A TIME FOR
RENEWAL BY TERRY DEFOE & BRIAN WONNICK
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” - Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)
A
perfect storm. 2020 had it all—a pandemic, economic upheaval, and unprecedented political polarization—all merged into one. The church did not escape. Worship services were canceled or curtailed. Our ability to distribute the Sacrament was severely hampered. Through it all, however, God’s people persisted, continuing to preach and teach and administer the Sacraments. And now, well into 2021, when we look back we realize that we’ve learned a lot. We recognize anew the value of prayer. We affirm the privilege of worshiping together and look forward to that time when corporate worship is the norm once again. It seems that we are now seeing the first glimmers of hope. God’s church wants to be prepared as the pandemic moves into its next stages. Many congregations are focused on establishing revised guidelines for the road ahead.
The church does not have the luxury of carrying out the Great Commission in exactly the same way as previous generations did. The Gospel does not change and neither do the Sacraments, but society around us certainly does. We need to regularly adapt our methodologies for preaching the unchanging Gospel to a changing world. We seek renewal that reaffirms our Scriptural heritage and actively engages the world as it is, not as we would like it to be. Given that reality, what insights can we glean from God’s Word as we move into an uncertain future? A basic principle underlying renewal is laid out for us in God’s Word. Paul’s New Testament letters reveal a strategy that may be used to great benefit. Consider Paul’s letters to the churches in Thessalonica and Corinth. Thessalonica was facing challenges, but the Apostle Paul puts a positive frame on the picture. He begins his letters with an emphasis on thanksgiving. He acknowledges their faith, their labor of love, and their steadfastness in hope. Only then does he mention the problems they faced. The church at Thessalonica was tempted to give in to fear, but Paul wanted these believers to be positive and thankful as they move forward into a challenging time. He stresses that THE CANADIAN LUTHERAN March/April 2021
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