Christmas Meditation 2013 for the North Star News

Part of the charm of the story of Bethlehem is the humility of the holy family: alone, poor, and buffeted by the powerful of this world.  In spite of it all, they experienced the joy and hope of new life in the birth of Jesus on a cold December night.  The eyes of the world were on the rich and powerful people of that day as they usually are.  The attention of God was on a humble stable behind an out-of-the-way inn in the little town of Bethlehem.

            It is no accident that two of the most popular symbols used today to celebrate this story come from those who understood the mind of God in focusing on the humble to accomplish his purposes.  St. Francis is credited with beginning the custom of displaying a crèche, or nativity scene, at Christmas back in 1226.  Francis was set to inherit great wealth when he gave it all up to call the church to focus once more on the needs of the poor when far too many people were concerned about enriching themselves.  Martin Luther is credited in popular legend with introducing the Christmas tree to the world in the 1530s.  He, too, was a reformer whose agenda was to lift up the dignity and ministry of the common man when the gulf between the upper classes and the common people was very great.  In today’s world Pope Francis has made it a centerpiece of his pontificate to call the church to focus on the needs of the poor and vulnerable and to call the world to economic justice.  As he leads the world in the celebration of the birthday of Jesus for the first time this month his words need to be heard and heeded.

            When the babe of Bethlehem grew up he said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust consume and thieves break in and steal.  But rather store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not consume and thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be.”  (Matthew 6:19-21) And when a rich young ruler came to him with the question, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” he ended their discussion by telling him to “sell all you have and distribute it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  (Luke 18:22)

            In a world where top level athletes and artists are paid obscene amounts of money to entertain people and where top executives earn more in one day than most of their employees do in a year, it is time to remember where God is focusing his work.  He is still found in backwater towns like Bethlehem, among poor, even homeless, people like Mary and Joseph, bringing the message of peace and goodwill and calling people to remember that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”  (Acts 20:35)  And he most certainly is calling his people to turn from the commercialization of Christmas to its humble beginnings.  After all, in the end Jesus will say, “as you did to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”  (Matthew 25:40)  So when you admire a Christmas tree, or gaze at a crèche, or hear the news reports from Rome on December 25, remember where this holiday began and see what you can do to live in the spirit of the humble Christ of Christmas.  And maybe even follow the example of St.  Francis and Pope Francis in seeking some way to focus on the needs of the poor.

Newsletter December 2013

This is the last of my reflections on the 25^th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2013, and this month I turn from the past to the future.  Prognosticating is a foolish thing some would say, for we are continually surprised at what develops, so I will simply offer a few thoughts as we face the second quarter century of our denomination.

The current trends for this church, and indeed for all churches, do not bode will.  The ELCA is one of the “mainline churches” that have seen a decline both in number of members and in financial resources.  For quite a few years the reason was thought to be summed up in Robert M Kelly’s book “Why Conservative Churches Are Growing” which said that most mainline churches were simply too liberal.  But when the Southern Baptist Convention reports a decline in the number of baptisms, we know that things have changed.  As the editor of The Lutheran noted on page 4 of the October issue, all denominations are reporting declines, even the most conservative.  What this means is that all of us are trying to do ministry with fewer partners and fewer dollars.  Will this trend continue for the next 25 years?

But far more significant is the decline of the influence of Christian theology and ethics as the United States becomes both more secular and more diverse in ethnicity and religion.  In recent years the greatest growth religiously in America has been in those who are called “nones” because they list no religious affiliation whatsoever in public polls.  Most of us do not have to consult a national poll to see this.  Just think about our own families.  This means that when Christian leaders speak to an issue they represent a smaller percentage of the population.  In a democracy that means less influence.  Where will we be a quarter century from now?  Will America be totally secularized?

In such a situation, faithful Christians remember that their hope does not lie in public support, wealth, or political power, but in the promises of God.  After Peter confessed his faith in Jesus Christ the Lord said to him “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)   This is the promise that the church of Jesus Christ will continue until he comes again in judgment.  It is not a promise that any given denomination or any given congregation will continue forever.  Various parts of the Christian church will wax and wane over time as does everything else, but there will always be assemblies of believers who gather around the Word of God and where the gospel is preached and the sacraments administered, which is the Lutheran Augsburg Confession’s definition of the church in Article VII.  Article VII goes on to say “Our churches also teach that one holy church is to continue forever.”  Or as Luther wrote in his great Reformation hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” as he perhaps reflected on Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever”:

God’s Word forever shall abide,

No thanks to foes who fear it;

For God himself fights by our side

With weapons of the Spirit.

Were they to take our house,

Goods, honor, child, or spouse,

Though life be wrenched away,

They cannot win the day,

The kingdom’s ours forever!         (ELW #504)

As for the ELCA, its place on the religious landscape of America may be smaller and its voice somewhat weaker, but it will continue to be heard.  The purpose of the ELCA is to bring the Lutheran perspective to the issues of the day as people live in the rich heritage the Reformers have left us.  We are not just another Protestant denomination like any other.  In the next 25 years we would do well to focus more on our Lutheran heritage, the Lutheran Confessions, and Lutheran worship and practice.

When I was called to serve as the pastor of this parish I was asked not only to bring stability to a somewhat wobbly situation, but to re-affirm the ties of these two congregations to our Lutheran heritage and especially to the NW.MN Synod and the ELCA.  As we come to the end of this 25^th anniversary year of the ELCA and look forward to the 100^th anniversary of First Lutheran Church in 2016 and the 500^th anniversary of the start of the Reformation in 2017 I am more committed than ever to this task.

As we move forward into the future let us remember what Jesus said to his disciples who were a tiny band of believers in a sea of pagans, “have no fear, little flock, for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)