Self-Absorbed Happiness

The state of marriage in our culture is in disarray. Most couples nowadays shack up before marriage to “test drive” their potential spouse. Many get married for all the wrong reasons. And then there are those who are so self-absorbed with their own happiness that divorce becomes inevitable. After all, who could possibly love a narcissist as much as a narcissist loves him/herself?

Sadly, the state of marriage within Christianity isn’t much better. The attitude of most Christians who get divorced is simply this: I deserve to be happy. God wants me to be happy. My spouse isn’t making me happy. I’m going to file for divorce. Screw God’s Word. Screw the Church. Screw the pastor who says I shouldn’t. My happiness is all that matters.

Don’t fool yourself. God wants you to know and partake of the joy of His salvation in Christ. But earthly happiness wrapped up in a divorce that is contrary to God’s Word is sinful. Period.

Here is how one author decries the state of marriage and divorce in our midst:

Instead of looking to the Lord who instituted holy marriage to define what it is, a self-absorbed culture redefines marriage as a mere personal contract between a man and woman to be honored as long as they both shall will. ... The culture has lost the truth that a husband and wife are icons of Christ the bridegroom, and the Church, His bride. 

Divorce is prevalent among us Christians even though God hates divorce. ... Is this the promise of happiness that a culture of consumerism has promised? Hardly. Thank God Jesus will never divorce you. His love abides through the forgiveness of sins even in the midst of tragedies such as divorce. Perhaps we should remember there are reasons Jesus said, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:6). 

Obviously, divorce is also difficult for children. One of the lessons children learn from divorce is that when troubles come, there is always the option to just leave. Instead of having the love of God in Christ passed on to them, a love that “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7), they are often left to experience the emptiness caused by the culture’s emphasis upon love of self. 

Marriage and family, as God instituted them, have at their root self-sacrifice, self-denial, and service willingly given to another. 

Pastor and Elders: Caring for the Church and One Another

Husbands and wives, forsake happiness on your own terms and utilize a daily routine of self-sacrifice, self-denial, and service willingly given to your spouse. Work toward your spouse’s happiness, not your own. And learn therein just how wonderful the holy estate of marriage is. True Christ-like marital happiness is found in selfless giving. Selfless loving. Selfless faithfulness till death do you part. Don’t take my word for it. Take God at His Word!

Most gracious God, we give thanks for the joy and blessings that You grant to husbands and wives. Assist them always by Your grace that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep their marriage vows, grow in love toward You and for each other, and come at last to the eternal joys that You have promised; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Thrivent Financial for ???

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is looking to become Thrivent Financial for Christians. Why? In their own words:

We believe that as a faith-based organization, we are called to help more Christians be wise with money and inspire them to live generously. By extending the common bond, we can help more Christians who are attracted to our mission.

For starters, who is “calling” them to help more Christians? Also, how do they define “Christian”? Again, in their own words:

We don’t define “Christian,” just as we don’t define “Lutheran.” Christian faith is described in the Apostles’ Creed, which Lutherans and a majority of Christians have used for hundreds of years to profes their faith.

Mormons see themselves as Christians. So do Jehovah’s Witnesses. Will these groups now benefit from money invested in Thrivent by Lutherans? And what’s to stop any other non-Christian from making the same claim? If the issue is truly helping more people be wise with money and inspiring them to live generously, why stop with Christians? Couldn’t Jews and Muslims benefit? What about atheists and agnostics?

Bigger is not always better. For decades, Thrivent—going back to its AAL and LB roots—has been a Lutheran fraternal organization. It was Lutherans helping Lutherans. It seems that is coming to an end.

I will not vote for this change. I have no use for Thrivent Financial for “Christians who are attracted to our mission” (see above).

If the “common bond” is approved, I will actively direct Lutherans who wish to invest in a “faith-based organization” away from Thrivent. Besides, there is already a “faith-based organization” that exclusively serves LCMS congregations and members: Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF). Visit them at www.lcef.org for more information.

quotes are from Thrivent Magazine, Winter 2013, page 8

Luther: Righteousness

“It cannot happen that he who is filled with his own righteousness can be filled with the righteousness of God, who fills none but the hungry and the thirsty.”

Martin Luther

HT: Anthony Voltattorni

2012 Statistical Report

Each year the congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) complete a statistical report for the Synod. Divine Shepherd just finished its report. Below are some of these statistics and demographics for 2012.

Baptized Membership

• Total: 236
• Average Age: 40

Confirmed Membership

• Total: 199
• Average Age: 46

Weekly Church Attendance

• Sundays: 100

Vacation Bible School

• Members: 10
• Non-Members: 31

Congregational Demographics

• Age 0-14: 19% 
• Age 15-18: 8% 
• Age 19-34: 18% 
• Age 35-49: 18% 
• Age 50-64: 17% 
• Age 65+: 20%

Planned Parenthood

this speaks for itself...

The Pastor

Post-modern Christians have little use for pastors. For them, it’s simply “me and Jesus.” But Holy Scripture knows of no such thing as “me and Jesus.”

To be a Christian is to be a sheep of the Good Shepherd, and therefore a sheep under the guidance and oversight of an undershepherd. The word pastor means “shepherd.” In Holy Scripture, pastors are commonly called deacons, elders, and/or overseers. Below are ten examples of why the pastor is vitally important to the Christian.

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Jesus call the disciples to Himself and make them “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)?

“The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me.” [Luke 10:16]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Jesus institute the Office of the Holy Ministry on Easter evening?

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” [John 20:21-23]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why do Saints Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every congregation?

“And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” [Acts 14:23]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint Paul link believing in Jesus Christ to hearing the Gospel, hearing the Gospel to the Word being preached, and preaching the Word to the Office of the Holy Ministry?

“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” [Romans 10:14-15]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint Paul state that the ascended Jesus gives shepherds to His Church?

“And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” [Ephesians 4:11-12]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint Paul remind Saint Timothy of the gift given to him when he was ordained?

“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.” [1 Timothy 4:14]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint Paul remind the church to honor the elders?

“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” [1 Timothy 5:17]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why Saint James encourage the sick to call for the elders in their time of need?

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” [James 5:14]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why do Saints Paul and Peter encourage the elders to shepherd the flock of God they have been called to serve?

“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood.” [Acts 20:28]

“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” [1 Peter 5:2-4]

If the pastor is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint Paul go to such great length to list their qualifications and responsibilities?

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” [1 Timothy 3:1-7]

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” [Titus 1:5-9]

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” [2 Timothy 4:1-5]

While many other examples could be cited, these ten demonstrate why the pastor is vitally important to the Christian. Simply put, the pastor is the public deliveryman God uses to deliver His good gifts—Word and Sacrament—to His family, to you and me.

What’s more, even pastors need pastors—father confessors who hear their sins and absolve them in Christ’s stead. Like you, pastors are not perfect. Nor are they sinless. Like you, they are broken, in need of Christ. Nevertheless, Christ has placed them in His Church for your good.

So come and receive Jesus’ good gifts from them. Listen, believe, and live from the Word they preach. Call them to task when they abandon the Word or preach a different Jesus. Love them. And pray for them. Rest assure, they love you and are praying for you as well!

The Local Congregation

Post-modern Christians have little use for the local congregation. For them, it’s simply “me and Jesus.” But Holy Scripture knows of no such thing as “me and Jesus.” To be a Christian is to be a child of God, a son of the Father, and therefore part of a family of believers. Families gather together to talk, to listen, to eat, to share burdens, to help one another, to rejoice, and even to weep. God’s family gathers together for these same reasons, and more. Below are ten examples of why the local congregation is vitally important to the Christian.

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Jesus call a group of disciples—a congregation!—to follow Him (Matthew 4:19)?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Jesus establish the Office of the Ministry (John 20:21-23) to baptize and teach (Matthew 28:19-20), preach the Gospel (Romans 10:14-17), administer the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-26), care for the church of God (Acts 20:28), and give instruction in sound doctrine (Titus 1:9)?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Jesus place His authority in it as the bearer of His Word of truth (Matthew 18:17)?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why do the apostles organize congregations where the Gospel is preached and the Sacraments are administered (the book of Acts)?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why do the first converts on Pentecost devote themselves “to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42)?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint Paul address nine of his epistles—Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians—to congregations? Why does Saint John address the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the seven congregations in Asia Minor?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint Paul call it “the household of God, which is the Church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15)?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint Paul encourage us to “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10)?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why does Saint James encourage those who are sick to “call for the elders of the church” that they might pray over them (James 5:14)?

If the local congregation is unimportant or unnecessary, why does the author of Hebrews encourage his readers to hold fast the confession of our hope and stir up one another to love and good works, “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some” (Hebrews 10:25)?

While many other examples could be cited, these ten demonstrate why the local congregation is vitally important to the Christian. Simply put, the local congregation is where God delivers His good gifts to His family, to you and me. So come and join this family. We are not perfect. Nor are we sinless. Like you, we are broken, in need of Christ. We are sheep who need the Good Shepherd. We are sinners who need His forgiveness, life, and salvation. And there’s always room for more, for there’s always enough Jesus to go around!