I am aware that some of you reading this are not members of Joy Lutheran or even connected to us in any way except for WordPress. We all come at things from our unique personal perspective. This includes even how we perceive matters of faith. My perspective, of course, is as a life-long Lutheran and fourteen-year minister of Word and Sacrament. I am not concerned or anxious about the future of the church, because it is in the hands of the Lord of the Church. It will never, ever fall. We are certainly in a down or  “waning” period of history, but these hard times have befallen the Church before.

  It is curious and fascinating (don’t you just love Mr. Spock from “Star Trek”) to ponder what the future of faith will look like. I find myself in agreement with many theologians and writers on Christianity today that say we are in another period of Great Awakening. We are becoming more spiritual, less dogma and doctrine. Even infrequent church attenders or “nones” agree on the “whats” of believing. We have the basic “411”. It is in the how of faith that curiosity and fascination expand our imaginations. There are many definitions of “spirituality” in contemporary culture, but The Way of the first followers and disciples incorporated an intentional spirituality. Practicing the disciplines, using any and all resources. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit. Read these words from Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, which was written during the advent of the Reformation:

As soon as the Holy Spirit has begun this work of rebirth and renewal in us through word and sacrament, it is certain that by the power of the Holt Spirit we can and must cooperate, though still in great weakness. Yet this does not originate in our carnal, natural powers, but in the new powers and gifts which the Holy Spirit has initiated in us in conversion…

The Spirit gives us that cooperation. ‘What did you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (I. Cor. 4:7).  We are transformed and renewed through the work of the Spirit.

Intentional spirituality will be the key to unlocking stubborn, resistant hearts. It will not be “membership in the club”, although we pray that will come at some point. The power of the Holy Spirit, moving within us, leads to the understanding of God’s free mercy and unconditional love. When we share Christ’s love, learning from our skeptical, seeking neighbor, we can lead them to explore intentionally the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. It is the antidote to the virus of unbelief and evil. The church will “wax” again.

Pastor Art