With every Bible study, Confirmation/New member class and weekly sermon preparation I get to rediscover, to re-appreciate the richness of the Christian faith and the strengths that we, as Lutherans bring to Biblical understanding.  Our theology is refreshing and liberating, progressive yet deliberate.  It blows the chaff away to reveal the nourishing wisdom that Scripture holds for us.  We then come to know the good; the responsibility is now for us to do the good.

 

 Each of the Scripture readings of this past Easter season described how the early Christian community continued to grow by including, welcoming and utilizing the gifts of all those who responded when they heard the gospel message.  Women as well as men, slaves as well as free, Greeks as well as Jews, Eunuchs as well as 'intact' sexual beings.  It all culminates in the birth of the Church at Pentecost.  Everyone is welcomed into the family of God.  Consider how often the folks new to our faith expression are more evangelical and enthusiastic about their faith than those of us weaned on the Lutheran tradition.  It happens far too often that we do not appreciate just how blessed we truly are.

 

We all know pessimists.  Murphy's law is their credo: if it can go wrong, it will go wrong, The world has plenty of pessimists.  Seemingly to a lesser degree and usually found in 'clubs', an optimist hopes for the best.  Optimists are wonderful people, but are often dismissed by society as being naïve.  As Christians I believe we are called to be more than even optimists in our society.  The proper term may well be 'Resurrectionists'.

 

 A 'Resurrectionist' believes that even if, and when the best doesn't happen, God will somehow intervene to make it good.  God will, yet again and eternally, bring life from death, faith from fear, unity from separation.  God will.  Those of us who pray to do God's will are then challenged to bring this comforting hope, this 'good news' to the world in which we live. Christ is risen!  Our responsibility is to 'bring out' and make real this good news, not to wait for the world to somehow break in past our closed, locked doors.

 

 One of the speakers at the recent assembly noted that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America consists of a membership that is 98% Anglo-Saxon, with only 2% comprised of African-American and Hispanic and Asian families.

That is a sad indictment of both our local congregation as well as our national church.  (Our own congregation's ethnic make-up is not that much different from the national make-up).  By design, the ELCA has been very intentional in trying to change this, not only in terms of whom it employs, but also in whom is welcomed to sit in the pews.  I believe we at Faith also need that same intentional focus and outreach.

 

 Quite honestly, I was both dismayed and disappointed that our congregation voted at its' last congregational meeting to 'table' an outreach to our Hispanic neighbors.  The real scandal has come with the distressing quantity of unapologetic racist comments that I have heard in these past six months.  One curious comment spoke of 'Martin Luther King gaining us freedom to be separate, but equal'.  Other comments I won't repeat.  We seem as blind to our own racism as we are to the air around us. I truly wish I didn't have to write this sentence; it would be far easier and safer to not include it, but it is the challenge of the gospel offered to us in love.  We hurt ourselves when we deny others. If our Christian faith does not help us overcome our racist fears, then we really don't 'get it'…  Scripture clearly reminds us that we cannot say we love God and hate our brother.  (Please enjoy reading from the epistle of I John 4: 7-21)

 

 The question once put to Jesus is now put to us.  Who is our neighbor?  Are the parents of the local schoolchildren our neighbors?  Are the 'taggers' and yes, even the gang members our neighbors?  A few weeks back and only two short blocks from our De Soto campus, dozens of immigrants were being held in captivity in a small house.  Are they our neighbors?  If you've read only a single page of Christian scripture, you know the answer.

 

 The motion to intentionally reach out to our Hispanic neighbors will come before us again on June 13 at our semi-annual congregational meeting.  May the Spirit of God guide us in our deliberations.  My sincere thanks to all of our Council members (new and retiring) who have taken seriously their attendance at monthly meetings and in church, and whose faithful participation have worked to inform, guide and unite our faith fellowship.  Blessings to you all!

FALLEN FROM THE DESK OF PASTOR WAYNE