Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
Do you ever worry about the future for our country? Do you worry about the future for your
children or your grandchildren? Do you
worry about the future of the Christian Church?
We live in changing times. America is possibly the most affluent country
to ever exist. Yet, our material
blessings and our affluence can teach us to trust ourselves, or to trust our resources,
rather than trusting our Creator, our Provider, our Savior. That causes me concern for the future.
We are blessed in America with freedom to use the gift of
life to live as we believe best. Yet,
this freedom is often used for harmful behaviors such as substance abuse, and
for behaviors that can hurt others. That
also causes me concern for the future.
We live in a culture where the heritage of our country is
a Biblical heritage. Even the
Declaration of Independence states that we are “endowed by our Creator with
certain inalienable rights. . . “ But,
this heritage that has helped build our freedom and our prosperity is often
attacked today as a negative influence in our culture. And, often if Christians try to engage in
conversation about beliefs and values, that conversation is shut down. This too causes me concern for the future.
Nevertheless, I want to share with you a number of
reasons I have of hope for the future.
First of all, this week is Vacation Bible School week at St. John. There are about 100 preschool to elementary
aged children running around learning, singing, playing, and eating. We have about 50 adult and youth helpers
leading the children through the different places of learning. The children are eager to learn. I watch the smiles on their faces and their
playful interactions with one another, and I have hope for the future. What a blessing to see these young lives joyfully
growing in a knowledge of God’s care and His love. I am
especially thankful that 4 of my grandchildren are also among those growing to
know God’s love for them.
But, even in this positive setting, I still see reasons
for concern. Most of these little children
have been taught and know that they are special. This is a Christian truth we do want to
teach. Each of us have been “fearfully
and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) by our loving Creator and Father. However, sometimes I see this knowledge of
being a special, unique, child of God, express itself in an individualism that
causes concern. I hear things like, “I
know I’m supposed to do craft that way.
But, I want to do it my way.” Or,
“I know we’re can play games now. But, I
don’t want to play.” Or, “I know it’s
time to sing . . . and dance. But, I don’t want to do that.”
It is good to know that we are special individuals in God’s
creative and loving plan. But, God has
blessed us individually so that we can work together in His Body, the Church,
to do His work. There is a time when
individualism becomes a problem because people won’t work together. There is a time that being a special
individual can be a special kind of selfishness.
Yet, as I watch these children . . . I also see myself. I too know I am a child of God, special
because He formed and made me. But, all
you have to do is ask my wife if there are times that my “unique” behavior can
lead to chaos in our family, or cause some “issues.” I do not set out with that purpose, but I
know that there are times that my “individual” behavior, even when intended well,
needs restraining.
Martin Luther taught in his Small Catechism that all of
us, children AND parents, need a new start daily. In the section on baptism Luther asks, “What does such baptizing with water indicate?”His answer is, “It indicates that
the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die
with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and
arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” As a man who looked first to Scripture for His answers,
Luther asks again, “Where is this written?” Luther’s answer from Scripture is, “St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter six: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order
that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)”
In other words, we all struggle with our selfish,
individual, sinful nature. We can see
that struggle in our country. We can see
that struggle in our churches. We can
see this struggle in our children. We
can see this struggle with sin in ourselves!
So, every day we need a new start.
Luther teaches that our sinful self, our Old Adam, needs to die every day
so God can make us new in Jesus.
According to Romans 6, one source of this new life is God’s work in our
baptisms.
But, there is another reason why I am even more hopeful
for the future as these 150 people gather to learn about God’s love at VBS
through His Word. In 1 Peter, God
inspired Peter to write about a new life based on God’s love. Listen to another source of this new life we
all need. “. . . love one another earnestly from a
pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable
seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Peter
1:22 b -23 ESV) All of us need a new
start every day. God works new life in
us, we are born again, through His WORD!
And this week, the Word of God is working in these 150 people that
together we might die to sin with Jesus and rise to new life with Him. God’s word works in the hearts of these 150
individuals to live and work together as beloved and saved children of God.
In fact, on Wednesday
I saw this new life in action. As I was helping to teach, one young girl from
our congregation called me over. “Pastor
Rockey. I want to be baptized.” I talked to her mom later that day and we now
have a tentative time for her baptism.
See how God’s Word works new life!
So, I have hope. In a world of individuals who can act
selfishly, God is working new life of faith in our young people, through His
Word and through the Sacrament of baptism.
Praise the Lord!
A Child of God, Thankful for the Power of God’s Word to
Create New Life!
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some
recent baptism pictures. Please join in
welcoming these new members of God’s family at St. John.
· Jack Richard Trevithick, baptized June 17, 2018
· Araya Hope Sherwood, baptized 6-27-2018
· Isla Ann Abbott, July 15 late worship.
· Finn Leland Wiese, July 22 early worship.
P.P.S. Here are some pictures from the first day or
two of Vacation Bible School. https://photos.app.goo.gl/sj2LpDtvbnNBtuNd8
P.P.P.S. Here are
some pictures from a fishing trip my son, Josh, and his kids. Annabelle, the youngest, was the only one to
catch a fish. https://photos.app.goo.gl/tSukMkknLNRxH1gc6
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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 do not
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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