In one of the ministries I served, we had the idea of
posting pictures, articles and reflections that illustrated the way the people who
were part of the ministry lived out their faith. We knew that there were people doing amazing things
nobody knew about, and wanted to recognize them for their service and lift them
up as examples of faithful discipleship.
We announced the project in bulletins, newsletters, and announcements. Guess how many pictures and articles we
received? Not one.
I encouraged a few people I knew
were doing exemplary things to submit something. They turned me down. Lutheran humility? Perhaps.
But, a number of people didn’t see a connection between their faith and
what they were doing in their lives.
One woman, who I knew did many acts of kindness, simply
said, “We are saved by grace, not works.” She was right, of course. The freedom we have in and through Christ is
nothing we can earn nor anything we deserve.
It is a gift. It is grace. It was given to us while we were still weak –
as weak as an infant at the Baptismal font.
But, sometimes I worry that we have fallen off the other
side of the font. “Works” have become so anathema to some
Lutherans that, while we might do them, we fear talking about them will make us
appear self-righteous (and somehow anti-faith).
The problem with that is, to those looking from the outside in, it looks
as if we practice a faith that has no real impact or bearing on how we live our
lives.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Once we have been grasped by the gift of God’s
grace, it can and does have an impact on how we live our lives day by day. It has to!
Once we are yoked to the freedom that is ours in Christ, our lives can
never be the same! Paul tells the Galatians that once the Holy
Spirit gets a hold of us we will live with love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Not a bad way to live, if you ask me.
In the reading from Luke, Jesus encounters three people who
want to follow, but who want to do so on their own terms. None of them is willing to change or be
changed by the one they wish to follow.
What about us? How does the
Grace of God change us? How does it impact our lives? And, can anyone
around us even tell? Are we willing to
tell them?
Perhaps asking people to post their good works on a bulletin
board was a bad idea. (OK, it was.) But, if the impact of our faith and God’s
grace is invisible… If it has no discernible effect on how we live… does it really matter?
Peace,
Bishop Mike
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