<> Ask the Pastor Pastor Walter Snyder Q: Please help me with a question that is bothering me. What is the view of your church [The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod] on the baptism of gays? First let me say that I feel we should minister to the gay community while showing them that their lifestyle is wrong. But are the sacraments to be given if they have no intention of changing these habits? I think that the Bible is clear on homosexuality. I also know that it is not my place to judge. I am not without sin myself; in fact, I have many things in my past that I am ashamed of. Your comments on this issue will be very much appreciated. A: Since Lutherans normally baptize infants, this question is not one that often needs to be investigated. However, if someone converts to the faith as an adult, we normally baptize after he is instructed in the doctrines of the Christian Church. During instruction, the pastor teaches about sin and forgiveness. If the person has problems with persistent, habitual sin, the pastor underscores the importance of true repentance. This is confessing sins, trusting that they will be forgiven, and intending to not sin again. Granted, all of us can lapse into our old sins, yet a confession that does not have this intent is not a true confession. Thus, if a practicing homosexual went through instruction class and wanted to be baptized, he would be asked something like, "Do you intend to amend your sinful life?" If he did not plan to depart from this lifestyle, most pastors of this church would not baptize him. If he did so intend, we would do all that we could to help him to keep this promise. If he succumbed to temptation and lapsed into sin, we would treat it as any other sin and deal with it accordingly. Important to remember in all of this is that baptism is not a magic wand. Baptism does wash away sins and impart saving faith, but its benefits can be resisted by one who challenges the very God who wishes to save him and denies God's clear word concerning his sinfulness. Q: Would God need a pedicure? A: As the one who asked will recall, the question came out of a comment made by one of her coworkers. Concerning a "Bible thumping" fundamentalist Christian associate it was said, "He's so close to God that he can give God a pedicure." Thus our question, would God need one? Obviously, the answer is no. Less obvious, perhaps, is the more basic question: "Does God need anything?" He doesn't. He is totally sufficient in and of himself, else he wouldn't be God. Being spirit, God wouldn't have any toes to extend, correct? Would God even want a pedicure? Even including the God-man Jesus Christ, who has a physical body, isn't this all a bit fluffy, maybe even bordering on mockery? No, for even if God neither needs nor could be given a pedicure-- indeed, anything else--he still desires to be pampered and fawned over. He says it himself: "You shall have no other gods." He wants to be the center of our attention, getting all the praise, glory, and fame. He is the center of the universe. He's the Be All and End All. He needs nothing, for everything is his. Still, he gives so much so freely to us for our use, enjoyment, and nurture. We'll "pamper" ourselves by spending time and money on things we like. We do the same for family members, and close friends, and even sometimes our pets. Still, all of our time is really his--so how much do we spend on him? All of our silver and gold (also cash, checks, stocks, and bonds) are his--how much of them do we spend on him? He is truly God and Lord. All debts are paid in Christ and we owe him nothing. There is nothing he needs. Yet we still wonder how we can lavish what we have on the One who loves us with an undying love. How faithfully do we attend his services? How joyfully do we give our offerings of time, talent, and treasure? With John the Baptist, we acknowledge that we'd be unworthy even to untie his shoes, let alone give him a pedicure. Yet because of the forgiveness won by Christ and our new relationship with the Father, we are priceless. Our worth is that of Jesus himself, whose righteousness we wear as our own clothing. Thus we are not obligated, but allowed to give God all that we have and all that we are. We rejoice in the hymn, "Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord to Thee; Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise." How do we pamper the One who has everything? By giving him everything! Remember to "Ask the Pastor" at P.O. Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or catch me around town. Pastor Snyder serves St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches, Jasper and Woodville, Texas and is the coauthor of "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1997 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.