The Marathon Mentality
August 10, 2020
by Pastor Don Willeman
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Not Getting too Comfortable
June 5, 2020
by Pastor Don Willeman
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Transcript:
Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of The Kingdom Perspective.
How should we respond to what the COVID isolation has done to our public worship?
We should feel like something is missing. God has not destined for us to worship in this scattered manner.
We are embodied, communal creatures. God made us flesh and bone, and He made us in community with other flesh and bone creatures. At the creation of Adam in Genesis 2, God says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” In the immediate context, this leads to a statement on marriage. But Genesis is just the beginning of the story. Remember how traces out down the sight lines of the Bible. At the end of the biblical story, we see that this is not merely a statement about the meaning of marriage, but more so about the meaning of the church (see Ephesians 5:30 and Revelation).
Why did God design a world with a community of flesh and bone divine image bearers? He did so precisely because He intended His church to worship Him together, in flesh and bone. He actually sent His one and only Son to become physically one with us, so that he might be with us forever. Like Adam over Eve, Jesus sings over us his church, “Flesh of my flesh! Bone of my bone!” (Genesis 2)
Therefore, there is something about “virtual worship” that should leave us feeling a bit uncomfortable and unsatisfied, longing for something more. We live in a world under the effects of sin. Sin separates what belongs together. Someday when the fullness of our salvation comes, all that has been separated will be brought back together before the throne of Christ—in glorious embodied resurrection!
Nonetheless, in this in between time, we believe in the mystical union of the saints—that though we may be scattered, we are still united under the kingly presence of Jesus our Lord, by the abiding power of His Holy Spirit.
Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.
“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”
~ Ephesians 5:28-32 NASB
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.””
~ Revelation 7:9-12 NASB
Be Thankful!
June 3, 2020
by Pastor Don Willeman
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Transcript:
Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of The Kingdom Perspective.
What should we as a church do in the face of the coronavirus?
We should give thanks! The Scripture commands us: “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB). Likewise, give “thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
You see, Christians ought to be the most grateful people. Our hearts ought to overflow with an attitude of gratitude at every turn, because we know that God our heavenly Father is sovereign over every situation and is orchestrating all things, even the difficult and challenging, for our good.
So much of life is a matter of perspective, and that is often determined by whether or not you practice the art of thankfulness. Studies show that those who practice gratitude (thinking about and thanking others on a daily basis) are happier than those who don’t. This only makes sense, because nothing is more therapeutic than getting our eyes off ourselves.
We have so much to be thankful for—healthcare workers faithfully serving their community, researchers working tirelessly to do testing and find a cure, employees and employers that have sacrificed tremendously for one another, friends and family that have patiently persevered with us through this trial.
Here’s my advice. Take a moment today to express your thanks. It will cost you very little and you’ll gain so much.
Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
~ 1 Thessalonians 5 NASB
Loving, not Judging One Another
June 1, 2020
by Pastor Don Willeman
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Transcript:
Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of the Kingdom Perspective.
How should we respond to the differing personal opinions brought about by opening our society post-COVID?
We should not judge one another but seek to accept and love one another in our various opinions.
According to Scripture, one of chief ways that we are to love our neighbor is by making room for their differing opinions. The Bible invites us to give one another much room for matters of conscience (Romans 14).
As our society goes through the process of opening up, it is likely that there will be conflict over differing approaches. There is a spectrum of fear and freedom upon which we are all processing this move back into public engagement. Some of us feel greater freedom. Others are going to feel greater fear. Regardless, the Bible tells us that “loving our neighbor” requires us to give one another space for differing views. Certainly, we are to respect all the guidelines laid down by our public health officials. But even under these guidelines there will be a lot of room for differing approaches.
And it is at this point of differing approaches that I must be careful not to stand in judgment or disdain of my brother or sister who feels greater freedom or greater fear than me. Rather, I am to accept them and think and speak the best about them. Even more so, I am to do my best to accommodate them. In the words of Romans 14, I am to “pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding” (Romans 14:19).
This is hard work. It’s the hard work of loving my neighbor. It requires me to value the perspective of others as highly as I value my own (Philippians 2:3-4).
And that’s something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.
“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother….
So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”
~ Romans 14 ESV
Chinese Christian Heroes
May 29, 2020
by Pastor Don Willeman
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Transcript:
Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of the Kingdom Perspective.
What should you do in the face of the coronavirus epidemic?
We should take inspiration from reports of our fellow brothers and sisters in China.
In the early days of the epidemic, reports from the Chinese churches began to leak out of Wuhan. Listen to the following report from early February:
“Nothing stopped [the Christians]…from proclaiming the gospel, not even the plague.
Now it is the 10th day since the city has been separated by quarantine, and protective masks are the most valuable thing in Wuhan. Money is useless because you can’t find a store that sells the masks. People are in a desperate situation. In response, our brothers and sisters preach the gospel and give out tracts and free masks. They are sharing the word of hope and comfort from God. They have become more and more favored in the city, even in the authorities’ eyes.
…churches in Wuhan keep themselves away from all the rumors and political issues, they just do what a true Christian should do in this situation: preaching the gospel and being witness of true peace and true hope that come from Jesus Christ in front of the non-believers who are in panic and hopelessness.
…Christians wearing yellow suits [i.e. Christian ministers on the streets in yellow healthcare protective gear]…[has made the color yellow] the most beautiful color in the city. Christian gained the respect that they never had because of their willingness to risk their health to serve.”
Now, perhaps, the cultural setting would change what serving one’s neighbor for Christ would look like, but nothing should change the gospel impulse to do so.
Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.
“I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”
~ Philippians 2:25-30 (ESV)
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