This is the sanctuary of University Lutheran Chapel. This is the place where the Bridegroom cleansed and sanctified His bride. This is the place where the Lamb of God took away the sin of the world. This is the place where the Good Shepherd fed His sheep with salvation.
And those things will no longer happen in this place because the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's Minnesota South District took this place away from the pastor who was feeding with that salvation and the congregation who was feasting on that salvation in order to pay for a program that, no matter how well intentioned, is not the Church, not the forgiveness of sins, not salvation.
So the devil rejoices in this picture. He rejoices because he now has another little chunk of this world where the preaching of the Gospel will not pierce his eardrums. He rejoices because he was able to deceive those elected to lead a collection of believers that they were somehow serving Christ and His Christians by taking away the place where Christ made and sustained Christians. The devil rejoices in this picture because he has never once triumphed over the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood, but his bedroom wall is covered with the busts of programs and movements and methodologies that he slaughtered without breaking a sweat.
The devil rejoices in this picture.
And those things will no longer happen in this place because the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's Minnesota South District took this place away from the pastor who was feeding with that salvation and the congregation who was feasting on that salvation in order to pay for a program that, no matter how well intentioned, is not the Church, not the forgiveness of sins, not salvation.
So the devil rejoices in this picture. He rejoices because he now has another little chunk of this world where the preaching of the Gospel will not pierce his eardrums. He rejoices because he was able to deceive those elected to lead a collection of believers that they were somehow serving Christ and His Christians by taking away the place where Christ made and sustained Christians. The devil rejoices in this picture because he has never once triumphed over the Spirit, the Water, and the Blood, but his bedroom wall is covered with the busts of programs and movements and methodologies that he slaughtered without breaking a sweat.
The devil rejoices in this picture.
But the devil is already defeated, already a gory, twitching mess lying on the ground, his skull shattered beneath the weight of Christ's cross.
And because of this Christ and His cross, because of the Bridegroom's union with His bride, because of the Good Shepherd's love for His sheep, University Lutheran Chapel will go on. She will continue to receive Christ's salvation, continue being brought back to life through His word, continue being washed in His waters, continue feasting on His body and blood.
No matter how long she wanders in the wilderness without a home, no matter where she eventually settles, and no matter how hard the devil rages against her, Christ will continue crushing the head of the serpent with His once dead but now living foot.
I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
So says our Lord in the Gospel of John, the sixteenth chapter.
And so, to Pastor David Kind, and to all my brothers and sisters at University Lutheran Chapel, rejoice. In the midst of your tears, rejoice that you have been counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ. Rejoice that your faithfulness was great enough to capture the full attention of the devil. And rejoice that the wicked foe will never defeat you because Jesus Christ your Lord will never stop defending you, never stop loving you, never stop feeding you with His forgiveness, life and salvation.
For more information on the ULC tragedy, click here.
For more information on the ULC tragedy, click here.
