CLAIMED, GATHERED, & SENT
May 23, 2004

By Pastor Dan Gibson

“As you, Father are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-26).

At this year’s synod assembly, we gathered under the theme: “Claimed, Gathered, and Sent for the Sake of the world.” A powerful statement that is rooted in our baptism: “Sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ” (LBW # 124) empowered for a unity of mission!

In our Gospel lesson this morning, Jesus says that Christian unity is for the purpose of witnessing to others, “so that the world may believe that you (God) have sent me” (vs.21).

Here at Bethel, when you look at the cross at the center of our logo, “Where East Meets West in Christ”, we are reminded that it is by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that breaks down all cultural, racial and social barriers - and brings about unity for us with God the Father and His Son, Jesus the Christ.

While Christian unity raises the effectiveness of our witness, a divided church diminishes the effectiveness of witness. Not only does divisiveness cripple the ministry, but it prevents mission to the community – the reason we exist – and the reason for Jesus’ prayer this morning...

...and the unity that Jesus prays for is not achieved by some manufactured or manipulated collaboration. It is not achieved by adhering to some law, rule or article within a congregational constitution. It is also not achieved by wishing and hoping that “everything will be alright” if only divided churches around the globe would wake up and come together into one organic union.. Now, don’t get me wrong, ecumenism is essential and imperative. BUT, it is the next step – not the first. For we cannot expect to be unified with others if we are not first unified with ourselves.

The unity that Jesus prays for begins here at home – at the communion rail. As Lutheran Christians that means we are to be actively engaged in our regular and earnest use of Word and Sacrament where we are united with the Father and the Son - and united with each other - where we are enabled to work together under the banner: Claimed, Gathered, and Sent for the Sake of the World that they may see our mutual love, support and respect.

Now, there are those who are all for Christian unity as long as everyone else agrees with their way of thinking. For example, to insist upon a conventional “green book” unanimity that is based on self-preservation and self-service is unfaithful to our calling in context to the community we are here to embrace, identify with, and serve.

Craddock said, “Christian unity only prevails when God, Christ, and believers abide each in the other and has as its primary purpose the evangelization of the world.”

Due to several ministerial demands, I confess that my attendance last week at the assembly was rather spotty. However, what impressed me from what I did observe had less to do with how well individuals/groups with differing opinions presented their “case”, and more to do with how well we were able to remain focused on a greater aim: Preserving the unity of the church. St. Paul wrote: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Although some of the key issues were not resolved (and were not expected to be), I believe some good groundwork has been laid for future discussion, and I walked away feeling proud to be a member of the Southwest California Synod of the ELCA.

Likewise, I was recently proud of our own church council who also had differing views on one of the same “hot topics” later discussed at assembly, but did not allow the issue to divide them. We know that our Christian unity must be maintained if we are to be faithful to our baptismal calling.

“Sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever” we are indeed Claimed, Gathered and Sent, not for the sake of ourselves, but for the sake of the world.

Let it be so -- in Jesus name we pray...

Amen.

Moving Ahead in Christ,

+ Pastor Dan

Previous Pastor's Pages

• Spring, 2004
• Winter, 2004
• Fall, 2003
• Summer, 2003
• Spring, 2003
• Winter, 2002
• Fall, 2002