On the anniversary of my ordination

The heart of why I love this vocation, 20 years on.

My friends Matt Kolden and Brian Spahr wrote worth-your-time-to-read articles with the same or similar titles this same week. I had to take a picture of my ordination certificate last week, and remembered that 29 June was my ordination day, and that this was the 20th anniversary of that day.

After receiving a Call from Solid Rock Free Lutheran Church in Anoka, MN, I was ordained into the ministry of word and sacrament at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Aliso Viejo, CA. The ordination took place in the gym. Joy directed the choir—F. Melius Christiansen’s Beautiful Savior. Youth group members, Brendon Helgason and Adam Olson played their guitars for prelude. Kelly Larson sang Det er Makt i de Foldede Hender, one of my favorite Norwegian hymns. My dad, Pastor Herb Hoff preached. Pastor Robert Lee, the president of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations presided. My father-in-law, Pastor Luthor Nelson led the prayers. A company of white-robed, red-stoled witnesses (Pastors Tom Jorde, Bill Bartlett, Leland Lantz) laid hands on me after I made vows. My mom made my red stole quilted with descending Spirit, and tree of life. On the back of the yoke, is a small Jerusalem cross that I kiss before I put it on, reminding myself of the sheer gift it is to be an under-shepherd to Christ’s own flock.

Then I read the exhortation from the sacristy in the Riddersholm Church in Stockholm, Sweden.

Adorn thyself inwardly, for thou art in the service of the Omniscient,
  who looketh at the heart.
Pray for power from on high, for thine office is of God,
  and thou art but a vessel of clay.

Truth be on thy lips, for they are to keep the doctrine pure.
Love rule thy heart, for thou art a messenger of grace.
Fortitude arm thy soul, for thou bearest orders of the Great King.

Let not bitterness quench thy zeal, for thou art a shepherd and not a lord.
Selfishness be from thy office, for the care of souls must not be made
  the means of getting sordid gain.
Be not dismayed in sowing the seed, for the Lord giveth the increase.

Preach the Word rightly.
Open the eyes of the ignorant.
Arouse sinners from beds of ease.
Tear the cloak from the hypocrite.

Lift the burden from the heavy laden, 
  for God has no pleasure in the death of a sinner.
Let every sermon be preached as if it were to be the last, 
  both for thee and thy hearers.
Before every confessional service, shrive thine own heart.
Thus shalt thou be established in grace.
The shepherd heart of the Saviour be thy model in the office of pastor,
  thy joy under the burden, and thy defense in the last accounting.

May the words of my mouth be the seed of salvation, thy walk show others the way; thy prayers give Satan a rebuff.
And may thy death be the entry of a good and faithful servant
  into the joy of thy Lord and Saviour.

As Brian Spahr wrote, “I am in over my head.” My only hope is really in the ongoing response, “I will, with the help of God.” I am more convinced than ever, that it is the brilliant strategy of God to send a sinner to deliver good news to sinners. If God sent angels, we would think the message too spiritual and not for us earth dwellers. If God sent heroes, we wouldn’t think it applies to us ordinary people. If God sent experts, we would think our problem just needed a hack or some good advice. No, God sends frail flesh to frail flesh. Beggars showing other beggars where they found bread (Luther). Shepherds that smell like sheep (Francis). And the message we bear is not other-worldly, inspirational, or good advice. It is good news. “In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5.19.

So you’ve got two options.

1. You can believe that God is counting your trespasses.

2. Or, you can believe God when he says that he has given up all that accounting on account of Christ.

You can’t believe both options. I get to preach, teach, pray, counsel, remind, convince people in the church and out of the church of #2. And, I love this vocation, 20 years on, because I need to be reminded of it every time I am called to remind someone else.