Tag: the apostle paul

Embodiment of Faith

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nativity
By Georges de La Tour – Sammyday (2010-10-23), Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18953221

Writing to new Christians, in what today is southern Turkey, the Apostle Paul summed up the central miracle and mystery which began with Jesus’ birth: “In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”( Colossians 1:19) For the duration of his earthly life, Jesus was God with us.( Matthew 1:23) Through faith we can still experience him as such, but this relationship is difficult for those who have never encountered anyone sincerely seeking to embody Christ’s teachings in daily life. It is our calling to help make the Christmas miracle real for them.

I have a magnetic cling which reads “Keep Christ in Christmas.” I keep it on my refrigerator where it serves as a reminder to myself rather than an admonishment to others. If Christ is to remain in Christmas – or indeed become a part of Christmas for those who have not encountered him – then he must be born again and again in the hearts of his followers. The fullness of God may not dwell in us, but it must flow through us collectively as Christ’s Church. I am reminded of the words of St. Theresa of Avila:

“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

St. Theresa of Avila

With the passing of years, I am ever more convinced that the essence of Christmas lies within each of us. It is not to be found in the exchange of gifts, the sounds of carols, or the hanging of lights and greens, but rather in the quiet birth of God’s Spirit into each of our hearts. It is this which gives joy and peace, this embodiment of God’s Word which births hope into the world.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel

Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed Advent, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy New Year.

Every Member, Every Month

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“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Being faithful followers of Jesus Christ is a shared endeavor. We best grow in our faith, our understanding of Jesus’ teaching, and our attempts to follow his example when we do so in community.

That is why, since the beginning of the church, those responsible for the spiritual care of its members have stressed the importance of regularly gathering with other Christians. The author of Hebrews writes: “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering… and…consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some…” (10:23-25)

Being the church is a matter of mutual care, encouragement, and accountability. The Joint Board and I have prayerfully considered how to elicit spiritual growth, “love, and good deeds” among members of East Hills Moravian Church.

We believe that encouraging all who are physically able to attend worship each month is a natural starting point. This fulfills promises made during the liturgy for Confirmation and Affirmation of Baptism used whenever persons choose to become part of our congregation. We take seriously the liturgy’s statement of our “obligation to love and nurture” each member “in Christ” and take you at your word when you affirmed your desire to “participate actively in Christ’s church, serving God all the days of your life.” We have covenanted to be intentional about encouraging you to take full advantage of the benefits of your church membership and will be reaching out if we have not seen you in a while.

We are aware that life together is complicated. As frail humans, we all have flaws and “fall short of the glory of God.” If you have been disappointed by unmet expectations or wounded by fellow church members or leaders we pray that God will bring healing to you and spiritual growth as you extend God’s grace to others in the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

I will close with Paul’s words to the Colossians: “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” (NLT)

Resolve not to let excuses and the call of the world stand between you and the blessings Godintends to provide through gathering together with God’s people.

Claiming the Resurrection

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The resurrection of Jesus Christ lies at the heart of Christian faith. According to the Apostle Paul, it was through God’s act of raising Jesus from the dead that God definitively identified Jesus as God’s Son and thus conferred the ultimate stamp of divine approval on Christ’s ministry and message. As Jesus’ followers, we share in the promise of the resurrection and eternal life. The blessings of resurrection are not restricted to the existence after death. God raised Christ from the dead so that our present lives might also be transformed and renewed. To embrace resurrection is to live a life of faith, open to new challenges of discipleship which God places before us.

resurrection of christ by raphael

Resurrection of Christ (Raphael)

As a community of faith, it is important that we are accountable both to and for each other. Writing to the congregation in Thessaloniki, Greece, the Apostle Paul advises believers: “Therefore, encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. … admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” (Thess. 5:11, 14-19) This Spring at East Hills Moravian Church, we will be looking for ways to put the Apostle’s timeless advice into practice as we seek to grow into the promise of vibrant new life heralded by the resurrection of Jesus Christ on that first Easter morning.

“The Lord is risen.” “The Lord is risen indeed.”

Faith and Finance

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jesus moneylenders

Christ driving the money-changers from the Temple Cecco del Caravaggio (1588–1620)

North Americans live in the most highly individualistic society the world has ever seen. Here, personal liberty and self-determination reign supreme; so it quite likely rankles when others presume to tell us how to live our lives.

That’s a challenge for those of us who wish to follow Jesus, for authentic Christianity consists of a comprehensive way of life rather than an à la carte menu of beliefs, behaviors, and practices. Christian faith should inform all aspects of our lives, from how we interact with others to how we spend our time, energy, and yes – money. While many 21st century North American believers are uncomfortable with that last topic, the Bible does not shy away from it. In fact, by some counts, there are 2000+ verses of scripture in the Old and New Testaments that specifically focus on the relationship of faith to personal finance.

Perhaps discussion of finances in the context of faith is a stumbling block for so many because of our familiarity with stories like the one of Jesus overturning the tables of the money changers in the temple, or warnings against greed. For many, the take-away is that finances are unspiritual and that money itself is evil. This is not true.

Money is only a tool, a convenient way to preserve the fruits of our labors or access one’s resources. What troubles Jesus, Paul, and others in the Bible is not money itself, but what happens when our relationship with money compromises our relationships with God and others.

Christ turned over the tables of the money changers not because they were making money, but because the money exchange fees they were charging represented a significant barrier for poor persons who came to purchase doves and other animals for sacrifice. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul’s concern is not to condemn the use of money, but rather the spiritual well-being of believers who have embraced an idolatry of wealth.[1] Again, the problem is not money itself, but the danger of placing more effort into gaining, preserving, or enjoying wealth than in following Christ.

Like it or not, where and how we spend our money is a reflection of our faith and personal values. This is especially true of discretionary income.

When I was growing up and stores first began opening on Sunday, I knew persons who refused to patronize these stores because they believed that by doing so they would be making it difficult for workers at those stores to observe the Sabbath. They feared that this was the start of a trend that would decrease family time and hurt the church in the long run. In hindsight, I believe they were correct. Similarly, when I served at Lititz Moravian Church in Lancaster County, I was surrounded by Old Order Amish who refused to run electricity into their homes because it meant that someone would have to manage the power plant on a Sunday. Though they failed to influence the larger society, both groups of Christians were faithful in thinking about finances through the lens of faith. I might not come to the same conclusions as they did, but their witness challenged me to be more spiritually mindful of money.

The Apostle Paul writes of those whose “… destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”  In other words, they are ruled by their desires and appetites. As I write this, I am drinking a latte I picked up on the way to work. Many of you know that I have quite the appetite for coffee of any kind. This latte was a rare treat and cost about four times the single dollar I used to put in the church offering plate as a child (ouch!). Were I still contributing at my childhood level and consistently chose lattes over an offering, Paul’s words would give me significant pause and I would have to ask: “Is coffee really more important to me than the work of Christ?” Where the cup meets my lips, the world of faith and finance intersect.

[1] (For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.)

 

Wishing You a Merry, Mindful Christmas and a Holy New Year

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I love clever and memorable ways of expressing deep truths succinctly. One of our EHMC preschool teachers shared such a saying with me: “Christmas is not about the presents, but about His presence.” True enough and most of us would benefit from improving our skill in detecting God’s presence for, as Dallas Willard has observed, “God does not ordinarily compete for our attention.”

nativity

Adoration Of The Magi, Hans Memling.

Dreams of Christmases past, while perhaps enjoyable or comforting, can blind us to the action of God in Christmas present. Making lists and checking them twice is great for Santa Claus and for accomplishing holiday tasks but similarly does little to reveal the Holy Spirit’s movement in our lives and the lives of others. Jesus was well aware of the spiritual dangers of excessive “future-tripping” – of being so focused on planning for what lies ahead that one neglects to engage the present. (See Matthew 6:33-34) If we would perceive God’s presence, we must engage the “now” with our undivided attention. It can be a challenge in the best of times but is an even more arduous endeavor during this busy, emotionally fraught season when so many forces compete for our attention and energy. Perceiving God’s presence requires dedication, patience, and purposefulness.

Early Christians continued and expanded upon the ancient Jewish practice of praying at dawn, midday, and dusk. This routine directed worshippers’ attention to God throughout the day and helped them comply with the Apostle Paul’s direction to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17.) Over time, this devotional practice developed into the Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office which consisted of seven set times at which Christians were to “sanctify the day with prayer.” We don’t have to be monks or nuns to benefit from intentionally turning our thoughts to God throughout the day.

If we determine to fully engage the present, we can sense God’s presence. Such an epiphany is the best Christmas gift of all. I wish you a Merry, Mindful Christmas and a Holy New Year.

Now Thank We All Our God?

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The primary goal of the Christian life is to serve as a disciple of Christ. Those who are sincere about partnering with Christ in proclaiming and promoting the Kingdom of God do so by following the two great commandments (Love God; love your neighbor) and by ordering their life in such a way that their faith in God and relationship with Christ is self-evident. Does your life bear witness to your faith in Christ “so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you?” (2 Thessalonians. 2:12)

Both gratitude and generosity are essential traits for those who seek to follow Christ. They are expressions of our faith and trust in God. The apostle Paul addressed this in a letter to the congregation at Corinth.

“The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

  • Like anything else in life, the impact of faith on one’s life is determined by the level of personal commitment.

“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance …”

  • Everything comes from God. The dedication of our time, money, and abilities should be motivated by gratitude and a desire to make the world a better place rather than a sense of reluctant duty.

“You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.”

  • Christians not only expresses gratitude to God, but become a cause for thanksgiving and gratitude through their generosity and service.

“Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.”

  • Our action or lack thereof, speaks more eloquently than any confession of faith.

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

The “indescribable gift” is the chance to partner with God in the transformation and salvation of the world. God invites believers to unite in this task. You can bear witness to your faith in Christ “so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you” and resolving to:

  • Attend worship regularly throughout the year
  • Receive Holy Communion at least once a year
  • Contribute financially to the ministry of the congregation
  • Make every effort to be involved in one area of the church’s ministry. (From Bylaws of EHMC)

The Resurrection of the Body

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“I believe in … the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.”
– (Apostles’ Creed)

Resurrection of Christ by Noël Coypel, 1700.

As reflected in the 2014 movie, Heaven is For Real, and the 2012 book Proof of Heaven, stories of near death experiences and the survival of the human soul have found a positive reception in 21st century American culture. Even as belief in God and participation in organized religion continues to decrease, more persons believe in an afterlife now than did in 1972 (80% vs. 73%), according to a study conducted by three universities (San Diego State, Florida Atlantic, and Case Western Reserve). If one were under any illusion that belief in heaven was a uniquely Christian tenet of faith these findings should challenge that perspective.

Like persons of the present day, many in Jesus’ time believed in an afterlife and thought it possible for the souls of the departed to return from the realm of the dead to this world as ghosts. What they did not expect was God’s resurrection of Christ and his walking among the living with a body through which he could interact with the material world.

Our Moravian Easter Liturgy opens with the words, “The Lord is Risen!” This distinctly Christian message of hope is the original Gospel – “good news” – spread by apostles who had encountered the risen Christ and could testify to his resurrection. Indeed, being a witness to Christ’s resurrection was the criteria for being an “apostle” (Acts 1:22). So we read of the Apostle Peter proclaiming: “you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:15). Similarly, the Apostle Paul writes: “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (1 Corinthians 15:8).

Throughout subsequent centuries, followers of Jesus have proclaimed that, just as God raised Jesus from the grave, so God “will also give life to our mortal bodies if the Spirit of God has dwelt in us”. This affirmation is expressed in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds.

Why does belief in the resurrection matter?

Like belief in God’s Incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ, Christian belief in bodily resurrection affirms the essential goodness of nature and embodied human existence. While taking seriously problems of suffering, sin, and death, the goal of Christian faith is not to escape earthly existence but rather to open ourselves to God’s ongoing acts of redemption. Because God’s plan is to redeem this world, our task is to help God in this endeavor by becoming agents of transformation ourselves rather than simply enjoying life or passing time until we depart for a better place. We work with our Savior for justice and righteousness during our earthly lives and pray as he taught us: “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. With Job we can claim: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God.” (Job 19:25-26).

Pastor Derek French

 

Salutary Coincidence: Ash Wednesday & the Anniversary of the Moravian Church

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This year Ash Wednesday, a movable holy day which marks the beginning of Lent, falls on March 1st (2017) , which is the 560th anniversary of the organization of the Moravian Church. Both observances embody themes of repentance and personal recommitment to Jesus Christ.

ash wednesday

Ashes on our forehead remind us to turn away from behavior and patterns of thought which separate us from God or others. There is an element of urgency to our repentance for none of us know our length of life. As a token of mortality, ashes can also prompt us to consider our life as a whole. What will be our legacy? Will our presence on earth have made the world a better place for others or have amounted to little more than an extended exercise in self-gratification?

It seems to me that the founding of the Moravian Church in 1457 can also be interpreted as a collective act of repentance and recommitment by a group of believers who earnestly believed that Christ’s example and God’s grace made it possible for them to break free from the tangle of sinful behavior, injustice and oppression which characterized the society in which they lived. According to Gregory, an early Moravian leader:

“What made a Christian was not doctrine or what he or she believed, but that a person lived his or her life according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. He described these first Moravians as “people who have decided once and for all to be guided only by the gospel and example of our Lord Jesus Christ and his holy apostles in gentleness, humility, patience, and love for our enemies.“ (Source)

The apostle Paul notes that offering our lives up to God “as a living sacrifice” is “true and proper worship.” Faith is more a matter of knowing God and following Jesus than it is knowing about God and Jesus.

The calendrical coincidence of Ash Wednesday and the anniversary of the Moravian Church is a timely reminder that there will always be a pressing need for repentance and recommitment to our Lord, Jesus Christ. The world, our nation, our communities and our congregation desperately need those who decide “to be guided only by the gospel and example of our Lord Jesus Christ and his holy apostles in gentleness, humility, patience, and love for our enemies.”

March 1st is an invitation to recommit ourselves to being “Jesus people” as we reach out in the name of Christ to all persons but especially to those the Moravian Church has always felt called to seek – the world-weary, impoverished masses overlooked or rejected by others whether overseas or here in America. The Moravian Church’s history of mission is reflected in its current demographics with 39,150 of us in North America, 204,980 in the Caribbean and Latin America and 907,830 in Africa.

  • Pastor Derek French