Good Morning!
When we welcome new members into a congregation, we usually
go out of our way to make them feel at home; to assure them that they have made
the right choice; to assure them that ours is a congregation in which they
belong. In those nostalgic times in
which belonging to a church was positively reinforced by society, just joining
a church might be a mark of social success.
Imagine the shock – or worse – that we would encounter if we
welcomed new members with the sentiments of Paul expressed in Acts 20: “And now
I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom,
will ever see my face again. Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not
responsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to
you the whole purpose of God. Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock….
[vss. 25-28]” It’s a bit like saying, “I told you all the things that could
happen if you join our congregation, so in joining our church you are affirming
that you – not me – are responsible for whatever consequences may befall you!”
This is the time of the year when our church nominating
committees are trying to come up with a list of names of people who will agree
to serve as church leaders. It never
ceases to amaze me how often those positions of leadership are sold to
potential nominees as being stress-free positions with minimal time
commitments.
Admittedly we are no longer in a position – in this country
– where being a leader in a Christian congregation is likely to result in
bloodshed, but the responsibilities of leadership in a congregation are very
serious. If we sell those
responsibilities short then we are undermining our own purposes as a
congregation, what Paul calls “the whole purpose of God.”
If you are asked to serve in a leadership position in your
congregation, don’t let anyone tell you that it won’t be a lot of work. It will be a lot of work. It is a position of great responsibility. It is very important. It is a privilege that needs to be
prayerfully and humbly considered.
Let’s pray: Lord God,
you call us to be Your people, to lead Your people, to serve Your people. Sometimes we forget the importance of Your
message of grace and love and the joy-filled hope that it brings to people. Forgive
us, Lord, when we forget that You have charged us with matters of life and
death, and that Your purpose – the purpose of Your church – is to call people
back into a new and creative life.
Nothing that we do could be more important. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Hosea 2:14-23; Acts
20:17-38; Luke 5:1-11; Psalm 89.
Blessings.
Pastor Jim
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