EChurch@Wartburg – 6.1.14

Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

Taken by DebFlags Flying Over Normandy (Taken by Deb)

If you are new to EChurch, please click on this link for an explanation

Here is our Order of Worship

 June 6th is the 70th anniversary of D-Day

A Prayer for Memorial Day link

Gracious, Sovereign God, Lord of all nations,

On this Memorial Day, we pause to reflect upon our blessings as a nation and the high cost of those blessings for many.

Thank you for the freedom we enjoy in this country, for opportunities to flourish, and for the security of our land.

Thank you for those who have served in the armed services of our country, risking their lives for our liberty.

Thank you for those who have given their lives in service to our country, sacrificing in such a costly way for the sake of others, including me.

Thank you for a day set apart, not just for celebration, but also for solemn remembrance as we consider the sacrifices of so many in our military.

O Lord, may we be more aware of just how blessed we are as a nation. May we be more grateful for our blessings, more faithful in stewarding them well, more eager to share them with others.

We pray today for the families and friends of those who have given their lives in service to our nation.
 May they be comforted in their sadness. May they be reassured that the sacrifice of their loved ones contributes to a worthy cause.
May they be proud of those they have lost, entrusting their ultimate fate into your gracious hands.

Even as we remember those who have given their lives in the past,
we also think of those whose lives are on the line today.
We think especially of the men and women who are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in other places of conflict and violence.
Protect them. Encourage them. Bring them home safely . . . and soon.

Give wisdom to the leaders of our armed services, that they might know how best to deploy the troops in the cause of freedom.
May their efforts be successful, so that true peace with justice might be established in our world.

Guide those who lead our nation in international affairs.
Help them to pursue diplomatic paths that prevent needless conflict.
May they have your wisdom about when and how to use the military might you have entrusted to us.

God of peace, stir in the hearts of the leaders of all nations and in all who would use violence to further their cause.
Change their hearts and minds. Give them a passion for peace.
Bring an end to the pain, suffering, injustice, and violence in our world.

We know, dear Lord, that ultimate peace will not come until your kingdom is here in all of its fullness.
Nevertheless, we pray for a foretaste of the future.
We ask for the growth of peace throughout our world today,
so that fewer and fewer men and women will have to risk and even to sacrifice their lives.
We long for the day when people will “beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).

May your kingdom come, Lord, and your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven!
All praise be to you, God of grace, God of mercy, God of justice, God of peace!
Amen.


John Stott's Daily Prayer link

Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more.
Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life:
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control
Holy, blessed and glorious trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me.
Almighty God, Creator and sustainer of the universe, I worship you.
Lord Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord of the World, I worship you.
Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the people of God, I worship you.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever, 
Amen.

Scripture Reading:  Luke 2:33-35 (NASB Bible Gateway)

 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”


A Prayer for Insight  by Origen (ca. 184-254) link

May the Lord Jesus touch our eyes, as he did those of the blind.
Then we shall begin to see in visible things those which are invisible.
May he open our eyes to gaze, not on present realities, but on the blessings to come.
May he open the eyes of our heart to contemplate God in Spirit,
through Jesus Christ the Lord, to whom belong power and glory through all eternity.
Amen

You Are God – Celtic oral tradition – 1st millennium link

You are the peace of all things calm
You are the place to hide from harm
You are the light that shines in dark
You are the heart's eternal spark
You are the door that's open wide
You are the guest who waits inside
You are the stranger at the door
You are the calling of the poor
You are my Lord and with me still
You are my love, keep me from ill
You are the light, the truth, the way
You are my Saviour this very day.
Amen
 

 

Comments

EChurch@Wartburg – 6.1.14 — 18 Comments

  1. The Memorial Day Prayer seems quite misguided in the idea that the US military acts in “worthy causes”, “freedom”, or “true peace and justice”. I don’t see how Dr. Roberts can ask the “Lord of all nations” to show favouritism to one nation. This sort of “God + Country” patriotism is a reason why I left my position within the Assembly of God church, where the huge American flag symbolised the myth of a Christian nation.

    As we talk of “triggers” for those who have been marginalized by institutions, please know that the propoganda of the American military is one for me. Military recruiters often come to the inner city schools where I teach, and they love to say that service is a way for the kids to gain honour, integrity, or discipline. They use bible verses to convince youth to enlist, and sell all kinds of empty promises.

    I do mourn the losses of soldiers, especially the losses my own father experienced while he was in Vietnam. But, he’ll be the first to say that nothing about war resembles how Jesus lived. And His kingdom is here, right now. We are empowered right now to be peacemakers, and violence is not an option.

    This is my uncensored response to that opening prayer.

  2. @ Erik:

    I agree. If I were the author, I wouldn’t have included the line: “Give wisdom to the leaders of our armed services, that they might know how best to deploy the troops in the cause of freedom. May their efforts be successful, so that true peace with justice might be established in our world.”

  3. Erik and Nicholas,

    Good points to both. I serve as a pastor in one of the most conservative counties in the most conservative state in America, in a city home to one of the Air Force’s training bases, and surrounded by Mennonites who conscientiously object to military service, many of whom (Mennonites) attend the church where I serve. Not everyone agrees on views regarding the national military, patriotism in worship services, etc… It’s not easy to walk the fine line where all are free to worship with none offended! Thanks for your disagreement, and I appreciate the spirit of both you and Deb and Dee in allowing and affirming disagreement!

  4. Thanks for the sermon, Wade. As a military family walking the fine line in teaching our kids about Jesus and living it out, your thoughts on the military were encouraging. It’s good to talk through these things, and I am glad for places like these where people can disagree agreeably. I also was so encouraged by the thrust of the message this morning. Michael Card’s scandalon was in my head, I confess, so I had to look up the words. The idea “all who comes must stumble” over the Truth of who Jesus is and what He has done for us is hard to take but amazing to know. God is so good. God bless you and thanks for preaching what God’s word says without apology. @ Wade Burleson:

  5. Wade, thanks so much for interacting! I honestly have not watched the message yet, but I will whenever all three of my crazy kids allow me to. 🙂

    It wasn’t that long ago when a church I was part of had prayer meetings during military strikes. They would show video footage of the “Shock and Awe” campaign on Iraq, and people cheered. Yes, they cheered. They raised their voices and praised God. I could not stop crying, and I was never more ashamed to be called a Christian than that night.

    Sure, there is disagreement among us all about what Jesus meant by enemy love. But, ideas have consequences, right?

    “Reborn on the Fourth of July” by veteran Logan Mehl-Laituri has been one of best collection of thoughts about this that I’ve been exposed to. Logan was forced to kill, and personally faced the things that are merely ideological for the rest of us. “Myth of a Christian Nation” by Greg Boyd is another book that has helped me explain to others how I view the kingdom of God.

    Much love to you!

  6. Erik,

    Believe me, I get it.

    One of the men I respect from history is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I think about what he went through as he determined to participate in an assassination plot against Adolph Hitler. The battle within his soul is a microsm of the battle within our nation as evangelicals balance the teachings of Christ with the military opposition to tyranny and terrorism. Tough, tough questions for all. I don’t have the answers, but apprecaite both sides of the debate.

  7. Nicholas wrote:

    I agree. If I were the author, I wouldn’t have included the line: “Give wisdom to the leaders of our armed services, that they might know how best to deploy the troops in the cause of freedom. May their efforts be successful, so that true peace with justice might be established in our world.”

    I see absolutely nothing wrong with an American preacher saying a prayer of protection and safety for American troops in an American church.

  8. Hi Daisy! 🙂 You’ve been a help to me in the past, and I greet you with love!

    “Military family” Me too. My father is a Vietnam veteran, and I served briefly in the US Navy. I took a “dishonorable discharge” when my conscience was crystallized that violence cannot be part of my life as an ambassador for Christ. My commanding officers made sure I was ridiculed and humiliated because of my convictions. Yet, it was something that Jesus made very clear to me. I know everyone is only accountable to what has been revealed to them.

    I am sure we could have an extensive thread of hundreds of comments about this. My point was that it disturbs me personally to see patriotism aligned with Jesus. I shared my reaction, and like I said, it was uncensored and genuine. Of course, like anything, I could very well be wrong. There are hundreds of books and essays written about it. In fact, I just received an email today that Brian Zahnd just released a book about his journey towards non-violence as a Jesus disciple. It’s free today for ebooks if anybody is interested.

    http://www.amazon.com/Farewell-Mars-Evangelical-Pastors-Biblical-ebook/dp/B00I65455C/

  9. @ Erik:

    I do understand your view. Even though I’m rather right wing and am fairly patriotic, I am not comfortable now with churches that are too “rah rah” about American patriotism, who conflate patriotism with Christianity.

    I was reading a similar conversation about this in an Internet Monk blog thread a few months ago, and one guy, who was right wing but who tired of it and his church basically equating American patriotism with Jesus, started visiting churches that were more left wing.

    He said what he found there was troubling, because the lefty churches tend to be just as bad as some of the righty ones, only they take the opposite stance on many political and social issues, so I think he said he stopped going.

  10. @ TW:

    Thanks Todd. Trust me, the camp I live in includes undiscovered planets. I’ve seen enough lines drawn in the sand that I just ignore them all now. I have heard Peter Leithart’s name before, and that idea of “Americanism”. I’ll add that to my list of summer reads! 🙂 (I’m most looking forward to N.T. Wright’s latest called “Surprised by Scripture”)

    I’m sure living in Dubai allows for a different filter of world history. You’re a fascinating guy, and I’ve always enjoyed reading your blog and learning from your story. Thanks for sharing that resource with with me!

  11. @ Daisy:
    Daisy wrote:

    because the lefty churches tend to be just as bad as some of the righty ones, only they take the opposite stance on many political and social issues, so I think he said he stopped going.

    I can completely relate to that person. That might be why I lean towards Anabaptist views. Jesus is my King, and His kingdom is not of this world. I am employed by the government, as a public school teacher, but I do not vow any allegiance to the state. My friends are always confused whether to label me a liberal or an conservative! 😉

  12. hey- pastors need all the encouragement they can get! 😉 If we ever get stationed near you (kinda unlikely, but you never know), we’ll be looking your church up. God bless. @ Wade Burleson:

  13. And then there are those families like ours. We are not saying America uber alles, or thinking that America or the military constitute the kingdom of Jesus. But our men serve in the military. A grandfather during the Spanish-American war, an uncle during WWII, a husband during Vietnam and now a son in the Army National Guard. We are not into kill and be killed if it can be helped, but neither are we into rollover and let ourselves be destroyed. IMO I never saw Jesus take up the sword, but I never heard God tell David to put down the sword.

    I am thinking that if we are going to continue to be the church in America at this time then we all have to learn to sit on the same pew as peaceably as possible.

  14. I generally do not like and do not attend church services where my patriotic feelings for my country are conflated with my worship of God. I prefer to keep those things a bit more separated that occurs at many churches. I support my country for its ideals and pray for it to live up to those ideals, and work to help it uncover and correct the places and institutions that do not live up to those ideals. But when I go to worship God, I do not wish to be confronted with a service that appears to worship my country as much or more than it seems to worship God.

    And I am for my country, right or wrong: If right, I am a loyal supporter. If wrong, I am a vocal critic and advocate for correction though the systems that we the people have created for that purpose.

  15. @ An Attorney:

    Which is why, though I opposed the Iraq war as premature and unsupported by the available evidence, I supported our troops and wished them success and a safe return home, and felt that they were being put in harms way inappropriately, and so prayed for them.