Pre-election thoughts

Pre-election thoughts | November 2, 2016

Have you ever stepped into a voting booth, still uncertain as to how you'll vote?

I'm not sure I'm at that place as of yet, but with each passing day/revelation, voting becomes more and more complicated, doesn't it?

This has been the most bizarre election cycle I've ever experienced. It's not uncommon for nearly 50% of the country to be disappointed in the outcome of a presidential election, but I've never experienced the distinct possibility that 50% of the country will be angry at the outcome. In fact, I'm sure that a large percentage of those who vote for the winning candidate will still be disappointed. When both candidates' "negatives" are larger than their "positives," that's not a good sign.

So what are we to do?

My prayers have been focused on November 9, the day after the election - that our country will find within itself a way to honor the winning candidate, no matter our political persuasion. I'm praying that a sense of civility will rain upon us. I'm praying that leaders will step up to the plate who are blessed with the spirit of reconciliation, are bound by time-honored principles, and understand the need for compromise.

And, yes, I'm praying that this crazy election cycle will be a watermark - a low point that encourages our citizens, political parties, and potential candidates to demand a better way.

Possible? Who knows. But this one thing I know: we are better than this. Our country deserves better than this. Our children deserve better than this. If we are to be the "shining light" we strive to be, then we better figure this thing out.

Let's start on November 9. May God bless us and guide us as we do just that. 

I'll see you in church.

Peace+

Pastor Rhodes

Reformation 2016

Reformation | October 31, 2016

The doors of Castle Church, Wittenberg

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk, posted his 95 Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Because it was common for scholars to post disputations to the door, there was no fanfare and no reason to give it a second glance. Yet, this particular sheet of paper sent shivers down the spine of Christianity. 

It’s the second time in history that the fate of humanity has been nailed to a piece of wood.

The church of the Middle Ages had become massive and exceedingly wealthy. Church leaders became the power brokers in all things religious and political, in some cases creating a theology that did little more than maintain the church’s power and authority. After centuries of growing fat with worldly prosperity — often on the backs of the working poor — the church was soon to be shaken out of its slumber. The 95 Theses became a rallying cry for reform. 

No one ever imagined that reforming the church would literally change the world. But that’s precisely what happened. 

Jon Bloom expounds on the impact of the Reformation: 

Wherever the church opened the door to Jesus, repentance and reformation was like chemotherapy to the cancer of spiritual corruption, and recovered belief in the gospel of Christ spread spiral health through much of Europe, then on to the New World, Asia, and Africa. It spawned massive evangelism, church planting, Bible translation, and frontier missions efforts. And in its wake, it brought about all manner of social good: stronger families, honest commerce, economic empowerment for the poor, hospitals and clinics for the sick, education for the  masses, encouragement for the scientific enterprise, democratic forms of civic government, and on and on.

October 31, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, what Time magazine calls one of the most important events of the last 2000 years. This Reformation (October 31, 2016) begins a one year celebration — a year marked by special worship services, Reformation concerts by the Salisbury Symphony and the Lenoir-Rhyne A Capella Choir, a play jointly produced by St. John’s and the Piedmont Players, and the opening of our Lutheran Heritage Museum. It’s a lot to look forward to, to be sure. 

Let’s not let October 31 go to waste. Instead, use it as an opportunity to reconnect with our Lutheran heritage and recommit to the time-honored disciplines of faith. 

May God’s blessings rest upon you and the church he serves as Shepherd and Lord. 

Peace+

Pastor Rhodes

Happy 500th!

Reformation 2016

Happy 500th anniversary! 

Well, not quite yet ... but beginning this Sunday we'll begin a year-long celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. And what a celebration it will be!

Incredibly St. John's has been around for more than half of these 500 years. As the third oldest Lutheran church in North Carolina and the founding church of the NC Synod, our roots run deep in this community and in American Lutheranism. 

So how do we celebrate? Oh, let me count the ways ..... Let's begin with a festival service of celebration this Sunday at the 11:00 service. The service will include The Reformation Brass, a fantastic new anthem offered by our Chancel Choir, Bishop Tim Smith presiding at Holy Communion, and Martin Luther himself (really!). If you're a 9:27 worship-goer, you'll enjoy the Reformation story retold in dramatic fashion. 

During the year to come we'll welcome the Lenoir-Rhyne A Capella Choir in concert, the Salisbury Symphony will perform "The Reformation Symphony" in our sanctuary, and next October we're co-producing with the Piedmont Players and the repertory theater group of Saxe Gotha, Germany, the world premier of "In God's Own Country," a play that captures the early history of Lutheranism in America. Also to look forward to: the grand opening of our new museum, the only professional quality museum that tells the story of Lutheranism in North Carolina.

There's much to celebrate, to be sure. But the best way of celebrating is by joining in worship and giving thanks for the opportunity God has given us to serve as his church in our community. 

So pull out your party hats and let's celebrate! I'll see you in worship. 

Pastor Rhodes

A divided nation

A divided nation | October 12, 2016 We live in a nation that is divided. In this moment, we are divided by culture, race, politics and just about every other difference you can imagine -- or so it seems. We see protests and riots and debates on television. We scroll through our newsfeeds and become overwhelmed with dissenting opinions. It's easy to get a sense that nothing could ever change for the better. The toxic combination of declining virtue alongside unfiltered opinions creates an environment that causes even the most hope-filled person to shudder. How do we have healthy, faithful conversation during a time such as this? That's where Q Commons comes in. Join us tomorrow night, October 13, from 7 to 9 pm in the Faith Center, where Dr. Ravi Zacharias will present his case for how we can influence our culture for good in a time that feels anything but unified. He'll be joined by political commentators Ross Douthat and Kirsten Powers who will talk about the upcoming election. Hip hop artist Lecrae will speak openly about the racial divide in our community.  I hope you'll join us as we seek to Engage a Divided Nation. It all begins tomorrow night at 7. For more information visit QCommons.com/StJohns. See you there! Peace+ Pastor Rhodes

Consecration Sunday

Consecration Sunday | September 28, 2016

This Sunday is Consecration Sunday, when our members and friends make pledges to support the mission and ministry of the church. 

Consecration Sunday is a bit different than previous campaigns. In fact, it's not a campaign at all. You may have noticed that you haven't seen a 2017 budget or goals for the coming year. In the past, we've tried to motivate your giving by explaining exactly how much is needed to meet the ministry goals of the church. 

This year's approach is a bit different and, to be honest, much more biblically-rooted. We're inviting you to give because, well, it's important to give. It's an important part of being a disciple because it invites all of us into the shared task of advancing the kingdom and caring for our neighbor. 

The tithe is a good example. God instituted the tithe as a gift to his people, not a burden. The tithe helps us better manage our resources, welcomes us into the joy of shared ministry, and teaches us to trust God more than we trust our own resources. The promise of the tithe is simple: "God will provide." The tithe teaches us to trust God's promise. 

I hope you'll join us this Sunday. Pastor John Propst is our special guest and the catered brunch will be down-right scrumptious. At the conclusion of worship you'll be asked to complete a pledge card and place it at the foot of the altar.

At the end of the day, your decision to give is between you and God. We trust that the Holy Spirit will guide and direct us in the decisions we make as together we Consecrate our gifts and our lives to His glory. 

Peace+

Pastor Rhodes

On Colin Kaepernick

On Colin Kaepernick | September 14, 2016

I disagree with Colin Kaepernick, the back-up 49er QB who refuses to stand for the national anthem.

Naturally I support his right to make a statement, and i don't entirely disagree with the statement he's trying to make. Sure, we need more conversation about violence and poverty and inequality. We've come a long way through the years, but way too many folks have been left behind, and their struggle is very, very real. 

And I don't mind the idea of peaceful protest one bit. It's what distinguishes us as Americans and, well, I'm proud of that part of our identity. 

And I have to admit that, as a Christian, I have to pause when a fellow Christian makes a statement about justice and mercy, the hallmarks of Judeo-Christian ethics. That's a rich part of Christian history, after all. Lest we forget, the apostles were taught to submit to governmental authority, but not when it conflicted with the way of Christ. And no Christian in the first 300 years after Jesus would have even thought to pledge allegiance to Rome. "One faith, one Lord, one baptism" was the rallying cry, not as a protest to Rome but as a reminder that our ultimate allegiance is to a different kind of king and kingdom.

So yes, I'm thankful for Kaepernick's right to free speech and this long-standing history of peaceful protests. 

But I disagree with his choice of time and space. These days there are fewer and fewer places where we Americans set aside agendas and division and speak with one voice. Divisiveness is at a chronic level. Grandstanding is all too common. The explosion of "Individual expression" is tiring. It seems like everyone wants to go viral these days, and its rarely for any reason other than pure self-promotion. 

Amidst all the disagreement and grandstanding, there remains one place where all of that is set aside, and that's during the singing of the national anthem. Rituals matter, after all, and this is one ritual that's designed to unite, not divide. It's that one remaining American ritual when we figuratively join hands and say, "we're all in this together."

I remember the outcry when Roseanne Barr butchered the national anthem during a Padres game. And I admit getting irritated when other singers have done their best to turn attention on themselves more than the star spangled banner and the corporate history/values it represents. 

Why should we care? Because it's important that we honor those moments, not out of blind allegiance, but out of a common drive to be "the land of the free and the home of the brave." 

Sure, there's a lot to protest these days. If we don't take seriously the epidemic of poverty, we're going to face some serious consequences. If we don't figure out how to prioritize public education, our community's future will be in serious jeopardy. And, yes, if we don't take seriously the fact that "black lives matter," our racial divide will become even more chasmic. 

Please, let's have that conversation. But not during the singing of the national anthem. In that moment, let's dare to stand as one. 

Peace+

Pastor Rhodes

Buying a car

Buying a car | September 7, 2016

This past Monday I helped my mom make her first car purchase since 1955. Since then, my dad had always bought the family cars, but since his death in 2009, mom has had to do a lot of things for the "first" time. 

She was so nervous and anxious, especially when she signed her name to the largest check she had ever signed. But then, almost immediately, there was a wave of satisfaction, accompanied by a great big smile and a few tears of relief. She took some pictures of her old car -- my dad's last major purchase -- and then drove her new, white, 2016 Honda CR-V off the lot. Well done, mom. You did it. 

We've entered into a season of new beginnings and fresh starts. A few weeks ago, Matt started college and Anna started high school. Fall programming at St. John's begins with a new youth minister, and last week a slew of new, wide-eyed kindergarteners walked on campus for the first time. It's all good ... but "firsts" can produce a lot of anxiety and, well, a few tears, too.

When mom took pictures of her old car, it helped me to see the importance of saying goodbye to a part of our past while anticipating the beauty of what is to come. I felt the same way when I watched Matt hug his mom one final time in the parking lot of NC State the other week. There was power in that ritual of saying goodbye .. and great beauty in watching Matt take those first steps on his own. 

If this is a season of "firsts" for you, may God use your past as a springboard to the joy and beauty of a brand new day.

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Peace+

Pastor Rhodes