Are Denominations the Cause of Disunity?

Lately, I've heard a lot of people speaking negatively about the whole concept of denominations. For example, I overheard someone saying that if Christians could just come together apart from their denominations we'd have unity in a minute.

I guess the more I reflect upon it, the more I disagree with that sentiment; and that's not just because I'm a pastor. Consider for a moment what we would have without denominations. We would have a bunch of people: each with their own opinions, their own interpretations, and no accountability. We'd have, in short, pandemonium. (Even greater than what already exsists!)

We would have no ability to create consensus with such a group. That is, unless they wanted to come together to the lowest common denominator. And even then agreement would be impossible.

Also, I consider the phenomenon of many nondenominational churches. What ends up happening is that a nondenominational church realizes that it's very difficult to stand all by itself. It ends up finding other like-minded congregations or even an organization that is like-minded. Upon finding these like-minded cohorts they seek to strike an agreement to willingly walk together in ministry. They might even pull together their resources in order to more efficiently train pastors and send missionaries. Sounds an awful lot like a Synod.

I believe that denominations are the key to future unity in the Christian church. Representatives from denominations may come together to talk about theological agreement/disagreement. These representatives would be speaking on behalf of many Christians. Even that situation can be chaotic, but is certainly a whole lot better than bringing thousands and thousands of Christians together to all speak at once.

Denominations give accountability to their members and pastors. Without such accountability, it is very easy for people to be led far astray from the gospel. (Of course it's still possible for people to be led astray within a denomination. It's just that people have a recourse against a false teacher within a denomination.)

While I long for unity in the Christian church, I don't believe denominations are stumbling blocks to it.

Predestination

Today in Bible class, one of the students made a comment that was simply enlightening about the topic of predestination. She said that she perceived that people run into problems with the topic of predestination when they try to treat it as a means of grace.

I really appreciated her comment because it was a concise explanation of what I was explaining to the class: that predestination is never treated apart from Christ.

Miss Veedol

Most of us are familiar with Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis flight across the Atlantic. But how many of us are familiar with the Miss Veedol flight from Japan to America across the Pacific?

Miss Veedol was the first plane to fly nonstop across the Pacific Ocean. The flight took place on October 5, 1931. It went from Misawa to Washington. The flight lasted about 41 hours and puts the current 11 hours needed for the trip into perspective!

Another Resource

There's another resource to identify Lutheran blogs on the web: Lutheran Blog Links

Another tool that I think is going to be very helpful in reading blogs is the new Sony Ereader. It utilizes a new technology called Eink. It is supposedly like reading on a page. One of the things I really like about it is that it will sync up with blogs. I'm hoping that having blogs in a more portable and readable form will allow me more opportunities to follow blogs.

We have a rainy day here in northern Japan. We were planning to go to the zoo down in Morioka. But due to the poor weather we decided to stay closer to home. So we are going to check out the Misawa aerospace and science Museum. I'll have a note or two on how that goes.

Peace!

Matt

New blogging tool!

I have just discovered the ultimate blogging tool. It is the software Dragon naturally speaking version 9. It is text recognition software. It's been a few years since I've tried text recognition software. The last time I tried it was about five years ago. It didn't work so well then.

This new version works almost perfectly right out of the box. I spent about 10 minutes training it. In fact, I'd say it makes fewer mistakes with the voice recognition than I make typing.

So I'm really hoping that this is can I help my blogging get off the ground in a better way. Typing is so laborious to me that I don't often update my blog because it becomes more of a chore. But being able to dictate my blog, I think I'll be able to update it more often because it's much easier.

I believe that I will be updating my blog much more frequently now. I've just discovered a whole slew of Lutheran blogs. It was like uncovering a treasure trove. One of my favorite nexus of Lutheran blogs is one called Lutheran carnival you can find it here: Lutheran Carnival

Until next time God bless and keep you.
Pastor Matt and he

Sermon Preparation

Blogging takes a bit of time, and I haven't had much of that! (That and I haven't written a sermon in a few months.) But I want to get into the habit of doing so and since today has been rainy (along with most of yesterday) I've been stuck inside so this is a good time to restart!

I am preaching tomorrow so it's prompted me to get out some readings and analyze and apply.

The readings chosen for tomorrow are:

Jeremiah 11:18-20 -- innocent prophet being "set up" by his enemies
James 3:16-4:6 -- jealousy causes quarrels
Mark 9:30-37 -- who's the greatest?

The immediate illustration that comes to mind is the movie "The Caine Mutiny". The story had all the elements present in these readings: plotting, lying, and jealousy.

In "The Caine Mutiny" the captain made several mistakes. Then, in the midst of a typhoon, the Executive officer challenges and relieves the captain from command.

Later, in the court martial, the Executive officer's defense attorney was able to prove that the captain was incompetent. At the celebration party, the attorney upbraids the Executive officer and others. Even though the captain made several mistakes and may even have been legally incompentent--at one point the captain asked the officers for help and they refused to help him.

That, said the attorney, put the blame of failure in command on the officers, not the captain.

The christian should anticipate the needs of others. If we see someone having trouble we should lend them aid--even before they need it. And we needn't even receive praise for their assistance. We should never relish the fall of another.

Sometimes offensive behavior and plotting is obvious, sometimes it is subtle, but it is always wrong--regardless of motivation.

Sunday 12 March 2006, 2nd Sunday in Lent

The readings for Sunday, the 2nd Sunday in Lent are:
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Romans 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38

I'll also be considering Psalm 22:22-30

The theme that immediately jumps out from the Gospel is that of sacrifice. My initial study will revolve around the concept of sacrifice.

I think of Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego in the book of Daniel. The were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice. They refused to worship the king. Even when threatened with death, they refused to compromise.

Certainly anyone would understand a decision to compromise in such circumstances! They could have worshipped the king with their mouths only. Their hearts would have been far from worshipping the king. Anyone who knew them would have known that their worship of the king was insincere and they would've avoided the death penalty with such empty words.

But their faith encouraged them to make a foolish decision. They refused to bend. They refused to compromise.

The king was so furious that he had the oven fired twice as hot as normal before throwing in Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego. It was so hot the guards throwing them in were killed by the heat outside the oven!

God miraculously saved them. Inside the fire was an additional person--an angel. And God preserved them from the flames.

The temptation to compromise our faith comes in many forms. What is the tempation in your life?

Next I'll look at the value of faith as evidenced by Abraham. For faith is the answer to the tempation to compromise!

Oops!

Wow, I let this slip for several days! I'm intending to make my blog a daily habit. I'm sure I'll have a few more starts and stops before I get going on such a regular basis!

The sermon this week will focus on the Transfiguration of Jesus. His Transfiguration was a key event in tying together the Old and New Testaments. The presence of Moses and Elijah along with Jesus and the disciples is significant!

I'll be exploring that significance in the days ahead.

Radio Show

I've been blessed with the opportunity to do an hour radio show each week on our AFN station! The first week was kind of rough but an excellent learning platform--some things I can only learn from doing!

This week we covered the topic of Hope and touched on suicide issues. Next week I've planned a show on friendship. We talk a lot about the Wingman concept. Chaplains use the word "friend". We all need friends! The music this Tuesday at 1500 will celebrate friendship.

I've even been able to plan the following week: parents and children. I've gotten most of the music for this but it has been the hardest so far. If you know of any tunes from the 70s, 80s, or 90s that covers this topic, let me know!

My sermon for Sunday is also underway! The topic for the sermon will be "Strength", as in the Lord will lift us as on wings of an Eagle! The Father strengthened Christ in His time of need, we too can expect to receive strength in our times of need.

An illustration of this: a young girl was going to take the plane to her grandmothers. This was in the day when we still used paper tickets. In the days and weeks before her journey she kept pestering her father to give her the ticket so she could hold on to it and know her journey was guaranteed. Her father kept replying that he would keep the ticket in safe-keeping until the moment she needed it.

That is how it often is with our strength--God gives it to us as we need it! We are all capable of far more than we realize. It's been said a hero is a normal person in extraordinary circumstances. When we have the need for strength, the Lord will deliver us!

The Great Reversal

The Bible is full of reversals. People who have labored to get ahead and sacrificed their morality, their integrity and their souls to gain the world find that the world is an empty promise.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. The world only takes. Human beings are truly only dust in the wind in terms of the history of the world. Even the greatest civilizations of the past have been forgotten. Ours too will be forgotten and others rise up in its place (unless the Lord comes first!)

The Kingdom of God is eternal. It will never end and all who invest in it will be richly rewarded!

It is like the extravagent spender--he may look wealthy and happy, but he's living hand to mouth--spending income as he gets it, even going into debt to keep up the lifestyle. When it ends, it ends abruptly and he finds himself destitute.

Others live frugally, appearing to be somewhat poor even as they wisely save for the future. One day their investments mature and they live in wealth until the end of their days.

It's like the fable of the ant and the grasshopper. Here's a link to the fable if you've forgotten it! http://www.civprod.com/storylady/stories/AesopFables.htm

The Kingdom of God works similarly--some choose to reject God and live according to the desires of the flesh. (Billy Joel--"I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.") We can even be jealous of them in the shine of their youth as we watch them having fun, doing what they want. But the harvest they reap from this lifestyle is certainly not to be envied!

Instead, the people who have lived by restraint gain wisdom and become respected and sought after for their teaching. They become the rock, the shelter in the storm sharing the strength of God who has kept them strong all the years.

Certainly salvation may come to both types of people through the grace of God in Christ Jesus--but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord! I'd rather know the full joy of walking in will of God than the empty satisfaction of gorging my stomach!

Great Power=Great Responsibility

The catch-phrase of Spiderman is "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." This should also be a catchphrase of the Christian.

God has invested great power in the invidual Christian and even greater power in the Christian community known as the church. Individually and collectively, Christians have the power to forgive sins, the power to pray, the power to witness, the power to be the light on the hill, the power to be the salt of the earth, the power to be Children of the Lord Most High.

With that power comes responsibility. We must work to bring people to salvation. We must be good ambassadors for our Father and King. We must be the one's who take the high road even when it's not popular. We are witnesses! Let us tap into the great power, for then we will find the ability to share in the responsibility!

Christian Growth and Trees

Christian growth is much like the growth of trees. It is not constant. It comes in spurts and even seems to go away at times.

In the spring the tree grows quickly and puts out buds and new life all around. This is equal to times of joy and vigor in the life of faith.

In the summer the tree settles down to full leafy green beauty. This is the equivalent of the more mature Christian settling down to learn the depth of God's Word.

In the late summer the tree bears fruit. This is seen in the Christian life as the mature Chrsitian bearing the fruits of the spirit.

In the fall the tree is clothed in a glorious colorful display. In the Christian life this is the time of acknowledgement for service done in the church.

In the winter, the tree appears to be dead and not growing. In the Christian life this is the "Dark Night of the Soul". It can feel like faith is gone and God no longer hears prayer. But have no fear, life remains deep within and the roots still carry nutrients! And Spring is around the corner!

Christian growth is not constant at all! We need to rejoice at every stage of the way and not become prideful nor frightful!

Peace!

Is Baptism the Work of God or the Work of Man?

Who does the work in Baptism? This is key question in understanding the doctrine. For if the work in Baptism is done by humans then the benefit of baptism comes from the worthiness of the person being baptized.

If the person being baptized is being baptized based on his or her worthiness, then what is baptism? What benefit is baptism?

Now, if the work in baptism is done by God, then a person is made worthy in baptism. Baptism is a way that God reaches into a person's life and brings grace and favor into that person's life.

Baptism clearly belongs to God. He made the promise attached to baptism. He instituted baptism. God does the work in baptism.

This is a comfort because our relationship with God does not depend upon our strength of faith, strength of character or stength of anything in us. And that's a good thing because we're all sinners and we are weak. If our relationship with God depended upon anything from within us, that relationship would soon fail.

Instead, our relationship with God depends upon His strength. Our relationship with God depends entirely upon God. He gives us our faith, He gives us our strength, He gives us our Salvation. This is a comforting thought, in the darkness of our weakness we will always see the light of His strength!

What If the Wicked Witch of the West Repented?

We do find repentance entertaining. One of the biggest repentance scenes in a movie is that of Darth Vader in the third Star Wars movie. And the movie clearly implies that Vader found forgiveness upon his repentance.

What if the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz had repented? Of course she didn't and we see the other preferred end of evil characters: death and destruction. She remained hard hearted and it led to her destruction. Consider the end of the Wizard of Oz had she repented like Vader!

We also have what I would consider the opposite of repentance in the Incredible Hulk. He changes from a mild mannered gentleman into a raging hulk of a monster! That too is a complete change in thinking and acting but in the wrong way!

Repentance means coming to terms with your past. Hard heartedness means continued denial of reality and leads to bitterness and indeed destruction. I think Vader is the better path over the Wicked Witch!

It is up to each Christian to throw off the fetters of hard heartedeness and repent! For then we shall find forgiveness and be truly free!

Peace!

Pastor Boarts

Metanoieo

I'm not sure about the spelling of the title! The greek word for repentance is meta-noi-e-o which means "a complete change in ways of thinking and acting."

In order to do this complete change, we must despair of the worldly ways of thinking and acting. And this isn't so easy to do! In the movie "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" the main characters are driving down an interstate against traffic.

Someone in a car heading the same direction in the proper lane gets their attention and shouts, "You're going the wrong way!" One of the main characters, John Candy, says to the other, Steve Martin, "That's nice of them, but how do they know where we're going?"

Each of us has goals in life and those goals are unique to each individual. But there are things common to each of us also. One of the main things we have in common are the things of God.

I heard a news commentary today in which the commentator mis-interpreted the first commandment. He said that in the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods", the "you" referred only to the Jews. According to this commentator, God wasn't prohibiting other people from having other gods. In fact the commentator was criticizing someone for saying Jesus is the only way to salvation. The commentator stated that anyone who says that Jesus is the only way to salvation doesn't know the Bible at all.

Wow. Here's the link to the video I'm speaking about, listen until the part about John Gibson http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/12/27.html#a6493

Voice On the Water

Reflecting on Jesus' baptism led me to consider the role of water. Through a chain of thought I came to a new understanding of the role of water in Jesus' ministry.

Several times in the Gospels, Jesus preaches from a boat just off shore. Commonly we understand His purpose in doing this was to reach a greater number of people--voices carry better over water and He could reach a significant number of people from a boat just off shore.

This is also a symbolic action. As I considered the role of water in the re-creation of baptism, I also considered its role in the creation of the world. In the beginning of creation, when God spoke the words of creation, He was hovering over the waters. Christ also spoke words over the water in His ministry of re-creation.

This role of water in creation and in Jesus' ministry makes a compelling connection that I continue to ponder.

Peace!

And It Snowed!

We've gotten more than average snow for December so far--and for Misawa that's saying a lot! The average for December is around 22 inches. We've gotten over 30 so far! None of the snowfalls have been particularly large -- 1 to 2 inches at a time, maybe 4-5 inches a few times. But it seems like I have to go out and shovel the walk every morning! And this is just the beginning--it's good exercise and I appreciate the time to listen to my audiobooks on the Ipod while I shovel, so all in all I can't complain!

We finally made it to the Shimoda mall! It's one of those things we kept meaning to do but things kept coming up. It was a good experience--the boys haven't seen a full toy department/store since we left the states. I think we could have left them at the mall for a week or so while they absorbed the toys! We did pick up a truly Japanese toy for my nephew for his birthday, he should be pleasantly surprised!

More on the sermon preparation tomorrow!

The Baptism of Our Lord

The next time I'll be preaching is 8 Jan 06 which is the celebration of the baptism of our Lord. So my devotional writings will center around the pericopes for that week as I prepare for the sermon. The readings are Genesis 1:1-5, Acts 19:1-7, and Mark 1:4-11. The psalm is 29.

The first thing I like to do in looking at a pericope is to look for a common thread between the readings. I also look for a theme incorporating the theme of a special Sunday like this one: the Baptism of Our Lord.

First, a quick look at each of the readings:

Genesis 1:1-5-God creates light
Acts 19:1-7 Paul informs people who had been baptized by John about the Holy Spirit
Mark 1:4-11 Jesus is baptized

A connection between the Acts and Mark readings are the role of repentance and the Holy Spirit in baptism. The connection between Genesis and baptism is the beginning of light. Baptism ushers in the light of Christ into a persons life and that person becomes a new creation. As God created the world so He creates new people through baptism.

We repent, we receive the Holy Spirit, and we are recreated as new creatures in Christ.

My reflections the next couple of weeks will revolve around three elements: repentance, the Holy Spirit, and re-creation.My prayer is that a unique angle of connection between these elements and baptism will emerge and serve as the basis for an engaging sermon!

I invite you to join me on this journey! I'll publish the finished sermon on my new website: www.livingsermons.com. The new site is up but I don't have content on it. This sermon on 8 Jan 05 will be my first post to that site.

Peace!

Pastor Boarts

Merry Christmas!

Beginnings are always a wonderful time. That is a big part of the joy of Christmas--it is the beginning of Christ's journey on Earth. We know that His journey will be difficult to say the least--but beginnings are always full of anticipation, even if the journey is going to be difficult.

During my deployments the beginnings were always full of adrenaline and excitement. Eventually that wore off and routine set in. But it was in the midst of the routine that I found significance. I was able to bring the joy of Salvation to others in the midst of their routines.

The beginning of faith is often full of adrenaline and excitement. But then, in faith as well, routine sets in. Some people fall away from the faith then--drawn only by the adrenaline and excitement. But many find significance in the routine. That is when they truly find that they know God who is the rock, God who is the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end, God who never changes.

Even as life changes around us the promises of God stand firm. As we celebrate the beginning of Christ's life, let us celebrate our faith whether it too is new or whether it is mature having been tested and found pure.

Merry Christmas!

Holidays and Christmas

Perhaps I'm not Christian politically correct on this issue!

I find the Christian backlash against stores for dropping "Christmas" ironic. How long have Christians lamented the commercialization of Christmas? Now, when the stores want to move away from Christmas, some Christians get even more upset!

I'd rather have a store prevent their employees from saying "Merry Christmas" and then let those employees attend worship on Christmas, Sunday, and other occasions. Many, if not most, companies do not take a persons worship schedule into consideration when composing work schedules.

Where's the "Merry" when you're working on Christmas! For that matter, where's the "Happy" when you're working on the holidays!

Probably the only national company I've seen with sensitivity here is Chick-filet. They are closed on Sunday--to allow their employees a day off and to worship if they choose...what a concept!

I suppose the motivation of the stores isn't the best. But, hey, let's let them drop Christmas! Then the church can once again define the meaning of Christmas. As it is, I think the people upset about stores dropping Christmas are sending the message that Christmas may only be found in stores!