Last Sunday, “Mohammad” and I were talking about how Riga Luther Academy is looking for men wishing to become pastors. “I *do* want to become a pastor and teach people about Jesus,” he replied. “But I can’t go to seminary…I’m a sinner.” Riga Luther Academy—the online English-language Lutheran seminary where several of LCMS missionary colleagues and I teach—is enrolling more and more students—men and women from some 20 different countries, all desiring to become Lutheran pastors or deaconesses. Mohammad’s hesitation to enroll because he is still a sinner gave me pause. He understands the basics of Christianity quite well and knows His Scripture. Case in point, in Bible class recently we were discussing how the Holy Spirit raises spiritually dead people to new life and he offered the parallel passage of the famous “dry bones” in Ezekiel 37. Wow. So, on the one hand, Mohammad is right. Of course, he’s a sinner—we all are. And that Old Adam will sadly remain shackled to us until we leave this earth. On the other hand, a key point of Christianity is precisely that our Lord placed His righteousness over us in our Baptism, covering all our sins. “Simul iustus et peccator,” as the Reformers said. Therefore, men and women who are gifted in understanding Scripture and have a desire to become pastors or deaconesses should truly consider taking the plunge. Even though they are still sinners. For “the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Mt 9:37). Let us pray that Mohammad will realize that the Lord has covered *his* sins too and may very well want him to become one of His undershepherds. And let us pray also for our young men and women stateside, that they also would consider enrolling in one of our two fine LCMS seminaries. Because the workers are indeed few—all over the world. (Illustration: Rev. Dr. Charles Cortright walking into Riga Luther Academy).
The Tiews in Germany 