SHUTTERSTOCK
that the structures of Christendom were breaking apart). Luther chose not to hide in fear but to embrace these realities. However, embracing them doesn’t mean invoking them and heightening an awareness and fear of end-times. It doesn’t mean conjuring up or imag- ining an imminent end-time battle. Rather, Luther points the believer to the daily struggle of faith. This daily struggle is already enough. There is acknowledgement of an “end,” but an end that is not somewhere off in the future. It is already present, in every moment, in every event. Present, yes, but also vanquished. The battle is not before us; it is behind us. The apocalyptic in-breaking of Jesus is the genesis of faith in each and every life. It is an in-breaking that happens in baptism and continues daily afterward. The in-breaking that is faith is, of course, rooted in the cross and resur- rection. Baptism is its deepest expres- sion in our lives.
In baptism we have already won
the “battle”—Christ has won the battle for us. We have been recon- ciled to God. But in this life on earth, we will continue to struggle in our life of faith.
Luther writes that we only know
the “beginnings” of righteousness, but Christ watches over these begin- nings with care. The devil though—to use Luther’s language—is always lurking and wants to destroy this reconciliation that Christ has accom- plished for us. So life can be this hard struggle in faith.
Henrich: Perhaps the most impor- tant word from the Bible is Jesus’ commands in Luke (21:28, 34). Even if the end-times come dramati- cally, Jesus says, “stand up and raise your heads” when cosmic changes come. “Your redemption is drawing near.” In other words, believers look forward to whatever changes God wreaks (massive earthquakes, rogue asteroids, terminators or aliens) because our trust in God trumps our fears.
When the end comes less dramati-
cally, the word from Luke’s Jesus is to “be on guard” so we don’t waste our lives chasing after one dream or another, missing out on the joy of a life of justice and mercy (Psalm 85).
Lange: Luther’s perspective, of course, approaches the struggle or battle not with fear but confidence. “Get behind me, Satan, I am bap- tized!” To yell out in times of struggle
or anguish, “I am baptized” is to recognize that all has been given me. I don’t need more. There is a super- abundance given to me here and now. The sacrament of communion also makes this point: in a celebra- tion with some bread and wine, we are given everything, God’s self and the neighbor.
When we understand that the battle has been won, that we have received everything, and that the Spirit is continually working in us to realize and sustain that abundance, then we can face the threats to faith with a simple trust that God is acting for us. God alone will take care of all things. There is nothing to fear. Faith is like living in the shadow of the end-times every day, engaging every day in its struggles and joys, knowing that God leads us to green pastures. The one who understands faith as an attitude that needs to be produced, strengthened and perfected in order to be right with God does not live in that simple trust.
The end-times or last days occur every day; any event holds in itself the possibility of this struggle in faith. And we can engage each and every event, each and every day, boldly in the confidence of the struggle won in baptism.
November 2012 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72