New Hope Lutheran Church
Many people trying to live one message of love
New Hope Lutheran Church - 4801 Sun Valley Drive, El Paso, TX 79924 - Office 915.821.2079 - Jeff St. Clair, Pastor
TRUST WORKS IT OUT
The sinner can mishear law. God's call to good work can become a way to
justify the self rather than a means to bring hope to those in need. The
sinner can also mishear grace, taking it in as an excuse for behavior more
than a means to bring it forth. This Ash Wednesday, the church is called
to consider how it has used Scripture's call to good works as a
stepping-stone to grace, or as a statement about the self's worth.
Likewise, the church is called to see how it has made grace an excuse for
lethargy rather than the very way toward sharing forgiveness, mercy, and
justice. To rend the heart is to replace self-righteousness with trust and
yet connect trust with action.
For instance: Pastor Randy came into a congregation after some
misconduct issues by the previous pastor. The Congregation was divided
as to whether the misconduct was a matter over which the former pastor
should have been released. Some argued it was and that the church had
done right to let him go. The church's call to preach the work of
justification by grace through faith was no call to excuse or overlook poor
choices. Trust was to be connected to action! Others argued that the
pastor should not have been let go. Works were no stepping stone to grace.
They argued that if the church was called to anything, it was called to
forgiveness - and why should the pastor be excluded from the gift?
We cannot, however, speak of law and gospel apart from each other. To
rend the heart is to stand in the tension: forgiveness bears fruit with
behavior; yet the best of behavior, in Christ, finds sore need for
forgiveness. Trust will work; and work, in Christ, will find humility.
God's Work. Our Hand. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The sinner can mishear law. God's call to good work can become a way to
justify the self rather than a means to bring hope to those in need. The
sinner can also mishear grace, taking it in as an excuse for behavior more
than a means to bring it forth. This Ash Wednesday, the church is called
to consider how it has used Scripture's call to good works as a
stepping-stone to grace, or as a statement about the self's worth.
Likewise, the church is called to see how it has made grace an excuse for
lethargy rather than the very way toward sharing forgiveness, mercy, and
justice. To rend the heart is to replace self-righteousness with trust and
yet connect trust with action.
For instance: Pastor Randy came into a congregation after some
misconduct issues by the previous pastor. The Congregation was divided
as to whether the misconduct was a matter over which the former pastor
should have been released. Some argued it was and that the church had
done right to let him go. The church's call to preach the work of
justification by grace through faith was no call to excuse or overlook poor
choices. Trust was to be connected to action! Others argued that the
pastor should not have been let go. Works were no stepping stone to grace.
They argued that if the church was called to anything, it was called to
forgiveness - and why should the pastor be excluded from the gift?
We cannot, however, speak of law and gospel apart from each other. To
rend the heart is to stand in the tension: forgiveness bears fruit with
behavior; yet the best of behavior, in Christ, finds sore need for
forgiveness. Trust will work; and work, in Christ, will find humility.
God's Work. Our Hand. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Isaiah 55:1-9; 1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9
Link to Previous "Jeff's Jingles"
Continue!
Jesus in Unexpected Places
Continue!
Jesus in Unexpected Places