Readings: Isaiah 1:10–18; Psalm 32; 2 Thessalonians 1:1–12; Luke 19:1–10

As we head into the 500th year since the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, theologian Peter Leithart — not a Lutheran, but one to whose writing Lutherans should pay close attention — re-offers what he calls a “wish list” for the “kind of churches we at Theopolis [the organization Leithart heads] dream of.” Leithart’s list (first published in 2014) speaks especially to leaders of congregations and denominations, but would be of interest to anyone of any tradition who loves Christ’s church.

Next Sunday’s Old Testament reading originally concerned a culture — metaphorically called “Sodom” and “Gomorrah,” but, as Isaiah 1:1 makes clear, actually that of Israel, God’s people — chasing after false gods, forgetful of the law’s higher grounding, distorted by injustice masquerading as social progress. Idolatrous and pagan commitments infected worship, where worship was instead supposed to clarify the thoughts and form the actions of those participating in the direction of God’s kingdom.

Leithart lifts up a vision of church worship and ministry oriented not to the self-propagation of hackneyed customs but to the unity of the body of Christ, the sending power of the Spirit, and the glory of God the Father.