Dear members and friends of Zion,

Recently, I found an interesting post somewhere on the internet:

Jacob was a cheater; Peter had a temper; David had an affair;
Noah got drunk; Jonah ran from God; Paul was a murderer;
Gideon was insecure; Miriam was a gossiper; Martha was a worrier;
Thomas was a doubter; Sara was impatient; Elijah was moody;
Moses stuttered; Zaccheus was short; Abraham was old and Lazarus was dead.

Now, what’s YOUR excuse? Can God use you or not?

Remember, God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called!

It struck a chord with me, not just because it echoes our Jahreslosung/Watchword for the year, but also because we live in age when this is an almost countercultural message. We are presented with people who just seem perfect in their achievements, and then are torn down in no time because of some real or perceived shortcoming. The simple fact that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) seems to be just forgotten or pushed aside. It seems like a highly dangerous thing to admit. But it is vital to a humane, civil society to acknowledge that we are sinners and saints at the same time, as Luther would say. And we all are in this together. Yes, some people manage better and become role models, and we even have some saints among us, known and unknown. We need their testimony and word and deed, for they give us hope that a life shaped by faith, hope and love is indeed possible on this earth, in our time.

At the same time, we will always be reminded of our weakness and frailty. And, the message of both law and gospel is: that’s not a bad thing. It depends how you handle it.

Christ told Paul when he was despaired about his own shortcomings and very frustrated about how things and his life were going, that God’s grace was sufficient and that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness (or, to follow the German translation, in those who are weak). That did it for Paul, it changed his perception on life, it changed everything, and he could say: “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10) This is the quintessential Christian paradox that a world focused on personal strength and success will never understand. As we enter Lent and make our way towards Holy Week and Easter, we are shown this truth in Christ’s own story: how he goes up to Jerusalem to suffer and to die, and how God chooses to make His glory known in this “man of sorrows” and his very suffering and death on the cross – for us, for our sake, to make us strong and to give us hope.

So, don’t get hung up on your real or perceived shortcomings, weaknesses, insults, hardships, calamities and the like. Remember the men and women of the Bible, who were in many ways just like you. God will have no problem to call you out of it to use it and use you, qualify you, for his service. Never give up on any of God’s children or use his or her weakness as a weapon, and speak up if anyone does.

Have a blessed 2012 / Ein gesegnetes Jahr 2012 wünscht Ihnen Ihr,

PASTOR HOLGER ROGGELIN