Constitution Day – September 17
On September 17, 1787, the American founders created the U.S. Constitution. The greatest strength of our Bill of Rights and Constitution is limiting the power of the government. The main objective of our founders was to protect our rights and establish a rule of law that promotes civil liberties and religious freedom.
The Constitution continually prevents those that want to take us backward to a time when tyranny and injustice reigned. It destroys those who want to make this country into their own image and for their own agenda.
Now, does The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod support the State and Church separation? The answer is yes.
The founders of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod migrated to the United States because they needed the religious freedom guaranteed in our nation’s Constitution. Unfortunately, the religious freedom we seek is eroding amid continuous oppressions today. That’s why the LCMS established the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C.
The Right and Left Kingdoms (Power & Preserving and Kingdom of Grace & Saving) are explained below to understand how the State and Church separation works
The Constitution continually prevents those that want to take us backward to a time when tyranny and injustice reigned. It destroys those who want to make this country into their own image and for their own agenda.
Now, does The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod support the State and Church separation? The answer is yes.
The founders of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod migrated to the United States because they needed the religious freedom guaranteed in our nation’s Constitution. Unfortunately, the religious freedom we seek is eroding amid continuous oppressions today. That’s why the LCMS established the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington, D.C.
The Right and Left Kingdoms (Power & Preserving and Kingdom of Grace & Saving) are explained below to understand how the State and Church separation works
Although LCMS pastors tend to be neutral on the church stage during the worship services in endorsing an individual political candidate, Christians are strongly encouraged to speak out accordingly to what the Bible states.
Some political issues are tough to tackle. For instance, when a religious school receives funding from government via a charter or voucher plan, it must follow what the government says that may be that against Biblical agendas, such as marriage and gender definitions, authority (parents vs teachers), and penalizing Biblical views. Christians should pray for government leaders to use wisdom in their decisions leading their people according to God’s will.
Like LCMS President Matthew Harrison stated, “When the requirements of the two realms clash in this sinful world, the Gospel must predominate. ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).”
To obtain further information about the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty:
https://www.lcrlfreedom.org/about
The Champions Network
https://champions-network.com/#two-kingdoms
~~ Pastor Andy
Some political issues are tough to tackle. For instance, when a religious school receives funding from government via a charter or voucher plan, it must follow what the government says that may be that against Biblical agendas, such as marriage and gender definitions, authority (parents vs teachers), and penalizing Biblical views. Christians should pray for government leaders to use wisdom in their decisions leading their people according to God’s will.
Like LCMS President Matthew Harrison stated, “When the requirements of the two realms clash in this sinful world, the Gospel must predominate. ‘We must obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).”
To obtain further information about the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty:
https://www.lcrlfreedom.org/about
The Champions Network
https://champions-network.com/#two-kingdoms
~~ Pastor Andy
How many races are there in the world?
The answer is ONLY ONE!
Reasons:
Limitations to the size and scope of this Mustard Seed article prevent me from explaining further, as I would like. You can get more information from this website:
https://answersingenesis.org/racism/are-there-really-different-races/
The answer is ONLY ONE!
Reasons:
- The Bible doesn’t use the word “race” in referring to ethnic groups of people, but includes all human beings as one blood (Acts 17:26- 26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to inhabit all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation).
- We all are descendants of Adam and Eve. Jesus is the “Last Adam,” so the Gospel should be preached to all tribes and nations because our mutual relative is Jesus Christ via blood who died and rose again.
- The basic genetic differences between two people from anywhere in the world would typically be around 0.2% regardless if they came from the same ethnic group or not. Scientists calculate that physical characteristics which many regard as marking racial differences, like skin color and eye shape, are only 6% of this 0.2%, a variation equaling a micro minor 0.012%. (S.C. Cameron and S.M. Wycoff, “The destructive nature of the term race: growing beyond a false paradigm,” Journal of Counseling & Development, 76:277–285, 1998.)
Limitations to the size and scope of this Mustard Seed article prevent me from explaining further, as I would like. You can get more information from this website:
https://answersingenesis.org/racism/are-there-really-different-races/
| There is only one race: The Human Race! ~~ Pastor Andy |  |
Forgiving is hard! (Part 3)
There is a verse in Proverbs that gives me trouble:
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
Otherwise, the Lord will see and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him. (Proverbs 24:17-18)
It’s hard to not want to take revenge against someone who has hurt us. And for me, I can’t stop feeling satisfaction when I hear that things have gone badly for that person. Rather, my first thought is: “He got what he deserved!” But is it right for me to enjoy that thought, while at the same time I thank God that I have not received what I truly deserve for all the wrong things that I have done?
The Bible teaches three balancing principles:
The Bible teaches three balancing principles:
JUSTICE – MERCY – GRACE
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The Bible is clear...
Justice is the government’s responsibility.
Mercy is what we do, as followers of Jesus.
When we confuse these two roles, trouble results.
Christians who work in the government must remember that as agents of the government, their first duty is to exercise justice. In their personal relation-ships outside of their work, their duty is to show mercy.
Justice and mercy are opposite, conflicting principles. There is only one place where justice and mercy are both perfectly satisfied. That place is the cross of Jesus Christ. ...and that’s grace.
So, what should be my reaction when bad things happen to the one who has hurt me?
Justice is the government’s responsibility.
Mercy is what we do, as followers of Jesus.
When we confuse these two roles, trouble results.
Christians who work in the government must remember that as agents of the government, their first duty is to exercise justice. In their personal relation-ships outside of their work, their duty is to show mercy.
Justice and mercy are opposite, conflicting principles. There is only one place where justice and mercy are both perfectly satisfied. That place is the cross of Jesus Christ. ...and that’s grace.
So, what should be my reaction when bad things happen to the one who has hurt me?
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:20-22)
~~Pastor Ron
The Parable of Two Landlords
Once there was a poor woman whom we will name Christine. She lived alone in a rundown apartment building. She did not like living there, but she was too poor to move.
When she first met the landlord, he seemed nice. The rent he charged was low, and he promised that he would maintain the building and he would be sure Christine was safe and comfortable. But after she signed the lease, his attitude changed. And after the first lease was up, he began increasing the rent.
Every week the landlord came to her apartment and pounded on the door. He demanded to inspect the apartment. He always criticized Christine for her housekeeping. If he found anything that was broken or didn’t work right, he blamed her and he charged her for it. But he never fixed anything.
But one day, as she waited in fear for that awful pounding and the landlord’s screaming voice, she heard a gentle knock on the door. She cautiously opened the door, and saw a nice looking man standing there. He was dressed in work clothes and he had a friendly smile. She never saw this man before, but he knew her name.
“Hello, Christine. I just wanted to let you know that I own this building now. I bought it from your old landlord. I have been looking through his records and I found a couple things I want to discuss with you.
“First, I see that the previous owner had a very long list of things that are broken in your apartment, but I don’t see any record that he fixed them. I will personally take care of that right away.
“Second, I see that your old landlord overcharged your rent for a long time. I want to make that up to you by letting you stay here for free.
“And, by the way, I just moved into the apartment downstairs. If you ever need anything, please let me know right away.”
This seemed too good to be true. But the new landlord kept every promise. He made every repair. And he checked on Christine often, just to be sure she was okay.
Then one day Christine heard that old familiar pounding on the door. The old landlord barged in, and he began walking around her apartment, yelling and complaining about everything he saw.
When Christine realized what was happening, she parked herself in front of his face and ordered him to be quiet. “You have no right to be here! You don’t own this building any more. I have a new landlord now. So if you have any complaints, you go talk to him. Get out now and leave me alone!”
Martin Luther wrote about his daily struggle with that Old Landlord:
When I go to bed, the devil is always waiting for me. When he begins to bother me with a list of my sins, I tell him:
“‘Yes, I know all about it. And I know even more sins that you have forgotten.
“But just by telling me that I am a terrible sinner, you give me a sword with which I can defeat you; yes, with your own weapon I can kill you.
“If you tell me that I am a sinner, I can tell you that Christ died for sinners. You remind me how much Jesus my Savior loves me. The burden for my sins and all the trouble and misery that would oppress me eternally, He very gladly took upon His shoulders and suffered the bitter death on the cross for them.
“To Him I direct you. You may accuse and condemn Him. Let me rest in peace; for on His shoulders, not on mine, lie all my sins, and the sins of all the world.”
When she first met the landlord, he seemed nice. The rent he charged was low, and he promised that he would maintain the building and he would be sure Christine was safe and comfortable. But after she signed the lease, his attitude changed. And after the first lease was up, he began increasing the rent.
Every week the landlord came to her apartment and pounded on the door. He demanded to inspect the apartment. He always criticized Christine for her housekeeping. If he found anything that was broken or didn’t work right, he blamed her and he charged her for it. But he never fixed anything.
But one day, as she waited in fear for that awful pounding and the landlord’s screaming voice, she heard a gentle knock on the door. She cautiously opened the door, and saw a nice looking man standing there. He was dressed in work clothes and he had a friendly smile. She never saw this man before, but he knew her name.
“Hello, Christine. I just wanted to let you know that I own this building now. I bought it from your old landlord. I have been looking through his records and I found a couple things I want to discuss with you.
“First, I see that the previous owner had a very long list of things that are broken in your apartment, but I don’t see any record that he fixed them. I will personally take care of that right away.
“Second, I see that your old landlord overcharged your rent for a long time. I want to make that up to you by letting you stay here for free.
“And, by the way, I just moved into the apartment downstairs. If you ever need anything, please let me know right away.”
This seemed too good to be true. But the new landlord kept every promise. He made every repair. And he checked on Christine often, just to be sure she was okay.
Then one day Christine heard that old familiar pounding on the door. The old landlord barged in, and he began walking around her apartment, yelling and complaining about everything he saw.
When Christine realized what was happening, she parked herself in front of his face and ordered him to be quiet. “You have no right to be here! You don’t own this building any more. I have a new landlord now. So if you have any complaints, you go talk to him. Get out now and leave me alone!”
Martin Luther wrote about his daily struggle with that Old Landlord:
When I go to bed, the devil is always waiting for me. When he begins to bother me with a list of my sins, I tell him:
“‘Yes, I know all about it. And I know even more sins that you have forgotten.
“But just by telling me that I am a terrible sinner, you give me a sword with which I can defeat you; yes, with your own weapon I can kill you.
“If you tell me that I am a sinner, I can tell you that Christ died for sinners. You remind me how much Jesus my Savior loves me. The burden for my sins and all the trouble and misery that would oppress me eternally, He very gladly took upon His shoulders and suffered the bitter death on the cross for them.
“To Him I direct you. You may accuse and condemn Him. Let me rest in peace; for on His shoulders, not on mine, lie all my sins, and the sins of all the world.”
(Reprinted from October 2007 Mustard Seed)
Many years ago I was facing an important and difficult decision. I needed God’s guidance. There was one passage of Scripture that had once helped me before in a similar situation, so I turned to it again. It was James chapter one.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8 ESV)
What caught my curiosity this time was the word doubt:
... But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind...
We normally associate that word “doubt” with uncertainty or unbelief. But how do those concepts fit with this context?
So I went to the original Greek text of the New Testament, hoping to get clarity as to what James is telling us. And what I found surprised me.
The Greek word for “doubt” that appears in verse six is diakrino.
Krino means “judge,” and the prefix dia- means “through” or “thoroughly.” Put these two words together to make diakrino, and it literally means to “judge thoroughly,” or “critically analyze.”
This insight to the word that is translated here as “doubt” helped me realize that God had already shown me what He wanted me to do, but I did not want to do it. So in my continuing search for His guidance, I was actually asking God for a second opinion.
I was asking God to tell me what He wanted me to do, while I reserved the right to make a value judgment on His direction, and reserve my right to veto, to make my own judgement, my own decision.
“That person” says James “must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, for he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
In other words, pray for God’s direction with that kind of attitude – forget it! He won’t tell you.
That surprising discovery about this meaning of the word “doubt” in James chapter one made me curious about other Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as “doubt.” And I found several, each with its own distinct meaning.
I already shared one of them in the March-April 2026 Mustard Seed.
~~ Pastor Ron
... But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind...
We normally associate that word “doubt” with uncertainty or unbelief. But how do those concepts fit with this context?
So I went to the original Greek text of the New Testament, hoping to get clarity as to what James is telling us. And what I found surprised me.
The Greek word for “doubt” that appears in verse six is diakrino.
Krino means “judge,” and the prefix dia- means “through” or “thoroughly.” Put these two words together to make diakrino, and it literally means to “judge thoroughly,” or “critically analyze.”
This insight to the word that is translated here as “doubt” helped me realize that God had already shown me what He wanted me to do, but I did not want to do it. So in my continuing search for His guidance, I was actually asking God for a second opinion.
I was asking God to tell me what He wanted me to do, while I reserved the right to make a value judgment on His direction, and reserve my right to veto, to make my own judgement, my own decision.
“That person” says James “must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord, for he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
In other words, pray for God’s direction with that kind of attitude – forget it! He won’t tell you.
That surprising discovery about this meaning of the word “doubt” in James chapter one made me curious about other Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as “doubt.” And I found several, each with its own distinct meaning.
I already shared one of them in the March-April 2026 Mustard Seed.
~~ Pastor Ron
 | This article is part of a study on “Five ways to doubt God,” in Pastor Ron’s Digging for Gold series on YouTube. See christdeaf.org/gold |
