Hermeneutics of Suspicion

"Hermeneutics of Suspicion
'Before we seek to score points against the genetic fallacies and ad hominem arguments of modern atheists, before we 'turn suspicion against the suspicious,' perhaps we ought to adopt self-suspicion 'as the hermeneutics of Lent.' We ought to consider the possibility that in our own religion, 'what presents itself as an altruistic virtue may be, in terms of motive and function, only an egoistic vice dressed up in its Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes.' (Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Not the Way It's Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin, referencing Westphal, 'Taking Suspicion Seriously' - Eerdmans, 1995, p. 111)

In the summer of 2009, Rob Bell hosted Poets, Prophets, Preachers, a conference on reclaiming the art of the sermon. One presenter at the event, Peter Rollins, convenes an 'iconic' collective that offers experiments in transformance art, sometimes also called theodramatic events. The collective, called Ikon, defies easy or simple definition. However, it is fair to say that what they are up to, at least in part, is to offer a radical, postmodern form of worship for those on the margins of faith and the church. To learn more about Ikon, visit http://www.ikon.org.uk or http://faithasawayoflife.typepad.com/blog/2009/02/atheism-for-lent-practicing-music-video-divina.html.

For our purposes, we consider one exercise Ikon engages in that can inform our Lenten worship preparations. They call it 'Atheism for Lent.' Each year, they read a book influenced by, or about, the prominent hermeneuts of suspicion: Feuerbach, Marx, Freud, and Nietzsche. This practice, though radical, resonates with Cornelius Plantinga's idea in Not the Way It's Supposed to Be, quoted above, and may be a fruitful approach to Lent in 2011.

Why? Because our own religion can easily become an egoistic vice dressed up in Sunday-go-to-meetin' clothes, and our own people, and especially our neighbors, know this. Pastors and church leaders are not unfamiliar with the critique that the church is full of hypocrites who act one way on Sunday and another way the rest of the week. And truthfully, even the leaders of the churches - are guilty of this. So Lent, the season of repentance, begins with a reminder of our profound sin and mortality (Ash Wednesday), and walks us all the way to a cross which, if we are honest, we recognize as the place where we crucified the Son of God. It is not at all out of place, during this time, to listen to those suspicious of religion, and suspicious of the church, precisely in order to encourage and develop our own self-suspicion.

There are other ways to exercise self-suspicion during Lent. One is to recommit to the practice of confession. Encourage regular corporate confession. Encourage regular corporate confession in the assembly, but also exercise the rite of individual confession and forgiveness. Being with yourself and your leadership. Do not encourage the members of the congregation to schedule time for individual confession and forgiveness if you have not first confessed yourself. Remember also to take small steps in this, because individual confession and forgiveness is a rite that has fallen into disuse in most of our churches, and so can be intimidating in even small doses. Teach it and discuss it in small groups and with key leaders. Ask a neighboring pastor to hear your confession if you are the sole pastor in a congregation. Find a monastic community or religious order that practices individual confession and find out whether opportunity is available to learn about and make use of the confessional. Seek out a neighboring pastor also if you feel uncomfortable confessing to your own pastor. And remember that all the baptized are welcome to hear confession and speak words of forgiveness."

- from Sundays and Seasons, Augsburg Fortress, 2010.

Mary's Article

MESSAGE FROM MARY…
This is taken from an article in the March issue of Lutheran Women Today. The article, Lenten Disciple─ing was written by Julie A. Kanarr who serves as co-pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Angeles, Washington. Her suggestions for Lent disciplines seemed to put a new spin on an old practice.

May your Lent be blessed, ME

SERVING, NOT SUFFERING
Classic Lenten disciplines such as fasting, prayer, and almsgiving focus on identifying with Christ’s suffering on the cross through personal actions of devotion or deprivation. The ancient practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays is rooted in this idea. Given this, one might ask whether such acts as giving up chocolate trivializes the practice of mirroring Christ’s suffering. If you are planning to give something up for Lent, reflect on your motivation and the personal meaning for your choice. Will this be too easy for you? Will it be too difficult? Is this a form of repentance—of turning toward God? Are you trying to let go of a bad habit so that you might become a better steward of the gifts God has entrusted to you? Is it only a trivial deprivation of pleasure or is this a personally meaningful sacrifice or change in your life?

A carefully chosen Lenten discipline leads us to focus on our call to love God and serve our neighbors. Honest reflection can help us see how some disciplines can be more about serving than suffering. For instance, instead of giving up chocolate to identify with Christ’s sufferings through personal deprivation, you might give up desserts so that you can donate what you would have otherwise spent on treats to help those who are hungry, whether through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal or your local food bank.

Consider Lenten disciplines that combine saying no to one thing (such as watching television or going to the movies) in order to say yes to something else (such as Bible study, prayer, volunteering, building relationships with family). And ask yourself what that "yes" means for you.

Changing your leisure habits? How will you use your newfound time to serve God and neighbor? Changing your eating habits? How does this change your awareness of how God provides you with daily bread and the relationship between the food on your plate and God’s command to be caretakers of the land, ocean, and air, and to care for our hungry neighbors? Changing your spending habits? How does that deepen your understanding and practice of stewardship?

REFLECT AND WRITE
Let your Lenten discipline prompt questions for your ongoing reflection. To ask questions of meaning and purpose is a classic Lutheran practice, growing out of the “what does this mean” question repeatedly asked throughout Luther’s Small Catechism. You may wish to keep a personal Lenten journal to record your thoughts, questions, prayers, struggles, and reflections to be fancy. It doesn’t even need to consist of complete paragraphs. Don’t worry about your writing ability. Some might find it easier to draw or write down words or phrases instead of complete sentences.
As Lent draws to a close, spend time reflecting on questions such as: What have I discovered? What has this meant for me? How have I grown in my appreciation of God’s grace? How has this discipline of Lent engaged me in repentance, in prayer, in living out my faith, in serving my neighbor? And finally, where might this lead me in keeping Lent next year?

Lenten disciplines come to us with an invitation, but not a demand. Remember that God won’t love you more if you practice a Lenten discipline or love you less if you don’t. As we enter into the season of Lent, let us do so both with discipline and freedom, purpose and flexibility. Lent invites us to reflect deeply upon the gift of God’s grace.

Lent is a time for renewal, a time to focus on the gift of Christ’s death and resurrection, and to grow in our understanding of living as God’s beloved children.

Lenten Disciplines

Some ideas from last night about "breaking up your fallow ground."

Lenten Disciplines

1. Confession

a. Read Charles Finney, Breaking Up the Fallow Ground, http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/article_pdf.php?aid=579 and use it as a guide to self-examination (Read and reflect on this sermon with some caution. It is not the specific confession of our sins that saves us, but instead Jesus who does so. Also Finney uses the word "religion" in a 19th century way.)
b. Practice the "Hermeneutics of Suspicion" on yourself. (see the MELC blog)

c. Use the 10 Commandments as a template for self-examination. See Small Catechism on Confession, http://www.bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#confession

d. Set up a time with pastor Dean for private confession and/or wait for April when he will be in the sanctuary during designated times for confession.

2. The Means of Grace

a. Make it a point to worship in community every Sunday and Wednesday in Lent.

b. Read the NT in 40 days (about 30 minutes/day) http://www.faceofgrace.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=229&Itemid=70

c. Study the verses of Handel's Messiah in context. http://www.messiahcd.com/Information/about_The_Messiah/The_Scriptures/the_scriptures.html

d. Read Matthew 26-27 several times. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026-27&version=MSG;NIV;ESV;AMP

e. Join a Bible study.

3. Love Others
a. Pray every day during Lent for a non-believing friend or relative.

b. Pray for and learn about an unreached people group every day in Lent. http://www.joshuaproject.net/unreached.php

c. Mary Bridges' article in the Monitor (March 2011) (see another post)

"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" - Matthew 17:5

Listen to the Son with us this weekend.

Adult Forum resumes a series of three sessions on Dietrich Bonhoeffer this Sunday at 11 am.

SATURDAY, March 5
8am Men's Bible Study

SUNDAY, March 6
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for all ages
5 pm Global Mission Committee
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games

MONDAY, March 7
1:30 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry at Swedish Country Inn
6 pm Executive Council
6:30 pm Prayer Meeting - 405 N. Chestnut

TUESDAY, March 8
5 pm Pancakes for Fat Tuesday (fundraiser for Children's Center)
7 pm Social Ministries Committee

WEDNESDAY, March 9
11:30 am SALT Lunch
3:30 pm KICK at Messiah
5:30 pm Family Meal at Messiah
6:30 pm Ash Wednesday Worship

SATURDAY, March 12
SPRING AHEAD TONIGHT!
8 am Men’s Bible Study (Family Room)
8:30 am Bethany House of Studies/Messiah

SUNDAY, March 13
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Holy Communion (ELW 1)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for all ages
6:15 pm Genesis for GenXers
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Churche
Lindsborg, KS

Matthew 17¹Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." ⁵While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." ⁸And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. ⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Why do you think Jesus only took Peter, James and John up the mount of Transfiguration?

What does the Transfiguration signify? What difference does it make that Jesus is depicted here as a (or perhaps "the") source of light?

What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is certified by Moses and Elijah?

How might you listen to Jesus more than you already? Where do you go and what do you do to listen to Him? Is there a difference between "hearing" Him and "listening to" Him?

Do you fear Jesus? Why or why not? Is it a comfort to you that Jesus might want to touch you and tell you not to be afraid?

Why do you think Jesus did not want the three disciples to speak of the Transfiguration until after the Resurrection?

Seek God's kingdom first and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33

DON'T MISS THIS SUNDAY'S SERVICE IN WHICH OUR SENIOR HIGH
YOUTH WILL ASSIST WITH AND/OR LEAD MOST OF THE SERVICE!

TOMORROW, February 27
8:15 pm Choir Rehearsal
9:30 pm Holy Communion - Youth Sunday
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
2:15 pm Youth Meet for Winter Jam at Trinity Methodist
4:30 pm Philippians Bible Study/Kessingers
6:15 pm Genesis for Gen-Xers
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games

MONDAY, February 28
6:30 pm Prayer Meeting - 405 N. Chestnut

WEDNESDAY, March 2
3:30 pm KICK
5:30 pm Family Meal
6:30 pm Mentors
7 pm Confirmation
6:30 pm 13 Apostles Study

THURSDAY, March 3
6:30 pm Children and Youth Ministries Task Force
7:30 pm Worship and Music

FRIDAY, March 4
9:30 am Staff Brunch
1 pm World Day of Prayer
4 pm [Bethany College Social Work Reception]

SATURDAY, March 5
8 am Men’s Bible Study (Family Room)

SUNDAY, March 6
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for all ages
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lindsborg, KS

Matthew 6²⁴No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.

What is it that worries you most?

In these verses, Jesus gives at least five why shouldn't worry about food and clothing. Can you find at least that many?

How would your life be different if you didn't worry about money, food and clothing?

What does Jesus mean by "serving wealth"?

What does He mean by serving God? What does it meant to seek/strive for God's kingdom first?

Is it easy to believe that God will give us all we need if we but strive for God's kingdom first?

Weekend Reminder, Friday, Feb 11, 2011

"You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times.... But I say to you...." - Jesus, Matthew 5:21-22

Receive the teaching of the Master with us this Sunday morning!

"I'll be facilitating three sessions [9 hours total] in the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement Course ,
Sunday night through Monday night in Wichita and Newton.
I appreciate your prayers that God would use my presence and
words to mobilize more people for world mission. Thanks, pastor Dean"
for more information about Perspectives, navigate to www.perspectives.org

SATURDAY, February 12
8 am Men's Breakfast

SUNDAY, February 13
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Holy Communion (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
1-3 pm Youth Valentine's Coffee - Bethany Home
6:15 pm Genesis for GenXers at the Apels'
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games at Messiah

MONDAY, February 14
6:30 pm Prayer Meeting - 405 N. Chestnut

TUESDAY, February 15
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
6:30 pm Sound System Task Force

WEDNESDAY, February 16
3:30 pm K.I.C.K. and children's choirs rehearse at Messiah Church
5:30 pm Family Meal
6:30 pm Confirmation
6:30 pm Adult Study (13 Apostles)

THURSDAY, February 17
6 pm Executive Committee
7:30 pm Worship and Music Committee

FRIDAY, February 18
6 pm Scrapbooking

SATURDAY, February 19
8 am Men’s Bible Study

SUNDAY, February 20
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW 5)
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games at Messiah

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lindsborg, KS

Matthew 5²¹You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' ²²But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. ²⁶Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
²⁷You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' ²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
³¹It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' ³²But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
³³Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.' ³⁴But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

Does Jesus here contradict the OT law? If not, what is the significance of His interpretations?

Does the passage imply that human reconciliation a more important priority than worship? How do you prioritize reconciliation in your personal relationships?

What does it mean to "look at a woman [or at a man] with lust"? How might we "guard our hearts" from lust? How can we enlist Jesus' help in this endeavor?

Why do you think Jesus is so categorically opposed to divorce? In addition to the effect of divorce on divorced people, who else is effected by it? How can we strengthen marriage bonds as a way to decrease the incidence of divorce?

What do you like most to talk about? What would happen if we were all more circumspect in our choice of conversation topics? If we used our speech to bless others instead of cursing them; to praise God instead of binding Him?

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. - Jesus, Matthew 5:13a, 14

Get your saltiness restored with us this weekend!

As our youth gather in Wichita this weekend, pray that God would bless them with positive experiences around Jesus.

Pray also for our Council and Staff who will gather in retreat this evening and our Council who will gather again on Monday night.

Note that during the Fellowship Hour this Sunday you will have the opportunity to indicate your willingness to serve God in various aspects of our gospel ministry.

TODAY, FRIDAY, February 4
3:30 pm Youth Quake - Wichita
6:30 pm Council/Staff Retreat - Lindsborg

SATURDAY, February 5
Youth Quake Continues
8 am Men's Bible Study

SUNDAY, February 6
Youth Quake Concludes
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Service of the Word (ELW5)
10:30 am Fellowship - Time and Talent Fair
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
5 pm Global Mission Committee
7 pm Senior High Devotions and Games

MONDAY, February 7
1:30 pm Prayer Shawl Ministry at the Swedish Country Inn
6:30 pm Prayer Meeting @ J & B Petersons
7 pm Council Retreat at Messiah Church
7 pm Women's Ministry Committee
9:00 pm [BYMT]

TUESDAY, February 8
7 pm Social Ministries

WEDNESDAY, February 9
11:30 am S.A.L.T. Lunch (Single Adults Living Today)
3:30 pm K.I.C.K. and children's choirs rehearse at Messiah Church
5:30 pm Family Meal
6:30 pm Confirmation
6:30 pm Adult Study (13 Apostles)
7 pm Fellowship Committee-Rescheduled

SATURDAY, February 12
8 am Men’s Bible Study (Family Room)

SUNDAY, February 13
8:15 am Senior Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am Holy Communion
10:30 am Fellowship
11 am Sunday School for All Ages
4:30 pm Philippians Study at the Kessingers
6:15 pm GenX Bible Study at Apels'
7 pm Sr. High Devotions and Games at Messiah

Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church
Lindsborg, KS

Matthew 5¹³You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
¹⁴You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
¹⁷Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. ¹⁸For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter will pass from the law until all is accomplished.
¹⁹Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

What is the essence of the church? What is it that makes it a church? What is our saltiness?

Have you ever concealed the fact that you are a Christian? Why? Can you think of some ways you have shined Jesus' light among others this past week?

How serious do you take "the law and the prophets" (the Old Testament)? Do you think every letter and stroke in it are important?

What do you think Jesus means by "the righteousness of the scribes"? What do you think Jesus means by "the righteousness of the Pharisees"? How can our righteousness exceed theirs?