On Wednesday, an event took place
that has been rather polarizing, Charlie Kirk was murdered!
I have thought long and hard about
what to write. On 9/11 I posted my thoughts on sinfulness - mine and the
sinfulness of every single person who has, who is, of whoever will inhabit
human flesh. That sinfulness is often manifested in vile evil. And I begged all
to pray The Litany. It is an ancient prayer of The Church and it is easy to see why. (see it at the end of this post)
How do those who disagree respond?
I am going to state what I believe.
God created man in His image, God’s own breath (spirit) was breathed into man
to make him a living soul. That image pointed forward to Him who is God in
human flesh - Jesus, God’s Christ - the One in whose image Adam was created.
Woman was brought forth from that
man as God caused Adam to go into a deep sleep, took a rib from his side, and
made woman from that rib. This is the lesser miracle pointing forward to the
greater - that as Jesus fell into the great sleep of death, His side was
pierced, and from His side flowed forth blood and water by which Christ’s
bride, His church is made.
In the garden, disobedience by our
first parents brought disobedience into our inherited disposition toward God.
We say that that perfect image is now corrupted by sinfulness. God’s image
still remains in all people, which is plainly evident in how we are different
from all the other creatures that have a breath of life.
As all human life is in God’s image (fallen
though that image might be because of sinfulness) thus there is only one human
race. Outwardly, there might appear to be differences, but those differences
are minimal. In fact, we could talk about how sinfulness in mankind has
manifested evil against others in God’s image even from the first murder - Cain
killing his brother Abel.
Marriage, children, and many of the
divisive discussions that revolve around these issues today all arise from
sinfulness. They arise from Satan’s machinations which have perverted our
understanding of man and woman as images of the perfect - Christ and His Bride,
The Church.
What did Christ do for His Bride? He
died for her! He gave His life to bring forgiveness to all those who, in His
image, have corrupted that image in sinfulness.
By the way there are none who have
been born in that image who have **NOT** corrupted that holy image.
We could claim that wicked men
killed the Christ, but that was God’s plan from before He created us in His
image.
Christ’s suffering, death, and
resurrection bring forgiveness and life to those who trust in Him rather than
in themselves for their place in God’s kingdom.
I love to talk about these things,
just like Charlie Kirk did. I do so because I believe that only in Christ is
there restoration of that perfection in the forgiveness of sins He purchase
with His innocent suffering, death, and resurrection. That image will be restored
in the resurrection on the last day. And I want all who share God’s image with
me to be with me for all eternity.
BUT…Bring two sinners together and
there will sinfulness be manifested. There are some who I must confess I love
more than other in God’s image - my own wife and sons. Guess what, my
sinfulness has even reared its ugly head against them at times.
Imagine how my sinfulness might
become manifest in other relationships with those who share God’s image with
me. Yeah, not pretty!
Sinners disagree with other sinners.
But those sinners all share the same image, the image of God! How should those
who have the same image treat one another? Yeah, better than people have
treated one another since that first murder of one who was his brother.
There is vile rhetoric flying around
today, how people should kill others who share the same image with them because
there are disagreements. Killing those with whom we disagree is never an
acceptable alternative.
I passionately believe what I
believe. I will passionately defend what I believe. Sometimes, in my passion, I
will say things that I will regret later. What happens? My sinfulness manifests
itself in sinful selfishness - I wasn’t getting my way, or someone was simply
ignoring the point I was trying to make.
We may not agree, but hopefully we
can come to a point where we recognize that further conversation might not be
beneficial. At that point, it is time to turn to something else. I’d suggest a
beer and a cigar together. At a guess, we might not even agree on what a “good”
beer or a good cigar is (we have our favorites).
I want to address one other thing. I
want to use an illustration from the Bible, in fact, from the book of Acts, about
how we should respond to those who desire to hurt us for what we believe - and
indeed how they may physically treat us.
It comes from one of my favorite stories
in the Scripture, the story of Stephen. He was selected to be one of the seven
deacons to help in the distribution of food so that the Apostles could devote
themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer.
Of course, in those early years,
there were some who did not like the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So
it came about that Stephen was seized and brought into a mock court to make a
defense of what He was teaching about God’s Christ. You can read about the
whole thing in the 6th and 7th Chapters of the Acts of
the Apostles in the Bible.
It all came to a head though as those
gathered did not like what Stephen had to say. I won’t summarize it. Instead, read for yourselves
what happened.
Now when they heard these
things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But
he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of
God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said,
“Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud
voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of
the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their
garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were
stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling
to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin
against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60)[italics & bold are mine]
You know who that young man named
Saul, at whose feet they threw their cloaks so they could stone Stephen became?
He became the Apostle Paul! He became God's spokesman to the Gentiles and God's pen for 13 epistles (letters) in the New Testament. But
in this story, He was against Stephen – he had his hand in the murder of Stephen
– and as Stephen dies, Stephen asks God to forgive them all for their evil.
For those whom I may have hurt by my
words, forgive me. Know that I never intended to hurt you. Sometimes my
sinfulness rears its ugly head in the most inopportune situations, and I say
things in a sarcastic or rude manner. Like I said, please forgive me.
By the same token, I forgive all those who have harbored hatred or anger toward me, all those who have caused pain in my heart by their words or actions toward me. I pray God richly bless you!
Know that my greatest desire is to
be found faithful to God. And part of that desire is to proclaim the Truth
which only can lead to salvation – Jesus, God’s Christ – to all those whom He
has created in His image!
Again I invite you to pray The Litany (with me by so doing)
The Litany
L O Lord, C have mercy.
L O Christ, C have mercy.
L O Lord, C have mercy.
L O Christ, C hear us.
L God the Father in heaven, C have mercy.
L God the Son, Redeemer of the world, C have mercy.
L God the Holy Spirit, C have mercy.
L Be gracious to us. C Spare us, good Lord.
L Be gracious to us. C Help us, good Lord.
L From all sin, from all error, from all evil;
From the crafts and assaults of the devil;
from sudden and evil death; From pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed;
from sedition and from rebellion; From lightning and tempest; from all calamity
by fire and water; and from everlasting death:
C
Good
Lord, deliver us.
L By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy nativity; By
Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your
cross and passion; by Your precious death and burial; By Your glorious
resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the
Comforter:
C Help us, good Lord.
L In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in
the hour of death; and in the day of judgment:
C
Help
us, good Lord.
L We poor sinners implore You
C to hear us, O Lord.
L To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church; to preserve all
pastors and ministers of Your Church in the true knowledge and understanding of
Your wholesome Word and to sustain them in holy living; To put an end to all
schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have
erred and are deceived;
To beat down Satan under our feet; to send
faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace
and Spirit:
C We implore You to hear
us, good Lord.
L To raise those who fall and to strengthen those who stand; and to
comfort and help the weakhearted and the distressed:
C
We
implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land
from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in every time of
need; To direct and defend our president/queen/king and all in
authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people; To watch
over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and
guide all who travel; To grant all women with child, and all mothers with
infant children, increasing happiness in their blessings; to defend all orphans
and widows and provide for them; To strengthen and keep all sick persons and
young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all:
C
We
implore You to hear us, good Lord.
L To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn
their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth;
and graciously to hear our prayers:
C We implore You to hear
us, good Lord.
L Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
C
we
implore You to hear us.
L Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C
have
mercy.
L Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C
have
mercy.
L Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
C
grant
us Your peace.
L O Christ, C hear us.
L O Lord, C have mercy.
L O Christ, C have mercy.
L O Lord, C have mercy. Amen.
From Lutheran Service Book,
copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission
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