Shepherd's Corner (June 25, 2025)

Shepherd's Corner 6_25_25

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Grace and peace of our loving Lord Jesus Christ to you.

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the conflict, known as the "Korean War." I've never liked the name because although the conflict took place in the Korean Peninsula, the war was a proxy war between the West and the Communist nations of the Soviet Union and China. You see, three nations formed then "the axis of evil,'; they are Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Totalitarian Italy. At the end of World War II, Berlin was divided into two parts by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union—the logic was that Tokyo should be divided as well. However, instead of Imperial Japan rightly paying for their involvement in World War II, the Korean Peninsula was divided along the 38th Parallel line. The people who lived under the Chosun Dynasty, which had been an unjust system for hundreds of years, had to live under the occupation of Imperial Japan for 40 years, only to find their land divided into two. The "independence" of August 15, 1945, did not provide true freedom, which all mankind deserves. The war between global Communism and Western Democracy would take place on June 25th, 1950. It's been 75 years since the war began, and we've been at "cease fire" since 1953. I pray that the Kingdom of God, marked by compassion, justice, and righteousness, will be made more of a reality in the future.

I know many of you at Riverside are not of Korean heritage. I am just as interested in your heritage, culture, food, and history. This week's Shepherd's Corner is not intended to promote or focus on any particular heritage. However, I thought you might want to know the significance of 6.25. I believe that understanding each other's background helps us build a better future together. I should know. My son married a blonde girl from North Carolina, my daughter married a Central-American Latino from Guatemala, and my younger daughter married an American-born Asian from Taiwan. I have no idea our youngest child will choose to wed.

Building up the Kingdom of Jesus Christ at Riverside recognizes our different heritages and backgrounds. As I emphasize our identity in Christ, I would be diminishing the beauty of our diversity if I felt limited to speaking of my heritage. Neither should you. We should be intentional about our unity in Christ as we celebrate our diversity. These days, I wonder what the world will look like in 30 years. I wonder about that because I am concerned about how we, as a Christ-centered and Gospel-driven Covenant Community, will answer the call of God while growing together in the foundation of Jesus' Gospel.

I prayerfully look to God, who is the Head of the Church, that you will hear God's call as he calls out an assembly (ecclesia). It is Christ who has called us from different walks of life into one body of Christ. In Jesus, our differences are beautiful as we find unity in the headship of Christ. To find unity in Christ, we must study the Word together and be willing to share the same foundations. Let us grow together in unity into the headship of Jesus Christ. Let us make Jesus Christ our foundation, the Rock of Salvation.

In His Grace Alone,

Pb