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Higher Things
12 e 20 sid gs In in fo Th In er ce gh ren Hi nfe Co
Inside This Issue!
• Christmas in the Nicene Creed • Talking to Your Non-Lutheran Friends about Jesus • When a Loved One Commits Suicide • The Shepherds Who Adore Him www
. h i g h e r t h i n g s . o r g / WINTER / 2 0 1 1
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T H I N G S __ 2
Where: Holy Cross Lutheran Church 1100 Market Street Carlisle, Iowa Cost: $30/person ($25 for Saturday ONLY) Teacher: Rev. Brent Kuhlman RSVP: Pastor Kevin Johnson (515) 989-3841 johnsonknc@aol.com
God’s Divine Design
When: January 13-14-15, 2012
When: February 17-19, 2012 Where: Trinity Lutheran Church 824 Wisconsin Avenue, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Cost: $50/person - through 12/31/11 $60/person - 1/1/12 - 1/31/12 $70/person - after 1/31/12 Teacher: Rev. George Borghardt RSVP: Leila Wells (920) 458-8246 leilaywells@gmail.com
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Believing in an Age of Skepticism
H I G H E R
Good News for People with Big Problems
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When: Friday, March 16, 2012 Where: St. John’s Lutheran Church 146 Sligo Road West Mount Forest, Ontario Cost: $25/person Teacher: Rev. William Cwirla RSVP: Pastor David Saar, 519-323-4844 or prsaar@wightman.ca
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Contents T A B L E O F
Volume 11/Number 4 • Winter 2011
Special Features
4 Christmas in the Nicene Creed
By Rev. George Borghardt A creed, by definition, is a statement of belief, but did you know that the Nicene Creed is also a wonderful summary of the heart of the Christmas story? Rev. Borghardt enthusiastically takes you on a grand tour of this ancient creed that we so often recite but perhaps, at times, take for granted.
6 Joy: The Serious Business of Narnia
By Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz Just when you thought you’d discovered all the layers of the Chronicles of Narnia, Rev. Schuldheisz delights us with yet another rich facet of C. S. Lewis’ timeless fantasy series: joy.
8 Talking to Your Non-Lutheran Friends About Jesus
By Rev. Mark Buetow Communion. Liturgy. Infant baptism. Sign of the Cross. The list goes on and on. If you haven’t wrestled through topics like these with your non-Lutheran buds, you will eventually. Be more prepared by reading Rev. Buetow’s wise and very clear counsel so that you can confidently bring it all back to Jesus!
10 Confessions of a Former Evangelical
By Tamara Ockree Tamara provides a special perspective as a Lutheran as one who converted as an adult. Lifelong Lutherans will be encouraged to remember how blessed they are and converts will be able to relate to and appreciate her journey. No matter what, gratitude will abound!
12 In, Not Of
By Scott Diekmann Life is a balancing act in so many ways. One tension we Christians find ourselves caught up in is being “in” but not “of” the world. This pendulum can swing too far in either direction, leading either to an unbiblical separation from the world, or a disregard for who we are in Christ. Scott gives us some instruction in spiritual “physics,” and provides some helpful tips as we walk this fine line.
14 The Thing About Mary
By Sandra Ostapowich As Lutherans, we recognize that it’s okay to give Mary the honor she deserves, yet we understand that she, too, needed a Savior as much as we do. Sandra expounds on Mary’s response to what God blessed her with, showing how this young girl, the mother of our Lord, was an exceptional example of faith and trust, by the grace of God, even when faced with very unusual circumstances.
22 When a Loved One Commits Suicide
By Rev. Peter Preus Few acts are more profoundly devastating for those left behind than when a loved one end his or her life. Rev. Preus plainly, but gently, grapples with this heart-wrenching topic, reminding us of where our hope ultimately lies.
24 Planking or Cross Beaming?
By Rev. Philip Hoppe In our social networking culture, even the most quirky, pointless maneuvers can become the latest, greatest fads. Planking is no exception. Rev. Hoppe gives this popular phenomenon a bit of a Gospel twist that just might lead you to start a relevant trend of your own.
Regular Features 19 Poetry
Higher Things Magazine is now including poetry in our lineup. We hope to make this an occasional feature of the magazine, and invite you to enjoy two well-crafted entries.
20 Christ on Campus: Let’s Get Started!
By Rev. Marcus Zill Rev. Zill gives a step-by-step game plan to launch a college campus ministry. Whether you are a student, pastor or your average church attendee, his advice can put you well on your way to help serve this increasing need for our Lutheran college students across the country.
28 Catechism Thy Kingdom Come
By Rev. William Cwirla Jesus is our King of Kings, so when we pray the petition in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come,” what are we really asking for? Rev. Cwirla artfully answers that question by taking you on a whirlwind trip to the four corners of Christ’s kingdom.
30 Bible Study Talking to Your Non-Lutheran Friends About Jesus Here is a sample of one of our student Bible studies that links up with Rev. Buetow’s article on Page 8.
HigherThings
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Volume 11/Number 4/Winter 2011 Bible Studies for these articles can be found at: higherthings.org/ magazine/biblestudies.html Editor
Katie Micilcavage Art Director
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Rev. Marcus Zill
Higher Things® Magazine ISSN 1539-8455 is published quarterly by Higher Things, Inc., PO Box 156, Sheridan, WY 82801. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the executive editor of Higher Things Magazine. Copyright 2011. Higher Things® and Christ on Campus® are W registered trademarks of Higher Things Inc.; All Rights Reserved. I Printed in the United States. N Postage paid at St. Louis, Missouri. T For subscription information and E questions, call 1-888-448-2359 or e-mail subscriptions@higherthings. R org. (This phone number is only used for subscription queries.) 2 For letters to the editor, write 0 letters@higher things.org. Writers 1 may submit manuscripts to: 1 submissions@higherthings.org. Please check higherthings.org/ _ magazine/writers.html for writers’ guidelines and theme lists. 3
Joy:
The Serious Business of Narnia
H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 6
by Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz
C.S. Lewis’ world of Narnia is as well known–dare we say, lionized–for its vivid, Biblical imagery as it is for its infectiously loveable characters. Instantly, the Pevensies and Puddleglum, Rumblebuffin and Reepicheep, Mr. Tumnus, and yes, even Eustace Scrubb, come to mind. From Aslan to Z, Narnia’s beloved creatures draw the reader further up and further into this magical world, time and time again. That is the sheer delight of reading The Chronicles of Narnia. There is always more–more adventure, more to fill our imaginations, more to point us to Jesus. Narnia is a land of abundance because Aslan, the King of Narnia, is an abundant king. Narnia is nothing without him and everything with him. He is the heart and soul of Narnia. And the one thing that ties all the adventure and imagination together is joy. The Chronicles are full of Christian joy, especially in the triumphant conclusion, The Last Battle. No matter what order you read The Chronicles, The Last Battle must be read last, for every good fairy tale ought to end with “happily-ever-after.” You can’t understand the end of the play until you have seen the whole thing all the way through. Like the book of Revelation, The Last Battle takes us to the end, where the story is just getting started. There’s always more. From the beginning, in The Magician’s Nephew, joy resounds in the void as Aslan sings Narnia into existence. His word is action: “Narnia, Narnia, Narnia, awake. Love. Think. Speak. Be walking trees. Be talking beasts. Be divine waters.” And so it goes for the rest of the Narnian tales. Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy Pevensie discover this joy upon entering the wardrobe. The old Narnians shout in triumph upon Aslan’s return as he restores Prince Caspian to his rightful throne. Reepicheep, the valiant mouse, longs to reach the shores of Aslan’s country. For wherever Aslan is present, there is joy–something he constantly shares with those who least expect or deserve it. From beginning to end, Narnia is full of joy. “That sounds great and all,” you say. “But I don’t live in Narnia. I live in a nightmare world, with real villains: sin, death and the devil. Life is anything but magical.” We often find Aslan’s words to Lucy echoing in our ears: “You do not yet look so happy as I mean you to be.” Although Narnia is a fictional world, it has a great deal to say about this world. For, as Aslan tells the children in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, “This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” When at last the children leave Narnia, a little bit of the “magic” always follows along. No one ever leaves Narnia the same as when they first arrived. So it is for the reader. The book is over. Life goes on. The reader may leave Narnia but Narnia has not left the reader. Aslan pounces and beckons you to true joy in Christ. When life’s villains overwhelm us, we find ourselves longing to escape this terrible-horrible-no-good-
very-bad-dead-as-sin world in hopes of finding a new world–a world where joy is more than a glimpse. A world without tears, pain, sin and death, a new creation. Even though we are plagued by the devil’s temptations and the frailty of our sinful flesh in this world, that world is already yours in Christ. Rejoice! You are baptized. You belong to Christ. Your temptation? Overcome. Your suffering? Endured. Your death? Defeated. Wherever Jesus is present, there is joy–joy in the forgiveness won by Christ. All you need is water, bread and wine; Jesus’ life-giving Word does all the sin-forgiving work. That’s how it is with Jesus. There’s always more. More forgiveness. More life. More joy. Narnia draws us out of the wardrobe and into the true joy of the Gospel, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). Now there’s Good News for all our real-world problems. The pages of Narnia point us to a reality bigger than Narnia itself–a joy greater than our sorrows. Weep no more, for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has conquered by his holy, precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. Jesus is the King of abundance. We are nothing without Christ and everything with him. Jesus is the heart and soul of his bride, the Church. “This joy,” says Lewis, “is the serious business of heaven.” Thankfully, Christ’s joyous presence isn’t stuck in heaven; Jesus brings heaven’s joy to earth in the Divine Service. God inscribes his Name upon your forehead and heart: baptized and redeemed by Christ Crucified. Jesus’ verdict of the Last Day trumpets from your pastor’s mouth: “You are forgiven.” Christ feeds you with His Body and Blood and you join the saints in heaven and earth singing, “Holy, holy, holy.” Heaven’s mirth is reflected here on earth below. Literature mirrors life. Christ’s unceasing joy is the serious business of Narnia and all Christians, for your names are inked with blood in the Lamb’s book of life, the Greatest Story ever told–which goes on forever and in which every chapter is better than the one before. And that is no fairy tale. Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz lives in the shire of southern California known as Huntington Beach where it is always summer and never winter. He serves Redeemer Lutheran as associate pastor and is blessed with a beautiful wife, Natasha, and daughter, Zoe. He can be reached at samwise.schuldheisz@gmail.com
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Confessions of a
I had the H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 10
Former
great misfortune as a child of not being raised Lutheran. It wasn’t that I was raised by atheists, wolves, or anything like that. In fact, I was raised by Christian parents. We attended a nondenominational Christian church every Sunday, and I was taught a number of wonderful things about the Bible. I knew very early on that Jesus is our Savior, that He is the only Son of God, and that He died for our sins. I was encouraged to read the Bible on a regular basis and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
Evangelical
By Tamara Ockree
I was, however, taught some incorrect things by my church. I was taught that, although Jesus’ death was sufficient for my salvation, I needed to be sufficiently thankful for His death. The best way to show Jesus how thankful I was for Him dying on the cross was to sin less and be baptized. I was taught that in order to be baptized, I had to make a decision to follow Jesus and that this decision was only to be made for the right reasons. When I was 9 years old I made this decision, and I am being honest with you when I tell you that it wasn’t exactly for the “right” reasons that my church believed it to be. I decided to get baptized because I wanted to have communion and my church wouldn’t let you commune until you were baptized. My church didn’t use wine at communion because, like good evangelicals, we knew that drinking alcohol of any kind automatically called into question your Christianity. Instead, we had delicious grape juice and my 9-year-old self wanted in on the action. As I got older it seemed more evident to me that my baptism must somehow be invalid. After all, as a 9-year-old I had promised to become an obedient child of God, and yet here I was as an adult still sinning. It seemed like sin was everywhere in my life. My sinning wasn’t decreasing at all and I certainly wasn’t getting better. I started to wonder if I was even saved at all. Could Jesus really forgive me for my sins when I had so obviously broken my promise to Him that I made in my baptism? I contemplated asking the pastor to baptize me again…maybe if I meant it this time I would do better and sin less. I began to just go through the motions of being a Christian. I went to church, helped out where I could, smiled, laughed, and never let on that I was worried that I wasn’t even a Christian. I lived in constant terror of the end times. I was certain that Jesus would find me lacking and banish me to the fires of hell. I was in deep spiritual trouble and I had no idea to whom I could turn for help. In 2003, I married Ben. He was raised Lutheran and understood that he was a sinner, freely forgiven in the gospel of Christ. In jealousy I scoffed at his beliefs. I told him that if he was really a Christian then he would certainly try harder to act like one. He drank beer, for crying out loud! How could someone think they were a Christian, yet place themselves in the peril that alcohol
would surely lead to. Ben didn’t continue to carry the burden of his sins the way I did. He repented of his sins and let them go. He had assurance in his baptism and he truly believed that he had no reason to fear Judgment Day. A couple of years after Ben and I were married, I took a confirmation class at his Lutheran church. In this confirmation class I learned that I had a lot of misinformation regarding what the Bible said about faith, sin, forgiveness and eternal life. I learned that baptism wasn’t some act of obedience that I had given to God, but was instead the free gift of salvation that He had given to me. I learned that we can never be perfect and that is why we need Jesus Christ. If somehow I could stop sinning, then there would be no need for a savior. I found out that I am simultaneously a saint and a sinner and it is only in death and the life to come that I will truly be made perfect. God knows that our flesh is weak, He knows that we are sinful, and He knows that we need Jesus. Through my Lutheran catechesis I learned these things were true and I was given a sense of peace and calm that I had never experienced. No longer did I fear the grave—no longer did I worry that on that last day Jesus would say to me “I did not know you”. I am a little jealous of those of you who were raised Lutheran. You have been taught God’s true word and have taken comfort in the assurance the gospel gives, that Jesus died for your sins—all of them. You have been taught that there is nothing required of you for salvation, that the Holy Spirit was given to you in your baptism, and that there are no struggles that you endure that Christ does not endure with you. I am jealous because you’ve had this knowledge all along and I had to wait so long for it. Yes, I am jealous, but I take solace that this sin, too, has been forgiven because of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Now that I am a Lutheran, I can say with all certainty,“Come Lord Jesus!” Tamara Ockree is the wife of Benjamin Ockree, who is a 2nd year seminary student at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is the mother of two little baptized children of God and works at Walther Library on the campus of the seminary. She can be contacted at tamara.ockree@ctsfw.edu.
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