The Lord is Risen

(An Open Letter to the those who attend Gloria Dei Lutheran Church)

He Is Risen Indeed!

Greetings from a brother in Christ in Exile. I was sent to you by our Risen Lord in a time of great need. I thought I was being sent to a place of refuge and healing. I misunderstood his intent. Being sent to Gloria Dei was being sent into a time of trial: trial for Jasini and myself, a time of testing for you all.

On this day of great rejoicing I have been given a message for you all: there is no anger or rancor from either Jasini or myself against any of you; we wish you no harm, and want only the fullness of Christ to dwell in you richly.

But that wish cannot come to pass until the rift created in the body between us has been healed. And to be healed, the truth must be revealed and acknowledged by those still at Gloria Dei.

Someone by her words was injuring both Jasini and myself, and when I, with a spirit of peace and reconciliation, addressed that person, I was convicted of an anger I did not have, and the judge and jury which did that committed a great injustice against Jasini. My attempts to seek peace and reconciliation for Jasini, at Jasini’s request, led to me being condemned and exiled for another crime I did not commit, by your pastor and church council, without being allowed to even explain myself.

Every time we have followed the scriptural imperative of our Risen Lord to seek reconciliation, the authorities in your church have chosen NOT to follow the very words they preached from your pulpit, but to cast out any dissent and short circuit any attempt at reconciliation.

So like Paul, I am forced to write weighty and powerful words, in hopes that I may once again find myself in person with you showing weak and contemptible speech.

Just know, that if there is strife, it is because your body of believers chooses to be at strife with me rather than accepting my request for peace.

No, I am not saying I am without fault, but the faults that keep us as odds are not mine but yours, and the Risen Lord, who has the sharp sword with two edges, shall divide asunder until He unites those that are truly His and refines away with fire those that are not.

So I write, knowing that I have escaped such fire, and doing my best to help you avoid it as well.

….,………

Pastor Edd, you were privy to our hearts, and to the torments we had been put through and escaped. You have the heart of a Saint, but the will of a sycophant. You desired the role of a pastor, a good thing, but have not kept its responsibility. You have been led rather than led, and for that you must repent. You knew the errors to avoid, and you allowed them to happen again. The easiest path is always the hardest in the end.

Steve, I tried to share my heart with you, but I never felt you could see past the surface.

Dave and Carol, I will always treasure that first Christmas decorating the tree, and sorry we were prevented from growing our friendship.

Don and Dan, I always knew your heartfelt sincerity in men’s group, and wish I could have been there better and longer because of you both.

Jo ( of Jo and Armond) you have a lot of growing to do for a person so senior. Telling people they had to excuse those who raped and kidnapped and murdered because those perpetrators were “frustrated” is NOT the heart of our Risen Lord.

Dennis, I always felt your kindness and wish I could have gotten past your succinct quietness to learn from the man behind that smile. Your VirJean is an amazing woman, but I don’t think she has your compassion, and the true Jasini was invisible to her, even when presented right before her eyes.

John, we sparred some in Sunday School, over a serious issue, and some might have taken offense, but I felt that we had gained and understanding of each other. I valued your insight and am saddened I am being kept from your wisdom by those more short sighted than you are.

Eva and Nathan, I wish you both the best in your lives and music. Perhaps one day we might yet make four part harmony. True harmony, and only the unity IT brings , no other type of unity, is my heart’s desire.

Those of the women’s group and Bible study, do NOT applaud yourselves that Jasini continued after I was exiled. She NEVER felt safe among people who would not move to protect her.

Kitty, a servant in the church should be ashamed to show such vehement hatred at a brother in Christ as you did to me that last Advent night. With all that service you show, where is the love of Christ in you? I fear that your love has grown cold, your compassion gone, and hatred is the only heat you have left. I weep when I think of it.

Gayle Mason, you always told stories of the bold things you did, but the current actions I saw were that of a mouse. I pity Rena if you really would let it stand if someone did to her what was done to Jasini. I was not wanting things done MY way, but following Christ’s way. Would you really let me slam a door in Rena’s face and do nothing about it?

Rena, my memory of you is ever green and fresh, especially as the variegated hostas you gave me are starting to grow this spring. I hope you get a chance to come by and see them when they are worth seeing. You understand friendship well, and I wish I could have repaid your kindness more.

Lastly (for I cannot mention all), Jo Ellen, I wish more could follow your example, and hesitate to mention you at all, lest it bring some sort of persecution upon you for your mercy to us. I still wonder if you truly understood what we were sharing with you of our pain, but you listened, didn’t judge, and always sought peace and reconciliation in the way we experienced your grace. You will definitely hear the “good and faithful servant” one day.