Elders' Blog

Pastor's Note - May 12

“How does God prove that all kinds of people can be his gospel people?” That’s been the driving question in Pastor Aaron’s sermons over the past couple of weeks from Acts 9:32-11:30 (this Sunday is Acts 11). Read again Peter’s opening words to Cornelius in Acts 10:34-36: “God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” All people can be restored to God through the “good news of peace through Jesus Christ.”

All people. Jews. Gentiles. Unclean. Sinners. All who repent of sin and trust in Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Even those who have been part of false religion such as Latter Day Saints.

This summer CBC is taking our 4^th trip to an MB partner church in Utah. Lakeview Church is a 3-year-old church plant in a predominately LDS/Mormon area. Stansbury Park is about 30 minutes west of Salt Lake City, and last year they launched a 2^nd campus in nearby Grantsville. Over their first 3 years, they’ve been front row witnesses to God’s powerful work of transforming lives through the Gospel of Jesus. Their weekly priority is the “guest”: the non-believer, the curious, the person disillusioned with Mormonism and religion of any kind. This month Lakeview Pastor Phil Wiebe reports they plan to baptize 5 more people as an expression of new-found faith in Christ.

It doesn’t come without difficulties and resistance. Last week Phil asked for prayer because they “feel like a prime target of the enemy at the moment” (which of course isn’t a surprise – that’s the pattern we’ve seen in Acts and throughout church history). But the truth remains that God continues to welcome repentant sinners to be his Gospel people…in Olathe, Utah, worldwide!

This summer’s CBC partner trip to Lakeview Church is July 13-19. The purpose is to serve, build on relationships already started, and encourage. Those who go will learn more about Mormonism and its powerful hold on people, while hearing testimonies of God’s grace in saving people. Our team will fill needs at their church campout that weekend, at Sunday services, and more.

If you are interested in participating or learning more about the trip, come to the “Utah Interest Meeting” in the Fellowship Hall at 10am this Sunday (right after Sunday School). If you can’t make it Sunday, email me this week at rfriesen@cbckansas.org. Not everyone can or should go on this trip…but some should. At a minimum, pray for Lakeview Church and all who are actively proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. The Lord continues to transform people like you and me to be his Gospel people!

Pastor Russ

Pastor's Note - May 12

Sometimes (actually quite often) I finish a sermon on Sunday morning, and think about something I wish I had said, or wish I had said more clearly. This last Sunday’s text and sermon dealt with God’s mandate of proportional justice for those who commit murder, which we often refer to as ‘capital punishment.’ It is clear from this passage, and the rest of Scripture, that God is a just God who demands justice for evil. That is the basis and basic need for the cross – a just God requires that evil be condemned and justly punished. That said, there is another, pastoral, element that I wish I had added (while admitting no sermon can include every thought and argument). That element is captured by Ezekiel 33:11; “As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live…” This reveals well the heart of God. It is an exhortation from Him to Israel, that they turn from their evil and live. This is God’s first priority for His people and for all people. His first priority and preference is not condemnation, but salvation. And while God administers just condemnation, as is His right and prerogative, He takes no pleasure in it. He does not delight to punish evil. He delights to save. It is important we keep that priority of God’s heart in mind, and maintain that in ourselves. We should not and must not delight in the punishment of the wicked, even while we acknowledge its necessity. When I discipline or correct one of my children, I do not want my other children to delight in it. If they do, it may be that they have the greater sin. I don’t want my children delighting in their siblings receiving discipline – that would reveal something wrong in their hearts. Nor do I, or should I, delight in administering discipline. So it is with God and His people. I believe this is even true while we praise God for His justice. As I mentioned a few weeks ago in a sermon, heaven rejoices in the fall of Babylon in Revelation 19. God is worshiped and praised for His judgment upon evil. At the same time, we must remember He does not delight in the death of the wicked. His is a heart that rejoices in salvation, mourns over condemnation, and is honored in just judgment. Is that a fine line to walk? I think it is. But holding that tension, I believe, places us closer to the heart of God.