Renewal For Life: Responsibility, Relevance, and Resources

From LifeDate - Winter 2007.

Renewal For Life:

Responsibility, Relevance, and Resources

by Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb

Have you ever heard of the great idol "God But"? "God But" is kind of a penultimate idol, an idol we acknowledge along the way to the ultimate, full-fledged idol worship experience. I’m guessing most of you reading this have professed to believe in "God But" at one time or another. It goes like this, "Well, sure, you know, I believe in God . . ." And then what’s the next word out of our mouths? "But"! "I believe in God, but . . ."

Paul writes to the Romans, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (12:2a). Belief in "God But" is a warning sign that we may be conforming to this world. We hear the message of the world over and over again on a particular issue. In our minds it begins to sound reasonable, logical, and good. We know it seems to contradict what God says, but . . .

Take abortion for example. The world says it’s a "right," a "choice," "the only way out," "freedom." We hear it constantly. We hear it echoed sometimes by religious leaders. We begin to conform. "I believe in God, but . . . what about rape?" "I believe in God, but . . . this baby will have expensive special needs." "I believe in God, but . . . now it’s my daughter who’s pregnant."

There is a constant need for renewal of our minds. We need to be warned about the "God But" idols and the idol worship they lead to. We need to be constantly pointed to God’s grace and mercy and wisdom in Christ as Paul does for the Romans at the end of chapter 11.

For nearly 30 years Lutherans For Life has sought to renew minds and transform lives by helping Lutheran congregations connect the biblical truth about life to the life issues. Our approach has been a "bottom up" approach working through dedicated LFLers at the grassroots level. But we want to do more! So we are introducing:

Renewal For Life

Renewal For Life will be a "top down" approach. We will be working through existing Lutheran church structures—denominations, districts, circuits, regions, etc.—to reach pastors and, through them, congregations. We want to help:

Renew Responsibility

The responsibility to address the life issues as they affect God’s people belongs to the Church and her pastors, not Lutherans For Life. We want to help congregations see addressing the life issues as part of the overall ministry of their congregation as they warn people about the "God But" idols and point them instead to Jesus Christ.

Renew Relevancy

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is relevant to the life issues and speaks powerfully to them. We have the most positive and powerful "For Life" message in the universe to apply to these issues. The Gospel is renewing. The Gospel is transforming. The Gospel counters conformity with the world.

Renew Resources

The Church and her pastors cannot effectively do this without help. The life issues are complex and ever-changing. LFL pledges to renew our efforts to more directly provide pastors and congregations with easy-to-use, up-to-date educational resources that will be at their finger tips through an online library.

A pilot project is underway in Iowa. This will be completed in the spring of 2008. After evaluation, we hope to "launch" nationally in the fall of 2008. Stay tuned!