C: Amen.

A little background on this post. Last summer, I attended my first Higher Things Conference, titled "Amen", and loved it. Higher Things is a Lutheran youth organization dedicated to providing instruction to young people regarding Biblical truth and Lutheran confessions. Every summer, they hold a conference to provide youth the opportunity to learn through catechesis, worship daily, and enjoy some of the attractions in and around the conference location. I learned a lot and am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to go. In response to my attendance in Irvine, California, I wrote an article that was published in the September newsletter at my home congregation. Looking back, as I continue to struggle each and every day inwardly with my faith, I have decided to retype (I opted NOT to copy and paste) the article I wrote as much to refresh my memory as to provide a little more insight into who I am.

Amen: Higher Things Youth Conference 2008

As I have matured into a young adult, one of the things I have struggled with is understanding what my faith is and what it means to me where I am in this space and time. Sure, I have been taught that Christ died on the cross and rose for me and that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). But in this day and age, how does all of this relate to me when society places so much emphasis on feelings and emotions? How can faith mean anything when I am "not good enough" and I have broken every commandment and rule in existence? No, living by faith alone can't be worth anything to me. It's just not for me. Or is it?
Contrary to what today's society would have me and everybody else believe, faith is not based on anything that I can or ever will be able to accomplish. That's why we believe that "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). We can never do anything to save ourselves! It is all God's doing. So then, that is the definition of faith--a gift received by the grace of God. So how does faith respond to this gift? One word--Amen.

Amen means "gift received." We say "Amen" to our Baptism, to the Pastor's proclamation of God's absolution, to Holy Communion, and to the Commandments (for they too convey some of God's many gifts to us). Christ has done everything; all we do is believe and receive through the power of the Holy Spirit. It doesn't end there though. Amen means "Booyah", "What He said", and "Yes, yes, it shall be so." Amen means "Woof." (See Matthew 15:21-28)

Faith is not a feeling--it is an action, the action of receiving what is ours in Christ. I know now that what I do (in terms of keeping or breaking the law) or what I feel about what Christ did for me doesn't play a role at all in my salvation. Only faith's "Amen" assures me of what Christ has done for me and for you.

So now I can say with a humble heart "Amen" not only to God's gifts that I receive each and every Sunday during worship and throughout the week, but I can say "Amen" to the opportunity God has given me to go to this conference and learn more about what He has done for me. I thank God and everyone in this congregation, especially the youth parents, Randy Bruns, our chaperone, the Board of Parish Education, for supporting and allowing Ian, Kara, Andrew, Ryan, Tyler, and myself this opportunity to grow in our faith.

To conclude, as Paul aptly put it, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).

AMEN!