I will lead the blind by a road they do not know;
by paths they have not known I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light,
the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16)
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from God our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. Amen.
The world is changing and has been changing. The church is in the same boat. In an ironic way, we are fortunate to be officially recognized as being in transition. As much as change causes anxiety, at least we can be up front about it. We are very aware that change is part of our existence.
It takes a ton of energy to hide the fact (or hide from the fact) that things are changing. Many congregations are exhausted by trying to return to a time that is never returning (and was probably not nearly as idyllic as the memories are). There are no magic bullets or programs that will turn back time. For that matter, as much as we honor our histories and learn from them, we are called to be the church now – in this time and place.
In June, I attended a mini-retreat introducing ‘Faith+Lead’, a ministry of Luther Seminary. The following are Six Commitments of the church as identified by Faith+Lead team. These ‘commitments’ are timely reminders of ‘non-negotiables’ for congregations in a changing religious climate. I noticed that these same commitments also highlight truths often taken for granted.
- The Triune God is actively creating, reconciling, healing, and restoring the world.
- God is with us in Jesus and invites us to join in what God is doing.
- The gospel of Jesus Christ is a matter of life and death for the whole world.
- The Holy Spirit gathers and sustains the local church—and will continue to do so.
- God is the primary leader of the local church.
- All Christians are called to follow Jesus by joining God’s work in daily life.
Anyone notice a common denominator in those commitments? (Hint: GOD) God is active. God is in charge. God is gathering. God is inviting. God is guiding. God is sustaining. God is empowering. God is inspiring. The non-negotiable for the Church (on earth and in heaven) is very simple – God is at the center. As simple as it is, it may be historically the most frequently forgotten characteristic of the church on earth.
I remember a family whose children (& later grandchildren) learned early on to make sure they were all in the car before mom left the church parking lot. Sometimes Christians try to drive off without God. It can be difficult to remember that not only should God be in the car, but also driving and navigating.
We are called to follow where God leads. Yes, the world changes. Yes, change impacts the church. Yes, we trust that God, who has promised to lead us, will actually do so. As the Hebrew congregations were reminded centuries ago, “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)
The grace and peace that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
pastorcarla 