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Higher Things
Inside this issue:
• Social Networks: Facebook and MySpace • Is It a Sin if You Don’t Get Caught? • Breathtaking Blurbs from Blogs W W W. H I G H E RT H I N G S . O R G
/ SUMMER / 2006
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We’ve compiled a sampling of some notable blurbs from the Higher Things blogs. Check them out and read more online at http://blog.higherthings.org/.
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From Rev. William Cwirla on evolution: ———————————————————— Yesterday was “Evolution Sunday,” otherwise known as the Feast of St. Darwin, at enlightened churches who wanted to distinguish themselves from fundamentalists (a condition akin to leprosy in liberal circles). In honor of St. Darwin’s Day, I offer this children’s sermon. Once upon a time, a man took a long trip on a boat to a faraway island to look at birds and think about the origin of life. He came up with a theory that nothing became everything all by itself and wrote a book about it. His friends liked the book very much and began to look for all sorts of evidence to support the theory.They searched up and down, high and low to find all sorts of things that proved that nothing became everything all by itself. Soon they all got together and formed a little group called “Friends of the Theory.”They began to insist that the theory was the only possible explanation for all the evidence they had gathered to support the theory. They refused to play with anyone who questioned the theory or even to talk with them. “How can nothing do something?” an old man once asked, scratching his head. The Friends of the Theory laughed at the old man and threw stones at him and called him names.“Religious stupid head,” they yelled, which made the old man very sad. Then the Friends of the Theory went to court so that no one could say anything bad about the theory ever again. A judge ruled the theory that nothing became everything all by itself was science and not religious stupid head stuff. The Friends of the Theory were very happy with the judge.“See? Everyone agrees with us,” they said.“And anyone who doesn’t agree with us is a religious stupid head.” And that, my children, is how everyone came to believe that nothing became everything all by itself. The moral of the story is: When people believe in nothing, they will believe in anything. http://blog.higherthings.org/wcwirla/ article/1174.html
From Rachel Engebretson on being defensive: ———————————————————— Defensive. What a word. It’s the word that Christians are forced to embrace in this world. It’s usually our obligation to prove, defend, or convince others about our side. Like the unicorn theory, it’s rejected, and the burden is placed on us. In reality, however, the atheist’s argument is weaker.They believe Christianity is unrealistic, while their theories are worse. http://blog.higherthings.org/rachelee/ article/1385.html
From Pastor-Elect Ryan Fouts’ Maundy Thursday sermon: ———————————————————— But Jesus desires to be your servant.To you He says,“Unless I wash you, you have no part in me.” Unless He serves you, you have no part in Him. His washing. His service. It is He who arises from the meal. It is He who girds Himself with a towel. It is He who fills the basin and washes you clean. Don’t look at yourself—fix your eyes on Jesus. http://blog.higherthings.org/ryanfouts/ article/1391.html
And one last tidbit from Rev. William Cwirla on the Gospel of Judas: ———————————————————— The Gospel of Judas is one of many “gospels” written under the name of an apostle, like the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Philip.They may as well be the Gospel of Moe, Larry, and Curly for all their authenticity.These are the works of various sects of Gnosticism, a pernicious heresy that crept into Christianity like a virus in the latter part of the first century and turned into a fullblown disease in the second and third.The Gospel according to St. John (I’m talking about the actual Gospel according to the real St. John) has the beginnings of Gnosticism in full view, as do the later epistles of Paul along with Jude and Peter. http://blog.higherthings.org/wcwirla/ article/1372.html
T A B L E
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Contents
Volume 6/Number 2 • Summer 2006
FEATURES
COLUMNS
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12 Dare To Be Lutheran: Dare To Be Simple
Is It a Sin if I Don’t Get Caught? By Rev. Paul R. Harris What if you consider cheating but don’t do it? Or what if you actually do cheat, but no one catches you? Was it still wrong? Pastor Harris gives us the lowdown on sin and its consequences.
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“Pastor, I Heard God Speak to Me” By Rev. George F. Borghardt III Has God spoken to you lately? Does He still speak audibly to us like He did to Adam and Eve? Pastor Borghardt explains where God speaks to you today.
10 Myths about Faith By Rev. Erik Rottmann Pastor Rottmann debunks some well-known myths about faith and explains what faith really is and why it matters.
22 People Are Like Sponges By Zack Stuckwisch What do sinners have in common with dry, useless sponges? Read Zack Stuckwisch’s discussion of our sin, God’s forgiveness, and the blessings of Baptism to find out.
24 It’s Complicated with Facebook By Tyler Williams Are you addicted to MySpace? Is your relationship with Facebook a little too serious? Check out Tyler Williams’ article about online social networks, and discover their advantages and disadvantages.
25 A Bunch of Do-Do By Rev. Craig Donofrio Doo-doo has a nasty smell, but what does that have to do with “doing” good works? Pastor Donofrio clues us in on why we are completely dependent on Christ for our salvation.
28 Open Book, Open Mind By Adriane Dorr Before you plop down to watch TV, consider picking up a book first. To find out why Christians need to engage their brain, read on!
By Rev. Tim Pauls Are you tempted by all the shiny, enticing things other denominations have to offer? Pinch yourself to see if you’re still alive, and then read Pastor Pauls’ article on why Lutheran worship centers around Christ crucified and why that message is all for you.
14 Confessing Christ on Campus Since 1517 By Rev. Marcus Zill Most colleges and universities today are known for being unfriendly to Christians. In this new column, Pastor Zill explores ideas about how you can help restore a Lutheran presence on these campuses.
16 Sloppy Fries for Sloppy Lives By Kathy Luder Some days it seems that life just isn’t fair. Kathy Luder had one of those days, and she shares a personal story about resentment, forgiveness, and lunch ladies.
20 Mining the Riches: Flood of Grace By Rev. J. Bart Day Our Lord brings us from death to life through Baptism. Pastor Day’s commentary explains how God uses simple means like water to do His life-saving work.
26 Pulse: 24 By Sandra Ostapowich Who is the superhero on Superman’s lunchbox? Jack Bauer of 24, of course! Tune in to learn more about one of the season’s hottest TV shows.
30 Catechism: A Quick Fast By Rev. David Petersen What? Put down my granola bar and fast before the Lord’s Supper? Are you crazy? Read Pastor Petersen’s article on why proper preparation before Holy Communion is so beneficial.
Also in this issue: Higher Things thanks Artist Tom DuBois of Houston, Texas, for contributing the art that appears on the cover of this issue and also on pages 20-21. We look forward to more of his art in the future.
2 Blurbs from the Blogs 9 Talkback 19 News and Notes Back Cover: Information on the 2007 Higher Things conferences, “For You!”
HigherThings Interim Editors REV. TIM PAULS REV. ERIK ROTTMANN Interim Managing Editor JULIE STIEGEMEYER Assistant Editor ADRIANE DORR Art Director STEVE BLAKEY
Editorial Associates REV. PAUL BEISEL REV. GEORGE F. BORGHARDT REV. DAVID PETERSEN
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 LYNNETTE FREDERICKSEN Subscriptions Manager CYNTHIA HALL
Subscriptions Assistant CHRIS HALL
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Christ on Campus Executive REV. MARCUS ZILL
Conferences Executive REV. BRUCE KESEMAN
Internet Services Executive REV. GEORGE F. BORGHARDT Interim Publications Executive MOLLIE ZIEGLER
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Retreat Executive LANDON REED
_____ Board of Directors President REV. KLEMET
PREUS
Vice President REV. WILLIAM Secretary SANDRA
CWIRLA
OSTAPOWICH
Treasurer LYNN FREDERICKSEN
BRUCE PARADIS REV. RICHARD RESCH JEFF SCHWARZ BEVERLY YAHNKE MOLLIE ZIEGLER ___________
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 2006. Printed in the United States. Postage paid at Fort Wayne, Indiana. For subscription information and questions, call 260-357-5094 or e-mail subscriptions@higherthings.org. (This phone number is only used for subscriptions queries.) For letters to the editor, write letters@higherthings.org. Writers: you may submit manuscripts to: submissions@higherthings.org. Please check http://higherthings.org/ magazine/writers.html for writers’ guidelines and theme lists.
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f you don't get caught in a lie, did you really sin? If you don't get caught stealing, is it really breaking the Seventh Commandment? Sometimes we don't think those private cruises we book on the Lust Boat really matter. No harm, no foul. We might be able to live this way if God had just stopped at eight commandments.
In the Large Catechism, Luther says God gave the last two commandments especially to people like you: people who go to church, who are involved in youth group, and who haven’t been zapped by the first eight commandments. The last two commandments tell us that sinful desires alone qualify as sin. Even if you never acted on that lustful thought you had, even if you got away with it, it’s still sin before God and subject to punishment both now and in eternity. You’ve probably wondered why God has two commandments saying,“You shall not covet.” Maybe your Baptist friends, who combine the Ninth and Tenth Commandments into one, are right about this. The Reformed way is intriguing. What real difference is there between coveting your neighbor’s house, wife, workers, or animals? The difference is in the Hebrew word for covet. The word covet in the Ninth Commandment means “You shall not cause yourself to covet.” In other words, don’t play with a single sinful desire in your mind. Don’t act as if it really doesn’t matter because it seems that no one else knows about it. That lust, that covetous desire to want one thing more, is sin in all its ugliness and damnableness. Even if you were a quadriplegic and unable to lift a hand or speak a word, having one single lewd thought in your life is enough to damn you to hell for all eternity. But it never stops at one, does it? Once that one little thought of lust pops into your mind, there’s a cascading effect. It’s like someone launched a computer virus in your mind. Thought after thought rushes in, and you become tainted, ruined, defiled by lust after lust. This is what our Lord points out in the two commandments that expose the sin of coveting. The Ninth Commandment tells us not to covet a single thing. The Tenth Commandment says that we’re not to go along with those lustful thoughts, since they get out of hand so quickly.
Sin
Is It a
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How convicted you are! You didn’t resist the first impulse to sin. You went along with it, and it exploded into a hundred others. It’s like when you were five years old in the grocery store and touched that one can. You weren’t prepared for the avalanche of cans that followed. You were scared by it. It’s the same with sin. The Tenth Commandment makes a lie out of the belief that it’s not a sin if you get away with it. You can’t believe you got away with something when your own mind convicts you. Indulging in one secret lust allows a dozen more to multiply. How do you get those thoughts out of your mind? Here’s where you can take a fatal step. It’s illustrated by this overused story. A woman keeps interrupting the Sunday service by praying out loud,“Clear the cobwebs out of my mind, Lord. Clear the cobwebs out of my mind.” She does this for several weeks. Finally, after pleading with God to get the cobwebs out of her mind yet again, a man in the back says loudly,“No, Lord, don’t clear the cobwebs out. Just kill the spider.” So far, so good. It’s not enough to clear the cobwebs of lusts out of your mind. The spider that causes them must also be killed. The problem comes when you start to think that you can kill the spider yourself.You’re convinced that if you just think good thoughts, then you won’t have lusts, or that if you just repent of thinking it’s not a sin if you get away with it, then the spider will be killed. But whenever we’re thrown back on our own works—whether we try harder, repent more sincerely, or attempt to believe more—we’re being thrown to the Law, and it will have its way with us. Law that’s not answered by Gospel does one of two things. It either makes us self-righteous, and we think that we have killed the spider, or we begin to despair and start to believe that the spider is too big to kill. Sometimes the devil likes us to know what sin looks like before we commit it, and he makes that sin appear small. It seems like it’s a tiny spider that you can kill anytime you want. He might even lead us to believe that it’s not really a spider at all, since no one else can see it. The devil also operates in a second way. He makes the sin appear to be bigger after we commit it. When we see that our sin has been By Rev. Paul R. Harris magnified, we despair that it’s such a big spider that even God can’t kill or forgive it. So now that secret little sin of yours, that one you thought you could get away with, is a big, honking, furry spider. What now? The answer is not for you to kill the spider but for God to take care of it. Sin is damnable whether you get away with it or not and whether others know you committed it or not. But no sin is so big, so lewd, so strong that the blood Jesus shed on Calvary cannot cover it, forgive it, or free you from it. No sin of yours can withstand the blood of Jesus sprinkled on you in Baptism, put into your ears by Absolution, or put in your mouth in Communion. God tells you one thing about all your sins that can be applied two different ways. First, you are never alone with your sin. Second, in the Law, no sins are ever so small they are not seen by Him, and in the Gospel, no sin is left unpaid for or unforgiven. When sin looks like a small spider, hear the Law. When sin looks like a giant one, hear the Gospel.
if I Don’t Get Caught?
Rev. Paul R. Harris is the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Austin,Texas. He is the father of one college student, two teens, and one wannabe. All he loves; none he understands; all he rejoices over.You can e-mail him at pastorharris@trinityaustin.com.
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Sloppy Fries for
Sloppy Lives By Kathy Luder
was in the lunch line with Molly.They were serving sloppy joes over fries, which was considered a “good”meal. It is the most palatable dish offered at our school. It was a crass tactical ploy on behalf of the cafeteria staff. Right after lunch I was headed into negotiations with Mrs. Zaftig on behalf of the student council. Mrs. Zaftig is the head lunch lady, as well as my Sunday School teacher.The student council was hoping I could get her stick to more teen-friendly fare.
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Molly was shifting from foot to foot and standing on her tip-toes, scanning the tables. “Who are you looking for?” I asked. “Susan. She called last night. She’s bringing Jared for a visit. Are there corn dogs today?” she said. Our friend Susan got pregnant last summer right after her sophomore year. Her boyfriend, Mark, the star of the basketball team, is the father. Jared was born a few months ago. “Corn dogs are bad for you,” I said.“Wasn’t Susan here last week?” “This is where her friends are, Kathy. Where else would she be? I don’t know why you think she should be punished,” she said. “I don’t think she should be punished,” I said.“Who puts sloppy joes over fries anyway? This is the best they can do?” “Maybe they’re out of buns.This cafeteria is to culinary arts what Nazi death camps were to medicine.You should really let Mrs. Z have it.This is just wrong,” Molly said. She turned to me.“Why is it that whenever Susan is here you get all moody?” “She’s here every week. It’s hardly a big event,” I said, attempting to keep the crankiness out of my voice. I tried to lighten things up.“Those sloppy fries don’t look too bad.” I maneuvered toward the serving window.
“Or a burrito? At least with frozen burritos you know what you’re getting.” Molly looked at me.“Why shouldn’t Susan be here every week? Mark is still here. He’s still on the basketball team. He gets to walk at graduation. How come it is so different for him?” “I don’t know. Maybe it shouldn’t be,” I said. “Yeah? Well, maybe they should just let them both be here. Why would that be so hard? Show a little forgiveness. They could put up a daycare. Or just let her bring Jared to class. He’s so good that it wouldn’t be that big of a deal,” she said as she placed two waxy burritos on her tray. “You’re right. It’s not fair,” I said, gesturing to the lunch lady to give me the sloppy fries.“Jared is the cutest baby I’ve ever seen,” I admitted. “Mrs. Zaftig is waiting,” the lunch lady said to me. I could see her sitting at her desk in her office in the back of the kitchen. I figured I might as well get it over with. “Tell Susan I said ‘hi,’ and give Jared a kiss for me,” I said to Molly as I took my tray through the kitchen to Mrs. Zaftig’s desk. “Hi, Kathy,” said Mrs. Zaftig with a huge smile.“What’s on
es
your mind?” This wasn’t our first meeting.The student council always had complaints, but nothing seemed to get under Mrs. Zaftig’s skin. It was obvious she loved her job. “Not much,” I said as I sat down with my tray on my lap. “Some of the kids don’t like the food. Last week’s tuna meatballs weren’t very popular. Sloppy fries won’t make up for that.” “Is something the matter—more than tuna meatballs? You look like you’re going to be sick,” she said. “I don’t know. I’m not hungry. ” “Not hungry! It’s sloppy fries day. Everyone loves sloppy
fries,” she said.“We’ve known each other a long time, Kathy.The kids always complain about the food. You’re not moping because of tuna meatballs are you?” “Susan and Jared are here.” “Ahh,” she said.“So is that why you came straight back instead eating with Molly?” “I guess,” I said. “You want to tell me about it?” she said, clearing a place on her desk for my tray. “Why am I not happy for them?” I asked. “I don’t know. Why should you be? ” she asked. “Susan did the right thing. She didn’t have an abortion. Jared is a beautiful baby,” I said. “Yes. So?” “It just doesn’t seem fair. Susan’s mom watches Jared while Susan works at the grocery store. Her parents even bought her a car. She’s smart, and she’ll get her GED three months before the rest of her class even graduates. She’s a grown-up.The kids around here act like she is a celebrity. And nobody even cares about Mark’s part in it,” I said. “Are you jealous?” she asked. “No. Maybe. I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem, I don’t know, fair,” I said. “What’s not fair?” “Look. I am not saying that Susan should be punished.
But shouldn’t there be some consequences?” I asked. “There have been consequences.You just don’t see them.” “Yeah, I know. She can’t play volleyball or walk,” I said. “That is not what I meant. Sin is always messy. It always complicates our lives. It might seem like it’d be great to be an adult early and get out of school, but Susan is missing out.” “Yeah? What’s she missing?” “Her childhood. High school.You think she likes working at a grocery store? She’s here so much because she misses it. She realizes what she’s lost,” she said. “I don’t think so,” I grumbled.“It looks pretty cushy to me.” “I bet she doesn’t enjoy the celebrity status around here as much as you think. She probably longs for her old life,” she said. “I suppose,” I said.“It still doesn’t seem fair somehow.” “There are two extreme reactions that Satan would enjoy. What do you think they are?” she asked. “I know he’d love us to be harsh. He’d love us to condemn Susan and shun her.” “Right. What is the opposite extreme?” “He always wants us to accept sin, to pretend like it’s good.” “Right. Now I am just a lunch lady.The faculty don’t include me, but I think they struggled with this situation. And I think they did okay with Susan and Mark. It’s hard to find the middle ground. It’s never fair. It is rarely very satisfying. We always wish it were a little cleaner. But Susan is your sister in Christ, and her sins, no matter how great and how many, were paid for by the sacrifice and death of Christ. It may seem unfair to us that God accepts sinners, but if that were not the case then we would all be in a load of trouble, wouldn’t we?” “I know. I’m sorry. It’s not about fair, is it?” “I don’t have to tell you, Kathy.You were always my best Sunday School student.” “Thanks, Mrs. Z. I’ll try harder.” “Don’t sweat it, Kathy. You’re doing fine. Jesus loves you too,” she said, and for a split second, I felt myself on the verge of tears. Mrs. Zaftig always made me feel good, like I belonged. Suddenly she jumped up, put her arm around my shoulder and said,“Okay. No more tuna meatballs. Problem solved. Tell the student council you won the day. Maybe we’ll have more negotiations. I think this was good. Now go eat lunch with your friends, and I’ll see you Sunday.” “Thanks,” I said again and walked back to sit with Molly. As I sat down to eat, the sloppy fries didn’t look so bad after all.
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Kathy Luder believes grace is the best sauce of all, able even to make tuna meatballs palatable. You can reach her at KathyLuder@hotmail.com.
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