11/06/2024
A message from Pastor Josh after Election Day:
To all God’s beloved of Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And as your pastor and your brother in Christ Jesus, I really mean this greeting that I have borrowed from St. Paul! Used in many of Paul's letters, this was his very wise and faithful way of greeting the churches he helped found. This greeting: 'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' he used when addressing the communities in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus and Philippi. And so—whether or not you find the election results this morning delightful or horrifying—may you truly remember that God's grace, that is, God's forgiveness, we find only in Jesus Christ, and may you experience the peace which comes only from God, the Creator of all that is.
Admittedly, I have never listened or taken to heart much of the spin of the talking heads from news-sources these days, be they liberal or conservative. All now seem to say our nation is at a 'turning point.' And while that may be true and the days ahead are uncertain, the Church and our faith is unchanging.
Many, many years ago, the Psalmist wrote the following song (Psalm 46), and the Hebrew people sang it, and we ourselves read it aloud together not long ago in worship:
1 God is our refuge and strength...
6 The nations rage, and the kingdoms shake;
God speaks, and the earth melts away.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold...
10 'Be still, then, and know that I am God...'
Government is very important, as we learned together in two forums where we discussed some very helpful ELCA Social Statements, but God is more important. The government can help us achieve so much more than we ever could as individuals, such basic things that we take for granted like garbage removal, policing, street maintenance, public schools, and so much more. Martin Luther even believed that government was a gift from God, and that the 4th Commandment (Honor your father and mother) was meant to encompass not only parental figures, but all those in authority, as they were given to us as protection from harm from God. Nevertheless, when St. Paul says: 'Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,' and the Psalmist sings: 'The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold' they are not talking about the government, whether kings or elected leaders of any stripe or party. As Christians, as the baptized, we are called to heartilly participate in our governments, wherever we may be across the globe, but we are called first to embody Christ's own love and mercy, no matter the cost.
As I reflected in my article in the Messenger this month, I share with you again: please pray. Pray for our nation, pray especially for your neighbors. Because, as author and spiritual leader Valarie Kaur has written, '...as much as we must fight for our convictions and stand for what is just, remember that all those people who vote against you are not disappearing after Election Day or Inauguration Day. We have to find a way to live together still.'
God has already made a way for us to be together. That way is Jesus Christ, his love, his peace, his forgiveness, his never-ending life.
In closing, let me share with you another time-honored prayer provided in our hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship:
Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. Make us always remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honesty in the workplace, truth in education, honor in daily life. Save us from violence, discord, and corruption; from pride and arrogance; and from every evil course of action. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; and, in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In peace,
Pastor Josh
