Dear Fellow Children of God,
Have
you been troubled, or saddened, or angered even by the events of violence that
have taken place recently in the Middle East?
We learned this week of a gruesome beheading of an American journalist
by the same group in Iraq that has been executing people who will not renounce Jesus
as Savior, nor renounce their Christian faith.
This religious violence comes on the heels of the kidnapping of
Christian girls in Nigeria, and even violence in our own country. The destruction of the world trade towers,
the shootings at Ft. Hood, and the Boston Marathon bombings are all acts of
evil violence which often include the word, ‘jihad.’ How should Americans, how should Christians
respond to this growing religious violence?
It
is important to differentiate how our country will respond from how Christians
react. Governmental reaction will be
different from Christian reaction.
America is not a theocracy, though the large majority of Americans still
claim to be Christian. Christians
believe that God has established government to promote justice and peace. We are told in Scripture that the government
is to reward those who do good, and to punish those who do wrong (Romans 13),
while promoting peace (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Where the weapon of the church is the Word of God, the weapon of the
government is the sword.
Effective
response by the government is understandably difficult. What can the government of our country do that
promotes justice and safety for our citizens, but also acknowledges that some
of these acts of violence were perpetrated outside our borders? Sometimes no specific action accomplishes the
goal we seek as a nation. Peace on earth
is a fleeting hope when sinful people choose to act in ways that do not love
God nor love others. So, we can pray for
our leaders that our government will act with wisdom which promotes peace and justice.
But,
how about Christians? What is the proper
response for children of God’s to these evil acts of violence that target
innocent people?
First, we should not be surprised. Jesus does tell us to expect
persecution. In John 15:20 we are told, “Remember
the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they
persecuted me, they will persecute you also.’”
It
is, however, acceptable to call evil, evil.
There is no other name for the slaughter and attacks on innocent people. Murder is sin against others, and sin against
God our Creator and Lord.
It
is also acceptable for Christians to seek appropriate governmental
response. While people who are called to
faith and love do not take up arms to avenge these evils, we can ask our
government to do what God has established the government to do, to promote
justice and the peace and safety of our people.
At the same time
we can pray for the victims, and even also for the perpetrators. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus shares
the ultimate demands of God’s law and shows our shortcomings, Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” Consider St.
Paul. He persecuted the early Christian
church and personally stood by at the murder of Stephen. But, God called Paul to faith, and Paul turned
from persecution to a faithful Christian life. By God’s grace Paul became a
great evangelist sharing the love of God through Jesus’ sacrificial death with
the whole world. It is amazing what God
accomplishes in response to faithful Christian prayer.
Finally, in the
midst of these difficult times we trust in the Lord. As our government faces a difficult task in
determining if any appropriate response will bring the desired result of
justice and peace, Christians face similar difficulties in our lives of faith. This Friday in my
devotions I read Romans 5, where verses 3 – 5 say, “. . .
we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does
not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the
Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Even
in our sufferings and difficulties God helps us grow in His love. So we trust Him!
Many times the issues in this world are too big for
us. But, God who is Creator and Ruler of
all has overcome sin eternally in the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. Those who believe in Jesus will have peace
after this life in heaven. But, God who
has worked the forgiveness of all in Jesus, wants us to seek His peace and justice
in this world too.
A Child of God, Praying for God to Work Peace and Justice
in our World too,
Pastor Jonathan
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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. . . Or, if
you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me
their e-mail address.
******
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