Dear Fellow Children of God,
This past week I attended a meeting of church leaders in
Portland, OR. We talked about challenges
and blessings faced today by Christian congregations and by workers. One of our speakers spoke on health for
church workers and he began his presentation with an interesting question. He asked, “What is different in your
congregation today than when you graduated from seminary?”
The pastors with whom I was sitting gave some interesting
and somewhat expected answers to the question.
Some talked about changing attitudes in the world around the church concerning
Christian faith and the church. Others discussed
church finances. Some of the pastors mentioned
changes in commitment of church members and spoke of competing priorities. Other pastors talked about issues surrounding
respect for workers and for fellow Christians.
The bottom line is that we live in a different world
today than when I graduated from seminary over 36 years ago. We live in a world that is different than
that in which Christian congregations ministered and served even ten or fifteen
years ago. Two decades ago our culture
was still said to have a “Judeo – Christian Ethic.” This meant that most people had a belief in
God, or at least respected that belief in the lives of a majority of
others. During past times in our culture
people accepted shared social values like the Ten Commandments, believing the
commandments carried authority for the society we lived in and gave direction for
our individual lives.
Those attitudes in our society have changed. In fact, many in our culture not only don’t
share the values which God gives to His people through Scripture, many in our
world are offended if a Christian person even shares their God-given beliefs with
others. So, what does God’s church do when
the world around us changes?
In spite of the change mentioned, we continue to have
personal needs that have not changed.
Everyone
is healthier when they have a good relationship with their father. Likewise, everyone in this world is healthier
when they have a good relationship with their Creator and our Heavenly Father. Perhaps Psalm 103 speaks to your heart as it
does mine. “13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion
on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we
are dust.” What a blessing to
know the love and compassion of our Heavenly Father who is also the Creator and
Lord of the whole world, and who understands us better than we understand
ourselves!
Everyone
stumbles and fails at times. We don’t
always accomplish what we work to do. We
sometimes have acted in ways of which we are ashamed. Sometimes we even hurt those we love. And, try as we might, we often cannot undo
the wrong or the harm we have done. Christians
know this failure and stumbling to be sin.
Everyone is healthier when we have someone to help us with our failures
and our sin. The word of God found in
John’s first letter to the church is, therefore, good news. “8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful
and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” What
a blessing, then, to know the Son of God, our Savior, Jesus Christ, who forgives
our failure and our sin in His dying and rising.
Everyone
can use encouragement as we go through life.
Life is full of challenges and trials.
We are often assaulted with hurt and loss. As we face the pain in life, a word of
encouragement is such a blessing. No
wonder God sends the Holy Spirit. “26 But
the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind
you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I
give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:26-27)
When Jesus left this world He sent the Holy Spirit, the
Counselor. The Greek word translated as
“Counselor” also means “Comforter” or, listen to this, “Encourager.” We need encouragement and help, and God gives
us just what we need in Himself, in the Holy Spirit.
The message of God through the Church to the world in
which we live may not be as readily received as it once was. But, the truth is that we all still need God
and the grace He gives. Christians need
a healthy relationship with our Father, with our Savior, and with our Counselor
and Encourager. The rest of the world
has the same needs, even if they do not know these needs.
The speaker at our meeting asked “What is different
today?” However, the other side of this
coin is that some things remain the same.
We all need God. We need His Love
and Forgiveness, His help and salvation.
In a world that has changed, Christians still need to grow in the
blessings and help of our loving God and Savior. We can also bless others when we gently and
respectfully share with them the love of God they also need.
A Child of
God, Seeking God’s help to live a healthy life as His child,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. I will be
moose hunting this coming week from September 17-25. Pastor George Rakos will lead worship on
Sunday, September 20. Pastor Rakos knew
the first pastor at St. John, Pastor Rudoph Frehling, who served beginning in
1935. Pastor Rakos was also confirmed by
Pastor Ed Imme who served St. John in the 1950’s. (St. John’s September congregational
newsletter had a letter of remembrance from Pastor Imme.) Please welcome Pastor Rakos, and his wife
Carolyn, warmly.
****
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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