Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
Last Saturday, April 26-27, the Alaska Mission for Christ
offered a class on church history at St. John.
This history class was open to everyone, though it was specifically a
continuing education opportunity for Licensed Deacons and Lay Ministers. Before studying about the first three hundred
years of the history of the Christian Church on Saturday, Friday night prepared
us for that study by examining different types of thinking. Our teacher, Aaron Hayes, talked about “classical
thinking” which looks to God’s Word and to God Himself for truth. We discussed “modern thinking” which looks to
scientific observation and explanation for truth. And, we considered “post-modern” thinking
which often states there is no ultimate truth, but that everyone has their own
truth. Interestingly, all styles of
thought continue in today’s world, though modern and post-modern thinking seem
to predominate in public conversations.
Our teacher, Aaron Hayes, made a point about “modern
thinking” that caused me, and others, to pause.
Hayes said that a large portion of modern thinkers, those who look to experience
and to the interpretation of science for truth, purposely left God out of their
models. They had no place for God in
their thinking. Some of that “leaving
God out of our world” has also bled into the post-modern thought patterns. But, perhaps you know from your own
experience this desire by some to eliminate God from our public life.
I confess, as a father and grandfather, I am concerned. As a Christian man, I want my offspring to
know about the love and the grace and the life that God gives. I want my children and my grandchildren to
know about God’s love and providing through creation. I want them to know God’s saving love in
Jesus. I want those I love to know that
in His Word, in the Bible, God has given truth that teaches His children about
Him, truth which creates saving faith, and guides our lives. I want my children and grandchildren to know
and trust the gifts God shares in Scripture.
But, if there is no place in certain areas of life for
God, or if God can only have a secondary place, what kind of world am I leaving
to my children and my grandchildren?
What if they have to be quiet, or if they have to hide God in their schools,
in their places of work, or in their political discussions? If God is the source of life Who gives wisdom
for living, why do we have to keep His wisdom silent? I know this issue is much more complex even
than I am stating, but I confess that it causes me concern as I think of the
future of my family.
There are many issues in life which seem bigger than we
are. How do God’s children deal with
this desire in the world around us to eliminate God from the world He
created? How do we continue, for
example, with chronic disease or terminal illness? How do we face life failures and sins that
have hurt others, and have changed our lives?
How do we deal with a world that seems intent on violence and
destruction?
As I work through my daily devotions I recently read
Deuteronomy 20, where the Lord instructs the Israelite people about entering
the Promised Land and facing enemies that were stronger than God’s children, at
least militarily. But, listen to what
God tells His people about facing enemies stronger than they are. “1 When you go to war against your enemies and see
horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them,
because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you. 2
When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address
the army. 3 He shall say: "Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle
against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or
give way to panic before them. 4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with
you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." (Deuteronomy 20:1-4) God says He is
with us, and HE fights for us!
As a Christian man in a world that often demands that I
leave my Creator and Savior on the sidelines, as a Christian father who sees
these thought patterns which seek to steal the faith of my children, as a
Christian grandfather who wants to see his children and grandchildren in
heaven, God’s words comfort me. The
trends in our world may seek to silence God’s love found in His Son, and may seek
at times to diminish my faith in Jesus found in His Word. But, God is stronger than our enemies, stronger
than His enemies.
In fact, during this Easter season
God’s power over our enemies is more evident than ever. The forces of Satan and the effect of sin can
seem overwhelming. On our own, our
enemies are stronger than we are. But,
guess what? God’s words to the
Israelites are also spoken to us. “For the LORD your God is the one
who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you
victory." Jesus has gone before us into death, and into eternal life. Jesus offers that eternal life to all who
know and confess their enemies, sin and death, and who trust in Him. Before His death Jesus used similar words to
strengthen and encourage His disciples for their coming crisis. "I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
Do you have concern
for your family? Do you worry about the
future direction of our country and of our world? Life is difficult and we are not strong
enough on our own to face the attacks that come our way. But God is stronger and He fights for
us. Therefore, we can even face the
impossible battles. We don’t have to be
afraid. God is with us in this
life. God has won eternal life for us in
Jesus dying and rising, in His forgiveness and His salvation.
A Child of God, Thankful That God is Stronger than The
Enemies of Faith and Life,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Rev. Jake
Dickerhoff is pastor of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Anchorage. His two daughters, Harper and Magnolia Mae,
required serious heart surgery in Boston, MA, earlier this winter. They are home and “Maggie Mae” attended a
meeting of Lutheran Church workers in Funny River on Tuesday, April 30. Here are some pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/YbSpFgdEu7f6xBtk8
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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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