Can a murderer be saved by a death-bed conversion?

Re death bed conversions

Someone asked the question, “Can a terrible sinner, say a murderer, go to heaven just because he says, “I believe in Jesus” just before he dies?  Why would God want child molesters, mass murderers, etc. with him in heaven?”

The first thing we have to look at is the total depravity of all people.  The Apostle Paul considered himself among “the worst of sinners,” so even though he was certainly not as bad as many, he wouldn’t have put himself above anyone with a criminal record, not even murderers, rapists, etc.

When we know ourselves as people who deserve God’s condemnation, when we truly understand that WE are the ones condemned by the law, it should highlight God’s grace all the more.  Jesus, motivated by that attribute of Grace, provided himself as the sacrifice once, for all.  There is no class of sinner whose sin was not forgiven by Jesus.  That is true for every human being, whether she or he knows it or not; whether he or she repents or not.  This universal fact of justification means that no matter how I feel about my sin, no matter how badly someone tries to accuse me, no matter what I have done, the love of God is available for me.

Someone who repents has been led by the Holy Spirit to acknowledge the depths of the problem.  Someone who “fakes it” or who just goes through the motions or says the right thing has not repented.  I won’t be able to tell, but God does.  He’s not fooled.

Repentance that leads to salvation also trusts in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the way to forgiveness.  This is not a light burden.  Imagine how someone after a life of sin feels, when he knows how bad he has been, how miserable his condition was, and how deep the mercy of God has been!  This knowledge–faith–changes his heart, and if he has the chance he will do good works thankfully.  If this conversion happens at the last moment, of course, there will be no opportunity for thankful deeds of love.  But God knows the heart.

I would hope that every Christian would rejoice at the conversion of any sinner, no matter how deviant or how late that conversion happens.  God’s will is “that all people would be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  I wouldn’t want to be more exclusive than God says he is.

If the question is “how can someone be saved ‘just because he believes’ at the last moment” — I would say, “Salvation is not caused by our faith.”  Salvation has been planned, meticulously worked out, and caused by God himself.  A sinner who is saved isn’t there because of any worthiness or merit, but by God’s Grace.  Even faith is a gift of God.

So yes, a murderer ( or a terrible sinner like myself) can be saved through faith in Christ.  This is what gives me hope for eternal life.  Salvation does not come about by minimizing sin and its consequences, but because of the greatness of God’s love, power, and promise.

Pastor Daniel M. Wagenknecht

Haircut time

“You need a haircut.”  My wife reminded me last week, as I had been showing some shabby edges.  The last time I got my hair cut–in April, just before Austin’s confirmation on the 5th–I got a flat top.  It lasted over 3 months!  Not bad.  Over 15 people did not like the flat top.  Two people loved it.   Since this is America, the majority won.  I got a “regular number 2 men’s cut.”  The guy who cut my hair did a pretty good job.  And we went to Scott’s Barber Shop, Kellogg and Orangethorpe, which is only a third of the price of Fantastic Sams.

Austin and Andrew also got their hairs cut.  They both had the female barber, who cut both of their heads of hair a little too short for their taste.  But hair grows back.   In a couple weeks their skin will stop showing through the hair.  The mom is not real pleased.  She might send us back to Fantastic Sams next time.

When we get our hair cut, we choose a style that generally shows our personality.  Mine probably reveals a conservative outlook.  Remember Dan Tomczyk?  His hair always showed a free spirit.  Becker’s hair covered a head full of book learning.  Bode’s hair?  Michigan roots.

Clothes also reveal something about ourselves or send a message.  Same thing with tattoos and pierced things.   What message do you want to send?  What message are you sending?  I won’t impress a dress code on anybody, but ask you to consider, in all things, how can we bring glory to God?  Take good care of our bodies, show respect for those around us, our employers, customers, and friends.

When You’ve Been Wronged

I am reading a book called “When You’ve Been Wronged”, by Erwin W. Lutzer.  Subtitle is “Moving from Bitterness to Forgiveness.”  Some interesting points that I would like to share:

Everyone has either caused offense to another or has been wronged by another.  We are sinners living in a sinful world, and we cannot avoid it.  Some people get so hung up on being offended that it blinds them to the spiritually destructive effects that can come from that.  Sometimes, when we have wronged someone else, we can get so hung up with the perceived overreactions or seemingly vengeful attitude of the person we wronged that we forget how it got started.  We get blinded to our own faults.  This, too, is spiritually destructive.

When we understand the depths of our depravity and our own sin, rather than defending it, we can go to the cross again and confess our sins.  Then, having received again the assurance of our forgiveness, we are able to reconcile with others.

But what if the other person will not be reconciled?  Then we are obligated as Christians to turn the other cheek–repay their evil with kindness, pray for our enemies and for those who persecute us.  This is hard!  Lutzer does a good job in guiding us with practical insights so that we can be better representatives for Christ.  He uses Biblical examples–Cain the Destroyer, King Saul the Spear-thrower, Jacob the deceiver–to show how shattered relationship between God’s people can be dealt with, and how not to deal with them.

I recommend this book.

Fathers’ Day

On Sunday, Father’s Day, I set out with my son Austin and fosterson Andrew to see my dad.  He is retired, living in Sun City, Arizona.  We drove for over 5 hours, said happy Fathers’ Day and enjoyed a couple hot days.  We visited my grandma, Lucille Wagenknecht, who is doing well at 89, living in an assisted living home, and my cousin Lisa and her husband Gary who operate a Maui Wowie in Glendale.  My brother Nathan and his new wife Julie arrived Monday.  They are preparing to move to Torreon, Mexico, where Nate will continue as teacher of seminary students and congregational assistants throughout Latin American missions.

We owe so much to our fathers.  Those of us who grew up with good fathers had a much better chance of becoming good parents, citizens, and faithful Christians.  It has been said that jails are filled with young men who got tired of waiting for their fathers to keep their promises (promises to provide, to show up and spend time with them or to come home at night) that they went out and got into trouble by doing stupid things.  Fathers, please make sure you always prioritize your children.  Keep your promises to them.  Teach them to know their Savior.

Now, I promised Austin I would take him to play tennis today.  I’m going to go keep my promise.

Hymns

One of the things I love about the way Lutherans worship God is the hymns.  Hymns preach, teach, and give voice to words of praise.  They invite congregational participation as other forms of music do not.

I think that years ago, it was more normal for people to sing in public than it is today.  I watch many young people and guests at our church services who, maybe because they are not used to singing out loud in a large gathering, remain silent while they look around or look at the hymnal or bulletin.  While this isn’t wrong, I think they are missing out on a great way to praise God.

Another difficulty comes when people encounter something with which they are unfamiliar.  We have introduced some new liturgical songs and arrangements and made use of some recently composed hymns.  Because they are unfamiliar, some have reacted negatively.  I share the blame because there have been times that I have challenged the congregation too much, or not spent the time to educate and train.  Of course, it is sometimes the case that those who don’t know something refuse to learn it.

I have not always been as sensitive as I should to those who lose their joy in worship because of difficult music.  I apologize for that.  Pray that God grants me and the worship committee wisdom and love as we plan future worship services.  As always, I welcome your input and feedback.

Happy Easter

Wishing all a happy Easter Day…

Today’s celebration was wonderful, with attendances at the two services of 85 and 130.  We don’t often see those kinds of numbers.  Many guests and visitors also came to hear the blessed Easter proclamation of a risen Lord and Living Savior.  While some may remember this year for a long time because of the good-natured jabs Vicar and I exchanged regarding our ages (He called me venerable, and I told him one day he would “grow up) really the important and amazing thing is that we both preached clearly that Jesus did truly rise from the dead, defeating our enemies and saving all who believe in him.  The choir sang a spiritual selection, “The Angel Rolled the Stone Away,” which I thought was a great addition to our service.  I wish everyone could have been here for it.

For some who could not come, our shut-ins and the ill, about 4 members took lilies to brighten their Easter.  I thank them for this act of service.

Blogging and the Church

When Laurie, just after Christmas, offered to set up a blog for the congregation, I was excited.  I determined that I would write a short blog every day.  For a while I did, but then things got hectic, and I didn’t think too much about the blog.  Before today, I had not written for a month and a half or more.

This is my fourth entry today, Good Friday.  (Maybe I’m procrastinating on the hard work of writing a Good Friday and Easter sermon.)  Actually, I have tonight’s planned out, and just need to put it to manuscript and commit it to memory.  And Easter sermons are always joyful and fairly easy to write.  Christ is risen!  The rest is commentary.

But blogging also makes me nervous.  Anyone in the cyberworld can read my posts.  I need to be careful what I write.  Some watchdogs can attack viciously.  I try to avoid writing anything that might get me in trouble.  So far, I’ve only received positive comments.  But I have read other blogs dedicated to Lutheranism, or the WELS, or Christianity in general that are pure vitriol.  Blogs, like other forms of speech, can become a deadly evil, a poison arrow, a spark that ignites a forest fire.

“Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.”  When anonymous posters flame others, attack them, or spread lies, ignore them.  Don’t comment on their foolish words more than once.  “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself” (Prov 26:4).

So those are my blogs for today.  45 more, and I will have caught up with my goal of giving you a daily blog.

Confirmation Day

Last Sunday, Palm Sunday, Austin Wagenknecht was confirmed at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.  It was a joyful day, made even more joyful by the fact that his sponsor Nathan Wagenknecht was here, along with my dad Myrl.  Dad is retired now, and lives in Sun City.  Nathan is getting married next Friday, and then he and his wife Julie will be moving to Brazil, where Nathan will serve as a Lutheran missionary.

At the confirmation examination, in front of the congregation, Austin answered 22 questions, giving him the  opportunity to confess his faith.  He chose two confirmation verses; 1 Cor 10:31, and Romans 8:37-39.  He was able to receive communion for the first time with our family, too.

I am very proud of Austin.  For confirmation Nathan bought him a drum set.  He is very accomplished at playing the viola, and is using a CD and book to learn to play guitar.  He wants to help some of our other musicians form a worship praise band here at Grace.  They can use a drummer.

But I am more proud of our Savior, who has given us this grace, to know him and serve him.  I thank God that he has allowed us this peace and opportunity.

Foster Parenting

Most of you reading this know that our family brought home two new children who are joining our family as foster kids.  E, 16, and A, 11, join our Austin, 13, and Bethany, 11.  We moved them into our home on March 28.

These two weeks they have been settling into our family routine, and getting settled at school.  Appointments with therapists, the social worker, foster-care advocates, and their extended-family relatives have filled our schedule, along with homework and church activities.

In about a week (April 19), A will be baptized.  E has already started with confirmation instruction.  We rejoice at the opportunities to tell about and express  Jesus’ love to them.   Pray for us, please, as we  work hard to assimilate them into out family, church,  and faith.

If anyone is considering becoming a foster parent, let me tell you the need is great, both for temporary placements of a few days to three months, or for more permanent placement like we are trying to accomplish.  Be ready for a challenge!  Even when things go smoothly, there are myriad appointments, people to keep in  contact with, and responsibilities.

But it seems like a great way to share Jesus’ love with a child who may never have learned to know Him.  What a difference that can make!

Good Friday

I have often wondered why this Friday is called “Good.”  It wasn’t good for our Lord and Savior to be treated the way he was.  He was tried unfairly, convicted by sinful men when he himself had never committed any sin, flogged and whipped, mocked and betrayed, abandoned and rejected.  The King of the Jews was treated like a condemned criminal slave.

On Good Friday, nearly 2000 years ago the God-man Jesus Christ died.  Jesus was and is fully God and fully man.   Since his person cannot be divided it is altogether appropriate to use the title God to describe every aspect of Jesus’ life.  We can say that on Good Friday, God shed his blood and died on the cross.  To say, “God is dead” is shocking enough, but we are confronted with an insurmountable challenge to our concept of God with Jesus’ words to his Father:  “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”

I cannot explain this to my own rational curiosity.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are bound eternally as one God.  For a time, however, there was rejection of the Son.  Jesus was holding on to our guilt and our sins.  A perfect God cannot tolerate sin and guilt.  Look what it did to Jesus!  He died a miserable, convicted death.

But the Father’s rejection of Jesus his Son was not permanent.  We see that Jesus completed the payment for our sins in his words, “It is finished.”  (Tetelestai in Greek.)  This word means “Made complete, having reached its conclusion, perfected.  It is a word that was used to describe a complete payment in ancient commerce.  The word brings comfort to the Christian because we know that every sin ever committed by anyone has been paid for.  No one is excluded from this universal grace.  Jesus died for you!

On Easter Day, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the dead.  Having made full payment for all sin, and having suffered our punishment in gross humiliation, God the Father raised him by the Spirit’s power.  Every promise he made is true!  All power and glory in heaven and earth is restored to him!  He lives and reigns forever for us.

So  on this Friday, ironically called “Good,” we see that it really is good–for us, for the world, and especially for those who believe in and trust this amazing Savior-God.