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.”

Better than legalism or a guilty conscience

Ephesians 5:1-5

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Courtyard Cross - Beijing, China
Courtyard Cross – Beijing, China

Ephesians five hits us square between the eyes. All of a sudden Paul speaks of those who are not part of the kingdom of God. Previously Paul as spoken of the grace of Christ, his love for all people, the salvation that is our by grace through faith, the one Lord, faith, baptism, and hope of our calling. Now come words that seem almost to contradict grace.

A better way of embracing these words is to understand the dynamic tension and interplay of covenant and kingdom. God has saved us. Our sins have been forgiven. Paul even aludes to that reality in verse 2, saying, “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” That is our identity in Christ. But he begins with the call to, “be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

This is a call to kingdom living. We imitate God. We represent him to the world. We show what God is like in our lifestyle of purity and contentment. We give expression to the presence of God’s kingdom in how we speak and live.

Sometimes there are huge mountains to climb in this regard. We must make major changes in our thought patterns and interpersonal relationships. But we can also work on the smaller alterations in our speech and attitude toward people and things.

In either case, we are called on to be representatives of Christ in the world. We are to imitate him in little and large ways. And as we do God’s kingdom takes on greater reality for those inside and outside of it. We will always need to repent of our sins. We do want to conform our lives to God’s law. But we need not fall trap to a legalistic straitjacket, nor be consumed with chronic guilt and shame. We have the covenant of God’s grace in Jesus. Now we live under Christ in his kingdom and imitate Christ in all of life.

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