Dear Fellow Children of God,
A number of people have asked me my opinion of the recent
Supreme Court decision on gay marriage.
A pastor is called to shepherd the sheep of God. My goal as pastor is to help people grow in
their relationship with Jesus. That
means speaking where God speaks, even if those areas are sometimes sensitive.
Lutheran
Christians believe that Scripture has two main teachings, God’s Law and His
Gospel or good news. The Law tells us what we should and should not do and
points each of us to our sin. The Gospel
shows us God’s mercy, forgiveness, and redemption through faith in the righteous
life, the sacrificial death, and the victorious resurrection of Jesus.
Scripture is
very clear about God’s teaching and law on sexuality. God gave sex as a
gift for marriage between one man and one woman to strengthen families. (Genesis
2:24) So, when sex is used contrary to
God’s plan there are often painful results, such as broken hearts, unwanted disease,
or struggles for children. The Supreme
Court of the United States has declared that marriage outside God’s plan is
legal. Actually, similar ideas were accepted
in the Roman Empire in the early days of Christian Faith. But, ultimately, the Supreme Court cannot
change God’s plan in creation for marriage. However, God’s most important
plan is for His children to have a loving and faithful relationship with Him! Christians
are called to witness to what God says.
But, while
Christians are called to speak the truth of God and the health of His plan for
life, God does not want His children to act in self-righteous arrogance. We are called as children of God to “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15)
There are
many accounts in Scripture where people of faith addressed Jesus about what
they perceived to be issues in the lives of people other than themselves. The response of Jesus was similar in all these
situations. Jesus indicated, first, that
He came to call, forgive, and save those who had strayed from God’s plan. And, everyone,
all of us have strayed. (Isaiah
53:6) Secondly, Jesus often teaches and
even scolds those who look down on others, pointing rather to the sins of those
doing the accusing.
Please look
with me at many of the responses of Jesus in Scripture.
When Jesus
was criticized for eating at the home of Matthew, or Levi, whom Jesus had
called from being a tax collector into service as a disciple, Jesus responded
to His critics in Mark 2:16, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor,
but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Jesus came for sinners in need of a Savior.
In Luke 13
Jesus was asked about the horrible, demeaning death of some from Galilee at the
hand of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
Jesus replied in verses 2 and 3, "Do you think that these
Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered
this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Jesus
tells the people of His time and the people of today that instead of judging
others we should consider our own sin and our own failings and we should
personally repent.
In Luke 15 Jesus was criticized for
eating with tax collectors and sinners.
Listen to the criticism of Jesus in verses 1-3. “1 Now
the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear
him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man
welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this parable:” Actually, Jesus told 3 parables in response to this criticism. He shared the
parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the lost coin. Finally, Jesus told the parable of the lost
son or prodigal son, which can also be called the parable of the unforgiving brother. Jesus calls those who criticize him to
welcome their straying brothers and
tells these religious leaders in verse 7, “I
tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one
sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to
repent.” Jesus came to call and save
those who have strayed, and HE wants us to do the same.
In Luke 19
when criticized for eating in the home of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of
Jericho, Jesus’ response was simple, “For the
Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke
19:10) Do you see the pattern? Jesus’ life work is to redeem the lost!
And, in John
8 the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus by bringing to him a woman caught in
sexual sin, in the act of adultery.
Jesus’ response to the religious leaders of His day is famous, "If
any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at
her." Everyone left without
stoning the lady. BUT, Jesus’
instruction for the woman is also important.
10 Jesus straightened up and
asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11
"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you,"
Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:10-11) The lady may have escaped punishment but that
did not mean she should continue her behavior that was contrary to God’s plan
for men and women. Because of the grace
and forgiveness of Jesus she is called to the new life of faith and
forgiveness.
Do you see what
God teaches in Scripture? Jesus was
merciful and redemptive. Every time Jesus comes in contact with people
who have transgressed God’s plan for life, Jesus works to restore. (Look also
at Luke 7:36 ff, and John 4.) Jesus came
to forgive, to save, to redeem, to love those who had strayed from God’s plan
for life in all areas.
The Christian
faith is not about self-righteous pride, but about redemption through
Jesus. But, when Christians are self
righteous they can fail to share the forgiveness and redemption that God gives
in Jesus.
How can Christians respond to the
recent decision of the Supreme Court?
God’s plan for this world is God’s plan, and no court decision can
change that plan. But, God’s ultimate
plan is forgiveness and redemption and salvation for people who see their sin
and repent, believing in God’s Savior, Jesus.
Jesus says in John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
How will I
respond to the Supreme Court decision? I
will study the Word of God and continue to learn God’s plan for my life and of
God’s love for me in Jesus. I will
confess my sins, and seek to serve the one who lived and died and rose to
forgive me. And, rather than judging
others who stray, I will seek to share the teaching and saving love of Jesus.
A Child of
God, Seeking God’s Guidance and Wisdom,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I know this
week’s devotion is longer than normal.
Because this is a sensitive topic I wanted to speak clearly, sharing
God’s truth in all the love He has for sinners.
P.P.S. I returned
to the office from vacation this past Wednesday. Here is a link to some vacation
pictures. https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/FloridaWithFamily
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’
- I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St.
John members and friends whose e-mails I have. (I am always adding new
names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for
the first time.) However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail,
please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this
message. . .
****
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