(note: Originally written my sophmore year of college in January 2003)
Continued from part III (part II and part I)
It is likely that our churches have already given us opportunity to “love our neighbor as our self” through a number of service activities for the area. Maybe you’ve helped out at the soup kitchen, donated clothing, sand carols, delivered thanksgiving baskets. When did we as Americans remove the idea that our neighbors our those who live next door to us? Don’t get me wrong, I am ecstatic that we have understood that that verse means those in need in our city and community and those neighbors we have never meet half way around the world. But what happened to the neighbor next door? Many in America have never met their neighbor, and that is uncalled for.
Is it that we are too scared to face those who are daily in our lives with the truth of our message? Or maybe the truth is we don’t believe it as strongly as we ought. Maybe it’s that it hasn’t changed our lives to the degree that it ought. Let me suggest something: If you have truly experienced the saving grace of Christ, and have tasted the “full” life that Jesus came to bring, you will desire to share it with everyone that you meet. This doesn’t mean you go around talking about Jesus to every person on the street, but your life, your actions, your lifestyle and your words embody that Christ is all to you. Will your neighbor see that Christ is all to you when you have everything they do (maybe more) and you say Jesus is what makes you happy? Maybe. But what if you lived with so much less of the stuff that society says is the pleasures of life, and yet joy emanated off of you? This is and should be a point of struggle for a lot of people. Do not move from this point. Is Christ really the most satisfying thing in your life? If you knew the cure for Cancer would you share it with everyone you could? You have the cure for the emptiness of which every person suffers, and it is Jesus Christ. If you don’t believe that, or if you don’t really feel the truth of that, then maybe you haven’t experienced Christ to the fullness that you need to.
Very true. Thanks for this wonderful challenge.
Pete,
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read.
I’d love to hear how your church is being challenged to make an impact on those around them
Great Job, Very well written.
There are several local ministries we are partnering with these days to serve the community. Preston Taylor Ministries, Cottage Cove, Safe Haven Family Shelter, and the newest is Lighthouse missions.
We are always looking for ways to challenge our community that the church does not exist to meet our needs. It’s about reaching out and serving people in the same way Jesus did. Don’t get it right all the time but we are working on it.
Pete,
Thanks for getting back to me. Sounds like you guys are doing some great stuff.
Like you said, just cause you don’t get it right doesn’t mean you don’t stop working on it.
I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to be a pastor and what it takes to encourage your people to serve “in the same way Jesus did.”
Any advice on how your lay people could help in that endeavor? Like, if you had one request of your congregation on how you could truly be ‘the church’ what would it be?