The parable Jesus tells in Luke 15: 11-32, is most widely known as the Prodigal Son.   Remember the young son who asks for his inheritance before his father has died and then squanders it in “dissolute living” in a distant country?  You know the story: after blowing all his money, suffering amongst the pigs during a famine, he finally decides to go home to offer to be a servant of his father instead of a son. 

I have always focused on the behavior of the sons.  There is the young son who thought he deserved his father’s wealth, but then realizes he doesn’t even deserve the love of his father.  And then there is the older son who agrees that the younger son does not deserve the love of the father, because he is the responsible one who truly deserves the love and wealth of the father.  (I’d like to pretend I am like the younger son, but really I am just like the older son – I am first born after all).

 Prodigal = recklessly extravagant, lavishly abundant

 They are both wrong, of course.  You cannot deserve or earn the free gift of love and compassion!  You cannot deserve or earn grace, mercy, or forgiveness!  This isn’t a story about a Prodigal son, but about a Prodigal father, who is recklessly extravagant in his love and compassion, lavishly abundant in giving grace, mercy, and forgiveness to his children, both sons and daughters!

 We do not deserve, we cannot earn the love of God given to us through the suffering and death of His only Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross.  We can only receive the gift of the Good News with trembling wonder and thanksgiving, and rejoice, joining in the celebration when God’s sons and daughters return to be embraced by the reckless and costly love of God in Jesus Christ.

For the more theological, spiritual, and Biblical questions, it will take me a while to write a clear and concise response to share with you.

The following item is a little less complicated.  Someone asked: “Have you ever wondered why dress socks are more comfortable than athletic socks?”

Well, no I haven’t, actually.  I tried to find a Biblical reference to socks, but all I came up with were a few items about not being worthy to tie the thongs of the sandals of Jesus’ feet, shaking the dust off your feet at an unbelieving community, and the symbolism of foot washing to servanthood and Christian discipleship.  But now that it’s been brought up I have been paying way too much attention to my socks and how my feet have felt while wearing different kinds of socks.

Here are my musings on socks from this past week:

• Sunday – dress socks, 70-30 blend, a little thin for the weather, but comfortable.
• Monday – casual socks, 100% cotton, thicker than dress socks, and work well with my shoes, very comfortable.
• Tuesday – athletic socks from REI, a blend of high tech fabrics, warm and comfortable
• Wednesday – casual socks, a less expensive pair that I’ve had for a while, too thin in spots, uncomfortable enough to toss.
• Thursday – casual socks, another old pair of socks, reminds me I haven’t bought new socks in a while.
• Friday – yet another old pair of socks, even a little hole by the toe.  Hmm, time for a run to Target.
• Saturday – a warm comfy pair of socks!
• Sunday – wore a pair of dress socks for the 13 hours I was at church, and my feet felt just fine.

My conclusion has to be, whether you are wearing dress socks or athletic socks, wear socks that aren’t old and thin nor socks with holes.  I also was reminded that feet sweat a lot!  According to the website “How Stuff Works” – “With more than 250,000 sweat glands each, your feet are among the most perspiring parts of the body. In one day, each foot can produce more than a pint of sweat!”  Eewww!

Now the reason why I am trying to gross you out with that tidbit of information is to set the stage for a story about learning to be a servant and disciple of Jesus Christ through the aforementioned ritual of washing feet.

It was the final night of our two week church camp counselor training.  We were gathered in a circle in the main lodge for worship and the ritual of foot washing, as a sign of our servant life together as a community of Christian disciples.  We had been tromping around camp all day long wearing our heavy hiking boots (this was at Christikon in the mountains of Montana!).  It had been an exhilarating two weeks of learning, growing, and bonding with new friends.  I was sitting happily on the floor in the circle between two of my new friends, as the wash basin and towel came around.  One by one we knelt at the feet of our friends, took off their shoes or boots, and then washed their feet.  The guitars were playing and people were singing and crying with the powerful spirit of the whole experience, when my buddy leaned over and whispered, “you’ll have to skip me.”

“Wha’?” I mumbled.

“You’ll have to skip me.  If you take off my boots, my bad foot odor will kill you and everyone else in a five mile radius!”  (OK, he didn’t say a “five mile radius” or “kill you” but he was serious.)

Then the wash basin and towel were passed to me.  My friend gave me a look of fear and I hesitated.  But feeling all eyes upon me I started to untie his boots, which took a while, until I slowly started to take the first boot off.  I never knew that smells could hurt!  I jerked away gagging.  The people on either side of us leaned as far away as possible, covering their faces.  My friend just shrugged, as if to say, “I warned you.”

As I tried to control myself (ask my wife about my changing diapers sometime, if you need a good laugh), I then realized I still had to take off his sock!!!

Now at this point I began to realize that what had started out as a touching, powerful experience to complete our training as Christian church camp counselors, had taken on a new, less pleasant, though more deeply spiritual and powerful experience for me.  ”Servanthood,” “discipleship,” “community in Christ,” these are all nice, feel-good phrases and concepts, if you can keep them abstract, sterile, and clean, and away from your nose.  But when a person, and not a concept, is in front of you, and you are called to be their servant, that’s when things get hard, messy, and very, very real.  Truth be told, it is something that we avoid.  Not only don’t we want people to take off those things that hide and cover up the “stinky” parts of our own lives, we don’t want to have to deal with the “stinky”
problems of others either.  So we smile nicely at each other and sweetly reply that everything is going “just fine,” even when it is not.  We all know that isn’t what community in Christ or Christian discipleship is about, but at least it doesn’t smell, or offend us, or challenge us to go beyond our own comfort zone and resources to rely on God for help.

I have to admit that I only washed his one foot.  Partially because of the, well, smell, and because everyone else was waiting for us to finish up (that’s my lame excuse, and I’m sticking with it!).

So, from a question about the comfort of socks, to the discomfort of discipleship and servanthood.  Keep those questions coming, you never know where they will end up.

On Tuesday night I had the staff and committees of the church look at the different ways churches grow, and give me their perspective.  Here is a sampling of responses on the area of Numerical Growth:

Positive Growth -

• Participation in our ministries is up, including non-members
• The number of ministries is up
• The number of kids in the new youth choir is up
• The number of youth involved is up
• The number of people being served and impacted through our ministries, especially our service/outreach ministries is way up

Negative Growth (also known as stagnation or decline) -

• Worship attendance has slipped down again, to under 250 per Sunday (back where things were 11 years ago)
• Number of pledges and budget is down
• Slight growth in membership
• Decline in visitors

What does all this mean?  Overall we are not growing numerically.

Historically, Christus Victor has gone through a number of cycles of church membership growth and decline.  The highest point was in the mid-1980’s when worship attendance hit an average of 450 a Sunday, and then, for a number of reasons, dropped the next year to 250.  In 1998 the average attendance was 270.  It grew to 330 for a few years in 2004 and 2005, and then started to slip a little each year, back to the 1998 level in 2009.

There are both internal and external issues at work, effecting church growth and decline.  One book that has greatly informed and challenged my thinking is “Transforming Congregational Culture” by Anthony Robinson.  In the first chapters, Robinson addresses the many cultural changes that have occured in our country, and how those changes are speeding up.  Yet, I find it too easy to point the finger outside the church, and so does Robinson.  We need to be asking some serious questions, even basic questions of ourselves.  The first question we need to ask and answer is the PURPOSE question:  “What is our purpose/mission?”  and “How is it going?”

We are starting to ask these questions, to find out how it is going, but more importantly to listen where God may be calling us to change for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I hope you will share your insights, questions, and ideas in the weeks and months ahead as we seek to be faithful to God’s call and command to grow – in faith, hope, and love of God and our neighbors.

Author, Loren Mead, lays out four different ways churches grow, or don’t grow, as the case may be.  Those ways are:

• Numerical Growth – membership, attendance, participation, financial support, and budgets
• Maturational Growth – spiritual growth in maturity of faith and living as disciples of Jesus Christ
• Organic Growth – organizational growth, the structures, discipleship and leadership processes, and even facilities meeting missional needs
• Incarnational Growth – missional growth in serving the needs of people in the community and around the world (this includes Evangelism, which is also connected to Maturational Growth).

While numbers, or the bottom line, are the things we focus on the most, as we have been taught by our culture, that is only one indicator of growth, or even health in a church.  All four aspects of church health and growth are needed for a truly growing and vibrant congregation.

The information and discussion questions in Mead’s book line up nicely with the research and the international ministry of Natural Church Development .  They take a holistic and principle based approach to church growth and health.  Churches need to look honestly at all aspects of their ministry, identifying both their strengths and weaknesses.  Then they can address steps to improve and strengthen those areas that are hindering the whole ministry of the church.

In preparing for and reviewing the accomplishments and goals of the many committees of the church, looking at the church budget and our stewardship trends, reflecting on the faithful work of those council members stepping down, and on the new council members stepping up as servant leaders of our church, I am struck by the fact that we are a work in progress at Christus Victor.  God has done, and continues to do, wonderful things through the ministries of our church and in the faith and life of members and those we serve in our community and around the world.  And yet, we are called to follow Jesus, which means being open to change and being changed for the sake of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God.  One of my goals this coming year is to take stock of where we are and where we need to grow, change, and improve for the sake of the whole ministry of the church, that we may listen to God and follow where the Spirit leads.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit,” writes Paul, who goes on to say, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12: 4 & 7).

Now is the time for us to stop watching and listening to what others are doing or not doing to help, and get in the “game” of using our gifts, given to us by the Spirit, not for ourselves, but for our neighbors in need.  I know so many people who already use their many gifts of time, talents, and treasures to the glory of God in service to their neighbors near and far.  These saints and servants of Christ put me to shame for my own sloth and selfishness.  Here is another time for us to put our gifts from the Spirit to use helping other, and here are some options…

ELCA Lutheran World Relief - direct financial aid!

Feed My Starving Children - direct financial aid and opportunities to work side by side with others to fill bags and boxes of food!

As more opportunites and needs arise over the coming weeks, months, and years, I will let people know other ways they can help.  And through it all, keep the people of Haiti, and all those who are helping and serving, directly and indirectly, in your daily prayers!

In times of tragedy and massive need, I are reminded how much I am blessed, and that there are more ways I can all serve and help my neighbors in need.  The challenge is to keep on serving and helping, even when our attention is distracted by the next sensational disaster or event.

We are on the cusp of the start of a new year, at least according to the calendar.  I really think the year ends when school gets out in the spring, then we enter into an in-between time before the new year begins on the first day of school in the fall.  For me, it is because the church year of ministries and programs closely follows the school year.  In any event, it is a random and arbirtrary day to pick when one thing ends and another begins.

It seems that the issue is not so much the date on the calendar, the time on the clock, or the ball in Times Square, but to our ability to perceive the “new thing.”  Is God really doing something new in our lives and our world, or is it just the same-old thing?  Am I really a new creation, or just the same old messed up person?  Do I see signs of peace, justice, mercy, forgiveness, and love in the world, or is it all greed, hate, violence, and evil? 

It seems to depend on our spiritual perception, rather than our physical and temporal perceptions, which is just a fancy-schmancy way of saying it depends on prayer and the spiritual practice called “discernment.”  All of which is about paying attention to what God is doing, which also includes learning and remembering what God has done and promises to do in the future.  For me, I am glad that the Church continues to celebrate Christmas into this arbitrary New Year, to remind me of what God has done, is doing, and will do through Jesus Christ.  For if I can perceive Christ at work in my own life and in the lives of those around me, I can also begin to perceive Christ at work in the world, bringing into being God’s Kingdom on earth.

May God bless you and give you the gift of discernment and the ability to perceive the “new things” of Christ this New Year!

It is a dangerous thing when we open the Bible and begin to read, for in and through these words, written and translated by many different people throughout the ages, God in fact speaks to us and does something to and with us.  This book, this Word of God, both kills us and gives us life.  Hence the whole “danger” thing.

Which makes me so glad that there are five adult small groups, risking the “dangers” of the Bible, gathering together each month for Bible study.  They are learning about different characters and stories of the Bible, or looking deeply at one book of the Bible, or learning more about a particular theme that runs throughout the Bible.  All of which, I hope, is helping them grow in their understanding of what God is trying to tell them and do to them, both as individuals and as a group.  And not only in their understanding of what God has said and done in the past, but more importantly what God is saying and doing today to draw people into a faith relationship with Jesus Christ.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, we began the first of our series on “How Lutherans Interpret the Bible,” as part of our church’s process to study and discuss the Biblical texts at the center of the controversy over the ELCA resolutions.  And I am grateful that so many people attended the first session, and hopefully will follow through on all of the rest.   Or, if people are not able to attend on Sundays, that they sign up to attend the Thursday classes starting in mid-January (sign up at the info desk!).

It is hard work, and risky, when we gather together to discuss both how different people approach and understand the Bible.  It becomes even more challenging and risky, when we have clarified in our own mind and heart, to then begin to share how we approach and understand the Bible.  The ante goes up further when we listen and hear other Christians who have a different approach and understanding of the Bible, which leads them to interpret things differently from ourselves.  As if that doesn’t cause people to faint with trepidation, God promises to show up in our dialog and discussion, to say to us exactly what God wants to say to all of us, and, as often happens, transform all of our understandings to bring us closer to God’s will and heart.  As Mark Allen Powell reminds us, the Bible gives us Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God!

For those who wish to go a little deeper in pondering questions related to our interpretations and approaches to the Bible I strongly recommend this article by Prof. Walter Brueggemann on Biblical Authority and the Church.  It is well worth the slow, careful read.

We will be using Mark Allen Powell’s series “How Lutherans Interpret the Bible” to give us a foundation to work from as we begin to address the Biblical texts in question.  The seven sessions will cover:

• The Word of God
• What Lutherans Say About the Bible
• Where the Bible Comes From
• Interpreting the Bible in Context
• Determining Right from Wrong
• The Many Meanings of the Bible
• Devotional Bible Reading

Sunday Forum Schedule: Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Jan. 10, (Jan. 17 – Committee Fair; Jan. 24 – Annual Meeting), Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 14.

Thursday Evening Schedule: Jan. 14, Jan. 21, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 18, Mar. 4

Please contact me if you have any questions about this series. 

It is my deep hope and prayer that a large number of Christus Victor members and all interested people will take the opportunity to learn more about the Bible and our Lutheran Theology, to help guide and shape our discussions and discernment when we confront any disagreement over the intrepretation and application of the Scriptures in our individual and communal lives of faith as disciples of Jesus Christ.

To my friend in Christ,

My grandpa always quoted this Native American proverb: “Don’t judge anyone until you have walked many miles in their moccasins.” Another is like it, “Seek to understand before you seek to be understood.” In the best of times putting these proverbs into practice is difficult. When we are dealing with deeply held beliefs, it is even more difficult if not next to impossible. So, I thank you for sharing your beliefs, concerns, and thoughts with me.

I appreciate the proverb you shared with me: “Vision without action is only a dream. Action without vision is a waste of time. Vision and action can change the world.” I appreciate your call for a clear vision for the church, along with clear actions to change the world. I believe that is exactly what Jesus Christ came to accomplish through his death and resurrection, and give to us to fulfill, as difficult as it is for us to accept and to do. Jesus taught us the Greatest Commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it; You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22: 37-40). Without God’s grace in Jesus Christ, I would not be able to even try to live out these greatest commandments in my life.

Every Sunday I do my best to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. I have no illusions that everyone agrees with everything I say, nor do I make the mistake that I can make anyone believe or do anything that they don’t want to. This church is full of people who believe and do all sorts of different things, some of which I am OK with, and some I am not. But I can no more make someone a Christian than I can make it rain or the sun shine. That is up to God and the Holy Spirit to do.

It is the responsibility and burden of the Christian disciples/members of Christus Victor to interpret and apply what the Bible says to our ministry, mission, and shared life together. This was given to the Church by Christ Jesus himself, referred to as “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16: 18-19 and Matthew 18: 18-20). What is black and white to you is not black and white to other Christians who take the Bible as seriously as you do. What is not open to interpretation for you is open to interpretation for others. The most important thing in the midst of our disagreements is not who will win and who will lose in our disagreements, but where is God leading us through the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ?

No one can make the members of this church do or believe anything. Not the government, not the ELCA, and most certainly not me. In fact the ELCA resolutions give it back to each individual church to make their own decisions on the blessing of same-sex relationships and the calling of homosexual pastors. It would not be by a simple majority either, but a 2/3rds majority to make any changes to our constitution, or even in the calling of a pastor. So, I personally see no reason to hold a church vote to make any changes to our constitution at this time, and we are not going to be calling a pastor any time soon either.

However, it is clear to me that a significant number of our church members do want to have a vote on these issues, both those that agree and those that disagree with the ELCA resolutions.  A growing number of our members want to “take a stand,” and I can tell you with great certainty that there is not a 2/3rds majority on either side of this issue! Therefore, at some point in the near future it will come back to you and all of the disciples/members of Christus Victor to state and vote on what you believe. And after the vote everyone will have to decide whether they will stay at Christus Victor to work and serve together as disciples of Jesus Christ, or seek another church to join. Either way, it seems pretty certain that we will lose members and their gifts of service, leadership, and offerings, which will damage all of the ministries and mission of the church that we have worked so hard to build and grow.

So I am trying to listen to the Holy Spirit, trust in God to lead and guide us, hold onto the love and grace of Jesus Christ, and leave this in the hands of the disciples/members of CV to decide.

This is probably more than you were expecting, but your letter brought forth a lot of the things I have been dwelling on and struggling with these past few months.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Kent Claussen Gubrud