Monthly Archives: April 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on April 25, 2015
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Evangelical – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 25 – “E” is for Evangelical

We are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – the ELCA. I have often wondered how many people know that the “E” in ELCA stands for Evangelical. And do you know what Evangelical means? It means “according to the teaching of the gospel of the Christian religion”.

There is a branch of Christianity who call themselves the “Evangelicals”. They are an enormous religious, worshipping community. They carry a lot of power in the realm of religious thought and theology. They follow very closely the idea of the rapture and those who will be left behind at the end times. I have never read the books that are part of the “Left Behind” series, but I think it is an interesting theological construct, just like I believe the Church of Latter Day Saints is also an interesting theological construct. But as I think about the ministry of Jesus, when did Jesus ever believe in leaving someone behind? When he hung on the cross, he turned to the thief hanging next to him and welcomed him into the kingdom – wouldn’t this guy be a great candidate for being left behind – after all he deserved his sentence of death? And what about the woman caught in adultery – she was someone we might expect would be left behind; but when everyone else had left her, who was there still with her to the end?   Jesus.  Wouldn’t this woman, this sinner, be a candidate for being left behind? What about the man born blind from the Gospel of John, chapter nine? This man is someone the disciples believe was born blind because of sin. His disciples ask that great question “Teacher, who sinned that this man was born blind?” Jesus does not say anything about the hope that this man is “left behind” to show others they better get themselves right with G*d. Jesus says this man’s blindness will be used in two ways: to show the glory of the works of G*d — that the glory of G*d can be shown through him; and that those who think they know G*d will be shown to have the blindness that fills their souls because they “think” they know the mind of G*d.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is Evangelical because all of our teachings, our worship, our theology — all of these are based on the Gospel teachings of Jesus, and the biblical truths of G*d through all of scripture. And as such, all of those who belong to the ELCA are then “evangelists”. We are all called to go into the world making disciples of all people, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching people to obey all of the teachings that Jesus taught his disciples. (Matthew 28:19ff)

We are Evangelicals – the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – and we are evangelists; and as such we don’t want anyone to be left behind.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on April 24, 2015
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Discipleship – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 24, 2015 – “D” is for Discipleship

“As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen). He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” They left their nets immediately and followed him. Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.” Matthew 4:18 – 22

Jesus called the disciples early in his ministry. As these men were working, carrying on the day-to-day work-a-day lives of survival, this itinerate preacher came along and invited them into something they could never have imagined. But they did not hesitate to follow, which is mind-boggling to many people reading the account of their calling today. These men who had responsibilities and family, simply drop everything and follow Jesus, without much conversation or questioning. This is an extreme level of discipleship that few can follow. But that does not get us off the hook for being good, faithful and obedient disciples.

Yes, only a few people throughout the history of the Christian church have been able to leave everything and follow Jesus. But many, many have lived faithful lives all the while living the Christ-like life in other vocations. Martin Luther believed that anyone could be a faithful disciple of Jesus – that it was not necessary to become a Priest or Nun to be close to G*d. He believed the baker, the butcher, the cobbler and the brewer could also be good, faithful disciples of Christ. We each need to find how we can live out our callings in the world and still be good disciples of Jesus.

How will you be a disciple of Jesus today? How can you continue in your work-a-day world and still be a disciple of Jesus?

Pastor Dave