From Creeds to Credos

Since yesterday morning was absolutely lovely, we decided to head out to Sibley State Park for park church. For those who aren't familiar, Peace Lutheran Church in New London, MN, has been offering a non-denominational church service each Sunday (Memorial Day to Labor Day) at Sibley State Park for fifty years. I have been attending these services, off and on, for about forty of those fifty years.

Not surprisingly, the services follow a fairly traditional format - a couple songs, responsive readings, a concise yet challenging message, and of course, food (they provide donuts and coffee). Overall, it's a "gosh, golly you betcha" sort of experience which is a testament to Scandinavian hospitality and offers a spiritual nugget to chew on for the week, all for less than an hour of one's time. I suppose that's why the place is packed on any given week.

Yesterday's experience was a bit extraordinary since there was an infant baptism. Even though there was no hymnal to follow, I listened along as the pastor proceeded through the liturgy. At the end, he had us all recite the Nicene Creed (the firstborn twin to the Apostle's Creed), and at the end of the service, we closed (as we always do) with the Lord's Prayer.

As I was making my way through the recitations, I started thinking about them. I grew up in the Reformed church and attended private school, K-12, so the Apostle's Creed and Lord's Prayer were recited regularly at services and events throughout my formative years. Then, I started thinking about all the memorizing we did for Catechism (the Reformed church version of Confirmation). I'm not talking about scripture; I'm talking about getting a question and memorizing the answer to the question from the Catechism book.

A meaningful, memorable experience for me happened in my 4th grade classroom with Mrs. Hoekstra. Each day, she would sit at the piano, and the class would sing a few hymns and praise choruses. One day, after singing the hymn, "Come Thou Fount," she stopped, swung around to face us, and asked us if we knew what the hymn meant. From there, she explained every line, including what an Ebenezer was. From that point on, I started to really think about the words of the hymns that we sang in church, and I suppose that's why, to this day, hymns are cherished, and "Come Thou Fount" hangs on my living room wall.  Other than that experience, I don't remember a whole lot of explanation regarding other traditional practices.

Then, I started wondering how much Erika could recite of the Apostle's Creed. It's not as common as the Lord's Prayer, and I can't remember the last time we recited it at our church. Just as I started to lament yet another parental failure, I started thinking some more.

During June, I read three different books on prayer. In one of them, the author discussed the fact that the Lord's Prayer was intended as a pattern for the disciples (and the rest of us ) to use when talking with God. The term, Lord's Prayer, seems like a misnomer since it's not a how-to for God; it's the model for us to use to communicate with Him. The author continued to break apart the prayer and talk about the two major divisions of it.

Somewhere along the line (and I am not saying it's bad), churches/denominations decided to include this model (Lord's Prayer) as a liturgical recitation. Forgive me for sounding sacrilegious by making such a statement, but it's like having a volleyball player  recite the basic elements of a good pass. . .and that's it.  Rather than translate the basic elements into action, the volleyball player becomes adept at listing them.

Am I saying that the Lord's Prayer should not be recited? Settle down, and don't get your undies in a bunch. As with any sport, a person, including novices in the faith, has to learn the fundamentals first.

Likewise, let me be the first to say that I have inner bent toward conservatism and traditionalism. As I said, I love hymns, I value the organ, I prefer dressing and acting respectfully in God's house; this means that I value all that has traditionally been sacred and beloved in the church, including the Lord's Prayer and the creeds.

What I am concerned about is how their use affects a person's spiritual development and journey. Let me explain.

As I learned and relayed, the Lord's Prayer was meant to be a pattern for us disciples to follow in talking with God. From what I understand, it was not meant to be the prayer in talking with God. While reciting the prayer is valuable in the fact that it reinforces the pattern, the danger is when it replaces the spiritual conversation and relationship that God longs for with us. Just like the volleyball player learning the basics, eventually, she has to translate the basic elements into action and find the "groove" to make the elements personal for an effective pass. The success of the team depends on it. The same is true of believers and traditional recitations. They have to move from pattern to personal.

The same can be said of the creeds - Apostles and Nicene - as well as the recitations for Confirmation/Catechism. They are statements of belief that, when recited publicly, confirm our commitment and membership in the body of Christ. The problem is when they replace our individual desire and effort to articulate and convey our personal testimonies. While it's easy to recite a creed, it takes more thought, commitment, and courage to relay our personal faith credos.

As to memorizing Scripture, that's a no-brainer. It is God's Holy, infallible Word. In a world of increasingly swirling, muddied values, it is the only tangible tool He has left us in order to defend and preserve the faith. Memorize it like your life depends on it because it does.

So, am I picking a fight? Am I saying that tradition needs to be flushed down the drain? No, I would be the last person to say that, and I would be lying if I told you that this is easy for me to write. However, I am committed to writing what God puts in my mind and on my heart. The bottom line to consider is that it's important to think about the "why" behind the tradition and to ask "if" and "how" the traditional practice is most beneficial to a faith walk. The tragedy is when being faithful to the tradition becomes more important than the faith.

A Mother's Un-Sermon

Disclaimer: This one was hard but important to write. Likewise, this is not being written with malice or anger. This is for me, but if you get something out of it, then the time to read it was worth it.

My kids are nothing alike. If you know me well, you know how true this statement is. I have a son who is definitely introverted, who needs his space in order to re-charge his batteries, and who prefers to blend into the background. You would be hard-pressed to find a harder worker; he enjoys physical labor and projects with a definite, visible end. Likewise, he has a distinct moral code; he sees things in black and white, never gray, and church and church-related activities are pretty important to him. He is extremely stubborn.

My daughter, on the other hand, is the exact opposite (with the exception of the stubbornness). She is loud and openly admits that she wants/likes to be the center of attention. Work is not high on her list of priorities; she works just enough to keep the exact dollar amount in her checking account that she finds acceptable, and she loves to shop. While she, too, has a definite moral code, believes in God and is a Christian, she does not share her brother's enthusiasm for church and church-related activities, at all. Where Nick rarely missed a youth activity, we have to make Erika go.

For a long time, it was hard for me to face that reality. It was embarrassing, and it felt like a pail of cold water over my head - it took my breath away. For a long time, I was really ticked off about it, and I'll admit that I took out some of that anger on God. I asked Him, What did I/we do wrong? We brought her up in the church, we sent her to a private Christian school, we sent her to Bible camp every year. . .what the heck? Very recently, however, I have been changing my tune. . .actually, my perspective.

Of the two kids, Erika has been definitely more of a challenge to raise. First, she is a girl. I realize that sounds sexist, but since I am one, I think that I can safely use that as a qualifier. While guys are definitely moody, girls are moodier, and the mood swings can be swift and epic. Then, she is infinitely stubborn. . and feels the need to have the last word. She will filibuster, and she can create the most air-tight argument for any issue. . .and she won't back down. And nothing gets her more angry than when she is compared, or even perceives that she is being compared to her brother.

Perhaps you can relate. Perhaps you have a strong-willed child also. If you do, celebrate.

Yeah, you heard me right. Celebrate because you have a strong-willed child. I guess I won the lottery because I have two. Let me explain.

In the world of adults, we prize quiet, obedient, respectful children. Compliance is desired, and we reward rule followers who are organized and plan ahead. I know because I work in a profession for which this maxim is true. Inquisitive, loud, intractable kids give us a headache. They're wild and unpredictable. . .and yet, they are exactly the kinds of Christians that we need in this world. They are Kingdom movers and shakers. They are the brave, the innovators, the perpetuators of the faith.

If you are skeptical, consider some Biblical examples. First, there's Noah. It had never rained a drop, and yet based on a directive from God, this lunatic decided to build a boat because there supposedly was a flood coming (whatever that was). In spite of being heckled, he remained persistent and focused and was rewarded for his obedience. Next, there's my favorite Biblical dude, David. Here was a little twerp with only a sling and five stones who decided to take on a giant. What arrogance! What stupidity! Actually, what unbelievable faith. . .look who ended up winning. Then, there is the #1 crazy in the Bible, John the Baptist. His mouthiness and tell-it-like-it-is lippiness led him straight into hot water over and over again. 

So, are we supposed to let these kids run wild?

Of course, the answer to that question is no. Since we were put on this earth for God's glory, being disrespectful, selfish, rude, etc, does not reflect that purpose, and it's our job as adults to keep pointing that out. Strong-willed traits such as stubbornness and mouthiness are God-given, and when used for His purposes and His kingdom, they are desirable. Do we want the characteristics to be harnessed? I don't think that's the right word. We definitely want all that energy to be channeled in the right direction, and if we are talking about a true, strong-willed child, it has to seem like his/her idea.

One of Erika's favorite questions is "Why?" especially when it comes to church. For example, as we were grocery-shopping one day, Erika randomly asked, "What's the big deal about swear words? Why can't we say them? After all, they're just words. Why is one word worse than another?" At first, she caught me off-guard, and my first impulse was to go into defensive mode, but then, I conceded that it was a good question. The point of the example is to show that blind obedience isn't the way Erika rolls. She wants a solid, sensible answer, and if she senses waffling or worse, arrogance ("because I said so" mentality), she puts her armor on; it will be a fight to the finish. As you can guess, this does not win her any popularity contests with adults, both at home and elsewhere. She can be perceived as insolent, sacrilegious, and irritating, which she no doubt can be.

Even in spite of the constant aggravation and frustration, I know that there will be a happy ending to her story. I know it. God has promised it. He has said that if we ask anything in His name, and it is in accordance with His will, and it is for His glory, He will honor that prayer. Since God and I discuss her everyday, I know that God has a plan for that argumentative wild child. In His time, He will use all those characteristics that drive me and everyone crazy for His purpose, and it's going to be awesome.

So what does all this blah-blah have to do with you and me?

Here's the deal. Every time you or I compare siblings and hold one to another's standard, we are interrupting God's process. I try to keep that in mind in my own job and purposefully work hard not to compare siblings in the classroom. If I have done that to you, call me out on it so that I work harder to not do that in the future.

Every time you or I belittle or embarrass a kid, especially in front of their peers, we are interrupting God's process. If we, as adults, see a behavior that does not glorify God, we need to address it privately and be prepared to explain why (perhaps up to five or more times). Rather than act peevish, sullen, angry, and impatient, we need to model desirable behaviors. In case you have forgotten what they are, here is the list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (uh, yeah, I have a little work to do. . .) 

And discuss the tough questions. Those questions strengthen not only your faith but theirs.

Most importantly, treat every kid you see - both in church and out - as you would anyunbeliever: welcome him, accept her, love him, and believe that she will change the world because for good or for ill, she will.

An Unexpected God Moment

Last night, Reggie Dabbs was the speaker at Sonshine before Audio A took the stage. Reggie had spoken at the high school a few years ago for a YFC lyceum, so I was glad we arrived at the Sonshine grounds early enough so that Mike could hear his testimony.

Reggie is a fairly passionate person, so it was not surprising that an altar call followed his testimony. He directed those who had made a first-time commitment to make their way over to the Compassion tents (directly behind where we were sitting) so that he could get some information from them and talk/pray with them.

Having grown up in a Christian home and having maintained those values my entire life, I have witnessed several altar calls in my lifetime. I would be lying if I didn't say that I have become a little calloused to them, tuning out when I hear a speaker heading in that direction. Such was the case with Reggie last night.

It was a different story when I saw a flood of people leaving the stage area and heading toward the tent behind us. What a powerful God moment.

First, I was amazed by the vast number of people who had made the commitment. Since Sonshine is a Christian music festival, it's easy to fall into the assumption that everyone there is a Christian, or at least knows/likes/knows something about Jesus. . .but the size of the crowd wasn't the big moment for me.

As an introvert, one of my favorite things to do is just observe. As I sat in my lawn chair behind the relative safety and anonymity of my sunglasses, I searched the faces of those who were making their way to the tents. Some were obviously overcome with emotion and were crying while others had a perplexed look like, "What did I just do?"  All were somber, contemplating the gravity of the decision they had just made. As I pondered their reactions, I wondered why they weren't happy and laughing. But as Newsboys sang last night, "There may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning." The first step in becoming a Christian is admitting you need a Savior, and that is exactly what these people had done. . . but even that wasn't the big moment for me.

As I continued to surreptitiously scan their faces, I came to a profound and joyous realization. Because of a "Holy Spirit cocktail" - Sonshine + Reggie Dabbs + Holy Spirit, these people had made the life-changing decision to commit their lives to Christ. For each face that went by, I thought, "We will see each other in heaven someday. . .Whereas an hour or five minutes ago, that wouldn't have been the reality." As I pondered this, I heard Reggie's voice behind us as he quietly prayed and encouraged with the new believers.

They have a reason to look apprehensive and feel overwhelmed by making a commitment to Christ. They have chosen a difficult path to navigate for the rest of their earthly lives. The world culture is aggressively opposed to Christianity and Christian values right now, and it's not going to get better. In choosing to follow Christ, these new believers have also chosen an earthly lifetime of being disliked, rejected, and challenged. For each face in my line of vision, I prayed for that person - that s/he would remain strong in his/her commitment and not abandon it when it gets rough in the future.

Then, my thoughts shifted in a new direction. For each person in line, I could have easily walked by him on the way into the gate, I could have directed her to ticket sales yesterday, I could have shown him where to park his car when I was helping with traffic, I could have pointed her in the direction of the nearest bathroom. . .but I did nothing to help him/her make the most important decision of his/her life . . .because I assumed that s/he already had. I realize this was an extreme reaction. Even so, the bottom line is that I had a strong feeling of responsibility. . .for someone I didn't even know. So that got me to thinking. . .

Who else am I walking by each day? Who, among friends, relatives, acquaintances, and daily interactions, do I just assume have made that commitment? That question could probably make me crazy if I let it.

The bottom line is that each word I say is just air, but each action is a sermon. The question to consider is what am I actually preaching? Most of us are not Reggie Dabbs - passionate, charismatic speakers who (with the Spirit's help) bring crowds to Christ. Even so, we each have a story, and we each have been born with a desire to belong and a capacity to love. For new and seasoned believers alike, if we do our part, which is moving when God says, "move," and speaking when God says, "speak," He will most certainly take care of the rest.

Straight Talk About Stripping

Contrary to what they would like me to believe, thistles are not flowers.

Oh, they try very hard to camouflage themselves by sprouting buds and flowers, but no matter how much "pretty" they use to try to fit in, the fact still remains that they are weeds. . .and have to be pulled from my garden.

The question is why? Like I said, in some ways, they look like a flower and could blend right in if I let them. The short answer is that weeds tend to overrun a garden. They soak up all the moisture that should be going to the desirable plants, and eventually, they choke out and kill off everything around them.

Steady streams of sweat were rolling down every inch of my body yesterday as I was fussing in the dirt, trying to eradicate these nuisances from the flower garden. Merely pulling the tops of these suckers would do me no good; I had to get all the way to the root. . .and the roots were so deep! After a few hours of elbow grease and half of the moisture in my body, the harvest was complete, and the nefarious marauders were deposited in the grove.

Then, the next task was to prune the weigela and shrub roses.  Though it pained me to hack and slash, I knew that they needed to be dead-headed and the dead branches removed in order for the plants to generate new growth. At first glance, it doesn't seem to make sense to snip and snap an already healthy-looking shrub. Nevertheless, I have been assured that my efforts will be rewarded in the long run.

For a while now, there has been a steady process of pruning and pulling going on in my own life. I have been reading Francis Chan's book, Forgotten God, and on page 50, he writes, " The Holy Spirit of God will mold you into the person you were made to be. This often incredibly painful process strips you of selfishness, pride, and fear."

Since I am admittedly heavy on selfishness and pride with a side of jealousy, it seems the process is taking longer than I'd like. Just when it seems that I am making progress, something unexpected (this morning, it was a FB post) will come out of nowhere and catch me off-guard. The good news is that the Holy Spirit has been right alongside me when I start to back-peddle, helping to show me when and where selfishness, pride, and jealousy entered the equation. Like I said, it's a slow process, alternatively filled with frustration, humility, shame, and gratitude.

Like the thistles in my garden, the terrible triumvirate in my life has to go. At first blush, they are unnoticeable, like the thistles, because they blend right in. If I listen to the me-first cultural mantra around me, putting my needs, wants, and "rights" first is appropriate and desirable. But like the thistles in my garden, a belief system like that will result in destruction in the long run. If it's all about me, and if I am completely independent, what need do I have of a God? And why would I ever read or listen to His Word: "'Love The Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matthew 22:37-9)?

All this pulling and pruning is no fun. It hurts - both on the side and from the outside. It makes me look at my true motivations and makes me feel the subsequent shame concerning my own actions and thoughts toward others and myself. It leaves me wondering and confused about others actions toward me. And like the thistle roots in my garden, the roots are so deep! As a self-disciplined person, I am upset that this process is taking so long, and yet, there is the source of the problem - self has to go into the backseat so that God can be in the driver's seat. <sigh>

And yet, the Holy Spirit helps me to find joy in the journey - to know that all this is necessary in order for me to become the person He knows I will be, and to realize that He is truly all I need.

"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he trims clean so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15: 1-2

The Lake Beauty Lesson

It sounded like a good idea at the time.

On Friday afternoon, I was talking with a friend, and she told me that she and her sister had run around Lake Beauty, which amounted to approximately six miles. I'm no hard-core runner, but on my last run of the week, I usually like to push the mileage up a bit. Six miles sounded like the right challenge to end my week.

Up by 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, I was out the door a few minutes later with my hat, sunglasses, watch, and ear plugs secure. The speaker, Larry, had encouraged us all to find a quiet spot at LBBC that weekend to do some thinking; this was going to be my opportunity to do just that. Thus, I took a left from the camp and started my journey.

You will never see me sporting an "I  <3 running" t-shirt ever because I typically do not enjoy it.  However, my run on this morning was a bit anomalous. The gravel was spongy, so it cushioned my knees better, the wildlife was plentiful as it was early in the morning, and most importantly, it was peaceful - not a car or human in sight. I was thinking about Larry's messages thus far; all was simpatico.

Even though I had not mapped out the route, my plan was to "go left." As I navigated Ts in the road and passed dead end lefts, I remember thinking, "Thank you, God," for the signposts and "helps" to point me in the correct direction. Thus, the theory of lefts proved to be a sound one. . . until I hit about mile 4.

As I crested a hill, the road unraveled like a lazy shoestring before me; it extended as far as I could see. Although beautifully ensconced in the dew, thick foliage on both sides of the road limited my vision - there wasn't a "left" in sight. My last left had been "Ironwood Drive," which was a dead end. Now what?

For a good ten minutes, I ran back and forth on the same two-tenths of a mile, trying to decide whether to continue or turn back. I didn't have a cell phone to call anyone, and in considering the wilderness all around me, I seriously doubted if I would have a signal anyway. Likewise, since it was like 6:10 in the morning, I couldn't just wander up to a farmhouse and say, "Hey, I'm lost. Can you tell me which way to go?" As scenes from the movie, Deliverance, flashed across my mind, I decided that for my safety, I should probably just turn around and go back the way I came.

Disappointment washed over me. Instinctively, I could sense that I was close to the left I needed, but I had no clue as to the name of the road I needed because I hadn't checked a map before I started.

Likewise, the run back was not nearly so pleasant as before. My knees hurt, horseflies were buzzing my head, I could feel that a blister was forming on my left foot, and I was hot and irritable. The worst was that I was ticked off that I had not finished my run. As a goal-oriented, task-oriented individual, this is was just not acceptable to me.

And the worst of the worst? It was my own dang fault. If I would have just checked a map, I wouldn't be clocking eight miles for the day versus the original six.

Since God has a sense of humor, this is what He put in my head as I was back-tracking.  Matthew 7:7-12. . . 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

When we ask in His name, and when it is accordance with His will, God will grant us the desires of our hearts. At the beginning of my run, the signs along the way were very clear; I had no chance of getting lost because a "Dead End" sign meant just that: a dead end. I would not progress to my goal if I took that road. I didn't have to think; I just had to obey and use common sense.

So what happened at mile 4? Why did God quit helping me?

God didn't quit. I just didn't do what I was supposed to. I didn't seek. I should have looked at a map. Clearly, I was going in the right direction, but I hadn't done my homework, and I ended up paying for it (actually, my right knee did) by not completing the task and doing more work than necessary.

When we look at the verses, God lets us know that asking is only one-third of what is required. We also have to seek and knock. Seeking suggests a series of actions, and knocking suggests continued action - not a one-shot deal. And all three are book-ended by faith and an on-going relationship with Christ. Relationships do not continue if there is no relating or communicating.

In addition to not preparing (seeking), I also allowed fear to control my actions. My Deliverance moment was purely stupid. It was six in the morning, and certainly, no one would abduct a middle-aged, sweaty jogger! And really, how lost could I be? It's not like I was in the Boundary Waters; there were houses sprinkled along the road. How could I let such irrational thoughts control my actions?!

When I later looked on the map, I saw that I was a 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile away from the left I needed to take (Lake Beauty Road). Because I feared the unknown, I "fainted" (quit) and retreated. What I needed was a healthy dose of faith to finish.  Sadly, this seems to be a repeat verse in the story of my life, BUT I am confident that these chapters of my life's story are coming to a close.

If I want to be a truly authentic Christian (and I do), I need to un-earth the wild child I have buried away under layers of programmed orthodoxy and "niceness," who will listen to only one Voice and whose convictions will be based on His holy Word so that I will trust more than fear and ultimately become transformed into the person God intended me to be.

And yes, God-willing, I will run around Lake Beauty next year. Even if there is a band of toothless hillbillies chasing after me, I will get 'er done.