Vocation/The Spirituality of Ordinary Life

I've so enjoyed having this excuse to go through this book again. Thank you for all the comments you've made either to me personally, through email or on the blog.

I ask for some added grace and maybe a boatload of prayers from those following along? I'm going to limit my own comments for this week and allow you to explore the topic of vocation a bit more on your own.

This has turned into a week of mourning and rejoicing as my father-in-law has been called to his eternal home with Jesus.

I'd like to suggest the following podcast to compliment your reading this week. The guest is one of my favourite bloggers and I totally dig her Tennessee accent. The Dignity of Christian Vocation by Edie Wadsworth on Issues, etc. 

The whole topic of vocation gets me all excited and I don't know why. I think maybe it's because it gives me such purpose in all the mundane things of life and makes it incredibly important. That God is working through me as I change diapers, clean toilets and make bread (not in that order). That He provides for others through me is very humbling. And that He provides my needs through the people around me makes me see everyone as "wearing the masks of God". We don't have to be doing something overtly "Christian" and "good" like serving at a soup kitchen, pregnancy counselling centre or church function to be doing something important (although there is certainly nothing wrong with those things), but that serving our neighbour in any capacity like being a mother, daughter, wife or friend is a spiritual act.

In this culture of independence, we are in fact, dependant. We need one another. We need Him. God has designed it that way.

This topic has made me think over the years about how to apply it as a parent. If we believe that God chooses our vocations (because He is in control and blesses us with the unique gifts we have), how do we guide our children in their future? Don't mistake this belief with some sort of fatalism as if we don't have the responsibility to make choices, plans, etc. It should always be balanced with God's Word and an understanding of our free will.

The Gospel for Former Evangelicals: Discerning God's Will - Issues,etc. 

As my children set out on their own life, my husband and I have the important responsibility to point out or guide them in a direction they may not clearly see. We may see the unique talents they have, the strength of character they possess and the passion in certain areas they show. We will want to offer suggestions on how best to use what we see in them. Ultimately, it is their life and it's up to them whether they desire our wisdom. We want them to use what they have and find a career that makes the most of those God given characteristics, not work against them. To have a job you can enjoy is such a gift!

And as this week for me is all about family - we have our vocations here, too. I thank the Lord for the man who's name I've married into. I thank the Lord for providing me with a husband who had such a great Dad who taught him about Jesus. I thank the Lord for the Grandpa my kids loved. In his many vocations - as husband, Dad, father-in-law, Grandpa, son, brother, friend, engineer and more, Jake wore the "mask of God" as he served and gave of himself to those around him.
All our work in the field, in the garden, in the city, in the home, in struggle, in government - to what does it all amount before God except child's play, by means of which God is pleased to give his gifts in the field, at home and everywhere? These are the masks of our Lord God, behind which he wants to be hidden and to do all things. (page 93/94) 

Jake Halldorson July 3, 1945 - March 23, 2015

The Theology of the Cross/ The Hiddenness of God

http://www.creationswap.com/media/20178

We read last week of how God is present and active in seemingly ordinary ways through the Means of Grace. This week we read about what is called "the theology of the cross". It has to do with Christ's work, His presence, and how we draw closer to Him. The theology of the cross also deals with the difficulties and hardships that Christians must live through in an utterly realistic and honest way. (page 70, 71) 

I've had the most difficulty so far with understanding this chapter. Not because the author doesn't do a good job but because there's so much to this topic that it's hard to flesh it all out in a short chapter. I've had to use other resources this week to fill in the gaps and get a better handle on it.

Issues, etc podcast: The Cross in Lutheran Theology
The Theology of the Cross - Reflections on His Cross and Ours by Daniel Deutschlander  (NPH)
My pastor husband:)

It helps me understand what is meant by The Theology of the Cross by looking at what the opposite of it is - The Theology of Glory. This is a message preached that offers fixes for our problems on earth, often heard in stadium size churches and those on TV.  This same message is found in best selling books promising a better life, a sure fire way to improve your situation and get what you want. "God wants to bless you if you are bold enough to declare it" leads one to believe that a heaven on earth can be attained and problems can go "poof" with God's favour on you. In other words, they are a self-help message that occasionally uses words like "Jesus" and "God" to make it sound biblical.

The best Christian families still experience conflicts, intractable problems, and embarrassing failures. The most devout Christian may go bankrupt or have a mental breakdown or contract a heartbreaking disease and not be healed. ... The ideal of the "victorious Christian life" proves impossible to attain, so we have to suppress our failures, keep trying harder (and buy more books), and present a more positive front to the world. ...Naturally, we want success, victories, and happiness.  We will be attracted to any religion that can promise us such things.... Instead, God gives us the cross. (page 72,73) 

With the theology of glory, "we begin to demand that God justify himself to us in our sufferings by giving us healing and success. We will demand a God who does what we want him to do, and we will reject the way of the cross by which he comes to us. We will become fearful of suffering and preoccupied with its avoidance at the expense of truth and faithfulness." (page 76,77)


It also helps me understand this theology to understand what it is not. It is not self-chosen or self-inflicted suffering. Jesus makes the cross for his followers a consequence, not a cause, of discipleship. Mark 8:34-38(Deutschlander) A Christian's cross will not be the same for everyone. Our suffering does not make us anymore saved or loved by God.

It does mean that the spiritual life has to do with suffering, defeat, and weakness - not simply with the experience of "glory," as we might like. (page 75) Rather, bearing our cross has to do precisely with the suffering that we do not choose for ourselves, the trial and difficulties that are imposed on us from the outside, that we have no control over whatsoever. (pg 80) 

Deutschlander's book is fantastic and I highly recommend reading it throughout your life so you should just buy it for your personal library:) One of the techniques he uses to help the reader understand and relate to this theology is to personify the role of "Self" in each of us and what self naturally seeks to do and desire.

To put it briefly, cross-bearing self denial is to take Christ and His Word seriously in both the law and the gospel. Self strenuously and with all its might always resisted every attempt to do that. Therefore, the work of such self denial is well called a cross.
As already noted, the cross may change its outward appearance from age to age, from individual to individual, from one time in life to another. The slivers may move and the splinters be differently configured, but its essence remains the same. It is the struggle to deny self and instead follow Jesus. It is the struggle to follow him willing, even joyfully, in defiance of the adulterous and sinful generation that still remains in one's own heart as well as in the world. It is a self denial that begins with a struggle in the will, continues with the struggle in the mind, in reason, and is plagued with obstacles from beginning to end in the emotions. (page 30 - Deutschlander) 

This is very practical for my life in a number of ways. First of all, it's comforting to know that the struggle is normal. It's good when there is an internal struggle with Self to know that Self hasn't taken over! Christ is there, giving me strength to deny Self and follow Him. Which leads me to the second comfort offered - Christ is there.  Even in the midst of suffering (whatever form that may look like in my life) Christ has not abandoned me. His strength is made perfect in my weakness! Thirdly, I have realistic expectations that while I'm walking on this earth, I will have crosses to bear.

Cross now, glory later. Which leads me to the fourth meaning it has for me - perspective. Christ has won the ultimate victory for me on His cross. I know that I will have His glory in eternity, for eternity. There will be no suffering, no death in heaven. There will be no internal struggle to protect my sinful Self over that which wants to give of mySelf.

To make it painfully personal, allow me to share an example of my own cross to bear. Keep in mind this is my cross and not imposed necessarily on anyone else.
My husband and I have chosen to bear the sole responsibility of providing an education for our children. We are convinced through Scripture that we would find it very difficult, if not impossible, to fulfill our God given roles as parents as defined by Scripture if we did not.  Having said this, it's not the homeschooling that is the cross but the struggle in it. The weight of this choice has fallen heavily to me as the main person to carry this out. Over the years, I have researched learning styles, philosophies, methods, curriculum choices, etc. I've been in the trenches with my kids teaching them everything from the sounds of the letters, to their multiplication tables, to the catechism.

Don't get me wrong before I move on with this - God has blessed this pursuit significantly and has bonded us as a family through this. He has given me joy and satisfaction in the hefty amount of time and energy I've invested in my kids. I thank Him for that! But there are more days and times than I'd like to admit to wanting to make a run for it. I'm not kidding.

The #1 response I get from others when they learn I homeschool is, "That's great! I could never do that!" usually followed by "I don't have the patience", "I'd eat them alive", "I need to get out the house to be a good Mom", etc.

Make no mistake. I echo every one of these reasons not to educate my kids at home. Every. Single. One. 

My Self screams impatience with my kids. Seriously, do we really have to go over the three spellings of their/they're/there again?!!!!!! My Self has, on plenty of occasions, understood why it is that some animals eat their offspring and I have let my kids know in no uncertain terms that they are pretty darn lucky not to belong to those species. My Self has panicked at the pressure of swimming upstream while it seems easy for the rest of the "school of fish" to be swept along by the current of traditional school. I have sat at the window in the front of our house with my face pressed up against it as the school bus drives by just daring me to start running after it, kids in tow. You think I don't need to get mySelf out of the house and away from my family so I can appreciate them more when I come home? Oh heck ya.

Honestly? I worry about my Self identity when this is all over and the kids move out. I worry about loosing my Self amid all these years of babyhood, childhood, teen years and marriage because by nature I'm all about protecting Self. In every single one of the examples above, I am having to deny Self. I'm not doing this for me. I'm not doing this for martyrdom. I'm not doing this for acclamation. Because if it was, I would have chased down that bus along time ago. It is my struggle to deny self and follow Jesus. And it's a struggle. Every. Single. Day. 

And just when I thought it couldn't get worse, we sent our first born away to school. In another country, ya'll. Self was relieved at first to finally, in good conscience, delegate the education of my teenager to someone else. Seriously, to finally have a break from wanting to bang my head against the wall in frustration while reminding said teenager for the millionth time what a noun is. Sounds good to me! But mySelf didn't transition to this "freedom" as well as I would have liked. Now Self wasn't in control. Now Self was sad, miserable and missing her teenager like crazy. Self got bitter that we have to live so stinking far away that we're forced to be so far away from our 14 year old just so he can get a Lutheran, Christian education along with a host of other benefits. Self doesn't like driving 20 hours just to see her child. Self would rather take tuition money and go to Mexico. Self is panicking about her identity again.

You see where I'm going with this? If it were up to Self, we'd have quite a different life - all of us.

There is good to be found in these struggles.

Jesus can be found in these struggles. 

Dear Lord Jesus,

Be my strength so that I am able to take up my crosses and follow you. Thank you for taking up your cross that looked so horrific and yet accomplished my salvation! It is in your name that we can confidently say,"Cross now, glory later! ". Amen

Questions for contemplation:

Do you feel that you have a good grasp on what the Theology of the Cross is and what that looks like in your life? 

Do you have specific crosses to bear that you could use help, encouragement or insight about at this time? 

The Means of Grace/ The Presence of God

How does God bring us to faith? How does He promise to strengthen our faith? How do we know where God is living and active? Where are we reassured of our salvation? How can I really know that He is pleased with me? Where is He present? What if I don't feel it? How does He speak to us today?

Through what means (or way) does He give us His grace (the undeserved love of God for sinners)?

Lutherans call this teaching "the means of grace".  Luther's Catechism defines this as "the Gospel in Word and Sacrament".  What does this mean? 

This is a very weighty chapter! It has to be - to be able to answer all those questions we ask ourselves. God is also very clear in the Bible how He works and gives us absolute assurance that He is working through the means He gives us. He knows us all too well - that anytime humans try to come up with their own system, we'll make a mess! He takes our mess and makes us clean.

Fact: God caused Himself to be born as a human being. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, kept the moral law perfectly. And then, when He was tortured to death on the cross, in perhaps the profoundest miracle imaginable, He took upon Himself every sin, every transgression ever committed, and suffered every punishment everyone in the human race deserves. Jesus died because "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). More than that, when He cried out in His death agony, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46), Jesus was experiencing the Holy God turning away from all the evil in the world - which Jesus was bearing in His body - the same withdrawal of God that constitutes hell. But then, having atoned for the sins of the world, Jesus rose again. (page 42)

Honestly, I should just keep typing but I'm afraid of carpal tunnel. Instead I'll use a graphic.

http://adam4d.com/great-exchange/

Lutheran theologians speak of "objective justification". Strictly speaking, justification took place outside of ourselves, in the actual historical events of Christ's death and resurrection. ... the objectivity of what happened on the cross has a profound spiritual implication for us now. Our own miserable little vices and perversities were there - right on the cross with Jesus. ... despite any subjective feelings we may have of guilt over what we have done, forgiveness is also objective. (pg 43)
So how do we attain a saving, life-changing faith?
... We are connected to Christ, and the Holy Spirit works both faith and good works in our lives by means of the Word and the Sacraments. (pg 44)

God's Word - I love to read! I have a ton of books in my personal library and we frequent our local library. We listen to books on tape, CD or digital format. I find it amazing that through something as ordinary as words (whether spoken, written or digitalized) we have the ability to sit at the feet of brilliant, creative writers that we can learn from. We have instant access to great thinkers of all time! We have  ideas and thoughts of people dead and gone immortalized in the written word. The written word in some form is familiar to all people of all time in some form or another, and is needful in communicating and relating. Is it any wonder of wonders that our Lord chose a Book to communicate to us?

The Christian's relationship to God, like all other relationships, thrives on two-way conversations - the Christian speaks to God by prayer, and God speaks to the Christian by His Word. (pg 46)

The main difference between God's Word and merely human works, is that God - the Holy Spirit - promises to be at work whenever His Word is spoken. (pg 47)

The words of the Bible do not merely convey information, they convey the Holy Spirit. "The Word of God is living and active." The words of Scripture actually connect us to what they are describing. As we read those words on the page, God is literally and objectively present and working, inscribing in our hearts the gift of faith. (pg 50)

What this means to me is that if I want to know what God has to say, I will go directly to His Word found only in the Bible. What this means to me is that if I want to grow in knowledge and understanding, it is through reading and spending time daily in His Word that grows my faith. What this means to me is that if I desire to witness my faith to others, I will use the power found in the Words of God himself that has the ability to change hearts. This is the place where He is present and living and active. Jesus Himself is "the Word made flesh".  "the Word of God, working through Law and Gospel, is the means by which the Holy Spirit bestows the gift of faith." (pg 53) Anytime the Gospel (Word of God) is preached in its' truth and purity,  He is speaking.

OK. This is getting long and I haven't even made it to the Sacraments. But stay with me because the gifts just keep coming ....

"Baptism ... now saves you" reads the words of one of our banners at church. One Sunday a visiting family attended our service and noticed that banner. When the pastor approached them in greeting, they pointed to the banner and declared, "we don't believe that".  I don't recall the exact words the pastor used in response to this but it was something like, "Well, that's what God says it does." (1 Peter 3:21)

According to this Scripture passage (Romans 6:3-5), Baptism unites a person to Christ, specifically, to His death and resurrection. In Baptism, we are immersed in His death. When we are baptized, we are buried with Him. When we are baptized, we are united with Him in His resurrection."
...To be baptized is to die - with Christ - and rise again. It is the link between now, this time and place, and Golgotha and the empty tomb. Someone who has been baptized can have the assurance that he or she has a share in Christ's death and resurrection. Someone who has been baptized has been born again. (pg 55)

According to the Bible, this is a gift God gives us. It's not an act we do for Him. There's no better example than the baptism of an infant. The infant has nothing to give, nothing to offer and yet is still born into sin, needing His grace . It is all a gift from God! He has the power to create faith in even the smallest of children. For those that come to faith at an older age, it still offers strengthening in that faith and assurance that your sins have been drowned through the waters of Baptism. You are God's child.

What this means to me is that I have assurance (even when I don't feel worthy), that God has made me worthy through Jesus life, death and resurrection. What this means to me is that I have the benefit of "remembering" by Baptism (even though I was an infant) every day and know my sins are immersed in His death, buried with Him and united in His resurrection (pg 55). What this means to me is that I can confidently bring my own babies to the font and know that the Holy Spirit is working faith in their souls that I as their parent will continue to nurture through the Word in our home. What this means to me is that I know where my identity and worthiness lies:  "I am a redeemed child of God".

The Lord's Supper - Christ's body and blood present in, with and under the bread and wine.
In the Sacrament of Holy Communion, all of Lutheran spirituality is crystallized: God acts, objectively, through matter, embodying the Gospel and promising the forgiveness of sin. And, more than that - or rather, making all of these efficacious - is the real presence of Jesus Christ. (pg 64)
Not only is Christ present at the altar, but He also gives Himself to us. As we eat the bread, we are receiving His blood that sealed the covenant, assuring the forgiveness of sin. We are literally united with Christ - Christ crucified, resurrected, and ascended - bridging the gap between here and Golgatha, now and eternity. (pg 65)

I loved how at the end of the chapter, he likened the Means of Grace to food. We can all understand that we would die without food to eat. We have to eat to fuel our physical life; otherwise, we grow weak and waste away. The only food that can sustain our bodies comes from the death of other living things. (pg 67) Likewise, in the Lord's Supper we are spiritually fed and kept alive by Christ's own body and blood!

What this means to me is that Christ is personally touching me with Himself. What this means to me is that I am assured of my forgiveness. What this means to me is knowing without doubt that eternal life and salvation our mine. What this means to me is that He is continually strengthening my faith as He gives of Himself everything I need. What this means to me is that I have a regular opportunity to prepare for this meal by examining my heart in light of God's Word and in repentance, enter into this meal with the blessed assurance of his forgiveness and love. What this means to me is that not only is my relationship with Him strengthened, but I stand in a bond of unity with my spiritual family sharing this same meal with me.  What this means to me is that I know He's pleased with me because when He looks at me He sees the perfection of Jesus.

I highly recommend listening to the following programs on Issues, etc 
The Gospel for Former Evangelicals: "Do This in Remembrance of Me"
The Gospel for Former Evangelicals: "This is My Body"

*My Lenten Garden has become a tradition in my home.

 It's a Diorama of Grace.

 In it lies a clay, homemade grave with stone, a stick cross and a pool of water with a shell symbolizing our baptisms along with a few small plants and moss. A visual reminder of what He's done for us! 

My Baptism (with my godparents)

Lord, help me trust in your words and promises and base my faith upon your objective means of grace. Help me to follow Christ - cross now, glory later! Amen

How does it affect our faith and personal relationship with God having the objective facts and promises of the means of grace versus a faith based on my commitments, my feelings and my promises? 

It seems that God likes to hide His most powerful gifts in seemingly common and familiar places - word, water, bread and wine attached to His promises. Why do you think God operates in this way? 

Justification/The Dynamics of Sin and Grace

It's that time of year again! The season of Lent is a time for repentance and reflection. It comes in the days that lead up to Easter for a reason. Easter is the single most important day of the church year! (yes, more important than Christmas;) Without the message of Easter, we would not be Christians. Let me write that again for emphasis - Without the message of Easter, we would not be Christians. 

It sure would be easy to show up for Easter Sunday in spanking new clothes and a ham at the ready. Let's be honest. We know the story like the back of our hand. Christ died, Christ rose.

But what if we slowed down a little bit? What if in the days leading up to the "Big Day" we thought a little more about why Christ came, why Christ had to die, and what it means to me that Christ rose from the dead. 

This is Lent. And to an even greater extent, our whole Christian life. Law and Gospel. Sin and Grace. Repentance and Forgiveness. Dying and Rising.

I may end up saying this about every chapter but this one gets to me because it's everything. And all that everything is done already by Jesus.

Some highlighted passages for me from this chapter:

Instead of insisting that human beings attain perfection, Lutheran spirituality begins by facing up to imperfection. We cannot perfect our conduct, try as we might. We cannot understand God through our own intellects. We cannot become one with God. Instead of human beings having to do these things, Lutheran spirituality teaches that God does them for us - He becomes one with us in Jesus Christ; He reveals Himself to our feeble understandings by His Word; He forgives our conduct and, in Christ, lives the perfect life for us.
We do not have to ascend to God; rather, the good news is that He has descended to us. Most philosophies and theologies focus on what human beings must do to be saved; Lutherans insist that there is nothing we can do, but that God does literally everything. (pg 25,26)

Yes! Yes! Yes! I would be in despair if this were otherwise. By nature we are dead in our sin. Dead. As in, dead as a doornail. God does everything. He comes to us, He raises us to life in Him, He sustains us, He works good in us. By grace, through faith. This is not only pertinent to our initial coming to faith but vital to our everyday lives.

The author suggests the three kinds of "spiritual aspirations" that human beings tend to gravitate toward. Those are moralism, speculation and mysticism. I thought he did an excellent overview of what makes these particular ways so appealing to our nature. They can all be found in some way whether in various world religions, no religion (for which I'd argue that everyone has some belief system whether you want to call it religion or not) and even within Christianity. Perhaps it can be more subtle in Christianity because it's mixed with truth and the waters are muddied?

... Lutheran spirituality addresses the moral impulse of the will by Law and Gospel. In place of speculation, the need of the intellect met by the Word of God. In place of a mystical union with God experienced by the emotions, Lutherans focus on God's union with human beings in Christ and the phenomenon of faith. In every case, God does it all. (pg 33)

Law and Gospel. Hand in Hand.

The Law shows us our sin, our need for a Saviour, our inability to keep even one law perfect. Yes, it also serves as a guide and a curb. But the Law is the prelude to the Gospel. Those broken by the Law are convinced of their need and of their inability to save themselves. Then the message that God does it all comes as an astounding relief, as good news. (pg 35).  What an Easter we have then!

The Gospel shows us our Saviour! We've been broken down by the Law and in despair knowing that if left to ourselves, we will surely fail miserably. The proclamation of this good news of the Gospel brings us sweet relief and absolute assurance that Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law for us. Christ took our sins and suffered on the cross. Christ conquered death for us. We are justified by faith!

Faith for Lutherans is not a "decision to accept Christ," as it is described by later evangelicals. Making salvation a function of the will would be moralism, dependent, again, upon what we do, our effort, willpower, and action, in all their actual futility. (pg 36)
But the Law and the Gospel, the dynamics of repentance and the acceptance of Christ, are part of the fabric of Lutheran spirituality, not just a one-time occurrence but a pattern entered into again and again throughout one's life. (37)

Saint and Sinner ... I am both. Why is this so important to know and understand? I don't think I truly appreciated this until I considered it as any different. If I didn't have this understanding of justification, what might that look like in my life? How would that change me? What would be my motivation to be good? What kind of assurance of my salvation would I have?

I highly recommend listening to Issues, etc. podcast: The Gospel for Former Evangelicals: The Christian Life.  It is an excellent way to round out this week's reading!

Homework: 1. This week in worship, take special note of the Confession/Absolution part of the Lutheran liturgy. What does this mean to you? 2. If you have a memento of your Baptism (picture, handkerchief, certificate), get it out this week and use it to "remember" (even if you were too young to actually remember) your Baptism. Luther's Catechism states, "The old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts," explaining the significance of Baptism; whereupon "a new man should daily come forth and arise, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever." 

We pray:

Lord Jesus, precious Saviour, who went all the way to the cross to redeem me, a lost and condemned creature, graciously look upon me in this Lenten season, and let me find cleansing and healing in Your precious blood. My transgressions caused You the agony of the garden. My sins nailed You to the accursed tree. You were forsaken so that I would not be forsaken throughout eternity. Make me see the awfulness of my sin and then Your wondrous love that would not let me die. 
Grant that I may ponder day after day upon Your passion. Let nothing distracting take my thoughts from You. Draw me closer that I might find in You forgiveness and peace. 
Bless this Lenten season in our many Lutheran congregations. Grant to the pastors grace to proclaim Your glorious passion with consecrated hearts, that all who hear this message of reconciliation may love You more and more. Abide with my household, and let sin have no dominion over us. As I ponder anew Your death for my transgressions, make me bold to live to You today and tomorrow and forever. Amen. (Lutheran Book of Prayer)