Resurrection

In Diana Butler Bass' recent book, Christianity After Religion:The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening, she quotes a note from a woman who left her church some 25 years ago. The woman's reason for leaving the church was that she was tired of belonging to a church that was anti woman, anti gay, anti science, anti environment, seemingly anti everything. In addition, she found the (her) church to be extremely self righteous and judgmental. Brothers and sisters, that was twenty five years ago. Yet, I must say that if I were an outsider hearing some of the pronouncements that have come out of various church groups in the last couple of years, and the past few months in particular, I would have to agree with the writer of the note. One church group travels all over the country espousing anti gay rhetoric, another opposes an individual woman's right to make her own choices in regard to her health care, still others oppose the settled science of evolution, while another tells its people that the "theory" of "global warming" is the work of Satan. Christianist Pat Robertson recently claimed that being gay was a type of demonic possession.

Given that the media is always in search of a titillating sound byte, it is usually these types of pronouncements from churches that get print space and air time, and as a result, those who are on the outside of the church can only surmise that churches must be houses filled with uninformed, ignorant, bigoted haters. Obviously, I have doubts that the typical individual distinguishes between churches when they hear such hurtful rhetoric. I imagine that the reaction to such judgment and condemnation is to wonder why anyone would join an organization that condemns so many people, including, perhaps, my own wife, my friends, family, and a good many acquaintances.

As a pastor, I have a sense that for months and years the pronouncements of these churches have been destructive both to people's lives, as well as to the life of the church, and in many cases they are a complete distortion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a nephew might say, the church is prone to "foot bullets." I believe that the message of militant exclusivity preached by some of these churches is in stark contrast to the inclusive message found in the Gospels. Everyone is familiar with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.", but few can quote the following verse, "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." The very inclusive nature of the Gospel can certainly also be seen in John 8:1 ff. The Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery, reminding Jesus that the law called for her to be stoned to death. Jesus responded by first bending to the ground and writing all of their sins in the dust, and then rising said, " 'Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' When they had all departed in shame, Jesus said to the woman, 'Woman where are they?' Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, sir.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you. Go you way, and from now on do not sin again.'" Again, in John 12:47 we read, "I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." Jesus went on to say that God's Word serves as our judge on the last day.

Personally, I hope that in all things regarding ministry to err on the side of grace. With the Gospels strewn with examples of Jesus always widening the circle of inclusivity, I believe we have a mandate to do the same; and there is something wrong, I believe, in an image in which a sheep is consigned to a wilderness of death because I have decided, they are beyond the reach of Jesus' love and grace.

So, let me tell you about my church and the congregation I serve. My church welcomes all people. As a brother pastor recently said, we all stand at the foot of the cross in need of the very life Jesus died to give us. In this church, women are supported, and are at the very center of the life of the church. My bishop is a woman, so we obviously ordain women to be pastors, my Congregation Council vice president is a woman, and a short time ago, a woman was our president. Women serve in every capacity in this church, and we do not tell women what to do; we counsel with them as with all people, providing pastoral and spiritual support when they are in crisis, and support them in their decisions. In thirty years of being a pastor, I can share that every woman who has ever come to me for pastoral guidance has with a seriousness that is beyond admirable faithfully wrestled with whatever question was before them.

The Church in which I am a pastor ordains gay and lesbian people to be pastors. I confess my skepticisms as to how this would work out, (especially the acceptance issue), but these men and women have in no small measure been a blessing to the church. In the parish I serve, the LGBT community is not only welcome, but it is hard to imagine the congregation without them; not because of their gender or sexual orientation, but because of who they are as people and the gifts they bring to our common life. And I like to think we give them something in return,- namely unconditional love.

This church is not anti environment or anti science. Each time there is a new scientific discovery; a new medicine, a new species found, a new theory proposed about the beginning of the universe, Lutherans tend to sit back and marvel anew at God's creative power. Indeed, for us, each new discovery points towards God's majesty. If you would like to know more about what we believe about environmentalism, and global climate change, enter http://www.lutheransrestoringcreation.org/ into your browser and you will find that for us, environmental stewardship is a major concern that grows out of our love for all of God's good creation. Even if there were not an environmental crisis, we believe that we have a responsibility and privilege to care for creation.

In a very large and real way, the Church in which I am a pastor does not tell people what they should do, or how they should behave, nor does it judge them. Instead, my church invites people to engage with Scripture, enter into spiritual discipline, participate in the mystery of the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacraments, and faithfully struggle with all of the difficult issues that we face together, but in all of this, and perhaps most importantly, this Church, and the congregation I serve are communities of joy, hope, renewal, and new life. The people in my congregation are a remarkable community that welcomes everyone who manages to find us (which, admittedly is not always easy). We are an Easter congregation. We recognize that a good part of the world, and far to many churches continually live out Good Friday, but here, in this place, Good Friday continually gives way to the joy and grace of the Resurrection of our Lord. We fully recognize that Easter faith is not a possession, but a gift, and one to be shared.

On the first Easter Sunday Morning, Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the tomb because she believed that Jesus was not only dead, but that his body had been taken. "Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary!'" Jesus called her by name and sent her on her way rejoicing with the good news she shared with the disciples, "I have seen the Lord." (John 20:11 ff.)
It was for Mary and the Church a moment of joy, but a moment in which we continually live. That describes the congregation here. We live in Easter joy, welcoming and sharing the good news with everyone and allowing it to inspire us to care for sisters and brothers all over the world as well as the earth itself. I believe this is what Jesus would have us do. And because we live out this call, we just don't have time to judge people,...go figure. This is the church I want people to know about, the church Jesus intends us to be, the church in which Jesus' own words are always heard, "Come to me all you are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
We are by no means perfect, but through the cross and resurrection we are forgiven, and that is a joy we share with everyone.

Easter Blessings to this good parish, family, friends and seekers,
Peace,
Pastor Boehringer