What ' s Saving Your Life ? by Pastor Kris Tostengard Michel
“ Salvation ” is one of those church words that feels like insider language , doesn ’ t it ? We tend to think of salvation as what happens when we ’ re done with this life , but what if it happens right now , too ?
In the Old Testament , the most common Hebrew word for salvation is yasha . The root meaning of yasha implies space and breath . It ’ s the opposite of being constricted . It turns out that God is most often the subject of the sentences that contain yasha . Several names in the Bible are derived from yasha – Joshua , Isaiah , Hosea , and Jesus – and they all mean , “ God saves .”
Some years ago , I read a book by Barbara Brown Taylor called , “ Leaving Church ,” and discovered a definition of salvation that I found so helpful I typed it up and made copies to hand out to people when I thought they would read it as good news : “ Salvation is a word for the divine spaciousness that comes to human beings in all the tight places where their lives are at risk , regardless of how they got there or whether they know God ’ s name . Sometimes it comes as an extended human hand and sometimes as a bolt from the blue , but either way it opens a door in what looked for all the world like a wall . This is the way of life , and God alone knows how it works .”
Once when Taylor was speaking at a church gathering , her host asked her , “ What is saving your life now ?” Taylor liked the question so much that she invites others to answer it and continues to ask it of herself , as well . I find the question helpful , too , and when I ’ m tuned into it , I find others answering the question without even being asked . “ What ’ s saving my life now is playing in a music ensemble ,” or “ I ’ m in a much better place since I left a job that wasn ’ t a good fit .”
Not long ago , a friend wrote a beautiful post on Facebook and has given me permission to share . My friend ’ s husband died of ALS-FTD . After thinking about it all for 8 ½ years , she ’ s finding an increasing ability to live with the hole created by his absence without so much fear and pain . Most recently , she said , her inner guide has been calling her to reclaim or claim those aspects of life that bring joy . Things like slipping into a swimming pool and being encased in warm water . Friendships . Visiting the Russian Museum . Reducing responsibilities that require her to say no to other things she loves to do . Endeavoring daily to be less angry and more tolerant , considerate , and generous . “ Losing my husband is a terrible price to pay for this freedom ,” she said . But she ’ s finding divine spaciousness – salvation – where there ’ s room to breathe , room to thrive again .
That is God ’ s intention for all of us . Salvation happens , as Taylor says , “ when peace ends war , when food follows famine , when health supplants sickness and freedom trumps oppression .” It turns out that salvation is for this life , too .
What ’ s saving your life ? Where do you see salvation happening for others ? Can you name it and celebrate it ?
SALVATION PROJECT SERMON SERIES CONTINUES : |
February 5 : Luke 7:1-17 |
February 19 : Luke 7:36-50 |
February 12 : Luke 7:18-35 |
February 26 : Luke 9:28-45 |
ON THE COVER :
Today ' s Seed , Tomorrow ' s Fruit
BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN CHURCH TWIN CITIES ANNUAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 25 , 9:00 AM at the Minneapolis campus
Congregational Learning Event February 25 , 10:00 am with Dr . David Lose
Does Luther Still Matter ?
This year is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the world is taking note . Celebrations have begun around the world . There ’ s a renewed interest in the work of a German monk who in many ways changed the face of Europe and the western world . But does Luther and his work still matter today ? Does this curious and complex figure from 500 years ago have anything to contribute to your life now ? Join Dr . David Lose for an engaging conversation on these questions and others on Saturday , February 25 immediately following the Annual Meeting .
David Lose is the Senior Pastor Elect at Mt . Olivet Lutheran Church in Mpls . He currently serves as the president of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia and was a member of the faculty of Luther Seminary ( St . Paul , MN ) for 14 years . He is the author of Preaching at the Crossroads ( 2013 ), Confessing Jesus Christ ( 2003 ), and the popular Making Sense series of books and resources from Augsburg Fortress .
Next CONNECT deadline : February 10 , 2017 pdunn @ bethlehem-church . org
CONNECT newsletter online bethlehem-church . org
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