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Hello St. John’s Family,
Here we go again… Sunday’s coming, and bringing with it the threat of a winter storm. Current forecasts indicate our area will be spared from most of the precipitation, and we are planning to worship as regularly scheduled. If the forecast or conditions shift, we’ll communicate any changes via email and social media as soon as possible. Please check those channels over the weekend to stay updated.
Though last weekend’s storm brought plenty of challenges, we were able to offer vibrant, God-honoring worship! I’m so thankful for our choir, who came out Saturday morning to lead the music, and for our AV team who enabled the pre-recording of worship. And I’m thankful for everyone who worshipped online, connecting together to reflect, pray, and experience God’s presence with us in the midst of the storm. As Jen and I logged on Sunday morning, it was meaningful to know that many others were worshipping along with us. Thank you for your faithfulness to God in worship and prayer!
Worship uplifts and centers us, reminding us of God’s immediate presence while preparing us for the inevitable challenges we’ll face in our day to day lives. This week we acutely felt the challenges of our fractured world right in our neighborhood, as we learned of the horrific homicides in the Castiglia household. If you did not see my message regarding this tragedy, you can read it here. Yet our souls were already troubled when that news broke, as so many of us have wrestled with the troubling deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
It was barely an hour after the recording of our worship service was completed that news of the shooting and death of Alex Pretti broke. Fresh waves of shock and grief were felt, reminding us of Renee Good, who was shot and killed only two weeks earlier. Yes, many different perspectives and thoughts are held by Christians regarding immigration, ICE, protests and associated unrest, and the explanations offered by the federal government. Yet that news update encapsulated a rapidly deteriorating situation in Minneapolis, and official responses did not match video of the scene. Video that captured a citizen, while forcibly restrained and pinned to the ground, being shot multiple times at point-blank range, then left dying without first aid being rendered. This is a scene we cannot unsee – and we should not unsee. As followers of Jesus, we enter the world with the firm conviction that the kingdom of heaven has come near. When we encounter situations that oppose the ways of God’s reign, we must wrestle with that, then attempt to respond such that God’s ways are revealed.
That – wrestling with the brokenness of the world and responding such that God’s ways are revealed – is much easier said than done. And I cannot begin to do justice to all the topics I named above in a short note. Christ Jesus, though, will not accept those feeble excuses for avoiding the difficult questions. We must begin somewhere; I humbly offer a few thoughts to begin.
The just use of force must conform to principles of Minimum Force Necessary and Proportional Use: In Genesis 4:23, Lamech proclaims “I have killed a man for wounding me; a young man for striking me,” a clear illustration of humankind’s spiral into depravity that led to the flood. From the beginning of time, aggressive, retaliatory force has only led to escalation, not resolution (think of Jesus’ statement at his arrest: “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword”). Thus, the just use of lethal force must be limited to serious physical harm or death to officers, or a significant threat of serious physical harm or death to others. Those authorized to use force must receive the appropriate training to administer it and be held accountable when abused.
All humans bear the image of God: If we affirm all humans are created in God’s image and bear that image in a meaningful way (Genesis 1:26), that image does not change or deteriorate based on political leanings, immigration status, or any other identifier we apply. Basic human dignity and rights must be afforded to all people, at all times. Compromising that is an affront to God, and the reign that Christ ushered in.
We must abide by Christ’s call to truth in him: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32) Jesus affirmed the foundation of truth is abiding in his teaching; thus, truth cannot be manipulated, politicized, or altered to fit our leanings or situations. We must acknowledge how leaders of both parties do this; yet some of the spins from Minneapolis are beyond the pale. We must require honesty of our leaders and officials and reject blatant lies.
I fully recognize these points are a only starting point, insufficient to address all the questions and nuances raised. I will continue to wrestle with a what Christ-like response to the strife we’re experiencing looks like, and I ask you to do the same. It’s also crucial to understand that different perspectives exist regarding policies like immigration, and that faithful Christians can disagree on matters of policy. However, compromising any of the above points invariably leads us to stray from Christ and his way.
Please keep our neighbors in Minneapolis, our leaders in all levels of government, and all aspects of law enforcement in your prayers. May God’s Holy Spirit work through the conflict, strife, and grief such that justice and peace emerge.
This Sunday, I pray we’ll be able to gather in-person to praise and worship our Lord. We’ll continue our mini-series on God’s blessings by exploring one of Jesus’ most beloved teachings, the beatitudes. Following Jesus’ way often isn’t easy, yet even in struggle, we are blessed! Check out Matthew 5:2-16 and Micah 6:1-8, then join me in worship on Sunday-
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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