Wilderness people

Posted on August 31, 2013 by David Nuottila

DSC_0696A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3

Certainly this text is familiar to God’s people. As we read these words from the prophet Isaiah, we also recall John the Baptist in his ministry of preparing the way of the Lord. John quotes Isaiah again in the gospel according to Luke, but with a slightly different nuance. Speaking of John the Baptist, Luke writes:

…he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Luke 3:3-4

It’s amazing the difference punctuation makes.

One would think that after hearing this text so many times, there would be little question as to what it means. Isaiah and John were in the wilderness proclaiming God’s prophecy, right? Yet when we consider the words of Luke, we city dwellers must often wonder, if the voice is one in the wilderness, how are we townsfolk supposed to hear it? Our lives are so noisy.

Perhaps we could escape the hustle and bustle of the urban way of life and embark on a trip into a more rural setting. Surely being in a place of peace and quiet would be more conducive to hearing such a voice. Sometimes being in such a place opens our ears to sounds that would otherwise go unnoticed. So does that mean that people who live in the country are more apt to hear the voice of one crying in the wilderness? If we don’t go to the wilderness will we miss it? Where is this wilderness any way?

Actually, John appears to be talking about another sort of wilderness. The wilderness is not always a place of wide open spaces or unpopulated territory; it is also a place of uncertainty, turmoil and indecision. Living in today’s world of self centeredness, instant gratification, consumerism, and materialism, we are in competition with virtually everyone and everything around us. So in a sense, our very lives are lived in the wilderness.

In Luke, John is described as a “voice crying in the wilderness.” Yet a comparison of Luke’s quotation of Isaiah with those written in the book of Isaiah gives us another insight. Isaiah 40:3 says: A voice cries out, “In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Isaiah seems to be telling us that not only are we to prepare the way of the Lord; we are to do it in the wilderness, in our wilderness. We need to prepare our lives for the Lord. We are to take steps to simplify our lives of disorder and focus our attention away from worldly distractions. How do we do this?

We can accomplish this by adopting daily prayer rituals, or finding time for spiritual reading. We can be intentional about reading from Scripture every day, or setting aside time each day for reflection on God’s activity in our lives.

A voice is crying in the wilderness, and we are wilderness people. As we are intentional about ordering our lives; lives centered on Christ, we become not only wilderness people, but also disciples willing and able to share our faith with others. Preparing the way means entering not only our personal wilderness, but also the wilderness of others.

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Sharing faith

Posted on August 30, 2013 by David Nuottila

DSC_0695Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

In this age of social media and electronic communication, many people (such as I) have used cyber space as a tool to share their faith. Take a look at Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and you’ll see what I mean. The fact you are reading this only serves to further make my point. Thanks to technology we can share our faith with others and not even leave the comfort of our living room. To be honest this makes me just a bit sad.

Think about it. How many times have you hit a like button on Facebook because someone posted a picture of a “God moment” with a caption that tugged at your heart strings? How many times did you share that picture with those on your friends list? This sort of sharing has become part of our day and so also part of our proclamation of the gospel. But are we really sharing our faith when we do this? Are we reaching out to those who have not heard the good news of Christ Jesus in such a way that they too might come to believe? I doubt it.

Sharing pictures is one thing, sharing faith is quite another. Sharing faith takes place first and foremost in personal encounters. Sharing faith is being a present reality in someone’s life. It involves not only the exchange of words, but the exchange of expression, tone and sometimes yes even touch. Sharing faith is more than spending a few fleeting seconds deciding who might need a lift for the moment. Sharing faith is giving of yourself, establishing new relationships in Christ and becoming a part of the lives of those who either don’t know or have forgotten that they need a savior.

Sadly, as we learn to communicate more via social media, we actually become less social creatures. The landscape is dotted with people living at their fingertips as they hunt and peck away staring at tiny screens oblivious to the world around them. Don’t get me wrong, I think our means of electronic communication serve us in many ways, but as we increasingly fix our gaze at the transmitted word, we are less likely to help transform others through communication of God’s living Word.

Just like Peter and John in the book of Acts, we are witness to the power of proclamation through being a present reality in the lives of others. These two men, perceived to be uneducated, are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and boldly speak the truth of God’s salvation through Christ Jesus. They are a present reality in the lives of others, exchanging spoken words, gestures, expression and yes even touch. Their witness is such that even those who oppose them cannot deny that God is doing a great work through them. This is what sharing faith looks like.

You don’t have to be like Peter and John standing in the midst of the temple in order to share faith. You don’t have to lay hands on someone who cannot walk and command them to take of their mat and go home in order to boldly proclaim God’s salvation through Christ crucified and risen. You need only to be present in someone’s life and tell them the truth of God’s unfailing love. Sharing a picture on Facebook is nice, but sharing faith is most certainly something else.

As God’s children, brought to faith through the waters of Holy Baptism and saved through the precious body and blood of our Lord Jesus, we are called to share this amazing gift of grace with the world. It’s okay to click and share through social media and to tug at the heartstrings of others, but sharing faith cannot stop there. Be a present reality in the lives of others. Exchange spoken words, expressions, tone and yes even touch. Invite others to worship so that they too may come and see the good things of God. For we are witnesses to the events of the cross and the empty tomb, therefore we cannot help but speak the name of Jesus Christ.

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Our purpose and our goal

Posted on August 29, 2013 by David Nuottila

1stpresThere is little doubt that as the Church reaches out people who have not heard the Good News of Christ Jesus, it depends on disciples of Christ who have passion for ministry and ability to speak with the power of the Holy Spirit. Even as we are primed and ready to carry out Jesus’ Great commission, the Church must always recognize her chief purpose. The goal of 1517 congregations by 2017 is certainly motivation for NALC evangelism, but we must not allow it to overshadow our chief mission, to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples.

I remember reading a book in college by Tom Peters titled The Search for Excellence that points out several issues we as a church might face. In the era of reconstruction following the American Civil War, no business matched the financial and political dominance than that of the railroad. Trains dominated the transportation industry of the United States, moving both people and goods throughout the country as new frontiers were explored and settled. Railroads became the life blood and the supply line to the western states and territories. Those who ran the railroads enjoyed power and prestige as their investments yielded great returns.

Then something new came along, the automobile. Incredibly, the leaders of the railroad industry did not take advantage of their unique position to participate in this marvel of transportation development. The automotive revolution was happening all around them, and railroad owners did not use their industry dominance to take hold of the opportunity. In his book, Peters points out that the railroad magnates did not understand what business they were in. They thought they were in the train business, but in fact they were in the transportation business. As time passed them by, so too did their opportunity because they couldn’t see what their real purpose was.

If at the turn of the twentieth century railroad owners understood they were in the transportation business and not the train business, we might be driving a Gould rather than a Ford. Instead, the railroads were used as a tool to transport materials for building automobiles as well as distributing the finished product. The railroad is still a vital industry, but one has to wonder what might have been if those leading the railroads so many years ago had understood their business and purpose.

At our NALC Convocation in Pittsburgh we passed a resolution setting the goal of 1517 congregations by 2017. This goal is challenging and it is admirable. Yet, even as we have set this goal before us we cannot forget our chief purpose upon which we established the NALC, to go into the world making disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. For just as certain as we forget our purpose and focus on this newest goal, we are in peril of going the way of the railroad. The NALC will still be a vital ministry, but we will run the risk of missing a unique opportunity and become yet one more mainline Church in decline.

Many of us have already begun discussing how we will go about planting new churches. Others have asked if there is some overall strategy or plan. Personally, I think that being swept up in the fire of our convocation we might have acted a bit hastily in setting this goal. Be that as it may, I too raised my hand in the affirmative so I must do my part. It is exciting to be a part of a church recognizing the power of the Holy Spirit moving throughout its leadership and congregations. It is also exciting to be a part of a church intending to go out into the world with the confidence that as we go, Christ goes with us.

As we do these things we must always remember our identity as God’s children, sinners redeemed through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus and sent out into the world for the sake of the gospel. We must remember our purpose; we are not simply church planters. The NALC is a church called to baptize, teach and make disciples. 1517 is only a number. No matter what comes of our efforts over the next four years, we will welcome those newest among us, serve those whom God places within our midst and continue teaching, baptizing and making disciples. As we minister according to our purpose, in all we do and say it is God who will be glorified.

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Angry with God?

Posted on May 23, 2013 by David Nuottila

tornadoWhen he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. Mark 6:48

In recent days, since the tornado that devastated Moore, Oklahoma, I have read and heard my share of comments concerning God’s anger. I have read and heard still more comments asking Christians how they could love a god who brings such havoc upon his own people. Truth be told, such comments spell out the differences between the people of God and people of other gods, or perhaps even godless people.

Christians recognize that our world is one of sinfulness and shame. We live in a world where sin is all too common, even in the lives of those who confess Jesus Christ as savior and Lord. In this same light, Christians also know ours is a God of love and compassion; ours is a God of mercy and grace. We cannot explain why bad things happen to people, but we can say with certainty that God can use all things for good. People of God also recognize that it is God who brings comfort and healing. No one understands God, but Christians realize the love of God. That is not to say we don’t have our times of doubt either.

It is human nature to become angry when something robs us of our livelihood. Anger is but one of the emotional responses we exhibit when forces beyond our control affect us so adversely. Sometimes we even become angry with God. “God, why did you allow this to happen?” “How can you simply look away?” These questions and several others are on the tips of many tongues as pictures and video show the destructive power of this latest tragedy. The anger expressed by those struggling with the grief and loss in the aftermath doesn’t bother me as much as the responses of others. God is big enough to handle our anger, and he is compassionate enough to bring restoration and peace.

What bothers me most in situations like this is the announcement of God’s wrath by those who feel it is their place to proclaim judgment. Too many preachers, proclaimers and pontificators feel the need to use events such as this to warn people of their impending doom lest they repent. To them, God is an angry judge just waiting to punish the sinner. These voices proclaim a God of vengeance, a God of wrath and a God that is unbending in his demands. Truthfully, this is not an accurate picture of God. God did not use this tornado in judgment and he did not use it to punish sin. Such messages fail to show a true picture of God.

Ours is a God who saves his people. Ours is a God who rescues, a God who heals and a God who reconciles. With all adverse powers in the world, the wars, conflicts and natural disasters where people are subject to harm, ours is a God who does not cause chaos, but enters into it. God is one who finds lost sheep. He is one who cures illness and restores health. God is one who goes to great lengths to rescue people from danger and protect them from harm. We see this through Holy Scripture as the Good Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. We see this as Jesus raises the widow’s only son from death. And we become witnesses to God’s rescuing as Jesus comes to his disciples, walking upon a stormy sea.

No, God did not cause the harm that came to people in the Moore tornado, nor does he cause harm to anyone who faces disaster. Yet it is God who stirs the hearts and minds of his people to bring aid, comfort and consolation to those experiencing loss. It’s actually ok to be angry with God. Don’t worry, he can take it. But don’t get lost in your anger. Don’t fall into the trap that God is enacting some sort of judgment because people didn’t live up to God’s law. Jesus already took care of that at the cross.

With all of the collective anger and contempt for God, especially the anger expressed by those who do not believe in him, God’s answer remains;
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17

This is certainly visible through the prayers and responses of Christians as the Church works to bring God’s comfort and consolation. Again, keep in prayer those who suffer injustice, calamity, hunger, and pain. In all of these, God will bring healing, restoration and peace through Jesus Christ.

Photo: Tornado: Moore, Oklahoma from  http://www.heavy.com

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Stirring up faith

Posted on May 19, 2013 by David Nuottila

7579848194_5184f7c12f_zAnd suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2

On this Sunday of Pentecost, this day we celebrate God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, we also celebrate the birth of God’s Church. In our worship, our learning and our serving, we see God’s Spirit in action. We feel the power of God’s love as the Spirit comes like the rush of a violent wind, stirring the hearts and minds of God’s people to faithfulness. These are the themes of Pentecost; the power of God’s Spirit blowing through the lives of God’s people.

It isn’t about wearing your red dress or shirt to church on Pentecost Sunday. It isn’t about confirming our youth as they complete their initial study of the catechism. It’s about the Holy Spirit of God blowing in the doors of the hearts and minds of God’s people, rearranging the furniture of our lives and filling us with all the confidence, strength, excitement and assurance the disciples had in order to share the good news of God’s redemption.

Think about the world around you. Think about the things you have heard and seen. Think about all the times in your life when you thought you were at wits end, don’t’ you think the world needs to hear this good news of great joy? In so many ways and in so many instances, God makes his presence and power known in ways so clear that no matter what, people can know and understand his mercy and grace are real and that his love lasts forever.

This is exciting stuff folks. This is the stuff movies are made of…good movies!

The gospel of our Lord is the best news you are ever going to get in your life. The times you first realized God’s grace is for you, that you have been rescued from the consequences of sin forever is as good as it gets.

When you are young, prom is a big moment. Some of us know kids who have recently gone to their first prom. Guess what, as good as the prom was, God claiming you to be his child is better. When you get older, graduation comes with all of its pomp and circumstance. Guess what, it can’t compare with all the glory of heaven. There are still bigger moments ahead in your lives. College, your first real love, engagement, marriage, the purchase of a home, and the birth of a child. You know what? All of these are blessings from a loving God, yet because of Christ Jesus, the best is yet to come.

People of God, all of these are wonderful events; they are milestone moments, monumental achievements, and times of great joy. But if that is where you live; if these are the most important times in your life, you’ve missed the boat. None of these can even compare with the fact that through Christ Jesus, God has saved you from sin and death, made you holy in his sight and prepared a heavenly home for you. Nothing can compare with the fact that through Christ Jesus, God has saved your life for all time. That’s good news, that’s exciting.

On this day of Pentecost, as we celebrate God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, let us pray that God stirs us into such faithfulness that we cannot help but tell others the good news of salvation through Christ Jesus. As we strive to follow the example of our Lord Jesus, may we continue to love others as we are loved, feed the hungry, care for the sick and minister to those who are least of all.

Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the fire of your love!

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