Against All Odds

Editor’s Note: Articles from Set Apart to Serve, the LCMS’ church work recruitment initiative, are hosted here on The Lutheran Witness site. Visit the “Ministry Features” page for regular content on church work recruitment and formation.

By James Baneck

What do we mean when we say “against all odds”? We mean something has been accomplished, when it seemed virtually impossible that it would ever happen. We also hear it said this way: “no matter the stacked deck” or “despite the whole world being against me.”

For example, the deck seems to be stacked against us in being Christians. Powerful enemies fiendishly connive against us day and night to destroy our saving faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, despite the whole world being against us, Jesus has accomplished our salvation. He forgives our sins. He took our eternal death upon Himself. He crushed Satan under His feet. Jesus Christ triumphantly rose from the dead.

Lest we conclude that the deck is stacked against us in having eternal life and salvation,  look to the cross and Easter tomb. Know that in holy Baptism we are united in Christ’s death and resurrection. Our sins are drowned, and we have eternal life in Christ.

The lies the devil tells about church work

Now think about young Lutherans considering a full-time church work vocation.[1] Why should young Lutherans consider church work when they are seemingly up against all odds?

Young Lutherans are being told that the church is shrinking and that LCMS congregations are closing, and therefore, they should not consider full-time church work. This is a lie of the devil. For centuries, church buildings have been built and closed. Some congregations have grown, while others have consolidated. From generation to generation, Christ’s church has flourished in one geographic area more than another.

Christ’s church is not dying. New LCMS congregations are continually being planted. There is an immediate need of 100 additional LCMS international missionaries (if interested, contact the Rev. Dr. Mark Rabe at mission.recruitment@lcms.org). There is an acute shortage of Lutheran school teachers and pastors across the Synod. There is a demand for LCMS professors at our Concordia universities and seminaries. Billions of people in the United States and around the world have not heard the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The parents of young Lutherans are often hesitant to encourage their children to pursue full-time church work. When I decided to pursue the pastoral ministry after graduating from high school in 1979, parents like mine often encouraged their youth towards a vocation in church work, rejoicing that their child believes in Christ and will serve Him and His church. In recent memory, church work vocations were seen as sacred and honorable, serving Christ and His people, but also with the understanding that church work involved sacrifice, long hours, and probably wouldn’t be a way to get rich. Even knowing there was sin in the earthly church, men and women entered full-time church work, knowing that only through Christ was there repentance and forgiveness.

Granted, there was never a “golden age” of church work. However, in recent decades, we’ve witnessed a great decline in parents encouraging, or even supporting, their children to consider and pursue full-time church work.

“Let him … take up his cross and follow Me”

In St. Luke’s Gospel, he tells of Jesus driving out demons, raising the dead, feeding 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread and fish, and appearing in brilliance with Moses and Elijah. Then an interesting conversation between Jesus and three people following Him takes place.

The first person said, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus responds by telling this person what it means to follow Him: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:57–58). The second person said, “I’ll follow you, but let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:59–60). The third said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:61–62).

These words sound harsh, don’t they? Why would Jesus expect such devotion and commitment from His followers? Where was the glory? Where was the prestige? Where was the reward? Where was the compensation? Satan would want us to feel that this commitment is so unreasonable! The world laughs at us for forsaking the world for this man who says only through Him do we have eternal life. Our own sinful flesh, not wanting discomfort or sacrificing our pleasures, wants to turn away from Jesus or follow Him, but on our own terms.

On another occasion, Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:51). St. John writes, “After this many of [Jesus’] disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him. So Jeus said to the twelve, ‘Do you want to go away as well?’” (John 6:66–67). Then St. Peter speaks this marvelous confession of faith: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

Let’s rethink what we believe about following Jesus. Let’s rethink what we believe about being a full-time church worker. This is the Jesus who is the “founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

We know His words, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For, whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matt. 16:24–25). Couple these words with St. Peter’s words to a persecuted church: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12–13).

No other gift more precious

Through the years, the U.S. military has used slogans of courage, serving for a cause, suffering for others: “Army Strong,” “Warriors Wanted,” Let’s Go,” “Always Ready,” “Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit,” and “Forged by the Sea.” Such service is virtuous and honorable.

Even more so, full-time church work is about being the bearer of Jesus Christ and our eternal salvation through Him. Church workers are servants of Him who suffered, died and physically rose from the dead for the forgiveness of our sins and our eternal life! There is no other gift or news so precious, so priceless, so wonderful than this.

Pastors, teachers, deaconesses, directors of Christian education and the other full-time LCMS church work vocations are sacred, honorable and joyful because of Jesus Christ. Pray for the children in your home and congregation, that they would consider a full-time vocation of preaching, teaching and telling of Jesus Christ. Intentionally have conversations with these youth about entering such a sacred, honorable and joyful vocation.

Against all odds and despite the whole world being against us, you can encourage a young person to consider full-time church work, or you yourself can become a church worker.

For more information about church work formation and recruitment, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

[1] Pastor, Lutheran school teacher, deaconess, director of Christian education, director of church ministries, director of family life ministries, director of parish music, direction of Christian outreach.