolis, July 11-15. They will be rubbing elbows with another 20,000 (a conservative guess) young LCMS members to worship, to grow in the knowledge of their faith, to grow in faith and to witness to their faith as they experience their Christian culture in a way most of them have never really thought about.
Even though this Gathering is closer to us than any that I have known about in recent history and, therefore, it should seem easier to prepare for...I’m discovering it’s actually harder to prepare for! Because we’re not going to some ‘exotic’ place like Orlando, or New Orleans, or San Antonio, or Denver...We’re just going to Minneapolis...it seems hard to get any excitement generated (I’m the same way!) when you’re just driving down the road an hour! It’s hard to believe that it’s going to be special!
But it will be as special for each of our young people as God makes it special and as they allow it. In addition to praying that we would be safe and well, please pray that we will be open to hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ; please pray that we can positively respond to everything that is happening around us; please pray that we can be a strong witness for the hope we have in the salvation we have been give by God in Jesus; and please pray that our faith finds new promises of God to cling to! And please pray now and often!
I’m hoping, after we get back, that I’ll be able to convince these 6 young Christian members of our congregations to give us some feedback on what God used this Gathering to teach them! Please encourage them!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim Renstrom
June 2019
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This is a fun time of the year to be pastor. Easter Sunday has been celebrated, but we’re still in the season of Easter; Pentecost Sunday is coming; Trinity Sunday (when we can sing “Holy, Holy, Holy”!) follows the next Sunday; and, then, we often celebrate Confirmation Sunday within this sequence; and plus all the other little things which we do as Easter winds down and Summer approaches! It’s just a fun time of the year to be a pastor!
And then there is another of my favorite things this time of the year: having some opportunities to preach on the Revelation readings which are often assigned during this season. (Actually, I struggle, because I also enjoy preaching on the Acts readings!) I especially enjoyed preaching on Revelation 7 a few weeks ago. Here God reminds us that He has all of this world’s problems and woes well in hand: “Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
That is the answer, isn’t it? We might be the ones with cancer in our family. It is such a devastating attack of the world on our sinful flesh. We hurt for the loved one who suffers…and we hurt because we have to watch the suffering. We pray for relief, hoping that God is a loving God, wondering how a loving God…well, you know the rest of that statement. And it always seems like such a sudden attack! It enters our perfectly organized and orchestrated plan to live our lives and DOESN’T FIT! But it’s not a surprise to God. He’s been preparing us to be faithful through this devastation long before it came upon us…and calls us to repeat, “Salvation belongs to our God.”
The same is true for heart disease, accidents, Alzheimer’s, old age and the ten thousands other maladies that strike at us every day! Not to speak of the homeless or loss of jobs, the family squabbles, the divorces, the run-aways…And deaths… These all interrupt our life plans. They all are so…inconvenient. It seems like God is against us at every turn. Why God?!
But it is not God who is attacking us. He is no longer at war with us. He has declared peace—despite our on-going struggles. It is the world, our sinful flesh and Satan who are attacking us. And God continues to defend us, protect us and prepare us against those attacks.
We are saved by grace (free gift) through faith (believing) in the Easter message of Jesus—his sinless life given as a sacrifice on the cross to pay for the sins of the world; his resurrection a guarantee of his defeat of our enemies: world, flesh and Satan. And, because he desires all to come to faith and have salvation, he walks with us as we live in this world so that others will have a chance to believe that salvation is for them as well (“if he can do it, well, maybe I can too?!).
I’ve got a coaster on my desk which sums things nicely. (Someone gave it to me, thinking that I needed it—lest you think I’ve got this all figured out!) “Take a deep breath, God’s got this.” That’s the whole of the message of John’s Revelation—no matter what you see around you, no matter how devastating and scary, take a deep breath, God’s got this. He’s not surprised. He’s planned for all this—and you are in his plan. Take a deep breath. You’re in good hands. Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This is a fun time of the year to be pastor. Easter Sunday has been celebrated, but we’re still in the season of Easter; Pentecost Sunday is coming; Trinity Sunday (when we can sing “Holy, Holy, Holy”!) follows the next Sunday; and, then, we often celebrate Confirmation Sunday within this sequence; and plus all the other little things which we do as Easter winds down and Summer approaches! It’s just a fun time of the year to be a pastor!
And then there is another of my favorite things this time of the year: having some opportunities to preach on the Revelation readings which are often assigned during this season. (Actually, I struggle, because I also enjoy preaching on the Acts readings!) I especially enjoyed preaching on Revelation 7 a few weeks ago. Here God reminds us that He has all of this world’s problems and woes well in hand: “Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
That is the answer, isn’t it? We might be the ones with cancer in our family. It is such a devastating attack of the world on our sinful flesh. We hurt for the loved one who suffers…and we hurt because we have to watch the suffering. We pray for relief, hoping that God is a loving God, wondering how a loving God…well, you know the rest of that statement. And it always seems like such a sudden attack! It enters our perfectly organized and orchestrated plan to live our lives and DOESN’T FIT! But it’s not a surprise to God. He’s been preparing us to be faithful through this devastation long before it came upon us…and calls us to repeat, “Salvation belongs to our God.”
The same is true for heart disease, accidents, Alzheimer’s, old age and the ten thousands other maladies that strike at us every day! Not to speak of the homeless or loss of jobs, the family squabbles, the divorces, the run-aways…And deaths… These all interrupt our life plans. They all are so…inconvenient. It seems like God is against us at every turn. Why God?!
But it is not God who is attacking us. He is no longer at war with us. He has declared peace—despite our on-going struggles. It is the world, our sinful flesh and Satan who are attacking us. And God continues to defend us, protect us and prepare us against those attacks.
We are saved by grace (free gift) through faith (believing) in the Easter message of Jesus—his sinless life given as a sacrifice on the cross to pay for the sins of the world; his resurrection a guarantee of his defeat of our enemies: world, flesh and Satan. And, because he desires all to come to faith and have salvation, he walks with us as we live in this world so that others will have a chance to believe that salvation is for them as well (“if he can do it, well, maybe I can too?!).
I’ve got a coaster on my desk which sums things nicely. (Someone gave it to me, thinking that I needed it—lest you think I’ve got this all figured out!) “Take a deep breath, God’s got this.” That’s the whole of the message of John’s Revelation—no matter what you see around you, no matter how devastating and scary, take a deep breath, God’s got this. He’s not surprised. He’s planned for all this—and you are in his plan. Take a deep breath. You’re in good hands. Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
May 2019
If Easter Were Not True
Matthew 28:1-10
It’s true, Christ rose. Two facts stand undeniable in the Easter message: On the third day the tomb was empty, and Jesus was seen alive.
This is the crowning evidence of His Messiahship and His eternal Sonship. When Jesus was challenged by the opposition to perform one master miracle and give them one indisputable sign by which they were to know that He is before Abraham, then Jesus said He would give them the sign of the Prophet Jonah. Again Jesus challenged them: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
The sign of Jonah is fulfilled. As Jonah was in the belly of the fish and came forth alive, so Jesus was in the tomb unto the third day and then was seen alive. “Behold My hands and My feet that it is I Myself; handle Me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have” (Luke 24:39).
Friend and foe alike say that He rose. The women, unsuspecting, came to anoint Jesus early on Sunday morning for His final entombment, to hear to their utter amazement: “He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Read Matthew 28:1-10
What difference does it make that Jesus rose? All the difference in the world! If Christ is not risen, then we are still unforgiven sinners, then we must face a condemning judgment, then heaven is closed forever to us, then we have no hope as we stand at open graves, then we are the most miserable creatures on the earth. Truly it were better then that we had never been born.
The Easter victory brings to us life and heaven, joy and peace, certainty and security.
Sin cannot condemn us, for we are justified by faith, which holds fast to the eternal truth that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our transgressions.
Death has lost its deadening grip on us, and we can pass through its dark valley with Christ at our side. Death is man’s greatest foe. Death stopped Alexander, stopped Caesar, stopped thousands of others, but death did not stop Jesus. He rose, He ascended, and He lives. Because he lives, I too shall live. In my flesh shall I see God. In me is indestructible life by faith in Christ, my living Savior.
A new life is given me even now. We have been quickened together with Christ. We are reborn creatures by the power of the Holy Spirit. Forgiven, we are transformed into the children of light. Sinners by nature, we are saints by grace. We can resist evil. We have a new and hopeful outlook. We have protection. No one can pluck us out of the Savior’s hand.
We have a lively hope. This expectation does not center around earthly, material things. All of these will fall out of our trembling, feeble hands when death knocks at our door. It is certain we shall carry nothing out. But my redeemed and saved soul shall see glory that no sorrow can lessen, no death can shorten, Easter makes heaven my home, where there shall be no more separation, no more crying, no more death
Easter is the brightest spot on the horizon of life. Each year we celebrate the greatest victory in history when we sing our Easter hallelujahs. We need not despair. We need not perish. We believers shall behold Christ in glory.
And so shall we be forever with the Lord—all because He died and rose again.
In Easter joy,
Pastor Renstrom
From The Devotional Bible
Vol. I Matthew and Mark pp. 236-238
If Easter Were Not True
Matthew 28:1-10
It’s true, Christ rose. Two facts stand undeniable in the Easter message: On the third day the tomb was empty, and Jesus was seen alive.
This is the crowning evidence of His Messiahship and His eternal Sonship. When Jesus was challenged by the opposition to perform one master miracle and give them one indisputable sign by which they were to know that He is before Abraham, then Jesus said He would give them the sign of the Prophet Jonah. Again Jesus challenged them: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
The sign of Jonah is fulfilled. As Jonah was in the belly of the fish and came forth alive, so Jesus was in the tomb unto the third day and then was seen alive. “Behold My hands and My feet that it is I Myself; handle Me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see Me have” (Luke 24:39).
Friend and foe alike say that He rose. The women, unsuspecting, came to anoint Jesus early on Sunday morning for His final entombment, to hear to their utter amazement: “He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Read Matthew 28:1-10
What difference does it make that Jesus rose? All the difference in the world! If Christ is not risen, then we are still unforgiven sinners, then we must face a condemning judgment, then heaven is closed forever to us, then we have no hope as we stand at open graves, then we are the most miserable creatures on the earth. Truly it were better then that we had never been born.
The Easter victory brings to us life and heaven, joy and peace, certainty and security.
Sin cannot condemn us, for we are justified by faith, which holds fast to the eternal truth that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all our transgressions.
Death has lost its deadening grip on us, and we can pass through its dark valley with Christ at our side. Death is man’s greatest foe. Death stopped Alexander, stopped Caesar, stopped thousands of others, but death did not stop Jesus. He rose, He ascended, and He lives. Because he lives, I too shall live. In my flesh shall I see God. In me is indestructible life by faith in Christ, my living Savior.
A new life is given me even now. We have been quickened together with Christ. We are reborn creatures by the power of the Holy Spirit. Forgiven, we are transformed into the children of light. Sinners by nature, we are saints by grace. We can resist evil. We have a new and hopeful outlook. We have protection. No one can pluck us out of the Savior’s hand.
We have a lively hope. This expectation does not center around earthly, material things. All of these will fall out of our trembling, feeble hands when death knocks at our door. It is certain we shall carry nothing out. But my redeemed and saved soul shall see glory that no sorrow can lessen, no death can shorten, Easter makes heaven my home, where there shall be no more separation, no more crying, no more death
Easter is the brightest spot on the horizon of life. Each year we celebrate the greatest victory in history when we sing our Easter hallelujahs. We need not despair. We need not perish. We believers shall behold Christ in glory.
And so shall we be forever with the Lord—all because He died and rose again.
In Easter joy,
Pastor Renstrom
From The Devotional Bible
Vol. I Matthew and Mark pp. 236-238
April 2019
I found this interesting and informative…I hope you do as well. Dr. Paul Raabe was a professor of mine in seminary. (I shortened some paragraphs for space constraints.) Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
Posted 20 days ago by Paul Raabe in Blog, Feature 1241
Strong on Doctrinal Topics But Weak on the Books of the Bible
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) is strong on doctrinal topics but weak on the books of the Bible. After teaching at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis for 35 years I’ve come to that conclusion. In the Synod those trained theologically can typically articulate our orthodox doctrinal position and can work with Lutheran concepts. They can explain, for example, the differences between deus revelatus and deus absconditus. But they can’t tell you the first thing about Haggai or Chronicles or 1 John. The situation is not a case of false doctrine. It’s just weird.
The theological debates that take place in Synod typically deal with Luther and Luther’s theological position. We debate Luther… After a while I want to respond: “What does the Bible teach? You know, the Bible, that book collecting dust on the bookshelf.” By listening to our debates one would get the impression that we are a Society for Luther Studies.
I have taught the books of the Bible to laypeople for decades, and I can speak from personal experience. Our laypeople typically do not know the books of the Bible. I remember once when I taught a series on the Minor Prophets. A solid Missouri Synod Lutheran layman, about 85 years old, sat in the front row every week. At the end of the series he told me that his pastors had faithfully taught him Lutheran doctrine many times over, but no pastor had ever taught him the Minor Prophets. I wondered to myself, “How can this be, a solid, life-long Lutheran was never taught all the books of the Bible?”
Occasionally I visit other churches to hear a variety of pastors preach. Sometimes I am thrilled to hear a solid, textual sermon. But I am surprised how often I hear topical sermons without a specific text in a specific book of the Bible. The sermons are doctrinally sound. I am not hearing LCMS preachers preach false doctrine. But often there is no functioning biblical text from a biblical book in the pulpit.
It seems to me that in the Missouri Synod the 66 books of the Bible take a backseat. Yet, we need to remind ourselves of the obvious. First and foremost, the Bible is a collection of books, not a collection of favorite verses or doctrinal topics but a library of books. And each book needs to be treated as a book, read in a holistic way by attending to how it flows from the opening verse to the closing verse. That is simply respecting the shape of the inspired Scriptures themselves. The Sacred Scriptures come to us in the form of books.
If Martin Luther were here today, my hunch is that he would agree. After all, he wanted the people to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Scriptures themselves and not only learn summary statements of what the entire Bible teaches. That is why he translated the Scriptures into the language of the people. That is why he preached and lectured through books of the Bible.
The books of the Bible are primary literature, while summaries of their doctrinal teaching are secondary literature. Yes, people have to be taught what all of Scripture teaches… But that…should not overshadow or eclipse the biblical books themselves. The written Word of God comes in the shape of books, and we should honor and love that shape and teach the Word according to that shape…
Our motto of sola scriptura sets up the expectation that our churches and ministers actually theologize that way, that in these churches the pastor is all about the Ministry of the Word, not “social justice” or “inclusivity” or feel-good psychology, but the Ministry of the Word (Acts 6). That requires devotion to both the orthodox [doctrine] and the books of the Bible.
I found this interesting and informative…I hope you do as well. Dr. Paul Raabe was a professor of mine in seminary. (I shortened some paragraphs for space constraints.) Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
Posted 20 days ago by Paul Raabe in Blog, Feature 1241
Strong on Doctrinal Topics But Weak on the Books of the Bible
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) is strong on doctrinal topics but weak on the books of the Bible. After teaching at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis for 35 years I’ve come to that conclusion. In the Synod those trained theologically can typically articulate our orthodox doctrinal position and can work with Lutheran concepts. They can explain, for example, the differences between deus revelatus and deus absconditus. But they can’t tell you the first thing about Haggai or Chronicles or 1 John. The situation is not a case of false doctrine. It’s just weird.
The theological debates that take place in Synod typically deal with Luther and Luther’s theological position. We debate Luther… After a while I want to respond: “What does the Bible teach? You know, the Bible, that book collecting dust on the bookshelf.” By listening to our debates one would get the impression that we are a Society for Luther Studies.
I have taught the books of the Bible to laypeople for decades, and I can speak from personal experience. Our laypeople typically do not know the books of the Bible. I remember once when I taught a series on the Minor Prophets. A solid Missouri Synod Lutheran layman, about 85 years old, sat in the front row every week. At the end of the series he told me that his pastors had faithfully taught him Lutheran doctrine many times over, but no pastor had ever taught him the Minor Prophets. I wondered to myself, “How can this be, a solid, life-long Lutheran was never taught all the books of the Bible?”
Occasionally I visit other churches to hear a variety of pastors preach. Sometimes I am thrilled to hear a solid, textual sermon. But I am surprised how often I hear topical sermons without a specific text in a specific book of the Bible. The sermons are doctrinally sound. I am not hearing LCMS preachers preach false doctrine. But often there is no functioning biblical text from a biblical book in the pulpit.
It seems to me that in the Missouri Synod the 66 books of the Bible take a backseat. Yet, we need to remind ourselves of the obvious. First and foremost, the Bible is a collection of books, not a collection of favorite verses or doctrinal topics but a library of books. And each book needs to be treated as a book, read in a holistic way by attending to how it flows from the opening verse to the closing verse. That is simply respecting the shape of the inspired Scriptures themselves. The Sacred Scriptures come to us in the form of books.
If Martin Luther were here today, my hunch is that he would agree. After all, he wanted the people to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest the Scriptures themselves and not only learn summary statements of what the entire Bible teaches. That is why he translated the Scriptures into the language of the people. That is why he preached and lectured through books of the Bible.
The books of the Bible are primary literature, while summaries of their doctrinal teaching are secondary literature. Yes, people have to be taught what all of Scripture teaches… But that…should not overshadow or eclipse the biblical books themselves. The written Word of God comes in the shape of books, and we should honor and love that shape and teach the Word according to that shape…
Our motto of sola scriptura sets up the expectation that our churches and ministers actually theologize that way, that in these churches the pastor is all about the Ministry of the Word, not “social justice” or “inclusivity” or feel-good psychology, but the Ministry of the Word (Acts 6). That requires devotion to both the orthodox [doctrine] and the books of the Bible.
March 2019
White as Snow
“Come, let us settle this,” says the Lord. Though your sins are scarlet they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. (Isaiah 1:19 CSB)
I was desperately trying to find some way to tie this article with the snowmobiling trip from which my friend and I just returned home. I was not being particularly successful…I couldn’t find the term ‘snowmobile’ in the Bible! Long days following winding trails in the Minnesota north country, burning up gas, sitting at the restaurant or in the hotel lobby in the evening telling stories—none of it seemed to relate to an article to share with you. Even coming home to another 8+ inches of snow in the yard didn’t seem to bring up any ideas. Yes…it’s all part of God’s great gift of creation and his continuing sustaining power in and over the universe…but…
Then, finally, God got through my slow, cob-webby thought processes.
Snow. But not just snow. “Though your sins are scarlet they will as white as snow…” All this snow I’ve been playing on, all this snow that we have been fussing about as we have to move it out of our driveways and parking lots, all this snow that we have been have to worry about as we drive…all this snow is a reminder to us of God’s greatest gift to us! The forgiveness and removal of all our sins! Our free ticket to abundant and eternal life!
Jesus’ birth (Christmas), life (Epiphany), suffering (Lent), death (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter) are all summed up--in a simple snow fall. Our sins are bright red. They show up like a flashing LED sign. But the Lord said, “Come, let us settle this.” We are guilty—like we say, no one is perfect! But that little statement doesn’t excuse us; it confirms our guilt and justifies our eternal punishment. Again, but the Lord said, “Come, let us settle this.”
As it says in Isaiah 1:15b-17: “Your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.” (CSB) But our every inclination is evil, from the time we are born (Genesis 8:21). We cannot wash ourselves.
But the Lord said, “Come, let us settle this.” And the triune God sent the Son, the only Son, to do what we cannot do. He fulfills the instructions of Isaiah—the instructions of the whole Word of God, because he is the Word of God. And He offers himself as our substitute, our sacrifice, and satisfies the perfection of our perfect creation by our perfect God.
Now our sins are as white as snow…no longer red…no longer seen…gone as far as the east is from the west. We are forgiven, given grace and given faith to trust that grace so that we may be brought home to home in heaven. Thanks be to God we can live life in that sure and certain knowledge!
Perhaps…just perhaps…you will try to join me in a change of heart? Instead of ‘cursing’ the snow of this ‘record-breaking’ February 2019, we can see it as a symbol that God uses to remind of his great love for us in Christ Jesus!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom
White as Snow
“Come, let us settle this,” says the Lord. Though your sins are scarlet they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool. (Isaiah 1:19 CSB)
I was desperately trying to find some way to tie this article with the snowmobiling trip from which my friend and I just returned home. I was not being particularly successful…I couldn’t find the term ‘snowmobile’ in the Bible! Long days following winding trails in the Minnesota north country, burning up gas, sitting at the restaurant or in the hotel lobby in the evening telling stories—none of it seemed to relate to an article to share with you. Even coming home to another 8+ inches of snow in the yard didn’t seem to bring up any ideas. Yes…it’s all part of God’s great gift of creation and his continuing sustaining power in and over the universe…but…
Then, finally, God got through my slow, cob-webby thought processes.
Snow. But not just snow. “Though your sins are scarlet they will as white as snow…” All this snow I’ve been playing on, all this snow that we have been fussing about as we have to move it out of our driveways and parking lots, all this snow that we have been have to worry about as we drive…all this snow is a reminder to us of God’s greatest gift to us! The forgiveness and removal of all our sins! Our free ticket to abundant and eternal life!
Jesus’ birth (Christmas), life (Epiphany), suffering (Lent), death (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter) are all summed up--in a simple snow fall. Our sins are bright red. They show up like a flashing LED sign. But the Lord said, “Come, let us settle this.” We are guilty—like we say, no one is perfect! But that little statement doesn’t excuse us; it confirms our guilt and justifies our eternal punishment. Again, but the Lord said, “Come, let us settle this.”
As it says in Isaiah 1:15b-17: “Your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.” (CSB) But our every inclination is evil, from the time we are born (Genesis 8:21). We cannot wash ourselves.
But the Lord said, “Come, let us settle this.” And the triune God sent the Son, the only Son, to do what we cannot do. He fulfills the instructions of Isaiah—the instructions of the whole Word of God, because he is the Word of God. And He offers himself as our substitute, our sacrifice, and satisfies the perfection of our perfect creation by our perfect God.
Now our sins are as white as snow…no longer red…no longer seen…gone as far as the east is from the west. We are forgiven, given grace and given faith to trust that grace so that we may be brought home to home in heaven. Thanks be to God we can live life in that sure and certain knowledge!
Perhaps…just perhaps…you will try to join me in a change of heart? Instead of ‘cursing’ the snow of this ‘record-breaking’ February 2019, we can see it as a symbol that God uses to remind of his great love for us in Christ Jesus!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Tim J. Renstrom