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in desperate need of a Savior. All stand before Christ Jesus as open-handed beggars in need of mercy. And faith receives Christ's righteous- ness equally in the waters of Baptism and the proclamation of the Gospel. Rediscovering and applying the scriptural teaching of the priesthood of all believers rad- ically transformed medieval society. Lutheran theology declared that nuns and mothers, monks and fathers, priests and plumbers, popes and paupers were all of equal worth before God. According to the priesthood of all believers, the homeless Christian living on the outskirts of town is of the same standing before God as the corpulent cardinal in red robes of silk. Living for God is not about fleeing the work to which God has called you so that you can live in a mon- astery praying all day; rather, living for God is about faithfully being used by God to perform the work to which He has called you. To be certain, the priesthood of all believers does not negate the need for pastors. Lutheran theologians defended the Office of the Ministry in Article V of the Augsburg Confession. Pastors engaging in Word and Sacrament ministry are the means by which the Gospel is delivered to the Church. The Gospel cannot be heard unless it is proclaimed (Romans 10:14). The pas- tor's purpose is first and foremost Word and Sacrament ministry. Pastors preach the Gospel, administer the Sacraments, and shepherd the flock following Jesus. Although the pastor speaks the words, God does the verbs; the pastor may speak the words of forgiveness, yet it is God who has done all the work of securing forgiveness in Christ Jesus. It is in the mouth of the pastor that Christ has located the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins. From the mouth of the called and ordained pastor one can and should expect to hear the Gospel. This word of forgiveness is as valid as if Christ Himself spoke the words. The Office of the Ministry is established by Christ and con- ferred upon the individual pastor through the call of a congregation. Does this negate the priesthood of all believers? By no means! . . . Lutherans live and breathe theological tensions. Scripture teaches that God calls all believers to perform work in the kingdom of God. And Scripture teaches that God calls some believers to perform work in the kingdom of God as pastors. God's Word does not teach either one or the other. Both callings are noble, true, and valid. Pastors declare Christ's forgiveness to the congrega- tion. And all believers declare Christ's forgive- ness to fellow Christians. Both rely fully on the promise of Christ. The difference is in vocation. God has called dif- ferent people to different vocations. God has called some to be part of the universal priest- hood and others to be part of the Office of the Ministry. The Church engages the world knowing that God has delivered His forgive - ness to us through different means. Individual Christians have been called to deliver Christ's forgiveness to one another. The pastor has been called to deliver Christ's forgiveness to the com- munity of believers in Word and Sacrament min- istry. Different vocation. Different calling. Same purpose: God's work through us. • Although the pastor speaks the words, God does the verbs. . . . It is god who has done all the work of securing forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Continue reading Being Lutheran. Learn that being Lutheran is very simple. It's all about following Jesus. Find this title and others in this issue at cph.org. BEING LUTHERAN Lutheran Life 15

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