Sermons on Early Church
How to Move Mountains
How to Move Mountains – Luke 6:20-31 What is strong and what is weak? The early church faced a dilemma. In the time of Jesus, the common expectation was that the messiah would be a hero. He would be a victorious fighter who defeats the Romans and restores Israel as a free and independent country. Jesus did not really do that. He died painfully on the cross and the Romans were as powerful as they were before. But when we…
All are one in Christ Jesus
All are one in Christ Jesus – Galatians 3:23-29 The society of the Roman Empire is an honor – shame society. That means in contrast to our capitalist society to be honorable is more important than being rich. For Roman senators it is honorable to get rich by farming. It is NOT honorable to get rich by trading. What we call entrepreneurs, people who have bread factories, produce pottery, cloth, iron products or conduct trade, no matter how much money…
Let’s Talk about Women Pastors
Let’s Talk about Women Pastors Considering the role of women in society, we need to keep in mind that different historical sources will produce different information for future generations. If you search for “Women Pastor” on youtube today, you will almost exclusively find voices passionately condemning such a thing. Nevertheless, here I stand, and as you know, I am not alone. Future historians though, might only be able to access those voices on youtube and conclude that pastoring women in…
Mary Magdalene was NOT a prostitute.
Mary Magdalene was NOT a prostitute. Everybody thinks that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, but that is a story that was invented by pope Gregory in the sixth century. At the time the plague decimated the population of Rome. Gregory thought that the lethal sickness was God’s punishment for the sins of the people. So he conflated a couple of women who were called Mary, and he made her into a prostitute. His point was that God even forgave this…
A Gospel for a persecuted community
A Gospel for a persecuted community Roman Emperor Nero was one of the great lunatics on the imperial throne. Legend has it that he burned down Rome. And while he was watching the flames he sang the “sack of Troy” When rotors about him torching the capital did not subside, he needed someone to take the fall for the fire. The early church in Rome came in handy. The following persecutions claimed the lives of Peter, Paul and many martyrs.…
Heaven Is Shut Down
Heaven Is Shut Down Today as well as throughout history, churches come in all shapes, sizes and forms, some have good theology, some have crappy theology, but they have one thing in common. Like Peter they confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Everything else flows from that confession. But this is not to say that everything goes. Lutherans believe in heresy. There are theologies Lutherans vehemently oppose, because they exclude, they oppress and they exploit. Jesus call is…
“Little Faith” is a mixture of courage and fear!
“Little Faith” is a mixture of courage and fear! Many stories of the bible emerge from a specific historical context. To be understood one must explore the cultural reference they refer to. That is why the Bible needs to be studied and not just read, or made into an idol and worshipped. In the biblical time when God comes to the rescue of his people, when light gives way to darkness Jesus walks on water toward the disciples who struggle…
Pentecost
Pentecost The Roman world was build on one guiding principle. The gods love the rich and powerful, because they can return the favours that the gods bestow on them. For the blessings of the gods that make the rich and powerful rich and powerful they repay the goods with temples, festivals, holidays and sacrifices. It’s a very practical “good-old-boys’ arrangement. And from the rich and powerful the favour of the gods slowly trickles down; from the emperor to the senators,…
Through Easter Death is defeated for all, or death is not defeated at all.
Through Easter Death is defeated for all, or death is not defeated at all. On Easter morning, the first to witness the reality of the resurrection are women. They met Jesus and they are the first to worship him. At the same time the men presumably are hiding in some basement in case Pilate’s lust for blood is not yet satisfied. Naturally that disqualifies women from holding ecclesiastical office. Human imagination in the emerging church infused the miracle of Easter with…
No Work – No Food?
No Work – No Food? Who doesn’t work should not eat is a popular misinterpretation of Paul’s 2nd letter to the Thessalonians to justify the own unwillingness to share the necessities of life with one’s neighbors. However, the bible could not be clearer proclaiming the contrary. Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” John 3.11 Paul does not devise a social services policy for the city of Thessaloniki, but he…
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ closest friends. She financed the Jesus movement; and became a spiritual leader in the early church. As the first witness of Jesus’ resurrection, she is among the most prominent saints of the church. Rev. Kristin Luana Baumann, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Port Angeles WA, 11/6/2016.