Weekly Devotional (Week of June 11,
2006)
"On Christian Unity "
Sunday we celebrated one of the most profound mysteries of our
faith: the Holy Trinity. Sunday School and Confirmation students
often ask, "But how can God be both God and Jesus?" And
the only answer can be, "That's a good question; I don't have
an answer except that it can happen because God is God and we believe
it by faith." Confession of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
is what unites us as Christians, despite the many things that tend
to divide us. It is interesting that our "uniting factor" depends
upon who God is and what God is doing and not on who we are and
what we are doing. I think it is important that we keep the focus
on God and not ourselves.
We all know our human tendency to figure things out and then determine that our
answer is not only the "best" answer, but oftentimes even the "only" answer.
Having our commonality be God relieves us of the burden and removes from us the
privilege of determining who will be "in" and who will be "out" of
our family circle. All who profess their faith in the triune God are our brothers
and sisters. Our challenge then, is not to figure out how to "promote Christian
unity" but how to "live out" our Chrisitian unity in spite of
the many divisions we create because of our understandings and interpretations.
That's why I'm glad to be a member of the ELCA. We think we have some good ideas
and understandings to bring to the table when speaking of Christian faith and
life issues. But we also understand that we do not have a monopoly on truth or
understanding or interpretation, so we are always willing to talk and learn and
grow in who we are, what we believe, and how we respond. Not everyone is appreciative
of that willingness to learn and grow and change. We do not profess to have a
lock on "the Truth," for Jesus is the Truth and not just our understanding
of Him.
We are united with all those who profess God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit and
our calling is to "be one" with our brothers and sisters. So, join
us as we keep studying, and thinking, and talking and praying for guidance, that
we might figure out how to be Lutheran Christians in this time and place, remembering
that we are united, not by our own efforts but around the love of God made known
to us in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Peace,
Pastor Carol |
