Fruits of the Spirit

 

Thanks to the kids at Rockford Lutheran Academy for the great banner!

We often have to ask who we can trust.

Our society is perhaps more divided than it has ever been. "Tribalsim" is rearing its ugly head in ways that have already....ALREADY...led to violent uprisings in our country. It scares me and I often find myself reacting in ways that have more to do with my personal past traumas than with how I know I should react as a religious leader. I need to do better.

We have to decide whom we should trust. That's not the same thing as choosing sides. There may be people who have come to different conclusions than us in some matters, but still did it from a sincere and Godly place. There may very well be people to trust on BOTH sides...at least I hope there are.

In deciding whom to trust, Scripture gives us some guidance in what are called "Fruits of the Spirit". In Galatians 5:22-23 they are listed as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. People who demonstrate these characteristics are people to trust. Watch our leaders, watch your neighbors. Who do you know who demonstrates these attributes? Lift THEM up!

Just prior to listing the Fruits of the Spirit, Paul tells us the characteristics in people we should avoid: "fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these." Some of these words seem to have definitions for us (in the 21st Century) that may seem "open to interpretation" but I think there's enough specificity and context for us to get a picture of the people to avoid. Most certainly these sins are something many of us have been guilty of, but we haven made a way of life of them. They aren't our habit.

I want to leave you with one last thought; Judging someone by the fruits of the spirit is NOT the same judgement that Jesus warned us against in Matthew 7:1-3 ("Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. ) There is a difference between "judging" or "being judgmental" and just using good judgement. And I plan on exploring that difference very soon in another message.

In the mean time, have a blessed Memorial Day weekend. Remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and pray that those freedoms and principles endure. They are in peril.

On Saturday June 4th David and I will be representing Rockford's Lutheran community at the Pride Month Kick-Off Party in downtown Rockford.  David and I feel a call to minister in this community (we have for years now) and are looking forward to this opportunity.  

We are not the first religious organization to take part in a Pride event, in fact I don't think I have ever been to a parade or Pride event where churches WEREN'T represented in some way.  Recognizing the abuse some have endured at the behest of the church and by some falsely claiming to be doing it in Christ's name is heartbreaking and inexcusable.  But I believe there can be value in reconciliation and healing in just reaching out.

Our theme is this; Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries and our member churches are doing great things in our community.  We are feeding, clothing, housing and welcoming the stranger in new ways, always demonstrating Christ's call to love our neighbor, and we NEED you to help us.  Come to church, or don't.  Maybe you'll get there, maybe you won't.  But will you help us feed, clothe and house your neighbor?  Maybe you don't need the church, I understand why some don't.  But maybe you can recognize the Christians doing the right thing and consider that they might need YOU?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and read your comments below.

Who is NOT Pastor Bob?

 I am a lay-person and a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).  I have continued my education and enjoy exploring issues of theology and the emerging church movement.  I am the co-founder of Laundry Love Rockford and am currently serving as the president of Rockford Area Lutheran Ministries. 

During the summer of 2022 I will be serving as interim leader of Garden Prairie United Church of Christ in Garden Prairie, IL.  I plan on using this online space to explore new ways of engaging people with the gospel and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ that has had such a positive impact in my own life.  Once I start at Garden Prairie UCC (mid-June) you will be able to view the text of each Sunday's sermon along with all the citations, footnotes and references.  Your feedback and comments are both welcome and encouraged!  Until then I will try and regularly post some of my own writing along with interesting articles and news.

I am married to a wonderful man named David. David is my rock, my spiritual cheerleader and he accompanies me on this journey.

For the theology nerds out there I would describe my personal views as a hybrid of Queer Theology and Liberation Theology.  Many of my views, and certainly my worship practices, are pretty traditional.  I often find that I am the most liberal person and the most conservative person in the room...at exactly the same time.

I am glad you're here!  Using the comments feature on each post is a great way to begin a conversation.  May God bless us on our journey together.

P.S. I say 'NOT' Pastor Bob because I am NOT a Pastor.  Sometimes I preach or lead worship.  Sometimes I teach and lead discussions and now I have been asked....temporarily...to lead a church.  But I am not ordained and, at least at this point, don't have any plans to pursue that.  Many of my friends are Pastors and we have a fantastic one at our home church.  They worked really hard to use that title and I feel like my using it would diminish their work and dedication.