This Side of the Pulpit: Tagged By Emily

Emily at The Children of God tagged me with “The Seven Things I have learned in life.” Here goes:

1. “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19 )

A major turning point in my Christian faith was when I realized what Christ’s victory over death meant. Not “dying and going to heaven to be with Jesus” but resurrection, the making of “all things new,” and the redemption of all things by our God Jesus Christ. C.S. Lewis first taught me this in Mere Christianity and other places. It is also great comfort, as Fr. Thomas Hopko puts it, that, “History is over. All is accomplished by Christ. Now we wait for the parousia.”

2. Don’t put it in writing unless you want it to last forever.

From your boss, to your employee, to a wife or child, if it needs to be proven and be permanent, put it in writing. If the words may come to haunt you, don’t write it down. My dad once taught that to me during a very embarrassing incident in the fourth grade. The details will not be recounted here.

3. Slumber is the great danger to faith.

Not sleeping at night, but spiritual slumber. “Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:34) and “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:11-12 ).

One of my favorite Lutheran hymns (and Bach Cantatas) is “Wachet auf”

“Wake, awake, for night is flying,”
The watchmen on the heights are crying;
“Awake, Jerusalem, arise!”
Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices;
“Where are the virgins, pure and wise?
The bridegroom comes, awake!
Your lamps with gladness take!
Alleluia! With bridal care
And faith’s bold prayer,
To meet the bridegroom, come, prepare!”

Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And in her heart new joy is springing.
She wakes, she rises from her gloom.
For her Lord comes down all-glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious.
Her star’s arising light has come!
“Now come, O blessed one,
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son.
Hail! Hosanna! We answer all
In joy Your call,
We follow to the wedding hall.”

Now let all the heav’ns adore You,
Let saints and angels sing before You
With harp and cymbals’ clearest tone.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where, joining with the choir immortal,
We gather round Your radiant throne.
No eye has seen that light,
No ear the echoed might
Of Your glory; Yet there shall we
In Your vict’ry
Sing shouts of praise eternally!

Satan does his best work in lulling us to be spiritually sleepy, ignoring the mild temptations that frequently come our way.

4. It’s only money

It is not to be worshiped, hoarded, stressed over or wasted. I’m still learning this one.

5. We do not need that much

We say we do, but we don’t.

6. The Path of Least Resistance is fraught with danger.

See above.

7. Glory to God for ALL things.

Yes, I stole it from “From Wittenberg to Athens and All Stops in Between.” I am still learning this one as well, but I am convinced if one can say this, one is living by faith. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1Thess. 5:16-18)

Now I suppose I’m supposed to tag some:

Don’t feel obligated.