It’s our turn…

    Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge:

"God authorized and commanded me to commission you:

Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life,

marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you.

I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20 [The Message]

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday, we celebrated All Saints Sunday. I invited all present to light a candle in remembrance of a “saint” (the person or persons whom God used to make God’s love real for them) who are no longer with us. When we stop to ponder the people whom God has put into our lives to guide, nurture, love, befriend and mentor us, it gets us in touch with all the saints throughout the centuries through whom the Holy Spirit has flowed and woven together as the Church.

The tapestry of saints begins with those original disciples (the Eleven plus the other women and men that were part of the initial Jesus movement). It continues with the first converts there in Jerusalem and Galilee. Then onto Paul and his movement throughout the Mediterranean and all the churches he started. It got “formalized” with the official stamp of the Roman emperor (for better and for worse). It has continued on sometimes separating, sometimes uniting, often growing, but sometimes shrinking. For almost 2000 years, the story of God’s incarnation and love for humanity has been carried on by people in the Church… people like you!

Now, it’s our turn. We are part of that tapestry of faith giving witness to the God of the universe that is for us! 

The passage above is usually called the Great Commission. It talks about the work that Jesus’ disciples are called to be about. It talks about training people in Christ’s way of life… training people in a life of love, compassion, forgiveness, service, humility and hope. It talks about marking people with the waters of baptism so that people might claim their identity as children of God and begin to live into that identity. It talks about instructing them to practice this way of life… not just on Sundays… not just at home or in the church… but at all times in all circumstances to put into practice the way of Christ that brings life.

I know that some people can be put off by some of the wording in the Great Commission. Words like command and obey land pretty harshly. It is also part of Christendom’s history that Christians (at times) have felt compelled to coerce people to believe and live a certain way. For me, it is inconsistent with my understanding of God as revealed in Jesus. Jesus did not force anyone to believe. Jesus lived out God’s love so that healing, hope, freedom, possibility and joy showed up. People were so attracted to this that they wanted to be a part of this kind of world! In the gospels, Jesus talks about his followers (the Church) being the light of the world. It is our turn to be some of the instruments that God uses to bring light and hope and meaning and love to the world.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) next Sunday (Nov. 16^th), we will be discussing and seeking to discover, name and claim God’s purpose for us as First Lutheran Church. I hope you are able to join as we discuss God’s calling for us as we take our turn at being the body of Christ here in this place and in this time.

Peace,

Pastor Phil