Who We Are and How We Do Mission Beyond Words

We are not loved because we are lovely. We are lovely because we are loved. Luther said this. Actually he said, “therefore sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive.” In his proof of Thesis 28 in the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518, a document we as Lutherans today need to comb and mine for all it is worth to find our way in the 21st century because in it is included the explosion of the reformation (not to say the Bondage of the Will in 1525 isn’t the tour de force!)….. the naming of a so-called “theology of the cross “ (not about the cross!) that has us as baptized Christians called “theologians of the cross” who “say what a thing is.”!!!
We are not loved because we are lovely. We are lovely because we are loved.
Now then. If that is the case, and it is, what is the core and driving force, the essence of our mission? It certainly is not to create communities that look like we know and cherish from our past, no matter how nurturing and forming and memorable and full of comfort and consolation. It is to create communities that look like God’s future in our present cultural context (how about churches that don’t have buildings, liturgies that don’t have history, pastors that don’t have authority based on position but rather upon the power of God displayed and delivered not to say also conferred, laity that name and claim workplace, family and community their ministry…not serving on the worship committee of the congregation….not that there’s anything wrong with that!). It is to create communities out of the core of God’s unconditional love in Christ Jesus.
As we look to do our mission of making disciples and we start churches and go beyond words the thing that will make that sing (be successful as well as fun!) will be to pay attention to the core of us (we are not loved because we are lovely, we are lovely because we are loved) as we pay attention to those with whom we are in mission….and not pay so much attention to how it is we are familiar with looking and feeling like church.
He is Risen!
And we are speechless….beyond words….in the wonder of it!
And we take that love boldly into a new way of being church!
It’s Sunday! It’s the last day of our Assembly! We are beyond words!