M A G A Z I N E O F T H E LUT H E R A N C H URC H O F A US T R A LI A & N E W ZE A L AN D
JULY 2021
‘Let us no t grow wea ry of doing goo d.’
VOL 55 NO6
Print Post Approved PP100003514
G A L A T IA
N S 6 :9
Choices, choices
Considerations for ethical living
LUTHERAN
CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA
EDITORIAL
Editor Lisa McIntosh p 08 8267 7300 m 0409 281 703 e lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au Executive Editor Linda Macqueen p 08 8267 7300 e linda.macqueen@lca.org.au
CONNECT WITH US We Love The Lutheran! lutheranaunz lutheranchurchaus
SUBSCRIBE www.thelutheran.com.au 08 8360 7270 lutheran.subs@lca.org.au LCA Subscriptions PO Box 731 North Adelaide SA 5006 11 issues per year (Feb–Dec) Print or print & digital Australia $45 | New Zealand $47 Asia/Pacific $56 | Rest of the world $65 Digital only $30
Celebrating a century in style Pastor Colin Scheer, the LCA's oldest living pastor, turned 100 on 27 May and marked the occasion with a visit from his sister Val Kriewaldt and brother Kevin Scheer, who travelled from SA to be with him at St Paul's Lutheran Aged Care at Caboolture in Queensland. Around 25 people, including Pastor Colin's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, gathered for a party to celebrate the milestone two days later. Ordained on 6 February 1944, Pastor Colin served at Corowa Field NSW, Albury NSW, Hatton Vale Qld, Beenleigh Qld, Berri SA, Petrie Qld and Crows Nest Qld, before retiring in 1987. The photo was taken by his niece Judy.
Send us a photograph featuring a recent copy of The Lutheran and it may appear on page 2 of a future issue and on our website at www.thelutheran.com.au
People like YOU bring love to life Anika Lustig St Lukes Lutheran Church Albury NSW
DESIGN & PRINT
Year 10 student
Design & Layout Elysia McEwen Printer Openbook Howden The Lutheran is produced on the traditional lands of the Kaurna and Dharug peoples.
‘Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear … Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?’
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LUTHERAN
CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA
The Lutheran informs the members of the LCANZ about the church’s teaching, life, mission and people, helping them to grow in faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. The Lutheran also provides a forum for a range of opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the policies of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand.
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Most treasured Bible text: Matthew 6:25–27
Peter Renner Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Ringwood Vic Retired, Vice-chairman ALWS Board Most treasured Bible text: Matthew 6:33 ‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.’
Rachael Kombati St Pauls Lutheran Church Townsville Qld Tertiary student and support worker Most treasured Bible text: Romans 8:28 ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ Let the light of someone you know shine through their photo being featured in The Lutheran and LCA Facebook. With their permission, send us a good quality photo, their name and details (congregation, occupation, what they enjoy doing, most treasured text in these difficult times) and your contact details.
July Special features EDITOR'S
let ter
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When we hear or read the term ‘ethics’, we may think of the disciplines of medicine or law and the big questions of life and death. But ethics come into play in all areas of life. The Macquarie Dictionary defines ethics as: ‘a system of moral principles, by which human actions and proposals may be judged good or bad or right or wrong’. And the Australian not-for-profit The Ethics Centre says: ‘Ethics is a branch of philosophy that aims to answer the basic question, “What should I do?” It’s a process of reflection in which people’s decisions are shaped by their values, principles, and purpose rather than unthinking habits, social conventions, or self-interest.’ So, ethics involves choices, decisions and weighing up right and wrong, in pursuit of the good, the pure, the beautiful, the perfect. Looking at ethics from a Christian perspective, we know God as the giver of all goodness and the Creator of all beauty. And that Jesus is the only example of perfection the world has seen. In Christian ethics, Scripture is the guide – especially through the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount and the lived example of Jesus – when it comes to right and wrong. In the 1990s, the acronym ‘WWJD’ – short for What Would Jesus Do? – became a popular slogan among young Christians, widely seen printed on wristbands, t-shirts, caps and stickers. (Its origins reportedly date back to the late 1800s in the US as the result of the popular Charles Sheldon book, In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? See also page 8.) Asking ourselves ‘What would Jesus do?’, consulting Scripture and praying when confronted by a dilemma directs us back to God for his wisdom in our decision-making. Of course, not all decisions are straightforward, even after prayerful consideration. We know only too well that, in some things, our option may need to be ‘the lesser of two evils’. And we can’t always do exactly what Jesus would, even if we knew for sure what that was. We also know that no matter how many ‘right’ choices we make, they won’t save us. Only Jesus does that. So how do we live an ethical life as Christians? And should we even try? Well, as we see on our cover of this edition, God’s word exhorts us to ‘never grow weary of doing good’ as we seek to serve others.
Ethical shopping: How do our choices demonstrate love?
5
The true Spirit of hospitality
9
Sharing care and counsel saves lives
9
10
14
26
Regulars Heartland
4
Dwelling in God’s word
8
Going GREYT!
10
Go and Grow
13
Church@Home
19
The inside story
23
Directory
27
Sudoku
27
Your voice
28
Prayer calendar
30
20
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In these pages, we feature stories and a Bible study on this subject and how our everyday decisions are informed by our faith and led by Scripture and Jesus’ example. I pray that you will be blessed by them, as I have been. And remember, The Lutheran is now available as a digital edition. Go to www.thelutheran.com.au/subscribe to register for free access as an existing print subscriber or to give a subscription as a gift today.
Lisa
Our cover: istock.com The Lutheran J U LY 2 0 21
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JES U S I S G OD'S LOVE. HE G IVES U S NE W HE ARTS TO L AY AS IDE O UR OL D WAYS, TO B EL IE VE AND FOL LOW HIM, TO L IVE WI T H HIM E VERY DAY.
heartland
RE V JOHN HENDERSON
Bishop Lutheran Church of Australia
HONOUR CHRIST, PRAISE GOD AND RESPOND TO E VIL WITH GOOD ‘Honour Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope’ (1 Peter 3:15 CEV). The first letter of Peter in the New Testament is addressed to Christians scattered across Asia Minor in the first century after Christ. It is a practical manual on how to survive persecution. We live very different lives to believers back then, but we, too, could soon face more active opposition or even some type of persecution. Even if that doesn’t eventuate, Peter's guidance is timely. Society is marginalising Christian faith and churches are losing their privileges. We should not take our freedoms as Christians for granted. Popular pressure is forcing governments to abandon the Christian moral order that not so long
IS TH E EX AM PLE OF CH RIST, W H O DI D NOT RETU RN EVI L FOR EVI L BUT RESPO N DED TO EVI L WITH GOOD, REALLY OU R KEY TO SU RVIVI NG W HATEVER MAY CO M E, I NCLU DI NG PERSECUTIO N? 4
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ago was the norm. The uncovering of deceit and abuse in church institutions has disgraced us in the public square. Are you one of those who fear what could be coming? St Peter's letter is a good place to start if you want help with that. It takes the reader back to the basics of the Christian faith, encouraging us to hold on to the essentials that give all Christians strength and hope. Peter begins with praise. ‘Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on. God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear. You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day. Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do’ (1 Peter 1:3–5 CEV). Peter calls believers living stones, a chosen people, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. These titles are not descriptions of our worldly circumstances or achievements. They flow only from God’s gracious choice. He then describes at length the holy life that flows in turn from that choice: ‘… all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are
God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you’ (1 Peter 3:8,9 CEV). Importantly, Peter says nothing about fighting back and defeating enemies. He even tells believers to obey the emperor and Christian slaves to obey their masters. We might be shocked by that, but this is about survival. Peter doesn’t say to attack wrongdoers. His teaching is like that of Jesus, ‘I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek …’ (Matthew 5:39 CEV). How can this be a manual on surviving persecution? If we follow St Peter’s guidance, won’t we be run over, crushed and broken? Is that what we fear? But isn’t that Christ’s way? He submitted to the powers of his day, unjust though they were. Is the example of Christ, who did not return evil for evil but responded to evil with good, really our key to surviving whatever may come, including persecution? Peter thinks so. And when Christians suffer, let it be for doing good and not evil. The courage to face persecution, then, begins with the praise of God and our hope in Christ. It continues with practising love in all we do. Whatever we fear losing will turn out not to have been so important. In Christ, we will always have more than we could possibly hope for. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
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