G-S is for Gospel Sharer

Edward H. Schroeder is the Gospel Sharer I have in mind as I write this column. He's been sharing the good news of Jesus the Christ for almost 75 years now (counting his baptism as the first announcement), and together with his spouse, Marie, for 50 of those years. Both are missionaries par excellence. They have been to virtually every country I can think of, and a few more, touching the lives of thousands with their evangelical message and presence. Among their missionary contacts are the people of Manipur in India who are seeking to establish a Christian elementary school. I lift this up only because Ed and Marie, in their selflessness, encouraged this mission as the best way to remember their 50th wedding anniversary. (It's still not too late to support this mission through International Partners in Mission.)

For over the past seven years, Ed has been sharing the gospel on the Crossings' website under "Thursday Theology." It's good theology, good news theology, and it comes to us avid readers every Thursday (hence the clever name). With over 370 entries, the content would expand well over 1500 pages in books. Granted, not all of the articles in Thursday Theology are Ed's. He has invited colleagues and junior colleagues to write a few of these. But it is his project, and all of it bears the tone of the Gospel. The topics cover a wide range: Justification by faith, ethics, politics, repentance, legalism, missiology, the "third use of the law," homosexuality, commendations, book and movie reviews, ecumenical dialogue, Seminex...but all are grounded in Ed's faithful rendition of the Gospel.

Ed and Marie: Gospel Sharers

Let me just briefly lift up two of the topics on which Ed has changed my life with his Christ-centered sharing. One is his emphasis on repentance. He got that from Luther (check out the first of the 95 theses, or his catechetical reminders for daily repentance), who got it from the Lord Jesus himself ("repent and believe the good news"). Ed has sometimes taken heat for bringing that topic too close to home (especially right after 9/11/01). I suspect that the real problem is that the heat is on us. The call to repentance is not substantively envangelical. It calls us back to the word of the Law, our accountability, how we all fall under the divine critique. But for those who know Ed best, he's not about to shy away from that critical pronouncement, not even for himself, because the cross of Christ empowers one to muster the courage to face our accountability, never alone but with Christ's response on our behalf.

The other topic on which Ed has changed my life with his gospel-sharing is homosexuality. Ed has been a champion for those oppressed for being "different," right down to their DNA. This means revisiting how we think about God's ordering of the creation and how we read the Scriptures through the evangelical lens and hermeneutic that the Lutheran Reformers were all emphatic about (See Apology IV). However one feels about Ed's sharing here, there's no denying his evangelical passion and unfettered commitment...and, oh, how that changes everything, even how we look at life and death.

On All Saints Sunday, November 6 (Ed's birthday), we will be celebrating 75 years of Ed's Gospel Sharing in a service of celebration at Bethel Lutheran Church in St. Louis at 3 p.m. A reception will follow. We hope those who can make it to this celebration will come. For all others among the thousands whose lives have been touched by Ed's faithful proclamation of the Gospel, we hope you will join the good cheer that resounds from gospel sharers (angels) everywhere.

michael c hoy

I-N is for "in," in the city, with Robin.   <- Crossing Over ->   Main Page