My view
want to dive into the chocolate eggs and holiday ham dinner rather than anticipate Easter. Perhaps the church has contributed to that by not offering anything special during Lent, assum- ing we would all be too bored and wish
to fast forward to Easter itself. Judy Renner New Glarus, Wis.
Moved by Lenten article What a blessing I received from “The practices for Lent” (February, page 23). I’m at a loss to cite just one sentence that so touched my heart with a fresh infu- sion of the Holy Spirit’s love. The entire article left me excited to re-enter that
very special church season called Lent. Shirley Ostroot Osage, Iowa
Not fair At the end of his February column (page 3), Peter W. Marty said: “Fairness only works in the realm of mathematical calculation.” I have observed children shout angrily, “That’s not fair.” Can someone explain what mathematical
calculations have to do with fairness? Alan L. Bobbe Newport News, Va.
No exclusions I disagree with the idea that the church should focus only on outsiders and not insiders (February, page 34). Christ died for everybody—the church
should care for everybody. Gloria Evenson Chicago
Send “Letters” to: Letters to the Editor, The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4183; fax: 773-380- 2409; email
lutheran@thelutheran.org. Please include your name, city and state. Your letter will be considered for publication unless you state otherwise. The Lutheran publishes letters representa- tive of those received on a given subject. Be brief and limit your letter to a single topic. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Letters must be signed, but a re- quest for anonymity will be honored if the subject matter is personally sensitive.
“My view” submis- sions should be 400 words on a societal event or issue or on issues in the life of the ELCA. All submis- sions are subject to editing. Send to: “My view, ” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; email: lutheran@
thelutheran.org; fax: 773-380-2409.
Schmalenberger is a retired ELCA pastor, an ELCA Global Mission vol- unteer and retired president of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, Calif.
By Jerry L. Schmalenberger
Authenticity matters No subbing for original sermons
S
ermons read from a book, no matter how profound, shortchange both the preacher and the congrega- tion. They lack integrity and border on fraud and deceitfulness.
Preparing and delivering our own sermon content are
two of the great privileges of serving as a minister in a con- gregation. God may have invented preaching as much for the one preparing and delivering the sermon as for those who listen. But I perceive that it is becoming more and more com- mon for contemporary preachers to purchase a book of sermons (like ones I have written) and simply read one of those or one they find on the Internet—reading them as if they were their own. To do this is to shortchange the listener and cheat the preacher of what they both need. A week after week struggle to understand the message and how it relates to oneself, and also how it relates to the “called out from the world” assembly to hear it, is the Spirit’s way of guiding and uplifting us.
This is true not only as we preach but also as we carry out our daily ministry. It is a lifelong instruction for those of us who would dare to represent God as we address the congregation. It is our daily dose of inspiration and instruction, a lux- ury granted to us by God and the people we serve on God’s behalf. To exchange this inspiration, no matter how well prepared by someone else, changes us from a proclaimer of God’s wisdom and guidance to a talking head giving someone else’s material. When we carry to the pulpit that which is the prod- uct of our faithful wrestling with the biblical text and its relevance to the congregation’s context, we come to our people with integrity and our own self-confidence that this is the genuine message God would have us speak to these people at this time and place. While there are many good purposes for published ser- mons, I believe that to read what someone else has pre- pared smacks of homiletical fraud, especially if the real author is not acknowledged. It goes even deeper. Study the text. Read others’ work if you need to. Take time to pray over it.
Then with the Spirit’s help, compose your own ser- mon with confidence that this is God’s plan for us who are called to preach. To do less is both shortchanging yourself and the congregation.
April 2012 49
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