"Meditate on these things" from the Winter 2017 Vision Newsletter

The universal message of the gospel speaks to our relationship to God, to one another, and to our salvation. This message is for all people and it is part of our responsibility to make sure that all people have the opportunity to come to know the gospel.

This requires that we talk to people, sometimes people we know and sometimes people we don’t know. But when we approach people, to bring them this important message of the gospel, we have to first ask ourselves if we are credible witnesses of the gospel. After all, why should someone listen to us talk about the transformational power of the gospel if we don’t demonstrate it and live as if we have been transformed through the gospel message? This means we have to be credible witnesses. Jesus says to His disciples in Luke 10, He who hears you hears Me (Luke 10:16). Our actions and our words should be able to tell the people around us that we are followers of Christ. Of course, as imperfect people, this is hard to do in every single action and in every single word, but it is something for which we strive.

We must especially be cautious with what we say over social media, where it sometimes seems that we are anonymous and that our words have little effect on those who read them. Again, we are called to be credible witnesses of the gospel, even on social media, and use our words in love and humbleness. We can watch over our words and make sure they conform to the will of Christ. Following are some thoughts from District Apostle Kolb to help us watch over our words.

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”

So was the sentiment expressed by Thomas Paine shortly before the American Revolution. They were turbulent times. And in some regard, it may also be said today of the environment in America. There is an abundance of provocative and controversial topics being heatedly debated at every level of society. It is easy to become passionate and caught up in the maelstrom of these discussions and voice our opinion.

The social media of today creates an environment unlike anything anyone has ever experienced before in history. Because of this network, I can, almost immediately, find myself in a “bubble” of thousands of people who think in the exact same way that I do, with the exact same preferences, the exact same opinions, biases, prejudices, etc. This can create a false sense of security and sometimes may even lead to aggressive behavior to those that are unlike me. More and more, instead of unifying, people are becoming more divisive, and sometimes, less understanding, less compassionate, less caring… Open, unchecked expression, verbally or via social media, creates divisiveness in any group and I am concerned specifically for our congregations. Let us be cautious of what we “like” on this media. Galatians 3 reminds us we are one in Christ. This may mean we need to lay aside our nationalistic pride, our ethnicity, our gender, our self-righteousness for the sake of unity and peace.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Please allow me to lay before you the words written by Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians, the fourth chapter, as a guidepost for us in these disparaging times and as a word of comfort.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

In everything, let us start with praise and the expression of our joy in Christ! We are His!

Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

The word gentleness has a few definitions - nobility, consideration, moderation, balanced, carefulness. We understand, as God’s children, that though deeply passionate for Jesus Christ, we are not radical, but rather moderate and stable in trying times, convinced of the Lord’s present nearness at all times. Gentleness also means wellborn; yes, we are born of God! And so we desire to behave as such to glorify His name.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Again, the admonition not to be fearful, the Lord is at hand! Knowing this, with gratitude we make our requests known to God, our Father. Not fearful murmuring, not complaining, not overwhelmed with the “tempestuous seas” around us, but with stability, confidence and the assurance that He knows everything, can do anything, and will surely care for us according to His will.

…and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus…

What creates the peace of God? It is the security knowing His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience is far beyond anything we can comprehend. This security guards our hearts from fear, apprehension, overwhelming concern and our minds that are confused, calculating dismal projections and prophecies fueled by the constant wave of information or our own paranoia. We must allow the Lord’s security in His peace to guard us! We receive this peace every Sunday in the absolution.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true [God’s word], whatever things are noble [Jesus Christ], whatever things are just [God’s ways and decisions], whatever things are pure [love of God], whatever things are lovely [His creation], whatever things are of good report [the good news, the Gospel], if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy [the goodness of God revealed in each other, our neighbor, in the church] — meditate on these things.

In other words, instead of being caught up in the clamor of the day, let us occupy ourselves with the good things of God, our Father, and thus, behave in the ways that bring honor to Him.

Here the old question applies – What would Jesus do? And further, what would Jesus want me to do? We align our understandings and views with the Gospel and we live according to the Gospel. By aligning to the Gospel in our life, sometimes Christ’s teachings may coincide with a popular view or an opinion from a certain “side of the table.” We can take a firm position for what is right, not because we align with a political party or the voice of the zeitgeist, but because and only because it is the teaching of Jesus, whom we love and follow. We stand with and align with Him, the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Notwithstanding, He has not called us to be radical in standing with Him; remember the lesson in the garden with Peter cutting the soldier’s ear, where he acted impulsively because of his limited understanding at that point. God has called us to proclaim the Good News in word and in our lifestyle, by showing His love and interest for all by our conduct, conversation, etc. We cannot convert anyone. This work He alone does, as it is the product of His love and remains dependent on the free will of each individual. God allows opportunities, sometimes through problematic circumstances, to increase our compassion, to deepen our faith, to shine forth our joy, to share with our neighbor. These events are a chance to behave in a way that clearly demonstrates we are His!

Further, when we encounter someone with a different view than ours, we cannot judge them. Christ is very clear on this matter in Luke 6:37 - Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Again, judgement is left up to the Almighty One, as He alone knows all there is to know about each soul.

Let us not be swayed by the attitudes of others, but keep true and authentic to our childhood in Christ. Remember the exhortation of Paul in Romans 14. He speaks of the laws of liberty, but also of love: Therefore, let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another… It is good neither to…do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

I do not advocate that we not participate in social media, but simply ask that we exercise caution in our communications and that we speak, even through social media, in a manner that glorifies God, our Father. Hence, self-responsibility and self-control are key factors here. Let us not act irresponsibly and thus, harm our brothers and sisters that we want to love and serve.

Yes, these are trying times, but equipped with the Gospel and the strength of Christ, we can navigate our path forward.

-LRK