A Most Interesting Week

So with Higher Things in the rearview mirror, I have two weeks to get things done and to get ready for Vacation Bible School. So this was going to be a busy week . . .

Was.

Early on, I started feeling fatigued and a bit under the weather. That often happens to me after a long trip and my defenses go down. So while I got a little done on Monday, I only did what I had to do on Tuesday and Wednesday and tried to sleep it off. I started feeling better on Thursday and woke up on Friday feeling pretty good, though I lost a lot of time I was counting on. 

Then on Friday morning I got an email from Higher Things . . . some folks who had been at the conference tested positive for Covid. No other information. Okaaaaaaay. I'm vaccinated, so not really worried about it. But with all the breakthrough talk out there . . . is that what made me so tired for those couple of days? I didn't get too sick, which would mean the vaccine did its job. But do I need to worry about the installation I was at? Do I need to worry about those who were at church on Sunday? And what about this Sunday? Ugh. Not what I wanted to deal with. So I went and got tested just to make sure, and thankfully, the test came back negative. So no worries. Didn't have it. Didn't spread it. All good.

But now a really busy week coming up!

Today, though, I had committed to being at a rally at the Finnish Embassy in Washington to speak to the unjust arrest and persecution of two Finnish Lutherans, Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen. They are being tried for hate crimes for speaking and teaching the biblical view of marriage. After this week, I really didn't want to go, but I had given my word, so I went. It was good that I did. We need to speak for religious liberty and free speech, for what is happening in Europe and Canada is coming here next. An official from the Embassy came out and spoke to us, which was good of him to do. 

The Secret Service came out to make sure we were safe. :-)  Or maybe it was because we were right across the street from the VP's residence?

Here's what I said:

This year marked the 500th anniversary of the Diet of Worms, when a man named Martin Luther was called before the Emperor and ordered to recant - to deny and revoke - the things he had written. He said that he could not. He could not submit his faith to the opinions of others. His faith was bound to the Word of God. Therefore, he said, unless convinced by proof from Holy Scripture and clear reason, it is not safe or honest for a Christian to speak against his conscience. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me.

Today, 500 years later, the same demand is being made of Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen. Both have been charged with crimes for their faith, for what they believe to be the clear Word of God, for what they have written and spoken. And both have said: Here I stand.

Today, we have gathered to stand with them. For all Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen have done is speak the Word of God. The Word that God has spoken for the life of the world. A Word that does not change as the teachings, truths, and opinions of man change, but a Word which is for all time and all people. A Word the Church must speak, whether it is popular or easy or not.

That is the very problem, some would say. You can believe whatever you want, as long as you keep it to yourself. Your Church can believe whatever it wants, as long as you keep it within the four walls of your Church. You can believe whatever you want, as long as you do not bring it into the Public Square. 

But that is simply not possible for anyone with deeply held beliefs, whether they be Christian or anything else. What you deeply believe about God, about the truth, about life and death is a part of who you are. It is more like the blood that pumps through your body and gives you life than it is like a coat that you can just take off and hang at the door. What you believe effects every part of you - how you live, how you think, how you speak, and how you love. And are not those who insist that Christians not bring their beliefs into the Public Square bringing what they believe into the Public Square? 

So Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen are being charged for doing that. They are being charged with “incitement against a group of people.” But both Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen have spoken firmly against any discrimination, prejudice, or hate. If all people matter and are important to Jesus, who died on the cross on behalf of all (as they believe), then all people also matter and are important to the Church. And that’s exactly why Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen have spoken and written. And that’s exactly why the Church speaks the Word of God. 

Not to hate, but to love.

Not to discriminate, but because we all need Jesus.

Not in pride, but in humility.

Not to dominate, but to serve.

Not from superiority, but in recognition of our own failings.

Not to incite, but to unite all people in the truth of God’s Word.

Now there will be some - maybe many - who disagree with us. That’s okay. We do not hate them. They should be free to disagree with us as we should be free to disagree with them. 

What would not be loving would be to remain silent, for love always wants the best for others. Perhaps here, too, some will disagree with us about what that means, what love is and what is best for others. But why can we not talk about this without being accused of incitement or hate? Is not truth and love worth the effort?

So to conclude, as I have been talking a lot about speaking the Word of God, I would like to finish with that Word. 

First, a Word for the Finnish government and authorities:

The Apostle Paul wrote to a young pastor named Timothy:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

So to those who are charging Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen - we do not hate you. We pray for you. We thank God for you, for your important work of governing, and for your work for the people of Finland. You have been given a great responsibility, and to whom much has been given, much is required. Therefore we also pray that God would give you wisdom and guidance and courage in your work, to allow freedom of speech and religion in your land, and that these charges would be dropped. For there is nothing to fear if one speaks the truth.

And second, a Word for my brother and sister, Bishop Pohjola and Dr. Rasanen:

Thank you for your brave and courageous stand. You are an inspiration to us. And remember these words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount:

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:11-12).

Here we stand. We cannot do otherwise.