Life goes on.
Pastoring a small church in a small town is not the most 'exciting' job in the world. Funerals are even few and far between, as are weddings, births of new babies (though one is in development) and major crisis that get the pastor out of bed during the middle of the night are mainly limited to his mother-in-law thinking that it is time to get up, a bit early.
There is a sense of predictable-ness, settled-ness, that to some, I am sure, would led them to find a church where more was going on, yet on the other hand, this could be a great attraction for others. Yes, I like it here. However, ministering in small churches in small towns may not lack excitement if one may see the hand of God at work.
I have been here a little over a year now. Time has allowed me to see who I am ministering to and with, but do we know each other well? We are working on it. This is a long term, God willing, assignment.
What is really exciting is to see God changing lives, mine and others and, corporeally, the whole body together, into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. How does one know that this is happening? The halos of the saints shine brighter as they become holier, haven't you noticed? Well, it is not that easy. Interest in and participation in the life of a church does not make one a saint, yet these may be encouraging signs. Comments made of understanding the Bible better may warm a pastor's heart. Testimonies of reading the Scriptures and applying them to one's life are encouraging. Seeing evidences of love for one another, or, hearing of a saint taking a stand for the Lord, are other bits of evidence.
Perhaps none of these things are, of themselves, a clear, convincing, sign of God working, but as they accumulate over the years they make a pastor's heart and soul glad. (Phi 4:1 ESV) "Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved."
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Blame?
May we, the Christian community, lay all of the blame regarding Maine's legalization of homosexual marriage on to the secular community, or is there also room for us to shoulder some of the responsibility for this change as well?
I suggest that in two areas the Church has failed. First, we have often abandoned the political arena as being too secular; while on our part we continue to expect these secular politicians to behave as believers. They will pursue a secular agenda just as a believer ought to pursue an agenda based upon a Christian worldview.
The second area is within marriage itself.
Here, I believe, we have fallen short in two areas. The first, often our own marriages are not examples of what God has commanded. Christians have affairs, suffer unfaithfulness and divorce; we do have hard hearts.
Secondly, a huge component of marriage is, by God's will, children. Sadly, the Christian community has followed the world's thinking by regarding children as an expense and burden, so we have only our 1.6 or so children. Some of these children do not believe, some are religious but live as practical atheists, while a portion, but not a large enough portion to sustain a Christian culture, believes and follows the Lord.
Therefore, we have conceded to the world the political arena through our deliberate failure to have children – contrary to God's command to be fruitful and multiply. Further, we have the audacity to be upset with the world.
Other factors are involved in the process which led to this, certainly, and ultimately, God is the one who sits upon the throne, controlling not only individual hearts but the political arena as well.
May marriage be once again defined as the union of a man and a woman? Maybe, but we will continue to lose the war by our own laxness in these two areas. The Church must dig its roots deeper into the Word while raising up political leaders. Our marriages must shine brightly, not just with love, but, with the man reflecting Christ's love for his bride and the woman portraying the Church's submission to her head. While with God's blessing lots of children ought to be welcomed into our families.
May we, the Christian community, lay all of the blame regarding Maine's legalization of homosexual marriage on to the secular community, or is there also room for us to shoulder some of the responsibility for this change as well?
I suggest that in two areas the Church has failed. First, we have often abandoned the political arena as being too secular; while on our part we continue to expect these secular politicians to behave as believers. They will pursue a secular agenda just as a believer ought to pursue an agenda based upon a Christian worldview.
The second area is within marriage itself.
Here, I believe, we have fallen short in two areas. The first, often our own marriages are not examples of what God has commanded. Christians have affairs, suffer unfaithfulness and divorce; we do have hard hearts.
Secondly, a huge component of marriage is, by God's will, children. Sadly, the Christian community has followed the world's thinking by regarding children as an expense and burden, so we have only our 1.6 or so children. Some of these children do not believe, some are religious but live as practical atheists, while a portion, but not a large enough portion to sustain a Christian culture, believes and follows the Lord.
Therefore, we have conceded to the world the political arena through our deliberate failure to have children – contrary to God's command to be fruitful and multiply. Further, we have the audacity to be upset with the world.
Other factors are involved in the process which led to this, certainly, and ultimately, God is the one who sits upon the throne, controlling not only individual hearts but the political arena as well.
May marriage be once again defined as the union of a man and a woman? Maybe, but we will continue to lose the war by our own laxness in these two areas. The Church must dig its roots deeper into the Word while raising up political leaders. Our marriages must shine brightly, not just with love, but, with the man reflecting Christ's love for his bride and the woman portraying the Church's submission to her head. While with God's blessing lots of children ought to be welcomed into our families.
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