Pastoral Letter during the 2020 Pandemic

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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, with many cowering in fear of pestilence and death, let us remember the words of Christ: "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Take heart, beloved in the Lord, Jesus has overcome the world! Don't spend your days in fear and dread, but call upon the name of the Lord, for He hears you. He hearkens unto your pleas for mercy, and speaks peace to the brokenhearted.

In the face of pestilence and death, we're reminded that we deserve death and punishment, we deserve but wrath and condemnation. My friends, we have sinned against the almighty God and surely deserve this plague. For too long we have shunned God's Word and quarantined ourselves against the Son of God. We have made excuses not to hear the word, "we're too busy working, playing, and sleeping", we've said. We've ignored the greater pestilence of false doctrine in our midst which kills far more in a more deadly sense. We've been silent and done too little to protect those murdered in the womb. We've given ourselves over to the passions of our lust and have been fornicators in body and mind. We have sinned and we deserve God's wrath. O Lord, hear us for the sake of Christ and have mercy upon us! O Christ, hear us! O Lord, have mercy!

There is only One whom we ought to fear, and that's not our government nor our scientists, not a deadly virus nor any threat of death. No, the One we fear is our holy and righteous God who shall deliver us not into the pains of eternal death. He hears your cries and He forgives and strengthens. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Christ suffered the punishment for all of your sin. Every thought, word, and deed was laid upon Him, the spotless Lamb of God, and He delivered you from this world of death to the joys of paradise.

Your God loves you and cherishes you as His dear child. As a Father loves His child, so does your heavenly Father love you. If earthly fathers chastise their children out of great love, so does our heavenly Father chastise us with many crosses in life, such as with this virus. "Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

God has seen fit to preserve for us our lives at least unto today, and so let us live out each day in sincerest repentance and faithfulness. He is faithful unto death and will see you through this cross and trial. He plows long furrows over your heart with this cross that the seed of His Word might germinate and grow deep within you. Rejoice! Praise the Lord! He has done wonderful things! He even creates faith in such a sinful heart as mine!

"Yet even now, declares the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster."

Dear Christian, do not fear. Do not worry. Be not anxious. Have hope and take comfort.

In this time of national emergency, don't quarantine yourself from God's Word. Each of the congregations I have been given to serve by God have at this time chosen different courses of action in the days and weeks to come. So please see each of their Facebook pages for those details.

I am here to serve as an undershepherd of Christ's flock, ministering with the tools given to me: the Word and the Sacraments. I will continue to preach and teach and administer the sacraments as my call documents demand of me. 

Christ our Lord says: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." If you desire to pray with me in God's house, I will not turn you away, please join me. If you aren't able to leave your home, let me know, and I will come to you.

If you aren't Lutheran or Christian, and you're looking for hope and comfort in the midst of this tragedy, I will not turn you away. If you're feeling lost and alone, come pray with me and think on God's word. 

If you're sick or dying, with the virus or some other illness, I will do what I can to minister to you. If you don’t feel well, stay home, don’t risk infecting others unnecessarily. In all things, do not fear. Do not fear sin nor death nor Satan's hellish crew! Christ is risen!

Your brother in Christ,
Rev John Koopman
Cell: (712)-852-6095
Email: pastorjohnkoopman@gmail.com

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