"The Appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene"
by Balinese artist Ketut Lasia (see I is for Introducing)
Baseball and Easter both arrive in the spring (this year in that order.)
Is there another connection?
C is for
Coach
My wife, Gisele Berninghaus, was pastor of American Lutheran Church in
Kankakee, Illinois when I began graduate school. On the way into church on
a late October Sunday I happened to meet the well-respected high school
baseball coach. The World Series had just finished with a complete upset of
expectations, and I asked him casually what he thought about that. He
straightened, turned, looked me in the eye and said pointedly: "That's why
you have to play the game!"
R is for
Realize
This baseball maxim is also great theology, at least for us Easter people.
We put all our hope for life on what Jesus did through his cross and
resurrection. For us everything--really, everything--depended on Jesus
playing the game.
O is for
Otherwise
Why make such a point of this? Because there is a different way of talking
about how we are saved, and by that way Jesus' church short-changes itself.
This other way, which may be more prevalent, under-appreciates God's
commitment to us and how precious we are to him. By making our salvation
appear to be shallower than it is, this other way also tends to make
shallow our response to salvation.
S is for
Showers
The gospels themselves, to help us appreciate that Jesus had to play the
game in order to win it, bring to our attention the real possibility that
he might not have played it out. They tell us in many ways that right down
to the bitter end Jesus could have quit the game and hit the showers. In
John's report Jesus says, "I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No
one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." (John 10: 17,
18) In Mark's report, Jesus prays to have the cup removed, but acts in
obedience to his Father's will. (Mark 14:32-42) In Matthew's report Jesus
says in Gethsemane, "Do you think I cannot ask my Father and he will send
me more than twelve armies of angels?" (Matthew 26:53) And in Luke's
telling, the very mockery of the leaders and the unrepentant felon, "let
him save himself," (Luke 23:35) is meant ironically to indicate the truth,
that he could do so if only he wished. So, when the film "The Last
Temptation of Christ" asks what if Christ had, at the end, come down from
the cross, it is only exploring what the canonical gospels themselves
insist upon as a real possibility.
S is for
Specifically
As believers ourselves, but especially as witnesses and teachers to others,
we need always to include the grace note in the gospel's melody, the
specific disclaimer "not by works," "not by our deserving," "not from us
but only from God's steadfast love." For only through this recognition that
Easter is a gift to faith does the Spirit resuscitate our joy and
confidence that we are loved by God for sure, despite anything and
everything, and will be saved. But too easily we could take this gift as a
cheap grace, a bargain gospel, a remaindered edition of God's pity. So in
our faith, witness and preaching we must keep specifically, as "of first
importance" that this saving grace comes in one place, the crucified and
risen Body. (Is that too "narrow" of God; not gracious enough--to our way
of thinking? Perish the thought!)
I is for
Introducing
Former Editor Ed Schroeder gives us this introduction: Christians are 1%
of the population of Bali. That's 30K of 3 million. In that "little
flock" we came to know two artists, Ketut Lasia and Nyoman Darsane. These
superb craftsmen do their daily work "crossing" Balinese painting and
sculpture with the Christian Gospel. A bas-relief by Lasia welcomes
worshippers to the Balinese Protestant Christian Church in Legian. Both
have exhibited in Europe. Friends of ours in Germany know their work.
Marie and I have seen their names and photos of their work in IMAGE
magazine, the journal of the Asian Christian Artists Association. But they
are unknown--as far as we know--in the USA.
N is for
Need
"When Wayan Turun graduated me from my apprenticeship with him I began to
work on my own. Over and over again religious questions kept bothering me.
I wrestled with what I had heard from the Christians. I was uncertain and
felt that I needed solid ground in my life, some sort of affirmation.
G is for
Glorify
"Thereafter I asked myself what I as a painter might do to honor God and to
proclaim the Gospel. For pastors or teachers that seemed simple: they could
preach or tell of the life of Jesus, but what could I as a painter do? I
really didn't know how I could place my gift into God's service.
S is for
Summer
The board of directors of the The Crossings Community, Inc. have set aside
one full day -- June 24--of their annual meeting for a Crossings Practicum
to which the public is invited. (Note the advertisement on the left column
of this page.) If you are not familiar with the Crossings model for Bible
study which links the Word of God to daily life, or if you would like to
brush up on that method, this is your opportunity! The text that will be
"crossed" is the Gospel lesson for the preceeding Sunday, John 3:1-17,
Nicodemus and Jesus. Leaders for the day will be board members Robert
Bertram, Lori Cornell, and Steven Kuhl. There is no charge for the event
although five dollars to cover lunch costs will be appreciated. A printed
brochure for the practicum can be obtained by contacting the Crossings
office. You can request a brochure or simply register by calling Cathy
Lessmann at 314-576-0567, or email
info@crossings.org
