8/25/09

Dear St. John Members and Friends,

In my devotions today I was reading Romans 1 and 2.  I was struck first by a verse that I had not noticed before.  (Reading the Bible is like that).  In Romans 1:12 Paul was writing of a visit to the Christians in Rome, saying, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.  That is one of the main reasons Jesus established the Church.  We need each other to live our lives as God’s children. 

Then I got to the end of chapter 1 in Romans.  These verses condemn behavior in which people turn from God and give themselves over to the desires of the flesh.  Many sins are mentioned.  In verses 29-31 Paul talks about those who “29 . . . have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”  But the sins that seem to stand out in this section for special attention are the sexual sins, specifically homosexual behavior.  (See Romans 1:24-27)

As you can see, today’s “Thoughts” deals with an issue that is a little more weighty than some I have written.  However, I feel a need to comment on how the church faces the issue of homosexuality because of recent news stories and misunderstanding even by some St. John members.  Maybe you were surprised or even shocked by the headlines last weekend.  “Lutherans to Ordain Gays and Lesbians.” 

St. John is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).  However, in convention last week another Lutheran Church Body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) voted “to finding ways to allow congregations that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships.”  They then voted “to open the ministry of the ELCA to gay and lesbian pastors and other professional workers living in ‘committed relationships.’”  While this is the newly approved position of the ELCA on homosexuality, it is not the position of our church body, the LCMS, and this is not the position of our congregation, St. John.

Sometimes when Christians say they believe practicing homosexuality is a sin, Christians can be misunderstood to be against gay people.  Actually, God wants all people to receive His love and grace through faith in Jesus.  God loves everyone and we are supposed to love all people too.  But, if a friend was hurting themselves with the abuse of a substance, I would not tell them that behavior was ok.  I would share my love for them and hope for a change in behavior for the good of their health.  If a friend was hurting their family through unfaithfulness, I would not tell them that unfaithfulness was ok.  I would share my love for them and hope for a change in behavior for the good of their family.  So, when a friend or someone else partakes in a behavior that harms their relationship with God, specifically homosexual behavior in this case, we can’t say that what God calls sin is ok.  We share our love with them and hope for change in their lives for the good of their relationship with God. 

In other words, considering Romans 1:12 again, we need to be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.  When it comes to the issue of sexual morality, our church continues to seek to help and encourage others by teaching what God say in the Bible, because God’s direction is what is most healthy for us in this life, and God’s direction is what is most healthy for us eternally.

A Child of God seeking to do and share the will of God,
Pastor Rockey

P.S.  A statement about this issue by Synodical President, Gerald Kieschnick, can be found at the following link: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=15620

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am always adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you don’t want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message. . . Or, if you know someone who would like to receive one of these e-mails, please send me their e-mail address.
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CONGREGATIONAL FINANCES.  Please keep St. John congregational finances in your prayers!  Here is a possible help:
Soon Alaskans will receive their permanent fund checks again.  For many years members have been asked to consider at least tithing from their permanent funds toward the work of the Lord at St. John.  Many of you remember Pioneer Alaskan June Liebing standing up in worship and saying, “God made the earth.  The oil is in the earth.  My permanent fund is a gift from God.  I encourage you to give to the Lord from this gift from God.”  (June is now in the Pioneer Home.)
Please consider returning to the Lord as He has blessed you with this permanent fund.  Considering estimates for this year’s check, if every St. John member gave 10% from their permanent fund (not the whole permanent fund) to God’s work at St. John, our deficit for the year would be wiped out! 

SUNDAY SCHOOL AND BIBLE CLASSES FOR FALL AND WINTER 2009 – The Following Classes are being offered.

 

 

 

A “BASIC CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS CLASS” will be held on Saturday, September 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The purpose of this class is to give an overview of the teachings of our church based on Scripture.  Anyone wishes to join our congregation but is not a Lutheran and may prepare themselves for membership by attending this class.  Those who have been Lutheran in the past may also want to use this class as an opportunity to refresh their knowledge of the Scriptures.  However, just because someone attends this class does not mean they have committed to join the congregation.  That is a decision that someone might make after attending the class. 
This class is different than most of our membership classes because it is being held in a one day session.  We won’t get as far in depth on some topics, but for those with busy schedules this class may be more convenient. 
Lunch will be provided during this class.  Also, if I am informed of the need we will provide for a nursery for those with small children.  Please let Pastor Rockey know if you need a nursery.  A number of people have indicated an interest in attending a membership class.   It is hoped those who attend will find the class both interesting and informative, and an opportunity for personal growth. 

LIFELIGHT BIBLE CLASSES have been held on Wednesday noons for about 18 years.  A group of St. John members and friends meet at noon to study God’s Word and share pot luck lunch.  This year we will study Ruth and Esther.  Class starts on September 30 at noon this year. 
Class members usually pay for their books.  Because of the spending freeze, we are asking class attendees to pay for the books up front so we can order them.