Pastoral Reflections Rev. Dr. Jack Haberer


“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”


—PHILIPPIANS 3:20,21 Beloved FPCA Friend,


Tis column comes to you at a time when each of us has been choosing whom we hope to send to Washington, Harrisburg, and other governmental offices to guide our nation and community through its next chapters. As recent months’ barrage of politicians’ accusations and counter-accusations give way to assessing the results


and impacts of the vote count, we do well to elevate our perspective a bit.


I find clearer perspective when observing how Jesus faced the most harrowing day of his human life. When Jesus’ claim to be the king of Jews led to an indictment for treason, Pilate derisively asked, “So where is your kingdom?” Jesus responded: “My kingdom is not of this world … my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36). Tat is, Jesus’ hopes, confidence, and identity were invested beyond the immediate crisis of his own trial and pending execution because his world extended beyond the bounds of this life and this nation. He looked at everything and everyone through the lens of the eternal God. Jesus knew in every fiber of his being that God, the triune God, is the sovereign over all.


Such knowledge and conviction changed everything for Jesus’ followers. Tat’s why, when writing the believers in Philippi, the Apostle Paul proclaimed that all of us share Jesus’ heavenly citizenship. Yes, these Philippians were feeling the burdens of poverty and marginalization as a minority group. Yes, they had to face the daily challenges that affected all around them. And they, too, doubted the motives, honesty, and judgment of their political leaders.


Nevertheless, as followers of Jesus, they were not granted the luxury of fully detaching from the society around them. Rather, they were commissioned to provide constructive help to friends and foes, family and aliens.


Still they could walk with a skip in their step, smile with an ease in their countenance, speak with a steadiness in their voice. Tey knew that their hopes and confidence were invested way beyond the immediate. Tey were secure in the sovereign God of heaven and earth.


So whichever candidates wear this year’s crown of victory, God bless them. Let us all pray fervently and frequently for them. Surely, most of them have offered the larger population their best intentions for honorable service; their work can be guided and redirected by God, whether we agree with them or not. But as we turn the page into the next chapter of our national life together in this land, and as we reach beyond its borders (both geographical and linguistic, both cultural and religious), let us love as Jesus loved. As we do to others, so we do to Jesus.


Grace and peace to you and yours, 3


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