Even competent Lutheran pastors have their theology called into question

Many people believe they are a biblical scholar and theologian. Of those within the church, there are some who believe the pastor, in their opinion, is neither.
ELCA/ELCIC Lutheran pastors attend 4 years of seminary, studying hermeneutics - exegesis, homiletics, ancient Hebrew & Greek, process vs. systematic theology, etc. Some wonder why a BA in Religion studying world religions, ethics, liberation theology and so forth is helpful. To be a competent pastor includes being a working theologian and Biblical scholar - along w/spiritual guide, counselor, CEO of disciples. You are there at hospitals and homes when people die, you officiate at funerals and baptisms as well as marriages. You walk with people as they journey through difficult and vulnerable periods of life – unemployment, divorce, illness, and the like. There are many rewards but also many stumbling blocks.
On a recent Sunday some parishioners questioned my theology & biblical scholarship right before worship service began. This happens numerous times over a call, especially one that spans a couple dozen years. We all take criticism in the workplace. For pastors the repercussions can be: parishioners will or will threaten to withhold financial support, stop volunteering, leave the church, and so on. Some will try to make church a “hostile worship environment.” I’ve found myself to be the target of anger, the recipient of contempt, dealing with people as they triangulate their fears and concern while having to remain compassionate and objective.
 As a pastor you are called to forgive anyone who repents but some parishioners don’t in kind. Since congregations are family systems, you need to be well versed in systems theory and how it applies to the local parish, how to remain non-anxious in an anxiety laden situation. You have to be prepared to pray in all circumstances, discern how to give vision and mission for people in both a local and global scope and motivate them to give themselves over to love of neighbor, strangers and enemies, all while modeling these behaviors yourself in a healthy manner. This is only a partial list of what a pastor routinely encounters in her or his call. Pastors perennially rank in the top 10 of white collar most stressful jobs.
People inside and outside of the church have certain notions of what pastors do and don’t do, what they know and don’t know, how they should perform their “job” (it’s a call, not a job).
I’m called to Word & Sacrament ministry. I serve the “Good Shepherd” so in a sense, I’m a sheep dog of faith. While Lutherans hold to the priesthood of all believers – we’re all disciples/apostles – as pastors are called to be shepherds/sheep dogs, we have been trained so to speak, we have a certain skill set. However, as I was reminded yet again last Sunday, some believe we pastors don’t know what the h-e-double hockey sticks we are doing. I offer this:
I took a physics course in high school. It doesn’t make me a physicist.
I took a computer course in high school. It doesn’t make me a computer programmer.
I took math through high school and my 1^st year of college/university. It doesn’t make me a mathematician.
I was a cook at a couple of restaurants. It doesn’t make me a chef.
When people read the Bible it doesn’t make them Biblical Scholars.
People develop their own understanding of the cosmos, universe and the divine, i.e., faith. It doesn’t make them theologians.
I’m a pastor. It doesn’t make me an adversary.
Just some perspective.

The “Un Rapture” of May 21st, 2011

The latest prediction of the  Christian “rapture” is scheduled for  tomorrow, May 21^st.  Keep in mind that such predictions have been “foretold” for centuries. These forecasts have been based upon such Biblical passages as:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: The coming of the Lord

Matthew 24: 3-31; 36-44: Signs of the End of the Age

Mark 13:1-27; 29-32 (NRSV): The coming of the Son

Revelation 20:1-10: The Thousand Years – Revelation based upon the Book of Daniel

2nd Esdras – from the books of the Apocrypha (Latin Septuagint version)

The destruction of the Temple (Jerusalem) in 70 AD is a touchstone event.

Since the Reformation [thank you Luther, et al] some of the names and notions connected to the “rapture” are:

Increase Mather – Boston 1680’s

A Chilean Jesuit, Manuel Lacunza, who published a book in 1812 entitled The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty.

A commentary on the book of Revelation in 1690 by a Jesuit priest named Francisco Ribera, credited with a method of interpretation called futurism. 

John Nelson Darby – Plymouth (England) Brethren leader & futurist.

Dwight L. Moody– Moody Bible Institute & Moody Church.

Cyrus Scofield – Scofield Bible

Hal Lindsey – Late, Great Planet Earth

Tim LaHaey & Jerry Jenkins – Left Behind

Christian eschatology, the end time [ἔσχατον], is not represented by those who make claims to the “rapture”, especially in predicting its arrival: Matthew 24 & Mark 13 make clear to those who believe in the return of Christ (Christian Messiah) that the time is unknown to all but God (heavenly parent). The Biblical prediction is that many false prophets and messiahs will attempt to lead the faithful astray. The May 21^st prediction and those who adhere to this claim would fall into this category.

Eschatology can be found within various world religions: Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism.

So enjoy your May 21^st because people of all faiths will be around May 22^nd and past 2012 – see Mayan prediction for the ἔσχατον – and I’ll be in church the next day, Sunday.

A relatively accurate description of the rapture can be found, of all places, on:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture

Easter Sermon 2011

[open ringing cell-phone]It’s Easter Morn. Who’s on my horn? Hello God!     

“It’s God.” “God says hello.”

What about the ban on cell phones in church? Well, we’ve been expecting to hear from you, so I waived it just for this Sunday. Yes, beginning next Sunday, no more cell-phones on while we worship you. Unless someone is on call for rescue, firefighting, or medical emergencies. Okay. We promise. Yes, you’re right, we don’t always keep our promises to you. You always keep your promises to us. Fair enough.

You know, we’ve been talking about you this morning. Yes. Of course you knew that.

Absolutely, we’ve also been talking about Jesus. Following him? Not just on Easter? Everyday? Agreed.

What’s that? Uh huh. Uh huh. No problem. I’ll tell them. Billions more to talk to today. We understand. Thanks God. We love you too. [close cellphone]

I’m supposed to remind you, that you don’t need a phone to talk with God. Prayer is still the preferred method. Oh, and at least daily. Nothing formal needed, any place, any time.

God is very happy to see us all in church today. We’re invited back to the House of the Lord every Sunday.  God says don’t be a stranger. Enjoy your Easter. You’re welcome.

We’re supposed to gather, together, and give thanks and praise, through bad times and good times, in sickness and in health, for better for worse. None of us exists in our own little world. We are a global community. We need each other.

Now, today we celebrate something you won’t find as an “app” on your cell-phone, or surfing the web on your laptop. You can read about on your Kindle and even see it portrayed in cinema and TV, but they won’t bring it home for you. You won’t find it through your house, your work, your MP3 or Play-station. Even though technology is a useful tool what we celebrate today is beyond earthly possessions or pursuits.

It’s found in the souls of those who believe, anyone willing to trust beyond themselves and this mortal coil. It’s the reason for the Easter Season – which only begins today.

We celebrate the risen Christ. From Christ crucified to a new life, the greatest love. That someone risks their life to save another life is a great act of love & service.

To give your life for everyone and anyone, to deliver the ultimate victory over death, that’s the greatest love of all. The God of the covenant who gifts the promise of grace, the Word of forgiveness, the promise of new life that spans eternity. That’s what we celebrate today, every Sunday, everyday.

For us this is Good News. Good News we have to share with the world. Good News that people can forgive one another – we understand, because we’ve experienced forgiveness through God. Good News that there is a justice above and beyond human law & national politics, real justice, and a pledge that we will act on God’s behalf and set the captives free.

Good News, in a world where hate flourishes we deliver a message that you are loved, people are loved by God, even when it appears no one loves them. We love even those deemed unlovable. In a world where people are hurt and lonely, the servants of God bring the Word of healing, that no one is alone, because God is always with you, rain or shine. We, the body of Christ as we are called, bring Good News of hope for the hopeless, we feed the hungry, we walk humbly with our God.

2 billion of us. We, the brothers and sisters in Christ, bring Good News of a great joy this day. Unto you, from the city of Jerusalem is risen a Messiah, a Savoir, who is Christ the Lord. There’s more to this story of Good News. Come back any Sunday and I’ll tell you more.

Χριστός ανέστη. Amen.