Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Division is everywhere around us – black vs. white, old vs. young, rich vs. poor, Democrat vs. Republican, men vs. women. It seems as though before long there will be nothing left but every man for himself. The devil has put his foot on the gas pedal and is doing everything he can to hasten the absolute destruction of God’s creation through the hatred of men.
“But let it not be so among you” Jesus said. You and I as the baptized are to think and act differently. The Church is not exempt from the threat of division. In these days when those who think differently are demonized, the children of God, who still have the sinful flesh tethered around around our necks, are still susceptible to turning against one another. In particular, I see on the horizon, the danger of division over how churches and Christians are struggling to respond faithfully to the ever-changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Christians we understand that the Word of God is life and that without it, it won’t matter if we avoid contracting this or any other disease, our souls will perish. What is lost on so much of the world, is what our Lord teaches us about what is necessary. He is necessary. His Word is necessary. His forgiveness is necessary. Life with God is the one thing that is needful. Thus the Church is struggling with all her might to make sure that the things of Christ, the things of life, are not kept from Christ’s people so that whether we live or die, we rest knowing that we are the Lord’s. The world may not appreciate that what Christ’s Church gives is essential, but you and I know very differently.
We also seek to “render unto Caesar, the things that are Caesar’s”. We pray for our government that God would protect those who are in authority and grant them wisdom that they may rule for the maintenance of righteousness and the hinderance and punishment of wickedness. We honor and obey them as far as we are able until they command us to disobey God or take the Means of Grace away from us. Then we must obey God rather than men and suffer with Christ. We strive to keep the Fourth Commandment according to God’s will. But in this world, that is not always a simple matter.
We also seek to protect the life and the good name of our neighbor. We go to great lengths to defend especially the weakest and most vulnerable among us, whom the world casts aside as worthless impediments to evolutionary progress. We love our neighbor and are prepared to lay down our rights and lives to defend them. With the apostle we say “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” (1 Cor. 9:19)
All these duties pull on the Christian and the Church. And we can reach different pious and faithful conclusions about how to carry out these duties. As Christians, we must be gracious and patient and merciful toward especially the household of faith. Each of us is doing the best they can to maintain a clean conscience before man and God. If you think it is best to wear a mask at church, wear one with a good conscience. But do not judge the one who does not as being loveless or careless. If you think it is best to not wear a mask at church, then don’t but do not judge the one who does as being faithless or foolish.
There is nothing the devil would love more than to divide the people of Christ, the people of this parish, and destroy faith. And rest assured he will try. He is trying. Do not let yourself fall for the trap. “Live in harmony with any another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” (Rom. 12:16) Rather than participating in the division, let us, as children of our heavenly Father, demonstrate to the world true unity and peace that through us, the world might know the mercy and love of God for sinners.
Pastor Ulmer