That pesky question..........

"When were you saved?"*

The person asking this question is expecting you to respond with the date when you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Lutherans have long rejected this idea that each of us 'decides for Christ.'  Rather, we always emphasize that it was God who acted first, came to us, called out to us, loved us before the beginning of time.

In the end, however, Lutherans are too often left unable to speak about those moments in their lives when the power of God's love and the gift of mercy and forgiveness became so real to them that they felt flattened and lifted up at the same time; that moment that called them into a new way of living.

We don't know how to talk about that sense of the Spirit's presence that led us to follow Jesus instead of taking another path.  We are at a loss for words to express that unreasonable calm and peace that descended on us in the midst of a disaster, or that solid presence of love that assures us that we are worthy of the air we breathe.

We struggle to find a way to express how Jesus meets us in Holy Communion and once again reminds us of God's unfailing love.  We avoid speaking of those parts of our lives where we are in need of confession and absolution, not because someone has called it sin but rather because we know they are obstacles to an ever deepening relationship with God.  And yet, all these things are true and a part of our spiritual life.

Perhaps our liturgy can help.  Throughout our 500 year history, Lutheran liturgy has been a vehicle for Jesus to meet us again, remind us of the forgiveness that is found in Jesus, feed us on the Word of God so we see life differently and then feed us again on the bread and wine so we are strong for the journey.  Its constant form can carry us when we are wounded and fill us when we are empty.  We call out to God, God calls back to us.  Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

We can lose ourselves in the liturgy.  We can find ourselves in the liturgy.  Each time, we have a new opportunity to come into God's presence and hear God's amazing words of forgiveness and mercy.  Each time we are sent out with the charge to share that good news with the world....so others might come to know God as well.

Its language shapes our language and faith as well.  Language like "Our Father, who art in heaven" and "into your hands we commend all for whom we pray"  and "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" and, for me, the most important "this is my body given for you".  The liturgy provides us with a treasure chest of language to talk about our faith.

 "Go and tell" was Jesus' command to the disciples from the tomb and so our faith is personal, but it was never intended to be private.  If we do  not tell, how will others know?  Is not the love of God so precious that you want to share it with everyone?  Let's practice telling our story.

* BTW  You were saved at the cross and in the waters of your baptism.