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"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith" (Hebrews 13:7).
Dear Brothers and Sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Much of what the Scripture says runs counter to culture. At times it is tempting for us to think that this is something new, as if the context in which God's word was written was somehow dramatically different from our own. While there is some truth to this view, the cultural differences are not always as dramatic as we might suspect. The reason for this is that, in the end, all people sin and therefore all people come from a cultural context that is opposed to God and His ways in Christ Jesus.
As pastors, we would have never guessed when we first came out of the seminary that we would be criticized by the people of our own congregations for preaching and teaching what the Scriptures say. For example, both of us, and other pastors, too, have witnessed members angrily leaving our congregations because we taught, for example, that it is wrong to live together outside of marriage, a practice otherwise known as adultery. While adultery has always been "in" with the culture, it seems new to us that many of the people of our congregations expect the Lord's blessing on it, or at least a pass. A sample of other things that provoke the ire of the people of God these days include our insistence on regular attendance at the Divine Service, even during the summer months (3rd Commandment), our direction that if you have a problem with someone you talk with the person you have a problem with about it (Matthew 18), and our praying for presidents (1 Timothy 2) just to name a few. We are certainly not without our faults, but faithfully preaching and teaching the word of God is precisely what we are called and ordained to do.
Both of us, and indeed all pastors are, like you, poor, miserable sinners. Isn't it refreshing, however, to know that we can honestly confess our sin with the knowledge that the love of God in Jesus Christ is still there for us? We do not need to hide our sin, as if we could, or deny it, or call it something good. We can say we have sinned and the Lord forgives us.
The writer to the Hebrews implores you to "remember your leaders, who
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