Playing By The Rules

Luke 13:10-17

When I began my ministry as the bishop of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod,  I was a little surprised to discover that, in my new role, I was expected to interpret, apply and sometimes even enforce the constitutions, policies and practices of the ELCA.  In other words, to help people “play by the rules.”  The truth is, as a child, “lawyer” was never on the list of the many things I thought about being when I grew up.   This aspect of my work continues to be a challenge, and I am grateful for the actual lawyers and other wise ones who regularly advise me in this interpretive task.  Over the past five years, I have come to appreciate and value the governing documents of our church.  Frequently, they give me helpful guidance and direction as I work with individuals, congregations and ministries in the Synod.  

I believe that, for the most part, our governing documents reflect our theology, our understanding of what it means to be the Church, and contribute to carrying out our mission as the Body of Christ.  For the most part.  The governing documents of our church are, after all, human documents that are subject to all the imperfections and limited vision that comes with being human.   That’s why they are always being updated, revised and changed as the world around us changes, and as we consider different or better ways of being church together.   At the recent Churchwide Assembly, we approved a whole range changes to our governing documents.   Hopefully, those decisions will make our governing documents stronger and our ministry more faithful to the Gospel that must – must – always stand at the center of who and what we are as a church.  And that’s the key, isn’t it?  If it is not, then we cease to be the church.   When the rules we play by do not reflect the Gospel we live by, they can become destructive rather than life-giving. 

I think that was what was going on in the synagogue in this week’s text from Luke.   There, as in other places, Jesus is challenged for breaking the rules regarding the observance of the Sabbath.   But, Jesus is really challenging the “governing documents” that had grown up around the Torah, not the Torah itself. He challenges the rules because they no longer reflected the life-giving, steadfast love of God.  Jesus does not reject Torah, but, through his ministry, fulfills its loving intent to establish justice and compassion in our human relationships with God and with one another. (See Matthew 5:17)  That ministry ultimately took him to the cross.

Our conversations about how we live out the Gospel as a church are always ongoing and need to be.   Our governing documents will always be a work in progress.  Through the Holy Spirit, God is always helping us see our imperfections, always reforming us, and always challenging us to play by the rules of Christ’s way of love, compassion and justice.

Peace,

Bishop Mike

Thanks for reading! 

Dressing for Action

Luke 12:32-48

The year was 1979.  I was a senior in High School.  Iran was holding 52 Americans hostage in Tehran.   Reinstatement of registration for the military draft was being discussed.  War felt immanent.  It was a fearful time.   My girlfriend at the time invited me to join her for church one Sunday morning.  That day, the preacher spoke about the fear.  It was warranted, he said.  The end times were upon us.  Christians should hunker down, cling to one another and to their faith, and wait for the Lord to return.  Even at the time, his advice didn’t ring true to me. 

We still live in fearful times.  I’ve come to the conclusion that, for the most part, we always do.  At least, some always do.  But, is the Christian response to fearful times to hunker down and wait for the end?   I don’t think so.  Throughout Chapter 12 of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is talking to his disciples about facing the fearful and difficult days ahead (Jesus had told them that they were heading for Jerusalem and a cross).  The whole chapter is full of assurance and hope, a call to reconsider and reorient one’s priorities and to be ready to face whatever comes.  This week’s passage is no different.  The parable in vss. 41-48 expands the idea of watchfulness and preparedness in vss. 35-40.   Jesus adds a call to faithfulness in carrying out one’s tasks  to his call to readiness.  Cowering in fear is not an option.  Why would it be?  We have the promise of God’s Reign.  We have the gift of the Holy Spirit.  We have the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Our response to the fearful realities of life are the same as they always have been.  First, we need to dress ourselves in the very promises I just mentioned.  Through worship, the study of the Word, prayer, devotion and the mutual support of our  brothers and sisters in faith, we clothe ourselves in hope.   But, it is not enough just to be dressed in hope.  Because we know the end of the story, we can be strengthened to live in the story as it unfolds around us – fearful as it can be sometimes.    Like the faithful slave in vss. 40-48, we need to be about our master’s business.   For those who call Jesus “master” (i.e. “Lord”) that means caring for those in need, standing with those who are marginalized, crying out for justice, working for reconciliation and embodying the love God has for God’s world.  It means getting out of our church buildings and engaging the fearful world knowing that there is nothing to fear, because God is already at work “out there”.

Have no fear little flock!  The Kingdom is yours!   Get dressed!  Get going!   Get serving!   God is with you…   to the end of the age!

Peace,

Bishop Mike

Thanks for reading.