David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Stubbornocity

It’s not a real word; I know that. But let it mean a kind of stubbornness that refuses to consider truth; a kind of stubbornness that caused the people of Jesus’ day to reject him in spite of everything he said and did.

Secured or Imprisoned?
Are we secure in our convictions or imprisoned in our stubbornness?

Matthew 13:10-15

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11And he answered them,  “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
15For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day had plenty of conviction. They knew the Law. They knew what God had said. They knew. But they were not willing to consider what they did not know. They were above correction. That’s a dangerous place to be.

Isaiah spoke of people who simply refused to believe. They stubbornly refused to accept help from God or acknowledge him in their life. Like a child refusing help from his parents they believe they know a better way. Although Jesus gave them every chance to hear God’s word, they refused to repent and believe the good news of Jesus’ presence and the Kingdom of God among them. Speaking to them in parables was a means of clarifying the truth, not obscuring it. Their refusal to see, hear, understand and repent was a sad indictment of their unrepentant and arrogant self-sufficiency.

A good question for us today: Am I willing constantly to examine our hearts, minds, beliefs, and actions based on the truth of God’s word? Am I willing to say with the Psalmist:

Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

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