Pastors Message

I’d like to share a story with you that I heard while in Lancaster, PA. A farmer was plowing his field one day, minding his own business when a person ran up to him and asked him if he was a Born Again Christian. He told the person, “I can tell you anything I want, but if you want to know the truth about me ask my neighbor.

The Gospel of Matthew is so full of parables, sayings that serve as reminders that talk, labels, and religiosity are cheap. There is truth to the saying that ‘actions speak louder than words’. We need to tell, retell, and really think on these stories so that we can remember that humility is tantamount.

Through the years the label Christian has been tossed around far too lightly. What exactly does being a Christian mean? I believe that Jesus meant to advise us that it’s easy to say we’re Christian or Born Again, but it’s far harder to actually live it. Jesus told us that our lives must be an example by our actions. Acting like a Christian is very difficult because of our humanity. We must be careful how we judge others, how we measure others as being Christian. We may find out in retrospect that those we thought for sure to be less desirable, or pharisaical, even, may well be closer to God already.

Peace,

Dear Friends,

We live in a world that promotes enterprise, global movements through power and authority. Even the Christian church, under Constantine in 303AD, was an empire. Surely, Jesus preached the kingdom, yet I don’t think he envisioned it as an authoritarian, imperialistic, powerful empire.

Do we ever feel insignificant in this world? When Jesus talked of the mustard seed parable he wasn’t just talking about how little things turn into larger things. Perhaps he was speaking more about how insignificant things can actually have an extraordinary effect or presence. The mustard see was actually a "weed seed" in Palestine. The Jewish Mishnah forbids sowing these seeds because they are useless annoying weeds that take over the fields. Yes, in some ways we are rejected, insignificant outcasts in the world’s eyes. Loving the loveless and hopeless, feeding the hungry, welcoming and respecting the unwanted are NOT insignificant actions in the world. If God sows you in a field you will make a difference whether you or anyone else believes it. Being like Christ is surely not impressive to some, but it will transform the world one of us at a time. We, like the mustard seed, must realize our ability to do little things with great love.

Keep the faith.

See you in church,