Comments on: ELCA In Peril – A Lesson From Stained Glass Windows http://robzahn.com Jesus and Things Fri, 28 May 2010 07:30:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Jerry Watts http://robzahn.com/articles-and-thoughts/a-lesson-from-stained-glass-windows/#comment-117 Jerry Watts Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:43:10 +0000 http://robzahn.wordpress.com/?page_id=49#comment-117 great metaphor Rob. We have inside out view of being the church. Instead enjoying community as the byproduct being in the body of Christ whose work is for the sake of the world we think the body of Christ is for our sake. great metaphor Rob. We have inside out view of being the church. Instead enjoying community as the byproduct being in the body of Christ whose work is for the sake of the world we think the body of Christ is for our sake.

]]> By: Steve Kehrer http://robzahn.com/articles-and-thoughts/a-lesson-from-stained-glass-windows/#comment-49 Steve Kehrer Sat, 28 Mar 2009 16:10:21 +0000 http://robzahn.wordpress.com/?page_id=49#comment-49 Dear Rob, You have hit a nerve with me that runs from my brain to my heart. I feel as you do. I am an LC-MS Lutheran and we have a similar problem with loss of membership. However, it is not anything to do with ornate windows or altars is it. It is the rampant apathy that runs throughout Christianity. The churches that express more emphasis on "the theology of glory" than "the theology of the cross" seemingly are thriving and the later is suffering. Well, I content that this is because the enthusiasm for the cross of Christ has waned. We have become a church of Laodceans. We are about to be vomited out of the mouth of Jesus (Rev. 3:21). We Lutheran's are so concerned with our own piety and religious habits and traditions that our vision is clouded. We only see those that come in the front door with wonderment and curiousity. We question, "who is that?" Or we surmise, "that must be so and so's cousin". We never initiate conversation and especially if the "visitor" is not dressed in "Sunday go to meetin'"clothes. We have allowed evangelizing to become "too embarassing" or awkward to perform. We have let our feelings for ourselves set precidence for our actions. How does the visitor feel? Or, how does your neighbor feel about your display of your belief? That is the questions that should surface first, but they do not! We allow visitation through the front door, but like an unwanted and surprise visit from a long lost relative, we are axious for the awkward moment to be over. Only to lose the folks to another church, hopefully, but normally lost to the secular folks. Our front doors seem to open and maybe even delightfully welcoming. But what about our back doors. There are folks out there that are simply not familiar with church or are embarrassed or fearful of approaching a church no matter how inviting the appearance may be at the entrance. We need to make our churches more inviting. Like our home is to a friend. We allow our friends to become aquainted with our house. Enough so that they are comfortable to enter at either door. To make the back door as attractive as the front we must first have methods of building a relationship. We must introduce ourselves to folks. Not by thumping a bible over their heads. Not by false flattery or by extending a handshake. This is all presumptuous and frankly transparent. If anything is to be transparent, it should be our love of our fellow man and our love for Christ. Do we extend our helping hand enough? Do we do it because we feel moved or do we do it because we feel obligatged by some other churches gifts? Or, worse yet, do we neglect the situation all together? A method I find very refreshing and easy to do is to see a home in disrepair in my neighborhood. I will knock on the door, introduce myself as a handyman and that I am willing, free of charge, to fix that fence gate, or that drooping garage door. Maybe you can offer to rake the lawn or mow it. Maybe you can bring some annuals to plant in a flower garden for them. Something simple, costing little and forget the fact that you go to this or that church "here in town". Let that be another time or let the folks themselves bring that up. Then comes the follow-up. This can be done with a simple thank you card for allowing you to help out. It can be a simple phone call asking how the flowers are doing or if there may be something else you could do for them. Let God work through you and not because of you. Let God lead the sheep to still waters, you can guide them after God has done his work in the Holy Spirit. Nothing turns off people more than forceful piety and false flattery. Do not place yourself in a position that can cause some sort of philosophical or stigmantic reaction. You know, "So you are one of those?" of "I've seen your kind before." If we truly want people to come to Christ we must display a Christ-like life. Christ did not tell people what was wrong with them. He did not display His diety forcefully or outwardly. He was always gracious, kind, and gentle to those who sought Him. If he would have been tyrannical or overbearing, he would have sided with the Pharisees whom he criticized. Christians are, by definition, "little Christs". We are all called as ministers of Christ to bring the goodness of God and the mysteries of God into the light of the world. Your comment on traditions and such is spot-on. Although important, it is not so important that we lose perspective. Jesus used different signs for different events and people. His tact was not in his miracles as such, but in the fact that he made people aware of his ability to adapt to any situation in the same traditions of kindness, love, and mercy. His power to heal, gain sight, bring the water and manna, was manifested in His ability to show his traditional side yet achieve what was needed by different methodology. He taught in metaphors and hyperbole. Sometimes he spoke to crowds and sometimes to individuals. Sometimes he became angry and sometimes he was not. Sometimes He called on scripture and sometimes he made scripture. Jesus adapted to each situation and became a Savior through the grace of His Father. That grace is what needs to shine as the light of our life. We need to remain humble, gentle, and gracious for what God has bestowed on us as gifts and abundance. Every person on the earth is a creator of God. We are all equalin His eyes. One note of adice when attempting to evangelize. Despite your greatest efforts, sometimes you are the bug and sometimes you are the winshield. Don't be offended if you do not find some folks welcoming. Just pray for them and know that God is at work in all places and in all circumstances. So, Rob, how do we get this attitude of apathy thwarted and start an enthusiam for Christ that will rival that enthusiasm America has for, let's say, money or the fanaticism that exists in sports. Do you think Christians could do that? I do, but it is going to take some innovation and humbleness from the ivory towers in which the clergy and laity live on Sunday mornings. Thanks and May the Triune God grant you His grace and peace always, Steve Dear Rob,
You have hit a nerve with me that runs from my brain to my heart. I feel as you do. I am an LC-MS Lutheran and we have a similar problem with loss of membership. However, it is not anything to do with ornate windows or altars is it. It is the rampant apathy that runs throughout Christianity. The churches that express more emphasis on “the theology of glory” than “the theology of the cross” seemingly are thriving and the later is suffering. Well, I content that this is because the enthusiasm for the cross of Christ has waned. We have become a church of Laodceans. We are about to be vomited out of the mouth of Jesus (Rev. 3:21). We Lutheran’s are so concerned with our own piety and religious habits and traditions that our vision is clouded. We only see those that come in the front door with wonderment and curiousity. We question, “who is that?” Or we surmise, “that must be so and so’s cousin”. We never initiate conversation and especially if the “visitor” is not dressed in “Sunday go to meetin’”clothes. We have allowed evangelizing to become “too embarassing” or awkward to perform. We have let our feelings for ourselves set precidence for our actions. How does the visitor feel? Or, how does your neighbor feel about your display of your belief? That is the questions that should surface first, but they do not! We allow visitation through the front door, but like an unwanted and surprise visit from a long lost relative, we are axious for the awkward moment to be over. Only to lose the folks to another church, hopefully, but normally lost to the secular folks.

Our front doors seem to open and maybe even delightfully welcoming. But what about our back doors. There are folks out there that are simply not familiar with church or are embarrassed or fearful of approaching a church no matter how inviting the appearance may be at the entrance. We need to make our churches more inviting. Like our home is to a friend. We allow our friends to become aquainted with our house. Enough so that they are comfortable to enter at either door. To make the back door as attractive as the front we must first have methods of building a relationship. We must introduce ourselves to folks. Not by thumping a bible over their heads. Not by false flattery or by extending a handshake. This is all presumptuous and frankly transparent. If anything is to be transparent, it should be our love of our fellow man and our love for Christ. Do we extend our helping hand enough? Do we do it because we feel moved or do we do it because we feel obligatged by some other churches gifts? Or, worse yet, do we neglect the situation all together?

A method I find very refreshing and easy to do is to see a home in disrepair in my neighborhood. I will knock on the door, introduce myself as a handyman and that I am willing, free of charge, to fix that fence gate, or that drooping garage door. Maybe you can offer to rake the lawn or mow it. Maybe you can bring some annuals to plant in a flower garden for them. Something simple, costing little and forget the fact that you go to this or that church “here in town”. Let that be another time or let the folks themselves bring that up. Then comes the follow-up. This can be done with a simple thank you card for allowing you to help out. It can be a simple phone call asking how the flowers are doing or if there may be something else you could do for them. Let God work through you and not because of you. Let God lead the sheep to still waters, you can guide them after God has done his work in the Holy Spirit. Nothing turns off people more than forceful piety and false flattery. Do not place yourself in a position that can cause some sort of philosophical or stigmantic reaction. You know, “So you are one of those?” of “I’ve seen your kind before.” If we truly want people to come to Christ we must display a Christ-like life. Christ did not tell people what was wrong with them. He did not display His diety forcefully or outwardly. He was always gracious, kind, and gentle to those who sought Him. If he would have been tyrannical or overbearing, he would have sided with the Pharisees whom he criticized. Christians are, by definition, “little Christs”. We are all called as ministers of Christ to bring the goodness of God and the mysteries of God into the light of the world.

Your comment on traditions and such is spot-on. Although important, it is not so important that we lose perspective. Jesus used different signs for different events and people. His tact was not in his miracles as such, but in the fact that he made people aware of his ability to adapt to any situation in the same traditions of kindness, love, and mercy. His power to heal, gain sight, bring the water and manna, was manifested in His ability to show his traditional side yet achieve what was needed by different methodology. He taught in metaphors and hyperbole. Sometimes he spoke to crowds and sometimes to individuals. Sometimes he became angry and sometimes he was not. Sometimes He called on scripture and sometimes he made scripture. Jesus adapted to each situation and became a Savior through the grace of His Father. That grace is what needs to shine as the light of our life. We need to remain humble, gentle, and gracious for what God has bestowed on us as gifts and abundance. Every person on the earth is a creator of God. We are all equalin His eyes.

One note of adice when attempting to evangelize. Despite your greatest efforts, sometimes you are the bug and sometimes you are the winshield. Don’t be offended if you do not find some folks welcoming. Just pray for them and know that God is at work in all places and in all circumstances.

So, Rob, how do we get this attitude of apathy thwarted and start an enthusiam for Christ that will rival that enthusiasm America has for, let’s say, money or the fanaticism that exists in sports. Do you think Christians could do that? I do, but it is going to take some innovation and humbleness from the ivory towers in which the clergy and laity live on Sunday mornings. Thanks and May the Triune God grant you His grace and peace always, Steve

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