Praying for Agreement Through Christ in the Midst of Houses Divided

 Dear Fellow Children of God,

 

Years ago I met regularly with a group of local pastors to discuss upcoming sermons.  I had some disagreements with a pastor in that group from a different congregation and different denomination.  Often we had totally different ideas about how Jesus’ Church should act.  We had different views on missions, different views on social issues dealing with God’s stated plan concerning human sexuality, and different views on how a person is saved.  My wife heard my frustration, so at her suggestion, rather than talk about this younger pastor, I talked with him.  We met for lunch to see if we could come to some agreement.  We discovered that the root problem seemed to be a different understanding of what Scripture is.  I believed, and still believe, that the Bible is the inspired word of God Himself, and is therefore the authority for what God’s church is to believe, and the authority for how God’s church is to act.  His view was different.  He listened to Scripture, but did not necessarily think it was the Word of God himself, nor that it was authoritative.  No wonder we had so many disagreements.

 

I find that, when I disagree with someone, if we can find some area where we do agree, a “lowest common denominator,” we can build on that agreement and possibly find some way we might work together. That is my hope, and my intended practice.  However, in my devotional readings on Sunday, August 28, the Gospel lesson was from Mark 3.  Consider, please, Mark 3:22-26.  “22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons." 23 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.” 

 

Did you hear those words of Jesus?  Abraham Lincoln heard Jesus and quoted Him.  “24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”  Do you worry about God’s church?  Does this warning sound familiar in regard to our country? I wish for agreement in my world and in my church.  I also believe that our selfishness and sin will unfortunately continue to cause division in our world.  And, perhaps the individual nature of a social media world causes more division.

 

I want to share with you two areas where I suggest we can all hopefully agree.  First, every one of us have problems. We all have pain.  We all suffer.  I believe, and hope you see, that we can empathize with others who suffer, because we do.  Christians believe that all suffering is a result of the rebellion of the human race against their Creator.  Christians are among the rebellious, and have acted in selfishness, and have sinned.  So, all Christians share with everyone else the reality of suffering and the problems in our world, problems which we helped to cause.

 

Secondly, everyone with trouble and suffering can use help.  We cannot overcome these problems on our own.  In truth, we need a savior for our sin.  I believe, we all need God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus!

 

I met with the young pastor years later in a different part of Alaska.  We were friendly, and even fished together.  But, we found new areas where we had large disagreements because of different views on God’s word.  Nevertheless, we were able to speak with one another.  In the midst of our disagreement we recognized there were some areas of shared values and shared need.  We treated each other in a friendly manner.

 

Remember the words of Jesus.  “24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”   Division is deadly.  Our shared suffering from sin, and our shared need for a Savior can form a “lowest common denominator.”  I pray that the houses of our churches and our nation may not fall.

 

A Child of God, Praying for Agreement Through Christ in the Midst of Houses Divided,

Pastor Jonathan

 

P.S.  Fishing has been good recently.  Here are some recent fishing pictures.

·       On Friday, August 26, I took St. John member, Chris Guimond, fishing.  We did well!  https://photos.app.goo.gl/o2S3FtARkoyafqxu8

 

·       On Sunday, August 28, after church and Bible Class, I took Greg Walaszek and Kym Miller fishing for one last AUGUST trip.  It was a good day.  Here are some pictures.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/5iAQh9ysGvsjH2CS9

 

P.P.S.  LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES WILL SPONSOR A SPECIAL ALASKAN EVENT on Sunday, September 11, at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 8100 Arctic, in Anchorage.  Here is information on the event and speaker. https://photos.app.goo.gl/gHi6rFJnGXdX5THv8 (I’ve been told to ignore the cost. Anyone can attend.  Donations are accepted at the door.)

 

·       Morning worship will be held at Beautiful Savior at 10:30 a.m, for those who wish to attend. Rev. Gregory Seltz, former Lutheran Hour Speaker and current Executive Director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington D.C. will preach

 

·       Dr. Seltz will then present about the challenges of our church in Today’s World

o   1:30 p.m.         “Christian Confidence When World Views Collide”

o   2:45 p.m.         “Set Free to Live Freely”

o   4:15 p.m.         “Two Kingdoms – One Mission”

 

·       5:15 p.m. Dinner will be held

 

·       6:30 p.m. WA AK District Business Meeting with Elections will be held

 

·       (Gerry Zellar is the LHM representative for St. John.)

 

*****

 

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

“1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a)