03/11/2024
Consider these two options: packaging versus content; Outward appearance or internal quality; Shiny plastic knockoff instead of the real thing. One of the chapters that the Session discussed from Bob Goff’s book, Love Does, wrestles with the two options captured in the above phrases. Goff encourages Christians to remember that we are called to be the real thing, people of substance, who are not so concerned about the packaging as we are the content or substance of our lives. How do we avoid being satisfied with the superficial, outward appearance of faith and fail to represent the real thing? Goff points to the obvious answer: listen to Jesus and keep his word. Or, to put it another way, we must look like Jesus in the ways that we love all with the heart of a servant.
Jesus says as much toward the end of the Sermon on the Mount when he declares that not all who say “Lord, Lord,” are disciples. Some people use the name of Jesus but wrap it up in “shiny, plastic packaging” that looks attractive according to the world’s taste but is dead inside. And Jesus says that he will tell people like that, who use his name but don’t keep his word, “I never knew you.” Goff teaches us the reason for Jesus’ concern about the integrity of our lives – that we look like Jesus in the ways we live. The world will look to the disciples of Jesus to know what Jesus is like, and who he is. People will make decisions to trust Jesus, and know the Father’s love in Jesus, based upon the shape of our lives. When people who don’t know Jesus look at the church and see something shiny but open it up and discover it is blah at best, and repulsive at worst, the church has failed to faithfully bear witness.
In all that we say and do at Mt. Pisgah, let’s make it our goal to embody the substance of Jesus’ teaching about loving God with our whole being, and truly loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. Let’s aim at loving our enemies, forgiving without limit, and caring for the weak and vulnerable wherever they are found around the world. Our hearts should break as much for the loss of innocent life in the Gaza strip as it does for the violation of people in Israel on October 7th. Our hope and allegiance should be placed in Jesus’ Kingdom, and not in any one political party, or political leader. Our deepest desire should be to live peaceably with all our neighbors and leave vengeance to the Lord. Daily we ought to ask ourselves, “when people look at my life, do they see the real thing – that is, do they see Jesus – or do they see some religious packaging that, when opened, doesn’t live up to the claims of the Gospel?”
The Session is responsible for helping us to stay focused on living up to the claims of the Gospel. How does the Session carry out that responsibility? First, it guides us in our life of worship and learning. The Worship and Learning Team of Session guides that part of our lives when we are gathered for worship on Sunday and special occasions. They also do so by planning and providing opportunities to grow in our knowledge of God through study, and the practice of the disciplines of prayer, and reading scripture.
The Session leads us in our care for one another. “They will know you are my disciples by the way you love one another,” says Jesus. The Congregational Care Team helps us to care for each other by organizing our efforts to reach out to those in our family who are sick, who have special needs, and who are homebound. It also helps us to fellowship with each other so that we grow in relationship and learn to offer mutual support.
The Session leads us in our pursuit of God’s mission to our community. The Community Care Team organizes us for ministry to our local community and beyond. Their task is to connect us to other missions and ministries like Hearts on Fire, the diaper bank, and opportunities for special service and offering, etc.
Finally, the Session leads us in our communication with each other and with the community. The Media Team of Session plans our engagement with each other and the community, in written and video form. This team oversees our presence on Facebook and other social media, our Live Stream, and our presence in print resources.
The Session leadership teams want all of us to join in the work. I hope you will take time to prayerfully seek the Lord’s leading about the team that is right for you, if you haven’t done so already. Our faithfulness as a congregation depends upon each of us taking an active role in our shared ministry. How is the Lord calling you to serve? I trust that the Spirit will lead you and grant you joy as you seek the Lord’s will for your acts of service.
Peace,
Tom
