Pastor’s notes, March 2020 2020- What is Right with the World
If you remember last month’s newsletter, my article was about what is wrong with the world. Then I sat down and understood one of the reasons why people may not come to church. Granted it will not be THE reason or even one of the main reasons, but it may be a significant reason. People may not come to church because the pastor reflects on what is wrong, wrong, wrong and even more wrong. That is not good. Now, before I get into what is right with world, it may be helpful to reflect on why focusing on the wrong may be hurting one’s own soul.
Mainly, the soul isn’t made to be crushed. The mind that focuses only on what is wrong will leave out seeing the good. When a person fails to see the good, she or he is bound to fall into what Martin Luther called being led into false belief or despair. If you keep looking for what is wrong, then you will probably fall into despair. You will certainly miss the good.
So what is right with the world?
It was created by a loving and good God. Read Chapter one of Genesis. After each thing God created with life comes a line, “And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1: 12, 18, 21, 25) The fundamental nature of life is growth and health, joy and vigor. These are good. Tell me about when you see a newborn child. Is there not a joy, peace and celebration that goes deep into (or perhaps it comes out of) the soul? This baby has not washed your clothes, fixed you a meal, sang a song, so why are you delighted in this little bundle of joy? Because in the very foundation of life God has put something good.
So why has religion focused on what has gone wrong? I think it is not because it wants to be negative. Even though there have been a bad number of clergy that have been sourpusses. Maybe they had bad pastors while growing up. I think the right way to think is that we want the broken to be fixed, the ailing to be healed, and the forsaken to be found and loved. A good church and good religion sees and promotes the truth that God has created the good and it lies at the base. So what is right with the world? It has been made good. The good still lives in the heart of even the most bitter person. It may take a lot to get it to shine, but it is there. The biggest right is what the Christian religion claims; God is doing good among us, within us and through us. God takes fearful hiding men (the disciples who saw Jesus crucified) and through the Holy Spirit transformed them into loving, accepting proclaimers of the Gospel willing to die in love for their enemies. Remember the first story after Christmas, December 26th is the feast of St. Stephen. As he is being stoned, he prays, “Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.”
What is right? The light shines and darkness cannot overcome it. This little gospel light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, all around the neighborhood I’m going to let it shine. This little gospel light of mind, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine all the time, let it shine.
If you remember last month’s newsletter, my article was about what is wrong with the world. Then I sat down and understood one of the reasons why people may not come to church. Granted it will not be THE reason or even one of the main reasons, but it may be a significant reason. People may not come to church because the pastor reflects on what is wrong, wrong, wrong and even more wrong. That is not good. Now, before I get into what is right with world, it may be helpful to reflect on why focusing on the wrong may be hurting one’s own soul.
Mainly, the soul isn’t made to be crushed. The mind that focuses only on what is wrong will leave out seeing the good. When a person fails to see the good, she or he is bound to fall into what Martin Luther called being led into false belief or despair. If you keep looking for what is wrong, then you will probably fall into despair. You will certainly miss the good.
So what is right with the world?
It was created by a loving and good God. Read Chapter one of Genesis. After each thing God created with life comes a line, “And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1: 12, 18, 21, 25) The fundamental nature of life is growth and health, joy and vigor. These are good. Tell me about when you see a newborn child. Is there not a joy, peace and celebration that goes deep into (or perhaps it comes out of) the soul? This baby has not washed your clothes, fixed you a meal, sang a song, so why are you delighted in this little bundle of joy? Because in the very foundation of life God has put something good.
So why has religion focused on what has gone wrong? I think it is not because it wants to be negative. Even though there have been a bad number of clergy that have been sourpusses. Maybe they had bad pastors while growing up. I think the right way to think is that we want the broken to be fixed, the ailing to be healed, and the forsaken to be found and loved. A good church and good religion sees and promotes the truth that God has created the good and it lies at the base. So what is right with the world? It has been made good. The good still lives in the heart of even the most bitter person. It may take a lot to get it to shine, but it is there. The biggest right is what the Christian religion claims; God is doing good among us, within us and through us. God takes fearful hiding men (the disciples who saw Jesus crucified) and through the Holy Spirit transformed them into loving, accepting proclaimers of the Gospel willing to die in love for their enemies. Remember the first story after Christmas, December 26th is the feast of St. Stephen. As he is being stoned, he prays, “Father forgive them, they do not know what they are doing.”
What is right? The light shines and darkness cannot overcome it. This little gospel light of mine, I’m going to let it shine, all around the neighborhood I’m going to let it shine. This little gospel light of mind, I’m going to let it shine, let it shine all the time, let it shine.