There's no denying that we are living in troubling economic times—and it doesn’t help ease our minds that day in, and day out, we receive news reports about the economic ‘crisis’ ('financial meltdown) and our government’s extreme measures undertaken to help fix it. It’s scary. And when we are scared, we tend to hang on to our money tighter.
But, many of us have lived through troubling economic times before—and we know that our economy does recover. And I know it’s because of the spirit, the resourcefulness, the hard work, and the character of the American people. So I remain hopeful because, having been through it before, these things always seem to work out over time—and we’re still standing when the dust clears.
It seems to me that how scared we get in the midst of an ‘economic crisis’ has a whole lot to do with where we put our trust. As Bishop Gary Wollersheim of the Northern Illinois Synod, ELCA, recently wrote, “where are we going to put our trust? Should we put our trust in the stock market? Should we put our trust in our elected officials? Should we put our trust in an economic system? No, as Christians, we put our trust in God. We believe that God does and will provide for our daily needs. We recognize that compared to most of the world, even in an economic crisis, we are wealthy. And we are reminded of the words of Scripture: “to whom much is given, much shall be required”, so we respond to God’s graciousness with continued generosity.”
When we get scared, it can be difficult to remember that Jesus is with us in the most difficult places—saying, ‘do not be afraid, for I am with you.’ In these times when economic fear runs rampant, it is our faith, grounded in our relationship with God and with God’s people, that frees us from fear and frees us to live lives of generosity in service to God and others.
When we get scared it can be difficult to remember that we give generously out of joy and thanksgiving for the many blessings we have received from God; that we give as an act of worship and praise to our generous and loving God; that we give to continue the work of ministry in the world that Jesus has entrusted to us, and; that we give to help make ministry happen.
Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><
Pastor Roy+
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Ministry of Reconciliation
So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 1Cor 15:17-20
So what is the ministry of reconciliation? What is the message of reconciliation God has entrusted to us? What is the appeal God is making through us?
It’s about Love. God’s immeasurable love for us—made real for us in Christ’s death on the cross—for no other purpose than for us to be reconciled to God and given a fresh start.
It’s about Love. The love we, as people reconciled to God in and through Jesus Christ, ought to have for one another so that, having been given a fresh start, we can function in unity as members of the Body of Christ—for no other purpose than to live out God's mission in the world—the mission of loving others as Christ has loved us, by showing them love and by telling them about the great love God has shown for them in and through Jesus Christ.
Because we have been reconciled to God in and through Jesus Christ, God has entrusted us, the Body of Christ, with the ministry of proclaiming, in word and deed, to all people, the Good News of reconciliation to God and to one another. But, in order to effectively live out this ministry, we must first be reconciled to one another within the Body of Christ so we fully appreciate one another’s gifts and work together as ambassadors of Christ despite our disagreements.
Our focus when we disagree about how to best live out our mission must be on Christ as the head of the body of which we are members. Each one of us being gifted differently for life together, as we build up the Body of Christ, by sharing the Good News of reconciliation to God in and through faith in Jesus Christ. It is only by God’s love that we are reconciled to God and become members of the Body of Christ. We can surely trust that God’s love will hold us, the church, together in the midst of our differences and disagreements, so that we can serve faithfully to build up the Body of Christ in the world.
The key question to ask when we are in conflict is: What effect does the way we are discussing/disagreeing and resolving our differences (or not) have on the Body of Christ and our ability to live out the mission entrusted to us?
My hope and prayer is that the people will be reconciled within the body and with God so that the work of ministry can be done and the church can grow in ministry and mission. As I have written before, it's about relationship (with God and with others within the body). Now if we could just forgive others as God, in and through Christ, has forgiven us ...
Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><
Pastor Roy+
So what is the ministry of reconciliation? What is the message of reconciliation God has entrusted to us? What is the appeal God is making through us?
It’s about Love. God’s immeasurable love for us—made real for us in Christ’s death on the cross—for no other purpose than for us to be reconciled to God and given a fresh start.
It’s about Love. The love we, as people reconciled to God in and through Jesus Christ, ought to have for one another so that, having been given a fresh start, we can function in unity as members of the Body of Christ—for no other purpose than to live out God's mission in the world—the mission of loving others as Christ has loved us, by showing them love and by telling them about the great love God has shown for them in and through Jesus Christ.
Because we have been reconciled to God in and through Jesus Christ, God has entrusted us, the Body of Christ, with the ministry of proclaiming, in word and deed, to all people, the Good News of reconciliation to God and to one another. But, in order to effectively live out this ministry, we must first be reconciled to one another within the Body of Christ so we fully appreciate one another’s gifts and work together as ambassadors of Christ despite our disagreements.
Our focus when we disagree about how to best live out our mission must be on Christ as the head of the body of which we are members. Each one of us being gifted differently for life together, as we build up the Body of Christ, by sharing the Good News of reconciliation to God in and through faith in Jesus Christ. It is only by God’s love that we are reconciled to God and become members of the Body of Christ. We can surely trust that God’s love will hold us, the church, together in the midst of our differences and disagreements, so that we can serve faithfully to build up the Body of Christ in the world.
The key question to ask when we are in conflict is: What effect does the way we are discussing/disagreeing and resolving our differences (or not) have on the Body of Christ and our ability to live out the mission entrusted to us?
My hope and prayer is that the people will be reconciled within the body and with God so that the work of ministry can be done and the church can grow in ministry and mission. As I have written before, it's about relationship (with God and with others within the body). Now if we could just forgive others as God, in and through Christ, has forgiven us ...
Trusting God. Following Jesus. <><
Pastor Roy+
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