Listen
Pastor Tristan Paustian • Jun 03, 2020
Love is not a simple, uncomplicated thing
I’ve hesitated to say anything about the series of events that started in Minneapolis last week. The more I learn the more complicated it seems. I’ve seen a dozen
responses
that have already expressed God’s view
better than I ever could.
But you’ve asked (at least one of you) how to make sense of everything that’s happened, and as your pastor I think it’s important to put myself out there and give you the best answer I can, using what I know from God’s Word. So, I offer this response humbly, “as your servant for Christ's sake." (2 Corinthians 4:5)
I’ve seen the video of George Floyd’s death. It’s hard to watch.
I’ve also seen videos of the rioters and looters. They’re hard to watch, too.
I know that it’s easy to focus on the riots and looting, because that’s what we (a predominately white congregation) are afraid of.
But I’d ask you to consider which video is harder to watch for black Americans: George Floyd’s murder, or a riot?
Before you jump right past George Floyd and focus on the riots, listen to what black Americans have to say
about the way they are treated in this country. Hear them out. Listen to their stories of uncalled for brutality and suspicion by the police and how sadly common that is. Listen to how they are treated with suspicion
in the most ordinary situations. Listen to them speak about the endless cycle of poverty and violence they cannot seem to break out of.
Listen to God who has called us to humbly, but boldly speak out against oppression and racism (Proverbs 31:8-9) and to speak with compassion to those who are lost, angry, and afraid (1 Peter 3:8-9). Listen to God who tells us first to take the plank out of our own eye before helping our brother (Matthew 7:1-5). Listen to our God who has been so patient with you and me (2 Peter 3:9).
Before we condemn someone else, remember that we are no better. “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Before we condemn a lawless rioter, remember that a lawless cop is just as worthy of punishment. We are all equally and desperately in need of mercy, a mercy found only in our savior. For God so loved the world that he sent his Son, not to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:16-17). Jesus bore the brunt of God’s justice for our sins, and for the sins of the whole world. He did not die for good people. He died for murderers, rioters, and Pharisees like us. So that we would find mercy to walk in the way of truth, love, and justice (1 Timothy 1:15-17).
Dear Heavenly Father,
The world is lost. We see it so clearly these days. I would be lost, too, if it were not for your mercy. I cannot claim to be good apart from the goodness you have given me by faith in your Son. As you have shown mercy to me, help me to be merciful to others. Give me the courage to stand up to the sins of oppression and racism, and the wisdom to listen to the voices of the oppressed. Help me to be an agent of Christ’s boundless love.
Bring justice to the oppressed and peace to our nation. Protect the lives of those who are helpless, the lives of those who protest peacefully, and the lives of those officers who are faithfully working to protect our cities. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Pastor BLOG
Click "Continue Reading" to go to a new web page to read the entire post.
What is it you want most in life? What are you most afraid of losing? Abram wanted a son. Abram had good reason to hope for a son. God had specifically promised to give him one. Abram also had “good” reasons to doubt that promise. He was 99 years old. His wife was 89. Abram was afraid. “The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:1) A shield blocks the arrows, spears, and swords that would otherwise kill a soldier. The LORD promised to defend Abram from Satan’s attacks. What Satan most wants to kill is faith in God. Satan whispered to Abram year after year, “God said he would give you a son. Well? Where is he? Do you really think God would keep a promise like that for a person like you?” A son would have been a great reward, but even if God hadn’t given Abram a son, he had someone far greater. He had God—the source of “ every good and perfect gift ” (James 1:17). God is the perfect gift-giver—but the greatest gift is to have him as your friend and Father. Are you afraid? Afraid God might not keep his promises to you? Afraid God might take away that person you could not imagine living life without? You don’t need to be. God loves you so much. I know Satan whispers in your ear, “Does he?” He’s a liar. If God did not love you, he would not have given up his Son, his only Son, whom he loves, for you. He would not have paid such a costly price to forgive your debt to him. Will he give you what you most deeply want in life? I don’t know. Will he take away that person or thing you are most afraid of losing? Yes, one day. But the God who gave you these people and things to love for a time also gave you Jesus and the faith to believe in what Christ did for you on the cross. So you know no matter what you lose, he’s not losing you. Abram was still afraid. So God took him out under the night sky. He had him look up and try to count the stars. “ So shall your offspring be ,” God said (Genesis 15:5). Abram believed God. You believe him, too. By faith, you are one of those stars Abram counted that night. By faith, you are one of Abram's offspring. You are a sign that God has and will always keep his promises. Don’t be afraid. God is your shield, and your very great reward.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 I don’t know if you know this, but there’s an election coming up. Maybe you haven’t noticed the yard signs and flags and calls on social media to vote. Maybe you haven’t been getting the constant phone calls and mailings. You probably have. I’ve heard and seen a lot of political statements lately. A lot of them are mean-spirited. A lot of them misrepresent what the other side is saying. A lot of them are kind of whiny, to be honest. A lot of them are coming from Christians. Now (as always) it’s important to listen carefully to others who disagree with us so we understand what they’re saying. As Christians, we’re well-equipped to listen and love because we know that even if everything appears to be going against us, God is for us. Jesus is ruling over all things for the Church’s good. We’re guaranteed the victory in this battle against Satan, the world, and our sinful nature. Christ called us to love our enemies and pray for those who hate us, and I’m afraid too many Christians are spending too much energy complaining that people out there aren’t Christians, and “ conforming to the pattern of this world ” to get “our” people in positions of power so we can change things. A far better use of our energy is to share the gospel, because the good news about Jesus is the only message that can really change hearts. The gospel is the real source of our world-changing power as Christians. As we look ahead to November, remember that, whether you’re a Republican, or a Democrat, or a Libertarian, or a Constitutionalist (which I just found out is a thing), you’re a Christian first. Do not be conformed—be transformed. For all the crosses the Church carries in this life, there’s a whole lot more glory waiting on the other side. In Jesus, Pastor Paustian
Over the next couple weeks, I'll be giving you short summaries of information about worshiping during COVID-19. The info I'm giving you is mostly from a report our synod's Congregational Services put together. I'd highly encourage you to take the time to read this report, as it will explain how our congregation and others in our synod are responding to our current situation. You can download it by clicking here (for the original post, go to the WELS website ). So many of our normal activities have come to a screeching halt during this pandemic. As we work to process the frustration and anxiety of so much change and uncertainty, make sure to dedicate time to God's Word and to prayer (and think about counseling , too. It helps!). "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 God cares for you . He does. Can you believe it? It's crazy, but he does. Just look what he did for you. He gave you Jesus. If he would do that for you, what wouldn't he do?
Principal BLOG
Click "Continue Reading" to go to a new web page to read the entire post.
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The theme for this month “Sent by Christ” echoes the Great Commission outlined in Matthew 28:16-20. We are sent by Christ to share the message of salvation in three distinct ways. First, as parents, we share the message of salvation as we also hear it when we attend worship services together with our children. We share the message when we review with our children their Bible stories and their memory assignments on a daily basis. We also share the message when we have family devotions whether at the beginning or the end of the day. Never underestimate the blessings that come when hearing, learning, and sharing God’s Word with your children. Secondly, we support mission projects and missionaries with our prayers and offerings. You can connect with our WELS Mission Programs through FACEBOOK (Like the WELS Missions Facebook page at fb.com/WELSmissions for additional photos and updates from our mission fields.) BLOGS (Subscribe to read weekly stories from home and world missionaries at wels.net/subscribe.) and NEWSLETTERS (Stay up - to- date by subscribing to the biannual Mission Update e-newsletter at wels.net/subscribe. Thirdly, we are to make disciples of all nations. This means a personal contact with people inviting them to a Bible Study, a Bible Information Class, or to a worship service. We call this ” Friendship Evangelism”. Share the entire message of Jesus' love with others without fear of embarrassment and without compromise. In all three ways just mentioned we can do this because of Jesus’ promise in vs. 20 “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” God bless you this summer as you are “Sent by Christ’ share the message of salvation.
Job 19:25-27 - I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes-I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! A popular response heard on Easter Sunday morning is…”Christ is risen...He is risen indeed?” This is a wonderful response to the fact that Jesus Christ has shown His power over the devil and because of that we live also. Look again at Job 19:25-27. Job confidently expresses his faith in the coming Savior. He says, “I know that my redeemer lives. I myself will see him with my own eyes - I and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job had learned of the true God (Jahweh) Jehovah and lived in a close relationship with Him. As Job looked ahead in faith to seeing His Savior, he could forget his present troubles and in faith see what lay ahead for him after his life on earth had ended. These words express the firm hope of Job’s own bodily resurrection after his death and that hope that has been shared by true believers ever since. Those thoughts of Job are the same for us. Because our Savior lives, we also live. When we die, we will continue to live. That living will take place in heaven which gives us opportunity to shout with joy in our heart, “I know that my redeemer lives!”
Luke 4: 1-13 - Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written; ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” The devil then led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “it is said; ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. The words of Luke 4: 1-13 review for us the temptations faced by Jesus after spending forty days in the wilderness. These temptations came from the devil who wanted to ensnare Jesus in his grip and lead Him to sin. But that didn’t happen because as the sinless Son of God, our Savior resisted the temptations of the devil. We, as sinful human beings, are easily tempted and fall victim to the temptations of the big three, “The devil, the world, and our sinful flesh.” This happens over and over again. Try as we might, we cannot resist the temptations of these “big three’. In Matthew 26:41 we are reminded to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptations. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” To help keep temptations away, to help us overcome temptations, to help us overcome situations which would lead us to sin we need help. That help comes from our Savior Jesus Christ. We hear in Hebrews 2:18, “Because He himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” So resist the devil’s snares and don’t become overcome by any temptations. Instead ask your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to help fight off the devil’s attacks with the knowledge that He is there for you and will help you in your daily struggles with temptations.
