Living in Christ, Sharing his Love.
St. Andrew’s Hespeler: Living in Christ, Sharing his Love.
St. Andrew’s Hespeler Presbyterian Church has what I think
of as a motto or a slogan. It is emblazoned on a plaque at the main entrance of
the church and often printed on such things as letterhead. It is, I know, a slogan
that means a lot to some of the people at the church – a slogan that has
encouraged us to stretch towards worthwhile goals like getting more involved in
our community – reaching out to people and helping to meet needs.
So I hardly want to mess with a good thing. This slogan
really has helped make us who we are.
But I do sometimes wonder if it is enough given the
challenges being faced by the church in these days.
It is possible to read that
slogan in a completely non-challenging way. It is kind of like being in favour of mom and
apple pie. Of course these are good thing and we are in favour of them but are
they really pushing us to be more and do more in the name Jesus?
The other night, as we were engaged in our Long Range
Planning exercise, I was struck by a thought though. That motto can only seem
safe and non-threatening when we leave it abstract – when we don’t think about
what it means practically to live in Christ in this world, when don’t consider
how we share his love are with whom.
So I’ve started to think that we need to dig deeper into
that slogan and map out what it means. What if we were to expand it like this?
Living
in Christ …alongside people who think
differently from us.
…
in the workplace, at school, in the mall.
…
when we don’t have all the answers.
…
when we’re sick or lost or grieving.
…
when we’re surrounded by people who practice other religions?
Sharing
his love … with those facing mental
challenges.
…
with those who scare us (for whatever reason).
…
with people who have different taste in music or in worship styles.
…
with those who are bringing change into our lives.
I’m just starting to think about this and these expansions
are just off the top of my head. I’d love to know what people think about it –
am I on the right track?
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