This is the homily I preached at my mother's, Sara Beth Akre, memorial service on Friday, January 19th, 2018. Mom was 65 years old when she passed away. 

A couple of comments the note before reading:

1.) This is my written manuscript and it is written in a style for preaching not publication. Therefore, I apologize for any grammatical errors you find as your read this homily.

2.) When I preach a homily or a sermon I do not follow my manuscript word-for-word. I allow space for the Holy Spirit to lead me and guide me. Because of this, what I write doesn't always match up with what I spoke from the pulpit.

3.) the bracketed paragraphs are additions I made after the homily was preached. They contain information that I spoke about in my homily but didn't originally write down in my manuscript. These paragraphs are not verbatim, but a paraphrase of what I remember saying.

“ We just love your mom!” That was the phrase I heard quite a lot the first time I visited this church after my mother had been installed as the pastor back in the spring of 2001.  And, it was a phrase I heard a lot every time I came back to this church for a visit.  But, then again, it seemed like every church my mother served at as a pastor had this same opinion of her. 

[The call to my mother came when she was working as a journalist for a Spokane, WA newspaper when she was in her late 20’s. Mom had gotten highly involved in the ministry of the church she was attending, and it was clear through her work that the Holy Spirit had bigger plans for her. Mom was truly a pioneer, not just because she decided to travel east to the Midwest in order to pursue her seminary education, but also in the fact that back in the 1970’s it was highly uncommon for women to pursue the ministry and not so socially accepted. But when the Spirit called, no matter what challenges may have lied ahead, mom was ready to face them head on!] 

My mother Sara was ordained back in 1981 after having graduated Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque. She was one of the first 100 women to be ordained in the then American Lutheran Church, and even possibly in the entire nation. She spent 31 years as a parish pastor helping to guide people in their faith journeys, teaching them how to grow closer with God; how to live out their faith in daily life; helping them experience God’s grace through word and sacrament; and surrounding them with God’s love and compassion during challenging times. Through it all I know my mother touched the lives of many people through living out her call.

She also touched the lives of us children, Garrett, Jessamyn, and I through her love and care as our mother. I have fond memories of mom playing guitar and all of us kids singing Sunday School songs before bed. Mom also loved to take us to movies, and she and I loved to watch Star Trek together. One of the things I loved about mom was that she was always concerned about our feelings, and she would constantly check in with me to see how I was doing, especially if something was bothering me.


But as much I would love to stand here and talk about all the wonderful things about my mother, I cannot do that, for it wouldn’t be a true telling of mom’s story.  You see, my mother had a very troubled life, for throughout the second half of her life she battled with addiction.  Her first battle lasted 12 years as she struggled with Bulimia. From there it turned to overeating as these addictions would trick my mother by temporarily relieving the deep pain she felt from her depression.  But none of these were as bad as her addiction to alcohol.  Each of these addictions stole my mother from me and my siblings, but by far the alcohol was the worst.

It was back in 2007 when I lost my mother to alcoholism. She was already an alcoholic by then, but that was when she left the family for good as she headed out west to a new parish in Cut Bank, MT. Over the next 10 or so years, the things alcohol made my mother do were despicable, and slowly my mother began to burn bridge after bridge with her ministry, with her friends, with her family, as the alcohol continued to convince her that the only thing that mattered was the next drink.  And as the alcohol continued to exert its control over my mother, she began to sink into a deep darkness which eventually led her to  a sense of hopelessness, despair, and even a loss of faith.

But no matter how much the alcohol tried to distance my mother away from everything, God never stopped searching for her. You see, throughout the past 10 years mom had tried, on 5 different occasions, to break free of alcohol’s influence by choosing to go to rehab. Deep down inside of her there was an unquenchable drive to receive healing and become whole once more; to reclaim her true identity back from the alcohol. I believe she had this drive because God would not stop searching her out; God would not relent in reminding my mom who she truly was—baptized, beloved child of God.

The day after my mom’s death, my sister Jessamyn found a notepad with what I call my mom’s last confession. The notepad was part of my mother’s most recent rehab experience, as the pages are filled with writings based on the 12 step program. While a lot of what my mom wrote was difficult to read, confessing all the ways alcohol had interfered with her life and the lives of her loved ones, she also wrote some very honest things that made me realize that God had found her once again. In one of her assignments she needed to write about how a higher power was going to help her regain control from the alcohol. As my mother wrote she explained how alcohol had caused her to lose her faith and how difficult it was for her to believe in a higher power. But then she started talking about the ways she has come to experience the higher power in her healing through the smiles of her grandson; the members of her AA group, and the counselors that were helping her get through it. While mom, wasn’t sure what to call this higher power anymore, it was clear that she had recognized its work through others whom were walking with her on her journey of healing. God had embraced her through the care of others!


But what has truly convinced me that God relentlessly sought my mother out to help her reclaim her true identity, it was the way she looked as I viewed her dead body in the funeral home this past Saturday. I cannot explain it, but there was this look of peace on her face that told me all of her burdens, all of her demons, had finally been taken away from her. Her face didn’t look sickly anymore, it didn’t look hopeless, it looked as if she was resting on the shoulder’s of Jesus after a weary journey. As I gazed at her face, I knew that my mother didn’t die alone. I am certain that in her final moments, she saw Jesus. And the look on her face conveyed to me that when she saw Jesus, her final thought was: “You found me.” And Jesus’ reply was, “Of course, I never stopped looking.”


While my mother failed to regain control over the alcohol in this life, what is good news for me, and hopefully for you too, is that in the end the alcohol couldn’t hide her from Jesus. The alcohol didn’t get the final say, nor did ever gain full control, for in the end Jesus came and raised my mother to a resurrection free from the demons of alcohol. Now, because she is forever with Jesus, there is nothing that can sink my mother back down into darkness, for her tomb has been burst open with the Light of Christ, and the darkness has been swallowed up by his light! 

And this is good news, for it means that there is nothing in this world, no matter how hard it tries to distance us and plunge us into darkness, there is nothing in this world that can separate us from Jesus. Jesus will never stop searching us out; never stop finding us; and never stop finding ways to bring us healing and wholeness. 


[And so I stand here on this very emotional day, missing my mother, but assured and relieved that her burdens have indeed been lifted; that Jesus again restored her to her true identity, beloved child of God; and that even though we must remember the darkness of addiction that stole my mother and created heart ache for the rest of us in the process, we can leave here truly knowing that mom is now at peace, resting on the shoulders of Jesus, free from the darkness, and resurrected to the beautiful and wonderful woman she God created her to be. Amen.]

  

It's about acting with love...no matter who you voted for...

So, after the election on Tuesday, I have heard people happy that the change they are seeking will, in their opinion, finally be happening. I have also heard people that are very saddened by the election because they are worried that the rights and freedoms of minorities in our country will be trampled upon by a Republican controlled congress and presidency.  Both feelings are legitimate.

However, while I have concerns about Donald Trump being our 45th president, what is really causing me concern right now is the way some people are reacting to his election.  There have been stories shared on different platforms of media that reference people ripping off hijabs off of Muslims, people placing letters of hate on the windshields of LGTBQ men and women, and others yelling hateful things at black people.  This is NOT okay.

You see, while most of the people I know voted for Donald Trump merely because they are wanting to see some change to trade, the economy, and other reasonable political issues (and know that I do not hate you or hold a grudge against you), there people in this country who voted for Donald Trump because his speeches gave them the freedom and the power  to practice hate towards blacks, LGTBQ, Muslims, and other minorities in our country, since many of his speeches expressed hatred and capitalized on fear towards these groups. These speeches gave voice to many different hate groups and white supremacists in our country; groups such as the KKK, who endorsed Trump for president.  These people are now carrying out actions of hate because Trump’s speeches, in their understanding, gave them permission to do so, and now even more so that he is now president-elect.

Like I said, most people I know did not vote for Trump because of his hateful views on minorities, but nonetheless these hate groups and supremacists are now acting as if it is okay to spread hatred and fear over minorities in our country because of the power that Donald Trump (knowingly or unknowingly) gave them, and this feeling has most likely tripled because Donald Trump has been elected to the highest office in the land.

Firstly, let me say that, if you voted for Trump, I do not hate you and I do not hold you responsible for the hate groups and supremacists that are currently terrorizing minorities in this country.  You are not responsible for the actions of those who were looking for an excuse to continue hating those different from them.

However, it is my hope that, no matter who you voted for in this election, you will NOT tolerate any hate or fear mongering towards minorities in this country.  It is my hope that we will all work together to protect the rights of blacks, LGTBQ, Muslims, and others.  It is my hope that we will continue to strive for justice and peace for all people in this country no matter what race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender, or economic status they identify with.  It is my hope that we will continue to act with love towards neighbor and enemy.

As I said in a Facebook status on the night of election day, right now we need to be the church that shines the light of Christ in the darkness.  We need to be the church that continues to promote Jesus’ gospel of love for ALL people!  We need to be the church that strives for justice and peace by speaking out against any and all hate groups as well as letting our elected officials know that we believe in equal rights for all minorities, for that promotes God’s love in the world.  We need to be the church that prays for Donald Trump and other elected officials so that they will govern our nation with God’s wisdom and love.  We need to be the church that will advocate for those being oppressed, and who will take it upon ourselves to use the power and privilege we have to educate others on how to be more open and accepting to people who are different from them.  This is the church we need to be in our world today, for this is the church Christ has freed us to be, and this is the church that Christ will use to promote love and not hate in the world.

Donald Trump, in his victory speech, talked of a need for our nation to come together.  I agree, but only in the sense that we come together to love each other and fight for the rights of all people in our country.  As long as we act out of posture of love and mutuality, this country will continue to grow and thrive.  After all, the reality of God’s kingdom hasn’t changed, and we get to help others more fully realize that reality; the reality that the true power that rules the cosmos is God’s love.

See you in the conversation,
Pastor Zach

Why Attacking Colin Kaepernick is Un-American

There are a lot of people upset over Colin Kaepernick’s actions this past Friday evening when he chose to remain seated during the singing of the National Anthem before the San Francisco 49er’s vs. the Green Bay Packers preseason football game.  A lot of people are upset because they feel Kaepernick’s actions are disrespectful to the flag, what it represents, and to our country.  And, because of his actions, many people have taken to social media in order to tear him down and attack him for his actions. 

Here is one example of such an awful attack:

Now, firstly, let me say that I fully understand why the flag is important to many people in our country.  I understand that it represents the wonderful freedoms that we cherish (even take for granted at times) as citizens of the United States of America. I understand that our flag is also a reminder of the cost that our military veterans have paid to ensure our freedoms. I also understand how the flag can represent a healthy pride for our country.  I too get excited to see our flag raised at the Olympics when an American has medaled in their event.  For these reasons I understand why some people are upset at Kaepernick.

However, what has really bothered me about this whole thing is the fact that Americans have been so quick to judgment and attack that they haven’t even stopped to consider why Kaepernick acted this way in the first place.  How many of you actually knew that Kaepernick chose to do this as a statement to raise awareness to the fact that for many people of color the flag doesn’t represent freedom but oppression.  It is hard to believe, but people of color in our country are still racially profiled and are oppressed because of it.  They do not feel like they have the same freedoms as white Americans do in this country.

But, instead of listening to Kaepernick’s reasons and trying to understand them, most Americans are demanding that he treat the flag from the white, privileged American point of view.  They demand that he respect the flag, totally forsaking his feelings on the matter.  It is the equivalent of demanding that a spouse remain in a physically abusive relationship simply because she is supposed to “respect” her man. 

This is a problem that runs rampant in our country.  Because of our society is highly individual and very egocentric, we refuse to listen to another person’s point of view.  We refuse to acknowledge that perhaps there is more than one opinion on a topic or more than one point of view.  We demand that people see things “our way” and we will attack them if they don’t agree with us. 

Have you ever stopped to think that the freedoms that our flag represent actually give Kaepernick the right to take a stand against it?  What our flag represents is the freedom to stand in reverence of it or to stand against it because of the injustice that is still happening to minorities in our country.  To stand in blind obedience to the flag is to turn it into an idol and to forsake the freedoms our country was founded on.  Demanding that Kaepernick respect the flag is acting from a dictator’s point of view and not a democratic point of view.

You see, I feel that most people in this country forget that freedom for everyone means that you can only go as fast as the car driving in front of you.  In other words, your freedom stops when it begins to oppress the freedoms of others.  What Americans have been doing to Colin Kaepernick has further oppressed him and the people of color he is representing to him.  Demanding that Kaepernick respect the flag is oppressing his right to stand against it.

It is okay to disagree with Kaepernick as long as you are willing to understand his position and respect it without demanding that he only act from your point of view.  After all, how would you feel if someone demanded that you respect a symbol that has caused you pain and suffering?  In my mind Kaepernick is acting as a true American.  Someone who understands that the freedoms he has been given allows him to stand against the flag when that flag represents an injustice that is still happening to people of color in this country. 

God created our world to be diverse.  This means that there will always be differing opinions and disagreements between peoples.  However, God also created us to be in community with each other.  This means that the only way our community will remain strong is if we are willing to listen to each other with the intention to understand, not rebuttal.  Perhaps, after listing to Kaepernick you still won’t agree with him; however, you may find that you have come to a deeper understanding of why he chose to remain seated during the National Anthem.  And in that understanding, you may find that Kaepernick isn’t being un-American (or a child), but rather a true American who speaks out, exercising his first amendment right, in order to bring to light an issue that our country continues to ignore or act like it doesn’t exist.  At the very least, perhaps you will see him as a child of God and realize that no person deserves to be treated the way Americans have treated Kaepernick.  After all, Christ promises that it is love which ties us all together and makes us strong.

Peace and blessings,

Pastor Zach    

The Disturbing Thing You Missed During Chris Rock's Monologue

So last night during the 88^th Academy Awards, comedian Chris Rock, in his opening monologue, decided to tackle the hot button issue of racism in Hollywood that has caused this year’s Academy Awards to be so controversial.  While making several good points—the need for movie studios to consider black actors and actresses for more prominent roles in movies—Chris spoke about racism in Hollywood in a very charming and funny way that filled the whole house with laughter.  Like the guy who jokes at a funeral luncheon to cheer everyone up, Chris did a good job of lightening the mood for the rest of the Oscars.

However, there was one thing in his monologue that Christ said that actually disturbed me.  It disturbed me because of the way the crowd reacted to what he said.  So what was said?  Well, he said this: “I’m sure there were no black nominees some of those years. Say ‘62 or ‘63, and black people did not protest.  Why? Because we had real things to protest at the time, you know? We had real things to protest; you know, we’re too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won best cinematographer. You know, when your grandmother’s swinging from a tree, it’s really hard to care about best documentary foreign short.”

 

The reason this part of Chris’ monologue disturbed me had nothing to do with what he said, but the fact that the crowd laughed it off as a joke.  Now, in their defense, Chris delivered these sentences in a very comedic way with the intention of getting laughter as a response.  However, how can we laugh at something that isn’t funny?  I’m sorry, but the lynching of black people and the raping of black people throughout the history of our country is not funny, and to laugh at it is to make light of the seriousness of those crimes against the black community.

This reaction also disturbed me because it also downplays the reality that racism and violence towards the black community is still prevalent today.  To laugh it off as a joke is to send a message that we, as a society, aren’t going to take this seriously and it is okay to act with racism and violence as long as we can have a good giggle about it afterwards!”  But since it comes from the mouth of a black man we can laugh, right?!  Wrong!

Yes, I know that comedians are supposed to say controversial things in order to get laughs out of people.  In many ways, comedians will say truthful things that need to be said, but because they say them in a funny way that makes us all laugh, we can make light of them like they don’t really matter.  I feel that comedians are really prophets in disguise.

What is probably most disturbing about this is the fact that, to me, this signifies that we as a country don’t want to face up to our problems.  We would rather face the truth through jokes and laughter so we can discredit it as something we need to address and deal with.  Now, don’t get me wrong, comedy has its place and I love going and listening to comedians rant about how life can be hilarious at times.  However, no one can deny that it is hard to take something seriously when we all laugh at it like a joke. 

It makes me wonder if we have so separated ourselves from the violence and the hatred in our country that all we do now is laugh when someone brings it up.  Maybe its all we think we can do?  Maybe its how we cope with it.  Maybe, if we can laugh at it, we can remove some of the shame and the guilt of our indifference.  Whatever the reason, we would much rather someone like Chris Rock give us a joke about our problems rather than sit down and have an honest discussion about them. 

 

See you in the conversation,

Pastor Zach

Expanding Valentine's Day Beyond Hugs and Kisses

Ahh, it’s Valentine’s Day.  A day of sweet romance.  A day to let the one you love know how much you appreciate them and how you just couldn’t possibly live without them.  It’s a day to give each other flowers, chocolates, and cheesy cards that say things like “I wuv you,” or “you’re as sweet as honey.”  Anyone sticking their tongue out yet?

Now, don’t get me wrong, I think it is always a good idea to appreciate those cherished ones in our lives that show us plenty of love and affection and who are there to support and comfort us when life becomes quite challenging.  And, I have nothing against doing something nice for your loved one either (although perhaps that “I wuv you” card isn’t the best thing we could do to show our appreciation).  However, When I see the commercialization of Valentine’s Day and when I hear people talk about it, it is clear to me that Valentine’s day (to a lot of people) has a narrow focus of romantic love.  The holiday, as portrayed, is all about attempts to court a romantic partner, or attempts to get your romantic partner in bed for some “loving,” if you get my drift.  Unfortunately, this is such a narrow view of love, and it is one that causes a lot of people to despise this holiday.

What would it look like if St. Valentine’s Day was a day where we focused on broadening the world’s understanding of love?  What if today was a day to go out and spend time with a person who is a widow or widower and homebound; or a patient all alone at the hospital; or sharing a meal with a homeless person at a soup kitchen in addition to sharing love with our partners, friends, and families?  What if we used some of that money we spent on chocolates, flowers, and cards to support organizations that feed the hungry, provide homes for the poor, and advocate for the marginalized?  What would it look like if we spent some of our time together writing letters to congress, advocating for justice for the poor, or volunteered our time at an organization who lobbies for the end to unjust systems that promote racism?  How would people view this holiday different if we celebrated it by hosting anti-bullying workshops?

There are so many ways that we can expand our definition of love—love for neighbor, love for stranger, love even for enemies—by surpassing the commercialized way of celebrating Valentine’s day.  And, honestly, loving and caring for others outside of our sweethearts, friends, and families through acts of service is a way that we can expand the definition of love throughout the entire year! 

Of course, what is the best part about doing this is the fact that, as we love and serve others we build relationships with them.  As we build relationships with them we begin to see the goodness and sacredness in them.  Soon, we begin to see Christ in them.  As we recognize Christ in all people, there is now way we would allow any kind of oppression or injustice to continue, no matter who it is happening to.    

So, yes, celebrate Valentine’s Day and show that special someone how much you love and appreciate them; but then, go out and spread some love to others, so that this holiday becomes all about love for all the world!

See you in the conversation,

Pastor Zach

 

 

What a True Christian Candidate Is and Isn't

If you are planning on caucusing in Iowa tonight, or you are planning on attending a caucus or primary in your local state, wherever that may be, and you happen to be Christian and want to caucus/vote for a candidate who has Christian morals, please read what I have written below, especially if you want a candidate with true Christian morals (whew! Long sentence!). 

Now, there are several candidates that consider themselves to be Christian and to have “Christian morals.”  Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, and the Donald come to mind; although, I’m sure there are others in either party who claim to be Christian.  And, while some of these candidates say they have “Christian morals,” they make statements against welcoming the neighbor and the stranger; they don’t value life (unless you’re a fetus) as they promote the death penalty and are against any kind of gun control; they would rather cut off the poor from food (yes, not every poor person is a lowlife who takes advantage of the system), but allow the very rich to get out of paying thousands of dollars in much needed tax dollars; When it comes to social justice issues, like racism, they sweep it under the rug as if we don’t have a problem; finally much of their campaigns are fear driven and are not faithful to God’s abundance, grace, and love.  Does this sound Christian to you?

Being a Christian means that we place our trust, our faith, and our allegiance in Christ Jesus.  No, not Moses, not Abraham, not St. Peter, nor St. Paul, but to Jesus (for Jesus is God!).  This means that to follow Christian morals and beliefs is to follow the teachings and actions of Jesus.  And, if you actually read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), you will see that a lot of the candidates that say they have “Christian morals,” don’t actually have any (or very few) Christian morals!

How do I know this?  Well, when you read the gospels (and please, actually read them if you haven’t!) you will discover that Jesus welcomed the stranger, the neighbor, and the foreigner (Luke 10:25-37); that Jesus values all life (Luke 23:39-43); that Jesus calls for us to care for the poor (Matthew 25:31-46); that Jesus calls for justice of those oppressed (Mark 10:46-52); and that Jesus is about spreading love, not fear (John 13:34-35). 

So, when you go out and caucus/vote for a Christian candidate with Christian morals, make sure you are caucusing/voting for a candidate who wants to care for the poor and give freedom to the oppressed; who wants to welcome neighbor, stranger, and foreigner; who wants to place the lives of people above the right to kill or carry a weapon in public; who will fight against injustice whether it is racial, economic, social, etc…; and who will lead with love, compassion, and is intent upon peace.  These are true Christian morals.  Any candidate who talks about hate, discrimination, rejection, being unwelcome to outsiders, wanting to use lethal force in any way; and thinks we need to cut benefits to the poor are candidate who do not have Christian morals. 

Happy caucusing/voting!

Pastor Zach

The War on Christmas...It's Not About Coffee Cups!

Whelp, we’ve all probably heard about and seen the new red Starbucks coffee cups.   We’ve also heard certain extremist Christian groups claiming to the world that this is another “war on Christmas.”  However, as a Christian, I can tell you that there isn’t really a war on Christmas (well there is, but it is not because of the lack of holiday symbols on coffee cups, or the fact that it is politically correct to say “Happy Holidays” over “Merry Christmas,” or even the fact that public places like a county courthouse front lawn can no longer have a nativity scene, but more on this later; keep reading!).  All this “war on Christmas” business has more to do with power and supremacy than an attack on a certain religion.

When these Christian extremists cry out in outrage over Starbuck’s attack on Christmas by not placing holiday symbols on their cups this year (yes, that’s what is pissing them off; and, by the way, the symbols are of stockings and candy canes of things of that nature, not religious symbols like the nativity or the cross), what they are really saying is, “We think the only religion that anybody should believe is Christianity!  Our religion is superior to all others.  All other religions are worthless and wrong!”  I can tell you that I don’t agree with this, nor do I think it is true. 

Firstly, to declare that Christianity is the only “true religion” is to place God in a box.  Now don’t get me wrong, as a Christian I strongly believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and is the means that leads me to God, as well as the means that leads me to salvation.  However, to say that this is the only way that God can bring people salvation or lead people to God would be very short sided on my part.  God is far beyond my understanding or any human understanding.  God can’t be placed in a box.  We cannot put human limitations on God.  This is really part of having faith.  The mysteries of God are so beyond us that it leads us to continue to seek out God so that we can more fully understand this God who loves us beyond measure, and (from a Christian point of view) became human in order to reconcile humanity back to God.  But to say that God can only save through Christ is to place a limitation on God.  For me it’s a both/and understanding.  God indeed saves through Christ, but perhaps God saves in other ways (and through other religions) too.  

Secondly, and more politically, no one religion can hinder another religion in this country.  To make everything about Christmas is to infringe on this right of all people in the United States.  And I don’t buy the argument that not having a Christmas tree in your store or having a lack of holiday symbols on a coffee cup infringes upon Christianity; just as working with a LGTBQ person isn’t an infringement upon Christianity.  Why do I believe this?  Well, because in the Old and New Testaments there are passages that talk about loving and respecting neighbors and enemies (Leviticus 19:34; Luke 10:25-37 for example).  To force Christianity on someone or to declare that you cannot work because of a LGTBQ person is not loving or respecting neighbor and downright not Christian!  JESUS IS ALWAYS ABOUT LOVE AND RESPECT!!!

Thirdly, there is a war on Christmas, but it has more to do with the fact that Christmas has become way too commercialized!  Santa Claus has become the idol for Christmas.  Black Friday has become the new worship.  Presents have become the new hope we long for this time of year.  And the worse part about this is that, for most Christians, we buy into commercialized Christmas!  We convince ourselves that you cannot have a “perfect” Christmas without a tree and lots of decorations, presents under that tree that stack up to the ceiling, a huge amount of Christmas cookies and other goodies, and Santa Claus (which, by the way, the Santa we have come to know in our modern age was actually an invention of Coca-Cola.  Notice his suit looks an awful lot like a coke can/bottle.). 

All of this war on Christmas that has to do with pointless symbols and idols is, in fact, causing a war on Christmas because it is taking away from what Christmas is all about.  Christmas is about the amazing gift of God’s grace that penetrates humanity.  It is about the incarnation; God taking on human flesh.  It is about our invulnerable God taking on vulnerability in order to forever and intimately connect us with God.  It is about understanding the magnitude of that gift and how it transforms us, through its love for us, to give of ourselves to each other.  As I have seen on Facebook memes, “If you want to put the ‘Christ’ back in Christmas, feed the hungry, cloth the naked, care for the sick, and visit the prisoner.”  In other words, LOVE EACH OTHER!!!

So, if you’re going to fight the war on Christmas, do what Starbucks did.  Starbucks, in response to the red cups, donated $350,000 to Lutheran World Relief.  In other words, if you really want to fight the war on Christmas, give of yourself, out of love, in some way this holiday season.  For in doing that, you are proclaiming the hope and love that we find in Christ’s birth.

See you in the conversation,

Pastor Zach

Jesus Politics...It's Not What You Think!

So, this past Tuesday was Election Day, and it got me thinking about the church and politics.  Now, I know several people who believe that the church and politics should stay separate entities.  These people commonly use the phrase, “after all, Jesus wasn’t a politician.”  However, there are also several people who think that the church’s “morals” and beliefs should guide any politician’s agenda.  So, which one should the church follow?  Should the church stay out of politics or guide political agendas?

Well, before I answer these questions, I want to make one thing clear.  Following Jesus is a political statement!  To be a follower of Jesus is to live a certain way and act a certain way towards others.  This is why we consider Christianity to be a lifestyle.  But, by claiming Jesus as Lord, you are also saying that Jesus is the one you’re loyal to and who you are willing to follow.  Jesus is your ruler!  When claiming to be a follower of Jesus, you are claiming that, above all else, you will follow Jesus and not any other government.

Now, I realize that my last sentence is a loaded one.  I also realize that people could misinterpret that statement to mean that Christianity trumps government, which could open up a whole can of nasty worms.  For example, it is this kind of thinking that has caused the whole Kim Davis controversy.  It is this kind of thinking that has caused some politicians to try and use Christianity as a means to oppress others.  They state that they are “following Jesus,” but, really, they are just oppressing others and casting fear to gain power.

To be a true political follower of Jesus is to act exactly like Jesus acted when he roamed the earth.  To be a true political follower of Jesus is to sit and eat with those society has cast aside—prison inmates, the poor, the mentally ill, the LGTBQ community, black people, the woman who had an abortion, people who have gone through divorce, and all those who are oppressed or stripped of power.  It is to love every single person (including our enemies!).  The be a political follower of Jesus is to speak out against oppressive systems that take advantage of other people; to work for peace instead of violence; to value all life above everything else. 

There are conservative politicians out there that talk about making America a Christian nation once again, founded on Christian morals.  Firstly, America was never a Christian nation.  Yes, it was founded by Christian puritans who felt the Church of England had become too Catholic; but, it was made clear in the development of our constitution that our forefathers wanted a land where anyone was free to practice their religion without consequences or punishment.  Secondly, when these politicians talk about Christian morals, they aren’t actually talking about following Jesus.  If they were, then they would have political platforms that dealt more with destroying financial systems that make the rich richer and everyone else poorer; they would be for finding alternatives to mass incarceration; they would be for equal rights for LGTBQ families; they would fight of systems of racism; and they would do everything to promote life for all of creation. 

 Most conservative politicians out there who claim to be Christian and that their faith guides their political agenda are actually using Christianity in a wrongful and hurtful way.  They aren’t living by true Christian politics, but by their own agendas and then using them under the guise of Christianity in order to gain votes and power.  I believe, back in Jesus’ time, he referred to these people as “vipers.” 

 So, as you continue to decide on which candidates to vote for in 2016, just remember, unless candidates are trying to fight systems of oppression; doing what they can to help the poor; supporting the rights of all people; working for peace; and promoting life for all of creation (including all of the earth!); they are not being followers of Jesus, and therefore are not truly using Christianity to guide their political agendas.

*THIS MESSAGE WAS BROUGHT YOU BY THE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS POLITICAL CAMPAIGN!*

See you in the conversation,

Pastor Zach

 

Halloween is a Christian Holiday!!

So tomorrow evening is All Hallow’s Eve, or, as we know it today, Halloween.  I have always had mixed feelings about this holiday.  On the one hand, it is a fun holiday where kids can go trick-or-treating, where fun parties occur, and where people can dress up and make-believe.  I, of course, am a big fan of Halloween candy!  On the other hand, what I don’t like about Halloween are those who use the holiday as an excuse to cause mischief and chaos; those that use it for purposes of frightening others for a laugh. 

The interesting thing about Halloween is that its origins come out of the Celtic druid tradition over 3,000 years ago.  The Celtic culture would celebrate a day called Souan.  This was a day when the Celtics believed nature was changing from summer to winter; the last day of the harvest.  It was believed that, on this day, the spirits of those who died in the past year would roam the earth.  They believed some spirits to be mischievous and so they would offer the spirits treats and gifts to appease them so they wouldn’t stay and “haunt” you.

As the Romans conquered northern Europe, the Souan festival along with the Roman celebration of the Harvest began to merge.  Because it was a Pagan festival, the Catholic Church tried to convert Pagans by turning the holiday into a religious event.  Thus the Church created All Saints day.  The night before All Saints was known as All Hallow’s Eve, because, to be hallowed was considered to be holy. Later, the Church also added All Souls day to commemorate all those who had died, since pagan tradition was big on celebrating all the dead, not just the “holy” dead.

Today, obviously, Halloween is more about dressing up and having fun.  However, there are still people out there that want to use Halloween as a way to “worship” evil and create Chaos.  Unfortunately, there are Christian churches out there who also do this.  There are a lot of conservative Christian churches who will host a “Hell House,” on Halloween.  The hope is that that they will scare you into becoming a follower of Jesus.  Hell houses will often show you scenes of punishment for people who behaved badly in their lives (ex: a murder in an electric chair; a woman in hell for having an abortion; a nonbeliever’s eternal torment). 

It is my opinion that these “Christian” hell houses are probably one of the most evil things that comes out of Halloween.  Jesus never tried to scare people into following him.  Yes, Jesus did mention that there could be consequences for placing other idols above God, but Jesus never condemned anyone to hell.  Instead, Christ acted out of love.  Yes, he got mad, but it was because people were placing the Law above love. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I think Halloween is worth celebrating, but not because we need to scare people into following Christ, or we need to scare people in general.  I think Halloween needs to be celebrated because it gives children a chance to play and make-believe.  But, more importantly, I also think Halloween should be celebrated because its origins are in connecting our world with the spirit world; the dead.  We do this not because we believe in spirits roaming the earth (not anymore for a lot of us), but because we believe in life.  We believe in life after death.  Halloween can be a celebration of life!  It can be a reminder to us that there is life after death and that life is found in Christ Jesus. 

So, put on your costume, take the kids trick-or-treating, go to that Halloween party, and remember that this holiday is a celebration of the dead; a celebration of life after death! 

See you in the conversation,

Pastor Zach

Have We Turned the Church into a Business?

So I have to come clean and admit that I have been struggling with my ecclesiology (my understanding of the function of the church) lately.  Article 7 of the Augsburg Confession, which is part of our Lutheran confessions/doctrine (see Book of Concord), states: “The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the gospel is rightly taught and the sacraments are rightly administered.”  Now, while I believe this statement to be the true identity of the Christian Church, I feel like a lot of churches in the United States are not operating with this understanding.  In fact, I feel that a lot of churches in this country are operating under a business model instead of a gospel model.

Business model?  I’m really beginning to question of what is the true goal of churches in the United States.  Now, I realize I’m generalizing here and hopefully not all churches function this way (I’m certainly trying to keep the church I serve at from functioning as a business), but I also know that I have heard many a pastor and congregation talk about growth from a business standpoint instead of a gospel standpoint.

 So what do I mean by a business model?  Well, a lot of churches have to measure their success by tangible numbers of members.  One of the questions I frequently get asked from other pastors and church goers is: “So, how big is your church?”  That’s it.  We are asked to measure success by the amount of active members we have at our churches.  The more active members you have, the more successful you are considered to be as a church.  And, obviously, the more active members you have, the more money your church can use for various programs in order to draw more people into the church.  So, lots of members = successful ministry!

Because this is how many churches view success, we have turned the Church’s mission into a business model where the main goal is to “convert” more people to become loyal to the Church; more specifically, “my church.”  Like a successful ad campaign, the more we can entice people to the programs of our church, the more likely they will “buy into” our church.  And, of course, the more people we have, the more elaborate our advertising (a.k.a. our programs) can be.  The more money we can spend on awesome and fun programs, the more people we will get to buy into our church.  There’s a pretty big (in terms of membership) nondenominational church in my community that offers a summer Bible school program where children can learn horseback riding while learning about God.  How cool is that?!  Who wouldn’t want to bring their child to that program?  Only here’s the question, would they still come if you took away the horseback riding?

So, what’s the problem, don’t we want to “convert” more people to Christ?  Our calling as a church has always been to proclaim the gospel to all whom we meet through conversation and action.  The purpose of doing this is to make others aware of the good news that we all have been freed from the punishment of sin and death through Christ’s death and resurrection.  The Holy Spirit uses us (which we are the church) in order to bring others to God through the proclamation of the gospel.  This should be the sole focus of the church.

The problem with putting so much emphasis on programs in order to get people to “buy into” our church (and I mean our individual churches, not the Christian Church in general) is that the focus of the church becomes all about growing the membership, “putting butts in seats” as the saying goes.  We turn the church into a business organism where the mission becomes about fueling the church’s membership, so that “my church” can last the test of time.

A lot of churches who are struggling to maintain membership numbers in order to keep their budgets in the black aren’t afraid of not being able to proclaim the gospel anymore (although, again, I’m generalizing from experience and I’m sure there are those out there who don’t want to close because they still feel called to proclaim the gospel), but they are afraid that they will lose their church building and their faith community.  They are afraid that their business-church will close.  So, they do all they can to encourage more people to join and give money to the church so that it can survive!  Like the stock market, the more investors you can get to buy into your business the more capital you will have to help your business grow.

But here’s the thing, Jesus never asked us to grow our churches.  Instead, Jesus has always asked us to go out and proclaim the good news to people; to proclaim the gospel!  This is the sole purpose of church—to share with the world the freedom we have in the gospel proclamation!  Because of this, the church’s mission has never been about creating more members; it has always been about sharing the gospel (a.k.a. God’s love) with all people. 

This means that, as a church, we need to move away from the business model and once again embrace the mission of going out a sharing the gospel with people, as well as gathering together to share in the sacraments, God’s physical means of grace, each week through the liturgy.  Success shouldn’t be measured by how many seats you fill at worship or how many people are in your Christian Education programs, but by how well we are proclaiming the gospel to others and how well we are building Christ-centered relationships with each other.

But what if my church closes?  I recognize that it can be hard to think about the fact that a church might have to close someday, especially if it was the church you grew up in.  Part of the gift of a faith community is the relationships we build with our church family members.  It can be hard to think that there could come a day where the church family we cherish will no longer exist.  However, I have two thoughts on this matter.  Firstly, we must remember that it isn’t “our” church, but it is God’s church.  Just because the church we grew up in might close does not mean that God’s church has died.  God has great plans instore for the whole Christian church.  This is why, in the ELCA at least, when a church closes we call it the completion of the church’s mission.  Their mission is complete, but other church’s still have a mission to carry on.  Because of this, when a church closes, it should be viewed as a thing to celebrate (even though it is at the same time a powerful loss that causes much grief).  This also gives people, who were at the congregation that closed, the opportunity to bring their gifts and talents to another faith community so that the mission of the whole Christian Church can continue.

Secondly, if we are so afraid of our church closing that we spend a lot of time and money getting people to buy into our church through programs, then do we really trust that God has a purpose for the church?  Focusing on just proclaiming the gospel and building Christ-centered relationships is a huge act of faith.  It causes us to put the growth into God’s hands and let God take lead.  This can be really scary (especially if you’re a control freak!).  Yet, it is also freeing to know that God is in charge and that any growth we experience is really up to God.  All we have to do is go out and proclaim the gospel and build Christ-centered relationships, we then trust that God will do God’s thing and transform the hearts of others (yes, through us!).  After all, who are we loyal to; the gospel or “my church?”  I would like to think it is the gospel.

 

See you in the conversation,
Pastor Zach

What Jesus Really Says About Divorce

The gospel text for last week was Mark 10:2-16, which tells the story of some Pharisees coming to Jesus and asking him how he viewed the law on divorce.  There were two schools of thought back then; the first school believed that a man could only divorce his wife in the case of adultery.  The other school was much more relaxed and felt that a man could divorce his wife for any reason.  Because of the latter school of thought, Moses listed in the law, in the book of Deuteronomy (cf. Deut. 24:1-4), that a man could issue his wife a certificate of divorce and divorce her.  The certificate was to certify that the woman hadn’t committed adultery and could be remarried.

Now, when the Pharisees asked Jesus what his interpretation of the law was (after all, Pharisees love to debate the meaning and intent of God’s law!), Jesus gave a radical answer in saying, “Because of your hardness of heart [Moses] wrote this commandment for you,” (Mar. 10:5b).  Then Jesus goes on to teach them and the disciples about how God created marriage to be a good gift and that the hardness of human hearts had twisted it and turned it into something hurtful.  Does this statement from Jesus mean that he abhors anyone who has been divorced?

It is my opinion that the answer to this question is no.  I don’t think Jesus was speaking about divorce itself, but rather the way a man could be free to divorce his wife for any reason, even if he didn’t like the way she looked.  Women couldn’t divorce their husbands if they didn’t like their husbands, for women were considered property.  Only men held the power to divorce, and Moses’ law made it easy for a man to divorce his wife for any reason.

But what about verses 10-12, when the disciples ask Jesus for further interpretation?  Most New Testament scholars believe that these two verses were not original to Mark’s gospel but a later addition.  This means that a scribe, at a later time, decided to add in his own interpretation to Mark’s story.  So, in my opinion, verses 10-12 are a human interpretation added later to try and make it more clear what Jesus was teaching.  This happens frequently in the gospels, especially with the more difficult teachings of Jesus.

So what is Jesus saying about divorce?  Well, if we go back to Genesis 2, we know that God created Adam and that Adam wanted a companion.  God brought Adam every creature that had been created, but none of them were a suitable companion for him.  Because of this, God placed Adam in a deep sleep and then God performed surgery and made woman out of a pair of Adam’s ribs.  God did this so that Adam would have a companion to love and journey through life with.  Out of love, God gave Adam a companion.

The original intent of God was that we humans would come together and be companions to each other; that two people could join in union together and start a family together.  However, because we live in a broken world where evil and sin pervert God’s good creation (which includes us!), divorce happens and relationships become broken.  So, when Jesus references Genesis 2 in verses 6-9 he is stating the original intent of marriage and human relationships.  Now, with this statement he is not condemning those who have gotten divorce, and he is not telling them that there is no place in God’s Kingdom for people who have been divorced.  He is just naming the reality that broken relationships happen due to evil and sin which causes human hearts to harden.

So where’s the good news?  Well, the good news is that, through his death and resurrection, Christ Jesus has reconciled the world.  Christ has destroyed the influence of evil and sin over us and has freed us to live in love and faith.  Christ did this because Christ Jesus knows the pain of broken relationships.  He knows the hurt that can happen when a marriage reaches the place of divorce.  Christ died to reconcile relationships, mainly our relationship with God which was broken since Adam, but also so that we would be freed to reconcile our own relationships.  This means that, while broken relationships and divorce will still happen, Christ has freed us to try and mend relationships, to act with forgiveness, and to form new relationships when previous relationships break and cannot be mended.  In other words, when divorce happens, Christ Jesus gives us forgiveness, healing, and others so that we can move on from the broken relationship.  Jesus gives us forgiveness so that we can know that God still loves us even though our marriage has ended.  Jesus gives us healing so that we can come to understand that we aren’t defined by our broken relationship, but that our true identity is still—beloved child of God.  Jesus surrounds us with others so that we can still find companionship.  That companionship may not result in another marriage (although it could), but it will mean that Christ will surround us with family, friends, neighbors, and our faith community to help us continue on in the journey so that we don’t have to walk through life alone.

So how should the church treat divorce?  Well, since Christ Jesus brings forgiveness, healing, and others to those who have divorced or have suffered from a broken relationship, we, the church, the Body of Christ, should also treat those who have divorced with forgiveness, healing, and surround them with love.  Divorce is a realty of our fallen world, yet God gave us each other so that we could have companionship throughout life.  That companionship is a gift of God’s love to us and for us.  To deny anyone that gift because they are divorced is to continue perverting God’s good creation and to act with hardened hearts. 

See you in the conversation,

Pastor Zach      

I'm Back! Plus, A Word (Okay, Several Words) About Gun Violence

Well, after a long hiatus, my blog is back under a new name (the former name was In My Theological Opinion).  I stopped blogging due to a change in my pastoral call and a move for my family.  Back in January my family and I moved to Cedar Rapids, IA and I began my new call as pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church ELCA in northeast Cedar Rapids.  Before that, I was busy into the call process and didn't have time to blog.  Since moving to Cedar Rapids, life has been crazy with selling our house; moving from a temporary apartment into our new home; my daughter starting child care (and potty training!), my wife starting nursing school, and the adjustment to my new call.  Now, after nine months of getting used to our new surroundings, I am ready to blog again! 

So, in light of (but not taken lightly!) the 294th mass shooting(http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2015/10/01/2015-274-days-294-mass-shootings-hundreds-dead/) this year in the United States alone, happening yesterday in Roseburg, OR at Umpqua Community College, here is my first post back.

Many people in the country (including myself) are asking the question: "Why?"  Why haven't we pursued further gun regulations?  Why haven't we addressed better means for treating mental health?  Why do politicians just pray and not act?  Why have we allowed another act of gun violence to happen in our country?  And the questions go on and on.

I'm sure there are many different reasons why things haven't changed in our country in regards to gun control, but I believe one of the biggest reasons is the fear of being vulnerable.  In her book The Power and Vulnerability of Love: A Theological Anthropology,

Elizabeth O'Donnell Gandolfo writes about how we as humans have an anxiety of being vulnerable, for being vulnerable places us in a place of weakness and danger.  Because of this fear, many of us try to do everything we can to pursue invulnerability (which she mentions can never be achieved by us for vulnerability is very much a part of our human nature).  Our pursuit of invulnerability leads us to create systems of oppression (i.e. not sharing resources with others) in order that we and our immediate families will survive and carry on.  The pursuit of invulnerability also leads us to deny the humanity in others, for other humans can be a threat to us.

It is my opinion that, for many Americans who carry guns, they fear the loss of power they have; they fear becoming vulnerable by not being able to defend themselves with a weapon.  But I also wonder if some of these people who carry guns also fail to recognize the person in other people.  That they see other people as potential dangerous objects instead of just another person. 

Now, I can tell you that not everyone who owns a gun has this fear, this attitude of needing to carry a weapon for self-defense.  When I was serving in northwestern Minnesota, I had several hunters in my congregation.  These people never frightened me because they knew that their shotgun was a hunting tool and nothing more.  They made sure to educate their children and/or grandchildren on proper gun safety, and they did not carry semi-automatic weapons.  Also, these hunters valued human life and taught their children to value life.

It is not the deer hunters of this country that causes me concern; rather, it is the attitude of those who want to carry guns for self-defense that causes me to worry.  It is also disconcerting to me that people can get access to military grade weapons.  Further gun control is needed in this country for sure! 

However, I do wonder if, in addition to gun control, there might be a way for us to do a better job at uplifting the humanity in each other; to recognize each person as created in God's image and therefore a beloved child of God.  This can only happen if we are willing to connect to each other's person, and we do that by a willingness to be vulnerable with each other.  When we share in each other's hardships, fears, anxieties, and joys, we connect to each other and we begin to empathize and develop compassion for each other.  In those moments of connection, Christ Jesus becomes manifest in the relationship.  In other words, as we connect to each other, we proclaim the love of Christ to each other.  That love has the power to transform our fears and worries into life.

When we are willing to connect to each other's person, we no longer see each other as objects or as dangerous; instead, we see each other as human and as God's good creation.  Remember, God created us good (Genesis 1:31).  Yes, evil is a reality in our world that can corrupt us, but we were originally created to be good. If we recognize the divinity in each other through being vulnerable with each other, then the fear will be replaced with love, and that gives us hope.

See you in the conversation!
Zach