Being Lutheran Podcast Episode #24 – Eph. 6:1-9

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1. One thing my (somewhat exasperating) dad explained to me when I was very small was that the only time I was allowed to disobey them is if they told me to do something God’s word condemns, it was very liberating even though I then spent time analyzing his commands and requests for conformity with God’s word… it really made me realize that though my dad had a penchant for guilt tripping and was terribly steeped in pietism, I never could invoke that exception clause in my defense for disobedience.

   Another thing he told me repeatedly was to compare everything against God’s word to know the truth. True to Christian form though even honest examination often caused legitimate differences which he often handled ungracefully.

   Still, we knew he loved us very deeply and agonized in prayer over us constantly. I wish he had lived longer. Our relationship was just starting to grow closer during and after Bible school when the Lord called him home in 1990. I miss him.

   I don’t know what it was in my mid teens that caused a light to go on in my head — that told me my obedience to the command is not negated by someone else’s sin. So my obedience to my parents was not contingent on my dad fulfilling God’s command not to exasperate.

   I remember how freeing it was to decide not to fight, whine, or argue anymore about the things I was expected to do around the house. I started doing dishes after supper automatically even if it wasn’t my turn.

   Dad’s lectures turned a little more into two way discussions but even toward the end he was still a little reticent to let that happen and acknowledge that I wasn’t a kid who wanted to go off and get into trouble (like my older siblings did at times).

   We made a lot of progress. Just wish we’d had more time. :'(

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