St. Peter Lutheran Church
2929 F.M 972 (at F.M. 1105)
Walburg, Texas 78626
Office: (512) 863-
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Last Updated:
March 28, 2020
St. Peter Lutheran Church at Walburg, Texas
2020 -
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ Texas District
"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.
Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."
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Many of us have different definitions for what a Christian looks like or what the church looks like or what a disciple looks like. In times of confusion, it is always the best policy to listen to what Jesus says. Here Jesus is commissioning the disciples to go out and proclaim the good news. He tells them to do goodness, but he also warns them not to be foolhardy in their goodness. Let us explore what each of these points means for us right now.
We are living in a great challenge in our country. It is best not to play the comparison game, but rather to focus on what must be done right now. Many of us have grown used to performing tasks in the church because we've always done it a certain way. There is an old saying in the military, "Generals are always prepared to fight the last war." In other words, people who remember when they were successful always want to fight new challenges the same old way. Sadly, churches really face a lot of issues the same way. Many of us have put off equipping our churches to deal with a new world and so when a new challenge comes up we get frustrated that we can't face it the same old way. Our church however has the potential to proclaim the Gospel in this world. Over the past few years we have established our presence in the community so that we are able to be called upon in times of need. We have sought to utilize the new technologies, and now can begin to muster them in this time of social distancing. We must listen to the call of discipleship in our neighbor's need and not always in our usual ways of performing discipleship.
Secondly, we are to do so with the humility of doves. That means we should search our hearts and seek out our purist motives. This is not always easy or even possible. Proverbs 21:2 warns us of thinking we really know ourselves as well as God does. "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart." Still, when we come to the end of our self-
Of course this does not give us license to sin or be foolish in doing good. When I was in seminary I knew many people who appeared to be doing nice things for others but really were just trying to feel like their good works were meriting their salvation. They felt they were superior when they spoke of all their good deeds and never really questioned if they were truly helping. True wisdom comes from humility and the best way to practice humility is to listen to the needs of others and be aware of one's own calling. At this time we are called to not visit with people and to practice "social distancing."* We may not be able to visit physically with people, but we can still call on the phone, drop off groceries, meet online, provide donations to local charities, and of course pray without ceasing. In all things we must use wisdom, humility, and discernment to not make the situation worse but rather offer help to our neighbor.
In times of need, we often wish that a disciple's definition were more easily written down in the world. Instead, we have the words of Jesus that a disciple follow's Jesus' commands, serves with gentleness, and yet practices wisdom and discernment. If we humble ourselves by seeing how God's Word can meet our world's problems in discipleship, God will exult His church. (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6)
* I don't like buzz words, but in this case it is the best word for the job.
In Christ,
Pastor Phil
The End is Near(er)