A Word I’ve Never Said in Bible Class … Until Now

From Messiah's June 2014 newsletter:

I said a word in Bible class the other day that I don’t think I’ve ever uttered during a Sunday morning adult Bible class. What was that word? “Pornography.” What was the context? It was in the middle of our discussion of the Sermon on the Mount, specifically where Jesus says, “everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:26).

Whenever the topic of adultery and lust comes up, the elephant in the room is often the topic of pornography. It’s not easy to talk about. It’s shameful. It’s also so much easier to hide nowadays. No longer do you have to drive to the seedy part of town and walk in the back door of an adult bookstore. No longer do you have to ask the person behind the counter of the convenience store for a copy of one of the magazines whose cover is hidden with a piece of opaque plastic, with just the title of the magazine peeking over the top. Now you can view images on your computer in the privacy of your own home and no one will know the difference … unless, of course, you get caught by a family member.

I suppose I’m primarily speaking to men here. Men are much more visually oriented and stimulated than women. One study I read stated that half of Christian men have a problem with pornography. Because of the secretive nature of the issue, I would venture to guess that the problem is even more significant. What constitutes a problem? In the first place, even mere casual viewing of pornography is sinful because it appeals to our sinful lust. It is breaking the Sixth Commandment. It is indeed adultery according to Jesus. In the second place, it can become addictive and can wreak havoc with marriages and other relationships and society at large when women are viewed as nothing more than sexual objects rather than individuals created in the image of God and for whom Christ died on the cross.

And there’s the “crux” of the matter. The cross is the first place to go for those who have been caught in pornography’s evil web. As difficult as it may be, go to your pastor and take advantage of private confession and absolution. As shameful as it is, remember that your pastor is not here to further shame you. As shameful as it is, remember that Christ bore your guilt and shame at the cross, including your sinful lusts and use of pornography to gratify those lusts. This sin is forgiven, too, by Christ your Redeemer. Go to your pastor and hear him deliver Christ’s words of forgiveness personally to you.

Like any addiction, however, you will need further guidance along the road to recovery. Confession and Absolution is a first and necessary step, but other resources will be beneficial. Christian blogger Tim Challies has written extensively on this topic, and I would recommend reading his material and list of resources given at http://www.challies.com/topics/pornography. (Disclaimer: Tim Challies is not Lutheran, so of course, when he writes on certain doctrinal topics, I don’t agree with everything. However, his blog has much from which a person could benefit, including the topic of dealing with pornography.)

Above all else, trust in the shed blood of Jesus which covers over our sin, both public and private, both the ones we don’t think are a big deal and the ones we do think are a big deal. With God, though, nothing is private. Every sin is a big deal. But you have an even bigger Savior “whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith” (Rom. 3:25 NASB). Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for all sin. He loves you so much that he took your sin all the way to the cross and rose again in victory. In the waters of baptism, you are washed clean. The blessings and benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection are yours. You are declared not guilty. Go in his peace. Trust in his victory for you.

In Christ’s service and yours,

Pastor Onken

Leaving Tracks

From Messiah Lutheran Church's April 2013 newsletter

If you’re trying to track an animal, there are many signs to look for. Spot a groove in the landscape that’s already been made. Notice the tracks that are imprinted in the dust. Measure the size and shape of one particular track. Pay attention to how far apart the prints are. Be on the lookout, too, for other signs … broken twigs, droppings, fur, places where an animal may have bedded down. Eventually, you will be able to identify the animal and know where they have been and what they have been up to.

What tracks have you left behind? If someone were to track you and see where you have been and what you have been up to, where would they look? What would these “imprints” tell about you?  Entries in a checkbook. Receipts with the names of items you have purchased. Notes on a wall calendar. Items in your garbage can. The content of emails and texts. The “history” section of your internet browser.  Is there anything there you would be ashamed of if it was public knowledge? Would you want someone “tracking” you down and finding out what you have prioritized in your life?

There was an elderly gentleman at my former congregation who left his tracks. I noticed them every time I visited him and his wife at their home. We would sit down for coffee at their kitchen table. In the middle of the table was a stack of books, on top of which was his Bible. It happened to be the Concordia Self-Study Bible that was so popular before The Lutheran Study Bible was recently published.  But the edition of the Bible wasn’t what I noticed. It was the edges of the pages.They were visibly discolored. You could tell that this was a well-used Bible. It was obvious that this man had spent hours thumbing through the pages of his Bible … and I assume reading the words on those pages. Where all those pages lay together there was a brown smudge. And where you would expect the Psalms to be, right about in the middle, it was black. Maybe it was dark brown, but it looked black from where I sat. You could tell that the Psalms were especially beloved to him. That’s where he apparently turned the most.

Those are the kinds of tracks that I would like to leave. When I look at the edges of the pages of my Bible, they are not as brown as the pages on that old friend’s Bible. I see some discoloration there. But I have a long way to go before they are nearly black. Of course, I own numerous Bibles which get rotated into circulation in my devotional life and study habits, so maybe that’s one excuse why the edges of the pages are whiter than I would like them to be. That’s the excuse I’m going to use for now.

I hope those are the kinds of tracks you want to leave, too ... and all this because of the "tracks" that Christ has left for you and for your salvation: nail marks in his hands and his feet, a pierced side, an empty tomb, the very Words of God in Holy Scripture, water which cleanses, and bread and wine that which deliver the body and blood of Jesus to you. And when you have “travelled” far in God’s Word, it will influence the tracks you leave elsewhere … the choices you make, the time you spend, the money you spend, the love you give to your family, the service you give to others in the name of the Crucified and Risen Savior.

In Christ’s service and yours,

Pastor Onken

The Gaze of God

From Messiah Lutheran Church's March 2013 newsletter...

The residents of Alki are up in arms. At a recent Seattle city council hearing, many gathered to express their concerns over a camera surveillance system being installed on the shores of West Seattle. The city has received a federal homeland security grant to be on the lookout for potential terrorist threats. Nevertheless, most of the residents who were present at the meeting felt that this was an invasion of privacy or even one step away from a police state.

Maybe I’m missing something, but I’m not all that up in arms about security cameras being installed in public places. I understand the safety concerns that exist and the benefits of modern technology to track down criminals or terrorists. I want the authorities to be on the lookout for the “bad guys.” And yes, I understand the potential for misuse and abuse. I guess at this point, I’m not all that concerned that those cameras are tracking down a law-abiding citizen like myself. Maybe I’m naïve, but if I’m in a public place, minding my own business, I don’t care who is watching me. I don’t have anything to hide.

When you know you are being watched, you are more inclined to do the right thing. You know you should do the right thing or face the consequences. But what about when you get behind closed doors? Do you have anything to hide there? It’s been said that “the real you” is the person you are when no one is watching. What choices do you make when you are all by yourself? Those choices may not be illegal according to the civil law. But what about according to God’s Law? Moreover, you cannot be arrested for your lawless thoughts. No security camera can look beyond the closed doors of your mind. But God can. He knows the deepest, darkest thoughts of your mind and intentions of your heart.

The LORD said through the prophet Jeremiah, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jer. 17:9-10). You and I cannot escape the eyes of God upon both our outward deeds and our inward thoughts. We cannot hide from his gaze. We deserve his judgment.

On Good Friday, God the Father gazed upon his Son at the cross. Although Jesus never had a sinful word, a sinful act, a sinful thought, the Father looked at him as if he had. Our sins and the sins of all people of all time were laid upon Jesus. Jesus was judged for our sin. And because of that, the Father turned his back on Jesus. He directed his gaze away from his Beloved Son. The innocent Son of God was abandoned on behalf of us sinners and cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46). Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, victorious over sin, death, and the devil. Scripture says that he was “delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). Now, all who are baptized into Christ and trust in his work at the cross on their behalf have their sins washed away. Every sin. Sins of deeds. Sins of words. Sins of thought. Every single sin of yours is washed away and covered with the righteousness of Christ. You are justified. You are declared not guilty. And because of that, God the Father can gaze upon you once again, not in judgment, but with favor, grace, mercy, and love for the sake of Jesus.

In Christ’s service and yours,

Pastor Onken    

“Pastor, Who Should I Vote For?”

From Messiah Lutheran Church's October 2012 Newsletter

“Pastor, who should I vote for?”  When election time rolls around, I sometimes get this question. It’s not been my habit to preach much about politics, although much of what the Bible says on social and moral issues certainly has a bearing on which candidates will receive your vote.

What is a pastor’s responsibility when it comes to helping people make informed decisions during an election?  First and foremost (and this, I suppose, should be obvious), we are to direct our congregations to what the Bible says about the issues that are facing our nation, our state, and our community. Everyone is concerned about the economy, and there may be several equally valid solutions to renewing our nation’s economic vitality. Yet the Bible gives us no clear answers here. It is not a textbook on economics. The Bible does, however, have a clear word on matters of the sanctity of life, the definition of marriage, and the limits of human government in the area of religious freedom.

The Bible upholds the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb. Abortion is clearly against the Fifth Commandment. Likewise, the Bible defines marriage as the lifelong union of a man and a woman. Homosexual unions are not marriages in the sight of God.  The Bible also teaches each of us that we are to be good citizens, obeying the laws that our government has put in place, as long as those laws do not conflict with God’s revealed Word. If we find that this is the case with certain laws, then we are called to “obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). This has become an issue recently in our country with the government’s mandate that church related insurers provide coverage for contraception for their employees even if the church’s teaching (i.e. the Roman Catholic Church) is against contraception. Our synod does not have a position on contraception, but we are opposed to contraceptives that in essence are abortion-inducing drugs. This issue not only impinges on the religious freedom of our Roman Catholic neighbors. It is an unprecedented assault on the conscience of people of faith.  That’s why President Harrison, our synodical president, has been in the forefront criticizing the aforementioned governmental mandate.

A pastor should take care not to endorse a candidate from the pulpit and a congregation should not be seen as endorsing specific candidates. This could endanger a congregation’s non-profit status. A 1954 law prohibits religious organizations that receive tax-deductible donations from endorsing specific candidates. Therefore, you will not hear me endorsing a candidate in my office as pastor. That being said, I am also a private citizen and in that capacity I am able to offer my opinions on who I believe is the best candidate. Feel free to ask…just don’t expect me to do it while vested in the chancel.

What about your responsibility as a Christian citizen? First and foremost, a Christian citizen should pray that God will lead you and guide you as you seek to make an informed decision. Pray for your current leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2). Pray for the men and women running for office. Pray even for the one who’s not “your guy” or “your gal.” Pray that God would “grant them wisdom and understanding that under their peaceable governance [God’s] people may be guarded and directed in righteousness, quietness, and unity” (Collect #226 in Lutheran Service Book).

A Christian citizen will also be actively engaged in the political process. Take advantage of the freedoms that we still have in this country, unlike others around the world who live under totalitarian or fascist regimes.  Participate, vote, serve, communicate with your friends and neighbors (in spite of the fact that the old adage says that you’re not supposed to talk about religion or politics in polite company). Educate yourself, know what is in the party platforms of each candidate, and decide if your Christian confession is consistent with the candidate’s views and their party platform. Whichever candidate is closest to your morals and values … that is the one who should get your vote.

Is it always going to be a matter of “the lesser of two evils”? Not always. But when you consider that there is no perfect candidate … they’re all sinners like you and me … then I guess to a certain extent the whole political process is always a matter of choosing “the lesser of two evils.”

Above all else, remember who really is in charge. “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). God has used good rulers and bad rulers to accomplish his purposes in human history. God used Jewish kings just as much as he used Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman rulers to accomplish his purposes in human history.  God used Christian kings and pagan kings to accomplish his purposes in human history. Since this is the case, then he can surely use a Christian or a Mormon president today to accomplish his purposes in the history of our nation.

Whatever happens in our election next month – whether “your guy” wins or loses – remember that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords will always be ruling and reigning for the good of his Holy Church (Ps. 47:8; 96:10; 1 Cor. 15:25; Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Tim. 6:15).

In Christ’s service and yours,

Pastor Onken

Good Guys and Bad Guys

From Messiah's April 2012 newsletter

At this point in his life, my son is obsessed with superheroes. Spiderman is his favorite. He also enjoys Ironman, Thor, Hulk, and any number of Marvel characters. The DC comic characters Superman, Batman, et. al. are just now entering his radar. Oh, and lest I forget, he’s also quite enamored of the Transformers, those robots who can change into trucks, cars, and motorcycles and fight the evil “Decepticons.”

When we watch a show or read a book featuring superheroes, he always asks me the question, “Who will win? The good guys or the bad guys?” My answer: “The good guys, of course. The good guys always win.” Sure, they get knocked down and out for a time. The bad guys seem to get the upper hand (where would the suspense be in the story if the good guy defeated the bad guy on page one?). But the pummeled superhero inevitably rises from the ashes and comes out on top … victorious. However, in the 1990’s, DC comics killed off Superman in one of the storylines. This led to a series of other superheroes dying in their respective “universes.” But in the end, Superman and the others were brought back to life. We humans have an innate sense of justice and that good must always prevail.

If only that were the case in “real life.” Good doesn’t always prevail. The bad guys often win. The desire for justice goes unfulfilled. We have no superheroes. Instead, we have police and soldiers who protect us and fight for us. But even they cannot completely shield us from tragedy and terror. Even the noblest of police officers and military personnel are fallible human beings and are susceptible to the influence of the sinful nature and the sinful brokenness of this world.

In that sense, we are all “bad guys.” We all deserve the justice of eternal condemnation. The only truly “good guy” who ever lived is Jesus Christ, the God-Man (not the “Superman,” but True God and True Man in the same person!). As True Man, he endured all the same temptations to which you and I are susceptible, yet never once sinned. At the cross, he endured the just punishment for sin as the perfect sacrifice and substitute for the sins of every single person who has ever lived.

As he gave up his last breath, it appeared that Jesus was defeated. The bad guys won. The Son of God was dead. Satan, God’s nemesis from the beginning, seemed to have the upper hand. But on Easter morning, Jesus came out on top, victorious, risen from the dead. The innocent Son of God was vindicated. In his death and resurrection, Jesus defeated the power of sin and death and the forces of hell. Now, all who are baptized into the name of the Triune God and who trust in Christ’s saving death share in his victory. Although they are sinners, they are forgiven because of Christ. Although they are guilty, they are vindicated because of Christ. Although they die, they will rise again to eternal life because of Christ.

The story of Jesus is not a comic book. The story of Jesus is “real life.” Living in the shadow of the cross, it often appears that evil prevails. But living in the light of the empty tomb, the reality is that in spite of our evil circumstances, the one and only truly “Good Guy” has won once and for all. In baptism, his “real life” becomes our “real life.” Come experience and celebrate your “real life” this Easter as we once again hear the Good News proclaimed and as we dine at the “feast of victory for our God.”

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

Jesus in the New Year

From Messiah Lutheran Church's January 2012 Newsletter

There is much to think about at the beginning of a New Year. What’s in store for us? Prosperity? More hard times ahead? Will my family remain healthy? Will our nation remain safe or will we have to engage in another war somewhere around the world? What’s going to happen in the elections in 2012? It would be nice to have a crystal ball to have all the answers. Unfortunately, the future is a mystery.

All these questions and uncertainties swirl around at the top of the year. However, there is one certainty that we can all count on. At the beginning of another New Year, the Church focuses on Jesus and his certain grace and mercy towards us sinners. That should come as no surprise, of course. If we’re not focused on Jesus, then we’re certainly focused on the wrong thing.

On New Year’s Day, the Church celebrates the circumcision and naming of Jesus. We remember his circumcision because January 1 is eight days after Christmas. Through circumcision, each newborn boy in Israel was brought into the covenant community and obligated to keep the Law. The child was also publicly named for the first time, even though mother and father had probably already picked out a name. In the case of Jesus, his name was revealed to Joseph by the angel Gabriel, who instructed, “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Jesus, or Yeshua as it is in Hebrew, means “Yahweh saves.”

Even this seemingly insignificant act of circumcision played an important role in the life of our Savior and the plan of salvation. Jesus took on the burden of the Law and kept it perfectly for us all throughout his life. This was also the first time the Savior shed his blood for us. The knife in those friendly hands at his circumcision foreshadowed the hammer in hostile hands when Jesus later shed his blood again for the sins of the world when nailed to the cross.

The English hymnwriter William How put it this way:

Jesus! Name of priceless worth
To the fallen of the earth
For the promise that it gave,
“Jesus shall His people save.”

Jesus! Name of mercy mild,
Given to the holy Child
When the cup of human woe
First He tasted here below.

Jesus! Only name that’s giv’n
Under all the mighty heav’n
Whereby those to sin enslaved
Burst their fetters and are saved.

Jesus! Name of wondrous love,
Human name of God above;
Pleading only this, we flee
Helpless, O our God, to Thee. (LSB 900)

May the name of Jesus grant you hope and comfort throughout the coming year. The future is a mystery. But in Jesus, it is no mystery how God feels about you. You are loved. You are forgiven. You have the promise of his help and aid in the face of whatever comes your way in the days and months ahead. And a future with Jesus is no mystery. Eternal life is yours now and always because of his finished work at the cross and the empty tomb.

At the beginning of a new year, there is indeed much to think about.

Think about Jesus and all that he is and has done for you.

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

A Christmas Wish

From Messiah Lutheran Church's December 2011 Newsletter

This Christmas I wish there was no God. Shocking? Sure. But that’s the way my sinful nature feels. If there was no God, I could do whatever I wanted. No responsibility. No guilt. No need to buy Christmas gifts for anyone. Christmas would be a farce. A sweet little story. But utter foolishness.

Here’s the rub. Creation cries out to me that there is a Creator (Ps. 19:1). Conscience convicts me of thoughts, words, and deeds that have offended my Creator (Rom. 2:15). Christmas shouts to the world that the Creator took on flesh and moved into the neighborhood. The Son of God came to earth as a helpless infant, “born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). I don’t want responsibility, but in his incarnation Jesus took on the responsibility to keep the Law of God for me and did it perfectly. I am guilty, but Jesus bore my guilt and my sin and paid for it with his own innocent and blameless life.

Christmas already points us to the cross because that’s why the Savior was born. “You shall call his name Jesus,” the angel instructed Joseph, “for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Jesus was born to save us from our rebellious hearts that wish there was no God. He loves you and me so much that he gave himself to us, a gift wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:7).

Christmas is not foolishness. It is the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:25). Christmas is not just a sweet little story. It is God breaking into history. Christmas is no farce. It is the endearing and enduring account of how the love of God the Father prompted him to send his Son to humble himself, to one day suffer and die for the sins of the world, and to give us the gifts of forgiveness, eternal life, the Body and Blood of the Savior in the Sacrament of the Altar, the Holy Spirit, and all other temporal and eternal gifts which he lays before us.

The Good News of Christmas now prompts us to respond in faith and love toward our Creator and Redeemer. And it moves us to give gifts to others as tokens of our love for them … and hopefully reminders to all of us – both givers and receivers – of the gift that the Child of Bethlehem was and is and always will be for us.

In Christ’s service and yours,

Pastor Onken

Giving Thanks in Uncertain Times

From Messiah Lutheran Church's November 2011 newsletter

These are uncertain economic times. The Tea Party movement decries our enormous national debt. The Occupy Wall Street movement protests corporate greed. Taxes are high. Wages are low. Jobs have been lost. Social Security seems like it is on the rocks. Will our economy continue to sputter or will it recover?

If all continues as it currently is, it appears that there may be more financial hardships ahead for many people … maybe for you. Of course, whatever is ahead of us certainly does not compare to what many people face around the globe. Just this morning I was looking at the pink tiles in our shower, thinking how much I hated the color. Then I stopped and realized how foolish that was. There are multitudes who have no running water in their homes, no potable water, and no hot water heaters to give a comforting, soothing, steaming cleansing such as I was receiving inside my pink-tiled shower.

With all the chatter about the evils of corporate greed, you and I ought to take a serious look at the greed in our own hearts. Our own insatiable desire for more, better, newer things causes us to be discontent and ungrateful for the blessings we have already received in our lives.

In his first letter to St. Timothy, St. Paul wrote,

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (1Timothy 6:6-10)

Moreoever, Paul equates covetousness with idolatry in Colossians 3:5 and says that it deserves the wrath of God. It is spiritually dangerous to one’s faith and eternal destiny to be greedy and covetousness. Therefore, we must all repent and turn to Jesus who forgives even these sins which to some are virtues and not vices. He is the One who became poor for us so that we might become rich … rich not with material blessings, but with the blessings of life, forgiveness, and salvation through his suffering, death, and resurrection (2 Cor. 8:9). And when he does pour material and financial blessings into our laps, then we are called to assist those who are suffering due to financial hardship. For example, Paul commends the saints of Macedonia and Achaia for helping their fellow believers who were suffering in Jerusalem and says, “For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.” (Rom. 15:27) Likewise, you can also share material blessings with those with whom you share spiritual blessings … not to mention sharing with those who are outside our Christian fellowship, doing acts of mercy for them because Christ has been merciful to us.

None of knows for sure what’s going to happen with the economy. Other than the opportunity to vote, things often seem to be out of our hands. Whatever lies ahead – whether good times or bad times – may it lead us to turn to the Lord. May it lead us to repent of our own sins of greed and covetousness and turn to the Lord who gives us the riches of heaven. May it lead us to give thanks in all circumstances and to be content with what God has given us, even in uncertain, leaner times.

We have much for which to give thanks.

Yes, even for pink-tiled showers.

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

Smorgasbord Spirituality

From Messiah Lutheran Church's October 2011 Newsletter

When I was a child, I used to love going out to eat with my grandparents at a local Scandinavian restaurant that served a “smorgasbord.” If you’re not familiar with that term, it’s basically a buffet. Sort of like going to the Golden Corral or other similar eateries. You can pick and choose what you want to eat. Don’t like broccoli? Forget about it. Move on to the baked beans! Don’t like ham? Who cares? Have a slab of roast beef! Or, if you are really feeling rebellious, skip everything and head right to the desserts. There’s pie, cake, pudding, cookies, strudel … whatever suits your taste buds.

Many people act as though their spiritual lives are like bellying up to a smorgasbord. They prefer to pick and choose whatever they want to believe. They sift through all the various world religions and select that which resonates with them as good and proper or that which makes them feel good. And this is not just limited to those who do not classify themselves as Christian.

A recent article in USA Today stated

The folks who make up God as they go are side-by-side with self-proclaimed believers who claim the Christian label but shed their ties to traditional beliefs and practices. Religion statistics expert George Barna says, with a wry hint of exaggeration, America is headed for "310 million people with 310 million religions."

"We are a designer society. We want everything customized to our personal needs — our clothing, our food, our education," he says. Now it's our religion…

More people claim they have accepted Jesus as their savior and expect to go to heaven.

And more say they haven't been to church in the past six months except for special occasions such as weddings or funerals. In 1991, 24% were "unchurched." Today, it's 37% .

Barna blames pastors for those oddly contradictory findings. Everyone hears, "Jesus is the answer. Embrace him. Say this little Sinners Prayer and keep coming back. It doesn't work. People end up bored, burned out and empty," he says. "They look at church and wonder, 'Jesus died for this?'"…

Barna laments, "People say, 'I believe in God. I believe the Bible is a good book. And then I believe whatever I want.'"

(http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2011-09-14/america-religious-denominations/50376288/1)

The article goes on to feature one individual who combines elements of religions that are mutually exclusive, yet still somehow calls herself a Christian. It also talks about others who have jettisoned their faith in Christ altogether after drifting in and out of assorted religious traditions.

You and I probably know someone like the folks mentioned in this article. How can we communicate to them the richness and depth of true Christianity without leaving them “bored, burned out and empty”? How can we make clear to them the exclusive nature of the claims of Christ (e.g. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6) without coming across as a self-righteous prig? How can we explain the difference between works-righteousness and the righteousness of Christ that is received as a gift of grace? How can we tell them that all that they truly need (whether they recognize that need or not) is truly found within the fellowship of the Holy Christian Church? How can we show love and mercy to one another so that those outside the Church do not look at us and say, “Jesus died for this?” These are questions we need to carefully ponder as we seek to proclaim Christ and his life and forgiveness to those who are “darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardness of their heart” (Eph. 4:18) … those who are “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14).

All efforts to have some kind of spirituality apart from Christ alone are futile, because they are man’s own efforts to seek God and find him … or efforts to avoid his Law which condemns them. True spirituality acknowledges that we are spiritually dead and can do nothing to save ourselves, to draw closer to God, to find him somehow (Eph. 2:1). True spirituality acknowledges that God is the one who has sought us and found us, like the shepherd who goes off to find the one lost sheep (Luke 15). True spirituality is pure receptivity … receiving that which God offers to us as a gift because of the death and resurrection of his Son (Eph. 2:8-10; 1 Cor. 4:7).

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

Learning a New Setting of the Divine Service

From Messiah Lutheran Church's June newsletter

During the summer months, our congregation will learn a new musical setting of the Divine Service in Lutheran Service Book. Our congregation already knows Divine Service 1 very well. We also know Divine Service 3 (especially those of us who have been Lutherans for a very long time). Setting 4 has become a favorite, too, ever since it was introduced in Hymnal Supplement ’98. Once in a while, we will also use Divine Service 5 with some modifications. But most of us may have never learned Divine Service 2.

Why learn a new musical setting? Some people may feel that it’s unnecessary, even overwhelming, since we already know four settings (not to mention Matins, Vespers, and Evening Prayer which we use at other times). But there are other congregations around our synod that use Setting 2 as their primary setting of the Divine Service. You may happen to visit them when you are on vacation. Or suppose you move to a different part of the country, and you transfer to another congregation that uses Setting 2. It would be helpful to have at least a minimal familiarity with this particular musical setting so that you can join in worship with a certain measure of comfort.

Setting 2 will already be partially familiar to us. The text of this setting is identical to Setting 1. However, the music of Setting 2 will be new to most of us (unless you learned it in a previous congregation, as I did; two churches of which I was a member in California used it as their primary setting). Both Setting 1 and Setting 2 of the Divine Service were written in the 1970’s when the LCMS and the predecessor bodies of the ELCA were jointly working on a new hymnal. The LCMS eventually withdrew from the joint project and produced its own hymnal, Lutheran Worship, in 1982 (the blue hymnal which was replaced by Lutheran Service Book in 2006). Both new musical settings were included in the publication. They retained their popularity and were therefore included in our current hymnal. Prior to that, the only musical setting that was familiar to LCMS congregations was what we know now as Setting 3 (contained in The Lutheran Hymnal of 1941 and even earlier in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book of 1912, the first official English language hymnal of the Missouri Synod).

As we learn Setting 2, you will find some challenging sections to be sure. For the most part, you will find it very singable. I have full confidence in our ability to learn it together. You are a very musically talented congregation. You love to sing (one of the things I love about you!). You have learned many new hymns over the years. Eventually, perhaps we will be able to say that we have learned all of the musical treasures that are a part of our hymnal.

In Christ’s Service and yours,
Pastor Onken

P.S. For further reading on the history of hymnals in the LCMS, here are few links for you…

Sing to the Lord a New Song: A Brief History of Our LCMS Hymnals

A Brief History of LCMS Hymnals

A Brief History of Hymnals in the LCMS

Or, if you are really ambitious, here are some books you may be interested in…

God’s Song in a New Land (Carl Schalk)

Gathered Guests: A Guide to Worship in the Lutheran Church (Timothy Maschke)

Lutheran Worship: History and Practice (ed. Fred Precht) (also available in our church library)

The Ongoing Life of Jesus in His Church

From Messiah's May 2011 newsletter

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Lent is over. The solemnity of Holy Week is past. The joy of Easter shines brightly. For seven weeks, we bask in the glory of the empty tomb during another Easter season until Pentecost. Actually, our entire Christian life is shaped by the fact of the resurrection of Christ. “Every Sunday is a little Easter,” goes the old adage. In fact, for the Christian, every day – not just Sunday – is a “little Easter.” We don’t ever need to stop basking in the glory of the empty tomb. St. Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain … And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins … But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Cor. 15:14, 17, 20)

There is a unique feature in the lectionary during the Easter season. The reading from the Old Testament is replaced by a reading from the book of the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. This makes much sense. Easter is the time of fulfillment. All that was promised about Christ Jesus in the Old Testament was fulfilled in the Gospels. Following upon the accounts of the Gospels are St. Luke’s accounts of the life of the early Church in the book of Acts. Here, the Good News of the resurrection of Jesus was fresh in the hearts of the apostles. “All the possibilities of that event were being explored. The Spirit that breathed on the apostles was unfolding God’s intentions for his people even as they received his gifts. Challenges were met, problems were addressed, the wonder of life in Christ was being discovered. The life and growth of the apostolic church is opened up for us [in the book of Acts] so that we may immerse ourselves in the same life and growth of the church.” (from Proclaim, Series A, Part 2, p.178) The life and growth of the Church continues today. The Risen Jesus is among us with his Word and Spirit. He gives life and grows his Church through Word and Sacrament. In that sense, we are no different from the first Christians, even though culturally, technologically, and linguistically we are centuries apart.

At the end of the book of Acts, the author sort of leaves us hanging. It ends abruptly with Paul under house arrest in Rome. The last sentence of Acts says that Paul lived in Rome for two years “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:31). Perhaps Luke meant to write “Acts Volume 2” someday (or “Volume 3” if we include Luke’s Gospel as “Volume 1” of his opus). On the other hand, the way Luke ends the book can be significant for us. Dr. Al Barry, in his book To the Ends of the Earth, explained it this way:

True, the last sentence does not tell us what happened after Paul’s two years under house arrest, but what difference does that make? Acts is not the story of Paul as much as it is the story of Jesus continuing to proclaim His Word through His Church … It is an open-ended account so the rest of His story – all the way down to us – can fit in. (A.L. Barry, To the Ends of the Earth, CPH 1997).

As you hear the readings from the Acts of the Apostles this Easter season, listen and see yourself fitting in to the story of Jesus and his ongoing work in and through his Church.

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

Attentive in Lent

From Messiah Lutheran Church's April 2011 newsletter

Despite all the laws in place forbidding the use of cell phones while driving, I still see many people holding their devices up to their ears or texting while operating their vehicles. Every so often, I’ll see one of those drivers make a dangerous move … or fail to move when the light is green, holding up traffic because they are so engrossed in their conversation that they don’t notice what’s going on around them.

Distracted driving is perilous, both to the driver and to other drivers and pedestrians. And it’s not just cell phones that are the culprits. Eating fast food or gulping down a latte or fiddling with the radio is also distracting. Small children who whine and cry and complain and fight with their siblings in the back seat can also hamper our safe driving abilities. I speak from experience!

Our lives are full of distractions that hamper our spiritual life. They draw us away from reading the Scriptures, spending time in prayer, joining in worship with our fellow believers in Christ, receiving the body and blood of Jesus regularly in the Eucharist. When our attention is drawn away from Christ, it could even be perilous to our spiritual life. We may run off the road and dive into the ditch of despair, collide with complacency, or smash into the brick wall of unbelief.

The season of Lent can refocus our attention in the midst of our distractions. It invites us to slow down and take some extra time for both corporate and personal devotion. The fasting that some people engage in (whether it’s giving up chocolate or abstaining from a meal) reminds us in a small way of the fasting of Jesus during his forty days in the wilderness. We deny ourselves in order to refocus our attention on Christ and the fact that he gave up his life for us at the cross. Others also take the opportunity to serve their neighbor in some fashion, reminding themselves how Jesus served us in his life and death, and how he continues to serve us with his light and life as our risen Lord and Savior. Lent keeps us on the road of joy, hope, and trust in our Triune God who continues to work in our lives in Word and Sacrament.

Easter falls almost as late as it can in the calendar this year. So, it’s not too late to be attentive during Lent. Take some time out from your distractions and devote yourselves to prayer and Scripture reading. Join us at church on Sunday, but also on Wednesday nights for our services of Evening Prayer during Lent. Set time aside for all the services of Holy Week. The story is so familiar, but we need to hear it over and over again, because it’s the story of how God rescued us from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation. And it’s more than just a story … it’s “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). Then, join us for a joyful Resurrection celebration when our “Alleluias” return and our restrained Lenten devotion breaks forth into exuberant Easter praise.

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

The "Business" of the Church

From Messiah's March 2011 Newsletter

Luther said that even a "seven-year-old child knows what the Church is, namely, the holy believers and lambs who hear the voice of their Shepherd." (Smalcald Articles, Part II, Article XII. Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, CPH 2005, p. 309) That really is the true "business" of the Church: to assemble on Sunday mornings and at other times for Divine Service and the prayer offices (Matins, Vespers, Evening Prayer, etc.) and to listen to the voice of Jesus. The baptized, declared holy through faith in the shed blood of Christ, gather to be nourished, nurtured, and refreshed by the Word of God and the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament. God then sends us out from the assembly to continue his "business" in the world, dispersing into our various vocations to serve our neighbors as "masks of God."

Each local congregation also has a certain amount of temporal business that needs to be attended to in order to support the Gospel ministry that is carried on there. Bills need to be paid. Toilets need fixing. Light bulbs need changing. Lawns need to be mowed. Money needs to be counted. And so on and so forth. You get the picture. Sometimes these issues can conflict with preparing our hearts for worship. Most of us only see each other on Sunday mornings, so it may seem like a natural time to address particular items on the agenda. Unfortunately, this more often than not becomes a distraction, especially when you consider that we are already arriving with assorted hurts, pains, sorrows, anxieties, and brokenness. Keep that in mind before you decide to approach someone with a certain item of business on Sunday morning or at other times of worship. Bring it up later with that individual in a phone call or an email.

Granted, there are certainly some business matters that need to be attended to on Sunday mornings. Let's all make a concerted effort, however, to keep this to a minimum so that nothing distracts us from doing the real "business" of the Church ... to listen attentively and expectantly to the voice of the Shepherd and to receive in repentant faith all the good gifts he pours into our hearts and lives.

Helping the Homeless

From Messiah's February 2011 Newsletter

Driving around town, it’s easy to notice the many people standing on street corners holding cardboard signs asking for some kind of help. It seems as if their numbers have increased over the last few years with our struggling economy. As you sit in your car at a stop light, one of these individuals approaches. What do you do? Do you reach out and hand them some cash? Do you offer them some food that you happen to have in your car? Or do you stare straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact? And what do you think of this individual? Do you assume they are lazy? Addicted? Mentally disturbed? Lying? Genuinely down on their luck and without a “safety net” of family and friends?

The Bible tells us that we are to be generous and merciful to the poor. The book of Proverbs says, “Blessed is he who is generous to the poor” (Prov. 14:22) … “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord” (Prov. 19:17) … “Defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Prov. 31:9) In the New Testament, St. Paul in particular holds up the example of the Macedonian and Achaian Christians who gathered a collection for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem who were suffering from the effects of a famine (Rom. 15:26; 2 Cor. 8:13-15). Likewise, in the context of explaining that faith without works is dead, James gives us this example: “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16) James is speaking of helping those within the Church, yet his words may echo in our ears every time we pass by someone holding one of those cardboard signs.

So how do we respond? It’s not wise to hand out money, since we can’t be assured that it will be put to good use, especially when there are many on the streets who are addicted to alcohol or drugs. A hot meal is always welcome, so perhaps a booklet of fast food gift certificates is a good thing to keep in your vehicle. You can direct them to a shelter, but what if the shelter is full? Inviting them into your home would not be safe or prudent.

Being on a busy boulevard and near a freeway offramp, people occasionally stop by the church to ask for help. Recently, a man dropped in who was trying to make it to Bellingham, so I directed him to a homeless shelter there. On the shelter’s website (thelighthousemission.org), I found some helpful suggestions about ways to truly help the homeless whom we meet. The following is adapted from their website.

1. Never give cash. Too often, well-intended gifts are converted to drugs or alcohol - even when the "hard luck" stories they tell are true. If the person is hungry, refer them to a local meal program.
2. Talk to the person with respect. Taking time to talk to a homeless person in a friendly, respectful manner can give them a wonderful sense of civility and dignity. And besides being just neighborly, it gives the person a weapon to fight the isolation, depression, and paranoia that many homeless people face.
3. Recognize that homeless people (and their problems) are not all the same. The homeless are as diverse as the colors of a rainbow. The person you meet may be a battered woman, an addicted veteran, someone who is lacking job skills … the list goes on.
4. Share God's love whenever you can. If Jesus were walking the earth today, He would certainly spend time with the homeless. He would speak with them, love them, and help them. Today, Jesus works through people like you and me.
5. Pray for the homeless. Exposure to the elements, dire, occasional violence, and lack of purpose all drain years from a person's life. God can use your prayers so that the brutality and futility of life on the street may bring many of the broken to himself.
6. Take precautions for your own safety. Some living on the streets are criminals and fugitives running from the law. Always be prudent while talking with street people. Stay in areas where other people can see you. Don't take unnecessary chances.
7. Encourage the homeless to get help at a local shelter. Local shelters offer immediate food and shelter to the homeless. Some offer long-term rehabilitation programs that deal with the root causes of homelessness.
8. Support your local shelter. Find out how you can help by donating resources or volunteering your time.

Whenever God presents the opportunity for me to assist someone, I try to always point them to my motivation to help. I tell them something like the following, and you can put this in your own words when God gives you an opportunity to help someone in need. Tell them “God has blessed me so much, even though I don’t deserve it. None of us do because we are sinners. Yet God in his grace and mercy has forgiven me all my sins by sending his Son Jesus to die on the cross as my Savior. I have the riches of heaven. And through God’s love for me in Christ, I can share this small gift with you.” When they insist on repaying you, tell them it’s not necessary. They often will insist, but don’t expect it. In my 15 years in the ministry, only one person has returned to repay what was given to them. But that’s beside the point when doing an act of mercy. After all, there’s no way you or I can repay God for his mercy shown to us in Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 8-9, St. Paul encourages the Christians in Corinth to give generously and cheerfully, not under compulsion. And the motivation to do so is centered in Jesus. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9) … rich not in temporal goods, but the riches of heaven, forgiveness, everlasting life. The Lord “has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever” (2 Cor. 9:9). God has indeed “distributed freely” to those who are poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3), that is, those who recognize their spiritual poverty before the Lord, and who know that the righteousness of Christ bestowed upon them in Baptism and received by faith is truly priceless.

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

The Holidays Are Not Over Yet!

From the January newsletter of Messiah Lutheran Church, Marysville, WA

Whew! I’m tired! All those services … midweek Advent services, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, then two Sunday services immediately the following day! All that partying … family dinners, staff parties, New Year’s Eve celebrations! Now it’s time to take down the tree, put the decorations away, move the kids’ new toys to their rooms, write thank-you notes, and start that diet to work off all that extra caloric intake during our holiday festivities.

I always have mixed emotions this time of year. I get a little melancholy when I see Christmas getting so quickly stashed away for another year (and much quicker in the departments stores!). On the other hand, it’s nice to be able to rest after all the hustle and bustle that accompanies the season. Another bonus is the lengthening of days which helps to alleviate a bit of the winter blues which afflict some of us.

But in fact, the holidays are not over yet! New Year’s Day in the Church is actually the day we commemorate “The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus.” Eight days after his birth, what happened to every Jewish baby happened to Jesus. When he was circumcised, Jesus was placed under the Law’s obligation as a member of the covenant community … and kept that Law perfectly for us. What’s more, this is the first time that the Son of God shed his blood on his way to shedding his blood at the cross to atone for the sins of the world. He was given the name Jesus, which means “The Lord Saves” … an appropriate name for our Savior.

Next comes "Epiphany." The word “epiphany” means a “manifestation” or a “showing forth.” Jesus was manifested to the world – in particular to the Gentiles, with the Wise Men from the East being the first Gentiles to worship the Savior – as the Savior of the world. Throughout the Epiphany season, we see how Jesus manifested his divine nature at his Baptism, through his miracles, and through his authoritative teaching. We will celebrate Epiphany on January 6 at 7 pm here at Messiah with a service of Evening Prayer. The following Sunday (Jan. 9) we will then celebrate "The Baptism of Our Lord."

So, you see, the holidays are not over! There’s more to come, even in the “slower” month of January. But for Christians, every day is a holiday … a holy day (Rom. 14:5-6; Col. 2:16-17; 1 Tim. 4:4-5). In fact, that’s where we get the word “holiday” from. Every day is a holy day for us because we have been declared holy through faith in Christ. Every day we live in the light of Christmas and Epiphany. Every day we remember that in our Baptism we are joined to the one who was manifested to us as the beloved Son of God in the waters of the Jordan. Every day we live in the light of the cross and the empty tomb where Jesus was victorious for us over sin, death, and the devil.

Today is a holy day for you in Christ! Celebrate your victory in Christ each and every day. That doesn’t mean you have to decorate and throw a party. All the special festivals that we have would become commonplace if we pulled out all the stops every day. It’s good to save some of the “hoopla” for certain days. But don’t let that stop you from rejoicing in what Christ has done for you even on the days that don’t get a special note on the calendar. Consider every day a holiday in Christ … and rest in his peace and joy!

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

"The End is Near" (November newsletter article)

“The End is Near.” So says the proverbial sandwich board sign carried by the unkempt man wandering the streets of downtown … not to mention the hundreds of other prognosticators who have come down the pike over the years. The so-called Christian networks on television are rife with false prophets proclaiming their visions of what is to come. Now the internet and YouTube have made it easy for anyone to upload their wacky proclamations and bizarre interpretations of the Bible and claim to be the latest in a long line of “End Times Prophets.”

Our first reaction may be to laugh at these individuals and mock them for their foolishness. Perhaps a better response would be to pray for them … for the ones who are mentally ill that they would receive help, for the ones who are deceived that they would learn the truth, and for the shysters that they would repent of their hypocrisy and greedy deception.

Besides, the sandwich board sign guy is actually right. “The End” IS near. We must be prepared. Every second that ticks off of the clock is another second closer to the Last Day that is promised in the Bible, with all of its fire and wrath and judgment (see, for example, Matt. 25:41; Rom. 2:5; 2 Cor. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:5-10; Heb. 10:26-27; 2 Pet. 3:7-12). And every beat of the “ticker” inside each of us means we are drawing closer to our own personal end … that is, if in death our souls are taken to heaven before the Last Day comes and wait to be reunited with our buried bodies in the resurrection of all flesh (1 Cor. 15:51-57; 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Our Church Year calendar winds down to its end in November. As it does so, we are reminded that “The End is Near.” The assigned Scripture readings remind us about the culmination of all human history, the visible return of the Lord Jesus, and the final judgment promised in Scripture. This theme of the Second Coming of Jesus also overlaps with Advent, the beginning of a new Church Year, even as we consider the meaning of the First Coming of Jesus at Christmas.

We begin the month by celebrating All Saints’ Day on the first Sunday of November (transferred from November 1). On this day we give thanks for the mercy and grace God showed to the departed during their lives here on earth, most importantly for giving them faith in their Savior Jesus. At the same time, we look forward to the day when we will be reunited with them in the resurrection of all flesh when Jesus returns.

Unlike the prognosticators, we do not make any predictions as to when Jesus will return. After all, he made it clear that “you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matt. 25:13). Therefore, Jesus gave us plenty of instructions about the importance of being prepared (Matt. 24:42, 44; 25:13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 12:35-40). The apostles of our Lord did so, too (Rom. 13:11; 1 Thess. 5:1-6; 1 Pet. 4:7-11; 2 Pet. 3:8-13).

St. Peter concludes his second epistle with these words: “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these [the new heavens and the new earth mentioned in the previous verse], be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace” (2 Pet. 3:14) How do we do this? Not by our own efforts. Apart from Christ, we are soiled and stained by sin and at war with God. The return of Jesus fills us with fear, because we know we have disobeyed his commandments and offended his holiness. But in Christ, we are washed clean and are at peace with God. Now, we can await “The End” with joyful anticipation. Our diligence consists in this: in remembering our baptismal identity as those who have been united to Christ’s saving death and resurrection (Rom. 6) … in regularly hearing the word of absolution that declares the forgiveness of sins to us which is “just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself” (Small Catechism) … and coming often to the Table of the Lord where we eat and drink the body and blood of Christ for forgiveness, life, and salvation. These are all God’s Gospel gifts to the Church, the Bride of Christ. And on the Last Day, when Jesus our Bridegroom returns and the eternal wedding banquet begins (Rev. 21:2, 9), he will indeed “present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).

And then, “The End” will only be “The Beginning” of eternity.

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

Cartoon HT:  David Sipress, The Phoenix

October Newsletter Article

Witness, Mercy, Life Together

In recent memory, every time a new synodical president is elected, he presents a theme which is held forth for the congregations, people, and institutions of the synod to rally around. President Harrison’s three-fold emphasis – “Witness, Mercy, Life Together” – was unveiled last month. You can see the logo for the emphasis at the left (if you are reading this in the print version of the newsletter, the colors are red at the top, purple at the bottom left, and green at the bottom right). Based on three biblical words, it describes the focus of what the Church of Jesus Christ is all about. Here’s how Dr. Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations, explains it on his blog:

Witness, Mercy, and Life Together is the English phrase chosen for the Greek words Martyría, Diakonía, and Koinōnía. These activities describe the work of the church and are centered on the cross of Jesus. Martyría describes the witness, proclamation work (missions) of the church. Diakonía describes the church's work as a servant of mercy to those in need (human care). Koinōnía describes the church's life together with all its accompanying activities such as worship, schools, seminaries, church relations, et al. There are over 200 passages in the New Testament that use these words to describe the church's work, not including synonyms and other words … Just as a start you might want to look up 1 John 5:7-8 (Witness), Mark 10:45 (Mercy), and 1 Corinthians 1:9 (Life Together).

Here are those Bible verses and my explanations of why I think they were chosen. 1 John 5:7-8 says, “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” The Holy Spirit works through the Word, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper, and all “agree” as they point us to Christ. We use those same means to “testify” or “witness” to Christ and reach out to draw others to the Savior.

In Mark 10:45, our Lord Jesus says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The Son of God became a servant when he humbled himself by becoming Man and by giving his life on the cross for our sins. Christ’s work of mercy towards us sinners enables us to act with mercy towards our neighbors who are near (through the work of our congregation) and those who are far (through our offerings sent to the synod).

Finally, 1 Corinthians 1:9 says, “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Through the Good News of the forgiveness of sins in Christ, we are called and gathered into the Holy Christian Church. In this Christian Church, we are intimately united with Jesus and with one another as members of the Body of Christ. In this “fellowship” we live, pray, and work together for the good of each other and the world.

This is a wonderful, succinct theme for all of us to remember as we go about our work as a congregation and as individuals who through Holy Baptism are members of the Body of Christ. There will be more information coming from the president’s office about this three-fold theme, and you can be sure we will make use of it to continue our “Witness,” to act in “Mercy,” and to learn more about what “Life Together” in Christ means for our fellowship at Messiah.

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

September newsletter article

The 64th Convention of the LCMS

[This may be late news to some of you, since the convention was held back in July. However, we generally publish a combined July-August newsletter, so I didn’t get a chance yet to write an article to inform you about what went on. So here goes…]

Although our synodical headquarters are in St. Louis, Missouri, the conventions of our synod are held in various locations around the country every three years. This year it was held in Houston, Texas from July 10-17. This was the 64th time our synod has met in convention since its inception in 1847.

Each circuit (a regional group of congregations) sends one pastoral and one lay delegate to the national convention. Our circuit is called the Mt. Baker Circuit. It encompasses the LCMS congregations of Bellingham, Blaine, Everett, Granite Falls, Maltby, Marysville, Monroe, Mt. Vernon, Oak Harbor, and Snohomish. Our circuit usually elects its delegates to the national convention at the previous district convention as the delegates (one pastor and one layman from each congregation in the district) caucus together at some point during the district convention. Pastor Kerry Reese of Shepherd of the Hills in Maltby was our pastoral delegate to the national convention this summer. Mr. Rex Watt of Redeemer in Bellingham was our lay delegate.

The two main actions taken by the convention were the election of a new synodical president and sweeping structural changes recommended by the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance (BRTFSSG).

The Rev. Matthew Harrison was elected as our new synodical president. Pastor Harrison has been the executive director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care since 2001. Prior to that, he served congregations in Iowa and Indiana.

The end result of the structural changes is, in brief, twofold. First, more authority is given to the office of the synodical president. Second, all the current boards and commissions at the national level have been eliminated (with the exception of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations) and will be realigned into two ministry boards, the Board for National Mission and the Board for International Mission. These new boards will establish policies and procedures for their respective offices, both of which will be headed by a Chief Mission Officer who will be appointed by the synodical president.

Two other changes of note were also approved at the convention. Whereas the election of the synodical president has occurred at the convention by the delegates, in subsequent years the election will now take place prior to the convention by direct vote of the congregations of the synod. Also, the election of vice-presidents two through five will now be done on a regional basis to assure broader representation of the regions of the synod.

The dust is still settling on all these structural changes that were voted upon. It will be interesting to see how they will all be implemented, especially considering that our new president and the vast majority of the new officers elected were opposed to the structural changes that the BRTFSSG was proposing. Nevertheless, I was encouraged by Harrison’s first address to the synod immediately following his election where he said,

I wish to inform you that you have kept your perfect record of electing sinners as presidents of the Missouri Synod. I guarantee you I will sin and fail. I will fall short. I will sin against you. I wish also to say, that right now I forgive all who have in any way have sinned against me or anybody else, and plead your forgiveness for anything that I said or did that offended you. I beg of you your prayers, I beg of you your daily prayers and intercession. These are challenging times. I promise you that I will be as straight with you as I possibly can, to the best of my ability, guided by the Spirit of God. I pledge to you that I will not coerce you. I will do my best by the Word of Christ to lead with a generous Gospel of Jesus Christ, which forgives us all of our sins, and motivates us to love and care for our neighbor in mercy and compassion. And I will work as hard as I possibly can for unity around the clear and compelling Word of God and nothing else.

If you wish to read more about the convention and learn further details on the structural changes, you can read the articles in the Lutheran Witness, the Reporter, or the synod convention website. Below are the links if you have internet access.

http://www.lcms.org/pages/wPage.asp?ContentID=798&IssueID=46

http://www.lcms.org/pages/rpage.asp?NavID=17485

http://www.lcms.org/pages/convention.asp?NavID=13524

In Christ’s service and yours,
Pastor Onken

Thinking about Dad

My dad died in 1996 after a ten year battle with cancer. I still think about him a lot.

I think about him when I’m shaving. Gillette Foamy is what he used, and that’s what I use. None of that frou-frou stuff for us. No aloe. No strawberry scent. Plain old Foamy. That smell is embedded in my olfactory memories. When I lather up, I can smell my dad.

I think about my dad every time I watch a baseball game. He passed his love of the game on to me. There was a long time after his death when I would automatically reach for the phone to call him whenever I saw a great play or saw an outstanding “web gem” on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight. I don’t reach for the phone anymore. But I still recall our days when we used to watch the Angels and the Dodgers together.

I think about my dad every time I watch a Clint Eastwood western. There were some times when he and I would actually put on our cowboy hats and boots to watch a film together. Not in the theatre, mind you, but at home, where we could prop up our feet and pop open a cold beer.

I suppose I could go on and on telling you about the many occasions when I think about my dad. The most important memories I have of my father have to do with church.

I think of my dad when I put the hymn numbers up on the hymn board near the chancel. When my dad was an usher and an elder, that was one of his duties, and he would often take me along on a Saturday morning and have me help. Someone once asked me, “Pastor, why don’t you let someone else do that job?” I told them that I don’t mind doing it, because as I put those numbers up on the board I’m also reminiscing and giving thanks to God for my dad’s faithful example of humble, quiet service.

I think of my dad when we sing the Te Deum, when we sing hymns about the saints in heaven, and during the preface in the Divine Service: “Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven…” My dad didn’t have the greatest singing voice. But that didn’t stop him from loudly singing the liturgy and hymns. He didn’t think, as some men do, that singing was “unmanly.” Dad had his hymnal opened and sang boldly.

Dad also faithfully partook of our Lord’s body and blood in Holy Communion. I used to wonder where dad would go after we would return to our pews. Coming back from the altar, he always slipped out the side door of the church. We didn’t see him again until after the benediction. Only as I got a bit older did I learn that he had to get outside to satisfy his nicotine craving. He kicked that habit years later during his battle with cancer. But years of smoking had already taken its toll on his lungs, adding to his health issues.

Dad wasn’t perfect. Not because he smoked … but because he was a sinner. And he knew that himself. That’s why he also publicly confessed his sins with the rest of us in the Divine Service, acknowledging that he trusted in the shed blood of Jesus for his forgiveness and salvation.

Another Father’s Day has come and gone. To you dads, here’s a question for you: What kind of example are you setting for your children, in particular with your spiritual life and your involvement at church? Many faithful mothers have had to pick up the slack where their husbands have abdicated their responsibilities as the spiritual heads of their households. God bless those faithful women. But remember, men: the example of a father is of immeasurable importance in the spiritual life of a child. Your kids are watching you. Do they see you regularly in church? Do they see you participating? Do they see you volunteering your gifts and talents? Do they see you reading the Bible and praying at home?

That doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. There’s only one father who’s perfect, and that’s our Heavenly Father. He sent his only Son to live a perfect life in our place and to die for the sins of the world, including the sins of us sinful fathers. Repent, receive his forgiveness, rejoice in his grace, and rejuvenate your spiritual life by availing yourself of the opportunities to hear the Word of God and partake of the Lord’s Supper. Guided by the Holy Spirit, you can set the kind of example that will make a difference in the spiritual life of your children.

Good advice on prayer, and not just for teenagers

Pastor Will Weedon wrote a post on his blog entitled "Helping a Teen Ager Use the Treasury." His advice applies to people of all ages, not just teenagers. The Treasury of Daily Prayer is just that...a treasure chest full of scripture, song, and prayer to help guide us in our daily life of prayer and teaches us how to pray.

I have frequently commented that Luther really didn't get rid of monasteries; his idea was to move the monastery into the home! I mean, he PREACHED at home, for heaven's sake. Not to mention hymns and prayers and Bible reading and such.

But it is true that most people are not called the monastic life and cannot actually pray the daily office, even in the sense of three offices of Matins, Vespers and Compline that comprise the heart of the office for Lutherans.

So what can a young person do who laments that they just don't know how to pray? I had this conversation last night. "But I always only think about myself. My prayers are so narcissistic."

My answer is: "take up the Treasury." A very simple discipline can be made of praying each day the Psalm (printed out for the day) and one of the Bible readings and the prayer for the day and then the prayer for the day of the week (pages 1306ff.) and wrap up with the Lord's Prayer. Simple, really. It does NOT need to be elaborate. It does need to be consistent, but even with when you fail to pray on a certain day, remember - as Pr. Kinnaman wrote so beautifully in the intro - that others of the Body of Christ are praying that day and you are not alone; you are joining a vast company who bear your weaknesses. Doing this much will keep you praying for all sorts and conditions of people, will draw you out of yourself into the Word and into the world as you bear the burdens of others. Yesterday was Wednesday, and I pointed out that by praying the week day prayers we remembered all those whose pilgrimages are coming to an end, and asked God's grace and mercy on them.

Making disciplined, daily prayer a part of one's life is a battle - and Satan wants nothing more than to see you go for days without being fortified by the Word or calling on God. Remember above all: the discipline of prayer is FOR YOUR BENEFIT. It doesn't make God love you any more than He already does (His fullness of love for you can never be diminished). He doesn't NEED your prayer; YOU need Him, and that's why you pray. He comes to you in His Word (and that's why praying the Psalm and the Bible reading are vital to the discipline). Treasury simply makes these much easier.

Too many start out trying to do too much in prayer. It's a formula for failure. Start out small, do so consistently, and it will grow. It can't not.

My two cents on the topic.