Pastor Tom's blog:

More Bonhoeffer

Recently I was given a copy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works in English vol 15 (DBWE15) released only this month.  It is a collection of letters to students and family, theological notes, essays, homilies, and other studies some complete and some in process covering the years 1937-1940.  Perhaps the most facinating part of the volume was his essay on Protestantism in the US.  He is a German Lutheran observing the theological debates of the day and the many fractures (denominations) in the US as compared to what his normal would be of a national state church.  His insights on why this has happened in the US are excellent and I believe pretty much on the mark.

I also was keeping my eyes open for any comments he might make regarding ordination.  I have been involved with the Evangelical Free Church of Canada working to develop a definition of ordination.  This is not as easy as it would seem.  We have not had a definition and that has lead to many ‘self’ definitions, some of which are at odds with others.  One of Bonhoeffers comments reflects his thinking (spot on  again)  ”… the ministries of the chruch-community… are ordered by the triune God… The formation of the ministries may vary… but common to all is thier appointment by the congregation and their exclusive commitment to the objectives of the gospel”  DBWE 15/429.

Finished Bonhoeffer

I’ve finally finished the Bonhoeffer Biography.  I’ll add a couple more quotes I found to be inspiring:

On the Bible:

“Do not try to make the Bible relevant.  Its relevance is axiomatic. … Do not defend God’s word but testify to it. … Trust to the Word.  It is a ship loaded to the very liimits of its capacity” p.272.  God’s word is illuminated by His Spirit to speak to those who read it and hear it.

On Success:

“In a world where success is the measure and justification of all things the figure of Him who was sentenced and crucified remains a stranger and is at best the object of pity.  The world will allow itself to be subdued only by success.  … Success alone justifies wrongs done. … the ends justify the means. … The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.”  p. 363.  Apparently little has changed.  Sadly most churches and ministries measure effectiveness by success more than they do by Chirst-likeness or obedience to Him, his word and the leading of His Spirit.

Blessed to be Here

In 2011 I have passed the 10 year anniversary of serving Parkdale as pastor.  The church family is kind, generous, patient, and a great group of believers to serve.  Being able to do this in Victoria is an added bonus.  I think if the same folks were in this same church in a remote location I would still find being pastor to them would be every bit as fulfilling and rewarding.  However Victoria has been good to our family.  Joyce loves the natural beauty of the place and the beauty of the city both in location and culture.  My children have benefited from access to excellent education at Pacific Christian School and University of Victoria.  They have all been able to serve in our church and at Camp Imadene.

I love it here too.  I and a good friend just finished our third year of golf each and every month of the year.  We golfed December 3 in 9 degree weather, with sunshine.  We had no frost delay, hit out of grass tee boxes (except for 2 par 3 holes), got a full nine holes (rated par 36) and were on grass greens the whole way around.

For all of this I give thanks to God.  We were a little reluctant to come to Victoria at first but have found serving here to be an amazing blessing.  And yes it pretty much looked like that on December 3.

Ken Stocks – moved to a new neighbourhood

This last week was one that held quite a shock for me and our church family.  Ken Stocks, aged 92 passed away suddenly Wednesday morning, November 30.  The previous Wednesday we enjoyed Bible Study in his home and had a number of great laughs and prayed.  Sunday he and Fran scootered to church, stayed for lunch and the congregational meeting.  While we were certain Ken may not have had a lot of time left the suddenness of his passing shocked us all.  It feels like a light switch has simply been turned off.  I had the privilege of talking about end of life issues with Ken and Fran a few times.  As pastor this is a topic that is right to talk about in the course of conversation.  Ken was prepared in a wide variety of ways; not the least of which was his robust faith in Jesus Christ.

I got a call from the family on the morning of November 30 saying that we might need to postpone the Bible Study to be held that evening at the Stocks’ home.  I asked why and soon found out that Ken was in great physical distress.  I went to seek Ken right away so we could pray together.  He had a brief moment of recognition and reached out his hand when I asked to pray with him.  We pray, I cried.

It was maybe only 30 minutes later I was called again by the family saying he had died.  Really moved neighbourhoods.  No longer present in the body but at home with the Lord.  Read 2 Corinthians 5:8.  This neighbourhood is not same without him.  For us it feels a bit lonely.  Pray for Fran.   I prayed with the family who were present around Ken’s body asking that the Lord would welcome him home as promised.

I thank the Lord for the few brief years serving Ken as pastor and learning from his joy and faithfulness.

Finding God – Bonhoeffer

I have been working my way through Bonhoeffer’s biography.  I found this quote.  It intrigues me:

“If it is I who determine where God is to be found, then I shall always find a God who corresponds to me in some way, who is obliging, who is connected with my own nature.  But if God determines where He is to be found, then it will be in a place which is not immediately pleasing to my nature and which is not at all congenial to me.  This place is the Cross of Christ.  And whoever would find him must go to the foot of the Cross, as the Sermon on the Mount [Matthew 5-7] commands.  This is not according to our nature at all, it is entirely contrary to it.  But this is the message of the Bible, not only in the New Testament but also in the Old Testament…”

How often do we fit God into our interests or into our way of thinking or into serving our needs or wishes?

Sorting out our Selfishness

I had a really neat conversation this week.  The question came up, ‘How do you deal with selfishness?’  It was in the context of the conversation that we figured three important remedies.  One, cultivating an attitude of thankfulness.  Becuase as we are thankful we ultimately need to recognize that what we have or possess has come about from a source other than us.  Two, cultivating an attitude of service and servanthood.  It is our proper posture when we see Christ.  He is the ulitmate servant, now our Lord.  Our only response is to remember he is Lord and we then are properly found in the place of his servants.  Three, cultivate an attitude of blessing.  By blessing others, and asking God to bless others places us in a posture of giving something to others.  Blessings involve prayer… ‘May God Bless’,  they cause us to seek the good and wellbeing of others rather than of our selves.    There are more ways to deal with selfishness.  But this was what one conversation offered this week.

More Things I have read

I read this book last month and was blessed by a number of Ideas in it.  Peteresen in particular has an amazing respect for the biblical imagery for the Church:  The Temple of the Spirit, the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ.  It is this imagery that has shaped a large part of his thinking relative to pastoral ministry.  Sadly in North America we seem to neglect this imagery and seek business and leadership models for the church.   The result is we find pastors who no longer pastor, pray, teach and preach the word but now are executive leaders who develop leaders, lead change (not even people) pursue numbers (budgets, bodies, buildings) and encourage others to do the same.

While I don’t agree with all Petersen has said in his book I find his style and the questions and challenges he raises to be refreshing and helpful.  If I were mentoring or teaching pastors in ministry this book would be on the must read list.  Every pastor needs to consider the questions Petersen brings to bear.  We also need the encouragment he brings.

Statement of Faith

I have justfinished my first reading of the newly published Evangelical Free Church of Canada (EFCC) Statement of Faith (SOF). It is entitled “Gospel Truths”. It is a very readable exlanation of the EFCC SOF. I especially enjoyed the chapters on the human condition and the work of Christ. It is clear in a time when many evangelicals are beginning to smudge some things that must remain sharp and in focus.

A favourite paragraph: “Adam being in God’s image, longed for equality with God and saw it as something to be snatched. Jesus Christ, equal was with God,but he did not see it as something to use for his own advantage (see Philippians 2:5-11). While Adam desired to be great and refused to be God servant, grasping instead for the likeness of God, Jesus Christ made himself nothing and took on the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. Whereas Adam exalted himself and became disobedient unto death. And whereas Adam was condemned and disgrace to the dishonour of God the Father, Jesus Christ was highly exalted and was given the name Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Read Romans 5:18; 1 Corinthians 15:45-49.

Jesus is not only our best hope. He is our only hope!

PT