I’ll be leading
worship on Wednesday, September 8, so I was looking ahead at the Bible readings
assigned for that service. The Epistle
lesson assigned for that day is James 3:1-12.
In this reading God inspired James to write these words about how
Christians are to speak about others. “8 . . . no
man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With
the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have
been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers, this should not be.” (James 3:8-10) Obviously, the
people in the congregation to which James was writing were involved in gossip
and slander. He points out that this is
not how Christians should act. James’
reasoning is that everyone is created by God, so we should treat them as such,
including in the way we speak. (See also
James 2:19-20.)
On August 31 and September 1, I attended a meeting
of leaders of our church body from the various regions in the northwest. Among the obvious topics of discussion was
the COVID pandemic facing the people in our country and around the world. We discussed the impact of this virus in our
churches. Together we shared what we
have learned, and the unique challenges this disease has brought to God’s
people. Sadly, more than one person
shared about division exhibited among God’s people in confronting this
illness. One leader said, and I
paraphrase, “If someone makes a statement
about what we should do in regard to this virus, almost immediately there are
two sides which are dug in. People in
one group look at the other, not just like they disagree with the other group’s
ideas, but like they are contemptible for even thinking those things.” It sounds like the advice of James
about treating one another as children of God is not always being heeded in
today’s Christian congregations.
Such confrontational
conversation is also taking place in our broader communities, and not just
concerning COVID. It seems that civil
discourse about important issues has disappeared. Instead of listening to one another, my impression
is that people first make accusations. Sadly,
God’s people also behave in this way.
So, in churches and in our society, we are divided.
Jesus
gave good direction about speaking with someone we feel has wronged us. "If your brother sins
against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he
listens to you, you have won your brother over.”
(Matthew 18:15) Instead of
talking ABOUT someone else, Jesus says speak TO them, privately. This advice is
wisdom from our Lord.
God
also inspired St. Paul to write concerning Christian conversation, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into
him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)
Following this direction from God is not as easy as it sounds. It can be easy to share the truth in an unloving
manner. We can seek to be kind, and in
so doing, refrain from the pain of the truth.
But, God calls us to lovingly
speak the truth.
In
fact, Peter wrote about how Jesus spoke as He sacrificed His life to pay the
debt of our sins, including our sins of unloving speech. “21 To this you were called,
because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow
in his steps. 22 ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he
did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted
himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:21-23) Through suffering and dying for us, Jesus
calls us to believe in and to follow Him.
If we believe in
Jesus as our Savior, if we are followers of Christ, Peter says that His example
includes how we speak. If we follow our
Lord we don’t lie or deceive. We do not
retaliate when insulted. We trust our
heavenly Father to bring His wisdom and justice into our lives. You can see that how we treat and how we
speak about one another is not so much about what to do in regard to COVID. How we treat and how we speak about one
another is about following Jesus.
St.
John Lutheran Church in Palmer has begun a new effort and emphasis to grow
disciples of Jesus and to deal with our congregational mortgage debt. The large committee leading this effort has
chosen the title, “Choose to be
Different.” God’s children at St. John
want to follow Jesus in a world which walks to a different tune. The people of St. John want to let the light
of Jesus shine through our words and our lives.
If we speak to and with one another in truth, lovingly, trusting our
Lord to act in love and wisdom and justice, then we are choosing to be different.
We are choosing to follow the one who amazingly sacrificed His life for
us.
So,
how are you doing? Are you loving others
as fellow human beings created by our Heavenly Father, including in the ways
you speak to them and about them? I
appreciate the theme, “Choose to be Different.”
I want to speak the truth in love, loving and respecting fellow children
of God. How about you?
A Child of God, Choosing
to Be Different, A Follower of Jesus, in the Way I Speak,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. St.
John News:
·
“Choose
To Be Different” – This is the title our congregation chose for our effort
to intentionally grow as disciples of Jesus and to openly deal with our congregational
mortgage debt. There are many
opportunities coming for growth and for acting together as God’s family at St.
John. These opportunities include:
o Special Guest Speakers
§ On
Sunday, September 12. Pastor Tony
Schultz of Anchorage Lutheran Church will share God’s Word in worship.
§ On
Sunday, October 3, District President,
Rev. Dr. Paul Linnemann will preach for our worship services.
o Special Bible Classes
§ On
Sunday afternoon, September 12, at 4:00 p.m., Pastor Tony Schultz will lead an
all-congregation Bible Study. Bring your
Bibles. Door prizes will be given, and snacks
and child care are available.
§ On
Sunday afternoon, October 3, at 4:00 p.m., President Paul Linnemann will lead
an all-congregation Bible Study. Bring
your Bibles. Door prizes will be given,
and snacks and child care are available.
·
Family
Promise – Volunteer requested – Family
Promise – Volunteer
requested – This ministry with other Christian congregations to homeless
families is part of the way that St. John works to bring God’s love into the
community. For many years Melanie Kopperud and Kirsten Nelson headed up
this ministry for St. John, but a number of years ago Kirsten and her husband
moved to McCarthy. Melanie is looking for help.
Melanie
will be out of town for a while this fall and winter. We do have 3 folks who have offered to
help. Melanie is also looking for a co-coordinator. If you can help
please call Melanie, or the church office and let us know. Then we might
have more leaders for this ministry of mercy.
P.P.S.
Here are some personal pictures from the past week.
· I
had a church meeting in Portland, Tuesday and Wednesday. I went to Portland on Monday to be able to
function in Tuesday’s meeting. Kathy
came with me and we arrived early and visited Lincoln City, OR. Here are a
couple of pictures. https://photos.app.goo.gl/MiR9qGgaEE5hbyEo6
· I did have 2 fishing trips in the
last week.
o
On Wednesday, August 25, we had a special day on the Little Su. Members of the Northwest District Board for
Lutheran Hour Ministries, along with Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, the Lutheran
Hour Speaker, and his son Titus wanted to go fishing. Since there were 10
visitors, we hired the best (in my opinion) local fishing guide, Andy Couch
from Fish Tale River Guides. Members of local Lutheran congregations paid for
the guide fees. Pastor George Rakos, came along to help the fishermen. Pastor Tony
Schultz drove folks around in the Anchorage Lutheran Church van. Pastor Greg
Heidorn, from Faith, Homer, organized the meeting of the LHM Board in AK.
Thrivent Financial provided lunches.
There were 4 fishermen in Andy's boat, and 5 in my boat. After the
fishing trip, Kathy Rockey prepared a meal for the group, along with help from
members of St. John Lutheran. Of the 9
fishermen, with a possible total limit of 18 fish, we brought home 17 SILVER
SALMON! It was a good day for Exploring Alaska and Discussing Ministry
Opportunities! https://photos.app.goo.gl/F4Av3x94RkPk93789
o
On Sunday, August 29, we took a fishing trip after worship. My brother in law, Mark Reaves is visiting
with my sister, Martha. Also, my son,
Josh, and his two boys, Jake and Henry came along. Jake caught this silver. https://photos.app.goo.gl/jouAMbPaRXBWedjz7
*****
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I retired at
the end of August 2019 from serving as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran
Church in Palmer, AK. I was writing a weekly devotion previously
entitled, "Thoughts from the Pastor." When I retired
many asked me to continue writing these devotions. So I have continued
writing. However, with life's changes I now call this weekly devotion "Journeys
Through Life as a Child of God." Since I am no longer senior
pastor at St. John, I felt it right to only send this message to those who
asked to receive it. (Though I am now serving again part-time at St. John
as assistant to the pastor.)
So, if you stopped receiving these devotions and wondered why, now you understand.
And, if you are now receiving these devotions and do not wish to receive them,
please let me know, and I’ll gladly remove your name from my distribution
list. My e-mail address is jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
My prayer is that these devotions help each of you in your daily walk with our
Lord, Jesus.
*******
Jonathan Rockey
Child of God
Husband, Father,
Son, Grandfather
Pastor Emeritus,
St. John Lutheran Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
cell phone -
907-841-4066
Home phone -
907-746-5131
No comments:
Post a Comment