Death is easy, raising the dead is not. . .

Though it should not be any more than common sense, we have forgotten this wisdom:  death is easy, raising the dead is not.  I say this after a pandemic has killed so much of the Church's life and energy.  We have succumbed to the idea that in person worship is not only not essential but no better than online versions.  We have adopted the false idea that saving your life for today is worth abandoning the medicine of immortality that convey to us the power of Christ's death and resurrection.  We have given into the power of fear to discourage us from what is possible in favor of what we believe is absolutely safe (as if that ever existed).  All of this as the Church is shrinking among us.

If you are in a congregation suffering conflict, remember this before adding your voice to the causes of division.  Congregations are easy to kill.  Often it begins with whispers that are too cowardly to be said openly or directly to those whom the whispers demean.  As soon as the focus is on what is wrong instead of what is right, congregations begin the slow decline into death.  The more we are aware of that creeping death, the more the conflict divides and conquers us.  If you are fighting in a congregation, it had better be for the cause of the Gospel or you are contributing to the death of your church.  I am not suggesting that doctrinal aberrations or falsehoods be tolerated but we all know that most divisions are not over dogma or truth but over hurt feelings, the wounds of not be recognized for what we think we do, and the conflict of preferences over truth (especially when it comes to worship).  Don't stir up things for nothing and expect something good to come of it.

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.  I Cor. 1:10   

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. 2 Timothy 2:14-17

I say the same to those who love to speak against their pastors.  While no one should countenance false teaching and error, as Luther reminds us, we are to put the best construction on everything -- especially the man of God placed in your midst to preach the Word and administer the Sacraments.  Pastors have been worn out by this pandemic and their families are suffering with them.  I can understand that when things are not good, it is easy to commiserate.  But it does no one any good to complain about and blame those whom God is using to serve us with His gifts and grace.  It needs to stop.  In too many cases the complaints about pastors are from people who either cannot or will not speak to their pastors directly.  It is easy to kill the messenger (look at the history of the prophets!).  Maybe your pastor is not an extrovert, not good at small talk, not attentive to your feelings, or not a good fundraiser.  Worse, maybe your pastor is trying to make Lutheran practices and beliefs that have strayed from our Confession but the people are not sure they want to be Lutheran anymore.  If you are hearing God's Word faithfully proclaimed and being well served with the Sacraments, consider yourself lucky.  You have a good pastor.  If there are things he does not do well, how can you support him or help him out?  Do you pray for him (not praying to change him but simply praying that he be the best pastor God wants him to be)?

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.  Hebrews 13:17   

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.  1 Thess. 5:12-14 

The same goes for pastors and church workers who disparage the congregations they serve.  Stop it.  It is so easy to kill a congregation and to discourage church workers.  Raising the dead is not easy.  Be careful for what you do.  The same things I mentioned for those in the pews applies to pastors.  

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.  Acts 20:28  

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:1-4 

It is so easy to kill something because it is not perfect.  But good is not the enemy of perfect.  It is so easy to mortally wound the parish or pastor who serves there because you are discontent or disgruntled.  But raising up that dead congregation or restoring a broken man of God is so much more difficult.  I wonder if the Lord would not find His work among us so much easier if we were not working against Him and His purpose -- all the while presuming to think we were on His side!