Newsletter December 2010

“Our churches also teach that one holy church is to continue forever.” Augsburg Confession article 7

When the Reformers of the 16th century were attempting to bring about positive change in the church of their day they were often accused of trying to destroy the very organization they were doing their best to improve. Some people simply could not see how the church could survive some of the changes they were proposing even though these changes were, in actuality, a return to a more evangelical grace-filled life such as Jesus and the disciples lived and the scriptures teach. In times of stress it is much easier to cling to old traditions than to embrace the challenges of a new day.

One thing that the scriptures teach and that the Reformers affirmed is that God has guaranteed the future of the church until the end of time. Upon Peter’s confession of faith in Matthew 16:16, Jesus said, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” It is upon this promise, and others like it, that the Reformers could affirm that “one holy church is to continue forever.”

The church of which these Reformers speak is not to be confused with the many institutions that are a part of the church: congregations, committees, synods, denominations. As they said in the next sentence of Article 7 “The church is the assembly of saints in which the Gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are administered rightly.” What Jesus has promised is that people will assemble for the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments until he comes again in glory. There will never come a time the church does not exist.

In the 21st century this promise needs to be heard again when the church’s future seems to be in doubt. In congregations where the number of worshippers is dwindling and the finances may be shaky, it is easy to fall into a “doom and gloom” mentality that focuses on the problems, real as they are, instead of the gospel promises, true as they are. In 2010 the heirs of the Reformation, including local Lutherans and Presbyterians, have faced serious financial shortfalls that led to heart-wrenching cut backs. In October of this year the Crystal Cathedral in California filed for bankruptcy after decades as one of the leading suburban mega-churches and the host of a popular television ministry. The Southern Baptist Convention reported a decline in the number of baptisms for the first time. Evangelicals, Pentecostals, traditional Protestants, and Catholics have all experienced some confidence-shaking problems recently.

In the face of the changes in the world today, Christians can live and must in the promise of scripture concerning the church and then be open to the ways the “one holy church” will continue as this century wears on. In the midst of change, re-organization, and some dismaying events, the church is called to listen to the voice of Jesus and proclaim the message of God’s love for all with its invitation to come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Back in the 19th century Nicholai Grundtvig was a Danish Lutheran pastor who wrote a hymn that expresses his scripture-inspired confidence and hope. (ELW #652)

Built on a rock the church shall stand,
even when steeples are falling;
crumbled have spires in every land,
bells still are chiming and calling –
calling the young and old to rest,
calling the souls of those distressed,
longing for life everlasting.

As America becomes a more religiously diverse nation and as more Americans seem to have little time for organized religion, remember that there are still “souls distressed” that are longing to hear the good news that only Jesus can bring. In a war-torn and violent world, there are still people longing for “that peace the world cannot give.” In a world of work-work-work to prove yourself worthy, there are many who are longing to hear “come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

The work of the church in preaching the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ and offering the comfort and assurance of the sacraments is not done, nor will it be until Jesus comes again.