home | contact
Baptism day

Message from Pastor Peter Marty

An Open Letter to Lowell

By Pastor Peter Marty

At St. Paul Lutheran Church, we love Lowell Michelson. This recent pastor of ours gave “his all” to us for two years of ministry, and we did the same to him. It was the sort of relationship that makes a bond for life. We thought we were helping to prepare him for anything in ministry — and we were — but who could anticipate that a murder would happen during a worship service in his new church. Read the story>>. There is no template for learning how to handle this kind of tragedy. Our residency program has no course in dealing with media personnel who fly in from around the world to interview one about a crime scene.

My conversations with Lowell this week have been rich. He embodies the best of pastoral instinct. His heart is warm to the Lord. He still has the funeral of Dr. Tiller to conduct, however, and the stress of that event is palpable. Police are preparing for Right-To-Life extremists to picket the funeral, and a fresh wave of media coverage will blanket the day. So, here is my letter to Lowell, in case he is short on sleep by the time the funeral moment arrives.

Dear Lowell:

You are a pretty amazing guy. I know you are quick to attribute the blessing of your life to the love of your parents and your wife Tera, and to the nurturing grace of God. But you’re also constantly trying to mold that love and grace into something that will benefit other people more than yourself. Most days, you seem to be succeeding.

What a test of your faith this week has been, and what a testimony to God you now need to be. Ever since you arrived there 10 months ago, you have seen the forces of good and evil in full view. You have tasted the breath of people outside the church who spew hatred for you and your congregation’s welcome of Dr. Tiller and his family as members. Thankfully, you have also experienced the surrounding love of a congregation that believes in the separation of church and hate.

Can you believe what hatred prompts? I know it’s nothing new. We shouldn’t be surprised. Ever since Cain annihilated his brother Abel, hatred has been the cancer at the root of the worst human relationships. The very word is malignant. It should be charged with disorderly conduct. Hatred is that one intoxicant that destroys us long before it ever destroys those with whom we wish to get even.

What I hear in your words, and read in your media statements, is very determined speech. Way to go! You are committed to matching others’ ability to hate with your own congregation’s ability to love. What a magnificent impulse. Try never to lose it. I know we search and search for that Bible translation that would have Jesus saying, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, smack that one hard to the ground, and then offer your left cheek!” But for the life of us, we can’t find it. It’s not in scripture.

Have you been reading the 12th chapter of Romans before bed each night? It sounds like it. As you know, that’s where Paul pushes for open-handed love, and gives us some idea how to behave in a world of hostility: “Bless those who persecute you… Never seek revenge yourselves but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, says the Lord’… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” It’s all about resisting hatred in one’s own heart and ultimately trusting God to settle matters of sin and injustice in the future, on that day when all things will be set right.

I don’t know what you think, but when I hear the Lord say, “Vengeance is mine,” it tells me that not only is revenge not my right or possession, but even the wrongs I suffer do not belong to me. Isn’t that right? Paul is always talking about a prior claim on our life. I am not my own. It all belongs to Christ. Even my wounds become Christ’s wounds. Although hurts provide terrific fuel for the fires of hatred, even they are not ours to keep.

I know you know all of this. But sometimes in the heat of crisis, we need each others’ reminding words. So go to it, brother. Put the hurt on hate by loving others like never before. The funeral won’t be easy for anyone, maybe especially for you. But be your own 6’4” raspy-voiced Christ to the world. People are hungry for a hopeful word.

Love, Peter

Pastor Peter Marty,

  ::