A Call for Repentance 

By Rev. Jon Coyne

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect, and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” Ephesians 6:5

When I consider the people of the Old Testament, one person seems to have the best reason to be disrespectful. David, the shepherd, warrior, musician, and later in life king, seems to have wonderful reasons that would lead him to be disrespectful toward King Saul. David was loyal to King Saul – befriending his son Jonathan, leading Saul’s armies to victory, soothing Saul with his God-given musical skills. Yet, Saul, in moments of jealous rage, attempts to kill David on a number of occasions. How would you feel toward a person who wanted to kill you? If you were David would you be able to show Saul, the proper respect due a king?

In The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, we know that theology is serious business. In fact, there are times when we view our theology more seriously than our own lives. So, when theological issues arise, it is easy for us to drop our respect for one another. It becomes easy to make allegations and accusations about other people that are harmful and inaccurate. In fact, we can become angry. We consider our anger to be righteous. Righteous because…. well because we are correct in our theology.

David was correct in his assessment of King Saul. In fact, God provided David with numerous affirmations of the fact that he was right about Saul. Clearly, Saul was sinning against David and against God.  Then God delivers Saul, helpless and vulnerable, into the hands of David.  David’s own men want him to kill the king. But David says this:

This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, “I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the Lord’s anointed.” I Samuel 24:10

David was willing to show respect to King Saul, even when Saul was wrong, because he was God’s anointed. In The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, we teach that God calls pastors, teachers, DCEs, deaconesses and lay workers. This call into the ministry of the church is from God. We also teach in Luther’s Small Catechism that everyone should show respect to people in authority. (Explanation to the 4^th Commandment) Yet for how many years have we:

• denounced our District and Synod leaders in our words on public websites and in letters, newsletters, and newspapers?

• written angry and spiteful things about our brothers and sisters in the ministry?

• spoken to one another, not as brothers and sisters in Christ, but as brothers and sisters at war?

• made false and misleading accusations about co-workers in the Kingdom of God?
  

• questioned the leadership of those whom God has anointed in our churches, circuits, districts, and Synod?

David certainly committed his share of sins. He even tried to hide from those sins when the prophet Nathan came to confront him. Yet, David was able, inspired by the Holy Spirit to write Psalm 51. It stands as a model for all of us on Ash Wednesday.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51: 10-12

On Ash Wednesday, 2003 Jesus First is revising and renewing this website with a call to the church for repentance and forgiveness. It is time for all of us to call upon the Lord, humbly asking forgiveness and listening carefully to the words of Jesus telling us, A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34 It is in these words that we can be the Gospel-centered, mission-driven, future-oriented church that God has anointed us to be.