Holy Scriptures – Mt. Olive Lutheran Church

A BALANCED BIBLICAL OUTLOOK

Of all the things a pastor does, chief among these things is a pastor’s calling to be a faithful teacher of the Holy Scriptures in their parish community. Consequently, with all the Bible quoting going on these days concerning the current issue of global mass migration, I would be remiss in my pastoral calling and obligations if I did not offer a balanced biblical instruction about this issue. There’s a lot of Bible cherry picking, self-righteous virtue signaling, guilting and shaming going on concerning this issue right now. Also, this global mass migration issue is especially important as we observe the 25th Anniversary of September 11th this year.

In any ethical discussion, Lutheran theology always asks first and foremost, “What does God’s Word within the Holy Scriptures tell us?” So, what does the Word of God say about things such as national boundaries and sovereignty, rule of law and law enforcement, hospitality to strangers and charitable service to those in need?

Acts 17:26–27 states that God “made from one blood every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the Earth, having determined the times set for them and the boundaries of their dwelling places.” Deuteronomy 32:8 and Genesis 10–11 present the distinctions and boundaries of nations as deliberate God-ordained acts of divine providence. In other words, the beautiful tapestry of nations and ethnicities is not accidental but on purpose. It is divinely ordered according to God’s creative and redeeming will.

Therefore, there is nothing wrong or immoral with modern ethno-states (for example: Japan, Norway, Israel, Korea, Armenia, etcetera) who seek to maintain a majority ethnic population for their nations. On the other hand, there are exceptional nation-states that are intentionally multi-ethnic “melting pot” countries in which both naturalized immigrants and native-born citizens assimilate and grow together to form a unique and united national culture. Our own United States of America is the preeminent example of a “melting pot” nation-state in which our “one nation under God” (from The Pledge of Allegiance) is indivisibly molded and formed according to our founding documents and principles rooted in the worldview and traditions of Western Judeo-Christian Civilization.

Romans 13:1–7 and 1 Peter 2:13–14 describe civil rulers as God-ordained agents of maintaining law and order for the sake and wellbeing of their citizenry. So, any governing authority’s primary duty is to its citizens. In addition, 1 Timothy 5:8 treats failure to provide for one’s own household as a denial of the faith. Consequently, in a similar way, the nation-state functions as an extended household that maintains preferential care for its citizenry. This ordering of care is not un-Christian; it is the biblical structure of “ordered love” (ordo amoris). Basically, biblical ordered love and justice do not require a nation to allow mass migration at the expense of other duties, responsibilities and concerns.

It is true that the Bible clearly and repeatedly commands hospitality to the Ger which is the Hebrew word for “resident alien” or “sojourner” (see Leviticus 19:33–34, Deuteronomy 10:18–19, Exodus 22:21). Yet, the ger was expected to live under Israel’s law (Leviticus 24:22 and Numbers 15:15–16), observe the Sabbath, and they could not automatically claim full citizenship rights and equal political power or supplant the covenantal identity of Israel. Therefore, the biblical virtue of hospitality was never a blank check for allowing overwhelming mass entry. Israel controlled its borders and required assimilation to its national laws and culture.

It’s also important to note that the New Testament does not reverse this Old Testament pattern for the governing authorities of a nation-state. Moreover, according to the New Testament, the Church of Jesus Christ is a global and multi-ethnic spiritual body that prays and advocates for peaceful international relations, but the Church is not a political body dedicated to eliminating borders and erasing national distinctions. Interestingly, the famous John Lennon song, Imagine, has become a kind of globalist anthem over the past 50+ years, uplifting the ‘dream’ of a world without borders. However, biblically speaking, the content of this song cannot be considered to have any kind of spiritual or ethical weight for faithful Christian believers. This catchy but unbiblical song is simply not the creedal manifesto that some modern Christians have made it into.

Of course, our Lord Jesus did say, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35), and his Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) addresses personal and ecclesiastical responsibility toward neighbors in need. But individual charity and communal charity do not constitute a divine command for governments to blindly follow, because any dutiful governing authority must weigh issues of scale, speed, legality, compatibility, and long-term effects on the common good. These are governing considerations that private charity does not face in the same way.

Moreover, mass migration also creates space (unholy space) for human trafficking and the exploitation of both migrants and citizens alike. So, the desire for legal boundaries, secure borders, well-ordered migration with rational limits, a process of assimilation, and a genuine refugee prioritization within capacity, is not an un-Christian desire. It is consistent with both compassion and the God-given duty of a nation-state to its citizens. For example, the Prophet Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the battlements of Jerusalem is a prime biblical illustration of the good and moral responsibility of a government to its citizens before all other responsibilities.

Lastly, it is very important to say that the Holy Bible nowhere justifies indifference to refugees fleeing genuine persecution. The same biblical texts that uphold borders also forbid oppressing the resident alien who is lawfully present. All nations may (and should) receive true refugees and lawful immigrants who can be absorbed without destroying the rule of law and social trust. So, the biblical witness regarding the present issue of mass migration is a clear witness against mass scale and speed that destabilizes a host nation. The biblical witness is clearly against the elevation of global mobility over and above the rights and duties of citizenship, and it’s against treating borders as morally illegitimate. However, it is also clearly not a rejection of all migration or of mercy toward the sojourning stranger who comes with well-meaning intentions and under lawful terms.

My sincere prayer is that this balanced biblical instruction will be useful and helpful to you during these bewildering times we are living through.

Grace & Peace, Pastor Tim

THE DIVINE FIRE

In every Lutheran Church sanctuary there’s a special lamp (often with a red glass shell) that burns steadily in the chancel area near the altar. This lamp is known primarily as the “Sanctuary Lamp” (also known as the “Eternal Flame”) and it’s a quiet but powerful symbolic witness. Far from mere decoration, this lamp carries deep biblical roots and rich spiritual meaning for us today — especially as we prepare to celebrate Pentecost Sunday.

The Sanctuary Lamp is no modern invention; its origins reach back to the very commands God gave in the Old Testament. In Exodus 27:20–21, the Lord instructed Moses: “You shall further command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of beaten olives for the light, so that a lamp may be set up to burn continually… Aaron and his sons shall tend it… It shall be a perpetual ordinance to be observed throughout their generations by the Israelites.”

This perpetual lamp stood in the Wilderness Tabernacle and later in the Jerusalem Temple. It burned as a visible sign of the Lord’s abiding presence. In Jewish tradition, this lamp is called the “Ner Tamid” (meaning Eternal Light) and is still found today in synagogues near the ark that holds the Torah scrolls. It proclaims that the Holy One, the Maker of the Universe, is forever present and will honor his covenant promises.

From the beginning of the Church of Jesus Christ, Christians carried this ancient biblical symbol into the worship life of the Church. In Lutheran congregations, the Sanctuary Lamp burns in the chancel area near the altar to emphasize the real and true presence of Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar (a.k.a. Holy Communion). Therefore, in addition to declaring the steady presence of God’s Holy Spirit, this special lamp also quietly testifies to the real presence of Christ in, with and through his Holy Supper given and poured out for us.

Consequently, Lutheran sanctuaries have long cherished this symbol as part of our “catholic” (meaning universal) Christian Faith. The red glass of the lamp often evokes biblical images of God’s Eternal Fire manifested to Abraham as a mystical firepot and flaming torch, and manifested to Moses as a burning bush that was not consumed. And for all those J.R.R. Tolkien fans, it brings to mind Tolkien’s fantasy writings in which he references God’s “Flame Imperishable” that refers to the primordial Divine Fire of God Almighty at the center of creation — at the center of all that is, both seen and unseen. Moreover, the red glass and glow of the Sanctuary Lamp remind us of the Fire of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

As we approach Pentecost Sunday in this Year of Our Lord 2026, the Sanctuary Lamp highlights rich meaning for us. On that first Pentecost over two thousand years ago, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples “with a sound like a mighty rushing wind” and appeared as “tongues of fire” that rested on each of them (Acts 2:2–3). This is the birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ! What began in the Wilderness Tabernacle and Jerusalem Temple has now burst forth as the Living Fire of the Holy Spirit poured out on all baptized believers in Christ!

So, the Sanctuary Lamp burning beautifully in our Mt. Olive sanctuary illustrates this Pentecostal reality. For indeed, the Holy Spirit sent by the Risen Christ now dwells perpetually in his Holy Universal Church. He enlightens our minds with his Holy Scriptures, kindles true faith within our hearts by his grace, and empowers us with his Holy Gospel to let our light shine in his name. The red glow of the Sanctuary Lamp invites us to remember that the same Holy Spirit who set the Apostles ablaze at Pentecost still burns brightly among us, within us, and through us, comforting the sorrowful, strengthening the weak, and uniting us as One Body in Christ.

On Pentecost Sunday, when we hear again those ancient events of wind and fire, I invite you to be sure to direct your gaze toward the Sanctuary Lamp during worship that Sunday morning. See in its steady flame the promise that God’s presence is not seasonal or occasional — it is eternal. The lamplight that shone in the Tabernacle, that filled the Temple, and that shines near the altar of Christian congregations throughout the world, signifies the Living Light that shines in every baptized believer through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

May you always let the Sanctuary Lamp remind you of the long history of salvation, giving thanks that the God who commanded the lamp to first burn in the Wilderness Tabernacle is the same Lord and Savior who says to us today, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). May the Sanctuary Lamp continually stir in us a deeper awareness of Christ’s presence, especially in his Holy Word and Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, and may the Holy Spirit strengthen and keep our hearts burning within us with the faith, hope and love of Jesus Christ until he returns in glory.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love!

Together in Christ, Pastor Tim

LET US PRAY FOR 2026

The Word of God within the Holy Bible gives us amazing guidance on prayer, instructing us to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It also says the following:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.” (First Timothy 2:1-2)

So, I’d like to offer the following extended prayer that I wrote for the New Year ahead:

Brothers and sisters in Christ, LET US PRAY for this Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six…

Almighty and wonder-full God, we give you our thanks for your all-encompassing Presence as the One Source of all that is, both seen and unseen. We also give you thanks and praise for the birth, life, teachings, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. O God, in you we live, move and have our being, and by your grace in Christ we receive eternal consolation, assurance, wholeness and renewal.

As you are the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), you are in charge and you lead the way. You never leave us nor forsake us, and your steadfast love endures forever. Whether we live or die, in this life or the next, we are in your hands. You lead us, O Lord our God, on paths we do not yet know. There is a tomorrow we cannot see, and there are bends in the road we cannot know. But we know you will faithfully lead us according to your plan and purpose, because you are the Faithful One.

In this merciless world, you give mercy. In this graceless world, you give us grace upon grace. By your grace, we live a God-conscious life, which is a daily relationship of moment-by-moment dialogue with you and trust in you, no matter what happens or doesn’t happen. And by your grace, we follow you and abide in you. What amazing peace and joy you grant us!!!

And in response to your unlimited grace and steadfast love, we live lives of worship, prayer, Holy Scripture study, tenderheartedness, lovingkindness, hospitality and charity. Help us, therefore, to use times of crisis as opportunities for serving those in need and sharing your truth in love. And in times of adversity, we pray that you will draw us closer to you all the more.

O God, the great “I Am” of the Holy Scriptures, we pray these things in the saving name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The grace and peace of Christ be with you all in 2026!!! Pastor Tim

SOLUS CHRISTUS

In Luke 12:35-40, our Lord Jesus talks about spiritual preparedness and faithful readiness — about staying faithful, staying awake, staying alert, because we don’t know the hour when the Son of God will come again to make all things new. In fact, Jesus says, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like those waiting for their master to return…”

So, how do we stay “dressed ready” with our “lamps burning” when the world around us is shouting at us from every direction? How do we avoid getting tangled up in the lies and deceptions that surround us? How do we endure in true faith when the pressures of life and the noise of the culture try to lead us astray from Jesus Christ our Savior?

Well, the answer is the living and active Lamp of God’s Word within the Holy Scriptures that lights our path and keeps us from stumbling in the darkness of this world’s falsehoods. It’s trusting in the Word of God come what may, just like Abraham and Sarah, Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Joseph and Mary. That’s faith — trusting in what God says, even when the world says it’s foolish.

In Hebrews chapter 11, we hear about a kind of Faith Hall of Fame, listing those who lived by trusting in God’s Word, even when they couldn’t see the whole picture. They didn’t see the fulfillment of all God’s promises in their lifetime, but they kept their eyes on the “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). They stayed faithful because they anchored their lives in what God had spoken, and that’s what we’re called into as we await the eventual return of Jesus our Lord.

But let’s be honest: There’s so much confusion, so many voices telling us what’s true, telling us what’s up and what’s down. For indeed, it’s spiritual warfare we’re engaged in! And our Lord Jesus warned us in Matthew 24 that many will come in the last days claiming to have the truth, with false teachers and deceivers trying to lead even God’s people astray.

Now, I have to confess that I consider myself to be a very ecumenical person. That is, I’m someone who respects and encourages interdenominational relations and cooperation within the Universal Church of Jesus Christ. In other words, I’m broadly supportive of Team Jesus in all its forms and expressions. In addition, I also consider myself to be generally affirming of interreligious dialogue, which means I’m supportive of conversation between the different religions of humanity for the purpose of mutual understanding and nonviolent coexistence. However, as a Christian of the Lutheran Confession, I am bound by conscience to the Word of God to always assert and freely declare the preeminent gospel truth that reconciliation and salvation with God comes in/with/through Christ alone — which is the Solus Christus of the Protestant Reformation. (Solus Christus is Latin for “Christ Alone.”)

Honestly, I really don’t like being controversial in my gospel proclamation, but the New Covenant gospel principle of Solus Christus will always be controversial no matter what, in all times and places. As a result, the following is some straightforward gospel controversy… Like the TV streaming platforms of Apple+, Disney+ and Paramount+, our fallen and sinful humanity will always prefer a “Christ+” belief (so to speak) over and above the gospel principle of Christ Alone. Consequently, throughout history we have seen attempt after attempt to uplift some sort of Christ+ theological scheme. There was the “Christ + good works” theology of the opponents of the Apostle Paul, as they tried to add our good works in cooperation with Christ’s atoning work for our salvation. But St. Paul, in no uncertain terms, completely and categorically rejected any idea of our ability to add anything to Christ’s work for our eternal salvation.

Not that our good works are bad, of course. In fact, good works are very much a part of our Christian faith. We are saved by God’s grace alone through faith in Christ alone, not by our good works; however, we are saved by God’s grace in Christ for the sake of living a Christ-like life of good works as best we can — for doing good works as our way of life in response to God’s free grace given us (see Ephesians 2:8-10).

Continuing on, there was also the “Christ + secret esoteric knowledge” of the ancient Gnostics, seeking to add secret spiritual knowledge to Christ for our salvation. But here’s where it gets even more controversial… Much later, in the Seventh Century AD, the “Christ + a Prophet” theology out of Arabia came along and insisted on the addition of the ministry of Muhammad for the salvation of the human race. Then fast-forward to the Nineteenth Century AD, when there arose yet another “Christ + a Prophet” theology that promoted the idea of an additional lost-and-found testament to Christ that had been buried away by an ancient American named Moroni. And then, during that same Nineteenth Century, in the Year of our Lord 1854, there was the “Christ + Mary” dogma of the Immaculate Conception of St. Mary, stating that Mary herself was born without sin — which arguably, and in all actuality, elevates Mary to the status of co-redeemer with Christ our Lord.

So, whether it’s Christ plus good works, or Christ plus a secret esoteric knowledge, or Christ plus some prophet, or Christ plus Mary, or Christ plus any other prophetic addition or unbiblical innovation, we are conscience-bound to the plain and precious gospel truth of Christ Alone. For there is only One who was born without sin: Christ alone. There is only One who is the Almighty God incarnate in human flesh: Christ alone. There is only One who conquered sin and death on our behalf: Christ alone. There is only One who is the Mediator between God and humanity: Christ alone.

Therefore, regarding Christian faith and salvation? Regarding Christian justification and sanctification? Regarding Christian life and hope? All thanks, praise and glory be to God, because it’s CHRIST ALONE who bestows these all-surpassing gifts!

So again, how do we guard our hearts and stay on the right path? We cling to the Word of God within the Holy Scriptures. For indeed, when we read the Bible regularly, and when we explore it with others in small group Bible studies, then the Word of God within the pages of the Bible becomes a shield around our hearts, keeping our spiritual lamps full with the oil of the Holy Spirit, ready for the Great Day of our Master’s glorious Second Advent yet to come.

In these times of rampant deception, as we wait for the Lord’s return, let’s be a people who cling to the Word of God like all those in the Faith Hall of Fame found in Hebrews 11. The world may try to fool us, but God’s Word will never fail — for the Word of the Lord is our guiding light in the darkness, our spiritual sword and shield in these days. So, let’s keep ourselves in the Word — abide in it and know it well — and by God’s grace and Holy Spirit, it is Christ alone who will keep us firmly grounded in his truth and salvation unto the very end, and beyond the end.

Together in Christ, Pastor Tim

CALLED TO WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP

As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, our Christian faith is not meant to be lived in isolation. The Bible clearly emphasizes the importance of believers gathering in regular communal worship and actively participating in a local church fellowship. And as Lutherans, we confess that God has called us to live out our faith in community, gathering regularly for grace-filled worship and fellowship. Rooted in the Holy Scriptures and guided by the Lutheran Confessions, this call reflects God’s gracious design for his people to receive his good gifts, grow in faith, serve one another, and witness to Christ within our fallen and sinful world, united as the Body of Christ.

The Scriptures make clear that gathering together for worship is a divine command for believers. In Hebrews 10:24-25, we receive firm exhortation for this purpose, where it states the following: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day [of the Lord’s return] drawing near.” This passage emphasizes the necessity of regular assembly, where believers receive God’s Word and Sacrament, and where they give one another mutual encouragement in faith, especially in view of Christ’s imminent Second Advent to come.

The Lutheran Confessions affirm this biblical mandate. The Augsburg Confession (Article VII) defines the Church as “the congregation of saints in which the gospel is purely taught and the sacraments are rightly administered.” Regular communal worship is the context where these powerful means of God’s grace (i.e., Christ’s Word and Sacrament) are faithfully delivered, sustaining and strengthening us in true faith and hope. In addition, we as Lutherans believe that the Lord himself is at work in our assemblies of worship forgiving sins, creating faith, and renewing his people through his gifts. And as we gather together in praise and prayer, we participate in a foretaste of the heavenly worship described in Revelation 5:9-14.

No Christian is meant to function alone. Our faith is not solitary but lived out in the context of a local church fellowship. We are baptized into the community of Jesus Christ where we depend on one another and serve with our God-given gifts. The Small Catechism teaches that the Holy Spirit “calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth.” And this calling, gathering, enlightening, and sanctifying happens concretely in the local congregation, where believers hear the biblical Word of God proclaimed (both law and gospel). Moreover, the local church is also the place of mutual care and accountability. For Galatians 6:1-2 calls us to “bear one another’s burdens,” which requires active involvement in a fellowship where relationships foster love and support.

Faithful participation in a local church yields profound spiritual benefits. First, it anchors us in God’s grace. Second, it strengthens us to live out our various vocations of family, work, citizenship, and so on. Third, the local church is God’s primary instrument for mission. Jesus’ Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is a corporate call, fulfilled as believers work together to evangelize, support missions, and amplifying our impact for God’s Kingdom. By being faithful members of our own congregation, Mount Olive Lutheran Church, we contribute to this work of the Kingdom.

Despite the clear biblical mandate, too many Christians at this present time neglect communal worship, citing their busyness or personal preferences, or their disillusionment with imperfect human organizations. Yet, Scripture warns against this in Hebrews 10:25, as isolation seriously weakens our faith and hinders our growth in Christ. While no congregation or organization of the Church of Jesus Christ is perfect, God nevertheless calls us to commit to a local congregational assembly and “to bear with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

In our digital age, some may argue that online services or private devotions are sufficient. But while these digital and private alternatives can help supplement our faith, they cannot replace the embodied, relational nature of the Living Church of Christ gathered in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The biblical vision of divine worship involves physical presence, shared sacraments, and personal ministry — elements that virtual platforms cannot duplicate.

God commands his people to gather regularly for worship and to be faithful members of a congregational fellowship, because it is his design for our spiritual flourishing. As Lutherans we rejoice in this command and calling to prioritize corporate worship, engage actively in our congregation (including participation in one of our two small group Bible studies), and use our gifts to serve one another. So let us heed the call of Scripture: Do not neglect meeting together. And in this, we honor God, encourage one another, and prepare for the great “Day” when we will worship him forever in perfect fellowship and eternal joy.

Happy Summertime! Pastor Tim

PASTOR TIM’S ANNUAL REPORT

Over the past several years at Mt. Olive, we’ve been engaging with our community in new ways, especially through our annual Vacation Bible School and Trunk or Treat events. We are also in the beginning stages of a new relationship with Trail Life USA. And with Justin Tagawa’s input on our church council, we are looking into new ways we can utilize our church property for mission and ministry within our Crescenta Valley community.

In addition to all of this, we’ve started an outreach Bible study at Panera Bread Restaurant in La Cañada every third Saturday at 8:30am. We also have a Meetup.com page for this special Bible study, and we’ve had three Bible study participants join us from this social media page so far.

Regarding worship, we are rotating between three liturgies throughout the year: ELW 2, ELW 4 (which is basically LBW 2), and Victory Feast. Jim Tagawa has formed the Cross Street Kids group with our little ones, and they have presented various musical offerings for worship several times this past year. We continue to be blessed to have Sean Paxton and Angela Zelaya direct our choirs. Rita Kubela and the Sanctuary Decorations Committee continue to decorate the sanctuary for our annual cycles of worship. Furthermore, we are also holding joint worship services with Lutheran Church in the Foothills (LCIF) for Ash Wednesday and Thanksgiving Eve each year on a rotating basis.

Lastly but most importantly, we continue to faithfully offer Christ to and for all people. Our clear message to the Crescenta Valley community continues to be the following:

God loves you, and he has poured out his love for you in and through Jesus Christ. By his sacrificial death and resurrection life, Christ renews your life.

At Mt. Olive Lutheran Church we continue to proclaim Christ crucified for us and for all people. Visitors to Mt. Olive find God with his people. Every Sunday morning at 9:30am they find a grace-filled encounter with God through the Holy Word and Blessed Sacrament of Jesus our Lord, as well as through sacred prayers, time-honored hymns and spiritual songs. Moreover, every week at our midweek Bible study, and every third Saturday at our outreach Bible study at Panera, people find personal connection and spiritual relationship with each other around the Word of God within the Holy Scriptures.

May the love, grace and peace of Christ our Lord be with all of you!

Respectfully Submitted in the Name of Jesus Christ, Pastor Tim

GOD’S TWO KINGDOMS

With all the “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) these days, many Christians are wondering what God’s Word within the Holy Bible says to us about such things. In particular, with regard to Russia/Ukraine, Azerbaijan/Armenia, Iran/Israel, and China/Taiwan, is there a general guiding principle of Christian doctrine that we can draw upon in order to help us process all that’s going on in our world right now? For although Ukraine, Armenia, Israel and Taiwan are not perfect nations (no nation is), and they do not have completely innocent histories (no nation does), the Western democratic world is nevertheless rallying in support and defense of these countries who are fighting an existential struggle against adversaries who are seeking their utter destruction as free independent nations.

Lutheran Christians have traditionally followed the Two Kingdoms Doctrine in our understanding of the relationship of Church and State. Rooted in the Holy Scriptures, this doctrine affirms that God established two primary realms of societal order: 1) the kingdom of God’s right hand, and 2) the kingdom of God’s left hand. Simply put, the so-called kingdom of God’s right hand is the Church and the kingdom of God’s left hand is the State. Specifically, the kingdom of God’s left hand refers to the State’s God-given responsibility for law enforcement and military service for the sake of an orderly and peaceable society. As it says in Romans chapter 13, God has instituted the governing authorities “to bear the sword” (13:4) to exact justice upon the wrongdoer. As a result, Lutheran Christians have always honored the vocations of law enforcement and military service as God-ordained functions within society for the sake of good order. Therefore, the kingdom of God’s left hand (the State) is the realm of law, justice and peacekeeping; however, the kingdom of God’s right hand (the Church) is the realm of forgiveness, mercy and peacemaking. So ideally, with both peacekeeping on one hand and peacemaking on the other, the whole structure of human society functions and thrives.

Now, as we apply this Two Kingdoms Doctrine to what’s going on in our globalized world today, we can acknowledge the important role of our armed forces in defending democracy, liberty and commerce. For example, if there was no United States Navy defending freedom of navigation then the seaways would be strangled by authoritarian autocrats and pirate warlords. Consequently, since the end of WWII our governing authorities have worked to cooperate with other democratic nations of the world to maintain the most peaceful and prosperous era in human history (broadly speaking, of course).

On the other hand, the Church (the kingdom of God’s right hand) worships the Prince of Peace, so we always seek to faithfully exercise our role as peacemakers within our world according to the eternal principles of the gospel…

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

We recognize that the kingdom of God’s left hand (the State) in its peacekeeping role and the kingdom of God’s right hand (the Church) in its peacemaking role are both essential. And we also recognize that people of faith who have been called into law enforcement or military service are uniquely positioned by God to operate within both realms, and they offer us a great bridge of understanding. For example, I proudly served in our armed forces in the USAF as a young man; however, as a Christian, I’m also called to be a builder of bridges for understanding and peace.

In the face of wars and rumors of wars in these times, we acknowledge the important role of our peacekeeping forces, but we Christians also continually seek peacemaking solutions and peaceful resolutions within our world — always looking toward the great and glorious Day of the Lord when “Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

And so, with one voice in universal chorus, we exclaim, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:21).

In Christ’s Peace, Pastor Tim

SACRED WATER

As our Foothills community leaves behind the annual “May gray” and “June gloom” season of overcast mornings with occasional small weather systems coming through, we are now entering the bone-dry season of July through September/October. And although we can sometimes forget we live in an arid climate because of all the irrigated landscaping we enjoy, the simple truth is that we live where the desert meets the sea. Therefore, large-scale desalination (making fresh water from salt water), using a combination of low-carbon energy sources (wind, solar, natural gas, geothermal, nuclear and hydroelectric), along with increased large-scale water storage, are clear and present necessities for the sustained wellbeing of Southern California.

However, the arid climate of our part of the country and the 3+ months of dry season we’re entering are powerful reminders of the preciousness of water and its sacredness when connected to God’s Word for the baptismal covenant that God makes with us in Holy Baptism. For indeed, water is sacred both because it’s the most basic molecular element for physical life and because it’s the most basic sacramental element for incorporating us into God’s New Covenant established through Jesus Christ our Lord. In fact, the New Testament of the Holy Bible is clear about the sacramental and covenantal use of water according to God’s Word…

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
ROMANS 6:3-4

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the bathing water [mikvah] of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This saying is sure.
TITUS 3:4-8a

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
MATTHEW 28:19-20

While some Christian traditions teach that Holy Baptism is exclusively for adult believers, not for young children or infants, Lutheran Christians understand the Bible as presenting the Sacrament of Baptism as inclusive of people at every stage of life. For Lutherans, we acknowledge that the early Church of Jesus Christ baptized both adults and entire households, including young children and infants. And we know this from the baptisms of whole households in the biblical Book of Acts as well as from the earliest of Christian Church writings from the First Century AD. Moreover, we Lutheran Christians also see the Holy Bible as presenting a covenantal understanding of Holy Baptism that’s similar to but exceeds the covenant of circumcision in the Old Testament.

Just as the Old Testament sign and seal of the Hebraic Covenant is physical circumcision — and afterward the circumcised Jewish male is expected to respond to and affirm this covenant of God in his adult life — so likewise Holy Baptism is the New Testament sign and seal of God’s New Covenant in Christ that we (both male and female) are to respond to and affirm for ourselves in our adulthood by the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this covenantal theology of the Lutheran branch of the Christian Faith differs from Christian traditions which teach that Holy Baptism is merely symbolic.

Thanks be to God for our new birth into a living hope through God’s baptismal covenant with us! Baptized into Jesus Christ and his Church, the resurrection life of Jesus becomes our resurrection life. And as often as we affirm and abide in this baptismal grace through faith, we are “born again from above” (John 3:3-8) with a spiritual “circumcision of the heart” (Romans 2:29), over and over again, granting us continual renewal as beloved children of God throughout our lives.

Grace & Peace, Pastor Tim

WAR & PEACE

With the “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) of our 21st Century world, many Christians are wondering what God’s Word within the Bible says to us about such things. In particular, with Russia’s war against Ukraine in Eastern Europe and with “rumors of wars” brewing between China and Taiwan in the Western Pacific, I’ve been hearing questions about what the Bible has to say (especially the New Testament) regarding all of this. So, I thought I’d use my church article this month to do some biblical and theological reflections concerning war and peace from a Lutheran perspective.

Specifically, the kingdom of God’s left hand refers to the State’s God-given responsibility for law enforcement and military service for the sake of an orderly and peaceable society. As it says in Romans chapter 13, God has instituted the governing authorities “to bear the sword” (13:4) to exact justice upon the wrongdoer. As a result, Lutheran Christians have always honored the vocations of law enforcement and military service as God-ordained functions within society for the sake of good order.

Therefore, the kingdom of God’s left hand (the State) is the realm of law, justice and peacekeeping. While at the same time, the kingdom of God’s right hand (the Church) is the realm of forgiveness, mercy and peacemaking. And with both peacekeeping on one hand and peacemaking on the other, the whole structure of human society functions and thrives.

Functioning as the so-called kingdom of God’s left hand, our governing authorities have exercised the peacekeeping role of the State according to the longstanding foreign policy principle of peace through strength. As the Roman Christian, nobleman and scholar of the late 300’s AD, Flavius Vegetius Renatus, famously wrote, “If you want peace then prepare for war” (Si vis pacem para bellum). But of course, “The soldier above all others prays for peace” (General Douglas MacArthur).

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

We recognize that the kingdom of God’s left hand (the State) in its peacekeeping role and the kingdom of God’s right hand (the Church) in its peacemaking role are both essential. And we also recognize that people of faith who have been called into law enforcement or military service are uniquely positioned by God to operate within both realms, and they offer us a great bridge of understanding. For example, I proudly served in our armed forces in the USAF as a young man. But as a Christian, I’m also called to be a builder of bridges for understanding and peace.

In the face of wars and rumors of wars in these times, we acknowledge the important role of our peacekeeping forces, but we Christians also continually seek peacemaking solutions and peaceful resolutions within our world — always looking toward the great and glorious Day of the Lord when “Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

And so, with one voice in universal chorus, we exclaim, “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:21).

Grace & Peace, Pastor Tim

WHY DOES GOD LOVE US?

As Christians we’re very acquainted with the gospel message that God loves us, and that God loves us so much that he gave to the world his Divine Son, our Lord Jesus the Messiah (Mashiach), to atone for our sinfulness and to redeem us from sin, death and the devil. But have you ever wondered why God loves us?

So, why is it that God loves us in the first place?

Thankfully, we find the beautiful and powerful answer to this question from the Word of God within the Holy Scriptures. In many passages throughout the Holy Bible, the twofold biblical reason why God loves us so much is simply because we are [1] his cherished creations and [2] his beloved children. As God’s cherished creations, we are his artwork, his building, his craftsmanship. We are God’s painting, God’s musical composition, God’s architectural design, God’s masterwork. And, of course, as we are Almighty God’s offspring (children of our Heavenly Father), we are loved with a fully parental, self-giving and self-sacrificing kind of love.

(Psalm 139:13-14a) – “For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works…”
(Isaiah 64:8) – “Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
(Matthew 6:9) – “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’…”

We are indeed cherished creations and beloved children of God, first and foremost. Humankind is created in the image of God (imago Dei) as a complementary balance of female and male (yin/yang), and, although women and men are very different, we are equal in our God-given value and dignity. In addition, humanity is a beautiful kaleidoscope of ethnicities and cultures, but we are one human race that is endowed with inalienable human rights and responsibilities.

(Genesis 1:27) – “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
(Acts 17:26-29) – “From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God, and perhaps grope for him and find him — though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals…”

Consequently, our core identity is not centered on any sociological ideology or theory of conflict that’s obsessed with group identities, differences and partialities. Rather, as beloved children of God, our core identity is purely based upon the universal truth of the Word of God and upon the all-encompassing love and grace of God revealed in Jesus the Christ (Christos).

(John 17:17) – “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth.”
(Ephesians 5:1-2) – “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Knowing why God loves us, we can live our daily lives in this wonderful awareness “as beloved children.” Although our human condition is fallen and sinful, our human nature is divine as offspring of Almighty God. So, we must always uplift and rejoice in our true identity and heavenly heritage as human beings.

Therefore, we praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom God created us and the countless worlds of our universe (see John 1:1-4 and Colossians 1:15-17 and Hebrews 1:1-2). With deep gratitude and thanksgiving, we can live every single day in the awareness that we are cherished creations and beloved children of our Heavenly Father, and that God loves us so much that he gave us his Holy Son, Jesus (Yeshua), to be the once-and-for-all sacrificial offering of atonement for the sins of humanity (see John 3:16-17 and Hebrews 10:10-14 and First John 4:9-11). Glory to God in the highest!!!

Happy Thanksgiving & Good Advent! Pastor Tim