Called to Be Life for the World: Theological Foundations for Our Mission

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we continue to discern our calling as a congregation and our place within the broader Lutheran community, I want to share some theological insights from the recent ELCA Churchwide Assembly that speak directly to our mission and identity. The theme “for the life of the world” offers us transformative guidance for navigating both the challenges and opportunities of our time.

Grounded in Ancient Faith, Responsive to Present Need

Our reflection begins with the Nicene Creed’s third article, which confesses the Holy Spirit as the “Lord and giver of life.” This ancient confession reminds us that at the heart of our faith stands the truth that “God is love”—not merely that God loves us, but that love itself constitutes God’s very being. This divine love moves in two essential ways: it creates all things, and it reconciles what has been broken.

As Lutherans, we understand that God’s creative love continues to breathe life into existence through the Spirit’s work, while simultaneously drawing all creation back into wholeness and unity. This dynamic understanding of divine love shapes how we approach both worship and mission.

Addressing the Gaps in Our World

We cannot ignore the significant challenges facing our community and world: climate change, systemic injustice, social division, and economic inequality. These realities create a palpable gap between the gospel’s promise of abundant life and the lived experiences of many in our community.

This gap can generate anxiety, particularly among our young people who feel overwhelmed by the scale of global problems. But here our Lutheran understanding of justification by grace through faith offers some pastoral wisdom. We are freed from the bondage of thinking we must solve every problem perfectly. Instead, grace empowers us to act faithfully within our capacities, trusting that God works through our imperfect efforts.

Called to Transformative Justice

Our commitment to justice flows directly from our understanding of the gospel. This is not merely about charitable giving or volunteer work—though these have their place—but about embodying God’s reconciling love in concrete ways that address root causes of suffering and division.

As followers of the crucified Christ, we are called to practice what might be called “transformative justice”—working for systemic change while also attending to the relational healing that individuals and communities need. This is what it means to let our faith shape our public witness.

Growing in Righteousness Through Community

Justification is not a one-time event but an ongoing process of becoming more fully the people God created us to be. We are invited into dynamic participation in God’s continuing creation of the world. Our baptism initiates us into this cosmic vocation—to be co-creators with God in nurturing life and practicing reconciliation.

This understanding challenges us to see our congregation not as a static institution but as a community called to adapt and reform while remaining rooted in the apostolic gospel. Like the African symbol of Sankofa—the bird that flies forward while looking back to carry the seed of the past—we honor our Lutheran heritage while responding creatively to contemporary needs.

Embracing Our Global Identity

We must remember that we are part of a global Lutheran communion of over 77 million believers, many of whom are women in East Africa facing challenges very different from our own. This diversity enriches our understanding of what it means to be Lutheran and calls us to embrace a fuller vision of church that welcomes the gifts of all members.

Our ecumenical relationships with other Christian traditions also expand our vision. Through dialogue and cooperation with other churches, we practice the kind of “walking together” that models unity without uniformity—a valuable skill for navigating differences within our own community.

The Eucharist as Vision and Empowerment

Every time we gather around the communion table, we participate in something revolutionary. The Eucharist is both a remembrance of God’s costly love and a foretaste of the beloved community God is creating. It calls us to widen our circle, to make room for those who have been excluded, and to recognize the gifts that each person brings.

This sacramental vision should shape how we approach everything from our budget discussions to our outreach programs. We are always asking: How does this help us become more fully the body of Christ for the sake of the world?

A Sacred Opportunity for Moral Imagination

We live in what I believe is a holy moment of moral imagination—a time when the Spirit is calling the church to participate in creating new possibilities for human flourishing and ecological healing. This is not a burden to bear but a privilege to embrace.

We need not be paralyzed by the magnitude of global challenges or the complexity of moral questions. Instead, we can trust that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is at work among us, empowering us to be agents of resurrection in our community and world.

As we move forward together, let us resist the temptation toward either despair or false optimism. Instead, let us lead with grace, embracing our calling to be “for the life of the world” through concrete acts of love, justice, and care for creation.

The closing words from the Churchwide Assembly stay with me: “Silence my soul. These trees are prayers. I ask the tree. Tell me about God and it blossoms.” May we learn to see the world around us as a continuous revelation of God’s love, and may we find our place within that ongoing story of creation and redemption.

In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Travis

Let us continue to pray and work together for the life of the world to come, trusting that God’s word is still making the world new.

This post was adapted from a theological presentation by the Rev. Chad Rimmer of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary at Lenoir-Rhyne University.