United Church of God

Letter From Lewis VanAusdle - April 1, 2022

Letter From Lewis VanAusdle

April 1, 2022

Letter to the Congregations: 2nd April 2022

Our Dear Brethren,

Increasingly the laws of the nations are changing and morphing into something more modern, more progressive, more advanced. And yet the modern progress of nations and peoples and laws and ideas is nothing that hasn't been done before. "That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

When the laws of the land change to make lawful what God has called evil, I wonder whether or not those in the lead of such matters have stopped to consider whether these things should be done. The implications of allowing one sin to no longer be considered sin is that once the floodgates are open, there's no stopping people. This line of thinking doesn't seem to be taken seriously for the most part. I speculate that it's probably because there is an idea out there that basic human decency will win over evil actions. That assumption also assumes that humanity has come up with their own morals and values which have dictated their ability to restrain themselves throughout history. That false assumption tries to make the case that God is merely a human construct and that the laws He has set forth were merely a group of people attempting to govern their own behavior.

The history of humanity clearly demonstrates the lack of restraint that mankind tends to have when it comes to choices of the treatment of other people. As Jesus predicted, this trend of a lack of love for other people will continue to increase. He even gives the reason for it. "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). As we see a disregard for the laws which God has given us to dictate our actions, we don't see progress in basic human decency increasing. Instead we see the true nature of humanity being released from restraint.

As we navigate life, dealing with those in and out of the faith God has called us to, even while we strive to keep the laws of God, we must also consider the implications of our actions. There's a principle given in the book of 1 Corinthians which reminds us to think before we act and speak, even within the bounds of God's perfect law. "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being" (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

This reminder should help us to consider our actions and words with regard to the treatment of our brethren. Just because we can do something doesn't mean that we should do it. This simple passage, if followed, can help us be able to have more loving interactions with one another. And on a grander scale, if this principle would be followed by all the world, perhaps there would be fewer casualties of culture wars and actual wars.

Our love is with you,

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe