Author: knoxchurchreddeer

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Psalm 80:7-15 and Matthew 21:33-46

 

God gave ten standards to the people living on this earth. They are like guidebooks for our lives. The first four commandments define the relationship between God and humans. God commands us to serve the Creator with a sincere heart and to keep the Sabbath. The remaining six commandments are the lessons that humans must observe in their lives. They guide us to honour our parents, not to murder, not to steal, not to bear false witness, and not to commit sexual violence. These ten commandments are timeless lessons that remain valid today, thousands of years later. Conversely, why did God go out of His way to give these ten commandments to humans? It is very simple. Because the Creator knew humans would not keep those commandments well. Today, many people are needed to live faithfully and with a sincere heart. It is difficult even to mention all the numerous wars waged by the leaders of countries that claimed to be Christian nations, while disregarding the commandment not to kill.

I want to introduce you to a shameful part of my country’s history. Originally, during Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century, the church grew most in the Pyongyang region of North Korea. However, when Japan was defeated in World War II and Korea gained independence, turmoil followed. At the time, the Soviet Union wanted to establish a communist state in the North, while the United States and the West wanted to maintain a democratic state in at least South Korea. Consequently, Japanese influence persisted in South Korea, and those who collaborated with Japan became the new power holders, harassing those who had striven for independence. Also, at that time, many Christians were persecuted by communists in North Korea and came down to South Korea. They were separated from their families and driven out, leaving their property behind in North Korea. Filled with hostility toward communism, they suppressed people with socialist or leftist ideologies. So, around the time of the Korean War, there was an incident in which right-wing Christians massacred about 30,000 people. It was 10% of the population living on Jeju Island, a large island in southern Korea. Even among the victims, there was rampant madness of violence and retaliatory massacres, even though some were not socialists. And this violence was encouraged by the pastor of the largest Presbyterian church in Seoul at the time, and the young people of that church actively participated in it. I share this shameful history with you because of human imperfection. Humans make mistakes, and throughout history, we must live wisely today. God has appointed us Christians as stewards of this era. Through the Ten Commandments, we can learn to judge right from wrong, protect the weak, not covet our neighbour’s property, and not bear false witness. Through this, we will experience the Kingdom of God, just as the people of Israel were transferred from the land of slavery to the land the Lord is giving them.

The second lesson is how to live as a people who produce fruit. Jesus explains the Kingdom of God through the parable of the vineyard. It means that the one who cultivates the entrusted vineyard well, bears abundant fruit, and offers a share of the crop to the vineyard owner will receive an opportunity. Conversely, those who harbour evil greed and covet only the desire to possess the vineyard, while failing to fulfill their rightful duties, are deprived even of the right to work. Furthermore, they even receive severe punishment. They lose their lives, and even the Kingdom of God is taken away.

Beloved, this message poses a very daunting challenge even to me as a pastor. The Knox church God entrusted to me is a vineyard. At the same time, Red Deer, a little more broadly Alberta, even more broadly Canada and the world are the vineyard. I have a responsibility to make this a fruitful place, including the church. I have been called to create a dynamic community where life is revived. I want to become a servant praised by the Lord, but I am still just an inadequate servant. However, by relying on God’s mercy and grace, which continue to give us opportunities, we can start again. Today, as we celebrate World Communion Sunday, we will remember and meditate on Jesus, the Word made flesh. Let us live as good and faithful servants of God, just like Jesus, who gave everything to us, symbolizing the bread of life and His precious blood as wine. The Kingdom of God will be yours. Amen.

Psalm 18:7-14, Zachariah 8:16-17, and Matthew 5:1-11, 17-18

 

Last Thursday, the National Church Office hosted a webinar. It focused on residential schools and Colonization. In fact, Residential Schools were a result of Canadian churches complying with government policy at the time, and a tragedy occurred within a limited budget. Out of a total of 139 Indigenous residential schools, Catholics operated 64, Anglicans 36, United Churches 15, and Presbyterian Churches 12. Some people also had good intentions. At the same time, there were also groups with white supremacy. So, the government and the church forced cultural assimilation on Indigenous people. This happened a long time ago, and some of you here may not have a direct connection to them. However, the instructor claims. “All that was a long time ago, but it still continues. The wounds are still open.” In fact, Colonization issues, including residential schools, can be easily found on downtown streets today. And this was not the first time such a problem had occurred in Christian history. As European empires expanded, Christian theology and missionary activities justified colonial rule. The discovery of the North American continent, including the Doctrine of Discovery, and the invasion of Africa and Asia with armed force are a disgrace to the world Christian church. Therefore, most churches today have revised their mission policies from sending conquering and aggressive missionaries to sending collaborators to local churches and institutions. In fact, this uncomfortable reality is not easy to face. So the instructor also says that facing uncomfortable facts is not necessarily a bad thing. This is because, even though current children have not committed any grave wrongs, it is difficult to open up a better future without understanding the pain of the indigenous people living on this land. The fact that the life expectancy of many Indigenous people is 10 to 15 years shorter than that of Non-Indigenous people is a social problem and a future that we will continue to have to deal with. “Yesterday’s enemy is today’s friend, and today’s friend is tomorrow’s enemy.” Currently, the region below Canada was a friend to many countries in the past, but is now the most threatening. If Jesus were to come in this era, what would He tell us?

I tend to avoid sermons that make the audience feel guilty as much as possible. So, when I prepare a sermon or make eye contact with you while delivering the sermon, I try to avoid giving the impression that I am criticizing or attacking you. I am convinced that if Jesus comes to Red Deer in 2026, His priority will be the weakest. We will become followers of Jesus and follow Him. However, I expect that Jesus will go to the drug addicts on the streets, those struggling with identity confusion, and the countless Indigenous youths wandering after leaving the reserve. However, this ministry is truly not easy. This is because having the right direction and thoughts doesn’t mean the results will always be good. However, I would like to gain some insights from the words of Jesus.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Some people mourn due to material and mental distress. It is not easy for us to help them completely, but God will comfort them. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Perhaps this message sounds like a message directed at us. When you maintain gentleness, you will obtain a dwelling place in the Kingdom of God. However, maintaining meekness in life is not easy. Various factors disturb our peace of mind, such as encountering aggressive drivers on the road, seeing church buildings disrespected, receiving scam calls, losing our money and accounts to scam emails, news including next month’s referendum vote and USA tariffs, and so on. However, Jesus exhorts us. Be merciful, and you will be shown mercy.

Beloved brothers and sisters, unlike usual, I addressed political and social issues extensively in today’s sermon. If you felt any discomfort while listening, you are receiving the sermon well. The Gospel is inherently uncomfortable. Living like Christ is uncomfortable. How painful is it to take up the cross? How difficult is it to accept the Refuge and sometimes meet uncomfortable friends or acquaintances? It is also difficult to make altruistic decisions for our community, even if it means I suffer a loss.

But you, children of God, you know. When we strive for peace, God is proud of us. God will be pleased with all acts of bringing harmony to families, supporting the precious lives of those met on the street, caring for and restoring those who were once the masters of this land but have now been deprived of their status, and supporting decisions that bring peace in various political matters. I hope that you will continue to live as peacemakers in the coming week. May God bless all of us. Amen.