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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 28, 2005 An Easter Plot |
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FRONTLINE DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005 by Fritz Foltz
Matthew
28: 11-15
Many were intrigued when Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code accused the Church of
oppressing the opposition and suppressing the truth. Brown claimed most of this
was done in the fourth century after the Church gained political power.
Here we see such accusations were made from the very beginning, before the
Easter sunset. Some of the community charged Christians with faking the
resurrection. Supposedly the disciples stole Jesus’ body and pointed to the
empty tomb as evidence he was raised from the dead.
The Christians counted this by blaming it on the false testimony of guards who
were paid to lie. At least this is Matthew’s story, who is the only Gospel
writer who reports anything about the authorities sealing the door and posting
guards at the tomb.
The story reminds us the Resurrection did not bestow certainty. As in every
other spiritual or moral decision, we can always find other explanations than
God’s. In fact, one of the reasons I like the way the Bible presents the
Resurrection appearances is they are honest and realistic. They admit doubt was
present. In fact, just a couple of verses later, when Jesus is presented in his
glory on the mountaintop, the Bible reports some worshiped him and others
doubted.
Today the world seeks certainty. Some people seek out churches where they
“tell it like it is”, meaning that they act as if religion gives all the
right answers. That usually means these are people who use religion to back
their own positions rather than God’s.
Religion plays a much more important function. It enables us to operate in a
very uncertain world. Resurrection gives courage not certainty. The disciples
who were cowardly now find the courage to continue Jesus’ ministry even if it
means giving their lives They really do pick up their crosses to follow Jesus.
Courage is the virtue we need in the present world. It is the virtue that enable
us to act for God even when we do not have all the facts. Our world says to wait
until all the data is in. That is usually a clever way of saying put off making
moral decisions forever, because we never have enough data. Data just keeps
coming in and changing as the circumstance changes. Christianity grants faith
that trusts God and acts on his principles even in the face of change and
uncertainty. Don’t listen to the Resurrection stories for all the right
answers. Listen to the Resurrection stories for the courage to act in a needy
world
Let us pray: Creator of all, we give thanks for you resurrecting Jesus. Grant us
the faith in the resurrection so in all our decisions of life, we might have the
courage to act as your people, imitating Christ and offering ourselves for the
good of the community. We pray in Jesus’ name.
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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