What Is Joy:Fully Lutheran?
July 20-25, 2019 the 67th Convention of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod will take place in Tampa, Florida. “Joy:fully Lutheran” is the theme for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through the next convention. This theme focuses on 1 Thess. 5:16–24 in which Paul says to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul ends the section by saying, “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.”
As we prepare our hearts for the Synodical Convention, we take time to pause and reflect upon what it is to be joy:fully Lutheran. In this space, Northern Illinois District pastors will share what it means to them to be joy:fully Lutheran.
For more information, please visit joyfullylutheran.org.
“V-i-v-i-t” By Pastor William Yonker
I love the word “Vivit.” It’s Latin and it means “He lives!” Of course it refers to Jesus Christ. Tradition has it that Luther had this word placed on the wall in his study. Later it was etched in between the rose petals on a stone monument of his seal. Legend says in the midst of the Reformation while self-doubts were raging within and enemies were rattling their sabers without, these forces would drive Luther into the throes of deep, self-introspection (anfechtung). Often with tears dripping down his face, Luther would write the word: “Vivit” over and over with his finger on the surface of his desk. Another telling says that one time as he wrote this, his friend and pastor, Bugenhagen, came to comfort him. Seeing Luther’s word from his finger, Bugenhagen began a belly laugh so infectious it caused Luther to begin laughing and thus brought him out of his misery. Bugenhagen and Luther knew that even in the midst of the calamities, confusion and chaos of life we can rejoice and celebrate joy knowing Jesus lives! Jesus says, “Because I live, you shall live!” (John 14:19b). Jesus’ death at Calvary’s cross paid for the death we deserved for being sinners and rebels against God. His resurrection assures us God the Father accepted Jesus’ sacrifice. Now, no matter what happens, we who are the Baptized Redeemed are assured of eternal life in heaven with the One who loves us most, Jesus Christ our Lord!
I won’t deny life can be extremely hard. I won’t pretend that the hurts we face can’t be excruciatingly painful. But we need not wallow in our misery. We dare not prove Thoreau to be true and “live lives of quiet desperation.” We Lutherans have Jesus. He’s our loving, ever-present, never-abandoning Savior. He died for us. He rose for us. Jesus lives! Indeed we can be joyfully Lutheran. Because Jesus lives, we will too…forever and ever and ever, Amen! VIVIT!
This is #OurNID