Does Jesus really love everybody?

NPR had an interesting article today about a Florida Pastor who is ministering to sex offenders. He argues that sex offenders are modern day Lepers that Jesus calls us to love. I would agree with him on that, but I realize there's a big difference between loving people in the abstract and welcoming them into your community. Not to mention the issue of protecting the vulnerable.

This article raises the question we've all struggled with at times...does Jesus really love everybody? It may be easy to say yes in the abstract, but how do we live it out in a way that honors the love of Jesus but also protects the community?

Into the great unknown

My devotions today included a quote from Jean Donovan, an American woman who went to El Salvador as a lay missionary. Donovan was in the country when the Salvadoran Civil War erupted, a conflict that claimed the lives of 2,000 civilians in the first five months of 1980. Although she could have escaped El Salvador she chose to remain with those whom she was called to serve until she was murdered in December 1980.

Matthew 10:9-20 contains Jesus' instructions to the disciples as they prepare to enter the mission field. He tells them to leave everything behind, even basic necessities, trusting that God will be with them and provide for their needs. After Jean Donovan decided to remain in El Salvador she reflected on these verses and the uncertain future to which God had called her. She writes,

It is a terrible thing to follow even a friend into the unknown. It is made worse by the fact that He so often seems to disappear or go ahead instead of staying close by.

The instructions he gives us should make it so much easier to continue on the journey: but what instruction?

• 'Don't provide extra for yourself in case I let you down.'
• 'Don't worry what to say.'
• 'I will be there when you need Me, even if it's only at the last moment.

Instructions like these leave us incredibly vulnerable, but they are only examples of what He is really asking of us: that we choose intentionally, deliberately to make ourselves vulnerable and to walk in that vulnerability.

I've had several conversations recently with people discerning where God is leading them...a process that is both exhilirating and frightening because it makes us feel uncertain and vulnerable.

Advent is a perfect time for this type of discernment as we look at our lives and prepare to receive Jesus once again. In the midst of our uncertainties and vulnerabilities it's comforting to know that we will never be left alone because of Jesus who is "Emmanuel", God with us. And because of God's faithfulness we can embrace the uncertainty of the future, knowing that it belongs to God just as we do.

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

Shane Claiborne wrote an open letter to non Christians in Esquire Magazine. It's a great piece.

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

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For those who are unfamiliar with Shane's work check out his bio here.

Sex, College, and Spirituality

I came across an article from the Presbyterian News Service about discussing sex with students through College Ministry (thanks to Susan at Pretty Good Lutherans for the link). My Church (the ELCA) has had sex on the brain recently because of the decision at this summer's Churchwide Assembly to allow partnered GLBT Pastors to be on the clergy roster. We've actually been talking about sex for the past 15 years in the ELCA which means that no one wants to talk about it anymore.

But that would be a mistake. We're living in an increasingly sex saturated culture and if the Church is silent on these matters there are plenty of other voices to fill the void.

As I argued in a post just after this summer's decision, the sexuality study that the ELCA produced had plenty to say about heterosexual sex as well. Along with the groundbreaking decision regarding GLBT persons there is plenty for us to talk about with college students.

The question isn't whether or not we should be talking about sex in campus ministry, but rather how to begin a constructive conversation.

Herb Brokering

During this month at Wartburg we've been talking about Saints. In the midst of our celebration we learned that Pastor Herb Brokering, a Wartburg alum and an amazing writer, had died.

I've been wanting to write something about Herb since his passing, but it's hard to write about someone you've never actually met. I could tell you how much his hymns and writings move me, but without a personal connection my words would not be unique.

So, if you want the facts about Herb Brokering check out the official ELCA news release. But if you want to know who Herb really was, then check out this remembrance from his former student Rich Melheim.

On Sunday the Wartburg Chapel rang out with the words from one of Herb's hymns. A fitting eulogy in and of itself. Here's the last verse.

"Thine the Amen" - Herb Brokering

Thine the glory in the night no more dying only light,

thine the river thine the tree then the lamb eternally,

then the Holy, Holy, Holy celebration jubilee

thine the splendor thine the brightness only thee only thee.

Measuring success

Everyone has their struggles in ministry (or whatever they're called to do...which of course is also ministry). For me it's the fact that there are very few measurable outcomes.

I'm an achiever by nature. I like to see things happen, and better yet measure them and feel good about the results. This worked well for me as an athlete and during my years as an Admission Counselor. There were plenty of clear measurable results. But what are you going to measure in ministry?

It's not that people don't try to measure ministry. Church attendance is probably the standard metric, but what does it really measure? As G.K. Chesterton once said, "Being in Church makes you a Christian like being in a garage makes you a car".

There are other things besides Church attendance that may be better measures of ministry success, but I'm still left wondering "why do we feel the need to measure things"?

Some would argue that we measure things to improve our effectiveness. That may be true but it's also a slippery slope. What starts out as a desire for effectiveness quickly becomes about ego. Before we know it ministry or whatever else we're measuring becomes about our egos rather than the main thing. And that's never a good thing as Bob Hyatt mentions in this article.

Come to think of it there is danger in measuring anything. Even if we can find something to measure it's so easy for our self worth and identity to become tied up in those numbers. That's great when things are going well, but things that are out of our control often affect the outcomes we're measuring. And what happens then?

I guess the trick is to be able to differentiate between the "numbers" and our identity. I haven't completely figured out how to do that yet.

Join the Advent Conspiracy

Are you tired of Christmas commercials in October?

Do you feel more exhausted than joyful after the season?

You can do something about it by joining the Advent Conspiracy at Wartburg.

Here's what it's about...

The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.

So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.

And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?

What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?

Welcome to Advent Conspiracy. (source: Advent Conspiracy web site)

Join us for a four week journey of reclaiming Christmas from consumerism. We'll share a short study and some discussion as we figure out how to move from consumption to compassion this Christmas. Participants are encouraged to buy one less Christmas present this year and donate that money to those in need.

There is no cost to participate and several attendance options. The first is Wednesday nights from 8-9 in the Chapel Commons, beginning this Wednesday November 18th. If you can't make that time contact me (brian.beckstrom@wartburg.edu) because we're putting together additional groups.

Become a co-conspirator!