The Crux of the Matter - From the Executive Chair

The Bi-Monthly Newsletter of Augsburg Lutheran Churches

Vol. 3, No. 6 (July-August 2004)

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from the executive chair ...

Lenae Rasmussen

OUR VISION: PROCLAIMING THE RADICAL GOSPEL

This summer we gathered in Brookings, South Dakota, around the confession that Jesus came to justify the ungodly, and for his sake God forgives our sin. That is a pretty radical gospel for most people; and indeed, it is "too radical" a gospel for some. It is, however, the truth of the Gospel–Jesus Christ–and it is the good news upon which we stand and confess our faith in Christ. As Luther put it, justification by faith alone is the article upon which the church stands or falls. Thus, this Gospel is the rock and foundation of our vision for Augsburg Lutheran Churches as a fellowship of churches.

This vision is simultaneously "too simple" for some and "too hard" for others. Some want more to do–a "battle-book for evangelism" to grow the kingdom on earth through our own efforts might be nice! Others find the Gospel hard to take because the Old Adam isn’t in charge anymore and they were hoping that stuff about being buried with Christ and raised anew was just a metaphor! Both are symptoms of the age old problem–the bondage of the will, which is broken by God through the Holy Spirit who works through the Gospel when and where He pleases (CA 5). Together with Luther’s explanation to the Third Article of the Creed (Small Catechism), the article on Ministry guides Lutherans to "let go, and let God" with regard to justification and sanctification. Our faith will be "active in love" as Dr. George Forell put it, because of the work of the Holy Spirit in us. We are justified because of the work of Christ on the Cross and his gift of the Spirit to us who works in us here and now.

So, let’s "get real" as folks say nowadays. In a broken world with broken people and their broken relationships, the good news that Jesus came to justify the ungodly is the only Gospel that brings peace and salvation to "real people." Captain Kangeroo and Mr. Rogers can’t solve the deep personal problems that cripple people lost in sin or the clashes between races and civilizations that are still battling against the breaking-in of God’s kingdom inaugurated by Christ almost 2000 years ago. This evil age isn’t giving up quite yet! The challenges we face today are no less real than in Luther’s day or when Christ said that He did not come to bring peace but a sword (Mt 10:34). The battle is real, and our foe is the Evil one, Satan himself. He has simply put Terror back in his quiver of Doubt and Despair.

We have a peace in Christ, however, that passes all understanding, and it comes when Christ crucified is proclaimed to the troubled soul and the lost sheep. Our vision? Turn to the Cross of Christ and His Word of the Cross–it is the only real solution. So we proclaim, and when more trouble arises, we proclaim again. We shall proclaim this Radical Gospel of salvation in Christ and call upon the Lord for mercy and protection until Christ comes again. This is our call, to proclaim Christ’s radical Gospel for His people to hear and believe, here and now.

Salvation is at hand–Christ died for you! You don’t have to be "right" all the time or know everything. You don’t have to "do it all" or justify yourself. It is ok–as Jesus put it, it is finished! He has your back covered, i.e., God forgives your sins for Christ’s sake. You’re free to let go of trying to look good and justify yourself–Jesus has that taken care of. You can relax now–rest in the Lord–and turn to your neighbor. That is how the Christian bears fruit and glorifies God until Christ comes again.