Toolbox For Faith

Every now and then, you discover something new in scripture. This week I was a part of a discussion group considering the following question, “How does Chapter 1 of the Book of Acts inform how we respond to a new age of paganism and cultural diversity?” As I read the text and did a little research, I saw within the text five steps that the early church used to address a similar age of paganism and cultural diversity.

1. Wait for the Spirit - Jesus instructed the disciples not to just run off and start doing something simply to be busy. He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to give them strength, to give them guidance and to help them determine what they were called to do. I know I am guilty of moving ahead sometimes just to get going. This is a helpful reminder to slow down and listen for the presence of the Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5)

2. Start with Prayer - While the disciples were waiting for the Spirit, they spent time in prayer. Making time for prayer before meetings, before Bible Studies, when we are making decisions, reminds us of God’s presence and helps us to connect to God’s presence in our lives. (Acts 1:14)

3. Don’t just stand there. Go! - When Jesus ascends into heaven, his followers stand there gazing into the sky. As amazing as the event must have been, two men in white robes quickly appear to rouse them from their inaction and instruct them to go. Following Jesus is about action. Don’t just stand there, but go and live out your faith. (Acts 1:11)

4. Share the story of Jesus with all the ends of the earth - Jesus’ instructions are pretty clear. With the Spirit’s help, we are to take the story of God’s love in Jesus to the whole world. (Acts 1:8)

5. Lift up leaders from within the community to help with the ministry - When the community of believers needs another leader, they look inside the group for someone to take Judas’ place among the twelve. Matthias is qualified to be a leader, in part, because he was a long-time believer and member of the community. As we go about sharing God’s story in our communities today, perhaps the best people to do the ministry are those within the community that we identify and lift up.

I came across an excellent article last week from the Alban Institute entitled Tending the Vineyard by Paul E. Hopkins. Hopkins makes the case that there are four elements which are keys for creating what he calls “enduring pastoral fruitfulness”.

He suggests that for pastors to have healthy, fruitful lives and ministry, it is imperative that they have (1) a systematic commitment to livelong learning, (2) an intentional connection to communities of shared practice, (3) a careful stewardship of the leader’s own self, and (4) strong roots and active exercise in a growing faith. While none of these four suggestions is revolutionary or a totally new idea, my own experience in ministry resonates with these suggestions. I am at my best as a pastor and a person, when I am intentional about learning, when I am connected to a group of caring colleagues, when I am seeking balance between family and call and when I am taking time to nurture my connection to God.

In the future, I might use Hopkins four categories as a tool for self-evaluation. I could imagine taking each of his four categories and creating goals in each area to help me maintain pastoral fruitfulness and balance. If I actually put a tool together using these categories, I’ll try to remember to post it.

When Dr. Marcus Miller came to Roanoke to talk about preaching the Lenten texts, he took a few moments to share his ideas on preaching. I thought his ideas were helpful. Let me know what you think.

1. Preaching is the central task of the pastor.

2. The Law/Gospel dichotomy still works in today’s world.

3. Preachers need to be as responsible for what people hear as for what they say. It is important to create opportunities for congregational feedback on preaching to make sure that our style doesn’t get in the way of proclaiming the good news about Jesus.

4. The purpose of preaching is to explicate scripture.

5. Biblical illiteracy is not the issue for most people. The issue in most cases is lack of theological understanding. Many people know Bible stories. Preaching involves more than just retelling the story. Preaching addresses the issue - “What does this mean to our life of faith?”.

6. Preaching needs to build community.

7. Preaching needs to point beyond ourselves. Dr. Miller instructs his students to write down a few of the current events of the day as they begin to prepare a sermon as a reminder to look beyond themselves.

8. Preaching is shaped by our own journey of faith. (I remember Dr. Charlie Sigel essentially saying that we look at the world through glasses that are tinted by our life experience. The preacher, he said, does well to learn what colors their glasses so they can know how that affects their view of scripture and shapes their preaching.)

- From a presentation Feb. 4, 2011 at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Roanoke, VA by Dr. Marcus Miller, president of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

The headline, “IPhone confession app gets church approval,” intrigued me even though I do not have an IPhone. The article explained that the app approved by the Roman Catholic Church had a custom examination of conscience based on your age, gender and marital status as well as a confessional walk thru including a place for people to add their custom sins. All of this for only a cost of $1.99.

For a person who pushes “O” constantly while listening to pleasant recorded messages giving me every option but talking to a real person when I call most businesses, the app reminded me how impersonal our society has become. Just this week I was reading about the high school football star who chose a different college than his mother wanted him to attend so he texted her the news and didn’t tell her in person or even by a call because he knew she wouldn’t approve. He took the easy way out which is what apps, texting and email can become.

I sincerely hope the IPhone confession app helps some people realize that they have moved away from God but I am convinced that our Christian faith is best demonstrated when we share it in person—when we can laugh together, cry together, talk together and support each other. I know the world is changing but our personal witness is still the central starting point in the midst of all the transformations happening in the world. That is something I never want to forget. Apps and modern media can help but they can never replace each of us personally sharing the faith.

And just so you know, pushing “O” constantly usually get me to a real person much quicker than waiting for it to be a last resort.

Last week, I heard Marcus Miller, the president of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, talking about the texts for the season of Lent. As a part of his presentation, he spoke of Lent as a time of renewal for discipleship and a time of preparation for baptism. Dr. Miller’s focus was on adult baptism, but he got me thinking about how we resource parents as they begin to nurture the faith of their young children. At St. Michael, we give the newly baptized individual a Faithchest, a Bible and other resources, and now I think we are going to add the “Baptismal Feast” as a resource for families. There are still many details to work out, but essentially the “Baptismal Feast” will be a yearly luncheon where we invite all the children and families who have been baptized in the last three years. Over lunch, we will provide age appropriate resources to help families nurture faith, allow parents to ask questions and hopefully build community. My hope is this will be a helpful tool for families as they seek to live our the promises they make in baptism.

Most people would not have paid much attention to the sign that said “Pastor Parking Only” next to the church in the midst of the crowded parking lot near the front door of the church we were visiting last Sunday but it bothered me. I had almost forgotten about it when the pastor started off his sermon with an illustration that said we are all in this together. My thoughts immediately returned to the sign.

As a pastor, I have always felt that on Sunday mornings, the best place for the pastor to park was at the far edge of the parking lot. Having a reserved parking place next to the building says that the pastor is the most important person and automatically deserves the best parking spot. We might “all be in this together” but the pastor should be awarded the best parking spot. I never felt that way and had the signs quietly removed at three congregations where the closest parking spot said “Pastor Parking Only.” On Sundays, I parked on the edge of the parking lot and walked even though I was one of the first people to arrive. Besides, the exercise was good for me.

The specified parking space might be a little thing to most people but I feel strongly that this little thing communicates the wrong message for a pastor’s actions to preach.