Numbers Don't Lie--Or Do They?

The political season is all revved up. Ads, phone calls, and junk mail are taking up time, space, and attention. I am so tired of it all--the half truths, innuendoes, and political posturing. The news media spends much of its valuable time covering this rat race. The other big story is the economy. Are we doing better? Are we doing worse? What is the outlook for the next year? Power and money, numbers and manipulation. Everything focused on changing some number, some count, some indicator. Its all about numbers.

This world runs on numbers. Most of our attention is on counting numbers--seeking to get more money, or lower that cholesterol number, or drop those pounds we gained last year, or pay off that student loan, or save for a vacation, or hope for a better job evaluation, or raise our grade average, and so on. Even in the church we find that numbers count--the size of the offerings, the number of people attending Adult classes and Divine Worship, the number of Baptisms. So, before I criticize numberolatry, please understand that I understand that we cannot get away from numbers. They are everywhere because it is one of the main ways in which we evaluate things.

Recently Matt Harrison was elected, and will assume his duties tomorrow, as President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. (Elections rely on numbers too!) His election can be accounted for by a reaction against the wrong use of numbers on the one hand and a desire to recapture a faithful confession and practice within the LCMS on the other. God grant him the grace and wisdom to be a faithful confessional pastor to us all!

The previous administration had emphasized church growth/seeker friendly theories and methodologies. A central aspect of that movement focuses on numbers--how to attract larger numbers to the church. It drives their methodologies. Thus, the Law is toned down, the Gospel muddied, the Sacraments are confused, "how to" sermons predominate, musical content is replaced by catchy praise bands. We are all familiar with the standard package designed to sell the church. The whole point is to attract crowds. But what attracts crowds becomes the means of keeping them also. What happens to content, to the message when crowds are the point?

We were told that we must change or die. (Who is the Lord of the Church anyway?) So the new methods would save us! They would lead onward and upward to new heights of glory! The call was to do something different. The liturgy holding up the Word and Sacraments was not enough. They are old hat. We've moved on. Our society doesn't relate to them. My question is this--what establishes the Church and keeps it? Is it not Christ and his Word?

I believe this perversion of the church has happened in our country because we have adopted political/business models for the church. In so doing we are trying to control things. We want a positive change in numbers. This requires power to do it our way. Centralization of authority, muting the opposition, doing whatever works to attract more people. Look at the bottom line, the numbers don't lie. Or do they?

The Church is a unique. We live in the world but are not of the world. We are to be harmless like sheep. Using brute power is not our way. We are to be wise, but not deceptive or manipulative. Our only weapon in the battle for hearts and minds is the Word of God. We are simply witnesses to the truth in word and deed. But it is God who changes hearts not our methods. The simple message of the Gospel is powerful because the Spirit of God is at work through it. Of this we can be certain even when the numbers don't seem to be there!

If we want to evaluate ourselves--which I don't think is that useful other than in confession and absolution, and in preparation for the Lord's Supper--what standard can we use? Attendance, the budget, the bank account, our facilities? Would it not be better to evaluate ourselves at the one point in which God requires it of us? "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (1 Cor.4:2) We are called to be faithful to the mysteries of God. This means first of all faith in God's Word and faithfulness in our proclamation of that Word in our preaching, our teaching, our music, our practices, our personal witness. Everything should focus on getting the message right and getting it out. Each of us has a part in this through word and deed, both as congregations and individuals. And even if we have a heart to do this, we won't get it right all of the time. But God is greater than our failures. He is greater than our best attempts. He is greater than our successes! He alone is the Mighty God, the Lord, the Captain of the Host.

In the Old Testament two interesting narratives of counting heads occurred. In the book of Numbers there are two census takings, Num. 1:2-46 and Num. 26:2-62. This records all the men of fighting age by families. The story between the first and second census is the story of human failure and unfaithfulness to God. The reason for the census is to show that God means what he says. God's evaluation of this story is found at the end of the second census, "But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun." (Num. 26:64-65) Why were Joshua and Caleb allowed to survive their generation? Because they were faithful. They trusted God's promise even when it was not popular, even when they faced the threat of death (Num. 14:6-10). The second account records David's census of the people (2 Sam. 24). This is also a narrative about God's judgment upon his people. God was angry with them because of their rebellion against God's anointed king. In the pride of his heart David wanted to know how great he had become once his kingdom was restored to him. The plague that resulted was curtailed only by God's mercy. As a result of this David built an altar on the place where the plague was stopped. That threshing floor later became the site of Solomon's Temple.

Pride, rebellion, and unfaithfulness are themes of these stories. They are warnings to us that our prideful rebellion and unfaithfulness is an ever present temptation even to persons who are otherwise people "after God's own heart." We may think we can do it our way, in our strength, for our aggrandizement. If we think this we are going to die as a church. The change needed is not new methods but repentance for our sins and faith toward God. But a greater theme of these stories is God's mercy. In his mercy he gave David a kingdom and a promise. The Temple was built. Into that Temple the Son of God, David's greater Son, came to proclaim the Kingdom of heaven. Upon that mountain the Lord Jesus paid the price for our sins, including our prideful rebellion and unfaithfulness. So we have life, not death. God's promise to us is sure even when the numbers don't say so!

A Skunk at the Garden Party

Positive news from the LCMS Synodical Convention—Matt Harrison has been elected as the new President of the synod. This change at the top is a reason to rejoice, not because of political power issues, but because President Elect Harrison has exhibited a firm commitment to the Holy Scriptures and to the Lutheran Confessions, has sounded a needed note of repentance, and emphasizes the Gospel message proclaimed through Word and Sacraments, which is illustrated in acts of mercy to our neighbor. God have mercy upon us to give us all repentance and a renewed dedication to the faith we have received in Christ.

As much as I rejoice in this, I have some concerns. Within the Synod there are deep divisions. At every level within the synod there are those who have embraced ideas and practices which are not in keeping with the Scriptures and the Confessions. I am concerned that they may not respond to President Elect Harrison's leadership. I am even more concerned that they may seek to undermine his call to return to our traditional theology and practice. As he has stated, his leadership will not be through coercion. If God does not grant us mercy and repentance we can expect these individuals and congregations to continue on a path that will lead them into doctrines and practices even further removed from orthodox Christianity.

Furthermore, I am concerned that the political world view is so entrenched in the synod on both sides of the issues that many will be incapable of hearing the Word of God when it rebukes our pride, our greed, our stubborn rebellion, and our hunger for control. Political thinking looks at everything pragmatically. It focuses on what promotes our agenda, our influence, our power. These things are contrary to God's purposes. We may find ourselves thinking that we are doing a service to God when in reality we are his enemies. If we continue to think that we are okay and that our agendas are God's will how can we see the need to repent?

I am truly concerned that this task is overwhelming. My only plea is that God have mercy upon us and that he strengthen our Pastor Harrison! The Lord be with your spirit!

I do not want to be a skunk at the garden party. But we need to be aware of the enormity of the task and the importance of the issues. If the LCMS is not to become part of a footnote concerning those church bodies who have turned away from the Word of God and faded into obscurity, we must all repent.

Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O LORD,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’” Joel 2:17 (ESV)

Difficult Questions?

If you are a political junky like me you know that the phrase, "That's a difficult question," is often used by politicians when they are asked questions on a hot button issue. The purpose of the phrase is multifaceted. This statement makes the person look to be thoughtful, intelligent, and informed. The statement gives the person a moment to collect thoughts without looking like he is unsure how to answer. The statement may signal that the person answering is aware that the hearers may not like his answer. It is an easing into a reply. Sometimes the statement is preparatory for a non-answer, political doublespeak, or obfuscation. This is to be expected when political leaders speak. They are often trying to hang onto polling numbers and power through the path of least resistance. That is, they speak with an eye on the weather vane of public opinion. Such courage and forthrightness! Such fearless leadership!

This kind of language also finds its way into the religious realm and seemingly for the same kinds of reasons that politicians use it. Shamefully religious leaders have adopted the political model of leadership. When the Vatican has spoken about priests abusing children their responses were often couched in carefully worded non-answers. The ELCA's recent acceptance of homosexual priests was laughably attributed to a "bound conscience" which was a shameful misquote of Luther's statement at the Diet of Worms. In defense of this absurd action the difficult question apologia was used. Emergent/Emerging leaders are artists at speaking out of both sides of their mouths. They can accept almost anything as truth except orthodox Christianity as expressed in the Scriptures and the Creeds. This mindset of avoiding clearly stated commitment to right doctrine and practice can be found almost anywhere you look in American Christianity. We are afraid to speak plainly. The cultural ethos of so-called tolerance and pc-speech effects too many Christian pastors and leaders.

The problem is a lack of the courage of our convictions. We are terrified of the accusations that we are being intolerant, narrow minded, ignorant, and bigoted. We don't want to appear to be insensitive to the feelings and opinions of others. (Perhaps we should be more concerned with the eternal destiny of others!) In the process of avoiding giving any offense we dilute our message into meaningless drivel. How sadly this contrasts with the exhortations found in God's Word to speak and testify clearly about what God says. I cite the following Biblical texts from the ESV with my own summary headings.

Speaking with authority because we speak God's Word: 1 Pet. 4:10-11 "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God...."

No double talk: 2 Cor. 1:19 "For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes."

A clear message: 1 Cor. 14:8-9 "And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air."

Pleasing God: 1 Th. 2:3-4 "For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts."

Most of the crucial issues we face in the public square, around the water cooler, or over the back fence are not difficult questions. Even if we don't have a Biblical answer for a particular question, we can always go find it and bring a clear answer to those with whom we interact. We have in the Bible God's truth about the issues we face and God's answer to the real need in each person's life through the sinless life and atoning death of Jesus Christ for us all. We are witnesses, not politicians. A witness bears testimony to the truth regardless of what anyone else might think. So, we speak in order to testify about Christ, not to make ourselves look good. We speak clearly and truthfully because the so-called "difficult questions" have their ultimate answer in the Cross.

Two Tiered Christianity

Throughout the history of the church there have been movements that attempted to promote a two tiered view of the church. The gnostic heresies talked of those without liberating knowledge, the unenlightened, and those "in the know." Today such ideas can be seen in differentiating between believers and seekers, believers and Christ followers. The monastic movement saw a difference between those concerned with living every day lives and those who separated themselves to chastity, poverty, and obedience within the cloister. The radicals of the Reformation proposed doing away with every vestige of the medieval church. They sought to return to primitive christian practices, believer's baptism, and a holiness based in the Law of God. These ideas are around today in popular American evangelicalism. Dichotomies such as: Jesus as only Savior or Jesus as also Lord, a christian or a disciple, weak believers or mature believers, cheap grace or costly grace, carnality or Spirit baptism, etc.

I do not dismiss some of the distinctions made in the past. But have you noticed one glaring problem? The distinctions in our perceptions about ourselves and others all revolve around us and what we do. We must seek gnosis. We must be Christ followers. We must separate ourselves from the world. We must make Jesus Lord. We must go beyond being merely a christian and become a disciple. We must show that we appreciate the cost of grace by our lives of sacrifice. We must be Spirit filled and speak in tongues. Each of these distinctions, that focus on what we do in contrast to others who don't, feeds our pride. We are better than them. We are mature. They are still babies. Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 10:12 "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

When we compare ourselves to one another of course we can find others who don't measure up to "our standard." Believe me, that many of those who don't measure up are aware. We don't let them forget. Some of them will eventually become despondent. They will walk away from the church. We will have committed a grave sin of pushing sinners away from God. You think this is unreasonable and overstated. I am one of those who could have walked away. I knew many who did. The common factor was the bait and switch move from the Gospel to the Law. Sola gratia, sola fide, solus Christus changes to our own efforts to keep a self imposed list of rules, even rules based soundly in Scripture, in order to be all we can be. Those who think they have attained some measure of success in doing so feel good about themselves and their attainments.

After all a disciple, so the argument goes, is self-disciplined. Get with it! Just try harder. Develop good habits. Get off your lazy butt and do what God commands. However, the transfer of discipline, and hence self-discipline, from the term disciple is illegitimate. It is based in English not Greek. In Greek the term disciple, mathetes, at its most basic meaning is "a learner, a pupil." One could say that for a christian the focus should be on the One teaching us through his Word. Who talks about or remembers a great teacher's pupil? The focus is on the Teacher!

In the Bible there is no distinction between a christian and a disciple. In The Gospels the term disciple, mathetes, is almost exclusively used of the twelve. The Gospels do not present a flattering picture of the twelve. They look and act a lot like us with their jealousy, pride, selfishness, and even unbelief. In Acts the term expands to include all believers. In Acts 11:26 the term christianos is equivalent to mathetes, "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Paul, the apostle who was certainly a disciple, called himself the chief of sinners (in the present tense not past tense, 1 Tim. 1:15). He showed the struggle he had against a contrary law in his members at conflict with what he wanted and should do (Rom. 7:23). I can understand Paul's struggle. The longer I have been a christian the less holy I feel. I see so much more about me that doesn't measure up to God's absolute standard. Perhaps the problem with two tiered christianity is simply that we think in the wrong terms. We are measuring ourselves by the wrong standard. We pick a standard that we can achieve either by actually doing it or by fudging a bit and excusing ourselves from perfection. In our pride we deceive ourselves that we actually do what God expects! But if we measured ourselves against perfection which of us could claim any level of attainment? "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"

Luther taught that the christian life is a life of repentance. When we truly measure ourselves by God's standard we can fully understand why he said this. In fact, we don't know the half of it. I am sure that I don't always recognize when I fall short of God's standard. This is especially true when it concerns doing good works. In my opinion we need forgiveness as much for our good works as we do for our sins! I need forgiveness for this blog and for my last sermon! Perhaps we should say that even our best works are tainted and corrupted by sin. Good news! Christ didn't just die for our sins. He lived for us. In Heb. 5:8 it says, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered." The term "learned" in Greek is manthano. Guess what term it is closely related to? Your right, the term is a cognate (very closely related term) of the term disciple, mathetes. Christ's perfect obedience before God is the perfection of what we call discipleship! Though I could never be the perfect disciple, Jesus was, for me! So, even though we try hard, we fail to be what God wants us to be. Thank God Jesus served God without sin for us. Therefore God forgives my imperfect obedience in Christ.

Then why do any good works? Why go to church, why study the Bible, why do good deeds for others? We go to church and study the Bible to learn from Christ and receive his gifts. We do good deeds for our neighbor in order to bear testimony of our gracious Lord. In all of this as christians, as disciples, we live in God's forgiveness for all of our sins, even those that are called good works. We all live in the same forgiveness as sinners saved by grace alone!