Dear Family and Friends of The Neighborhood Church,

Struggle and conflict—we are all too aware of the resulting tragedies of generational hate, fear, jealousy, and domination. Our friends and global neighbors in the Middle East have lived with those realities for centuries—since Biblical times, really.  And, of course, there are rippling effects and consequences for our friends and neighbors who are Jews and Palestinians here in our own country and city. 

Our faith directs that we must pray for peace, and healing, and stand by those afraid and on guard because of the times in which we live. So, we will. It’s a human tragedy, isn’t it? And nothing short of terrorists are the bad actors on the scene, causing havoc and distrust and further violence here and abroad.

People want to know what is going on, and why this is happening. In short, from a theological perspective, sin. Sin moves us off our values and priorities, and causes fear, distrust, and ultimately tragedy. Sin takes its toll on us, especially in the arena of human relationships. To watch and hear of it erupting in the world and even here in our own city is both frightening, disheartening, and a vivid reminder of the human condition and our great need of saving.

It seems to me that there’s no way to justify the bad behavior the human family that God created and designed for love. And, for me, it seems there’s only one explanation for it: sin. It is a battle inside of us that we are not wired to win on our own.  Thus, Christ; the One who comes to save us from our very selves, and this sin within…to mend our brokenness…to bridge human division, and to restore us to wholeness and peace. This is, as Scripture describes a “peace which passes all understanding, that will keep and guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord.” (Philippians 4:7) We need a good dose of it right now.

Kids take the edge off things sometimes—at least, it’s been that way in our house. Reminding us that there’s a little sin that is in our nature, and is at work even as we watch siblings and families navigate life. Kris, our oldest son who is now a husband and dad himself, grew up in a church context where that scriptural blessing was spoken regularly at the end of every worship—so much so, that one evening at the dinner table, this 2-year-old asked us to pass him “the peas that passeth all understanding”.  Hah—out of the mouth of babes!

I smile remembering that comment. I needed that happy memory in the midst of the surrounding bad news this morning—this reminder that it is still God’s world, God is still large and in charge, and that Christ was given as “salve” ( = “salvation”) for all that ails us and trips us up. Today, we could use a “peace that passes human understanding AND guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. I find myself wondering: could it be that simple?

Pastor Rick
Intentional Interim Minister