What Do We Get?
As a Christian steeped in the Lutheran tradition, I admit I have a certain (and believe distinct) point of view of theology. If I read or hear a different take on a theological question, I need to sift and reframe it; examining as a Lutheran Christian. There are many, many Christian traditions. Each tradition has a certain flavor and appeal that attracts a wide array of people. Each tradition has point of view on how to get its message “out there.”
The flavor of the month seems to be “He Gets Us.” [Late to the party? Pastor Dan and I both looked at this last week.] Looking at the “He Gets Us” website, there is a strong Reformed theology present. It is beyond the scope of The Family Table to examine other traditions’ doctrine, however, the injection of Lutheran doctrine is what we do!
The “He Gets Us” campaign hits on several levels. Jesus, he gets us; he understands us, he empathizes with us, he loves us. From the website:
How did we get here? And what might we learn from the example of Jesus to help move beyond the animosity we feel for one another? How can we rediscover the life and teachings of Jesus, the world’s most radical love activist? That is our agenda at He Gets Us: to move beyond the mess of our current cultural moment to a place where all of us are invited to rediscover the love story of Jesus. Christians, non-Christians, and everybody in between. All of us.
From <https://hegetsus.com/en/he-gets-us-has-an-agenda>
Jesus wants us, all of us: and he get us. I believe we as Lutherans can go along with that statement. It is John 3:16, God so loved the world that he gave his son… But then, Lutheran theology gets to go further and asks, “If Jesus gets us, what do we get?” It is known as the Great Exchange.
God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%205&version=EHV>
Jesus takes upon himself our sin and the death we deserve, and gives us his righteousness and life! He gets our death, death on a cross. He rose from the dead conquering sin, death, and the devil. This is our faith, the Christian faith. This is what we get because of who he is! If you have the time for a deep dive, read 1 Corinthians 15. Let me give you a small taste…
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came by a man, the resurrection of the dead also is going to come by a man. For as in Adam they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ as the firstfruits and then Christ’s people, at his coming.
From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015&version=EHV>
Trust the Promises
Steve Skiver