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.”

Is everybody happy?

Psalm 47:1-4

Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.

On the morning of November 7 some will be happy, others despondent. The election will be over and the victor (surely!) named. Those on the losing side will not be happy. Those who supported the winner will be waking from a night of festive celebration. Unless…(We’ll get to that later.)

I was struck as I read these words from Psalm 47 at the call for all people to rejoice, to shout and clap their hands. On the one hand that might be the contrived and coerced adulation which the despot requires from his minions. Be glad in the king’s presence, rejoice in his glory…or else you’ll lose your head. But I don’t see God working that way. For such praise quickly fades, and is easily replaced with mutiny and rebellion.

The praise God desires is praise from the heart. These words are not a call for feigned and forced obeisance. This is a call for all people to acknowledge that the Lord Most High is king over all the earth. He is to be feared, loved, and trusted. We fear him because he is king over all the earth. We love him because he subdued our greatest enemies: death and the devil under our feet. We trust him because he has chosen us for a heritage of blessing.

To live under Christ in his kingdom is to recognize his reign and rule in our hearts. This is never by coercion or under duress. It is a matter of representing him and his values, cause, and purposes in the world. It means that we will praise him as King and love him as Lord. For he has redeemed us, and put our enemies under our feet. That’s worth celebrating on the day after Election Day and all the days before and yet to come!

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