How long, O Lord?

by Marvin Bublitz

A little while ago I had the joy to install the new Assistant Pastor at Holy Cross, Kitchener. As I sat in the chancel, I looked out at full pews. The saints were sitting shoulder to shoulder. It was a great sight after years of pandemic social distancing. In the chancel sat 28 pastors. I could not help but consider that the number of people in the chancel was more than some congregations had in service that morning.

After the service, congregational leaders spoke of the length of time since the previous pastor retired. It had been 1,000 days. As I listened to that and saw the joy in the face of the members, I pondered who was the happiest. Was it the members? Was it the senior pastor? Was it his wife?

Each of these had their reasons to be overjoyed. The members had waited 1,000 days and issued several calls before this day. The senior pastor had been looking for assistance. His beloved had wanted respite for her husband. Perhaps it was the Circuit Counsellor and Regional Pastor, as they would now be free of future call meetings there.

But there will be other congregations and other call meetings. Sometimes the first call issued in vacancy is accepted. Sometimes it takes two or three years. As the church experiences pastoral shortages, it is no surprise that the call process may take longer. After a number of declined calls, congregational members are anything but happy. They cry out, “How long, O Lord? How long do we have to wait?”

We must remember that the Lord’s timing is perfect. The Lord of the Church knows our needs. He knows His servants. He knows who He intends to shepherd His flock in any given place at any given time.

If you are in vacancy and struggling with numerous calls, trust the Lord of the Church. He who gave His life for you wants only the best for you. If the shepherd He intends to come and serve you is in a situation that means it may be six months before he is able to move, what will happen to the next six months of calls you issue? The Lord will move His servants to decline. That does not mean He does not care. Rather, it means quite the opposite.

The Lord’s timing is perfect. His choice for your shepherd is perfect. His love for His Church is divine. In that love He bestows faith, forgiveness, and salvation.

Who is the happiest at an installation? It is the Lord of the Church. For He who has divine gifts for His people delivers them through His Word and Sacraments.

“Our churches teach the people cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works. People are freely justified for Christ’s sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor and that their sins are forgiven for Christ’s sake” (Augsburg Confession IV.1-2).

“So that we may obtain this faith, the ministry of teaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments was instituted. Through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Spirit is given (John 20:22). He works faith, when and where it pleases God (John 3:8), in those who hear the good news that God justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake” (Augsburg Confession V.1-3).

At an installation, the Lord of the Church is the happiest because it means His chosen servant is being placed among His saints so that they may receive His divine gifts through Word and Sacraments. An installation is all about the Lord serving His people with His gifts of faith, forgiveness, and salvation.

Rev. Marvin Bublitz is Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)'s East Regional Pastor.