An Inkling
Will God give a sign?
He did the last time. When the Lutherans had their Assembly here in Minneapolis last August, they had debates similar to some we’ll have this week, around this question:
Does God want the church to revise her understanding of homosexual practice from being one of the many sexual practices that God would redeem, into being one that God would have the church affirm? (Note – Among the sexual practices God would redeem, the vast majority are heterosexual, but homosexual practice is at the center of debates because advocates for revision have specified it and not adultery, fornication, etc.) That question underlies the specific debates about who is to be married to whom, who qualifies for ordination, etc.
The Lutheran debates were scheduled for August 19, at 2:00 p.m. On a day when no severe weather was expected, a funnel cloud moved across downtown Minneapolis, damaged the roof of the Convention Center, and broke the cross off the steeple of Central Lutheran Church, across the street (see the picture). Then the tornado lifted. The time? 2:00 p.m. (Google “Lutherans and tornado” for multiple news accounts from that day.)
A coincidence? Hmmm. In this case I think it takes less faith to affirm God’s providential work than it does to affirm a random event. But apparently the Lutherans thought it was random. They voted to celebrate what God would redeem, distancing themselves from the global and historic church, and confusing the gospel word that brings hope to both homosexuals and heterosexuals whose sexual practices hinder God’s blessings in their lives.
The cross atop Central Lutheran Church has been restored. I can see it right outside my hotel window. But the sign God sent to the Lutherans is still playing out, and it will until something more than the steeple cross is repaired.
"Lord have mercy – on them and on us! And if you see fit, a sign would be fine!"
I’ve got one eye on the weather…. And thanks for your prayers,
Keith
