Forwards...

Introduction

I recently had a conversation with an acquaintance about coronavirus. You may have noticed that an online magazine published the coronavirus protocols from the Robert Koch Institute via the Freedom of Information Act after winning a legal dispute.

And now my friend, who didn't get vaccinated at the time, is upset about Lauterbach, who has spoken in some talk shows about vaccinations having no side effects and recently admitted on television that vaccine damage does exist in a few cases. I did a bit of research, Lauterbach was on TV so often during the Corona period that he mentioned on some talk shows that there could be rare vaccination side effects. In other talk shows, he spoke of vaccinations without side effects.

I have to admit, I'm not really interested in that any more and my friend couldn't understand it. He seemed disappointed that I didn't get upset with him.

Personally, I do think that we need to somehow come to terms with the pandemic and the way it was handled in order to learn from it. After all, the next pandemic could come at some point and we should have learnt from the previous one.

But I'm still not interested in it. I only read the news about it very superficially, if at all.

I have asked myself whether my lack of interest is correct.

I think it's important to learn from history, for example that the crimes of the Nazi era are not forgotten. The crimes of the colonial era have already been pretty much forgotten. So I think a basic knowledge of our history is worthwhile.

But some things, like the coronavirus era, don't really interest me.

What is it like to be a Christian? What does the Bible say about looking forwards or backwards?

I have a pretty blatant Bible verse on this, where Paul describes his direction in life like this in Philippians 3:13b:

Uiuiui, such a statement is quite a challenge.

Succession, but...

Let's take a look at a passage from Luke 9, 59-62; NL, which is about vocations:

These verses also make me gulp at first and feel a little overwhelmed.

It starts with a very clear look ahead: "Come, follow me." Now something new begins, now it starts.

Then comes another objection that you can somehow understand. And why shouldn't he bury his father before his ministry?

I think these statements by Jesus seem less strange if you listen carefully to what this person is saying:

"Before I follow You, I must first settle my own affairs."

This reminds me of statements that I have heard from time to time today. I don't have time for church now because I have so much on my plate. I have so much to take care of.

Later, when my affairs no longer take up so much space, then I can focus more on Jesus.

So, discipleship in principle, yes, but first...

In my opinion, this separation between ministry and private life is not right. When you start with Jesus, that's when discipleship begins. Even if obligations from the past accompany you, you still go forward with Jesus Christ.

It is not quite clear whether this specific story was just about organising the funeral or accompanying the old father on his last journey, which could have taken a really long time.

What would have happened if he had not only buried his father, but also proclaimed the coming of the kingdom of God in his father's house? That would also have been discipleship. I know that this is not always easy in your own parental home and among your own relatives.

Of course, discipleship doesn't always have to be a proclamation with words, but discipleship can begin immediately, you don't need a "but first".

Let's also take a look at the second person:

Here again we have this "but first", but a farewell can't take that long, can it?

I believe that this statement was intended for this person personally. Saying goodbye will not have been a problem, but with what attitude do you leave?

Do you look to the future and look forward to the new, to the succession, or do you look back and mourn the past?

I personally have never had a plough in my hand, but I can imagine that you don't plough particularly straight if you're always looking backwards.

It reminds me of my moped days. If I looked over my shoulder before turning, I couldn't drive straight for that brief moment. I always swerved slightly to the side I was turning towards.

Is it wrong to look back?

I think it depends. If you turn around once in a while while ploughing and admire the landscape or look at how much you've already done, then it doesn't seem bad to me.

But if you look back and keep getting angry about missed opportunities, if unfair treatment in the past is always present, if you mourn the good old days, then life gets off track. I do believe that.

At this point, I thought long and hard about whether I should use the example of coping with coronavirus again. That's always a hot topic.

Generally speaking, I personally have thought about becoming politically active in some way from time to time, because I actually think it's stupid to mainly complain and not do anything myself.

But during the coronavirus period, I found the situation so difficult that I didn't want to swap places with any politician. Of course mistakes were made and some people were criminals (e.g. mask deals), but it was also simply difficult. We didn't know how dangerous the individual virus variants really were. I don't want to defend any politician, I can't look into anyone's head to see what motives they were travelling with.

Dock how do you look back on the coronavirus era? Do we want to learn from our mistakes so that we can manage the next pandemic better?

Or does your pulse go straight to 180 when you look back? If anger and indignation always take over when you look back, then you won't be able to keep a straight line.

Following Jesus Christ goes forwards.

Let's take a look at the

Great Commission

Matthew 28, 18-20; NT

It's interesting what Jesus doesn't say here:

"So see to it that you remain faithful and do not be deceived into stealing, as Judas was. And stop quarrelling about who is the greatest among you."

Jesus could certainly have brought up many negative things from the past three years with the disciples. But he doesn't do that.

First, he broadens their view of himself:

And then comes the commission to make disciples. This is the greatest and most important commission ever given. And anyone who wants to follow Jesus Christ, and that means travelling with him, can be part of it.

And then another look ahead:

How important is the past time in our lives when this was perhaps not yet the case?

Let's look to the future.

But coming to terms with the past?

But what if we are haunted by our past?

I would be making it very easy for myself if I were to stop with "looking forward".

There is also something like coming to terms with the past in the Bible.

Dealing with disputes

One point that I would like to look at is how to deal with disputes. As the Bible portrays people quite realistically, there is of course also mention of disputes in the Bible, which sometimes end unpleasantly.

One strategy for resolving disputes is to say: let's not talk about it any more.

This may work for banalities, but it doesn't work for deep disagreements and conflicts.

Acts 15 was about the question of whether non-Jews who wanted to join Jesus had to keep all Jewish laws. This dispute had been smouldering for some time and then it really came to a head and could have torn the fledgling church apart if they had not come together to solve the problem.

A solution was found where the majority of those present were in agreement. It wasn't a compromise where everyone got a bit, but one party was largely right and the others accepted that, probably because they treated each other with great respect.

The relationship between the parties was certainly also important here. Everyone may have red lines that they can't go back on, but you should limit yourself to real red lines.

Perhaps there was someone at the time who, even after the Council of Apostles, was of the opinion that the wrong decision had been made. Now he could have started something of his own with the few other dissatisfied people. Or, if it was possible for him, he accepted that the majority had a different realisation and he joined them anyway, because he may have been wrong. The dispute has now been resolved and everyone can now move forward together in discipleship.

Pastoral care

Some people carry trauma with them as a result of bad experiences, while others cannot come to terms with what they themselves have done in the past.

Here, of course, there are only individual considerations.

Proverbs 14:10 (NT) says this very aptly:

Everyone feels their own pain and for some it is really painful.

I find the example of how Jesus treats Peter very beautiful.

After all, Peter had denied Jesus three times after he had very boldly proclaimed that he would go to his death with Jesus.

And in the conversation afterwards in John 21:15-19, Jesus asked him three times whether Peter loved him.

The third time was a little uncomfortable for Peter and he became sad. But apparently this type of conversation was important in order to overcome the threefold denial.

But then it also goes forward again (John 21, 18.19; NL):

"Follow me." It continues.

You realise here that pastoral care has to be individually appropriate and helpful. Perhaps a conversation like this is sometimes unpleasant, but it brings progress and it must lead forward.

And here it ends with "Follow Jesus", not just as a formula, but as a real perspective.

Summary

Let me summarise:

• Looking back and looking forward? What is important, what interests us?
• St Paul challenges us: I forget the past and look to what lies ahead.
• Discipleship can begin immediately: No "but first". Take Jesus with you into your affairs.
• Complaining, resentful or angry looking back takes life off track.
• The Great Commission is focussed on the future, framed by the greatness of Jesus Christ and his promise that he will always be with us.
• Dealing with disputes can be part of a necessary coming to terms with the past.
• Individual pastoral care, as with Peter and Jesus, may be necessary for you personally. But this pastoral care must also look to the future: Follow Jesus.