Dear Fellow Children of God,
I saw a front page headlines for the New York Daily News
this week that read, “God Isn’t Fixing
This – 14 dead in California Mass Shooting.” As you probably know this headline is
pointing to the deadly shooting attack this week by a husband and wife in San
Bernadino, CA. Reports are pointing to
motives of terrorism for the couple who did the shooting. Doesn’t it seem that we are just recovering
from attacks in Paris?!
Our world is a place of sin and violence, and the
situation does not appear to be getting any better. Maybe we can at least understand the feelings
of a headline writer who wonders why God might allow terrorism and violence to
continue, to hurt innocent people, and affect our lives.
But, truthfully, the violence of today is nothing
new. Jesus came into a world where the
ultimate punishment was crucifixion, days of torture leading to death on a
cross. Jesus came to a world where
armies would lay siege to cities and bring them to surrender through destruction
and starvation. Jesus came to a world
where innocent children were killed by the government, because in a couple of
decades they might have posed a potential threat to the king’s claim to power.
In a devotion I read this week by seminary president, Dr.
Dale Meyer, he quotes the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament which
says, “The origin of evil in man is
wrapped in impenetrable obscurity. Evil
reaches right down into the hidden roots of our existence.” So Dale
continues, “Government can curb evil but
evil remains in ‘the hidden roots of our existence.’”
So, when our local community faces drug incited crime, when
our country suffers from corruption in government, and when our world is
afflicted by terrorism, in many ways it is the same old story.
However, when the newspaper headline says, “God Isn’t
Fixing This”, the headline is wrong. We
can accurately say that government policies are not fixing the problem. We can say that all the best intentioned
efforts of our world, are not getting rid of our problems. We can say that wishing things were better is
not fixing our problems. But, and this
is a BIG ‘BUT,’ the truth is God has done something about the crime and
corruption and violence and sin in the world.
God sent Jesus into the world to save people from sin so that we may
pursue lives of faith and love in this world, and so that by God’s grace,
through faith in Jesus, we receive eternal life in heaven.
The assigned Gospel reading for worship this Sunday is
from Luke 3 and tells about John the Baptist calling the people of His time to
repentance. John tells the people of His
time, “9 The ax is already at the root of
the trees . . .” The sin of even religious people is so deep
that punishment is bound to come.
But, punishment only confronts
evil, it does not overcome the evil. So,
John goes on to say, "I baptize you
with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals
I am not worthy to untie.” That is
why God takes the unthinkable step of sending His Son from the glory of heaven,
to the pain of the earth. God takes the
unthinkable step of letting His eternal Son die to take on Himself the
punishment for the sins of people who cannot overcome them. And, God accomplishes the amazing victory of
defeating sin and death when Jesus rose from the grave on the third day.
God has done something
to fix the crime and violence and terrorism in this world. God sends Jesus. As we live in a world broken by sin, every
day we look to find Jesus in the middle of the mess of this world, and He is
there. Jesus is there forgiving. Jesus is there strengthening. Jesus is in our lives comforting and
guiding. Jesus is here changing hearts
and saving people for eternal life in heaven.
We can miss Him because of this world’s trials. But we look, and He is there.
The headline may respond to a terrorist attack by saying
“God Isn’t Fixing This.” But, God has
fixed it for eternity by sending Jesus, and we see God’s love every day in our
lives.
A Child of God, Looking to See Jesus in this World of Sin
and Violence
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. At
Confirmation this past Wednesday students made Christmas stockings to share
with children in need. Here is a link to
the first day of making stockings. https://picasaweb.google.com/114993745799525883148/ChristmasStockingsAtConfirmationClass1222015
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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 regularly 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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