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Contents T A B L E
O F
Volume 5/Number 3 • Fall 2005
FEATURES
COLUMNS
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16 Ladybug Lies and Sliding Shirts
Heaven: Why It Doesn’t Matter By Rev. George F. Borghardt III
By Kathy Luder
HigherThings
Handling Hell By Seminarian Ryan Fouts
Kathy helps her friend Molly with fashion tips, dating advice, and learns a lesson about letting it slide.
Executive Editor REV. TODD PEPERKORN
Do you think about heaven and hell? Are you nervous about your eternity? Read a pair of articles by Pastor Borghardt and Seminarian Fouts to think about eternity beyond the grave.
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Dare To Be Lutheran Conference Photos Equal to the Apostles By Rev. Dr. Norman Nagel
“DTBL rocked!” one participant gushed. See how awesome it was in this photo collage, and get a taste of the worship life at DTBL by reading the sermon preached by Dr. Nagel at the DTBL Divine Service at Concordia Seminary.
10 Having Ears to Hear By Rev. William M. Cwirla
Do you come to church with ears to hear what God will say to you? Or do you plan on power napping during the sermon? Pastor Cwirla lends some thoughts on exactly how to listen to a sermon. Lend him your ear.
12 From the Manger to the Stable: Finding the Truth in Narnia By Dr. Angus Menuge
Many people are becoming reacquainted with C.S. Lewis’s fantasy world due to the upcoming movie based on his novel “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” Dr. Menuge reflects on some of what Narnia represents. Take a look. It might be more than you know.
14 Cosmetic Surgery: Reality Check By Darren Eliker Cosmetic surgery, reality TV’s hottest trend, blends fairytale beauty with ordinary looks. Darren Eliker’s article helps us think about beauty, reality, and finding contentment in Christ.
20 MINING THE RICHES: Enslaved, Seduced, and Shackled: And ‘The LORD was with Joseph’ By Rev. Peter Cage In Genesis we read about Joseph’s long saga: being sold to slave traders, betrayed by brothers, falsely accused, and imprisoned— and the Lord was with Joseph?? Pastor Cage brings these Bible stories into clear focus as he reflects on Joseph’s vocations and God’s never-failing care.
23 The Concordia, 425 years later By Dr. Gene Edward Veith
Reflecting on the publication of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions—A Reader’s Edition of the Book of Concord, Dr. Veith finds that our Lutheran teachings have stood the test of time and boldly proclaimed our Savior.
25 Ex Cathedra Ex Cathedra readers ask important questions about making the sign of the cross, being addicted to Internet porn, and what to do if you suspect a friend is struggling with mental illness.
26 Pulse: Video Games—Owned! By Rev. Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr.
Ever been owned in a video game? If you know what that means, you might be a gaming fanatic like Dr. Rast. Read on to see who owns you.
30 Catechism: The Promise of the Law: Blessings in Time By Rev. David Petersen
God gives us the law to curb our sin and fight against our natural tendency to do wrong. But are there also blessings in obeying the law?
Also in this issue: 22 Letters to the editor 22 You’re All Invited to Survivor Confirmation 24 News and Notes 28 Photo Contest Results 28 Lower Things: A Bit of Humor
Assistant Editor JULIE STIEGEMEYER Editorial Assistant ADRIANE DORR Art Director STEVE BLAKEY
Editorial Associates REV. GEORGE BORGHARDT REV. TIM PAULS REV. DAVID PETERSEN REV. ERIK ROTTMANN
III
Bible Studies Editor REV. TIMOTHY SCHELLENBACH Contributing Editors REV. ERIC ANDRAE PAM KNEPPER KATHY LUDER REV. SCOTT STIEGEMEYER DR. GENE EDWARD VEITH Business Manager LYNN FREDERICKSEN Subscriptions Manager CYNTHIA HALL
Subscriptions Assistant CHRIS HALL
Board of Directors President REV. KLEMET
Vice President REV. MARCUS Secretary SANDRA
PREUS ZILL
OSTAPOWICH
Treasurer LYNN FREDERICKSEN
REV. WILLIAM CWIRLA REV. BRUCE KESEMAN SANDRA OSTAPOWICH SUE PELLEGRINI REV. KLEMET PREUS JEFF SCHWARZ MOLLIE ZIEGLER REV. MARCUS ZILL Higher Things Magazine ISSN 1539-8455 is published quarterly by Higher Things Inc., 2026 22nd Ave., Kenosha, WI 53140. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the executive editor of Higher Things Magazine. Copyright 2005. Printed in the United States. Postage paid at Fort Wayne, Indiana. For subscription information and questions, call 260-357-5094 or email subscriptions@higherthings.org.
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Equal to the Apostles by Rev. Dr. Norman E. Nagel
On July 21, 2005, during the Dare To Be Lutheran Higher Things conference, twelve hundred people attended Divine Service at the Chapel of St.Timothy and St.Titus on the campus of Concordia Seminary. Rev.Todd Peperkorn presided as Celebrant, and the Rev. Dr. Norman E. Nagel preached for the Festival of St. Mary Magdeline on the text Luke 7:36–50.This is the text of his sermon.
t’s risky, it really is, to invite Jesus in as Simon discovered. He had heard about Jesus. Everybody has heard something about Jesus. But that something might be just about enough—enough to have sorted Him out, got His number, put Him in His place, nice Jesus. More might be risky. He is so difficult to keep under control.
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Simon was going to have a closer look at Jesus. He might find him useful. Luke tells of Jesus as one whom you cannot fool. He knows what’s coming at Him, but that doesn’t stop Him. He accepts Simon’s invitation. Simon doesn’t realize what he is in for. He expects to measure Jesus up and decide what’s the use of Him. What happens is that Simon is the one who gets judged, and that with Jesus you can’t play measurements. Simon was the host. He would call the shots according to his rules. Jesus would be at the receiving end of the way Simon played it. What spoils his game, what shouldn’t have happened, is this woman off the street with a very poor reputation. She would never be invited to Simon’s table, but there she is, drawn in by Jesus. She came at Jesus from behind. She wanted Him to be for her. She didn’t have any chips to lay down to play any games with. She was just there, all of her. She had been played games with, games in which she hadn’t been cared about, but games that were only for having the use of her.That can be done for sex, for selling, or in all the ways people would manipulate you to their use or program. The woman had heard something of Jesus. She hoped He might not be like that. She did not attempt to work Him. She was simply there. Nothing held back to negotiate with. On His feet her tears, a sadly worn and damaged woman. Jesus knew what
with her was coming to Him. Simon came at Him to sit in judgment on Him. This woman was judged enough already. Would Jesus be different? Today’s Gospel says, yes, Jesus is different. Jesus is something else. There’s what’s in Jesus that’s nowhere else. He doesn’t play the games by which the rest of the world tries to get along. Jesus is the opposite of all that. Yet just to say what Jesus is the opposite of is to submit Him to that standard. He doesn’t suffer Himself to be measured by any of the measurements we may try out on Him. Jesus said to her,“Your sins are forgiven.” No one had ever loved her like that before. So what’s with Jesus forgiving sins? “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” Only the Lord God Himself can do that. Jesus doesn’t stop to argue with them about that. He is there for this woman—all of Him. He is such a Jesus as He gives to her.“That’s my Jesus,” says faith. He said to the woman,“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Does your faith save you or does Jesus save you? Spurious alternative. Can’t have one without the other. Loads of people try to have a Jesus, but not by faith.That’s the Jesus they have measured Him up to be, one that suits them. Faith rejoices to be given the whole of Jesus, all of Jesus,“for you,” and that is then always more and more beyond measure-
ment.There is a love beyond measure. To Simon, who is doing the measuring bit, Jesus says big sins, big forgiveness, big love. Jesus is still trying to get through to Simon, to free him up from his measurements for judging Jesus.Take a look, Simon, at the way the measurements go. How do you stack up that way? That’s all been left behind with the woman. She’s been given more Jesus than she could ever have dreamed of. Glad of such a Jesus—that’s faith.That’s the joy of faith, the joy of Jesus, the joy of those whose sins He forgives. “Go in peace”—these are the words of Jesus that He speaks to you by His use of the minister’s mouth. After, by His use of the minister’s hands, He has given into your mouth His body and His blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins, and more.Your sins are not the measurement, the size, of His love. Then leave your sins behind you, all of them, big and small. He has answered for them in your place at Calvary with His body and His blood.Take and eat, take and drink, He says, my body, my blood, given and shed for you.“Your faith has saved you.”Your Jesus has saved you beyond measure with His body and His blood.“Go in peace.” Amen. Rev. Dr. Norman E. Nagel is graduate professor of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
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SCRAPBOOK • SCRAPBOOK • SCRAPBOOK
Having Ears to Hear
How to Listen t “Don’t preach to me!” That usually means something like,“Don’t lecture me! Don’t tell me what to do! Get out of my face and leave me alone!” Let’s be honest. Listening to a sermon is not one of the more exciting activities in our lives.The apostle Paul called preaching an exercise in foolishness.The Greeks of his day were impressed by rhetoric; his fellow Jews were persuaded by miracles. But preaching a dead and risen Jesus? Foolishness! Don’t shortchange that foolish sermon, however, or that foolish preacher. Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ (Romans 10). So how do we tune those ears to hear on Sunday morning? Here are a few thoughts:
1. Ears to hear are God’s gift. We’re all born deaf to God’s Word.You can thank Adam and Eve for that.The ears screwed onto the sides of your head may work well enough, but they are not naturally inclined to hear God’s Word. Like the deaf mute in the Gospel, Jesus needs to stick His fingers into our ears and speak His ephphatha.“Be opened!” Don’t think you can improve your Gospel hearing with seven easy steps. Ears that hear the voice of Jesus are His baptismal gift to you.They used to stick fingers in the ears of the newly baptized and say,“Ephphatha.” It probably tickled. We don’t do that anymore, but the Lord still tickles our ears with His Word to open them. It is His doing, not ours. Our “doing” is to get out of the way so the Lord can have His way. 2. Recognize that we are culturally hard of hearing.
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I don’t mean that ringing in your ears caused by blasting your iPods. I’m talking about what all that screen-staring does to our brains. TV, computers, DVD, Powerpoint, video games, movies—we’re a visually-oriented society. We don’t listen nearly as well as previous generations. Because our brains aren’t tuned to listen, we need to work a little harder to hear. Put away all those distractions— bulletins, books, cell phones, Gameboys. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep. It also helps to read the assigned Scriptures ahead of time. Surprises are for the movies, not sermons.
to a Sermon
By Rev. William M. Cwirla
3. Listen for the Law and the Gospel. Listen for the Law. It won’t make you feel good about yourself, and you may not like what you hear, but you need to hear the truth.Take what the preacher says personally. He means you, even if it seems that what he says has nothing to do with you. Listen for the Gospel—the Good News of Jesus’ death and life for your forgiveness, life, and salvation.Take the Gospel personally too. Jesus had you in mind when He hung on the cross. If you’re in doubt about that, go to individual confession and absolution. Absolution is a personal sermon preached to you alone. 4. Think. Sermons don’t expire after the Benediction. Discuss what you heard in youth group. Jot down a few insights when you get home.You might even want to keep a journal of what you hear from week to week. Discuss your insights with your pastor. We preachers love to know someone is actually listening out there.
5. Don’t expect entertainment. Sure, preachers tell stories and some use humor, but proclamation is a matter of life and death, not entertainment. Remember, this is God’s Word for you. God specifically arranged for you to hear this sermon, including dragging you out of bed, funneling some breakfast into you, and bringing you to church. Ask yourself, “What is God trying to say to me today?” Expect an answer.
6. Chill. Preachers have bad days too, just like everyone else. Hall of Fame hitters get on base only one-third of the time. Not everything Picasso painted was a masterpiece. Same goes for preachers. We’re talking ordinary means here. I’ve noticed that my off Sundays are often those days when Jesus is most clearly heard in my preaching. As John the Baptizer once said of cousin Jesus, “He must increase, and I must decrease.” How many times have you heard a sermon from which you recalled all the jokes and stories, but couldn’t remember what the point was?
7. Pray. Pray for your pastor, especially on Saturday night. Pray that he preaches Jesus, even if all he does is bore you to death with the death of Jesus. He could do worse. And pray that your ears would be opened to hear the life-giving Word that creates and keeps faith in Jesus Christ. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. Rev.William M. Cwirla is pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hacienda Heights, California.The address for his blog is http://blog.higherthings.org/wcwirla/. You can email him at pastor.holytrinity@verizon.net. F A L L 2 0 0 5 __ 11