A Crisis In Confidence
by Gordon Selbo*
Since his election last spring, our new bishop Mattheis has consistently called for unity and harmony in the Sierra Pacific Synod. There has been far too much of their opposites. Illegal ordinations, disciplinary hearings, blessing of homosexual relationships, and the recent "defrocking" of a pastor have dominated discussion at recent synod assemblies.
Now, sadly, a new issue has emerged. In obvious disregard for the bishop's plea, two conferences of the synod have taken action in clear violation of the synod's constitution. They have elected as their deans two men who are not ordained ministers of the ELCA. One (in the San Francisco Conference) was refused certification after a lengthy discipline process; the other (in the East Bay Conference) was recently forcibly removed from the clergy roster by action of the ELCA.
So now those who are not authorized to serve as parish pastors are "to assist the bishop in providing pastoral care to congregations and clergy....and to fulfill such other responsibilities as the bishop or Synod Assembly may assign," (Sierra Pacific Synod Constitution and Bylaws, SB 12.01.04).
Deans are also to be "available to the bishop...for advice and counsel regarding such concerns as clergy awaiting call, congregations without pastor, congregations in the call process, and the general pastoral care of clergy and congregation." (SB 11.01.06).
WOW! Not deemed qualified to serve a congregation, but instead to serve as counselor to the bishop in matters of pastoral care, etc. What's the word for this? Anomaly, inconsistency, paradox, contradiction? How about incredible and untenable?
I suppose those who endorse the action of the two conferences see it as the ecclesiastical equivalent of "civil disobedience" in the secular sphere. Whatever it may be, it is extremely poor churchmanship. Surely there are more legitimate channels open to them.
A tactic has been put into play which is confrontational, divisive, and blatantly defiant of that which keeps us together as a church family, and Christ's body.
In the game of life one plays by the rules – in family, school, sports, government. Why not in the church? In this case it is the very constitution we have all adopted and agreed to live by that is being flouted.
At the time of the creation of the ELCA in 1988, much was said about the "interdependence" of the various "expressions" of the church – national body, synod, conference, and congregation. We are to trust and support one another. Intentional violations of this nature make such noble goals difficult if not impossible.
May I humbly suggest to the two conferences that the end does not justify the means. What is at stake here? Very simply, the credibility of individuals and the breakdown of church unity, the violation of the unified Body of Christ.
Dear friends, why can't we play by the rules? And please don't dredge up that tired charge of "legalism," so often carelessly thrown about – even into the face of our former bishop at the last Assembly. This is a matter of integrity and basic fairness. It is a new low in churchmanship which throws more fuel on the fires of discontent and suspicion in the synod.
With all due respect to our bishop, this is not a matter of "ideological position", as he states in his recent letter of explanation to the congregations of the Synod. Nor is it one of left, right, or middle-of-the-road approaches to doctrine and ecclesiology. It is rather one of favoritism, the "privileged character" syndrome so odious to the most of us.
We now have a privileged congregation and two privileged conferences who intentionally violate our mutual agreements – and are getting by with it.
We sympathize with the bishop who, amidst his pleas for unity, must contend with this kind of fractious behavior within his flock. One might hope for a gracious withdrawal of their action by the congregation or the two conferences and their "deans," if the unity of the church and the integrity of its constitution are at all a part of their mode of operation.
* Pastor Selbo is the President of the Fellowship of Confessional Lutherans. He was a long- time home missionary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the U S and Canada, president ofAugustana Academy, and Luther College chaplain.
They Do Know What They Do!
by James Kallas*
Often our noblest aspirations – earned to excessive extremes – lead to hellish outcomes when accomplished. Example: the obsessive myopic over-focused fanaticism of the feminist: movement.
I rejoice in the belated recognition of women’s rights. Far too long was the apostle’s insight into the dignity of womanhood, the divine affirmation of their equality in the eyes of God, repressed. (" . . . there is no longer male or female, but one person in Christ Jesus . . .)
But the pendulum has swung too far, like a wrecking ball, savagely demolishing treasured
truths which ought not be sacrificed simply to satisfy current passions gone berserk.
Two illustrations suffice:
Number One: Since Albert Schweitzer's monumental study, every serious student of the gospels is aware of the essentially eschatological nature of the message of Jesus. So central was this emphasis that there are many who wonder if He even foresaw a church. Would there be a continuing interval of sufficient length between His passion and His return return to allow a church? The Greek word ecclsia, "church" is used only twice in all of the gospels, and then only by Matthew (16:18 and l8:18).
This is then a vital problem of New Testament interpretation. And all of itshinges on the paucity of the appearance of the word ecclesia.
Too Much Church
But nowadays we note in our most recent translations the frequent appearance of the term. For example, one of the ELCA published lectionaries for last October was on Matthew l8:l5. Repeating from the New revised Standard Version it read, "If another member of the church sins against you . . ." There is no word "church" in that text. The phrase in the original Greek is "brother." "if your brother sins against you..." So in today's hysterical scene, for our ecclesiastical leadership, compromised and cowed by the belligerent militant feminist movement which aims at erasing sexist language, the word "brother"had to go. In its place the paraphrase "member of the church" was inserted.
This is incredible! Regrettable, insensitive idiocy. That contemporary social enthusiasms – no matter how legitimate they might be in their own right – should be allowed to rewrite and paraphrase Scripture, is absolutely unacceptable. That one of the most crucial areas of discussion as to the outlook and expectation of Jesus Himself could be so cavalierly rewritten, is evidence not only of arrogance, but of ignorance.
Obviously, these self-appointed revisionists of Scripture are ignorant of the awesome issue lying behind this word ecclesia, which they have inserted in their unthinking fashion. Or they are captive to this myopic minority whose only yardstick of concern is sexist language and women's rights.
Paul's Wooden Interpreters
The second example – St. Paul. Though he was the earliest, and one of the very few to acknowledge the equality of women, the apostle does have some words and phrases which, woodenly interpreted, seem 10 put down the role of women. We all know these occasions, because they have been shrilly recited all too often by those who regret their presence and attack the good apostle for having said them.
Some of the more circumspect gainsayers, affronted by the unflattering opinions of Paul, and offended by those interpretations which seem to suggest that women ought to wear veils and stay silent in the believers' assemblies, say that Paul was simply a prisoner of his own time.
He expressed now-antiquated social views no longer binding on us. He was a prisoner of his environment, blinded by the prevailing mores of the male-orientated society in which he found himself. So those offending sentences that spice his work, though salty, are insignificant. They can be peeled off and thrown away, the rind of a bygone day.
Where have such debaters been for the last century? Are they – is it possible – ignorant of the enormous implications of the Reformation Principle, "The Word Alone"?
We do not provide the ultimate answers. We do not pick and choose. We do not stand as judge over Holy Writ, selecting what we want, choosing what suits our moods and die contemporary view, jettisoning the rest of Scripture because it does not correspond to oursocial agenda. The Bible is not a looseleaf scrapbook where we concentrate on what we like, and set aside as irrelevant and outdated all that we find disagreeable and incompatible widi our own beliefs.
That is what the heretic Marcion said nineteen centuries ago. The church, then, had die courage to stand up and say, "Marcion, you are wrong!" Today in the name of fairness and inclusivism, however, we roll over and play dead, fearful of facing the wrath of women scorned.
Scripture Is Our Judge
We do not stand as judge over Scripture. Scripture stands as judge over us. Our noble aspirations to affirm the equality of women – this high in good intentions – has led us down a hellish path, and we are paying a horrific price.
We have become a denomination adrift; without an anchor; no rock on which we can stand. It is not an accident, but rather an inevitability that the chief advocates of feminism must always insist on the insignificance of tradition and die non-binding nature of Scripture.
Father, forgive them...unfortunately, they do know what they do. And forgive us, too for allowing them to do it. ?
* Dr. Kallas, formerly president of Dana College, is the internationally known Bible lecturer and tour leader who pastors Mt. Olive Church in Santa Monica, CA.
Still Time to Be Thankful
For all who cherish the gift of life from our Creator, last November's Thanksgiving exercises were especially filled with gratitude. Pro-life challengers and opponents of the malevolent Freedom of Choice Act and government-funded abortions defeated pro-abortion incumbents and hopefuls decisively. The new Congress now has a net gain of approximately 40 declared pro-lifers in the House and 6 in the Senate.
Nearly 30 pro-abortion members of Congress were defeated by pro-life challengers. At the same time not a single pro-life Governor, Senator or Representative lost to an anti-life challenger. Also, pro-life forces won 31 of the 48 "open" congressional seats.
A Major Factor
The abortion issue was a major factor in the voting patterns. Polling done by the Wirthin Group nationwide showed that 26% said their vote was affected by the candidate's position on abortion. Pro-life candidates had a 9% net advantage over those who deliberately picked pro-abortion candidates for their vote. Since 26 new pro-life House members and 3 new Senators were elected by 9% or less margins, the change of legislative leadership is clearly a result of faithful pro-life pre-election work. This disposes of the siren call that if a politician wants election, the anti-life side is the one to line up on.
The Pro-life Woman
One of the promising results was the dramatic movement of pro-life women into public life – enough to mark Nov. 8,1994 as the beginning of "The Year of the Pro-life Woman." Seven pro-life women were elected to Congress that day with the support of the "Susan B Anthony List" This group was founded in 1992 on the premise that abortion is certainly not a woman's right, but a woman's wrongùagainst women and their unborn children. Women's true rights have suffered because of their bizarre linkage with the violence of abortion. The group was named after the early feminist and famous suffragette, Susan B Anthony, who called abortion "child murder." She sought to "bring about a better state of things for mothers generally, so their unborn little ones could not be willed away [aborted] from them."
The elected women Representatives responded to their mandate saying, "We are both pro-woman and pro-life. We believe in greater protection for our nation's most vulnerable yet precious resource, its unborn children. And we also stand in solidarity with women who are facing difficult pregnancies, women who need and deserve more than the brutal and desperate option of abortion."
Evangelical Voters
Coupled with the pro-life commitments to the sanctity of the Creator's most precious gift of life, was a fact virtually unreported by the secularist media after last November's election, That is, in a same-night post-election poll by the Market Research Institute, 33% of those who actually voted, answered YES to the question: "Are you an evangelical bom-again Christian?" This figure is up from 18% in 1988, and 24% in 1992, and a far cry from as late as only 15 years ago, when 50% of the evangelical Christians were not even registered to vote.
It may just be that Christians are quite fed up with the extravagant bashing the media have indulged in, and are going to take a hand in turning this culture back to the values upon which this nation was founded.
We may then find less examples of the a few York Times pontificating that "The religious conservative movement confronts us with a threat far greater than the old threat of Communism." We may have to read less frequently from its columnists: 'Tax the hell out of the churches if they open their holy yaps one more time about abortion, prayer in the schools, or anything else."
We may be witnessing the reformation of national values to the place where we can once more agree with John Jay, the First Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was appointed by the Father of Our Country, and was one of the three authors of the Federalist Papers, which structured our form of government. He said, 'Christians in this Christian nation should select and prefer Christians for their rulers." Or, with Patrick Henry: "It cannot be said too often or too strongly, that this nation was not founded upon religion, was not founded by religious people, but by Christians; was not founded upon religions, but upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
One mistake these new voters must avoid is that of selling themselves to any given political party. Their allegiance to God and Country must compel them to support those, and those alone, who can be trusted to further the moral and spiritual welfare of the citizenry.
Stay Awake, Christian!
Lest Christians forget dial Death never relaxes its attack against the God of Life, Oregon's narrow approval last November of Ballot Measure 16, should keep us alert. Itallowsphysicians to prescribe ledial drugs for terminally ill patients. Observers credit its passage to a last-minute campaign pitch diat church people "are not going to tell an Oregonian what's right or wrong" (i.e., "Don't try to impose your Christian morality on me!")-
The subsequent "right to die" scenario is predictable. If doctors can prescribe lethal drugs, they should also be asked to administer them, so that it's done right.
The scenario unfolds – why just people widi terminal illnesses? Why not also those with "burdensome" illnesses? They too should get the benefit of doctor-assisted suicide. So it happened to die poor disabled bloke in Minnesota last October. He was starved and dehydrated to death in an 11 day ordeal gloated over by die TV news cameras.
Then how about those who are simply "tired of life," with suicide as a health-care option? Being a "good citizen" would certainly require that die chronically ill and disabled stop being a burden to the rest of us. And for diose incapacitated who yet value their life more than they do the admiration of their fellows, the "responsible" doctor and health care professionals will have to make die "hard choice" for them. Proceed then, for their life "without quality"ùas defined by the professionalsù is no longer tolerable to society. And so we will have arrived at non-voluntary active euthanasia, as it is now so widely practiced in Holland.
That's precisely die argument the Nazis used as they moved progressively against die innocent unborn, through liquidation of die mentally and bodily disabled, to the Holocaust, that Ultimate for defining who has or does nothave the "quality of life" diat society will respect.
Hitler's right-hand propaganda leader Gobbels once said that it really wouldn't make any difference who won World War II on the battlefield. For die Nazis would win the ideological war. Their ideas would prevail. How desperaiely close to the Truth that sounds these days.
Harvard’s Sex Discrimination
The following tongue-in-cheek announcement appeared in the Harvard Crimson:
We are students at Harvard Erotically Engaged with Pets, or S.H.E.E.P. We reject the use of clinical terms such as ‘zoophilia,’ and describe ourselves as ‘theriosexual,’ a word which better describes the wild joy of our way of life.
Though the bestial community is extremely diverse, embracing individuals from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds, we share a common experience of oppression and misunderstanding. We have been marginalized by an Anthroposexist society solely on the basis of whom we choose to love. Because we refuse to form relationships according to socially constructed categories such as ‘species,’ we represent a fundamental challenge to the institutions and assumptions of a speciest, theriophobic Western culture.
You probably know some of us already. Research indicates that nearly one out of every 10 males and more than one out of every 30 females is theriosexual. Some of us form relationships solely across species lines; some of us enjoy both human and animal relationships. We are productive members of the community. And yet our lives are singled out for brutal repression of the laws of many states and by the prejudice of those who condemn our love for animals because they do not understand it.
Fear and oppression have kept us silent for too long. It is time for us to speak out. We love animals. We are out, and proud.
(Editors note: Does this sound uncomfortably like some speeches you’ve heard in recent Synod Assemblies?)
PERSPECTIVES
In Your Face
Pledged to keep the unity of the church, Christians have a difficult time when the "troublers in Israel" notonly persistin their divisive ways, but actually taunt the faithful by deliberate antics designed to disturb that unity. In the ELCA's Sierra Pacific Synod, e.g., two conferences have gone ahead to elect deans, both of whom have been legally barred from the ELCA clergy. These conferences certainly know the unconstitutionality of their actions. Their insolence will but agitate the church further and cause heartache for the new bishop Mattheis. But then, so what? "In your face!!"
Consider another instance, the nomination of Mary Ann Lundy to the top drawer post of Deputy General Secretary of the WCC. She was the main functionary for the infamous Reimagining Conference in Minneapolis last year. The heresies spouted there, offering the false feminine god Sophia for worship, were so blatant that the Presbyterian Church USA forthrightly terminated her services on their national staff. No sweat. Just invite her upwards, for of course, as she insists, her dismissal was only "a battle for the soul of the Presbyterian Church launched by political religious forces led by the far or radical right," (Ecumenical News International, 9/26/94). "In your face, loyal Presbyterians, in your face!!"
Can we wonder at St. Paul's advice to the faithful, "Take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taughtùand AVOID THEM," (Romans 16:17).
A "Deadly Sin"
With the German female bishop of Hamburg, Maria Jepsen, calling for recognition of male and female homosexual pastors, it is reassuring to see that in somepartsoftheLutheran Church, the biblical foundations remain firm. According to Lutheran World Information (20/94), the consistory of theEv.LutheranChurchofLatviahascalledhomosexuality a "deadly sin," and instructed its congregations to exclude from the eucharist practicing homosexuals who do not repent of their homosexuali ty. Further, itresolved that "persons deliberatelypracticing homosexuality and having chosen it as their way of life are not allowed to fulfill any duties and positions in the church hierarchy." While expressing support for "everybody who is striving to struggle with this sin in their lives," the consistory rejected all attempts to present homosexuality as a normal human orientation.
Impetuous church leaders, bemused by the homosexual lobby, will at once cry, "Foul; bigot, fundamentalist!" But what if I Corinthians 6:9-10 is really true? Then love and mercy abide with the Latvians who stay with the flock and warn of the consequences of disobedience.
Contrast their Lutheran biblical loyalty with the 80 some "reconciled in Christ" congregations in the ELCA which by resolution welcome into their membership practicing homosexuals,without any biblically-based warnings, reservations or conditions.
Staying Out of Politics
"Someone asked me recently," says Dr James Kennedy, world-famed speaker on the TV Coral Ridge Hour, "Do you really think that Christians should be involved in politics. Isn't that dirty business?" Kennedy said he first responded, "Yes, of course, you're absolutely right! Christians have no place in such a dirty business. We should leave it to the atheists and the secularists, so they can run the country their way. Otherwise you wouldn't have anything to complain about!"
Kennedy says, "My friend got the point and recognized that we must be involved in the dirty business of making the policies and setting the rules, whether we like it or not. Otherwise the wicked and the godless will be more than happy to do it for us."
Illegitimacy
Your editor can'thelp but wonder Is the ELCAclergy surfeited with illegitimate children? Seems like dozens of clergy can't name their own family. They sign their parish paper columns, "Pastor Bob," "Pastor Tom," "Pastor Jim." It can't be they are assistants or youth pastors, so happily distinguishing themselves from the older Senior pastor. For some of them are getting gray around the temples already, and their hip measurements make a cincture in the sanctuary a weekly marvel to behold. The only other person known in human history who didn't have a father was Joshua, the son of Nun. Maybe they are all aspiring Joshuas? Or just teen-age types who are embarassed by their fuddy-duddy parents? Or actually products of the 20th century's sexual revolution, and can't name their origins? Just wondering.
Never Me, But . . .
How about the notorious statement signed by 30 anti-abortion activists in regard to the murder of the Pensacola abortionist: "We proclaim that whatever force is legitimate to defend the life of a bom child is legitimate to defend the life of an unborn child." With the FBI hot on their trail, their plea was, as expressed by one of the activists, Michael Dodds: "I've been telling people it's a statement of belief rather than an endorsement. I would never consider doing anything like that myself," (Assoc. Press, 8/11/94).
How disturbingly similar to the "pro-choice" church people who are heard to say, "As a matter of belief, I personally would never have an abortion myself, but..."
Freedom and Discipline
One of the more devastating cliches being passed around these days by amateur pastoral counsellors, is that good old grandpa God is just too kind (or addle-headed?) to insist that His children be obedient to His law. After all, we believe in "grace," don't we?
AIDS or any other consequence of sin is entirely sanitized from the suspicion that the "wrath of God" is being played out. The wrath of God, which St. Paul in Romans I warns so earnestly against as "being revealed from heaven agaainst all ungodliness of men," is deliberately ignored. As this age-old heresy of good old grandpa God is piously passed around (see Romans 6:1 -2) the clear biblical understanding is forgotten that freedom in Christ exists only when there is obedience to Christ. 'Trust and obey, for there's no other way."
In our relativistic age where anything goes provided only you can "feel good about it," Zig Ziglar, the noted motivationalist, reminds us why religious and moral discipline make such adifference. "The sailor has freedom of the sea only when he has become aslave to the compass. Until he is obedient to the compass, he must stay within sight of the shore. Once he is obedient, he can go anywhere a sailing vessel will take him. When you take the train off the tracks, it's free, but it can't go anywhere. Man is very much the same way. Freedomùreal freedomùcomesonly when discipline becomes a way of life," (Quoted in Possibilities, 11/94, from his book, Over the Top).
Congratulations:
To Dr. Wm. Bragstad, whose careful and scholarly revisiting and reappraisal of the contemporary conventional dating and origins of the NewTestamentbooks has been publishedby the Concordia Theological Monthly (October 1994). Bragstad, erstwhile pastor of Messiah Church, Hayward, was an original board member of The Fellowship of Confessional Lutherans.
READER RESPONSES
Dear Editor:
Denmark is wonderful, and the International Church of Copenhagen, our congregation, is a constant source of encouragement and joy. The real tragedy is that the ELCA no longer sees this as a mission. This year is the ELCA's last to provide even minimal support to the congregation's budget. I fear the ELCA's dilemmas over the homosexual agenda and other disturbing issues are retarding the Church's mission to proclaim good news, here and elsewhere. God bless and prosper you in all that you do.
Dr. Richard Andersen, pastor,
International Church of Copenhagen
Dear Editor:
I'm not convinced that you are for the Holy Scripture and Lutheran Confessions as much as you are against gavs and lesbians. Just preach the Gospel; write about the grace of God and salvation in Christ alone.
Lon Flessner, San Marcos, TX
Dear Editor:
We wish to express our appreciation for the pertinent information published in your newsletter, most particularly, the article, "On Revising the Liturgy" [Ednote: dealing with the Minneapolis "Reimagining Conference", vol. 4. #4, Spring 1994]. It was shared and discussed at our monthly women's Bible study, Sunday morning adult Bible study, and midweek adult Bible study. The article elicited feelings ranging from anger and outrage to disbelief and fear. The article gave a factual and balanced presentation of the problems described, and served as a "wake-up call" to all of us. To voice our concern, we will forward a copy of the article, along with this letter, to the Churchwide office in Chicago, and the Sierra Pacific Synod office, as well as posting the article and letter on our church bulletin board.
26 Concerned Members of Trinity Church, Hollister, CA
Dear Editor:
I was disappointed in your eulogistic obituary for J.A.O. Preus. "...one or the most capable U.S. Lutheran leaders of this century." Hardly! Preus was a schismatic opportunist, and a thoroughly legalistic theologian. You are of course entitled to your opinion of Preus; but you should know that there are plenty of orthodox Lutherans who would heartily disagree with you.
Rev. David Preisinger, Rescue, CA
Dear Editor:
I am aware the hemorrhaging of the ELCA continues. I believe God will bless FOCL in your efforts to point us to Christ. I believe the teachers at Luther Seminary who have "gone to be with the Lord" would turn over in their graves if they could see what the ELCA looks like today. Unbelievable. The Lord Jesus must be coming very soon. I wish for you God's blessings in your important ministry.
Jan Hanson, Claresholm, Alberta
Dear Editor:
You write, "We need a united call to the Church to return to the life-empowering Holy Scriptures and its teachings." I could not agree more fully! However, the materials which I see coming out of Augsburg-Fortress, both the academic and devotional, will scarcely lead our people back to Jesus Christ. You address confessional Lutheransùwhy not do book reviews of confessional Lutheran authors? All people, including confessional Lutherans, need more of the Word than words about the Word. Carry on in His Name!
Pastor Norman Johnshoy, Fresno, CA.
Dear Editor:
My heart is uplifted by what you are doing. I started the Lutheran Legacy Newsletter which is mailed to parish pastors in North Carolina. Throughout the U.S. there are several grass roots organizations like the Fellowship of Confessional Lutherans. What we need is some kind of Cooperative Council where representatives (and perhaps all interested pastors) from these various groups can attend and exchange ideas and devise ways to coordinate our efforts. If such a convention were held, I would try to promote it and get pastors from North Carolina to attend. I am praying for you and asking God to multiply the harvest of your efforts.
Pastor Jack E Smith, Cherryville, NC.
D-DAY
by Mart De Haan*
During the night, Naval guns pounded shore installations. Paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines to disrupt communications. Then in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, 5000 Allied ships approached the channel coastline at low tide. Wave after wave of Allied forces hit the beaches of Normandy. By the end of the day 150,000 had gained a foothold in Hitler's occupied territory. Within 3 weeks, more than a million British, American and Canadian troops would land to begin the last drive to liberate Europe from the murderous grip of the Third Reich.
Another D-Day
Six months after the 50th anniversary of Normandy, we celebrated the 1994th anniversary of another D-Day. Although it was also the beginning of a campaign that would liberate millions from the most evil empire the world has ever known, this invasion of enemy-controlled space did not begin with the roar of amphibious troop carriers or the deafening explosions of incoming fire. It began with the cry of a newborn baby.
Through the unwitting actions of a godless king, and the confusion of a young couple whose dreams were interrupted by an unplanned pregnancy, heaven established a beachhead in Bethlehem. Thirty years later, that Son would sacrifice His own life to carry out the greatest liberation the world would ever know.
It was not the usual campaign. What group of huddled generals would have had the patience to begin with a baby? Who would have let their own future hang on the safety of a helpless child? The eternal lives of millions lay in the lap of a young woman and her bewildered husband. The eyes of Evil must have bulged at the Lord of the Universe, reduced to the length of a man's forearm, wrapped in swaddling clothes, spending dark Judean nights in the feeding trough of a donkey.
The Weakness of God
But whispering demons, and the armies of an ego-crazed Herod could not stomp out the life of a child destined to die on a Jerusalem Passover. Theweaknessof Godwouldtriumph over the strength of His strongest enemy. He would use a young woman. A baby. A Bethlehem feeding trough. AnEgyptian hideout. A boy from the other side of the tracks. The mockery of a trial, and the cruel execution of the last person in the universe deserving of death.
Through the weakness of a baby, God's strength wasmadeperfect Through weakness God showed that He is not threatened by emperors or empires. Through the weakness of Jesus, God became flesh and lived among us.
And God's Strength
Father, forgive us for thinking we need to be strong. Forgive us for thinking that by our strength we can protect ourselves from Your enemies. Give us the courage to live in the weakness of Your Son's example. As He was ignored, insulted and misunderstood, as He was threatened and hated and rejected, as He gave You the weakness of His prayers and His tears, let His mind be formed in us today. Loosen our clenched fists. Relax our fixed jaws. Bring a smile to our hearts as Your strength is once again made perfect in our weakness.
*De Haan is President of the Radio Bible Class Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. This article is reprintedfrom Times of Discovery. 54:12