What is a disciple?

     Okay, so the gospel text for the coming Sunday isn't my favorite one in the Bible...and I'm wondering why this is the one I'm preaching my first sermon on???  Couldn't you have given me something nice, God?  It's Luke 14.25-33, where Jesus goes into how we're supposed to hate our families and give up our possessions in order to become a disciple.  Wait a minute, did you say hate?  Yep, Jesus tells us to hate our families.  The whole text is bookended by the phrase, "in order to become my disciple." 
Discipleship is the direction the Spirit is having me go this week, but hate?
     So we all know that Jesus tends to exaggerate a bit, and I believe this is one of those times.  We have to look at the context in which Jesus is speaking to get a sense of what he's really saying.  He is talking to a huge crowd of people who have started following him.  We don't know exactly why they're following, but maybe it's because of his miracles, or maybe because of the radical way in which he speaks and teaches.  What is important is that they're following Jesus, but they're not necessarily his disciples.  Jesus is taking the opportunity to tell them what it means to be a disciple.
    Except he doesn't exactly lay it out in the clearest terms.  This is my paraphrase, but basically Jesus says, "If you can't let go of your family and give up your possessions, you can't be my disciple."  This sounds rather legalistic, doesn't it?  Do these things and you'll be a disciple, don't do them and you're out?  Great.  Okay, better look at this from another way.
    If one doesn't have family or possessions, nobody and nothing in the world, what is left?  God.  We often fall in to the trap of forgetting about God because we define ourselves by our family, by what we do, or by what we have.  When we can earn our own money, get our own meals, protect our own homes and cars with insurance, there is no need for God.  It is the trap of idolatry: trusting things and people other than God.
    So, maybe Jesus is telling us that discipleship is all about trusting God.  If you can trust God then the discipleship thing will be a cinch.  But how do I know if I'm trusting God or not?  This is where the cool part comes in!  It says in Luther's explanation of the 3rd Article of the Apostle's Creed, "I cannot by my own understanding or effort believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him.  But the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with gifts, and sanctified and kept me in true faith."
   It's not us at all, it's God through the Holy Spirit!  Yes, the discipleship part does have decisions with it: How can I use the gifts I've been given to serve God?  What is preventing me from trusting God fully?  Being a disciple does mean taking risks because you can't always know exactly what you're getting in to.  I never knew I would end up being a pastor, but because of God's grace and faithfulness to me, everything is wonderful.  It was painful, sometimes, and trusting that God knows what God is doing is probably one of the hardest things on the planet (which God did create) but it remains that being a disciple of Jesus Christ and trusting God is one of the best adventures on the planet!
    What are your thoughts?  I'd be interested to hear them, so please leave a comment if you like.  Then stay tuned to see how the sermon ends up on Sunday.  Meanwhile, blessings as we live the mystery of discipleship.

Where to Begin?

     I'm here!  My boxes are in my office, waiting to be unpacked.  Sarah, our administrative assistant is next door stapling the bulletins.  It's a beautiful day outside, and I am giddy with excitement.  So many things to think about, so many things to ask, so many things to accomplish.  This has been a week of mysteries: what is in this box?  Where did this book come from?  Why is this in the pastor's office?? What's behind that door?  Where are the spoons?  When is trash day?  What should we do for confirmation?  Where is the kleenex stored?  Who can I ask about the hymns?  ...  And that's only one hour of my first day here at St. John.  There are so many mysteries, foremost in my mind are:

Why, God, have you called me to walk with the people who call themselves St. John Lutheran Church at this exact time in this exact place? 

What is the Holy Spirit up to in Ely, and who is God calling us to be as church? 

What is God calling us to do?

        My ordination service was just this last Sunday, and one of the scriptures was Luke 24.44-50, when Jesus appears to his disciples post-resurrection and reminds them that they are witnesses to all that was foretold in Scripture, to the very life of God incarnate, the companions, friends, followers of Jesus Christ.  Witnesses.
        Witness comes from the Greek word martureo, the same root for the word martyr.  A martyr is simply one who proclaims what they have witnessed.  What have I witnessed that Christ is asking me to proclaim?  What have you witnessed?  These are just a handful in the myriad of mysteries I have encountered this week, and I look forward to how God reveals God's mysteries in the weeks, months, and years to come.