Today’s Word from Pastor Pastor Tom Kidd…
Jesus said, “It is finished.” John 19:30.
Jesus said “It is finished” and then he gave up his spirit and died. We heard the text last Friday, Good Friday. Jesus said “It is finished” so it must be finished. But what is finished? His earthly life in the flesh? His perfect fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy? His appointed task to offer the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world as the Lamb of God? Finished means done, no more to add, that’s it, nothing more to be said, finished.
If Good Friday is, “It is finished,” then Christ’s resurrection on Easter morning is God’s, “Okay, welcome to the Kingdom of God!” Contrary to some very poor “Left Behind” theology (a popular series of books in the 90’s) the salvation of the world is done. It is finished. One of the most dangerous words to the Christian faith is “more.” Like, “You have to do more for your salvation,” or “There is more to being a Christian.” The world is saved; there is nothing more we can do to merit God’s mercy. We are already living in the last times. And no, I do not believe Coronavirus is the end of the world.
We have a task, though; our task is simply to live like we are already citizens of the Kingdom of God. My children have dual citizenship, they were born in Canada. Enormous advantages having dual citizenship. Just like us as Christians, we are citizens of the United States, and citizens of the Kingdom of God at the same time. While there is nothing more we can do to earn God’s gift of grace, there is something we can do to celebrate God’s gift. And that is to live the free life of a Christian.
St. Irenaeus was a Greek Bishop in the 2nd century. He was a champion of the faith during a time when it was very difficult to be a Christian. One of his loosely translated lines (ignore the lack of inclusive language) that has stirred the imagination of the church is, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” When we live fearlessly, generously, openly in love for one another out of gratitude for Jesus, God’s glory shines through us. Yet, there is something that often gets in our way of living the Easter life. Guilt.
There is a line I have often credited to C. S. Lewis, regardless I find it enormously helpful, “If Satan cannot bind us by our sin, he will bind us by the effect of our sin.” Kind of sounds Lewis-esk, don’t you think? If Satan cannot bind us by our sin (he can’t, Jesus made the sacrifice, we are saved from our sin, “It is finished”) then he will bind us by the effect of our sin… guilt. You know it is true, don’t you? Guilt makes us small; we withdraw, we do not live freed up lives that infect others with grace. If Satan cannot have us, his second best is to leave us living a guilty existence that is anything but “man/woman fully alive.” Our salvation is not the issue, but I believe the worst comment that can be made of a person’s life is, “I did not know he was a Christian.”
Easter continues, salvation is given. This pandemic will pass (though, there are many for us to pray for). In the meantime, these days afford us a unique opportunity to live that God’s glory might be known through us. Though sheltered in place, live unafraid, live generously, live openly in love for one another and our neighbor. This disease, like sin and guilt, ultimately cannot have us. We are already citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is finished.
Pastor Tom
Happy Birthday to these members:
April 13 – John Villapudua, Dinah Stinson
April 14 – Jerry Camery-Hoggatt, Carolyn Haroldson, Pat Rice
Jerome Staats
April 16 – Roy George, Diane Haven, Jayson Maher
April 17 – Mary Thomson (91)
April 18 – Joey Lane, Teri Hagstrom, Frank Mathews
April 19 – Carole Matthews
April 20 – Chris Woldstad
April 22 – Brad Walker, Don Johnson, Tom Wozab, June Murray
April 23 – Doug Roraback
April 24 – Diane Anderson, Karen Murphy
April 25 – Lou Hartley, Peggy Swart
April 26 – Jeff McGrath
April 27 – Aurora Saint Yves, Jana Szabo
April 28 – Jamie Canby
April 29 – Cathy Fanslow, Jacob Nelson
April 30 – Steve Diklich, Linda Eckhart
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