Opinions

Shining light on our government through public information helps us ask questions of elected officials – and hold them accountable.

This column represents the thoughts and opinions of The Rev. Carl Roth. This is NOT the opinion of the Elgin Courier.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

In Ephesians 6:10-20, St. Paul highlights the fact that Christians are soldiers in the Lord’s army. Christians are baptized into Christ’s legions as soldiers of Christ; we have been clothed with the armor of Jesus Christ’s righteousness in Baptism, which covers all our sins and will keep our souls safe from Satan’s attacks. But even though we have been saved for everlasting life and enlisted in the Lord’s army, we need to learn how to make use of the “whole armor of God” that Paul refers to.

As we face diseases and disasters around us, and as we observe the horrors of war and violence around the world, we can’t help but asking, “Why is there so much suffering in the world?” This is an important question and troubles many people. Even Christians ask sometimes, “If God is good and all-powerful, then how could He let us suffer evil, pain, and death? Why doesn’t He do something to help us out of our misery?”

On Ash Wednesday, the Christian Church enter the forty-day season of Lent. What is Lent for? It is a time of 1) self-examination, 2) repentance, and 3) renewal by the reception of God’s grace in Christ. We subject ourselves to examination in the light of God’s Word; we are brought to repentance through His Word; and ask Him to renew our life of faith and prayer with His Word and Sacraments, as we prepare for the joyful holy day of Easter and for the seven weeks of the Easter season.