12 appreciations about Trinity
Later in the week-5 hopefuls for Trinity = 17 Years
October 2017 marked the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the reformation. It also marked the completion of my 12th year serving as pastor at Trinity in San Pedro. I took time that year to reflect on 12 dynamics of our congregational life for which I am profoundly grateful. They are still spot on, though I decided to edit them a little to bring them up to date.
This week will mark the completion of my 17th year serving as the pastor at Trinity. What an honor. I find myself oriented more toward the future than the past. I have hope. Later this week I’d like to share 5 hopes added to these 12 ‘thankfuls’ that equal 17. I love you Trinity.
As the years pass in any relationship, including pastor and parish, affections expand or contract. Taking one another for granted is not a recipe for vitality or longevity. Pastor Bill Bartlett used to say right when he was ready to sell his salvage title Ford Escort, he would wash and wax it, and then he couldn’t part with it. A simple investment of time, energy, attention can kindle grateful affections. This is not difficult to do with you, Trinity. The Apostle Paul wrote to Bishop of Crete, Titus that among other commitments, the overseer of the church should be “a lover of good” - Titus 1:8. I LOVE the following 12 good things that God has done and is doing at Trinity.
Trinity - Unity
Inflexibility - Flexibility
Orthodox belief - Liberal hospitality
Old - Young
Receivers - Givers
Generous - Cautious
Reformation - Renewal
Evangelical - Catholic
Potlucks - Eucharist
Patient - Accountable
Today - Yesterday
Office - Person
#1. Trinity - Unity
The surprising variety made the authentic unity even more glorious. A 2017 survey of Trinity participants revealed broad differences in the opinions, attitudes, and preferences about worship. It also revealed that many at Trinity value “the other” over their own personal preferences. This is one example of many that could be used which reflect the trinitarian dynamic in our community.
Trinitarian theology can be tricky if you hang out at the edges. Personhood at the expense of unity can lead to various modalisms. Unity at the expense of personhood can lead to various unitarianisms. This stuff actually makes a difference in the life of the congregation. When personhood isn’t embraced, diversity is a threat. When unity isn’t embraced, privatized rugged individualism wins the day. Healthy Trinitarian theology embraces personhood and unity, and won’t let us spin out to manufactured uniformity or disconnected individualism.
In 2017, I asked in a message, “How many of you are from some Lutheran background?” My guess is that 20% of the crowd raised their hand. We are from so many different backgrounds, including a fair number of people who didn’t grow up with any religious background. We have activists and intercessors. We have contemplatives and evangelists. We have people who move quickly and those who don’t move (much).
Trinity has been and continues to be touched by the Charismatic Renewal. But, Trinity isn’t a church of charismatically gifted individuals, but a Spirit-filled church where the multi-faceted graces of the Spirit are welcome and working among her members. One time Pastor Larry Christenson was in San Pedro he told me he couldn’t have picked a better name for Trinity. He said the Charismatic Movement was really a Trinitarian movement, not just a Spirit-movement.
I love you, Trinity, because you are made in the imago Dei. You embrace variety beautifully. You are sacrificially committed to a unified life. Maybe it is because you love “God in three persons” that you look like “blessed Trinity.”
#2. Inflexibility - Flexibility
I once heard about a bishop who said to a group of pastors, “Teach whatever you want, but PLEASE wear black shoes. I have more people calling my office to complain that their pastor wears shoes that aren’t black.” Really? What a classic example of confusing what is flexible and inflexible.
101 year olds (born August 11, 1921) are not typically known for being limber. But, Trinity, you are blessedly flexible! It is a great blessing to share a common understanding of adiaphora with you. There is great freedom and flexibility in those matters that are neither commanded nor forbidden by the Scriptures. Amount of water in baptism, what the pastor wears, what century the music is from, what room we meet in, open hearted toward new initiatives, willingness to end something that is no longer as effective, willingness to give up “my pew”, willingness to give space to young leaders, all examples of your flexibility. I’m grateful that you are flexible with me. You have given me permission to morph my job description as needs change. You have also given me permission for mission and ministry beyond Trinity. Thank you for your flexibility with me!
You are also blessedly inflexible! In a world that is morally, and ethically flexible, you are strong. In an American church that is doctrinally confused, you are blessedly inflexible. You wouldn’t tolerate teaching that questions the authority of God’s Word. You would rather wrestle with revelation than create your own religion that suits you. You wouldn’t put up with suggestions that erode the faith that has been passed down to us. You treat the Lord’s Supper as an actual communion with the crucified and risen Lord. You don’t mean to treat the sacred as profane (blasphemy), nor do you mean to treat the profane as sacred (idolatry).
Trinity, I love your blessed flexibility and your blessed inflexibility.
#3: Orthodox Belief - Liberal Hospitality
Jesus came “full of grace and truth” (John 1.14). His church only seems to be able to do one or the other. There are truth churches and there are grace churches, but very few grace and truth churches. Ken Costa, the Churchwarden at Holy Trinity Brompton said, “Without graciousness, conviction is sharp-edged and abrasive. Without conviction, graciousness has a soft ineffectiveness.” Someone else said, “Truth without love kills. Love without truth lies.”
I love that Trinity desires to be full of grace and truth. One phrase we have been using is “strengthen the core and soften the edges.” Our teaching is not ultimately our teaching. We received teaching, and pass it on. We can’t think of a way to improve Biblical revelation. We also want absolutely everybody to have access to it. We want our language to be accessible. We want our campus to be accessible. There are times we limit our own liberties in Christ for the sake of the guest. We believe that repentance doesn’t precipitate God’s kindness, but that the kindness of God leads to repentance (Romans 2.4). We want people to meet the kindness of God when they meet us, whether it is at the door of the church or at the desk at school or work or on the docks.
Conservative and liberal are ultimately unhelpful adjectives to describe Trinity. Jesus was so conservative, he didn’t change an iota of received revelation—the Scriptures (Matthew 5.17-20). Jesus was so liberal, he had (has) table fellowship with sinners (Matthew 9.10-11).
#4: Young - Old
“Intergenerational ministry occurs when a congregation intentionally combines the generations together in mutual serving, sharing, or learning within the core activities of the church in order to live out being the body of Christ to each other and the greater community” (-Ross, 2006).
The church’s primal story starting at Pentecost had promises connected to the generations. The Spirit would be poured out on “all flesh” including “sons and daughters” and “young” and “old” (Acts 2.17).
I LOVE that we live into this dynamic at Trinity. The benefits outnumber the challenges. Challenges include different styles of communication and different preferences in volume and genre of music. D. McGavran followed by C.P. Wagner studied and wrote about the Homogeneous Unit Principle (HUP) as a help in growing the church more quickly. Maybe Trinity would grow quicker if we applied the HUP, but I can’t imagine how impoverished we would be if we didn’t all worship together. What would it be like if the youth band never served the 9:30 AM crowd? What would it be like if we didn’t have Bella join her daddy at the lectern and finish the readings with an enthusiastic “This is the WORD of the Lord!” Everybody’s “Thanks be to God” was more profound than had her able dad had done it all! What would the baby shower have been if Deepti was surrounded with women only her own age? But there were women in every chapter surrounding her, loving her, encouraging her.
No, I see a church where the young are valued and the elders are honored. Neither is idolized. One energizes the other. The other encourages. I wouldn’t change a thing. I love you, Trinity.
-Ross, C. M. A Qualitative study exploring Churches Committed to intergenerational Ministry.
Ann Arbor, Michigan: Proquest Information and Learning Company, 2006.
#5: Receptive - Generous
Open hands could be Trinity’s logo. Those open hands are receptive and generous. You freely receive grace, forgiving, blessing, healing, reconciliation, and the whole ministry of Jesus. You pray “Thy Kingdom come” and then you look for it and receive it. Like the catechism says, “But we pray in this petition that it may come to us also” (2nd Petition of the Lord’s Prayer). I know you receive deeply and freely because you give so deeply and freely.
After you responded in such an overwhelming way to the call to purchase a new campus for Courage House in Tanzania, I wrote to my parents, Joy’s parents, and some of my mentors:
Beloved Trinity said, "This is God's project." The Elders and then the Church Council said, "Nathan, don't lead us cautiously, LEAD US COURAGEOUSLY!" A teacher shoved 1K in Joy's purse the first Sunday and said, "Now you just have to raise 59K." Anonymous said, "I have a 10K matching gift, I'd like to challenge Trinity to give over and above their normal giving." Another Anonymous did the same. I have about 42 other encouraging stories about how it happened, but in less than a week, 60K, then more than 60K came in! That was Monday of that week. We bought the campus one Wednesday—Ash Wednesday. One week to raise the funds, distribute the funds, legally attain possession of the campus! The next morning I watched a video as the girls found out, and then went and toured the new campus. They screamed! They danced! They sang a song Stephanie Midthun wrote called, "Jubilee!" Jubilee! The slave can be free! The land can be redeemed! A Divine reset button has been pushed!
If you were only generous, it would be unsustainable. If you were only receivers, you would be consumeristic. Because you are receptive and generous, you are healthy. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love you, Trinity.
#6. Generous - Cautious
My dad used to tell me that there are two types of drivers: maniacs and idiots. Maniacs drive faster than me and idiots drive slower than me. This helps me take myself less seriously. I am not the world’s gold standard for the right speed.
At Trinity there are those who would like to move faster and those who would like to move slower. Some would like to spend more and some would like to save more. Some say, “What are we waiting for?” Some say, “We better be careful.” The risk-taker puts the car in drive and hits the gas. That’s what cars are for! The cautious have made sure we take time to get gas, check the tires, and change the oil. That is essential for driving, too.
Trinity, we have all had to apply Spirit-fruity patience with each other at some point. I appreciate all the times people have had to wait for me. Thank you.
#7. Reformation - Renewal
When I came to Trinity in October 2005, former pastor Larry Christenson told me that Trinity was like a pier reaching out into the ocean with two strong and distinct pylons plunging deep into the ocean floor. They could be described as the Reformation pylon and the Renewal pier. They are not in competition, but a part of the way the Master Builder constructed Trinity.
The Reformation pylon sings “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” Trinity has been a place where the Word of God is authoritative over anything else (norma normans). That Word reveals our desperate neediness and God’s rich provision through the gift of his Son (law and promise). The heartbeat of that Word is the message of Jesus, crucified and risen “for you for the forgiveness of sins” (Gospel). That word along with the sacraments are the means that God uses to deliver this precious gift. Trinity, I love that you have not distanced yourself from your heritage, but have honored your father and mother and are reaping the blessing that comes with that commandment.
The renewal pylon sings “Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.” Pastor Christenson was the editor and author of much of the book, Welcome Holy Spirit (Augsburg). Trinity, that title could describe your attitude. The Holy Spirit is not unmentionable or feared or treated any more cautiously than the Father or the Son. “Holy Spirit, you are welcome here!” I love the way we are always learning about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. I love the way we correct what is ‘off’ when our practice strays from the Scriptures.
Trinity, I’d pick Reformation and Renewal as the pier’s pylons and destination over a Ruby’s Diner.
#8: Evangelical - Catholic
When I asked how many of you came from any kind of Lutheran experience, about 20% of you raised your hand. Some of you have Roman Catholic experience and some of you Evangelical experience, but that is not exactly what I am talking about with this appreciation. Both terms can be slippery because they mean different things to whoever is using them.
I am using them in a radical way. Radical comes from the Latin radix meaning root. Evangelical people are marked by the evangel or the good message, the Gospel. You want to hear the evangel. You speak evangel. You want Jesus to be front and center in the message and ministry at Trinity. This make me fall in love with you over and over again. I want to tell the old, old story for some have never heard the message of salvation from God’s own holy Word. I want to tell the old, old story to those who know is best, seems hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
Catholic, radically gets at an embrace of the wholeness of the church (κατά (kata, "down") and ὅλος (holos, "whole"). Because of our varied backgrounds, we can’t help being more whole. We are not one race or ethnicity. Ole, Lena, and lutefisk jokes don’t work at Trinity. We are not one denominational family background. We have a total mix of generations. We are contemporary in the sense that we recognize God has seen fit for us to live and minister today. But we are not novel. We don’t reinvent doctrine, liturgy, classic catechesis, and Biblical morality. We can say with the ancient church, “we believe...”
Trinity, I love your kind of evangelical catholicity.
#9. Potlucks - Eucharist
“Centuries of secularism have failed to transform eating into something strictly utilitarian. Food is still treated with reverence. A meal is still a rite—the last “natural sacrament” of family and friendship, of life that is more than “eating” and “drinking.” To eat is still something more than to maintain bodily functions. People may not understand what that “something more” is, but they nonetheless desire to celebrate it. They are still hungry and thirsty for sacramental life.” Alexander Schmemann. For the Life of the World. SVS Press, 16.
“...Why, when a pastor is before more people in Sunday morning worship than at any other time in the week, do we mumble through vague, poorly constructed, almost inaudible prayers, slouch around the altar as if we were fixing a washing machine rather than making Eucharist; chatter incessantly about nothing throughout the entire service, and, in general, appear to go to great lengths to give people the impression that we are doing nothing of any consequence, leading them nowhere of any great importance, and dealing with material of no particular significance.” William H Willimon, Pastor. Abingdon. Nashville. 70.
Healthy families are marked by common time at a common table. Our regular reception of the Lord’s Supper is not an afterthought or perfunctory, but the redemptive culmination and celebration of the presence of the Word of God incarnate, Jesus Christ. In a culture that values casualness and informality as more holy and authentic, I love the reverence in which you receive and adore the Lamb of God. In a past worship survey, the general feeling was that frequent reception of Holy Communion was important to the spiritual life of Trinity. I agree!
Our regular times at potlucks and other meals don’t serve just a function to facilitate a small group or a mission presentation or Sunday night discipleship activities. They are intentional times for the widow to be placed in a family, and a single parent to be membered into a more extended family. They are times for adoptive grandparents and grandkids to tell stories and gain a bigger perspective. They are also a celebration of the global nature of Trinity. Fusion is an important culinary trend, and Trinity, you are trendsetters. Molé and pancit and mostacchioli and bratwurst and even more typically Lutheran “bars”. Yum. Trinity, how I love you, let me count the ways.
#10. Patient - Accountable
Beloved Trinity, thank you for your patience. I suppose I notice your patience because I have been the recipient of it so often. You have been patient with starts and restarts and slow processes. You have been patient with my “out of seasons.” You have been patient with new ideas and new people. When I think of some of the things 30-year-old Nathan said in conversations, sermons, and council meetings it makes me gasp at your patience. Sometimes patience is confused for disengagement. You think people are being patient, but actually, they just don’t care. That is NOT you. You care about communication and process and vision. You care about Jesus and this precious congregation of his.
Alan Kreider, in The Patient Ferment of the Early Church wrote,
Patience was not a virtue dear to most Greco-Roman people, and it has been of little interest to scholars of early Christianity. But it was centrally important to the early Christians. They talked about patience and wrote about it; it was the first virtue about which they wrote a treatise, and they wrote no fewer than three treatises on it. Christian writers called patience the “highest virtue,” “the greatest of all virtues,” the virtue that was “peculiarly Christian.” The Christians believed that God is patient and that Jesus visibly embodied patience. And they concluded that they, trusting in God, should be patient—not controlling events, not anxious or in a hurry, and never using force to achieve their ends...As we ponder patience, we will come closer to understanding the resilience and distinctive lifestyle of the early Christians that led to their growth in numbers. (Pages 1-2)
#11. Yesterday - Today - Tomorrow
Some churches live in the past, some totally in the present, and some in the future. Beloved Trinity, we live in them all. Or, at least we have individual members that keep us tethered to each. We have a given DNA. We look to the past to discover our genetic code. We began by gathering around the Bible in homes. We received the sacramental ministry from visiting pastors. We made demographic decisions based on how to reach the most number of people effectively. Pastor Hoffman imparted an active evangelistic strain. Pastor Christenson taught us and introduced us to the Holy Spirit as a living person that brings personal, family, and congregational renewal. These, and every other God-given leader was respectful of the past, honoring father and mother in the faith, but brought something timely. We were planted out of a need for a particular witness to the gospel in a particular community. When the community shifted our mission shifted, but our message remained consistent. The need for contextualization was from the beginning.
Nostalgia anamnesis-prolepsis Amnesia
In the celebration of the Lord’s Supper there is a beautiful biblical paradox that holds together anamnesis (reactualization or remembrance) with prolepsis (anticipation of the coming kingdom).
The church that remembers without anticipating is nostalgic. Anticipating without remembering is amnesia.
A Church that neglects anamnesis (reactualization or remembrance) chooses amnesia or Alzheimer's and risks getting lost (identity, narrative, place). Jesus says, “This do in remembrance of me.”
A Church that neglects prolepsis (anticipation of eschatological reality) chooses nostalgia and risks losing hope. Paul says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” 1 Corinthians 11.26.
Beloved Trinity, I love how you tell stories of God’s mighty acts done throughout your 101 years. He has been good.
Beloved Trinity, I love how you dream of the future. Some of you can almost see God’s redemptive story unfolding in San Pedro, some of you see it unfolding in Northern Thailand or Zimbabwe or Tanzania or Albania. Grounded. Hopeful.
#12. Office - Person
In this final thanksgiving, I’d like to get a little more personal. I received a Call, by vote of the Trinity congregation over 17 years ago. I took some time to pray, reflect with Joy and the elders at Solid Rock Free Lutheran in Anoka, MN, as well as Pastor Paul Anderson. I was meeting with Paul once-a-month for mentoring in his basement along with a few other younger leaders. He was helpful in the discernment process as he knows and loves Trinity (REALLY LOVES TRINITY), and as he knows and loves me and Joy. Nothing was black and white in our “yes.” It required faith. I was excited and fearful. Sometimes the weight of the heritage struck terror in my heart. What if I mess this up? Looking back, my blindnesses were many. Maybe God kept me from seeing everything as it was, so the added fears wouldn’t be crippling. I don’t know. I remember thinking that my primary job was to steward a past move. Keep the move of the Spirit moving. Don’t disappoint people. How foolish! Trinity, we weren’t in need of maintenance. We needed Gospel renewal and a revitalization of our mission. We needed the Holy Spirit. Again. And again. And again! We always do!
I recall hearing that because of his respect for the office, President Reagan didn’t enter the Oval Office without a necktie. I don’t have that track record, as I sit here in Trinity’s pastor’s study in my jeans and golf shirt. But, I do feel a great respect for the office I currently hold. I recognize that it is not mine to do with what I want. It is a stewardship from the Head of the Church, and the true Head of Trinity. He has the freedom to do with this office as he pleases. He can place and he can replace. Trinity, I have my own ideas and visions, and each of you have your own ideas and visions, but ultimately I must answer the the Lord of the Church. The thought of this sobers me. I get the feeling that many of you understand this too. There are times we walk together in agreement and times we walk together in disagreement about this or that. Yet, you still come and hear the Gospel. You know that the efficacy of the ministry is not contingent on your agreement with the minister. God will deliver his unfailing grace through his very fallible man.
You respect the office of pastor, and receive grace through the office of ministry that I currently hold, but you give grace to me as the person who holds it. You do this by forgiving me. You do this by loving my wife and kids. You do this in many kindnesses spread throughout the year.
Beloved Trinity, thank you for the honor of being your pastor. Cheers for the last 17 years, and for however long God grants us the honor to walk together. May he continue to endow us with his presence and his power. May he grant us the sweet gift of authentic unity. May he give us his love for one another. May he give us his heart to welcome home the lost. May he give us wisdom to steward the generous resources he has given to us. There are good days ahead!