Baptized for this Moment

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! In the last issue of the Zion Messenger I began a series on worship. I plan to continue that series next month, walking through the various parts of the Divine Service. The goal is to help you gain a better understanding and appreciation of the theology and practice of our worship life in Christ Jesus, to understand the difference between entertainment and edification. For now, I'd like to turn to something just as important and related, that is, the spiritual life of the baptized.

Our Synod's theme for the 2013 regular convention recently held in St. Louis was "Baptized for this Moment." The baptized are always under attack. The devil, knowing his time is short, desires to take down the whole human race and separate them from God for all eternity. When a person is baptized, the devil and his unclean spirits are sent packing and the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling place, but Satan comes back in force. The Holy Spirit keeps a believer in Christ as one is nourished through the means of grace, the Word of the Gospel and the Sacraments instituted by Christ.

Worship and Bible study are critical to the spiritual life of the baptized! Those opportunities to be around God's Word together, pastor and people, further equip you to make use of the Word of God in your homes with your children. Through that Word the Holy Spirit strengthens you and keeps you firm in the faith in Christ Jesus. Through repentance and faith, you live out your baptism each in every day where God calls you and has placed you. You're nourished for that life in His precious means of grace.

Summer is often a relaxing time for me as things slow down a bit, but it's also distressing in many respects as I watch church attendance decline, as if for two or three months it's just not as important. It's distressing as already low Bible study and Sunday School numbers get even lower. Remove yourself from the Word, from confession and absolution, from the Sacrament of the altar, you place yourself in spiritual danger. You're an easy target for the devil's schemes. Beware! Repent! Remember your baptism! Remember who you are in Christ!

Around every corner, the devil is prowling around, often quietly and subtly. We think we're on guard. We think we're spiritually strong, not in need of what the Lord has to give. However, it's at that moment that we're probably the weakest. When he deceives us into thinking we don't need what the Lord sets before us freely, he's got a foothold for destruction. He's got an entry into your life to reclaim you as his for all eternity. May it not be!

We have an incredible ministry here at Zion! Exciting things are happening. Our sanctuary, now almost 109 years old, is undergoing a major overhaul to ensure that the Lord's house is made strong and useable for many more years to come and to increase its esthetic beauty to the glory of God. There's a lot taking place at our school building as well, like painting and cleaning, a new range in the kitchen and much more. These are preparations not just for the upcoming school year, but to show that we love this ministry and what takes place here. It reflects our pride and gratitude for God's blessings of a church and school that have impacted the Staunton community for more than a century and a half. But the greatest thing happening is the continued ministry of the Word and the proclamation of Christ. All of that work supports it!

Where am I going with all of this? My brothers and sisters, we have challenges here, not just financial, but ultimately spiritual. However, as I said, we have an incredible ministry here at Zion in our church and school. We have the opportunity and privilege to be in the Word every Saturday and Sunday together in the body of Christ to receive Christ's gifts. We have the opportunity and privilege to immerse our children daily in the Gospel of Jesus in our school and in our homes. Keep your eyes on Jesus! Keep your ears open to hear His Word! Don't lose sight of the blessings of the baptized, dear saints of Zion!

As the school year begins, attendance will pick up some. We have an attendance policy that is designed to ensure that our school families are in the pew, although we rarely enforce it. Such policies are good and have their place, but they are Law. The Law doesn't motivate nor does it encourage. It threatens. It accuses. It condemns. It kills. The Law is necessary for repentance. The Gospel on the other hand, brings new life. It works faith. It bears fruit. That's why I encourage you to recognize the blessings of your baptism once again and focus on them as we near the fall season and things begin to pick up again.

I'd like to issue a challenge to all Zion families in our church and school, including all faculty and staff. (We are one family, all of us, even as we are all part of Christ's body!) Recognize the blessings of this place and get involved with as much as you can! Be active in worship and Bible study on Saturday and Sunday. Be active in leadership and service. The blessing of Jesus, His death and resurrection FOR YOU are celebrated here at Zion in our church and school. That's the most worthy cause of anything for you and your family. YOU are critical to the ministry of this place! Your time! Your talents! Your treasures! You are baptized for this moment! You are blessed to be a blessing in Christ Jesus! Think about that! Pray about that! Act upon that!

It's been amazing to see our congregation come together in our BIG decorating project for the sanctuary. Not everyone agreed upon everything undertaken, yet we banded together, raised more than the necessary funds, and we're just a few weeks from completion. Thank you! God has done so much for us and through us, dear people of Zion. What will He do next and how will you be a part of it? In Christ, repenting of our sins, basking in His forgiveness, there's nothing that can touch us or stop us. I for one am incredibly blessed and excited to be a part of this family and all that the Lord is doing through us here in Staunton and to the ends of the earth. Come with me on this journey of faith and life. Let's live together in Christ, forgiving, supporting and encouraging one another, all the while showing this community and beyond the joy of being baptized into Him and belonging to Him for all eternity. You are baptized for this moment!