The God of All Comfort
by Shaun Murray
Over the next months our newsletter will be written by one of our elder candidates as a way for him to develop his ministry to the church.
Brothers and sisters, as we go into March there is one thing that keeps ringing in my ears and in my mind, something that I believe we all need. Each and every one of us has been hit on all sides the past two years. The trials we have experienced with Covid, the ups and downs of ever-changing policies, strained marriages, war overseas, children at home, friends and family who have died, politics that are divided as ever, pain and suffering–physical, mental, and emotional. What keeps us going? What can provide the hope and joy and life and PEACE that we all so desperately need?
It is this verse that rings in my ears and mind during this time: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Cor. 1:3-4 ESV). What a beautiful and majestic verse, a verse that calls us out of ourselves, our navel-gazing and inward focus, and lifts our eyes to our great and mighty God. Our God, who is sovereign in his love and grace, who takes our fears and anxieties and lays them upon His most beautiful Son. His Son, who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of God. He is there ruling through all our afflictions and trials, our High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses and responds with lavish love through our Comforter the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. I want to reflect on a few things that should help us during this time.
God is sovereign – Our society has given and will continue to promise the latest and greatest technology to end the pandemic and bring life back to normal. Maybe some of these things have worked or will work, but we must remember at all times that our hope does not rest in the latest technology or thing that science creates. It rests in our all-powerful, sovereign God who has created all things. This God spoke the world into existence. Spoke us into creation by the word of his mouth. Created our bodies, our food, our world, and created them Good. When the world is unstable God says, “Come to me, trust in me, seek me.” He says, “I am here for you, each individual whom I have set my love upon.” What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword, or Covid, or cyberattack, or war? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We must trust this great God during this time. We must look to him as our ultimate hope, our ultimate comfort, our ultimate peace. On Christ the solid Rock we stand. If you are afraid to come to church, afraid of getting Covid, if you feel isolated and alone, God calls you to him. God says, “Come, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Isaiah 40:29-31 says, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” We must band together during this time, meet together, hear the Word together, and encourage one another about our great and awesome God.
Jesus sympathizes with our weakness – We have a Lord Jesus Christ who never stops pursuing, never gives up, and is always there with his abundant love. If Christ has come and has lived on this earth, humbling himself; if he has experienced suffering and pain of every sort, how will he not be there to hear our prayers and provide comfort in all our afflictions and trials? How could he who did not even spare his own Son—he gave his Son up!—not graciously give us all things and work all things for our good? Jesus is the good shepherd who pursues his sheep, faces the wolves, takes on their bites, and keeps pursuing until we are safe and secure in his fold. He is our Lord and Savior who is always there saying, “Your burden is too much for you to bear; throw it upon me. Take your burdens, your pains, your sufferings, and throw them upon me. For I am gentle and lowly, and you shall find rest for your weary souls.”
Our Hope as Christians – God has promised us an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for us, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith. Read that again; stop and meditate on each of those words. This is your destiny; this is your life. Though our outer body and self are wasting away, our new self is being renewed daily. In this do you rejoice? In life eternal with our Triune God, in peace and rest and joy and life ever-increasing? In a knowledge and love for God and each other? All of eternity, ever-increasing, given Life upon Life. Oh, the joys that are set before us as we endure the trials and sufferings of this present evil age. Look to this hope. As Paul says, set your minds on things above where our Lord Jesus Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; set your minds on things above and not on things of this earth! For you have died to your old self, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, you will also appear with him in glory. This week turn off the news, turn off your phones, turn off all the things seeking to grab your attention. Stop and meditate on our Great Salvation, on God’s promises, on our Lord Jesus Christ, look to him at this time and find his peace that surpasses all understanding to guard your hearts and minds.
Beloved, my brothers and sisters, this is the Good News. Christ has come to bring salvation, salvation from fear, distress, anger, anxiety, depression, and lies. This is our God of all Comfort; may he comfort you so you may be a Comfort to others!
In Christ,
Shaun
January 10th Omicron Update
As you've likely seen, the county signed a public health order requiring respirators (or well-fitting face covering) beginning today. We've consistently tried to follow local guidelines, so we encourage everyone to do so during worship while this order is in effect. We'll provide more details in the coming days for how the order affects other church activities.
We know there are differing views on the response to COVID within our congregation. Some think we should have done this sooner; others wish we would not follow the order. Throughout this pandemic, we've worked hard to keep our differences on this matter from dividing us. In a nation that is quickly doing just that, we believe it's important for us to show that Christ is greater than our views on these things.
We're praying for you; please pray for us as we seek to shepherd this congregation.
When God Plants Our Feet Far From Our Plans
I’m writing this as I sit out my days in quarantine with my family. Thankfully all of us have had mild symptoms. We’ve also discovered some hidden blessings–a slower pace of life and more intentional family time, playing games and doing puzzles together.
While there would have been worse times to catch COVID this year (my sister's and cousin’s weddings, a trip to visit my grandma who has never met Luke) there certainly could have been better times, like when I didn’t have a long-planned trip overseas quickly approaching. On November 4th I’m supposed to get on a plane to Kenya to teach a class at a local seminary and visit Pastor Sam and Amos Omia. But because I could still test positive for COVID even after recovering, I may not be able to go. I won’t know until I take my pre-travel COVID test. Pastor Sam is working to find a backup teacher, and we’re all praying for God’s will to be done.
The possibility of my cancelled trip has me thinking about Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans but the Lord determines our steps” (NLT). This is true all the time, but we usually aren’t aware of it until we see God is planting our foot far away from where we intended to walk. Initially our reaction is to fight back, push, pull, whatever it takes to get our foot on the path we’d planned. But it’s no use; God directs every step. I’m sure you’ve experienced that; I’m sure you’ve had your own version of planning to go to Kenya, but waking up in Utah.
More and more I’m convinced the gap between our plans and where our foot lands is so common because the criteria we use for our plans is often different from God’s criteria. When I take an honest look at my own heart, I see how much of my planning is wrapped around what is easy, what makes me look good, what is comfortable, what is enjoyable, what I want to do. These things aren’t bad–it’s completely fine to do something because you like it–, but they are not ultimate. When our plans are threatened, we can whip up five more noble-sounding reasons to justify our anger.
But God’s decision tree is different from ours. He doesn’t ignore our desires, but he does have deeper ones. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 says, “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”
I’m struck by the gap between my motives and God’s, the distance between where I planned to go and where my foot actually landed. If I’m honest, I rarely make decisions based on how much something will help me grow in holiness. Rarely am I willing to sacrifice what is easy, comfortable or pleasurable (even if it’s not bad) for something else that will help me grow in godliness. Have you ever said no to a job because it paid too much, and you know that you struggle with greed? Have you ever accepted an autoimmune disease because you know you're prone to mistrust God when it comes to your health? Did you ever welcome infertility because of how it forces you to see the sufficiency of Jesus? Embracing the hard things is tough; we rarely do it. If we have such a struggle just to eat healthily, how could we ever choose what is holy, especially when it hurts?
This isn’t to say Christians should become masochists for the sake of holiness. But we shouldn't fight so hard against God when he moves us far from our goal. His plans are best for us even if they aren’t what’s most pleasurable for us. The next time you find your feet far from where you’d intended, consider giving thanks; God is fulfilling his plan to make you holy and whole. One thousand years from now, that will be so much more valuable than a trip to Kenya, or retirement plans, or clear medical diagnoses.
Where do you see him directing your feet far from where you’d planned? Remember: God is good, and he’s good even in the minute details, down to each step of every day. So I may not know where my foot will land this Thursday night, but I can know that it is the best place for God to continue working to make me holy and whole.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Honoring God in a Pandemic
Back in March of 2020, I doubt many of us expected COVID to be at the top of our minds in September 2021. But, discouraging as it is for many of us, here we are. As the elders have talked about how to handle the recent COVID surge, we’ve been reminded there is a spiritual aspect to all of this; below are a number of my observations about how to honor God during these times.
Remember God Is in Charge
The Westminster Confession tells us in Chapter 3.1, “God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass.” This sentence is jam-packed with theological concepts that have filled entire books, but this is the gist: whatever comes to pass is not an accident, not a detour, and not plan B; it is part of God’s eternal design. COVID wasn’t a surprise, the delta variant wasn’t a curveball, and the surge in cases didn’t catch him off guard. Christians, take comfort! Horrible as they are, the events of this past year have only happened because they are part of God’s good plan established from eternity past.
Not only is God sovereign over the big picture, but he is also sovereign in the smaller details. Just as God knows every hair on our heads, he knows where every single COVID virion (a single virus particle) is. He’s counted them all, and when they multiply, he already knows their number. He knows where they are going and how they are spreading. While scientists grasp desperately at these things, God sees and knows all these things; most importantly, he is in charge of it all.
Perhaps there is no better doctrine to familiarize yourself with during a pandemic than the sovereignty of God; belief in that sovereignty both frees and compels us to live differently in a number of ways.
Pray
In times of suffering we are called to humble ourselves and pray. God’s plans were set from eternity past, yet by some mystery he calls us to pray for relief. Prayer shapes us more into God’s image. Prayer opens us up to be used for God’s purposes. Prayer reminds us that God is in charge of everything. Prayer is where God’s people pour their hearts out to him. Has COVID drawn you to greater prayer?
You Cannot Add A Day to Your Life
While the health and wellness industry brings in billions of dollars, Christians know a deeper truth: we cannot extend our lives. I don’t mean you should treat your body with reckless abandon–this would be testing God–, but no matter what you do, you will live exactly as long as God has planned. Psalm 139:16 says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” What a comfort to know that all our days are laid out by a Father who loves us, and we can’t cut our life short or prolong it.
This doesn't mean we should carelessly test God; the moment God has planned may be sooner than you think. But neither can you prolong your days with an abundance of caution. This understanding is like the bumpers on a bowling lane. It keeps us from living irresponsibly or thoughtlessly, but it also keeps us from locking ourselves in our homes. Knowing God will care for us frees us to go about the work he has called us to do.
Consider Others Above Yourself
Many of the debates (do we wear masks? where and how should we meet? do we practice social distancing?) revolve around data and studies and so on. While these are important, Christians also need to consider this: what shows a concern for others?
So many–healthcare workers, teachers, those who’ve lost family members–are worn down by or grieving what they’ve seen and experienced over the last year. The little things like wearing a mask without complaint or observing COVID precautions is a great way to honor them and show that you care for them. Regardless of your opinion on these precautions, they communicate care and concern for those who have been personally affected by COVID. Remember Philippians 2: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” And then it goes on to list all the reasons why Jesus could have taken advantage of his rights and privileges as God, but instead laid those things down out of care and love for others. Christians should be known for that same attitude.
Don’t Assume the Worst About Others
I’ve often heard people say, “I can’t believe they’re walking around outside in masks–they’re living in fear!” I’ve heard others say, “I can’t believe they aren't wearing masks; they must hate science.” But as I’ve talked with people on both sides of the spectrum, I’ve rarely found their reasons to be so black and white. People have (often personal) reasons for making the decisions they do. Perhaps someone they know suffered terrible side effects from the vaccine; perhaps they are caring for a sickly parent and want to be as careful as possible. Unfortunately, so many people jump to the worst conclusions for why people make the decisions they do, but Christians should by default assume the best of others.
Don’t Overlook Your Own Fears
Related to this is a tendency to quickly point out others’ fears while being blind to your own. “I’m not worried about the virus like others; statistically, very few die. I’m not going to live in fear.” But this is often accompanied by an unrecognized fear of the vaccine or the government. Others don’t worry about the vaccine or government overreach but seem to have missed their own paralyzing fear of COVID. As Christians, let’s be less quick to point out others’ fears and more willing to examine our own.
Give Thanks for Science, but Don’t Worship It
In ancient times, people believed the universe operated in chaotic and unpredictable ways, usually at the whims of volatile and moody gods. It was the Chrisitan worldview, underpinned by a God who spoke to create and uphold an orderly world, that led to the scientific revolution. The laws of science are our attempt to describe the speech God used to create and sustain. Today, Christians should not be dismissive of science, but give thanks to God that he’s allowed us to understand his world in such detail. Within our Reformed tradition, medical advances and vaccines are things that, historically, have been celebrated and welcomed.
We should also give thanks for how so much of scientific research recognizes what we would call total depravity. Double blind studies, open data, and replicable studies do much to minimize biases and other things that can contaminate or skew data. Before criticizing science, we should understand all the work that goes into ensuring that any one person, government, or agenda cannot manipulate scientific research. This doesn’t mean it can’t happen, but it’s harder than many of us realize.
Additionally, we ought to be careful in drawing our own scientific conclusions. It’s often recognized that one semester of Greek or a few months of self-teaching can do more harm than good for one’s understanding of Scripture. Eager students often make exegetical and linguistic fallacies left and right. Their cursory understanding of Greek makes them more likely to misinterpret Scripture. It’s only after deeper study that one begins to understand the complexity and nuance of the language. Likewise, many people’s cursory understanding of the relevant science may do more harm than good. While it is good to stay informed, that ought to be tempered by intellectual humility toward those with the hard-earned knowledge and expertise.
However, we do need to be careful not to put our faith and trust in science. As I mentioned in last week’s sermon, Martin Luther said faith and trust can turn anything (including science) into a god. I’ve always felt uneasy when people say, “Science says ___,” as if Science were a person who reveals absolute truth. Science can’t speak. Science is always changing. Humans observe, interpret data, and speak about what they find. Then they refine and adjust their conclusions as they discover more. Sometimes I wonder if the language of “science speaking” betrays our society's tendency to make an idol out of science. Ultimately, science won’t save us, it won’t end the pandemic, it won’t fix the deepest issues of our world. God, not science, speaks the authoritative word. In the end, we must rest in him.
Seek Refuge in God
Perhaps most importantly, during difficult times we should remember that God is our refuge. Suffering is an opportunity to draw in closer to the one bigger than our plague; let’s not waste it. I encourage you to become familiar with Psalm 46. It’s a powerful reminder that God is our refuge during times of unrest and turmoil. We do not find safety by escaping or ending the pandemic, but by finding refuge in the God who is present in the pandemic.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
August 2021 COVID Update
This past month I’ve experienced a growing discouragement as it’s become clear we’re not through COVID yet. It hasn’t just been the growing numbers, but Lisa has witnessed a growing sense of hopelessness and depression among many healthcare workers as once-shut-down COVID units are now back up because hospitals are running out of space.
At our last session meeting we discussed what the church should do as COVID numbers rise. Below are our current recommendations, what we might have to do, and what is more important to remember.
Our current recommendations:
Don’t forget God is in charge of everything, even viral strains. We cannot forget to pray and trust God through times of difficulty. Please pray for our church as well as the other churches we are connected to.
If you haven’t been vaccinated, we encourage you to do so. The church leadership has all been vaccinated for some time without ill effect.
Feel free to wear a mask during the service.
We will not judge someone’s spiritual state by whether they wear a mask or not.
We will continue to have a seating section that will be socially distanced and reserved for those who want to RSVP to the service. We will add more socially distanced seating as necessary.
We will continue to follow many of the protocols we’ve been following including opening the windows in the building to allow fresh air flow, sanitizing between services, etc.
If you feel sick, even if you don’t think it’s COVID, please stay home and watch the service online.
We will continue to have prepackaged communion as an option during our worship service.
Please consider others above yourself in your actions and words, particularly those most affected by COVID. Personally, I think of the many healthcare workers in our congregation who have experienced incredible stress and even trauma as they were thrust into difficult situations and watched so many die. I doubt any of them are emotionally ready to go through that again, and yet, the hospital beds are already filling up. Please ensure that you are helping to bear the burdens of these brothers and sisters in Christ.
What we might do:
Throughout COVID our practice was to follow the guidelines given by our local health officials. We plan to continue to do this. We hope it doesn’t come to this, but that could mean our services end up looking like they did last fall: encouraging everyone to wear masks, RSVPing to ensure social distancing, pausing our children's programs, etc.
We hope our elected officials will provide updated health guidance during this COVID surge, but if they don’t, we may decide to follow updated guidance from the CDC or the State Health Department, both of which are recommending masks for more and more people. We hope it doesn't come to this, but it may.
What matters more:
God was so good to our church this past year. Many churches lost people because they didn’t like how their church handled COVID, but to my knowledge, no one left our church because of this. (And it wasn’t because we all agreed on it.) Many people now find themselves in churches that fit their particular beliefs about COVID. God’s goodness presents a new difficulty for us. Can we continue to show unity and love to each other as we are again tested? I think it’s a net loss for the kingdom whenever churches divide along the same lines as society. Whether intentional or not, it shows to the world what our most important beliefs are, and rarely is it Christ and him crucified. One of the most rare, but needed, things today are churches that proclaim that the blood of Jesus has brought us together, and that blood runs thick. We will not lightly divide that blood which unifies us, particularly around issues that are not easily settled from Scripture or our historic creeds. You may have strong beliefs about what we should or shouldn't do regarding COVID, but I’d argue that, whatever those beliefs are, they are not as clearly prescribed by Scripture as our unity is. Consider Ephesians 4:1-6:
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
My prayer--and I hope yours too--is that, whatever challenges we may face over the coming months and year, the above words will remain true of our congregation. Frankly, I feel a bit more worried this go-around; can we handle the storm again? I pray God’s grace will be sufficient, and we can emerge from round two with the light of Christ shining with greater power into our ever-darkening world.
We’ll have more updates as the weeks go on, but we wanted to get you all thinking and praying about these things now.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
What Does Goes Really Want?
by Bryan Lee
My family moved to Utah for 18 months...more than nine years ago. When Melanie and I arrived with our 6-month-old twin boys, Utah was to be a stepping stone on our journey. We came to help a friend plant a church, then move on to our next step. But that didn’t work out. So we made new plans to leave Utah three to five years later. That didn’t work out either, and we’re still here. The more we planned to leave, the longer we ended up staying. Don’t get me wrong, Utah’s a pretty great place to live. The people are nice, the landscape is beautiful, and this state is all my kids know. We have so many good friends here, and so many memories. Why have we spent so much time wanting to leave?
To be clear, it isn’t that we didn’t like Utah, but if we couldn’t do what we’d set out to do, Melanie and I wanted to be near family. When God changes our plans, it is hard for many of us to admit that he is very powerful and we are not, so we spend a lot of time trying to wriggle ourselves out of his grip. Oftentimes he does things that are the opposite of what we want, and that can be pretty aggravating. All of the time, forever and always, no matter what, without any exceptions, he always gets his way. We can’t escape it. And since we can’t escape it, we complain that we had better plans for ourselves, but God kept getting in our way.
But that is also a wonderful truth — the best truth, in fact: All of the time, forever and always, no matter what, without any exceptions, he always gets his way. We cannot escape it...and that is the best possible thing for us.
“You saw me before I was born,” the Psalmist says. “Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16 NLT). God knows our words before we think them (139:4). He is everywhere; we can’t escape him (139:7-12). And because of this, he is worthy of all of our worship.
Still, you might ask yourself, as I have: If God always gets his way, how am I supposed to know what he wants me to do? Should I wait for him to tell me? Should I stay where I am? Should I look for a new job? If he keeps thwarting my plans, should I stop making plans? Does he just want me to do things that I don’t want to do?
While sometimes we may have to do the things we don’t want to, most of our lives are not going to play out that way. Still, perhaps you’ve been around people who always seem to know exactly what God wants them to do. Some even say, “I asked God what I should do, and he told me…” Perhaps they don’t claim to hear the literal voice of God, but they might say they had such a strong and warm feeling that it had to be from God. They might also tell you that you need to just pray until God speaks to you, or gives you a warm and strong feeling, an absolute conviction. Now, it’s possible that this is what it means for God to speak to us; however, as one of my friends likes to point out, it’s possible your warm feeling is just last night’s bad pizza.
Most Christians will never hear the voice of God. Many of us will never have a strong inclination that God wants us to do a particular thing. If that frustrates you, like it has me, then this is my advice: Worship God. Pray to him. Sing to him. Read his Word. Get advice from other people you trust. Then, as long as you don’t contradict his Word, do whatever you most want to do. If you don’t know what you want, pick something, because you can trust that God already has things laid out for you. The Psalmist says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). This does not mean that you’ll always get your way, but it does mean that you will always get what is best for you. And the more you trust in him, the more your desires will align with his plan. To quote one of my mentors: Go until God stops you.
Why would I mention these things in the JVC newsletter? Sometime this year, unless God stops us, my family will leave Utah for Texas. We’re not sure exactly when we’ll be leaving. Our reasons for leaving are simple enough: work and family. There are also plenty of reasons that we don’t want to move: We don’t want to have to meet a group of new friends. We’re nervous about putting forth the effort to plug into a new community. God has kept us here for long enough that leaving feels like tearing away a piece of us. While our desire to be nearer family and closer to work might be greater than our desire to stay, it doesn’t make moving any easier.
We don’t have an official date yet (probably sometime this fall), because there are still many things to work out, but we don’t want the process to drag out too long. There are many things that are not in our control, so we’ll go until God stops us. We’ll be grateful for whatever time we have left here, however long that is. We’re thankful for all of you. We’re thankful for how God has used you to draw us closer to him. We’re thankful for how you’ve cared for us over the past 5+ years we’ve been at JVC. We cherish the friendships that Melanie and I and our kids have developed. I’m personally grateful that you’ve helped me foster my own gifts in ministry, tolerated my quirks, and encouraged me, even when you didn’t know it.
As a final word to those of you who feel like me — who feel out of place; who feel like you don’t know what God wants you to do; who feel like your plans are ill-timed and ill-executed; who regret that you can’t be more like the people around you when they finish more every week than you finish every year — let me encourage you with this: Your insecurity, indecision, inability, and absolute incompleteness do not prevent God from using you. God is not constantly considering how you’ve failed to live up to his standards. He does not have the same pain of regret for your life that you have. Jesus doesn’t regret giving his life in exchange for yours. Your choices up until now have not disrupted his plan. You can delight him, because he delights in you. There are probably a lot more people thankful for you than you realize.
Thanks for being a part of God’s plan for my life and my family’s, even if you didn’t know it.
Love,
Pastor Bryan (with Melanie, Oliver, Amos, and Isaiah)
Practice of the Lord's Supper
Back in March 2020 I wrote a newsletter looking at the importance of the Lord’s Supper as we prepared to start celebrating it more frequently. But then COVID-19 happened, and instead of celebrating it more frequently, we went two months without partaking together as a church. And now that we are celebrating it, it’s with wafers that stretch the definition of bread and juice with a longer shelf life than powdered eggs.
On a personal note, I’ve appreciated this stark reminder that we aren’t yet home. One day we’ll enjoy the best wine and bread from Jesus's own table, without any fear of sickness... But I’m also pleased to announce we plan to go back to bread and wine in June.
(To pull this off, we still need volunteers willing to help set up communion, place and fill cups, etc before the service.)
I’d intended to write a follow-up on the development of the practice last year; now, fourteen months later, it’s time for part two of that newsletter as we start celebrating communion more frequently and with real bread and wine.
The Early Church
The New Testament gives us a general picture of the first practice of communion. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper in the context of the Passover. During the meal Jesus takes bread, breaks it, and gives it to his disciples saying, “Take and eat; this is my body” (Matt 26:26). With the cup of wine he says, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:27-8).
In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Paul rebukes the church’s misuse of the Lord’s Supper, giving us some insight into how it was celebrated in the early church. While some of the details are now obscure, other historical sources and archaeological data have helped color the picture. It was common in Roman culture for wealthy families to host dinner parties and invite many from the community. But these dinner parties were often as much about showing one's social standing as they were about benevolence. So while both rich and poor may have been invited, there was a clear hierarchy. The wealthy would sit together in their own room with the choicest food and drink. By the time the poorer people were served, there were only scraps. This seemingly generous gift was really a reminder: know you place.
Some of these practices influenced the Corinthian church’s celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Communion was still part of a larger meal, but instead of reinforcing the unity of the church, it emphasized the social structures that separated them. The wealthy patrons got the best wine and freshest bread, while the poor partook of the scraps. This helps us understand Paul’s strong rebuke in 1 Corinthians 11:22, “Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing?” The Lord’s Supper ought to be a celebration of our unity with Christ and one another; if the practice of communion doesn’t express that, we are missing Christ’s intent.
As we move to the Church in the first and second centuries, the Didache (an early church manual) shows that the Lord’s Supper continued to bear close resemblance to the Passover Seder meal. But near the end of the early church era (late 300’s to 475 AD) we see two new developments influencing the practice of the Lord’s Supper in the Middle Ages.
The Middle Ages
First, the idea that the elements transformed into Christ’s actual body and blood began gaining traction. As more emphasis was placed on this idea (later termed transubstantiation), it led to greater precaution around the Lord’s Supper–one must be careful of eating of Christ’s actual body and blood! Celebration of communion became less frequent, and fewer people were allowed to partake. Furthermore, when communion was served the people would only be given the bread, while the cup was withheld.
The second development during this time was the idea that the Lord’s Supper should be a reenactment of the sacrifice of Christ. Some were more innovative in this realm; the church in Jerusalem became well known for putting on a spectacular show. Pilgrims would travel from all over to watch but not partake of the elements. Instead of a corporate celebration, it was more like a magic show: a priest would incant in unknown languages over the bread and wine, transforming them into Christ’s body and blood; God was summoned to the table for the people to adore, but never for his people to approach. The communion table had become an altar.
Finally, medieval churches turned back to the abuses the Corinthian church had practiced and began setting up multiple altars within the church to facilitate private masses for the wealthy patrons.
The Reformation
It’s out of this context the Reformation erupts. While we may think of the Reformation as being primarily about the five solas, it was initially focused on the reformation of worship, and a lot of it had to do with the Lord’s Supper. One of the earliest actions of the reformers was to invite the people to participate around the table again. They translated the words of the Lord’s Supper into the common language; the altar was replaced with a table; the minister faced the people instead of the altar; and everyone partook of the bread and wine. Martin Luther vigorously maintained that Christ was sacrificed only once on the cross, not every time communion is celebrated, and now his Supper is God’s gift to his people.
Here, Antoine Cathelan describes the practice at John Calvin’s Church in Geneva in the mid-1550’s:
[T]wo tables are set up in the church, and each is covered with a tablecloth and a lot of [loaves] are set out on the left, and three or four cups or glasses on the right, with lots of pots full of either white or red wine under the table. And after the sermon the preacher descends from the pulpit and goes to the left end of the table, where the [loaves] are, and standing with his head uncovered he places a piece [of bread] in each person’s hand, saying “Remember that Jesus Christ died for you.” Each person eats his piece while walking to the other end of the table, where he takes the wine from one of the elders, or other persons so-charged, without saying anything, while the sergeants with heads uncovered pour the wine and provide additional hosts if they run out. Throughout all of this, somebody else reads from the pulpit in the vernacular, with head uncovered, the Gospel of Saint John, from the beginning of the thirteenth chapter, until everyone has taken their pieces, both men and women, each one at their different tables, along with the boys and girls of around eight to ten years of age.”
The Modern Church
While the Reformation brought a number of good changes to the Lord’s Supper, it also had something of a destabilizing effect, where each church started to develop its own unique practices around the Lord’s Supper. The Scottish Presbyterian Churches would only celebrate the Lord’s Supper several times a year; often, the week prior was full of services for preparation, confession and praise. Communion would be served by inviting groups of people up to the table to eat and drink of the elements together. Some rural parishes would only celebrate the Lord’s supper yearly. English Baptists tended to serve communion once a month, while the Congregational churches served it weekly. The Puritan John Owen wrote in his catechism that it should be served weekly. The now-common practices of passing the plates (instead of the people coming forward) and serving the elements separately are innovations only a few hundred years old that began in English Independent churches.
Conclusion
While this overview may be way more than you were interested in, one thing you’ve probably learned by now is that Presbyterians don’t do anything without thinking (overthinking?) it. I hope through this and the previous newsletter, you are able to better understand why communion is important. This study also showed me the importance of emphasizing that the Lord’s Supper is a meal that Christ gives us. And as we make some changes—like having people come forward to the table and celebrating the Supper more often,—you’ll see these changes better align us with both our historical roots and the emphasis Jesus puts on communion. Please feel free to reach out to me or any of the elders if you have questions.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Interested in learning more? Here are the books used:
Christ-Centered Worship, Bryan Chapell
Worship: Reformed according to Scripture, Hughes Oliphant Old
Calvin’s Company of Pastors, Scott Manetsch
The Worship of the English Puritans, Horton Davies
The Embrace of Christ
Sometimes you just want a hug. I say this as someone who generally does not spread his arms open upon meeting a friend—not for a bro-hug, a side-hug, or any other type of hug. But there are times when even the least huggy of us wants an embrace. The hug I’ll never forget took place minutes after arriving home in Hawaii from Iraq. I stepped off that plane, locked eyes with my fiancée, and we hugged as tears rolled down our cheeks. I’d made it home—with all my limbs—and in two months we’d be married. I was finally united with this girl I’d missed so much.
There are times when we all long for that kind of human contact: to cradle a once-lost child now firmly in your arms, or to hug your dying mother as you say goodbye. We long for embrace, to know we are not alone. Even if nothing changes, a hug helps you feel like you’ll make it through.
But when we think of what it means to be a Christian, we often think of it in terms of sin and grace, or law and punishment. Even when we do think of love, it is more an idea of love than something so real as the embrace of love. And yet the heart of Christianity is that we are embraced by Christ. How much stronger would we feel; how much less lonely would we feel if we believed that? Christ holds us, he hugs us, he will not let us go.
We sometimes call this our union with Christ, and theologians point out that when Paul says “in Christ,” this is what he has in mind. But this is so much more than just a concept; it is the foundation of our life and hope. Where we couldn’t even attempt to live a perfect life, Christ did it for us; where we couldn’t hope for anything but death, he died instead. It is only because of this that we have hope. And it is not an uncertain hope. As Herman Bavinck writes, “[our salvation] is fixed and established solely in the compassion of God. People can become unfaithful, but God does not forget His promise. He cannot and may not break His covenant; He has committed Himself to maintaining it with a freely given and precious oath: His name, His honor, and His reputation depends on it. It is for His own sake that He obliterates the transgressions of His people and remembers their sins no more.”
The only way this can happen is if Christ holds us so that God sees the beauty of Jesus when he looks at us. All our hope lies in this embrace. This is why Bavinck also writes, “Christ is Himself Christianity. He stands not outside, but inside of it. In one word, Christ is not the one who points the way to Christianity, but the way itself. He is the only, true, and perfect Mediator between God and men.” And as Michael Reeves says of Jesus, “the Bridegroom has made himself one with his dear bride. Because of what the Son of God has done, I can now say that I am flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. All he is he has given to us, so that all he has he can share with us.” What a glorious truth! We are fully and forever embraced by Christ.
In Chris,
Pastor Jon
Check Your Six
I remember learning how to lead a patrol through the woods of Quantico, Virginia. Getting a group of forty Marines through dense forest and marshes onto a target isn’t easy. You need to keep everyone spaced out, but not so spaced out that anyone loses track of the person in front of them. You need to read a map and compass without tripping on the tangled undergrowth. These were tricky, but there was one thing that we would continually forget–having someone watch our six. The six o’clock position represented what was behind us, and the last person in the patrol needed to turn backwards every few steps to ensure no one was sneaking up from the rear. We were ready for enemy contact from the front, but if they could get behind us undetected they would do incredible damage. I worry something similar is happening in the American church today.
For years evangelical Christians have felt pressure from society to conform to rapidly changing views on sexuality and gender. Our historic creeds, which proclaim one Lord and one faith are seen as old-fashioned and close-minded–how can anyone claim to have the truth? Certainly these dynamics have presented challenges for the church, but they are known threats.
Unfortunately, the greatest threats often come from our six. Satan comes as an angel of light, meaning our initial reaction will not be revulsion, but attraction. (2 Cor 11:14) His servants appear as servants of righteousness, eager to help us with the causes we care about. (2 Cor 11:15) When the serpent comes to Adam and Eve, they don’t grab the pitchfork; they begin a stimulating conversation, and Satan offers them a greater status. When he shows up to tempt Jesus, he doesn’t flash pictures of orgies and drunkenness, but shows Jesus his future kingdom and offers to let him have it without the suffering of the cross. The greatest threats to the Church usually aren’t the ones with “Made in Hell” stamped on the box, but the ones wrapped in beautiful paper. The greatest threats will seem to further our agendas and allow us to skip the suffering of the cross.
I’m sure we were all distressed by the January 6th breach of the US Capitol and further appalled by all the Christian regalia on display. We are quick to distance ourselves from that type of Christianity. But I wonder: was this just an aberrant expression of Christianity, or the fruit of a movement that’s been growing in American Evangelicalism for a long time?
Perhaps we’ve been so attuned to the threats in front that we’ve forgotten to watch our six. We didn’t see the danger in politicians and people in power who promised to help with the issues we care about–if only we would give them our votes or patronage. Or the danger in supporting those who put caustic words to an anger we’ve been letting stew (instead of praying it) as we watch our country step away from Christian morals. Or the danger in idolizing those who would do our dirty work to keep the liberals at bay so we could push the cross of suffering to the next generation. For decades politicians have courted evangelicals, offering to advance or at least protect the things we cared about (things that are good!): fighting abortion, protecting religious freedom and liberties, and more.
And yet, as I’ve thought about the events of the past months, I’m struck by how they echo Satan's tactics in Scripture – I know an easier way to your goals, and it won’t require suffering! (Just a little compromise.) But little did we realize that small compromise happened to be the most important thing; the way of Jesus always leads to a cross. We want to wear our crosses, not hang on them. But only one path leads to resurrection. And while we pray we will not have to suffer in that way, we cannot forget that all who want to follow Jesus must deny themselves and bear the weight of the cross. (Matt 16:24)
Pressure on churches to align with the more radical left or right factions will grow. Those alliances will promise protection and a platform for issues we care about. But giving in to that temptation may be the equivalent of selling our eternal birthright for some warm stew and continued tax deductions for our tithing. We’ll have lost what is most important, a Jesus who set his face towards the cross. (Luke 9:51)
But in all this I’m still optimistic; I think the best days are ahead for our church, even if they are harder days. I recently heard someone say that we have never lived in an age that so demands atonement, yet offers no path for forgiveness. Excommunication has never been more popular, as long as it isn’t in the church. But as more and more people are cast out of their political and social tribes for not adhering to the new creeds, Gospel-centered churches will be well positioned to offer these refugees living water–the possibility of forgiveness in a world that knows only revenge.
To do that, we’ve got to watch our six. We can’t compromise; we need to show people a better choice. We’ve got to be skeptical of any person or party or organization that comes to offer help–and with less suffering! It may get us an easier four years while we lose the thing the world needs even more than conservative judges or just laws. We’ll have lost the only thing that can change anything – a God who died for his enemies on a cross.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Growing in God
When I moved to Hawaii in 2006 I was forced to trade my skiing for surfing. This wasn’t an easy trade. I’m a decent skier, but eight-year-old Hawaiian kids were continually showing me up on the waves. Actually, that's an exaggeration; my first few times surfing I was lucky to even make it out to waves–who knew the hardest part of surfing was paddling out?
Another surprise came later. I’d finally learned to paddle out; the next step was to get to the right spot. I would try to position myself where I’d just seen waves break, but when the next waves came, I was always at least twenty feet from where I needed to be. I initially blamed the ocean for this inconsistency, but soon I learned it was me, not the ocean. While waiting for the next wave I would drift. I quickly learned how important it was to pick a few landmarks on the shore to track my position in the water. Surfing was even harder than I’d thought. I didn’t just have to paddle out to the waves; once there, I had to continually paddle to stay in the right spot.
As we enter this new year, I’ve been struck by how easy it is to drift as a Christian. Perhaps when you first came to faith, or during certain seasons of your life, you felt as if you were paddling for your life. It was hard, but rewarding. But slowly things change; you aren’t paddling as much as you used to, and you sit up on your board to take a break. Without realizing it you've drifted, and no one drifts towards Christian maturity.
We don’t drift towards physical fitness. We don’t drift into a good diet. We don’t drift towards strong and healthy relationships. It’s the same with our spiritual growth. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, the Apostle Paul compared his Christian life to a runner racing for the prize, or an athlete in a strict training regimen. His reminder is helpful. How many of us make goals and plans for our fitness, our finances, or other areas of our lives? These things are good, but in the end Paul reminds us that all these prizes will turn to dust; it’s only the pursuit of God that will last forever. What are you pursuing this year? Is it something that will last or turn to dust?
Lately, I’ve found the threefold division of head, heart and hands as a helpful way to think of Chrisitan maturity. Perhaps this is reflected in God’s command to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deut 6:4). Our head represents our intellect. Just as we want to know those we love–what they like and don’t like–we should also want to know God. All beauty in the world is a reflection of him, so why would we not want to study the infinitely beautiful one? Our heart is the seat of our worship, what we desire, and long for. What do we daydream about and shift our schedules to accommodate? Our hands represent our actions. What do we spend our time doing? The answers to these questions tell us what we worship, or what distracts us from worship.
Many of us are naturally drawn to one or two of these areas. Perhaps we find it easy to read theology, but shy away from serving. Perhaps we find it easy to serve, but are intimidated by the word “theology.” But if we stay in those comfortable areas, we will be lopsided Christians. (Think of the guy at the gym with biceps the size of cantaloupes and calves like celery stalks.) True Christian maturity is the harmony of our head, heart and hands. This year I decided to arrange my spiritual goals in terms of my head, heart and hands. Perhaps you’ll find this helpful as well. Here are some ideas for each area.
Head
Pick a Christian book that you are a bit intimidated to read. The books on the book wall are a good place to start. If you want a bigger challenge, try a section of Calvin’s Institutes, Bavinck’s The Wonderful Works of God, or any number of Puritan classics.
Commit to reading through the Bible this year, to reading one section multiple times, or to doing additional Bible study on one or two interesting topics.
If you just read seven pages a day, four days a week, you will read over 1400 pages!
Heart
Commit to writing in a journal once or twice a month and reflect on the state of your heart. What are you longing for? What are you worshipping by how you spend your time, money or thoughts? Tim Lane and Paul Tripp in their book How People Change have a list of helpful questions that you could work through.
Pray through the Psalms. Each week, set aside fifteen minutes to pick a Psalm and pray through it. Read a verse at a time and let it guide your prayers.
Hands
Our landmarks at JVC are a good place to start. Are you worshipping, praying, disciplining and sharing?
Have you been faithful in worshiping with God’s people?
How is your prayer life? Try to get more comfortable praying with others. Try to attend the pre-worship prayer time once a month.
Whom are you discipling (helping to follow Jesus more)? Pick some of these goals with one or two other people; encourage each other and hold one another accountable through the year. Are you teaching your children about Jesus? Consider signing up for Metanoia ministries and help grade Bible studies from inmates.
Are you sharing the gifts God has given you? Are you regularly giving to God’s church? Are you serving others in the church? Consider serving in one of the many areas we have needs (sound, welcome team, music, etc.). There are plenty of less structured ways to serve as well. Take a meal to someone who is sick, write a note of encouragement, invite someone over for dinner.
Even as I write this, I feel a bit overwhelmed. How can I do all this? It’s easy to be paralyzed–I could never do all of this!–and so we do nothing. But remember, something is better than nothing. Perhaps just pick one area to work on this year. I’d encourage you to pick the one that feels most daunting; that’s probably where you need to grow the most.
But remember: we don’t work to grow in our Christian life to earn God’s favor. You have already been accepted by God through Christ. Now you pursue him because he is worth it; at his hand are endless pleasures. The goal of Christian growth is to reflect the infinitely beautiful one more and more, and that’s a goal worth pursuing!
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
On the Eve of Our Election
While all elections are clothed in hyperbole–this is the most important election of our lifetime–it’s hard to disagree that this election is one we won't forget. We may not know who our next president is by this evening. While this is nothing new, I remember the first election I could vote in, Bush vs. Gore in 2000, when it took almost six weeks for the election results to be finalized, and that process took place in the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court. This time the process may play out on our streets.
This election matters, and yet one thing that helped me in our Kingdom Citizenship study was to remember the proper place of government. God ordains government, he gives it authority, it’s good, but it’s not our savior. It's more a babysitter than a parent; it’s here to keep things from getting too bad on this earth, allowing the church to do its work of spiritual healing until Jesus returns. At that point earthly governments will be rolled up like an old play mat, while angels roll out the white tablecloths for the wedding supper of the Lamb. Yes elections matter, but not as much as many want you to think.
A constant tendency is for government (and its leaders) to act like a god. In Psalm 2 the nations are warring against God’s rule. In ancient times rulers often demanded worship. Today this worship takes subler forms–thus far we haven’t had presidents making statues of themselves and demanding people pay homage to it. But worship of government and presidents is no less tempting.
It’s easy for us to see that worship when others appropriate religious language for their candidate. But be aware of how you may be doing that as well. For instance, if faced with the defeat of your candidate, do your emotions betray that you were trusting in them more as a savior than a public servant? Examine your heart tomorrow when there is some sense of how the votes played out. Do you find yourself rejoicing more than when singing praises to God with God’s people? Do you find yourself drained of all hope and excessively worried about the future? If so, perhaps you've been placing your trust in a god that is bound to fail.
My dad shared with me his theme verse for this week, Psalm 146:3, “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.” I’d encourage you to spend some time reading the entire Psalm this week. It’s a much needed reminder to put our trust in the God who actually saves. As you work your way through Psalm 146 it could read like a list of failed campaign promises. It’s like Psalm 146 knows governments will always be a disappointment, often failing at some of the basic tasks God’s given them, so don’t be seduced by the latest rhetoric of politicians. This Psalm points us to something more sure: God is faithful forever, he upholds the cause of the oppressed, he feeds the hungry, he sets prisoners free, he gives sight to the blind, he lifts those who are bowed down, he watches over the foreigner, sustains the fatherless and the widow, and he frustrates the ways of the wicked. God alone reigns forever.
Whenever you put your trust in princes or presidents you will be disappointed. They will fail you, but more worrisome, they will capture parts of your heart that are reserved for God alone. So perhaps one of the best things to do after you drop your ballot off is to pray through Psalm 146 and remind yourself of this: even if we don’t know who will win this election, God is still in control, and he will care for his people.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Want to worship in person?
As of May 31st we are holding a 9:15 and 11:00 worship service in our building. Here is the information you need to know. We’d love to see you there!
Things will be a bit different, but we’re excited to see you!
Updated Jan 9th, 2021
As you've likely seen, the county signed a public health order requiring respirators (or well-fitting face covering) beginning today. We've consistently tried to follow local guidelines, so we encourage everyone to do so during worship while this order is in effect. We'll provide more details in the coming days for how the order affects other church activities.
We know there are differing views on the response to COVID within our congregation. Some think we should have done this sooner; others wish we would not follow the order. Throughout this pandemic, we've worked hard to keep our differences on this matter from dividing us. In a nation that is quickly doing just that, we believe it's important for us to show that Christ is greater than our views on these things.
We're praying for you; please pray for us as we seek to shepherd this congregation.
Additional Information
Please remember that COVID has affected people in our congregation in various ways; please show grace and patience to those who choose to adjust back to normal life in ways that are different from your own.
We will continue to take many of the precautionary measures we’ve been taking like opening the windows, sanitizing between services, etc.
Please stay home if you feel sick or think you may have been exposed to someone who has COVID-19.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to any of our elders/pastors.
We will continue to livestream the 9:15am service.
We have resumed both Stepping Stones (ages 4-7) and nursery (ages 0-3) for both services.
Our hired child care workers have been instructed on the CDC guidelines for child-care facilities, and we are doing our best to follow them.
It Takes a Church
Which do you prefer: team sports or individual? Personally, I’ve always gravitated towards the individual. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of pursuing the perfect ski run down a long moguled mountain. I doubt I’ll ever stop tracking how quickly I can ride my bike up Butterfield Canyon. I’ve always been drawn to solitary sports that push your physical and mental limits.
But it’s interesting that team sports are more fun for me to watch. All the biggest sporting events--the Super Bowl, World Cup, etc.--are team sports. There are probably a number of reasons for this, but I think a lot of it comes down to the teamwork. The excitement multiplies with each person on the field when you get to watch them work together to achieve something none of them could have done alone.
Team sports are harder because you have to learn to work together as a team. Often, a single star player isn’t enough to carry the team to the highest successes. Often, a bunch of mediocre players can win against superior players, and the thing that makes the difference is great teamwork.
When it comes to the Christian life, is it a team or individual pursuit? Certainly we see aspects of both in Scripture. Faith in Jesus requires individual belief. You aren’t a Christian simply because you were born into a Christian household or go to church. But as I look through the Bible, the bulk of the Chrisitan life is described more as a team effort than as an individual one.
One of the most clear examples is in Ephesians 4:11-16:
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Paul has no concept of spiritual growth outside of a local church. Notice how everyone has some responsibility. The leaders of the church help to equip the people (vv 11-12). These equipped people then do works of service (also translated “ministry,” v. 12), speak the truth in love to one another (v. 15), and serve in their particular roles within the body (v. 16). What is the result? A collective unity (v. 13) and maturity (vv. 13 & 15) in the church. Notice how Paul casts spiritual maturity as a corporate thing, not an individual thing. It’s impossible to be a mature Christian without being connected into the life of a local church. Your spiritual maturity is organically tied to the maturity of those around you. When you grow spiritually, it has an effect on those around you. When you decline spiritually, it has an effect on those around you. Our lives are linked together because we share in God’s spirit together.
If we thought of spiritual maturity and growth more like how Scripture describes it, it would transform our church. Unfortunately, we tend to think of Christianity as if it’s an individual sport, or at most, as a family activity. But don’t you see we are all part of the same body? What you do affects, for good or bad, others in the body.
The elders at Jordan Valley Church have been wrestling with this question lately: How do we encourage the health and growth of the whole church? How do we help people to see Christianity as a team pursuit? In short, how do we do discipleship well in the church? Discipleship is simply helping the body grow into maturity.
This is one of the reasons we developed this six week module on prayer. Our goal is for the whole church to participate. And we trust that as you all join in, it will have the effect of a rising tide–all of us will be lifted higher. I’m personally excited about this study because of how much it focuses on practical exercises. You will have opportunities to pray for and with others in our congregation and other churches. We’ll even have a day of fasting and prayer for the whole church. It’s easy to treat our faith as simply intellectual–and it certainly is that–but an intellectual faith that doesn’t manifest itself in actions isn’t a true and living faith. Some of the activities might push you out of your comfort zone, but that’s okay; that’s how you grow stronger.
I’m hoping you’ll join us on this journey to grow in prayer over the next six weeks.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Promise Keepers Virtual Conference
More than ever, America needs a revival of godly men. Our nation faces problems that can only be overcome when men of integrity – promisekeeping men – fulfill their destinies as godly husbands, fathers, and leaders.
Join us at we gather to watch this event!
Learn More
When:
Friday, Jul 31, 2020, 5:30 – 8:30pm
Saturday, Aug 1, 2020, 8:00 – 11:00am
Where: Jordan Valley Church
Cost: Registration is free, but please consider a donation to help support the event.
Food: Dinner and light breakfast items will be provided.
COVID Considerations: Please ensure you follow the latest guidelines from our state. Households will be seated six feet apart and please wear a mask when unable to maintain social distancing.
Christian Freedom & Figuring Out Face Masks
Touchy Questions for a (Not So) Touchy Time
I am so thankful that we’ve gone back to two services. My prayer is that gathering in the same room again will help us worship more joyfully and feel more unified. But the unity we want will likely be challenging to achieve.
The COVID pandemic has brought a number of touchy questions to the surface that we have never wrestled with before. Is it okay to stay home from church out of precaution in this pandemic? Or is it okay to go to church for worship and fellowship even if it poses a risk? Is it wrong to remove my face mask within six feet of another person and risk spreading the disease? Or is it wrong to distance myself from others and risk even more isolation?
Three months ago, these questions would have hardly made sense. Now we can’t avoid them. There are passionate voices everywhere these days telling you what to believe. Either that it is reckless and irresponsible to spread germs around and risk infection, or that it is reckless and irresponsible to be fearful of the media hype about this disease and to cut yourself off from others. So how should we, at JVC, respond?
Touchy Questions & Christian Freedom
The most important questions are ones that sometimes get overlooked. One that we need to start with is: do we have freedom to come to diverse conclusions on these questions? And if so, where does that freedom come from?
If you are a Christian, you are free in Christ. What that means is that Jesus freed us from our slavery to sin, death, Satan, and idols so that we would serve him out of joy and love (see WCF ch. 20:1). The concept of Christian freedom rests on two revolutionary ideas. First, our freedom comes from being saved by Christ alone. Second, because of this, we serve him not out of slavish fear, but in childlike love. Christian freedom means that we are free to love and obey Christ; that releases us from everything else, including our own strong convictions and opinions.
Churches get into trouble when they are enslaved to other voices. We lose our sense of unity in Christ if we form factions according to convictions on touchy subjects. If this happens, we’re obeying another voice at the expense of Christ’s freeing command to love God and one another. In Romans 14, Paul teaches that unity is found in caring for others’ consciences, even to the point of forgoing our own freedom for the sake of each other! What this looks like for us is caring just as much about others’ viewpoints on face masks and social distancing as we do our own. Expect other Christians at JVC to have different convictions from you; don’t just expect them to fall in line with your conviction. Both our freedom and our unity as a church is based not on sharing opinions, but on sharing in Christ.
Understanding One Another
This doesn't mean that having an opinion is wrong. But given that we will disagree, the gospel challenges us to respond with understanding to others at church who hold a different view. So how do you respond when you are offended by a face mask wearer or by an enthusiastic hugger? Do you assume they are blind, ignorant, fearful, rebellious, or lacking faith, and that you are wiser and more mature? Do you only talk to those who feel the same way you do?
That is not the best way for us to treat each other. Instead, consider that someone who holds that different view than you do has reasons you might understand if you understood them better. For example, some of us feel very strongly that face masks and social distancing should be mandatory because we care about others’ welfare and the good of our church. Others of us at JVC believe equally as strongly that face masks should not be worn for the same reasons, except we are thinking of the relational and emotional ramifications of social isolation. Both positions come from love for others, are defensible from Scripture, and were formed by our various experiences and relationships.
Strive to truly understand others’ positions and opinions before judging or critiquing. Try to see how and why their stance might be how they love you and others. Be eager to allow others the Christian freedom you enjoy in your convictions. Be quick to ask forgiveness for your lack of understanding before expecting others to ask forgiveness of you. Approach someone who has offended you kindly, rather than complaining, gossiping, or withdrawing from them. And even if, after trying to understand their position, you conclude they are foolish or sinful, consider how to graciously invite them into closer obedience to Christ.
Oh, and by the way, if you come to the conclusion that my perspective on this is foolish or sinful, please let me know! But do it in a way that graciously invites me into closer obedience to Christ. In that way, you will be showing me the kind of grace that Christ has shown you. And if we all do that, we will grow in unity during this touchy time.
In Christ,
Pastor Jonny
May COVID-19 Update
While we are thankful for how technology has allowed us to stay connected, I’m now itching for some face-to-face interaction. We’ve been talking here about how to transition back to gathered worship as our state government reduces the risk level.
As the elders has discussed our options for gathering, we’ve felt pulled in many directions: caring for those who are isolated; showing compassion for those in our congregation who are high risk; encouraging those in our church who are suffering from the effects of all the closures; recognizing the yearning for many in our congregation see each other; welcoming the new believers in our congregation who want to get baptized and take communion; honoring our civil authorities who have a God-given authority to protect and preserve life; and, most importantly, honoring God and his command to “not neglect” gathering together for worship. Please continue to pray for us as we wrestle with how best to care for our church.
At this point we’ve made the following decisions:
We are encouraging smaller groups to gather together in homes to worship and watch the service at 9:15 or 11. If you’re willing to host a couple of people but don’t know whom to invite, please contact the church as soon as possible.
For those who have been joining us in person or are unable to go to another person’s home, you are welcome to come to the church to worship at 9:15.
Groups of fewer than twenty people may resume meeting in person at the group leader’s discretion.
In all of these, please follow the latest social distancing guidelines from the state.
We are also looking at how many we can safely seat in our church building and have come up with several ways to divide the congregation into smaller groups and rotate in for worship at the building. Thankfully, we can easily start up our second service again, which gives us more options for inviting people into the building. We will communicate with you as we develop these plans. And as always, everything is subject to change depending on the situation.
We miss you and look forward to when we can all gather again for worship.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
It's Okay to Cry
I’ve always been a sucker for crying when overcome by joy, but it wasn’t until after my time in the Marines that I found myself tearing up at others' pain. Something about my deployments to Iraq opened new channels for tears of sorrow. Sometimes it’s embarrassing, and I wish I didn’t do it, but whatever broke open in Iraq hasn’t mended. But perhaps that’s okay; perhaps it’s okay to cry.
When I think of my time in Iraq, it’s not hard to know why this happened. The horrors that haunt our world broke into my life: a few days after arriving, a young man in my platoon was killed after the force of a roadside bomb crushed his skull; several friends and a mentor had their lives cut short when a man clothed in explosives killed twenty-five people gathered for a peaceful meeting; children playing soccer in the street accidentally tripped a roadside bomb, leaving only little parts of their bodies strewn across the dirt for family members to sort through. The horrors that wreck our world run much deeper than what can be fixed with better education, jobs or leaders. There is evil, and it doesn't ask permission to break into our life.
The past few weeks I’ve found some of these old feelings resurfacing, as we live in this strange state of quarantine. Hollywood had it wrong; the supervirus that overtook us didn’t lead to suspenseful scenes of survival, but a slow dehumanizing as we are isolated by six feet of space and face masks. Sure, there are fights, but they aren’t over food--we’ve got plenty of that--but over who gets the last package of toilet paper; or they’re between husband and wife because they just aren’t used to spending this much time together.
Seeing others' sorrow pulls out the thread of sorrow in my own heart. I weep for their wounds, for mine, for our world’s. I’d never really thought how the threads of sorrow connect us all until I preached from John 11 about a year ago. It’s that famous scene where Jesus comes to Lazarus’s grave and weeps. I realized Jesus is weeping not just because a friend died, but because there is death, and he will soon taste it himself. The death of Lazaurus pulls into the forefront the death of deaths that Jesus will soon face, and he weeps. Jesus doesn’t observe death as a spectator, but as one who will soon experience its horror.
This week I discovered the poem “Jesus of the Scars” written by Edward Shillito, an English pastor who also happened to be a veteran of World War One. The last stanza of his poem reads:
The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.
So during this time, as the threads of suffering pull on us all, it’s okay to cry. We all have wounds. What a comfort it is that we are not alone with our wounds! Our God has wounds as well. He’s collected all our tears, and he promises to one day wipe them away, never to return. The resurrection transformed Jesus’ wounds into testaments of God’s faithfulness. One day the same will happen to you: your wounds, no matter how deep, will be transformed to speak of God’s faithfulness. So go ahead, it’s okay to cry; Jesus wept too.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
Worship During COVID-19
Learn about the options to join us online or in person as well as how you can connect with others.
SUNDAY WORSHIP
For the time being, our worship service will primarily be online. Access the links on our streaming page.
For those who don’t have internet access or are were already isolated and Sunday worship was one of your primary places of fellowship, we invite you to worship with as the the church at 9:15. Please follow the latest government guidance for ensuring the safety of everyone.
COMMUNITY & FELLOWSHIP
If you have any needs, or know someone who does, our deacons have set up a form where you can let us know; we’ll do our best to help.
We host a number of small groups that are meeting online. Please contact the church if you would like the link to join a group.
Is there a way we can pray for you? Please let us know here: https://jvc.churchcenter.com/people/forms/120882
Don’t Waste Your Quarantine: A Call for Private and Family Worship
I’d originally planned to write the second part of our series looking at the Lord’s Supper as we moved towards partaking of the bread and wine more frequently. But in God’s providence we’ve decided to not partake of the Lord’s Supper in April because we can’t gather physically as a body. Depending on how long our government’s social distancing recommendations remain, we may look at other ways we can faithfully participate in this sacrament.
In the past couple weeks, we have been forced to simplify our lives. We no longer have to drive kids to and from school or sports. Many of us are no longer commuting. Birthday parties and other social functions have been postponed. Though our lives are simpler now, these changes have brought a slew of unexpected difficulties. With everything going on I’ve been returning again and again to the question, “How do we at JVC not waste this quarantine?” I think one of the best answers I’ve come to is simply this: let’s use this time to begin practices of personal and family worship. We are in a unique situation; most people have more time, less routine, and growing worries--many of us with just our immediate family for company. It would be easy to let anxiety and frustration take over; let’s instead take this opportunity to start new routines of private and family worship.
Private Worship
Private worship (or devotions) is simply setting aside time in the day to worship God. It’s easy for Christians to get too dogmatic about devotions, by mandating that it must be done a certain way: right after you wake up, before you look at your phone, for at least fifteen minutes (are you even trying otherwise?)... It’s easy for us to feel inferior or beat ourselves up because we don’t think we’re doing as much as others, or we feel like we aren’t getting anything from reading our Bibles.
Many people never start a daily habit of worship because their expectations are too high; they don’t know when they’ll get thirty minutes alone, or even fifteen. Or they set the alarm an hour earlier with big aspirations that are bound to fail. Instead, start small. Consider just five minutes a day of reading the Bible and praying. Find little ways to make a better use of time, like spending your morning commute (once you start commuting again) listening to an audio Bible and praying. Or get in the habit of praying while doing dishes or folding laundry. There are many ways in which we can incorporate worship into our schedules.
If you look through the Bible, it’s hard to find specific verses that describe devotions as we think of them today. In fact most all of the worship described in the Bible is corporate, not individual. But we can find a number of passages that speak of meditating on God’s word and deeds. Psalm 1:2 describes the blessed person as one “whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” In Joshua 1:8, the Lord says to Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Deuteronomy 17:19-20 instructs any future king of Israel to “write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees.”
As we look at these verses, we see that the goal of private worship is to weave God’s word into your life--not just to read it, but to ingest it, to make it part of yourself. Private worship will look different for everyone, depending on personality, schedule, or stage of life. Some of you might be able to spend an hour reading Scripture, journaling and praying. Others might only be able to read one verse and return to it over and over throughout the day. It’s not helpful to compare yourself to others, so ask yourself, “Is my private worship leading me to greater communion with God?”
Nuts and Bolts
It can be difficult to simply pick up the Bible and have a rich devotional life. As we mature as Christians, we should be able to do that more and more, but thankfully there are a number of helps for those of us who need a little guidance. Here are some resources that may be helpful to you.
JVC All Church Devotional – If you were to just do one of these, I’d encourage you to join with the rest of the church in working through these.
Morning & Evening – A classic work by the baptist Pastor Charles Spurgeon. Each devotional is short and applicable. You can order a hard copy on Amazon as well.
New City Catechism Devotional – Provides scripture readings and a short commentary for each of the questions.
Dwell – A highly recommended audio Bible geared for daily devotions. There is a limited free version, but they are offering the full version free for 60 days.
My Daily Office – Based on the Anglican practice of morning and evening prayers. Includes scripture readings and prayers for the morning and evening.
For the Love of God: Include a Bible reading plan and a short commentary on each passage.
New Morning Mercies – Provides 356 gospel-centered devotions. By Paul Tripp.
Family Worship
In many ways, families are like small churches. One of the ways we identify future elders and deacons is to look for those pastoring their families well. They are spiritual leaders in their homes, and we’d like more of the church to experience that type of care. While much of what I say here is primarily addressed to families with children at home, it can apply to other situations as well. For example, if you are single, you can invite other singles over for a time of worship. If you are married to someone who doesn’t share your faith, family worship can be hard, if not impossible. Pray for God to show you ways to incorporate some of these things. I would guess that one of your greatest longings would be for your whole family to be able to worship together. For those of us who are married to believers, let’s not take for granted this great blessing of worshiping together.
Throughout the Bible, we see that the primary responsibility for passing on the faith to the next generation lies with parents. Churches and friends can help, but in the end parents carry the weight of this responsibility. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, God speaks through Moses to the parents of Israel saying, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Notice Moses doesn’t say children need to be enrolled in Sampson's Hunting Club or David’s Music School; on the contrary, the things we typically associate with kids’ ministry are absent. These things are not wrong, but God’s design for passing on our faith to the next generation is less about programs and more about authentic displays of God’s word in all of life.
Family worship is simply time set aside to come together as a family and learn about God. Many books prescribe various (and detailed!) models for family worship. I believe we have freedom to do what works best for our individual families. Family worship is a microcosm of Sunday worship with the family of God. Thus, family worship would be some combination of prayer, singing, reading the Bible and talking about God.
I can’t stress enough the freedom we have in this. Young families will find it hard to get the kids to sit for more than a few minutes. Families where both parents work or have unusual schedules will find it hard to settle into a regular routine. Don’t set unrealistic goals for what your family needs; it only creates unnecessary stress and guilt.
Parents show what they worship in how they prioritize their time, whether in sports programs or other club activities, or something else. Children pick up on this. Worshiping all these other things without any formal worship of God sends a clear message about what is important to the family.
There are a number of books and online resources that provide plans for family worship. One thing that has worked well in our family with young kids is to read a section of the Jesus Storybook Bible, ask a few questions about it, let the kids pick a song, and then pray together. As our girls have gotten older we’ve found they enjoy working through a kids’ catechism. They like quizzing us back as we ask them questions. Like everyone else, we struggle to do this as often as we’d like, but these times have been a blessing for our family. One of the blessings of the past few weeks is we’ve been able to have family worship much more regularly.
I have fond childhood memories of family worship. Sometimes we would read a passage of Scripture; other times my dad would read from a Christian book or the Westminster Confession of Faith. What I remember most, though, is the discussions these sparked. My sisters and I would often have questions about what we read. Sometimes we would disagree or not understand things. And what I remember most is my parents patiently taking time to answer questions, letting us express our doubts and wrestle with difficult topics. I credit these times for showing me how much my parents valued their faith. I learned that we don’t need to be afraid of tough questions, and these discussions were instrumental in making my faith my own. Through family worship, my parents provided an environment for me to grow in my own love and knowledge of God.
Nuts and Bolts of Family Worship
Keep it simple, especially if you are starting out. Kids usually resist at first, but with gentle perseverance they start to enjoy it (or at least complain less!). I’m sure my parents could speak of all the times me and my sisters complained, and yet they didn’t give up, they adapted to our changing situations, and now I look back at those times as key to my growth in the faith.
JVC All Church Devotional – They have bonus questions and activities for kids.
New City Catechism App – We are currently doing one question a week as a church. The app allows you to toggle the kids version of the questions and also has songs for each one.
The Children's Catechism – A classic, simplified catechism. Even our youngest, Luke can answer the first couple questions. You can ask one question a day and spend a few minutes talking about it.
Jesus Storybook Bible – Great for people of all ages. Read one story a day and then pray.
The Bible – As your kids get older, you may just want to pick a book of the Bible and read a chapter a day.
Conclusion
If you’ve ever monitored your screen time through the day, it’s often shocking to see how much those “quick glances” at your phone add up. We are constantly being shaped and molded by what our eyes and ears take in. Our screen time and schedules reveal what we really love. But this time, we’ve got an opportunity to reset and reprioritize. Just try incorporating private and family worship into every day life for the next month. Experiment with different times or formats to discover what works for you. Certainly you’ll have to make some adjustments when life picks back up again, but perhaps you’ll see that all that stuff wasn’t as important as you once thought. And hopefully you’ll have discovered that, unlike the news that we are constantly ingesting, the word of God is news that brings life. Will you join me in making the most of this quarantine and starting practices of personal and family worship?
In Christ,
Pastor Jon
COVID Update
Dear Church Family,
This Sunday we are going to be looking at Psalm 46. It’s a Psalm I’ve been returning to a lot this week. Even amid the chaos, God calls us to be still and know that he is God. I’ve needed to remember this as I’ve seen many of my plans change. Instead of getting frustrated, I’m trying to find stillness in the God who is in control. I’d encourage you to read this Psalm before Sunday.
A number of things will be different over the next several weeks (or perhaps months) at JVC, and I wanted to update you on some of them:
Sunday Worship
For the next couple weeks, our church services will primarily be online. We are working to improve the quality of the streaming as well as providing it on YouTube in addition to Facebook. For the latest updates visit our streaming page.
Some people in our church don’t have internet access or are already isolated and look forward to Sunday because it provides much-needed fellowship. If you fall into one of those categories, the church will still be open Sunday morning, and we invite you to worship at 9:15 with us.
Each Saturday we will email you a copy of the bulletin, a kids’ worship guide, and a weekly devotional based on the sermon that you can do individually or with your family.
Community & Fellowship
If you have any needs, or know someone who does, our deacons have set up a form where you can let us know; we’ll do our best to help.
Our elders are meeting this week to find ways for us to stay connected and care for each other during this time. Stay tuned for more details.
The church building remains open, and we’ve asked other groups using it to stop for now to minimize the spread of germs. If you need a place to talk with someone, the church building is available. Just contact one of us pastors first to ensure someone will be there.
Opportunity
Many people are anxious right now; an online service allows people to join us who might not travel to our building on a Sunday morning. Please pray that God would use our church and this unique situation to help more people discover his peace. Also, consider inviting someone to watch the service with you.
Easter is coming up, and we are asking you to write down the names of five people you can pray for and invite. I’ve put my list in my Bible to remind me to pray for them daily. Even if we end up having our Easter service online, you can still invite these people to join us virtually.
I’m praying for and with you all. Let’s give ourselves to the Lord, not to fear, and let’s see how he’s calling us to love him and our neighbors more.
In Christ,
Pastor Jon