I was fortunate to live with a Lutheran Pastor for 3 months some 30 years ago just after I was out of college. He had quite an influence on me and I ran across some notes about one of his sermon topics that explained how Christians were chosen and appointed. He would explain the difference and how it wasn't either/or. I recently found some notes with these quotes,

"It is heresy to say you meet Jesus along in the garden first and then maybe take Jesus as if he were a commodity to the world's hungry and oppressed people. If you want to be where Jesus has promised to be, it will be in the midst of the world's struggle for justice more than in our air-conditioned sanctuaries, that is biblical, that is theological."

The gospel is, "Do you want to find your life? Then lose it. Do you want to know what it is to be fully human? Then learn to love. Do you want to know what it is to love? Then look at the cross."

He also asked "which kingdom we choose to be in?" "Evil is the invitation to dominate. We have chosen a power over us - Jesus is a redeemer, not a consultant. A invitation to participate in the very life of God - self-giving love."