The Meyer Minute

The Meyer Minute for May 21, 2015

Commencement activities begin today at Concordia Seminary, with the graduation ceremony tomorrow evening capping many events. Some graduates are already in full-time church work; the majority is entering pastoral and deaconess ministry for the first time. What is my greatest desire for them as they march into their future? Anthony Thiselton tells that a “self-preoccupied church officer visited Charles Spurgeon, the great nineteenth-century preacher. On being told that Spurgeon could not see him yet, the church officer replied, ‘But tell Mr. Spurgeon that the Lord’s messenger awaits him.’ A maid returned to the door with the message, ‘I am sorry, sir, but Mr. Spurgeon says that he’s engaged with the Lord!’” (“1 Corinthians,” 32) Dear graduates, hang your diplomas on the wall, don’t puff yourself up because you have a title, but do be intense about your personal relationship with your Lord.

Please give humble thanks this weekend for all those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy and sometimes these days take too much for granted. Love is selfless sacrifice for others, and that is the special vocation of all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s been an academic year of hard work but of great blessing. My final word tomorrow evening will be “Thank You” to students, families, faculty, staff, and donors, as I officially close the 176^th in Concordia Seminary’s history. That done, Diane and I will take about 10 days away from the Minute for rest and re-creation. Be safe, and like Spurgeon, be engaged with the Lord.

 

The Meyer Minute for May 20, 2015

“In conversation be sincere, Thy conscience as the noonday clear;

Think how the all see all-seeing God thy ways and all thy secret thoughts surveys.”

That’s from “Awake, My Soul and with the Sun.” I quote it because today’s news includes, again, Hillary Clinton and her State Department emails. She kept all her official emails on a private server and today there’s news about how State handled FOIA requests. The Freedom of Information Act gives the public access to some, not all, internal communication and information. I’m not writing here about Mrs. Clinton, have your own opinion, but about those times when people want to get behind our public face. A pastor, for instance, serves the congregation but should not share everything he knows.

God has never filed a FOIA with the State Department nor has He sent you a FOIA. “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:1). A true Christian is different than other people, “comfortable in your own skin,” as they say, when people push you to tell more. What you’re holding close will come out in God’s time. “Nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light” (Mark 4:22). No shame in sharing information that reveals you made a blunder. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). A true Christian has nothing to lose because you’ve given up your life. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself” (Luke 9:23). “It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). And if you’re pushed to share what truly shouldn’t be shared, “entrust (your) souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (1 Peter 4:19). A living faith in God does make a difference! “Of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

“Direct, control, suggest this day all I design or do or say

That all my pow’rs with all their might in Thy sole glory may unite.”

(Lutheran Service Book, 868, 1, 5) 

The Meyer Minute for May 19, 2015

“I shall not die…” was the headline of our Seminary’s ad on the back cover of the April issue of our denomination’s magazine, the “Lutheran Witness.” The ad featured a second-year seminarian, Travis Ferguson. Seminarians are assigned to local congregations to learn more about ministry and Travis helps out at St. Paul Lutheran Church in the city of St. Louis, and, I add, in a tough neighborhood to which Travis brings a heart for helping. “I shall not die,” and the verse continues, “but live” (Psalm 118:17). That ad proved prophetic. Driving in the city this past Sunday, Travis was in an accident with an 18-wheeler. His pickup truck was probably totaled but thanks to God and His angels, Travis was unhurt.

Yesterday Travis posted this on Facebook. “This morning when I went to city tow, I got to have a great conversation with one of the tow yard attendants. He noticed my Concordia Seminary shirt and said, ‘So why is it that you believe in Jesus?’ I told him about my past, the challenges and hurts and the victory Christ has proclaimed over those things and the way I look at the intricacy of creation. He started to tear up and said that was the best answer he had ever heard. In that moment, I realized how blessed I was to be in the accident and have the chance to talk to that gentleman.”

The entire verse, Psalm 118:17: “I shall not die but live, and recount the deeds of the Lord.” Thanks, Travis, and thank You, Lord. Wow!

The Meyer Minute for May 18, 2015

A friend came up to me, upset about a mistake that had escaped her attention. She’s a stickler for details. We were in a crowd, so I said, “Let’s step aside; tell me what happened.” She did and I wasn’t bothered. It reminded me of something I had just read.

In 1 Corinthians 10:23 through 11:1, Paul addressed the question of eating meat sacrificed to idols. Since much of the meat sold in Corinthian markets came from animals sacrificed to pagan gods, the Christians in Corinth obsessed whether or not they should eat the meat. They wrote to Paul about their conscience qualms and he responded with a nuanced answer. Not everything was black and white with Paul, and this was a gray area. He wrote it’s OK to eat the meat, unless two things. Unless your exercise of freedom will weaken the faith of another believer or unless eating the meat will give a non-believer a false impression of your commitment to Jesus Christ. Doing it right wasn’t the biggest deal; love is the greatest.

Coming to my point, British scholar Anthony Thiselton asks, “When does a right sensitivity and moral integrity begin to degenerate into an obsessive overconcern to be ‘right’ in every detail?” (“1 Corinthians, A Shorter Exegetical and Pastoral Commentary,” 168.) In John 17 Jesus prays for us, saying that we are in the world but not of the world. “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:16-18).  Since you and I are sent to particpate in our Savior’s life of service in this complex, messy world, mistakes will inevitably happen. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You’re saved by grace. 

The Meyer Minute for May 14, 2015

Do you yearn to see Jesus? Today the church celebrates our resurrected Lord’s ascension into heaven. “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). For the time being, Jesus doesn’t show Himself to us so that we’ll live trusting His promise to return. “We walk by faith, and not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).  

St. Peter says our repentance has promises for Jesus’ future return. “Repent…and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago” (Acts 3:19-21). Dr. James Voelz says that Ascension leaves a “remainder,” more still to come. Have you heard of the gifting device called a “charitable remainder trust?” Ascension Day reminds us to trust that the remainder, Jesus’ visible return, is the best yet to come.

“Draw us to Thee; for then shall we

Walk in Thy steps forever

And hasten on where thou art gone

To be with Thee, dear Savior.

(Lutheran Service Book, 701, 1)

The Meyer Minute for May 13, 2015

Here’s a heart-wrenching problem. By all assessments, your aged parent should enter a care facility but your parent won’t have any part of it. You, the child caught in the dilemma, hear in your conscience the words of the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” and so are caught between the commandment and what obviously needs to be done.

A recent “Timely Reflection” quoted Martin Luther. “Honor includes not only love but also deference, humility, and modesty, directed (so to speak) toward a majesty hidden within them…. Next to God we give them the very highest place. Young people must therefore be taught to revere their parents as God’s representatives.” Honoring a parent as the person who represented God to us in our young lives doesn’t change when mom or dad now need our decisions about their care.

Doctrines of faith don’t rest on only one passage of Scripture and likewise Christians weigh difficult decisions with more than one passage in mind. In this case, let’s consider also the next commandment. “You shall not murder.” Luther again: “We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.” The positive aspect of this commandment says, “Yes, you honor God by providing your parent, His representative, with the best care possible at this time of your parent’s life.” That still doesn’t make it easy, still heart-wrenching, but “the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:13-14). Don’t add to your anguish with legalism but take comfort under the Gospel of God’s love for all His children, young and old. “Your heavenly Father knows” (Matthew 6:32).

The Meyer Minute for May 12, 2015

 “It got kind of interesting here in the last two days,” said Peter Kirby. Oh, what was interesting? Something you did over the weekend? An adventure with the kids? A trip to the Emergency Room? Peter, what was interesting?

Peter, regional director for Lutheran Hour Ministries in Europe and Central Asia, continues. “Our distribution of radios, the new Kazakh programming and the general church outreach among the Kazakhs got the local Muslim leaders upset. They complained to our local leader during a mayor’s office meeting…. While we were having lunch the next day, some local thugs showed up and threatened physical violence against two of our ministry leaders and their families…. The thugs went on to threaten two other local leaders…. We have been in prayer and Bible study with them this morning, encouraging them with 1 Peter 3 on the role of suffering for Jesus.” (The Lutheran Layman, May-June, 2015)

“Interesting” is an understatement. Terrifying. You remember the picture of 21 Egyptian in orange jumpsuits, Christians martyred for their faith. 50 countries have been identified by Open Doors International as places of severe persecution. Slowly but surely persecution is getting into the consciousness of us comfortable American Christians. What to do? Become more aware. Pray. Financially support the mission. And most basically: Replace routine churchiness with the conviction that this is personal. We are followers of Jesus. “Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38)

The Meyer Minute for may 11, 2015

“Jesus, something in church yesterday upset me.”

“Tell me about it, Dale.”

“Well, Mollie read Acts 10:34-38. Peter said, ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality....’ Sure, I’ve heard that before, but it went on. ‘God shows no partiality but in every nation…’ Peter said that when he wasn’t with his own church people; he had gone to people who aren’t like us. Look around in church. Dear people, but we all look alike, talk alike, and in many ways think alike.”

“Yup, Dale, I love ‘em too, but someone did say church is the most segregated hour in America.”

“Got it, Lord. But next the Bible says something that doesn’t sound like the Lutheranism I often hear. ‘But in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.’ That’s works righteousness! And fear? Do good works because we’re afraid of being punished?”

“Dale, judgment by works is throughout the entire Bible. Deal with it. What came next?”

“Oh, stuff about You, what You did when You were visible to people, general Bible history stuff.”

“Dale, you dunce! What about this at the end of the history stuff? ‘He (that’s Me) is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ So, will you be judged by works?”

“You say so; yes.”

“Dale, are your works good enough to please the holy God?”

“I like to think so, but no. Scary, now that I think about it. Could be hell of a problem for me.”

“Who does the Bible say will judge you?”

“You will, Sir.”

“And tell Me what I, your eternal Judge, have done for you?”

“You give forgiveness for the sins that should make me afraid of coming before God. You do that for all people, not just me and my kind of people.”

“Right. Gift, grace; not works. No assumptions; go through the whole audit and fear, awe, reverence, and love result. Now good works are your “thank You” to Me. And when you get out of your comfortable congregational cocoon, like Peter did, other believers from other places and others nations will reinforce that it truly is by faith, by faith in the Savior of all. Thanks for the chat. Next time I’ll afflict and comfort you so more!”

 

The Meyer Minute for May 8, 2015

“Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Dear Jesus, in all that a young woman experiences, help her trust Your guiding Word.

“Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Dear Jesus, may mothers young and old, mothers hurried by the press of each day and mothers with time to sit and remember, may all mothers sit with Your Spirit and treasure how You are mysteriously present in our lives.

“When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” (John 2:3-5). Lord Jesus, when mothers would like to arrange something good in life, teach us first to take to You. “With the Lord begin your task; Jesus will direct it” (Lutheran Service Book, 869, 1).

“When his family heard it (what Jesus had been doing in his early ministry), they went out to seize him, for they were saying, ‘He is out of his mind’” (Mark 3:21). As of old, mothers today can imagine that Your ways make no sense, are beyond sane thought. Give us obedient trust. “God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain” (Lutheran Service Book, 765, 3).

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister” (John 19:25). Dearest Savior, when a mother sees her child dying, remind her of Your mother’s grief. Give her heart hope in Your outcome, just as Mary saw her tears turned to gladness. After Your resurrection, “All…with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus” (Acts 1:14).

“Jesus answered them, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother’” (Mark 3:33-34). Dearest Lord Jesus, when You come again, may each of us found to be your brother and sister and mother! Amen.

The Meyer Minute for May 7, 2015

Thinking about our Bible habits…

There have been three great communication revolutions in history. The first was the invention of the alphabet. That enabled spoken words to be written down with the result that slowly, very slowly, some people began to communicate through reading, as well as through sound. It is estimated that in the first century A.D., the time when the New Testament was written, only 10% of people in the Roman Empire could read. Therefore the vast majority of Christians received the Word of God through hearing, not reading. “Faith comes from hearing” (Romans 10:17).

The second major revolution was the invention of the printing press in the 15^th century. Slowly it became possible for the general population to have printed materials and Western countries, like ours, became predominantly literate. This meant that you could get information from a book; you didn’t have to hear it over and over and memorize it. The Word of God became identified with the “Bible,” a Greek word that means “book.” Hence most church people today are conditioned to assume God speaks to us through the printed word.

If your church prints out the Bible readings, look around while Scripture is read. Most people are following the printed copy. That’s a result of the second revolution, the printing press. Or this: When you read the Bible devotionally, you read it, ponder it, and then close the book. Maybe the thought sticks with you during the day; maybe not. Whether privately or in church, that’s not the way the Word of God originally came to people. Rather than reading and laying a book down, people heard the Word over and over and they memorized portions, took Scripture into their being. We are subtly tempted to make God’s Word something we read but do not take into our being by repeated hearing and memory.

The third communication revolution? The digital revolution, and we’re in the midst of it. How will this change our assumptions and habits about the Word of God? “Pay attention to what you hear” (Mark 4:24).