Church Remodel

I just finished a video to update my friends on our church remodel and coffeehouse start. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP1IQ2NVVtw Be blessed! Jonathan

Jonathan's Declaration Of Intent

I intend to become a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. I do not state this flippantly. It has taken many years in the commissioned ministry to come to this point. Through this first course of study in my seminary training I have come to several significant understandings that I would like to note here. The first one is that I want to remember how and why our church is structured the way it is. Being mindful of how the Altenburg Debate in Perry County made a critical change in how our church is governed, there is a visible and invisible church. The invisible church has as its members those who truly believe in God and are only known to him. The visible church might have unbelievers in its midst but it is still a church as long as God’s Word is purely taught and His sacraments are administered. “For wherever the church is, there is the authority (command) to administer the Gospel. Therefore it is necessary for the church to retain the authority to call, elect and ordain ministers. And this authority is a gift…which no human power can wrest from the church” (Power and Primacy of the Pope p. 11). Certain men have been selected by God to serve as pastors. We see examples of this in scripture “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3: 9 – 10) and “’Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20: 21 – 23). However it is the church that has the authority to call pastors to publically administer God’s Word and sacraments. It is this divine call by God through the congregation that gives the pastor the authority to do this. “ The ministry of the Word is conferred by God through the congregation as the possessor of the ecclesiastical power, or the power of the keys, by means of its call, which God Himself has prescribed” (Church and Ministry - Klug p. 219). When the congregation calls a pastor he then may function in the public ministry.“…no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called” (AC 14). Throughout scripture it seems as though the church has been more concerned with the qualifications that a man has for the holy ministry rather than the procedures for calling him. We see lists of these qualifications in “ Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect… He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.” (1 Tim. 3: 1- 6) and “blameless…a man whose children believe…not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be…one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” (Titus 1: 6-9). A Missouri Synod Lutheran pastor is unique from pastors of other church denominations including other Lutheran denominations. He has taken a good hard look at scripture and found direct commands from Christ. Those commands are that he and his church are supposed to be about administering the Word and sacraments. He knows he can subscribe unconditionally to the scriptures and the Confessions as a pure exposition of the Word of God. “…because he recognizes the fact that they are in full agreement with Scripture and do not militate against Scripture in any point, whether the point be of major or minor importance; and that he therefore heartily believes in this divine truth and is determined to preach this doctrine” (Why Should Our Pastors, Teachers and Professors Subscribe Unconditionally to the Symbolical Writings of Our Church? CFW Walther). While other denominations emphasize healings, name-it claim-it, social causes, political causes, etc. the Missouri Synod pastor knows that his Lord commanded him to publically administer His Word and sacraments. He knows this is the most important and proper order of things. With his priorities straight he can now perform his pastoral functions. A qualified pastor is expected to perform various functions centering around administering God’s Word and sacraments and shepherding His flock. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). He is to care for the flock as individuals during all times of their lives, but most especially when they are born, when they marry, have children, become emotionally, mentally and physically sick and when they die. As a shepherd he must be there to bring them back on the right path because they can stray in to all kinds of evil that the world offers. There are many false religions and thoughts to which his sheep can become susceptible and he must teach them how to discern the truth from falsehood. When the sheep refuse to listen and turn from their sinful ways it may become necessary for the shepherd to recommend that the flock separate themselves from the offending one in order to protect the whole flock. He hopes lead the offender into repentance and back into the flock. Finally the pastor serves the flock by equipping them for effective ministry. This strengthens and expands his divine call that will help make the church grow and become stronger. All of these functions are understood in the light of the pastor being a servant. He could be characterized as a servant to the servants. He is not to flaunt his authority over the sheep but he is not to be mistreated by them either. It is obvious that the pastor cannot do any of these functions unless he remains in God’s Word. His devotional life must be foremost and he must devote much time to the study of God’s Word, the confessions and the current doctrinal literature produced by our synod. He should also take advantage of the growth opportunities at circuit, district and synodical conferences. Ever remembering to never to separate himself from the source of all power. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). Pastors must always be aware of the pitfalls that he encounters every day in the ministry. “Some pastors and preachers are lazy and no good. They rely on these and other good books to get a sermon out of them. They do not pray; they do not study; they do not read; they do not search the Scripture. It is just as if there were no need to read the Bible for this purpose. They use such books as offer them homiletical helps in order to earn their yearly living; they are nothing but parrots and jackdaws, which learn to repeat without understanding, though our purpose and the purpose of these theologians is to direct preachers to Scripture with such books and exhort them to plan to defend our Christian faith after our death, against the devil, the world, and the flesh…” (Some Depend Too Much On Others,1110). It is easy for pastors to not remember that it is the church, not them that holds the office of the keys. Some have deep personal problems with money sex and power can become susceptible to practicing spiritual abuse. Spiritual abuse is “when leaders exercise control over members' personal daily activities, or when they use mind games, power trips, subtle cruelties or manipulative preaching from the pulpit” (Provender – Red Flags). With our church body’s early history in Perry County with Martin Stephan, a pastor is well advised if he regularly reviews the signs of a healthy faith and strives to foster them in his life and the lives of his parishioners. They are “focusing on a personal relationship with God in Christ, not religion, looking to God to meet the needs for security and significance, growing in faith as evidenced by walking into pain, respect for the personhood of others, serving others for their sake, being vulnerable, a trusting atmosphere, celebrating uniqueness by recognizing people's spiritual gifts, relationships being the heart of everything, people being taught to think, balanced thinking rather than extremes in black and white, non defensive, non judgmental, reality based, able to embrace our emotions, able to embrace our humanity as evidenced in the ability to allow for mistakes and the ability to laugh” (B. Jacksons review on the book Toxic Faith). These are the points that one should remember as he enters into the office of the public ministry. May it be so for me as well as the rest of my brothers studying with me in the Specific Ministry Program. So help me God. Jonathan Schultz

Rationalism, Pietism Or Liberalism. What's worst?

Rationalism, pietism and liberalism have their roots in the age of enlightenment which had its beginning in the eighteenth century. One might say it was a time of transformation. New scientific discoveries and cultural modifications served to transform an entire way of thinking. Men now thought that they could control their environment and their own happiness in the world. There was a movement to be more conscience of self. The principles of self-reason were used to explain the world. Prevalent to most all elements of the Enlightenment is the concept of natural religion based on the following five propositions "there is a God, a highest being; this highest being ought to be worshiped and served; this worship consists above all in piety and virtue; deviations from virtue (sin) must be repented, and if there is repentance, there will be forgiveness; the evil will be punished and the good will be rewarded in a life to come" (History of Theology p.338). Many times the age of Enlightenment is referred to as rationalism. It was thought that if a man could not rationalize the answer on his own then the question didn't exist. The height of rationalists dogmatism can best be summed up by considering concepts produced by Julius August Ludwig Wegscheider "the basic teachings of Christianity; miracles, as well as everything supernatural, were repudiated; conversion was thought of in a Pelagian sense; the sacraments were interpreted symbolically. Wegscheider explained the resurrection of Christ as a resuscitation from an “_apparent death,_” and he asserted that the death of Christ symbolizes the fact that sacrifices have ceased. He did not accept the Atonement, and maintained that the Ascension was a fairy tale. The concept of original sin was rejected as a somber illusion, repentance was said to be man’s own work, Baptism was classified as a ceremony of dedication, and the Lord’s Supper as a memorial feast" (History of Theology p.351) Following then was the concept of pietism. Unlike our Lutheran thought "Pietism... proceeded on the basis of experience; it looked upon the experience of the individual as being fundamental to religious knowledge or insight. Pietistic theological exposition came to deal primarily with empirical religious events, just as it was assumed that theological knowledge could not be acquired apart from the experience of regeneration" (History of Theology p.330). Again the works of the individual is overemphasized and the true work of the Word of God and His acts of grace are underemphasized..... Worst of all is the exercise of liberalism in theological thought. Much like the others it centers on the self and not the divine. Here man divorces himself from the supernatural, moral and divine order of things. "It becomes a matter of conscience" (Hammer of God p259). Each may believe as he wishes. All are free of the bondages from the old church doctrines and can do whatever we think is best. What is best for me might not be best for you. If you do not measure up whittle the yardstick down until you do. The problem is people begin to build one liberal thought based on another until unbelief sets in. those who would sound the alarm are seen as intolerant and religious fanatics. It is still so today. Let us consider " There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 16:25) and " For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). It could not be clearer. We cannot do it but God can.

How Does a Pastor Relate To Others?

Relating to other staff is always a challenge...The offices are one thing. Their job descriptions can be spelled out to the letter as to what the congregation expects each office to accomplish. The problem arises when we consider that people have to fill these offices. People almost always come with emotional baggage from their past. This emotional baggage shapes them and affects how they communicate with each other. It is easy to say that the other offices are an extension of the pastor’s call but we do indeed extend divine calls to the other church workers as well. A new DCE just fresh out of a school that taught him one way of thinking about his calling could easily conflict with the pastor’s idea of how they should function together. This writer has worked with pastors who thought of themselves as my father, my brother and even my crazy uncle. They have been autocratic, bureaucratic, charismatic, democratic, laissez-faire, people orientated, servant leaders, task orientated, transactional and transformational, sometimes all in the same day! Despite this quandary we usually attempted to know where our official boundaries lay. The key to surviving together in ministry is knowing how to communicate with each other. One must know how to make a bid to each different personality so that it will be accepted and the kingdom work advances..... A pastor would be wise to consider Galatians 5:22-23 in his everyday routine “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” and ask the following questions based on the fruits of the spirit mentioned above: • “Love - Is my leadership motivated by love for people? • Joy - Do I exhibit an unshakable joy, regardless of life's circumstances? • Peace - Do people see my peace and take courage? • Longsuffering - Do I wait patiently for results as I develop people or goals? • Kindness - Am I caring and understanding toward everyone I meet? • Goodness - Do I want the best for others and the organization? • Faithfulness - Have I kept my commitments? • Gentleness - Is my strength under control? Can I be both tough and tender? • Self-Control - Am I disciplined to make progress toward my goals?” (The Maxwell Leadership Bible – John Maxwell)..... One must remember that the past is the past. Although we must learn from it, we may not stay there. “For what I am today, shame on my parents. If I stay that way, shame on me” (Unknown). Remembering the past is beneficial because we can learn what worked, what did not and why. We can also determine what could be done differently in order for it to work now. “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it" (Sir Winston Churchill). Next one must ”Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood” (The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People - Habit 5). As a pastor it is imperative to understand people before they understand us. In many cases we will never be understood. We do not have to be in order to give the help that many are needing in the hurting world of today. The tests in the book enable us to begin to understand others by better understanding ourselves. This weeks reading talks much about sending and responding to bids “…the fundamental unit of emotional communication…an bid can be a question, a gesture, a look, a touch – any single expression that says ‘I want to feel connected to you.’ A response to a bid is…a positive or negative to someone’s request for emotional connection” (The Relationship Cure p. 4). Much time and effort should be spent by the pastor here especially since his main function to communicate effectively. Finally a pastor must be aware of how he manages those in his care. Emotions play a significant part in his interactions with others and he is well advised to continually evaluate his emotional command systems. People are very distinct from each other. They each wish to be treated in different ways. Some respond well to a commander-in-chief while others prefer a jester or the ever cautious sentry. He should attempt to be sensitive to these differing styles. It is also important for the pastor to know which command systems are comfortable for him. These are the systems where he will be the more effective and happiest. If he knows these things about himself and others the Word of God and the sacraments will be administered more effectively and God’s people will grow in their faith.

End Times? 2 Tim. 3:1-5

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Tim. 3: 1-5) .....It certainly feels like we are in the last days. “That “the last days” in this passage does not refer only to the time just prior to Christ’s return is apparent from Paul’s command to Timothy to have nothing to do with the unbelieving and unfaithful people who characterize this time” (Concordia Self-Study Bible. "Lutheran edition of the NIV study Bible" (2 Ti 3:1)). Here Paul gives a laundry list of people from which Timothy is to stay away. His reason is obvious. It would be easy for even the very elect to fall into disbelief and loose their very eternal home. “Timothy is to do his work in the sobering conviction that times and men will grow worse and that opposition to the truth will increase. The only alleviating feature of this dark future is that the folly of those who oppose the truth will expose itself” (Concordia Self-Study Commentary (226)). How sad it will be for those who refuse to obey the truth. How hard it is becoming to witness the truth to them. Actually, so hard that Paul tells us not to have anything to do with them. .....We are already there in many respects. All of the items on Paul’s list exist today and I fear they are growing in intensity. Movies that were rated “X” in the late 1960’s are now rated “R.” Words that I would have gotten my mouth washed out with soap for saying are now common on TV, even during the family hours. One cannot even trust old standby channels like Disney. I am especially aware of this as I write this paper now in late October when my family has to turn the television off because of all the occult and satanic shows celebrating Halloween currently being aired. We are being desensitized to evil in the world. .....For my part in being a lover of myself above You forgive me, Lord. I have loved money above You. Forgive me, Lord. I have been boastful, proud, abusive, and disobedient to my parents. Forgive me, Lord. I have been ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, and brutal. Forgive me, Lord. I have not loved the good. I have been treacherous, rash, and conceited. Forgive me, Lord. I have been a lover of pleasure rather than a lover of God. I have portrayed a form of godliness but I have denied its power. For all of these things forgive me, Lord.....AMEN

1 Tim. 2: 1 – 4 Pray For Our Leaders

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2: 1 – 4) .....“…kings and all those in authority. See Jer. 29:7. The notorious Roman emperor Nero (a.d. 54–68) was in power when Paul wrote these words. Godliness… It implies a good and holy life, with special emphasis on its source, a deep reverence for God…who wants all men to be saved. God desires the salvation of all people” (Concordia self-study Bible. "Lutheran edition of the NIV study Bible" (1 Ti 2:2)). We probably cannot compare the current leadership in our government to Emperor Nero, although there are many who would like to. We must pray for all in authority over us. It is the Godly thing to do. It is what God commands. We are not to merely pray but pray in certain ways. Luther comments, “Prayers. These are requests for good things: that the Lord would remove every lamentable condition with which Germany is being oppressed; that instead of those evil men He would give prudent, wise, pious princes who are eager for peace…They are good gifts of God, but the devil is in their midst. We must do what we can. Intercessions.… First, we must pray for all public officials, whether they are ours or someone else’s, that He take evils away from them and give them good things. We must also pray for tyrants, who persecute us and hinder our prayers when tyrants and sects hinder the fruit of the Gospel…Thanksgivings... Gratitude always merits the receipt of more; ingratitude drains the fountain of divine goodness. Gratitude consists of more than the expression ‘I thank you, Lord God.’ It also involves acknowledging first that it is a gift of God, that a person knows that peace, which today holds sway here …It is a gift of God to have a king and a state and the pest without poison, etc… This gratitude consists not only in our words alone but principally in our acknowledgment of the blessing we have received…Gratitude must be involved with prayers, because one must confess the gifts he has received.” (LW Vol. 28 on 2 Timothy 2). We will have peaceful lives as we follow Paul’s guidelines given to Timothy so that we can better reach those who can be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. After all, this is God’s unswerving purpose. .....I will Have to be the first to admit that I have not really prayed for those in authority over me, especially in the government. I have more often sat around spending countless hours complaining about them and their decision on my behalf. It is high time that I start praying for them, republican, democrat or independent. Scripture says that it is my responsibility. No wonder we have trouble reaching the ones God wants us to reach when we are not doing what he commands. The long Luther quote is really for me. I must remember the different types of prayer on which he comments. It is not enough to whisper a “God help them” prayer. It must be much more than that. .....First of all I am praying for you to provide us with good leaders. It seems as though we are always hearing about the bad ones when I know full well that there are hundreds of good leaders currently serving. I humbly request that you would prosper these good leaders and increase their responsibilities and decision making powers. As Luther says “but the devil is in their midst” (LW Vol. 28). It is my request that you hold the devil at bay and not let him have his way with our nation. I intercede for these leaders, both good and bad. May they be protected from evil assault and intentions. May their families remain safe. May they serve our country with pride. Thank you for giving us this form of government where all views are heard. Let the truths of your Word win out in our nation. Thank You for the peace that we enjoy even when we have incompetent and immoral leaders. We trust in You and not mere mortal men and women. May Your will be done in this nation. Please help us to remain and grow as one nation under God......AMEN

John 11:49-52 Talk about blind guides and deaf prophets!

“Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.’ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.” (John 11: 49-52) .....Talk about blind guides and deaf prophets! They can not even hear what they spoke out loud for the Lord. The high priest correctly prophesied the reason for the death of Christ, yet he neglected to hear his own words. “Caiaphas was not a private citizen but was God’s high priest, and God overruled in what he said…His words were true in a way he could not imagine. Prophecy in Scripture is the impartation of divinely revealed truth. In reality Caiaphas’s words meant that Jesus’ death would be for the nation, not by way of removing political trouble, but by taking away the sins of those who believed in him.” (Concordia Self-Study Bible. "Lutheran edition of the NIV study Bible" John 11: 51). We can speculate when Caiaphas finally figured it all out, probably as he entered into eternity. One wonders what his reaction was when he finally figured it out! “Caiaphas, …is compelled by God to utter more than he intends or knows. Like Balaam of old, he must speak what God puts in his mouth. (Numbers 23:12)” (Concordia Self-Study Commentary (96)). And his words still echo down throughout the ages. Jesus died for the sake of us all and we are now united in the common belief that he has won for us. The Una Sancta still exists and is completely united. .....When we consider the John 11: 49-52 passage above with “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11), we are amazed at how powerful the Word of the Lord really is. Not even people with evil intents can stop it from being effective. One is comforted with the fact that it doesn’t mater how well written or delivered a sermon might be. God’s Word still changes lives. His Word still changes history. His Word remains potent down throughout the ages. This gives the minister encouragement. Just today I told my mentor that he said something that broke a destructive chain of thoughts I was having which had rendered me impotent and unable to take the next steps in an effective ministry. His comment was “I don’t know where that came from but I am glad it helped.” It came from God especially for me all wrapped up in scripture. .....In a strange and comforting way this passage brings me hope, Lord. Even when I do not really get what I am proclaiming it still is the truth. It still changes people’s lives. Help me, God, never to be so blind, so deaf, so thick headed that I can not understand what you are saying through me. I pray for my life to be changed every time I open my mouth to share You and Your Holy Scriptures. May the people who hear those words take them to heart and internalize the Bible’s truths into their lives.....AMEN

John 10: 11-12 I Am The Good Shepherd

“‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep’” (John 10: 11-12) .....Jesus reminds us that He really loves us and is willing to lay down His very life for us, His sheep. “Palestinian shepherd might risk danger for his sheep (see Ge. 31:39; 1Sa 17:34–37), but he expected to come through alive. Jesus said that the good shepherd will die for his sheep” (Concordia Self-Study Bible. (Jn 10:11)). But in a way Jesus did come out of this confrontation with the devil alive! He is not like the hired shepherd who is being paid just to watch the sheep. That kind of “employee” will bolt at the first sign of personal danger and leave the flock exposed. He is a bad shepherd. He has no investment in the sheep. It is hardly a bother to him even if some of them are killed. Jesus invests His life in the welfare of the flock up to and including the giving of His very life. .....What kind of shepherd am I turning out to be? How am I doing shepherding my loving wife? How good am I at shepherding each of my children? What about my shepherding of the church flock? How am I shepherding myself? God is patiently instructing me in the caring process. He is shaping me from a hireling into a good shepherd. I first heard the words “pastoral formation” while I was watching an ITunes University podcast as I prepared to take a qualifier examination. The professor mentioned that we could get through the seminary academically and not be changed but if we really wanted to get the most benefit we could be open to being formed. It was right then that I decided to let the seminary form me. Form me, God, into the kind of shepherd that cares for the flock including myself. .....God, I am not worthy to be counted as one of your shepherds but here you are calling me into this service. Please make me bold when I need to be. Bold enough to lay down my very life for your gospel message. Sometimes I feel so much like a hireling. I want to bolt at the first sign of trouble but the sheep need me, their shepherd. They come expecting to be fed and cared for. Help me to do just that. AMEN

My Confirmation Verse

My confirmation verse is "’I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples…’” (John 15: 5 – 8) It has helped me to weather many storms. My research again reminds me “The vine is frequently used in the OT as a symbol of Israel (e.g., Ps 80:8–16; Isa 5:1–7; Jer. 2:21). When this imagery is used, Israel is often shown as lacking in some way. Jesus, however, is “the true vine.’” (Concordia Self-Study Bible. "Lutheran edition of the NIV study Bible” (Jn 15:1)). Each of us must remain firmly attached to Jesus the vine. “The believer has no fruitfulness apart from his union and fellowship with Christ. A branch out of contact with the vine is lifeless.”(Concordia Self-Study Bible. "Lutheran edition of the NIV study Bible" (Jn 15:4)). Our lives tell the tale. If we remain in Him we will bear much fruit if not, we die. “The figure of the vine and the branches emphasizes the vitally organic nature of the disciples’ communion with their Teacher and Lord. He initiates that communion and they remain forever dependent on Him; they can bear fruit only by virtue of their continuing union with Him. Jesus’ comment on the figure makes clear what the figure in itself cannot express: that their union with Him is conscious, personal union, involving responsibility and God’s judgment on infidelity involving the conscious resolve to do His will which finds expression in prayer, in keeping His commandment of love, and in sharing the joy of their Lord… The disciples ‘on their own’ are failures.” (Concordia Self-Study Commentary (99)). The issue here is one of obedience. Jesus is the living example of how we are to be obedient to the Father just as He was here on earth and still is in eternity. As I look back on my life I can see where I have remained tightly fastened to Jesus, the true vine, during times when I have remained obedient to His calling and will. These have been times of great spiritual growth and much fruit bearing for the Lord. There have been times of disobedience where I almost withered away and died spiritually. Thankfully He is the initiator, not I. He has always restored me. I thank God that my pastor picked this passage for my confirmation verse. Now I can proceed forward with it firmly implanted in my being, knowing I can bear much fruit as I remain obedient to Him. I remember asking God to help me remain in Him just after the pastor finished saying the verse and helping me to stand......You are my Vine dear Jesus. I am just a branch that realizes its dependence on you. I depend on you for nourishment and the courage to hang on to you no matter what may come. I reconfirm this verse first spoken over me at my first confirmation. Without you I am nothing. With you I can function far beyond my own strengths. Thank you for your Holy Spirit which gives me the power to believe this truth. It guides me into all kinds of service for you and keeps reminding me where the strength really comes from.

Pastoral Pitfalls

God. Please save us from these pastoral pitfalls....

The common pastoral pitfalls that are found in many of the accounts of pastoral failures were summarized in an internet article titled Red Flags (http://pureprovender.blogspot.com/). The pastor practices elitism where he comes to believe that his church is the best. It has the best and purest doctrine. In his mind his church is superior to other churches and he is also superior to other pastors. The article next mentions “milieu control” which is limiting the amount of information available to individuals. It his attempt to portray the church in the best possible light. Image is everything. There is an “in” crowd that is in the know and only they are trusted with the correct interpretation of the facts. It is interesting to note that many times this control starts with preserving the church’s pure doctrine, a trap our church body can easily fall into. As the pastor and his special “in crowd” take over the organization hey can get more and more authoritarian. It’s their way or the highway. Next comes the lure of financial power and he and his crowd lavish them selves with luxuries. One pastor had air conditioned dog houses for his pets. “How does this happen? Possibly, these once godly leaders have sacrificed much over the course of their lives while watching other Christians live luxuriant lives. When the church begins to do well, they see this as a sign that it’s “their turn now,” that they deserve some blessings because they have served so long and so hard for very little. Soon, that feeling of dessert takes over and they feel entitled to more and more” (Provender – Red Flags). Then the pastor can become convinced that his mind and God’s mind become fused. “They soon begin to see their own actions as God’s. Anyone who opposes them is opposing God. When this happens, watch out. They won’t phrase it that way. They may not even realize what they are doing. They feel they have a special place as God’s best spokesperson. Because they are so special, they have a role in rooting out imperfections among lesser Christians” (Provender – Red Flags). Down the spiral the pastor and his followers go. They become harsh and very demanding. They are constantly calling for unity as they seek to root out those who question their decisions. Finally people begin to leave in droves as they wake up to the fact that they are being abused and are following false doctrine. [BKS1] 

---

 [BKS1]I think this is a repeat of something that you had earlier so I didn’t go over it again.

No Spiritual Abuse Allowed at Our Church

God, Please save Lord Of Life Lutheran from practicing spiritual abuse...... While searching in the internet on the topic of spiritual abuse the blog site Provender (http://pureprovender.blogspot.com/) was discovered. It exists to serve as “A clearinghouse of sources on spiritual abuse and cult-like practices in churches and groups”(Provender). They define spiritual abuse happens “when leaders exercise control over members' personal daily activities, or when they use mind games, power trips, subtle cruelties or manipulative preaching from the pulpit” (Provender – Red Flags). The common pastoral pitfalls that were found in many of the accounts of pastoral failures were summarized in their article titled Red Flags. The pastor practices elitism where he comes to believe that his church is the best. It has the best and purest doctrine. In his mind his church is superior to other churches and he is also superior to other pastors. The article next mentions “milieu control” which is limiting the amount of information available to individuals. He attempts to portray the church in the best possible light. Image is everything. There is an “in” crowd that is in the know and only they are trusted with the correct interpretation of the facts. It is interesting to note that many times this control starts with preserving the church’s pure doctrine, a trap our church body can easily fall into. As the pastor and his special “in crowd” take over the organization they can get more and more authoritarian. It is their way or the highway. Next comes the lure of financial power and he and his crowd lavish themselves with luxuries. One pastor had air conditioned dog houses for his pets. “How does this happen? Possibly, these once godly leaders have sacrificed much over the course of their lives while watching other Christians live luxuriant lives. When the church begins to do well, they see this as a sign that it’s “their turn now,” that they deserve some blessings because they have served so long and so hard for very little. Soon, that feeling of dessert takes over and they feel entitled to more and more” (Provender – Red Flags). Then the pastor can become convinced that his mind and God’s mind have become fused. “They soon begin to see their own actions as God’s. Anyone who opposes them is opposing God. When this happens, watch out. They won’t phrase it that way. They may not even realize what they are doing. They feel they have a special place as God’s best spokesperson. Because they are so special, they have a role in rooting out imperfections among lesser Christians” (Provender – Red Flags). Down the spiral the pastor and his followers go. They become harsh and very demanding. They are constantly calling for unity as they seek to root out those who question their decisions. Finally people begin to leave in droves as they wake up to the fact that they are being abused and are following false doctrine. Also on the internet B. Jackson’s review on the book Toxic Faith by Stephen Arterburn & Jack Felton (http://www.philosophy-religion.org/criticism/toxicfaith.htm) serves as a great resource to help identify the thoughts, actions, beliefs, thinking patterns, systems and roles that can lead people into an unhealthy toxic faith. Especially interesting was the “10 Roles of a Toxic Faith System: 1. The leader must be in control of every aspect at all times 2. When problems arise, find a guilty party to blame immediately 3. Don't make mistakes 4. Never point out the reality of a situation 5. Never express your feelings unless they are positive 6. Don't ask questions, especially if they are tough ones 7. Don't do anything outside your role 8. Don't trust anyone 9. Nothing is more important than giving money to the organization 10. At all costs, keep up the image of the organization or the family” (B. Jacksons review on the book Toxic Faith). Just reading these roles was chilling as one can readily see how they can be portrayed in any church. As one looks to the scriptures one reads the warning “’Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!’ declares the LORD. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: ‘Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,’ declares the LORD. ‘I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,’ declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:1 – 4) The writers of Toxic faith do not leave us just looking at the negative signs. They end by accounting for the “Characteristics of a Healthy Faith 1. Focusing on a personal relationship with God in Christ, not religion 2. Looking to God to meet the needs for security and significance 3. Growing in faith as evidenced by walking into pain 4. Respect for the personhood of others 5. Serving others for their sake 6. Being vulnerable 7. A trusting atmosphere 8. Celebrating uniqueness by recognizing people's spiritual gifts 9. Relationships being the heart of everything 10. People being taught to think 11. Balanced thinking rather than extremes in black and white 12. Non defensive 13. Non judgmental 14. Reality based 15. Able to embrace our emotions 16. Able to embrace our humanity as evidenced in the ability to allow for mistakes 17. The ability to laugh (B. Jacksons review on the book Toxic Faith). God grant these characteristics to the churches that we serve. The contrasts are stark. The abusive pastor does not edify the body of believers while the healthy pastor does. The abusive pastor is under the authority of no one while the healthy pastor readily submits. The church fathers knew how dangerous this was. “ But when he (the pastor) no longer edifies the congregation, neither by doctrine nor life, but destroys it, then God Himself deposes him ... In that case the congregation not only can but also must remove such a person from his office, for as God calls by means, so also He deposes through means” (Loci Theologici, “De eccl.,” 331). After reading the review one will want to buy a copy of the book and read it on a yearly basis.

My Dream Job Description

Here is my dream job description. Pastor – Lord Of Life Lutheran Church Job Description “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28) We, the members of Lord of life Lutheran Church, Bixby, Oklahoma wish to call you into ministry with us as our pastor. Your main job responsibility will be to faithfully manage the public administration of God’s Word and sacraments here in this place. We expect you to specialize in and continue to learn about these things. You must know your theology because we want to learn from you. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10: 14-15) We expect you to love us enough to care for us individually as needed. You are welcome in our homes and our personal lives. Please be there for us throughout all the special times of need that we will have. Minister God’s Word and sacraments to us often, especially when we need counseling, are sick, reach old age and finally pass on into eternity. Comfort those whom we have left behind and encourage them to have hope for their own eternity. Some of us may have special physical, mental and spiritual needs. Please make every effort to accommodate our spiritual growth. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1: 3 – 9) When we stray into evil and hurtful ways please shepherd us back on the right path. Pay close attention to us when drugs, alcohol and other substances are involved because we know we can easily believe they can’t harm us. Help us recognize and turn away from inappropriate relationships that are not good for us. Be especially mindful of relationships that cause us to follow a faith different from the one true faith. Show us how these strange beliefs can turn us away from God. “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (1 Corinthians 5: 16 – 20) If some of us refuse to listen and willingly follow sinful ways, please make every effort to help us turn from our misdeeds and become restored into our fellowship, even if that means that you recommend the need for our body of believers to exclude us from the fellowship until we can come to restoration. “And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5: 19b-21) Teach us how to properly use our sexuality in a God pleasing manner both in and out of marriage. Equip us with the skills we need in order to have good relationships with others especially the opposite sex. If and when the time comes for us to marry use God’s Word to prepare us to enter into that union that is God pleasing. After we are married help us to keep our union strong in the Lord. If needed, help us with the matters of divorce and remarriage. If He should so bless us with children, help us discover how to care for them before and after their birth. “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Gen. 2: 26-28) We all recognize that God has called us to serve Him through your divine calling. Help us find out what that special task is for each of us and then enlist us into that service. Equip us so that we will be able to accomplish the mission that God has given us. When we are fully equipped, empower us for ministry. Encourage us as we take on the tasks put before us and be there to help us evaluate our work so that we can do His mission better. “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matt. 28: 18 – 20) Finally we commit to you that we will serve with you joyfully and with respect. We will pay you a fair wage so that you will not have to be concerned for your physical needs. We will pray for you, speak well of you and completely support you in accomplishing the divine calling that God has given to you. “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’ Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.” (1 Tim 5: 17 – 19)

What Should a Lutheran Pastor Be Doing?

A pastor’s main responsibility is to faithfully manage the public administration of God’s Word and sacraments in a local congregation. He is expected to specialize in and continue to learn about these things. He must know theology because the congregation wants to learn from him. He is expected to love the congregation enough to care for them individually as needed. He should consider himself welcome in their homes and their personal lives. He must be there for them throughout all the special times of need that they will have. He is to minister God’s Word and sacraments to them often especially when they need counseling, are sick, reach old age and finally pass on into eternity. He comforts those who are left behind and encourages them to have hope for their own eternity. Some of his congregation may have special physical, mental and spiritual needs and the pastor must also make every effort to accommodate their spiritual growth. When some of his flock strays onto evil and hurtful ways the pastor shepherds them back on the right path. He pays close attention to them when drugs, alcohol and other substances are involved because he knows they can easily believe they can’t harm us. He helps them recognize and turn away from inappropriate relationships. He is especially mindful of relationships that cause them to follow a faith different from the one true faith. He shows how these strange beliefs can turn them away from God. If some of his flock refuse to listen and willingly follow sinful ways the pastor makes every effort to help them turn from our misdeeds and become restored into the fellowship even if that means that he must recommend the need for the body of believers to exclude the wayward from the fellowship until they can come to restoration. The pastor teaches his congregation how to properly use their sexuality in a God pleasing manner both in and out of marriage. He equips them with the skills that they need in order to have good relationships with others especially the opposite sex. When the time comes for some of them to marry he uses God’s Word to prepare the couple to enter into a union that is God pleasing. After they are married he helps them to keep their union strong in the Lord. If needed, he help them with the matters of divorce and remarriage. If God should so bless them with children, the pastor helps his congregation discover how to care for them before and after birth. The pastor helps all recognize that God has called them into service through his divine calling. He helps the flock find out what that special task is for each of them and then enlists them into that service. He equips them so that they will be able to accomplish the mission that God has given them. When they are fully equipped he empowers them for ministry and lets them function. He encourages his flock as they take on the tasks put before them and is there to help them evaluate their work so that they can better do His mission.

How Are Missouri Synod Pastors Unique?

Lutheran pastors are unique in that they publicly administer the Word and sacraments. He subscribes to a set of doctrinal principles and truths that help keep him from swaying to the false teachings of the times. These principles and truths are contained in the Lutheran Confessions that can be found in The Book of Concord that is a collection of documents that have been written in response to heresies that have risen in the Christian church. A Lutheran pastor is both superior and inferior. One the one hand he must be confident and strong and on the other hand he must be humble and as weak as a “beggar with bleeding hands” (A Pastor’s Sermon to Himself By Dietrich Vorwerk). In our busy business world it is easy to overlook that the pastor’s main duty is to publicly administer the Word and Sacraments. He is seen as a counselor, CEO, caregiver, holy man, advocate, listener, friend, etc. but we forget the one thing that is common among them. Pastors publically administer the Word and sacraments. When we forget this we lose our main purpose. We don’t make the main thing the main thing. We get lost in the individual parts and do not see the whole. This is why the pastor is a generalist instead of a specialist.

What Does it Take to Become A Pastor?

One will have to defer to the writings of Holy Scripture to determine what qualities a candidate for the pastoral ministry should strive to possess. One finds the Bible to be very specific and orderly in its description of the qualifications of a pastor.  Saint Paul speaks of a pastor’s qualifications “ ¹Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. ²Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. ⁵(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) ⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.” 1 Tim. 3: 1-6. In Titus we a can add “blameless…a man whose children believe…not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be…one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Titus 1: 6-9

How Does Jonathan Stack Up?

Although I aspire to achieve these things, I fall way short of the goal. I am the husband of one wife, respectable in the community, hospitable.  I do not drink to excess, not violent, not quarrelsome. I have no money to love and I am not a recent convert. My children are all believers and pursuing Godly professions.

There is no way that I will ever reach the lofty qualifications referred to in scripture. All I have is a shepherd’s heart for a group of people in Bixby, Oklahoma. All I have is a desire to follow the calling that has been placed in my heart, a calling that will not leave me alone. It will not be still. I strive to be in love with the Lord much as David was “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will” Acts 13:22. But I do have a temper that I have to constantly keep in check and self-control issues are always in play. I have to depend on God to step in and help me every second of every day.

But that's just me.

Jonathan

About Jonathan

I have always been around pastors because my parents were professional church workers in the LCMS. They served congregations in California and Wisconsin as teachers. I remember the kindness that members of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Milwaukee showed my family when my father died. He was serving them as principal of the parish school. My mother was left with three children. I was the oldest at three years old. The youngest was six months old. Along with the pastor, they showed extraordinary compassion to us at a very hard time. I still remember that. After we had moved to my mother’s hometown, the pastor there was her confidant and encourager as she strived to raise us on her own. I remember her crying uncontrollably when she discovered that the ceiling in the old house that she bought had fallen in on her prize piano in the den. She went immediately to tell her friend the pastor. Later that week 12 men from the church descended upon our house and completely remodeled the entire room and they would only take lunch and a few beers as payment. When I was confirmed it was the pastor who arranged for me to get a brand new suit for the occasion, again no charge. And as I reached driving age it was the pastor who sold me his 1961 Chevy Belair for $250.00. It was in cherry condition. It was my church youth group that first introduced me to Concordia College in Milwaukee where I first thought of serving God as a pastor myself. Then a Vicar, Peter Ave-Lallemant  opened my eyes to see how I really could serve in the public ministry. After I started Concordia it was again the pastor who gave me an opportunity to participate in the liturgy and even help communicate the message. After much prodding from God through the faculty and staff at Concordia and searching of my soul I found myself signing my Declaration of Intent to become a pastor. Later that year I was drafted to serve in the Vietnam war but because I was studying for the public ministry I discovered that I was deferred. I guess that if I didn’t follow His prodding and answer His summons God had it in mind for me to walk around in the rice paddies of Vietnam for a while to think about it.

During my studies at Concordia I took Greek. Well, really Greek took me! Although I was successful in my German language studies, it was obvious that I was not going to be so with Greek. I still felt an inner calling to serve in the church but Greek was the gateway and I could not get through so I explored serving as a teacher in the tradition of my parents. I have served for over 30 years as a teacher and later as a Director of Christian Education. During those years the inner calling to enter the public ministry has never left me. In Atchison, Kansas the pastor recognized it in me and taught me how to care for people by visiting in their homes and in the hospital when they were sick. He taught me how to counsel alcoholics and even got me pastoral training at the local treatment center. He also allowed me to preach and teach God’s Word under his supervision. As I moved on to other churches it seemed that the pastors I encountered all recognized this calling on my life. They allowed me to lead worship, counsel, marry and bury the saints. Finally Rev. Jan Case visited with me concerning the brand new DELTO program and I considered it but I was not ready. Later in Bartlesville Oklahoma when the pastor resigned the District President licensed me to serve the congregation in Word and Sacrament ministry as the church decided what to do to replace the pastor. They decided to make a pastor instead of taking a pastor from another congregation. They voted to pay all expenses for me to enroll in the DELTO program. I was accepted into the program but the seminary could not permit me to begin because the Synod stated that DELTO was only for small poor congregations who could not afford to call an ordained pastor. Our congregation was too well off for me to serve them as a DELTO participant. Again the door closed on the inner calling and I moved and served God at a large congregation in the Tulsa area. Finally my pastor asked me to take an online test for the district. I wasn’t sure what it was about but I took it. The last question was “Why do you want to become a church planter?” I answered that I wasn’t sure that I wanted to become a planter. The next thing I know the District Mission Executive is telling me that I has a high score and he wanted me to plant a church. I found myself resigning from my call at my church and starting a new mission plant. The calling continued. Finally the Synod adopted a program that would assist me in fulfilling the inner call to serve as pastor. The SMP track of our seminary in St. Louis has enabled me to serve God as an ordained pastor. It is interesting to note that the very first Bible study we were required to work through with our mentor was written by Pastor Peter Ave-Lallemant, the very same person who had encouraged me when he was a Vicar.

How Does a Pastor Get Called Into Ministry in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod?

How does a pastor get called into ministry in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod? First, the man must be prepared, found competent and fit for office. Second, the man must be selected by the church to serve in that location. Third, the man must be publically ordained and installed to serve the church. To this end our church body has instituted some guidelines to follow in order to help meet scriptures requirements.

First let us explore the formation, preparation and education of a pastor. Most would agree that a pastor must be adequately trained in order to perform the office of public ministry. He must have, “a thorough knowledge of the entire counsel of God as the theological framework with-in the Gospel is conveyed as Gospel” (The Divine Call p. 30). Discerning which passages in scripture convey the saving message of Christ is imperative. One must be a student of knowing the proper distinction between the law and the Gospel and be able to communicate it. A pastor has to know his audience in order to effectively preach to the people God has given him. The LCMS has provided various avenues for a candidate to receive the pastoral formation that he needs. One can list the prep school and seminary courses of study, internships and vicarages, books, articles and even podcasts that are at the student’s disposal. It is interesting to note that these formation experiences keep adjusting to fit the needs of the church through the years.

Just because a man has completed a course of study does not mean that he can do the job that will be placed before him. Our church body has a process of certification designed to help insure his success in the field. It includes interviews, examinations, internships and vicarages.  Additionally, the District President’s and local church’s evaluations are designed to judge his first article gifts and skills.

After a candidate has completed the formation, preparation, education and certification processes he is now ready for selection for and receiving a call. It is the individual congregation that does this. “God identifies and selects the individual through the congregation.” (The Divine Call p. 32) The congregation has many ways at their disposal to help them choose. They can (and should) consult their District President for a list of names of men from the field that might be ready to serve them. They should consult with their circuit counselor and ask for his help. If they choose to ask for a candidate from the population of men who have finished the formation process and have been newly certified then the District President will assist them in making the proper request. They may solicit from within their own congregation names of candidates that members might know who might be willing to serve. After the congregation has compiled a list of possible candidates from all avenues open to them they should submit these names to the District President for review. This is not done so that he can exert control over them but so that he may protect them from someone who may not be ready to serve on the basis of physical, emotional of spiritual health.  Next the president’s office gathers a report on each candidate which includes his Personal Information File, a Self Evaluation Tool and comments from the man’s current supervisor. This report aids the congregation in making their selection.

Finally the congregation meets to decide who to call into the office of public ministry at their church. The previous sentence makes the deciding process seem easy but it can be very intense as the members of the congregation conduct interviews, review the reports, pray about and discuss what God’s will is for them as they look for their pastor. Many congregations assign a smaller more manageable call committee to do this work but the final decision is left up to all the members of the church.  A call is then issued after they have decided. Included with the call are specifics about the city, salary, housing arrangements, and specific special duties which the congregation might be looking for in addition to the call to do Word and sacrament ministry (such as youth work, building project, administrative tasks, etc.). The candidate takes an amount of time to prayerfully consider God’s will for him, his current congregation (if he is from the field) and the calling congregation. During this time the candidate from the field has, in essence, two calls to do Word and Sacrament ministry, He must seek God regarding which one to accept. The candidate asks for others to pray for him and consult with him in an effort to help him discern God’s will. After an appropriate amount of time the candidate makes a decision to accept or decline the call.

If the candidate accepts the call he then moves to the location of the church and is Ordained (if he has not already been ordained) and installed to perform word and sacrament ministry at that church. This is done in a public worship service where other clergy from the surrounding area, as well as a district official attends and performs the apostolic tradition of the laying on of h

What is a Church?

What is a Church? What is Lord of Life Lutheran Church all about? The true church on the one hand is a group of people who believe in the saving work of Jesus Christ and depend on it entirely for their salvation. This church is everywhere and cannot be seen. It is invisible and perfect, known only to God. Membership in this church transcends denominational boundaries.

The church on the other hand is a gathering of people who make up a visible, imperfect group. Although people of the true church might be members of this church there are those who follow false doctrines and teaching who are also members.

The church’s pastors are men called by God and dedicated to preaching and teaching God’s Word, Administrating His Sacraments and practicing the Office of the Keys and Confession. They stand as spokesmen to the distortions of God’s Word and Sacraments. They, like Luther, are ever ready to defend these truths and lead their people to also aid in the defense.

How Did This Pastor Stuff Get Started

OK, so how did all of this pastor stuff get started? is it Biblical? In many ways we can look all throughout scripture and find numerous examples of various forms of the pastoral office. In the Old Testament one sees examples of this in men like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron who have been called by God to serve a people by proclaiming the God’s Word to them and those around them. One sees God’s Word effect change in many hearts, we see repentance arising and whole nations preserved because of it.

As we move to the New Testament we see that in order to insure that His commands would be carried out beyond His ascension Jesus commissions His disciples several times in the Bible to special specific things in specific areas. His commissioning expands as they progress in faith. First to the Jews and then on to other people groups until He commissions them to minister to the whole world (Matthew 28). He breathes on His disciples in order to give them the authority that they would need in order to carry out the ministry assigned them (John 20:19ff). They went on telling the good news of the resurrection to all people preaching the Word and administering the sacraments just as He had commanded.

Early on in the church we see examples of how the disciples added people to do specialized ministry for the church. They used various procedures at different times for selecting and commissioning the right men. They fasted and prayed, cast lots, laid hands on them, appointed, sought approval from those already ministering (good repute), gave them a thorough training, etc. According to Theology And Practice of the “Divine Call” (CTCR) It seemed that the disciples “…were more concerned with the qualifications of the candidates for the ministry than they were with setting down a once-and-for-all procedure for selecting them.” emphasizing the fact the need to be sure that God had indeed placed them into the pastoral office himself.

Jonathan