The Beatitudes: Blessed Are the Upside Down

When you were young, did you like to stand on your head? I know I did. There was something about it that made life a bit more lively. Grass hung in front of my eyes like Tarzan’s jungle. Trees grew “down” not “up.” The house seemed in danger of falling-off our corner lot. And the sky was a blue lawn that went on forever. For as long as I kept my balance I could dance on the clouds with my high-top Converse tennis shoes – while birds and planes flew under my feet. So, looking back on it now, some 50 years later, I’d sum-it-up this way: I liked standing on my head cuz it made me see old things in a new way. A world where trees grew-down and houses might fall-up. Where anything seemed possible. Blessed are the upside-down in life.

As I studied and listened to the gospel text for us this weekend (Matthew 5:1-12), it came to me that Jesus might have said to all those folk, sitting there on the northwestern shore of Lake Galilee. “OK, everyone. Before I share a beatitude/blessing, I’d like for you all to roll forward and stand on your heads.” Why?

The reason for Jesus saying this is because that’s exactly what he was about to do for them. Jesus was turning the known world upside-down … with what is basically a “transvaluation of values” (cf. Reinhold Niebuhr’s Beyond Tragedy, p.197-213). He was turning the world and all of its “ertly” values (Martin Marty) upside-down – including power, strength, wealth, or even health – in order that those who’d been buried at the bottom-of-the-heap suddenly found themselves closest to heaven; while those who thought they were king-of-the-hill found themselves flat on their backs, looking-up … now, perhaps for the first time, wondering. Hmm?

Jesus’ beatitudes turn us upside down so that we can begin to see that those who’ve been bruised for their faith (might this be you?) are not the “sad ones” but the “glad ones” because they’ve found something worth being bruised for – “for righteousness sake,” for Jesus’ sake (Matthew 5:10). That those who are merciful are simply handing out what they’ve already received in abundance (John 10:10) … You know, the world looks rather funny upside down; but maybe that's just how it looks when Jesus begins to plant our feet in heaven (sub specie aeternitas).  Turned upside down by the only One who really knows which way is UP!

I hope to see you “turning-up” and maybe even “upside-down” (!) at worship this weekend.

In Christ’s enfolding love, always …

j.r. christopherson
Senior Pastor

Forgiven…

“One little word will fell him….” from A Mighty Fortress is Our God ELW #503

All of humankind seeks relief from the burden of sin. Whether you experience this as sickness, stress and worry, or even death; we go through life often trying to placate ourselves in other things to find just a moment of relief.

Five hundred years ago, the Roman Catholic Church had used these feelings of oppression to profit from. Johann Tetzel, a charismatic Dominican friar, was sent throughout Germany to utilize the fear of God’s wrath in order that the church may raise money. Tetzel sold indulgences, a certificate stating the remission and forgiveness of sin. One might even purchase this great gift for someone else. In essence, the indulgence stated that God’s grace and mercy could be bought, nullifying the cross of Jesus Christ. It is in response to the sale of indulgences that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses on October 31, 1517, on the castle church door, effectively starting the Reformation.

The message of the Reformation is that Christ has claimed you as His own, died for the remission and forgiveness of your sins, and raises you to new life. Sin, death and the devil do not have a final word over you, Christ does… and it is just one little word, for you… FORGIVEN!

Come, gather in worship and celebration this weekend as a family of faith. We welcome guest preacher Dr. Steve Paulson, professor at Luther Seminary and world-renowned Lutheran theologian as he will proclaim God’s Word for us that it may come through your ears and take residence in your heart in faith. 

Jeff Backer, Intern Pastor

“First Things, First: In Jesus’ Name”

One of the classic films of our time (right up there with Arthur Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman) that really nails our human condition – in all of its angst and superficities of self-centeredness – is Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). A subplot in the story surrounds a stressed-out, Rolaids-popping, high-powered TV producer, who lives in Manhattan. His name is “Mickey.” As a big-time hypochondriac, Mickey has convinced himself that: “I’ve got this brain tumor the size of a basketball!” When his bluff is called by his doctors in ordering a brain CAT scan, Mickey tries to calm himself by saying: “Hey, everything’s going to be OK. I mean, you’re in the middle of New York City for heaven’s sake. This is your town. You’re surrounded by people and traffic and restaurants.” But the dark humor here is that these things are not all that reassuring. Mickey then embarks on a crazed quest to find true and lasting meaning in life. His job and the big bucks and all kinds of stuff just aren’t cutting it.

For the person watching the film, there’s the realization that the need for meaning is not a biological need. Neither is it a psychological need. It’s a religious need; a matter of ultimate concern in our lives; of what finally and truly matters most; where our first priorities ought to be. It’s a thirsting of the soul. The poignancy and dark humor (much like something out of a Flannery O’Connor novel) reach their climax in Mickey’s New York apartment – where he’s just returned from shopping …

The camera lens closes-in … on a darkened kitchen area … where Mickey slowly begins to unpack a brown paper bag – setting each item gently on a small table. The first thing he unpacks is a crucifix, looks at it and then sets it down. Next, he reaches in the brown grocery bag and pulls out a Bible. But before one can even ask the question: “Maybe Mickey has found the answer to his search for lasting and true meaning …” He pulls out a huge jar of Hellman’s mayonnaise from the bag, and then quickly tops-off-the-pile with a loaf of Wonder Bread (cf. John 6:35). As you can well imagine, at this point in the film, the audience is rolling in the aisles with laughter. However, in spite of all the humor, this is a very serious and telling commentary about us modern folk. Right?

Now … the voices that challenge Jesus in our Gospel text for this coming weekend, from Matthew 22:15-22, are the same kind of angsty, nervous voices that seek to entrap and entangle us; voices of 21st century Pharisees and Sadducees. Voices of legalism and authoritarianism recouched in terms of conditions and success. “You must do this, first. No! You must do that, first!” Jesus silences such voices by pointing-out all the Wonder Bread and Mayonnaise of worldly things that we’ve piled on top of what is most important – that which is most needful (cf. Luke 10:42), namely, God’s Word for us. Come and hear this Word anew, for you, this coming weekend at worship.

j.r. christopherson
Senior Pastor

Jesus’ Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Read Matthew 21:33-46

Old city wall in Jerusalem

In the Gospel text for this week, Jesus continues to address the question asked by the chief priests and the elders of the Temple, “By what authority…..” He offers yet another lesson based on the allegorical vision of God and his kingdom as a vineyard, but now shifting the focus away from inspecting the fruit of the vineyard, but focusing on the tension that arises between the owner of the vineyard and the tenants/workers that tend to the vineyard. It is very easy to understand whom the characters represent in this parable, even so much that the text ends by saying, “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them.”  However, this parable reaches right into our lives and our relationship with God, and it names us as well.

When we read that after the owner has sent multiple servants to deal with the tenants, only to have them beaten and killed, he sends his own son, “because they will respect him.” We find that absurd! Why would the owner do that? It does not make sense. It is completely unexpected. They reject the son, take him, and kill him, expecting to receive the son’s inheritance.

This is exactly what God did in sending His only Son into the world. Jesus Christ brought the fruits of the kingdom with him, which is God’s amazing grace and mercy, so that God’s people would know his goodness, and what do we do? We kill him, we push Christ out of our own lives, rejecting him again and again, rather than repenting and turning to him.

Is Jesus Christ the cornerstone of your faith? Without Christ, the wall of faith tumbles. Though we reject him time and time again, God gives us the Son’s and His inheritance just the same. Though it is absurd, we get more than we expect or can even imagine.

Come to worship this Sunday and receive the fruits of the kingdom which Christ gives of himself.

Jeff Backer, Intern Pastor

Jesus' Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Read Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a wedding banquet that a king throws for his son. Think of the food! Imaging how lavish and wonderful the celebration will be. Dancing, music, dessert will flow like water in a flood. It will likely be the party of the decade, perhaps the century. Who wouldn’t want to be there?

Well, according to Jesus’ parable many have been invited but they refuse to come. Maybe they are too busy with other things. Maybe they just don’t like the king. Perhaps they have nothing to wear to such and event and keep their distance because they feel inadequate. Whatever the reason, those invited reject the king’s invitation. Jesus concludes the parable with this haunting phrase, “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” What could he mean? What is the difference between being invited and being chosen?

In the midst of these questions, along with the anger and irritation they cause, it is easy to forget that Jesus sees the kingdom as a grand party and a place of rejoicing with the Son who has finally chosen a bride to give his life to. Come and hear more this weekend in worship and Bible classes!

Pastor Lars Olson