Pastor’s Corner“ Images, Words, and Faithful Discipleship”

Images and words are powerful, especially when those images and words come from powerful individuals. In our era of hyper-fast communication, it takes very little time for images and words to have a powerful impact on the hearts and minds of people. Followers of Jesus, therefore, must be quick to turn to the primary Image and Word that is to form our thoughts, words, and deeds:

[Our Lord Jesus Christ] is the image of invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (Colossians 1:15-18)

With Jesus as God’s enfleshed image, with Jesus as Lord, with Jesus preeminent in everything, this requires Christians to reject all words and images that dilute, confuse, or contradict who the resurrected Christ is and what he teaches. Due to the glut of communication pouring out from news and social media, we need to ask our Father for grace to moderate our intake, exercise rigorous discernment, and seek Spirit-given guidance for response. Listening to the living Word – Spirit-enabled listening to Scripture and to Jesus – provides the conduit for receiving that grace (John 16:13-15).

The recent posts on President Trump’s Truth Social account are, of course, on my mind as I write this Pastor’s Corner. As a result, it may sound as though I’m participating in political partisanship in what I am writing. The reality, however, is that biblical truths almost always overlap with areas of public concern and political discourse. The value of life from conception to death, the nature of marriage, issues of gender and sexuality, relationships between races, care for the refugee and immigrant, provision for those in need, stewardship of finances and creation are just a few examples. As one of my fellow clergy has written:

“Before any of these are political or partisan issues, they are first and foremost biblical issues. And because they are biblical, we will address them in our preaching and teaching. In doing so, my goal is not to bring politics into the pulpit, nor to commend a politician, party, or policy. Rather my goal is to be faithful to the full counsel of God and commend personal discipleship to Jesus Christ in all areas of life.”h

This is among the reasons, by the way, we pray by name for our President and our Governor and for those serving on our local boards and counsels. “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions,” Paul instructs the young pastor Timothy. Paul was not endorsing the Roman emperor; Paul was recognizing the need for God’s intervention in the emperor’s life. Pray for him and all leaders, he writes, “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).

Not partisanship, but faithful discipleship to Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God, into whose image the Holy Spirit conforms us as we submit ourselves to the living Word of our Father in Heaven, rather than to anyone or anything else.

Your Pastor in Christ,