Who didn’t see this one coming?  Robert Epstein, in the December 4, 2008 edition of the L.A. Times writes that the only problem with same-sex marriage is that it is too limiting.  See the article here.  There are many other types of legitimate partnerships that could use legal validation, he says.  “Many?”  To his credit, he does mention such options as polgyny, polyandry, group marriage and temporary marriage.  But why stop there?

There have been some misnomers out there that describe deaconesses as “nuns” or “mini-pastors.” This blog post hopes to develop a primer discussion of what a deaconess is and what she is not, and leave you to understand the important distinctions of both. In relation to what deaconesses are alongside any other offices, this will hopefully offer development of a healthy attitude, not only about deaconesses, but the Word of God demonstrated in these instruments of Christ’s mercy.

A DEACONESS IS NOT A NUN:

• A Deaconess reaches out into the community and congregation to the lost and suffering. She has no vows or oaths that she must take, apart from being in agreement and faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions (because it agrees with Scripture).

• A Deaconess is able to be married and carry on deaconess service. Again, no vows of celibacy or monasticism are required or encouraged. Likewise, a deaconess is not required or encouraged to be married, either, if she does not desire these things; so long as she acts in accordance with Scripture in propriety and obedience to the Sixth Commandment (which goes for all people, not just deaconesses!)

• A Deaconess knows the richness of our Lutheran theology, and is able to articulate and act, in mercy, on our confession of faith with grace and wisdom for the edification of the Church, especially to the ones who she has been charged to serve.

A DEACONESS IS NOT A PASTOR:

• The deaconess is consecrated (set apart for godly service), not ordained. Her service begins at the nave and door of the Church. While she does not preach or administer the Lord’s Supper, she can certainly prepare the Altar for the Sacrament prior to the Divine Service, but does not participate in the distribution of it.

• The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod upholds and respects God’s Biblical order of Creation. Woman was created as helper of man (Gen. 2:18). Deaconesses exemplify this and other expressions of God’s Word (Eph 5:25, 1 Timothy 3:12). This is to be understood as the inerrant Word of God truly freeing both men and women to be exactly who they are, in Christ Jesus, as the ultimate focus.

• Diaconal emphasis of service is on care, teaching and reaching out to women, children, and elderly

This primer hopefully brings clarity to some otherwise confused or misleading views. The most important aspect of deaconess service is giving all glory to God, and pointing others to our Savior, Jesus Christ. A deaconess serves as a “buffer”-many times between the world and the Altar and Font, where Jesus promises to be. While all children of God are called to bear witness to the Gospel and show where God is located, a deaconess is a leader and resource to those she serves, helping and encouraging all to works of mercy and compassion. Glory be to God for sending all laborers into His Harvest!

On May 15 the California Supreme Court ruled that the state’s marriage laws are discriminatory and that homosexual couples will be allowed to apply for marriage licenses and get married. What a tragedy that the state of California has further sanctioned a sinful sexual relationship.

“California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George wrote for the majority ‘In contrast to earlier times, our state now recognized that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation’” (Chicago Tribune, 5/16/2008 p. 19).

This is their definition of marriage: loving, long-term, and responsibility? Could not the families of the children evacuated from the polygamist compound in Texas describe their relationships as loving, long-term, and responsible? Would the relationship between father and step-daughter in Lolita be similarly described by some? What has made homosexuality a more acceptable sexual deviancy than pedophilia or polygamy?

According to the California any relationship that could be substantiated to the court as loving, long-term, and responsible should be given sanction to marry. Ironically, when divorce, abuse, and neglect are taken into account, more than fifty percent of traditional marriages wouldn’t qualify under this definition (with Hollywood couples giving us high-profile examples).

When we are confronted by the world we must not call a good thing evil and an evil thing good, but instead, call a thing what it actually is (Luther’s Heidelberg Theses, 21). We must call homosexuality what it is: sinful. Then, we can bring the gospel to our neighbors in this world as they trapped in this sin (as we ourselves are trapped in so many others). When churches and governments call an evil thing good and good things evil they have fallen out of their God-given callings and forsaken their neighbors, their brothers and sisters in Christ, and sentenced them to live continually in sin. We would no sooner allow our brothers and sisters to persist in the sins of stealing, murder, or adultery than we can sanction homosexuality.

This is to frame homosexuality together with all sins which consume this world and to place yourselves into the same boat as homosexuals and everyone who needs God’s law and gospel to set us free from sin and death. This is not a matter of elevating ourselves over our neighbor (this too would be sinful), but rather acknowledging that we, like them, need the grace of God won for us by Jesus Christ. It is also a matter of the church of God proclaiming His Word in its fullness and truth.

How then shall we live? Love your neighbor. Pray for them, share God’s Word with them, and seek to rescue them from all manner of sinfulness just as you yourself embrace and hold fast to the work of Jesus and the new life that you have in him.

Brueggemann articulates rightly of American Christianity that “serious religious use of the lament psalms has been minimal because we have believed that faith does not mean to acknowledge or embrace negativity [1].” This, as Lutherans, we know all too well; that a de-emphasis on reality and over-emphasis on happiness, praise, and blessings sometimes skews the sinful condition we are in, and distances us from the contemplative life that leads believers to repentance and holy absolution. Many times we breeze past the sorrow to the inevitable cure too quickly. Why does the Church avoid these laments? Moreover, not just the Church, but society underscores and hands over human laments as if they can or must be fixed. Secular help (i.e., counselors, social services, clubs and oganizations) while basically good, and can make life easier, most times their foundation’s mission shuns the Gospel or claims that it is one of many ways to salvation. They do not have the cure and true reconciliation to our laments. Yet it seems as though people are getting filtered through these avenues first nowadays, before going to their pastors and the church.

In a commentary on Psalm 39, Luther states in a paradigmatic shift, “This is what happened to Christ…silencing himself from the good (Ps. 39:2), and becoming sorrowful for the unteachable and jealous souls.[2]” Who are these souls? Take a look in the mirror. Even though we may believe we constantly turn away as if WE can take Jesus’ place and save ourselves. Other examples of Christ’s anguish is His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane [Luke 22:39-46] and his cries on the cross. Consequently Jesus utters “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me [Mt 27:46]” on the cross, just as the Psalter had uttered in Psalm 22:1. Yet this was His own lament for all the world and himself! Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fully man was scorned, afflicted and humiliated for us, became sin in our stead, and fully atoned for us in His death and resurrection.

We cannot pretend that laments are somehow a ‘good thing’. Pain and suffering exists and that is exactly what it is. However, our prayers of lament, as in the Psalms, are conversations that acknowledge the truth about sin, and our relationship to God. The reality is that there is no earthly or temporary quick fix that will make sin, death and the devil go away. The testing and trials can and will happen. May these things turn us to Jesus Christ, the only One who truly understands and still paid for all of our sins at the cross. If your heart is heavy with sorrow, know that Jesus laments with you, and has taken your sorrow unto himself. Be encouraged to read the Psalms and all of Scripture; so you may realize that you are not alone. May you come to know that you can take all your laments to our Triune God, and receive the continuous and mysterious Words of consolation (Ps 34:18) through your Christ-sent pastor (Mt 28:20) and the Church, the only place that can give it.

Each day our lives are impacted by sin. It could be our own sinful actions and nature, the tragic effects of the earth itself being corrupted (disasters, for example), and the sinful actions of others perpetrated against us. An example of the latter is abusive relationships. I don’t have first-hand experience, neither abusing nor having been abused, but I have counseled my brothers and sisters in Christ who have become entangled in such evil.

It was just recently that I was asked about such abuse. “What have I done to deserve this?” “Is it wrong for me to want to escape? If I stay, I can continue to be a witness to the Gospel and forgiveness. If I escape, aren’t I abandoning them to their sin?”

Are these your questions? Are these the questions of your friends or loved ones? Is someone perhaps asking these questions about your own actions?

If you are so entangled, know that our Lord Jesus has not forgotten you, he has not forsaken you, and he has not turned his back on you during these trying times. He knows what it is to feel the sting of the sin of another. He felt the sting of scourge and nails for the sins of the whole world, even these sins of abuse.

We feel the sting of such evil in our lives because we are still living here in this veil of tears. Jesus’ promises of bliss and tranquility are the promises of the new Heaven and new Earth. His assurances for this life are of trial, persecution, and suffering. We will have crosses to bear, we will have sicknesses (of body and mind), we will have tears and sadness. As these touch your life you are not loved any less by God. How could you be? You are already loved perfectly by God in Christ Jesus. You are loved fully and completely.

The nature of evil and why pain must exist in this life must wait for another post. What shall we do then when we find ourselves trapped in the cycle of abuse, codependency, and danger? I humbly offer these suggestions, links to expert information, and my most sincere prayers for all who abuse and all whom they abuse.

1. Escape. Find a way out of the relationship. You are worth much more in God’s eyes, in the eyes of your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to someone who would truly love you as a lover ought to.
2. In your escape, seek out care for those who have suffered abuse. The damage is deeper than the bruises, cuts, and the unspeakable. There is help to heal your body, mind, and soul.
3. You are not guilty. The blood of Jesus covers all your sins, and your having been abused is not a sin of yours. All the same, the guilt which you feel is taken away in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Seek out where you may immerse yourself in the spiritual care of God’s Word and Sacraments.
4. Don’t be afraid. You grades may suffer. You may miss work. You may need to move. You may need to sever common ties between you and your abuser. Don’t be afraid. Your teachers/professors are glad that you are safe. Your pastor is thankful that you are free. Any boss should rejoice that his worker is free. Anyone worthy of being called your friend will also rejoice.
5. Your brothers and sisters in Christ are here to love you and care for you. You may need help packing, moving, driving, hiding, and surviving. The Body of Christ exists to care for the Body of Christ and to care for all people.

Finally, here are a few links that you may find helpful. Try to find a shelter in your area, friends who will help you, doctors who can care for you, and a pastor who can bring the Gospel to you. These are God’s gifts to bring you safely through.

In danger? Call 911.

Shelters in some major cities:
Austin, Texas: 512-267-SAFE (7233)
Chicago, Illinois
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Detroit, Michigan
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Houston, Texas

National Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Lord Jesus, quickly come, that the darkness of these earthly days would be replaced by the perpetual light of your grace and glory which is our inheritance by your death and resurrection. In your holy name we pray. Amen.