April 6, 2022

I took the following statement directly from the United Nations Security Council website.

“The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.”

So, what has the Security Council said about Russia’s war against Ukraine? (Cue sound effect of crickets) Nothing. Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council and can veto any resolution the Security Council makes. Plus, according to the Security Council charter, Russia can veto any efforts to remove Russia from the Security Council and any efforts to change the U.N. charter. So, what exactly is the point of having a Security Council?

Want to know something else equally crazy? Russia is a member of the United Nations Council on Human Rights. Who was smoking what when that decision was made? The following statement is from the council’s website. “The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system made up of 47 States responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.”

So, let’s try to get this straight. Russia is a member of the security council that has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and Russia is a member of the council charged with the promotion and protection of all human rights. How does this square with the Russian army’s raping, torturing, murdering, plundering, and destruction of citizens in Ukraine? What special announcements has the Human Rights Council released on their website about this? (Again, cue the "crickets" sound effect.)

What does the Security Council and the Human Rights Council mean? Nothing. Buildings, charters, titles, meetings, resolutions, announcements… all mean nothing. These councils’ inability to carry out their own stated purpose of existence renders them obsolete. Their words mean nothing. There is no security; neither are human rights being protected. The councils are morally and functionally insolvent. Stick a fork in them and call it a day.

Now, you and I cannot really do anything about that. But what we can do, is protect the meaning of the words and agreements that we have made. For example, what does church mean? The word that Jesus used is the word ekklesia, which means “assembly.” Assembly means to gather together. A church is a people who gather together and who act together. This biblical view of the church is reflected in our church covenant where it says, “We will not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” What does that mean? It means that we will prioritize our weekly gathering in person (assembly). “But, can’t I 'do church' online?” No. You can watch a service, but ekklesia can only happen in person. “But I’m playing it cautious.” I grant you, there are unusual times when that may be wise (e.g., when a person’s immune system has been devastated by treatments). But, if the early church and all the believers in the past 2,000 years played it cautious, there would be no church.

If we allow ourselves to operate according to a different definition of church than what Jesus gave, then we will treat His word as being meaningless, which will render us obsolete. Some of you have stayed away because of Covid. Covid is probably going to be around, like the flu, for a very long time. The early church endured through pandemics and our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are seeking to gather in the midst of very strenuous times because of what church means. If you have been staying home, when do you plan to return? It is time. We cannot be a church if we do not gather. We cannot keep our promises if we do not gather. We cannot follow the Bible if we do not gather. We cannot obey Jesus if we do not gather.

Through the years, many of you have expressed appreciation to me for my willingness to say what is right and what needs to be said. This is right and it needs to be said. It’s time.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s text: 1 Samuel 15