The Meyer Minute

The Meyer Minute for April 30, 2014

Words can be weapons, and sometimes religious people use them sinfully and hurt others.  Last evening 58 seminarians received their first assignments into pastoral ministry.  On their own initiative, they prepared and entered unanimously into a “Covenant of Candidates for Ministry.”  Here’s part:

“Brothers, we have now been called as pastors of Christ’s church to live together, struggle together, rejoice together, forgive one another, and serve His kingdom together, with the assistance of Christ Himself.  I now ask you before God, each other, and all those here and listening online: Do you promise to treat each other and every brother pastor with respect, patience, and loving care and concern?  If so, say, ‘I promise.’”  And they said it, loudly.

“Do you promise to be willing to seek unity, brotherly love, forgiveness, and harmony between brother pastors for the sake of the Gospel?  If so, say, ‘I promise.’”  Again, a strong “I promise.”

And so it continued, pledges to use words to upbuild one another.  The Covenant ended with this: “God enable us to will and to do this according to His good pleasure.  Amen.” 

Thank you, new pastors!  This is so needed. 

The Meyer Minute for April 29, 2014

During the last days of Holy Week, scientists announced the discovery of Kepler-186f, an earth-like planet 500 light-years away.  While scientists continue to increase our knowledge of this unbelievably vast universe, we little Christians confess that we know the God of all creation?  Are we rational? 

Another Holy Week and two men walked a dusty, rocky road home when a stranger came up.  All three are out-going, friendly, and quickly get into a conversation.  The two couldn’t understand how their religious hopes related to the news of the day.  They had a kind of Kepler moment, where’s God in all this?  “Truly, You are a God who hides Yourself” (Isaiah 45:15).  In time the stranger reveals Himself.  “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (Luke 24; 2 Corinthians 4:6)

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, Think angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight; All laud we would render: O help us to see ‘tis only the splendor of light that hides Thee.”  (W. Chalmers Smith”)  

The Meyer Minute for April 28, 2014

18 people in Oklahoma and Arkansas were killed overnight by tornadoes.

The events of life can take us out suddenly or grind us down slowly.  Adversity may come suddenly and tragically, like the tornadoes, or we’re ground down slowly, routine things sap our joy and we retreat into pity for ourselves.  When I ask seminarians if they hope their preaching will take unpleasant feelings away from their people, they nod, “Yes,” but I say, “No, you don’t want to do that.”  In a strange way, unwelcome to us, the Spirit of God can use the sadness and weariness of our lives to lead us into deeper trust that our true life is with the resurrected Christ.

This is dying to ourselves.  It best happens before the tornado or accident or disease takes our physical life.  Dying to self is a blessing of our daily, sometimes wearisome grind.  “Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”  (Colossians 3:2-4)

The Meyer Minute for April 16, 2014

“Jesus, I will ponder now.”  Poet August Crull invites us to do more than think about Jesus these next days.  Talk to Jesus!   

“Jesus, I will ponder now on Your holy passion.”  Jesus, the world about me will slow down somewhat these next days.  This slight slowdown is not simply my chance to catch up.  This will be time with You.

“With Your Spirit me endow for such meditation.”  Jesus, the day is coming when I will come before You in eternity.  I will see You.  Dear Jesus, give me Your Holy Spirit now so that my meditation upon your passion will prepare my anxious heart. 

“Grant that I in love and faith…”  Jesus, don’t let me simply know about You.  Increase my love for You.  I believe; help my unbelief!

“Grant that I in love and faith may the image cherish of Your suff’ring, pain, and death that I may not perish.”  Jesus, You have not called me to die for you but to live for you.  On my heart impress Your image so that it is no longer I who live but You who live in me.  Jesus, save me!  Amen.

Diane and I will take a week away from these Minutes.  May your meditations be blessed and your Easter truly joyous.

The Meyer Minute for April 15, 2014

“A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth.”

I’d complain; wouldn’t you?  “God, I believe in You but I didn’t sign up for this!  Thy will be done?”  As if our sins shouldn’t result in suffering, as if I am so innocent.

Holy Week was no surprise to Jesus.  “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed.”  He said that at least three times, Mark 8:31, 9:30 and 10:33.  He knew full well what was coming and “set His face to go to Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51)  Jesus wasn’t untouched by the prospect, not some Superman.  “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death….  My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”  (Matthew 26:38-39)  But Jesus is so at one with His Father that He obeys.  “Rise, let us be going; see My betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:46)

“All the disciples left Him and fled.” (Matthew 26:56)  How often our obedience, our devotion is on the run; we go complaining forth.

The Meyer Minute for April 14, 2014

“A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth.”

While we often compare a person to an animal, “as wise as an owl,” “as playful as a kitten,” and so on, hymn writer Paul Gerhard’s comparison of Jesus to a lamb evokes the rich imagery of the Old Testament.  The angel of death passed over the homes of Israelites who painted the blood of a spotless lamb around their door (Exodus 12:3-5, 7, 13).  The New Testament says “you were ransomed…with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)    

“No man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice.” (Psalm 49:7)  That’s because of each person’s sin.  “No one living is righteous before You.” (Psalm 143:2)   Only someone sinless can rescue another from the eternal punishment for sin.  “Christ also suffered once for sin, the righteous for the unrighteous.” (1 Peter 3:18) 

I can only pray that this Holy Week we will be still and grow in awe.  “This Lamb is Christ, the soul’s great friend, the Lamb of God our Savior.”

The Meyer Minute for April 10, 2014

How can you follow Jesus today?  Simply heed His call.

“As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15)  Jesus’ sacrifice covers our sin, but let’s also seek the Spirit’s help to root sin out of our hearts.

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.”  (1 Peter 2:21)  Jesus promises, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” (Matthew 5:10)  “For to this you were called, that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:9)  Yes, today we’ll be kind to all because…  “The God of all grace…has called you to his eternal glory in Christ.” (1 Peter 5:10)

We’re peculiar people, and today we’ll show it.  “Proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) 

“How clear is our vocation, Lord, when once we heed Your call: To live according to Your Word and daily learn, refreshed, restored, that You are Lord of all and will not let us fall.” (Lutheran Service Book, 853, 1)

The Meyer Minute for April 9, 2014

When King David confessed his adultery, the prophet Nathan said, “The Lord has taken away your sin.” (2 Samuel 12, 13)

Zacchaeus used his position to extort money.  When he admitted his wrongs, Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10)

Jesus told about a young man who broke his father’s heart. Hitting bottom, the son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”  The father forgave him and threw a party to celebrate. (Luke 15:21)

A thief confessed he deserved to be crucified.  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (John 23:41-43)

The hymn “Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain” says that Jesus death’ brings forgiveness “from the most ingrained uncleanness.”  It’s ingrained in me more than I know.  “Who can understand his errors?  Cleanse Thou me from secret faults.” (Psalm 19:12)  “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  

The Meyer Minute for April 8, 2014

Philip was led to a man reading Isaiah.  “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked, and the man answered, “How can I unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30-31)

Suppose you’re on your deathbed and know absolutely nothing about God or Jesus.  Time to learn!  A pastor comes and tells you about the Savior…but in a foreign language you don’t understand!  Words must be understood to work. 

Thomas Long reminds us that the sermon belongs to the people, not the preacher.  It belongs to people who don’t have or want theological degrees, who are struggling with whatever, but who are led to church to get a good word from God.  Mercy, grace, redemption, law, gospel, and other words are rich in meaning but mean nothing unless understood. 

Many of the good preachers I know are restless.  They’re consumed with curiosity to know more about God’s ways in today’s world and they’re not satisfied with second-hand seminary and church depictions of people.  They are constantly going to real people to hear from them.  And they fire up for that moment in preaching when they see on someone’s face, “Aha!  Now I get it!”   

The Meyer Minute for April 7, 2014

I’m teaching the first preaching class to 13 seminarians.  It’s like teaching drivers’ ed.  For 16 years you’ve been along for the ride, someone else doing the work of safely getting you to your destination.  For years our seminarians have been in the pews while someone else did the work of preparing the message to help them on the way to their eternal home.  Now they’re it. 

An ongoing struggle is getting students to talk like normal people.  I make them write out and memorize their sermons.  John Hilton, a BBC broadcaster in London before World War II, wrote “My notion is that to read (or deliver) as if you were talking, you must first write as if you were talking.  What you have on the paper in front of you (or in memory) must be talk stuff, not book stuff.”  (In “Lend Me Your Ears,” William Safire)  Avoid unintelligible church jargon! 

I’ll never forget the scared feeling the first time I preached in church.  “They’re looking to you.  You’re in the pulpit; no one else.  Do it!”  Talk religion like normal people talk.  It’s not dumbing down theology; it’s loving your people.