15 May 2006

Today we begin a series based on writings by Joseph Sitler.

The word faith is often misused. I remember a form that college students had to fill out. On it was the question, "What faith are you?" They meant Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, or whatever. But Lutheranism is not a faith; it is a particular formation within the family of Christian believers with its own mores, liturgy, confessions. Faith must refer to something that is redemptive. A Lutheran church is not redemptive. It may be a servant of the message of redemption, but only God is the redeemer. Faith is a word that refers only to an object worthy of absolute trust. It is in God that one must have faith.

So what is that object worthy of absolute trust? Also, what do having faith in that object do to our lives? How does it shape how we act? Does it transform our lives and the lives of those around us? In addition, we must clarify just what this faith means to the living of our days. Being a Lutheran, I find that I am able to talk about the God who is the redeemer of us all. I could do that as a Roman Catholic, but I have been given some gifts from the Lutheran church that has helped me to clarify this amazing God and God's amazing grace that simply is the power to make all things new. Within the variety of people who claim Jesus as Lord, we must always remember to be good listeners so that we can hear when the God who rescues and redeems is lifted up. We also must listen for when that God is not lifted up and something else is lifted up in God's place. The faith invites us into a living dialogue with the scriptures and with others. It is there in the middle of all the interaction with others that the love of God becomes known among us and known to the world.

Connection: What is it about your "denominational" background in the Christian faith that has helped you to see a vision of God that show the transformational power of the God who redeems us all?

Lord of All Life, how often we pray that our lives might be caught up into your everlasting grace. Then we remember that through our baptism and your promises, we are caught up and need only acknowledge that promised rescue and how it makes for all things to be new...even us. Amen.