wfn.org | LWF Christmas Message: Fear Must Not Become Our Defining

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

Fear Must Not Become Our Defining Reality
2005 Christmas Message from LWF President Mark S. Hanson 

GENEVA, 23 November 2005 (LWI) - In this year's Christmas message, the
president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Bishop Mark S. Hanson,
appeals to the worldwide Lutheran communion to let faith rather than
fear become "our defining reality." 

"Fear hardens lives, dares not acknowledge failures, and closes borders.
Fear leaves us cynical, immobilized, and turned in upon ourselves,"
cautions Hanson, who is presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America. 

The LWF president affirms that to be human is to have fears. "Fear has
permeated life in this past year and haunting images will remain with
us," he says. He recalls children's fear of abandonment as their parents
die from HIV/AIDS; parents clutching their children, terrified there
would not be enough food to keep death and disease away; and people
struggling for survival amid natural disasters. 

But, he notes, God sends messengers to hold back the walls of fear and
people can hear the good news of God's love in Christ Jesus for the
whole creation. "We entrust our lives to God's promise. Faith rather
than fear defines us," Hanson affirms in his message. 

The LWF president notes that faith "compels us" to bear witness to the
signs of God's reign of justice, mercy and peace. "We receive the
future, trusting in the power and promise of Christ's death and
resurrection," he adds. (240 words) 

The full text of the message follows: 

2005 Christmas Message from the LWF President

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the worldwide Lutheran communion,

"Do not be afraid." So began the angel's announcement of Jesus' birth.
It was also Gabriel's greeting to a bewildered Mary, "Do not be afraid."
To the grieving women at Jesus' tomb, angels again declared, "Do not be
afraid." To exiles in Babylon who felt forsaken by God comes the
announcement, "Be strong, do not fear!" (Isaiah 35:4)

To be human is to have fears. Fear has permeated life in this past year
and haunting images will remain with us. Children fear abandonment as
their parents die from HIV/AIDS. Parents clutch their children,
terrified there will not be food enough to keep death and disease away.
People struggle for survival in the midst of natural disasters. Others
seek safety from violence. All know the reality of fear.

We know the reality of fear, but fear must not become our defining
reality. When fear becomes our orientation to the world, we either
withdraw in isolation or lash out in acts of aggression. Fear hardens
lives, dares not acknowledge failures, and closes borders. Fear leaves
us cynical, immobilized, and turned in upon ourselves.

The angel says, "Do not be afraid. For see, I am bringing you good news
of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

God sends messengers to hold back the walls of fear. We can then hear
the good news of God's love in Christ Jesus for the whole creation. We
entrust our lives to God's promise. Faith rather than fear defines us.

Faith frees us to confess our bondage to sin and to accept God's gift of
forgiveness. Faith calls us to take up our cross and follow Jesus into
our suffering world. Faith compels us to bear witness to the signs of
God's reign of justice, mercy, and peace. As one writer said, "Faith
quells our fears, but never our courage." We receive the future,
trusting in the power and promise of Christ's death and resurrection.

May our voices in the communion of the Lutheran World Federation be
joined with the chorus of every time and every place as we joyfully
sing:

Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace 
among those whom [God] favors.

In God's grace,

Bishop Mark S. Hanson
President, The Lutheran World Federation

November 2005

The full text of the 2005 LWF Christmas Message is available on the LWF
Web site in PDF format at:
www.lutheranworld.org/LWF_Documents/LWF_Christmas_2005.pdf 

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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140
member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
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