The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

TrinityPage Te 1 of Deum 7 The official newsletter for Trinity Lutheran Church Austin, Texas April 30, 2006 Volume 8, Issue 3 May / June 2006

know when to shield us, when to let us be ‘hit’, when to hold us stayed buried in a tomb, and they up, and when to let us fall. didn’t stay confined to this earth. Those hands are always here to Those hands ascended into baptize us, to absolve us, and to heaven where the Father gave the feed us. Man Jesus all authority on earth and heaven. Jesus, as a Man, I woke up Easter morning won the right to rule, to control, The Easter Glow thinking how different the day to direct all things. was for me than it was for those I purposely waited till after on that first Easter. With what And that’s what Jesus is doing. Easter to write this article. I sorrow they must have walked to Though His Church be but a always feel different, usually that tomb. How wrecked the feeble bunch of followers, though better, after Easter. This is how disciples hiding behind locked their faith never rises to the level it should be. Easter made doors must have felt. The hands of His promises, though they everything different. Open that had beckoned them, “Come stumble as often as the hands of graves aren’t so scary. Jesus can unto Me” were dead. The hands Jesus pick them up, it is the will be held on to now in Word and that pointed to Himself as the of Jesus that is ultimately done. Sacraments. It’s no longer just way, the truth and the life were And His will is to save you for all for the privileged few who dead. The hands that could heal eternity. That doesn’t mean walked with Him on earth to grab by touching were dead. What you’ll never sin, but that He will hold of Jesus. A risen and were they to do now? Where forgive you. That doesn’t mean ascended Jesus means He can be were they to go? They had come that you will never have held on to by us all in Water, with Jesus from Galilee, and problems or get sick, but that you Words, Bread and Wine. would have to go home to remain in His hands even when Galilee without Him. you’re the cause of your The glow of Easter is to be problems and the doctors throw allowed to cast its light into all I would hate to have to live that their hands up in exasperation. the areas of our life. It is to shed way, and though I never need to, That doesn’t mean that you won’t its light on not just personal I often do. I have a painting of die, but that He will raise you events but world events. Our the risen Christ with His hands from the dead, as sure as His lives do not hang on what the extended a little from His side Father raised Him. government decides to do about with His palms turned up. In my immigration, what Iran decides to more despairing moments, I have Let’s not live as if Easter never do about nuclear weapons, what looked at this and thought it happened, but let us live in the the cost of oil will be, or what should be captioned, “What can I reality of Easter and those risen, our Synod will do or not do. All do about it?” As if Jesus was powerful, loving hands. And let of these things impact us, but we shrugging and saying there was us find rest in them as they touch are not in their hands. only so much He could do with us, caress us, and hold us in the Ultimately, they are in the nail- those hands. No, that’s not true. Waters of Baptism, the sermon scarred hands of our Lord. He can do more than we ask or on Sunday, and in the Meal Surely, the hands that suffered, even think. His hands didn’t stay where He meets us. bled, and died for us will do all nailed to a cross. They didn’t that is needed for our earthly and eternal well being. Those hands Page 2 of 7

not yet been instructed in the truly "emerging church" movement-- orthodox rule of faith in order that which includes churches where they may boldly confess their faith services are conducted in hip-hop-- in the midst of a faithful insist that you can and should, congregation, and to exclude those which is not always music to CLOSED not yet properly catechized, as traditionalist ears. well as the manifestly impenitent. COMMUNION IN Hip-hop is a long way from Martin CONTEMPORARY In our pluralistic culture, it is Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our tempting to abandon this practice God," and that's exactly the point, CONTEXT: in view of the fear of creating according to pastors Efrem Smith Summary Statement offense. However, in a society and Phil Jackson, who serve urban (from The Lutheran Church-Canada which has in many ways communities in Minneapolis and a church in fellowship with the abandoned not only the quest for Chicago and who recently together LCMS) absolute truth but even the hope wrote "The Hip-Hop Church." that such truth can be discovered, Traditional fare, they say, often Lutheran Church-Canada is a it is more important than ever to falls on deaf ears, especially ears Synod of the Lutheran declare boldly to the world, "This affixed to young heads, while Confessions. It’s pastors, teachers we believe." We believe in Jesus "holy hip-hop," such as a musical and congregations, by their Christ, true God and true Man, version of the Gospel of John subscription to these confessions, who shed His blood for the called "The Epic," brings the old have placed themselves under the forgiveness of our sins, and who message to a new generation under rule of faith set forth therein. As gives us His true body and blood constant secular cultural Synod discusses the issue of closed in His Supper as a pledge of that bombardment. communion, it does so on the basis forgiveness. We believe in one of the Scriptures as interpreted by holy catholic and apostolic church, Martin Luther may be spinning in the Confessions, which it testifies into which Christ gathers us by His his celestial cell, yet some suggest to be a true interpretation of the Gospel, giving His gifts of that these developments are a Scriptures. In doing so it forgiveness, life, and salvation to continuation of his work. "Every recognizes the importance of being His people, and bringing them into 500 years the church has a giant truly catholic (i.e. universal, communion with Himself, making rummage sale," says author Phyllis orthodox) and apostolic in its them part of His mystical body, of Tickle, who has been tracking the practice. which He is the glorious and ever- emerging church for well more living Head. To practice closed than a decade. According to Mrs. Accordingly we reaffirm the communion is to be faithful to that Tickle, Christianity is in the midst practice of closed communion, that confession. of a new Reformation that will is, restricting access to the radically remake the faith. Sacrament of the Altar to those who with one voice "proclaim the Getting Hip to The new reformers won't be Lord's death until He comes" (1 Religion nailing their theses to a cathedral Cor. 11:26). No precedent exists in Hip-hop Christianity? Get used to it. door, however. "Modernity the tradition of orthodox teaching BY DAVE SHIFLETT insisted there is strict separation and practice for unrestricted access Friday, February 24, 2006 12:01 a.m. between sacred and secular space," to the Sacrament, even for the says Mrs. Tickle, who lives in baptized. Rather, those called to be Christianity has an enduring western Tennessee. "Church was "stewards of the mysteries of God" message, but can you dance to it-- the place where you went to (1 Cor. 4:1) are entrusted with the and should you? Apostles of the engage God." No longer. "The duty to catechize those who have emerging church is dedicated to Page 3 of 7

getting rid of that notion. All space In many ways they are going back wrote, "embraces relativism at the is sacred," including bars, coffee to first-century Christianity." cost of clarity in matters of truth houses and parks where the new and intends to redefine Christianity faithful gather. A similar trend is occurring for this new age, largely in terms elsewhere: Advocates of of an eccentric mixture of elements The exact number of emergers is "emergent Judaism" recently met he would take from virtually every elusive; many attend mainstream with Christian evangelicals in theological position and variant." churches on Sunday and gather in California to learn how to bring Such objections aside, the beat small groups during the week. One young Jews closer to their goes on. emergent body, the 247 religious traditions. "We've got to Mr. Shiflett is the author of Connection Church in Hickory, learn from what our Christian "Exodus: Why Americans Are N.C., bills itself as "connected, colleagues are doing," Shawn Fleeing Liberal Churches for creative, fun, relevant and Landres of Synagogue 3000, a Conservative Christianity." relational" and suggests bringing Jewish think tank, told along a laptop: "During worship Beliefnet.com. And now Guilt & we recommend you instant Pleasure, a new magazine whose Godless message the speaker with mission statement says that it is Assumptions questions." In cyberspace, "helping Jews talk more," Rev. Scott Murray, Memorial Lutheran participants gather at popular Web advocates creating salons where Church (LCMS) Houston, TX sites such as theooze.com and the magazine's articles, which ginkworld.net. include religious topics, are Sometimes we hear it said in discussed. church circles that we have the The lack of sacred real estate and gospel settled and that what gives other formalities, including a Some traditionalists are not the church problems are all the seminary system, keeps overhead amused. A flashpoint of sorts other external things that seem to low. It's also very much a part of occurred last spring when Brian impede the growth of the church. the decentralized spirit of the McLaren, the founding pastor of The gospel then becomes the movement. Nor is there apparent Cedar Ridge Community Church "assumed" thing. So a pastoral pulpit envy. Evangelizing comes near Baltimore and a leader in the conference speaker once opined, not so much through sermonizing emergent movement (which he "Oh, well, we have the gospel. as through song, dance and visual prefers to call a "conversation"), Let's get busy taking care of the aids--the "cultural patois of the was disinvited by the Kentucky other things." This assumption of day," as Mrs. Tickle puts it. Baptist Convention to speak at an the gospel gets us into a world of Pastors Efram and Jackson agree, evangelism conference. The problems in the church and writing that young people with organizers concluded that passages everyone knows what happens artistic talent, "especially those in his "A Generous Orthodoxy" when we assume. with gifts of dance, spoken word strayed too far from historic or art with the spray can," are vital orthodoxy. Executive director Bill What would happen if the NASA to the worship experience. Mackey complained that "Dr. Space Shuttle launch team just McLaren's position diverges too assumed that the external rocket Isn't this Religion Lite, with greatly to be appropriate for this tanks of the space shuttle booster graffiti? Quite the opposite, insists conference." were filled by someone else on the Mrs. Tickle. "This is religion like team? Without fuel the Space it hasn't been lived in 300 years," R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Shuttle is going nowhere, despite including a renewed interest in the Southern Baptist Theological the fact that the rest of the fasting. "They are going back to a Seminary, sounded a sterner note spacecraft is a marvel of modern religion that costs them something. in a widely discussed Internet technology. If they assume the fuel commentary. Mr. McLaren, he is there without deliberating Page 4 of 7

loading the external tanks, the The growth of Lakewood Church …God wants to make your space shuttle becomes an has eclipsed even mini- life easier. He wants to assist you, to enormous, beautiful, and denominations like Willow Creek promote you, to give you expensive paper weight. The most and Saddleback. Lakewood will advantages. He wants you to have important things can never be soon move into Houston’s 18,000- preferential treatment. But if we’re assumed. seat Compaq Center after a 70 going to experience more of God’s million dollar renovation. Joel’s favor, we must live more “favor- The gospel is the fuel of the good secret? A simple message, typical of minded.” To be favor minded ship "Church." It cannot, must not, the emasculated church: simply means that we expect God’s We’re all about building special help… 16 be assumed. The devil would be people up. We’re all about Lakewood is also typical of very pleased to lead us into the helping people reach their the emasculated church in another shame and vice of assuming the full potential. . . .I believe way Osteen himself functions not gospel. We cannot assume the that’s the message this only as pastor to Lakewood’s gospel any more than we can generation needs to hear. thousands, but also as the model assume our spouse knows we love We’ve heard a lot about the modern male. them without telling them. Do judgment of God and what To the women in his other things need to be taken care we can’t do and what’s audience Joel Osteen is the man they of in a marriage? Yes, of course. going to keep us out of wish their husband could be: young, Food has to be put on the table, heaven. But it’s time people good looking and sensitive. Osteen children fed and clothed, the start hearing about the routinely tells the women in his mortgage paid, and so on. But goodness of God, about a congregation that they are under- most of all love must not be God that loves them. A God appreciated by their husbands. assumed. So it is in the church, that believes in them. A God Likewise, Osteen regularly regales forgiveness, sacraments, holy that wants to help them. the congregation with stories from absolution, preaching, and all the That’s our message here at his own marriage and family in gifts of God must be the constant Lakewood. 15 which he invariably emerges as an meat and drink of those whose life Combining his Word-Faith exemplary husband and father. For depends on these things. roots with his seeker-sensitive the women in his congregation, Everything the church is and does savvy, Osteen has produced a Osteen is James Taylor’s Handy must be ordered to the delivery of message that is overtly therapeutic. Man: Osteen presents this self-help If your broken heart should these gifts. Let us reject this message in a winsome and non- need repair, godless assuming, so that the confrontational style. His sermons Then I am the man to see. gospel would always abide among read like long lists of suggestions — I whisper sweet things, you us. advice on how to be nice. As a tell all your Church is for result, the subjects of sin and the friends, They’ll come Cross seldom come up. When they runnin’ to me. 17 Girls do, these subjects are milked for For the men, Osteen has By Rev. Todd Wilken maximum emotional, rather than long lists of how they are single- theological, impact. handedly ruining their marriages and (Issues Etc.Vol4, No.1) According to Osteen, sin is families. As a remedy, Joel Continued from Mar/Apr newsletter essentially self-doubt. Rather than dispenses advice on how to be... being moral and spiritual depravity, more like Joel. It’s Christian Eye for I’M YOUR HANDY-MAN sin is a failure to live up to your the Straight Guy After all, Not every emasculated innate goodness and potential. Sin is something must be working for church repels men. Some attract bad because it makes you or others Osteen. As often as the camera pans men by the thousands. unhappy. The solution, according to to his beautiful wife, Victoria, she Joel Osteen is pastor of the Osteen, is realizing your potential looks blissfully satisfied. She is the largest mega-church in America. with God’s help: spiritual version of the smiling wife Page 5 of 7

at the end of the Enzyte Male cultural landscape and, sadly, there Examples of that confused Enhancement pill commercial. doesn’t seem to be a Davidic hero language are plentiful in Doubtless, some men in about to bring it down. This Contemporary Christian Music, in Osteen’s audience are there against industry has radically transformed the popular, experiential their will, at their wives’ insistence, the way people view the purpose supplemental hymnals found in but not every one of them. One of music and song. Music as many Lutheran pews, in the wonders how men could be attracted entertainment certainly has its gimmicky Vacation Bible School to Osteen’s message, but many place in a society, but increasingly music, in school musicals that use obviously are. Apparently, the its function solely as entertainment religious themes, and in solo and emasculated church is also the overshadows all other functions. choral music available from a host emasculating church. Music has traditionally been used of publishers. If one heard this Few other pastors are able in education and other fields not language from afar, minus text, to position themselves between men with the goal of entertainment but one would never guess that it and their wives as successfully as enhancement of learning and means to be faith language for it Osteen does. However, even if he memorization. Over the past half blatantly has its source in the lacks Osteen’s total package, the century, however, music has musical expression of the world. pastor in the emasculated church become largely a source of However, the concern is not just a tends to become the object of everything from titillation to mater of music but has to do with adoration for the women and of exploitation. The quality of such the total expression. As early as emulation for the men. In his songs is gauged not by their beauty 1985, Amy Grant said in a USA message and his method, Joel or truth content, but the emotional Today interview, “We prefer to be Osteen is the shape of things to effect and appeal they have upon a little bit sneaky with the lyrics. . . come in the emasculated church. the masses. And often the appeal when you start getting churchy, of such lyrics and music is to the they start running “[USA Today 15. www.lakewood.cc/index.htm basest of passions in sinful man. 11-8-85]. After Miss Grant spoke 16. Joel Osteen, Your Best Life Now, New York, Warner Faith, of her fast-paced drumbeats, her 2004 p.38 With such widespread use of “deafening screams” and her 17. Otis Blackwell, Jimmy Jones, “Handy Man,” 1959 music solely for entertainment sensually oriented apparel, the purposes, it was only a matter of reporter ended the interview by time before some within the asking the reader the question, church hopped onto the “This is gospel music?” In a 1986 What Makes a bandwagon. The attempt is made magazine interview Miss Grant in Contemporary Christian Music said, “There are songs that can go Hymn a (CCM), for instance, to utilize the both ways. I call these God- Lutheran secular sounds one would hear on girlfriend songs — meaning you the radio or MTV to convey a are either singing it to God or to Hymn? Christian message. Leaving aside your boyfriend or girlfriend” Concord Vol XV, num. 5 the fact that this message is [charisma, 7 7-86, p. 21]. commonly a heterodox message, Nov 2000, Rev. Chad Bird what can be said for or against the When words are so vague and (continued from Mar/Apr 06 express intent of CCM? rubbery as to be capable of newsletter) Commenting on the mixture of addressing either “God” or my language to and about God with girlfriend, we are no longer Criteria #2: A Lutheran Hymn is language to and about man, Kantor singing to the Holy Trinity but to not entertainment but Richard Resch points out the dire an idol. It seems Miss Grant — proclamation. results emanating from this union and many others — have failed not The goliath music entertainment of sacred and secular: only in providing Christian music, industry towers over the American but Christian words as well. Page 6 of 7

others who use music and song in The purpose of hymnody within Lest, however, we suppose that the the church for entertainment the liturgy is not to put on such a blending of the sacred and secular purposes, that the form of the grand performance that the is a mere late-twentieth century music is neutral; it is the substance congregation rises to its feet with phenomenon, listen to Gregory of of the text that counts. Music, feverish hand-clapping. The Nazianzus (ca. 379) describe what however, is never neutral. As hymns proclaim a divine message, was happening to the church in his Kantor Resch has written: which is not entertaining, but day. Music was respected as sustaining, designed to feed the power [in the past]. The power sojourning church as she makes What belonged to the theater was was not questioned until the her way through the world, but is brought into the church, and what l96O’s, when it was first argued not of the world. Entertainment belonged to the church into the that music is neutral The argument has its place, but that place is theater. The better Christian was raised, not on the basis of any outside the bounds of the church. feelings were held up in comedies new findings, but in order to to the sneer of the multitude. remove the fear of music so that it ~~~~~//~~~~~ Everything was so changed into could be used with complete light jesting, that earnestness was freedom. The argument could be Trinity Lutheran Church stripped of its worth by wit and defined as a battle of the ancients 1207 West 45th Street, Austin, Texas 78756 that which is holy became a and traditionalists on one side and 512.453.3835 subject for banter and scoffing in the materialists on the other. The www.trinityaustin.com the refined conversation of ancients and traditionalists believe worldly people. Yet worse was it that music affects character and The Te Deum is published bi-monthly. Deadline for all articles is the 15th of the even that the unbridled delight of these society, and therefore artists are months. All articles must be approved by Rev. men in dissipating enjoyments to be responsibly moral and Paul R. Harris threatened to turn the church into constructive, not immoral and a theater, and the preacher into a destructive. The materialists ~~~~~//~~~~~ play actor If he would please the disclaim responsibility and the multitude, he must adapt himself need for value judgements, and to their taste, and entertain them therefore pay no heed to the amusingly in the church. They outcome of their sounds. The demanded also in the preaching materialists want to sell a product something that should please the at any cost, and so they play with As Young as I Used ear; and they clapped with the fire. But they must first convince same pleasure the comedian in the their audience that playing with to Be? holy place and him on the stage. fire is harmless. My husband and I decided to And alas there were found at that purchase his family’s old period too many preachers who Music is powerful, and as with any farmhouse to fix up as a possible preferred the applause of men to power, it is capable of retirement home for ourselves. their souls’ health. accomplishing good or evil After a completely exhausting purposes. When entertainment weekend of scrubbing, varnishing, St. Gregory could well be speaking music is wrapped around Christian removing old wallpaper, and to a Central Texas Free lyrics — even if those lyrics are various other physical tasks, it felt Conference. Solomon is right: orthodox — the truth is obscured. wonderful to sit in the car and There is nothing new under the The secular overtones of the music relax on our drive home. sun. overpower the sacred claims of the “Guess I’m not as young as I used text. to be,” I said, rubbing my sore The appeal is made ad nauseumn muscles. by the proponents of CCM and Page 7 of 7

“Sure you are, honey,” he quickly replied. “Just not for as long.” -Marian Hutchison