Comments for Dwight Zscheile

Comment on The Stories Beneath the Structures by Victoria

Victoria — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 02:35:13 +0000

Very tthoughtful blog

Comment on The Root Crisis by Paul Feider

Paul Feider — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 02:46:58 +0000

Great article. That is the real issue

Comment on The Root Crisis by Charlie Clauss

Charlie Clauss — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 14:09:30 +0000

This a topic near and dear to me, as I tried to make clear in this post on Covenant:
http://livingchurch.org/covenant/2015/07/10/putting-the-sails-back-up/

Comment on The Root Crisis by Georgia Steele

Georgia Steele — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:06:15 +0000

Thanks for this timely thought provoking article , looking forward to reading more and responding as much as I can in the contexts I serve in!

Comment on Who Is My Neighbor? by Dwight Zscheile

Dwight Zscheile — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 17:04:59 +0000

Yes, an expanded definition of neighbor shouldn’t mean neglecting a congregation’s geographical neighbors–it is a both/and.

Comment on Who Is My Neighbor? by Cam Harder

Cam Harder — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:52:58 +0000

Dwight,
I agree–great assessment of the dilemma. However many of our Canadian suburban churches are populated by people who live far from the church and neither connect with each other during weekdays, nor with the church’s geographical neighborhood at any time. Certainly an individual can connect with their personal “neighbours,” understood as those to whom they relate in some way. But it is hard for a congregation to connect with all the relationships its members have. If a congregation is to act corporately, together, it seems to me that one of its first responsibilities and opportunities is to get to know its geographic neighbours. What do you think?

Comment on Who Is My Neighbor? by Eric C. Johnson

Eric C. Johnson — Sun, 31 May 2015 01:04:54 +0000

It is interesting to me that Jesus never answers the question of the teacher of the law. Instead of telling the teacher who his neighbor is, Jesus describes what being a neighbor looks like, as if to say that my neighbor is anyone I come upon with a need. When I find this neighbor, I am to place the neighbor’s needs ahead of my priorities, to give sacrificially for the neighbor’s well-being, and make sure that neighbor is provided for in my absence. Even as I type this, the old Adam creeps up within me to tell me all the reasons why this should not be the case: that I need to take care of me and mine first and let others worry about themselves, that I don’t have enough to meet all the needs that I come across, and so on. It is the Law that Christ gives here, and it too much for me to bear.

The problem with the “missional” conversation in the ELCA is that it seems focused on that which humans have the capacity to do, and how we might convince people to get on board with that activity. However, when we dive deep into this parable, we find ourselves not really wanting to live to this standard, let alone convince anyone else to do the same. Without an experience of both Law and Gospel working on my life, I will never be free of my own sin nature to live for the sake of others. However, when I am reminded of my Baptism, when I receive the “for you” at the Table, and when the Spirit creates faith through the preaching of the Word (in whatever form that preaching takes), space is created within me to discern where God is ACTUALLY at work, not where my political, economic, or sociological preferences dictate God should be working. I am free to believe the words of Christ that I will do “greater things” then Christ’s original miracles, not just what my modern mindset believes is possible.