Lutheran Theology in a 37 Word Text

Texting forces you to be clear and concise.  It’s harder to say something important in 50 words than it is in 500 or 5,000.  Every word counts.  

So my daughter is at a public university and having conversations about faith.  She texted, “Dad. My roommate is asking about Lutherans.  Not sure what to say.”  

Remembering something from a mentor of mine, I texted back:

Our Lutheran Christian view allows me to speak two truths. 
1.) The ugly truth about myself that I don’t want to admit, even to myself. 
​2.) The beautiful truth that Jesus takes me in spite of the first truth."

Law and gospel is like sterile medical terminology unless applied to the traffic and trouble of life.  Dr. Carter, a college professor, helped me to make this jump from jargon to daily life.  

When your college roommate is asking who you are.  
When you’ve been terrorized by shame. 
When you’ve been sliced by the knife of the devil’s accusation.  
When you’ve wondered if everyone has left you, even God.  

These two truths are the profound heart of our message.  The Jesus who takes me as I am, even when I’m not as I should be.  This is enough to live for, and enough to die for. ​