"Inspired by Christ`s love to serve others"
Capron Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Frank S. Moyer
FROM THE PASTOR: "Fear Not"
All our lives we have heard those words of the Angel to the shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem. Words which seem to be in stark contrast to the reality of that moment! Alone in the quiet of that night, the appearance of the Angel and accompanying "radiance" would be fear-producing to any - let alone the uneducated shepherds.
Even from our vantage point in history, knowing the Angel was announcing the birth of Jesus, it is not difficult to understand the shepherds' fear. As Paul Harvey says - "We know the rest of the story!" We know that Herod made life frightening - dangerous - for Joseph, Mary and Jesus. We know that the religious leaders did not want Jesus preaching to the people and plotted against him. We know of the betrayal and the pain and the death of Good Friday.
The shepherds' fear was not unwarranted.
It is what they did with their fear that is worth remembering today as we confront the fears of 2008 and 2009.
They courageously faced their fears and went to Bethlehem "to see this thing that has happened". They trusted - their own selves, their God, and even the Angel - and went to see this important baby. And, they were changed! Life was still tough for them - and the incidents that were ahead for Jesus didn't change or go away. But they were empowered.
In the book of Proverbs we are told - "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". (1:7) That is a reminder that "fear" is not a sign of weakness or inadequacy or some major fault in our psyches. Instead, it is a healthy and normal reaction to that which can be a threat to our life! The event on that hillside outside of Bethlehem did have the potential for harm! Remember that Herod wanted them to reveal the baby so he could kill him!
There are many things happening today that ought to make us fearful:
• The numbers of jobless and homeless, not just in our Nation but throughout the world, are increasing!
• The same is true for the numbers of those who face hunger daily.
• The world's three major monotheistic faiths are at a moment in history when they need to find ways to live with each other because they do have the means to destroy each other!
• The challenges to our belief systems are not going away - any more than they did when Luther identified the challenges 500 years ago!
It is understandable that this is a time for "fear".
It is imperative, however, that we have the same faith as displayed by the shepherds! We face those fears and deal with them in such ways as to be open to the "wisdom" of our Creator:
* There are enough resources in the world for all to have meaningful work.
* There are enough resources in the world for all to have the safety of shelter.
* There are enough resources in the world for all to be fed.
* There is only One God - and that God is powerful enough not to be destroyed as Christian, Jew and Muslim talk and learn from each other.
*The God to Whom Jesus referred when he challenged the rules of the religion of his day is still the God alive today.
Jesus proclaimed that there are even greater commandments than those about diet or who was clean or the correct forms for worship! The Commandments that say - Love God with all your heart, your soul, and your mind. And, love your neighbor as yourself.
Let's resolve to strive for that love as we move into 2009, confident that God will be with us!
— Pastor Moyer