You Are Not Christ, Kusserow Reminds New Clergy
Jackie Campbell, WPAUMC News
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6/25/2010
Bishop Thomas J. Bicketon, right, welcomes Bishop Kurt F. Kusserow of the SW PA Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, He delivered the message for Ordination.
“You are not the Christ! Remember this!” Bishop Kurt Kusserow told 11 clergy about to be ordained as elders at the Western PA Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in June. Kusserow, who leads the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s Southwest PA Synod, was invited to preach at the ordination service by his friend Bishop Thomas Bickerton in recognition of the new concordant agreement establishing full communion between the denominations.
Kusserow based his practical advice for the clergy on Matthew 16 after Peter states that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God:
“Jesus replied, "Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! No human revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven revealed it to you. You are Peter, and I can guarantee that on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not overpower it.”
Kusserow told the ordination class that “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, has not retired. He remains the way, the truth and the life. He remains the Good Shepherd.
“Like St. Peter, you are called boldly to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, but when you do so, say silently to yourself, “I am not’ and it will help you keep some perspective.”
Kusserow also pointed out that Jesus said “On this rock, I will build my church,” emphasizing the ‘My.” This is not your church, not the congregation’s church that you will serve…It’s Jesus’ church.
“Remember that,” he added, when you give yourself dutifully in leadership…when your own brilliance solves a long-term problem and when you begin to feel comfortable. Your efforts do not grant you ownership of Jesus’ church. It’s His, not yours.”
“One other thing,” Bishop Kusserow cautioned, “On this rock, I will build my church: I will build it, not you!” If you are not the Christ, This is not your church and work you’re being asked to do is not yours,” he asked rhetorically, then what’s ordination all about?
“It serves the church of Jesus Christ by setting apart men and women to occupy a particular office within the church and that office is to know nothing but Christ and him crucified.”
Kusserow quoted Paul, “a brilliant master of rhetoric”, saying he came with fear and trembling and had decided to speak only about Jesus, and not in lofty words, “so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom, but on the power of God.” The Bishop then added: You are preachers of Jesus Christ, not preachers of your own wisdom. Witness to the power of God, not your own power.”
“When you preach Christ…make sure you preach his salvation and not some other version of how to save people. Jesus saved the world but he didn’t do it from the back of a white stallion wielding a gleaming sword. He did it from the cross,” he said later.
“That humble passion saved the world and built a church and it’s that you have been called to serve.”
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