<> Ask the Pastor The Rev. Walter Snyder Q: For so long, I have been away from God; I didn't and still don't go to church. Now, through a Christian friend, I'm trying to get closer to God. Some things I read say I need to go to church. That is fine for those who feel the need to go. I don't really feel the need; also I have a disability that is somewhat profound. My hearing is very bad, and I have to really watch (lip read) what people say. If you are not profoundly hard of hearing or near deafness, this is more of a problem than you might think. When members pray, I don't know what is being said, unless I look at the person praying. I am not in the deaf world at all, because I was not profound until in later life. Basically, what I am wanting to know is your opinion on going to church to know more about God. A: Hearing some of God's Word is better than none at all. Being in the presence of the Lord, especially partaking in his Supper, is where God wants us to be. I've preached for the deaf through a sign interpreter and directly to people who were moderately to profoundly hard of hearing. I urge them to sit toward the front, where they can see me speaking Scriptures and sermon. For my part (a small, but important practical matter) I try to keep my moustache trimmed so my lips are fully visible. What you get won't be perfect---but it wouldn't be even if you had extremely acute hearing. If your pastor writes out his sermons or if some of the prayers are in writing, you could review what was said after the service. Also, feeling a need is not always the same as having a need. While someone might not "feel" sick, a cancer could be growing and give no warning unless a test is done. Human sinfulness is also this way: We don't naturally seek our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ because we don't "feel" that we need God. Rather, he finds us through Word, Sacraments, and Holy Spirit. And God is most active in meeting our needs where his Word and Sacraments are regularly in use---in the Christian Church. Q: What is the atoning significance of Jesus' death in the Synoptic Gospels? In what sense was His death atoning? Why did Jesus die according to the Synoptic Gospels? A: The Gospels continually reference the Old Testament, especially the prophets. The anointed Servant of the Lord (portions of Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and 52--53) was set aside by the Father to take our sins upon himself. Read these passages along with Jesus' baptismal narratives (such as Matthew 3:13--17), the Passion and Resurrection accounts, and Peter's sermon in Acts 10, which is used in our liturgical calendar as a reading both for the Baptism of our Lord and for the Resurrection. You can find a lot of political, sociological, psychological, or religious reasons why he was crucified. However, forgiveness comes only through blood, as God through Moses already tells us, and only the blood of the unblemished Lamb of God brings full remission of all sins. In light of this, we see why John the Baptist calls Jesus, "The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Q: What are the governing moral conventions which guide the instructions of Moses to kill all the non-virgin women and boys and then to "keep" the virgin girls for slaves (Numbers 31)? I believe that the God of the Bible is full of mercy and grace and am seeking to find that aspect of his character within the content of this passage. If you respond by indicating that these actions are his vengeance (as the beginning of the passage indicates) could you please give me some light as to why some live and die based on sexual activity and gender. I've been a Christian for several years and base much of my world-view on what to me is the clear presentation of God's love for the ones he created. I am not trying to present God as unjust. I believe that God is the one through whom true justice will prevail. I just really need some help on understanding this particular event. Please no analogies or pat answers. A: The "conventions" are not only moral, but theological, historical, and Christological. To understand Numbers 31, you need to read also Numbers 22--25, the account of Balaam. Moab and Midian couldn't force him to curse Israel; instead, the Lord forced a blessing out of him. However, Balaam found a way to "seduce" Israel to idolatry through the sexual wiles of Midianite women (chapter 25; also 31:8, 16). Consider Leviticus 17:7; Judges 2:17; Psalm 106; Jeremiah 3:1--3; and Hosea 4: In Israel, those who went "whoring after other gods" often did so literally, since sex was integral to Baal worship. A virgin woman could not have been involved. The boys were most likely killed because they would grow up to be warriors against Israel. God was most of all concerned with protecting Israel---both from others and from itself. Remember that God called Israel as the family of Messiah (see the question above). His greatest mercy was in sending his own Son to take all sins upon himself and to die on the cross. Thus, he not only protected Israel because of his promise, but because out of this "stubborn, stiff-necked" people would come the Savior of the Nations. That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville, Texas and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1999 by Walter P. 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