“Dear Members of St. John’s,
“God is good today.
“Yesterday was hard, of course. The nature of Matt’s sin broke on the news and is now out there for everyone to see. I’m sure it was a shock to hear his name on the news or to be confronted with posts and links that break the confidentiality of this matter wide open. Most difficult is to see the way he has been savaged in all of this.
“We have been receiving communication too, of course. There have been many gestures of support from the community and promises to pray. I appreciate and respect those taking the time to understand what we are going through. There have also been communications that are just mean and for no other purpose than to hurt. Apparently this has touched a larger and deeper issue for some, and I pray that they will find peace.
“To keep our perspective, though, in the midst of this sudden storm, we must remember that this was never about the details of sin. Not for us. Those details have been revealed now, but they don’t really matter. Everyone faces different temptation, but we all face temptation. And we know what to do with sin. We take it to the Lord Jesus, who has covered our shame with His precious blood. We have been wounded by the public scrutiny that this has drawn, but in the end it reminds me of what we well and truly are:
“We are a church for sinners.
“There may be some who think they have no faults. There may be those who say there is no such thing as sin. As for St. John’s, we are a place for those who know their sin to come and receive forgiveness from God and understanding from their brothers and sisters.
“It is easy to think that Jesus came to save polite sins and to forgive easy faults. But He came to save real sinners, and as such we rejoice to know that our sins, too, are covered. Washed away. Removed as far as the east is from the west. And these tears too will be wiped from our eyes in His time.
“In the meantime, please look to one another. We are hurting, but the God who is faithful will not forsake us.
“See you in church,”
-Pastor Kempin
