ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
August 15, 2021
Scripture: Mark 16:15
And Jesus said to the disciples, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”
Thought for the Day: I have become convinced that a lot of people believe Jesus said, “Go and make the world in your own image, making sure it meets all your personal needs.” Starting back in the 1970’s, the church became primarily concerned about convenience, mostly in regard to those who were already Christian. It might have been about worship times, when Sunday School was offered or whether there were seven different flavors of coffee creamer. People wanted Christianity on their own terms. This emerged as Burger King started its big slogan, “Have it your way.” I’m not saying Christianity followed Burger King, but all kinds of businesses and organizations responded to a growing expectation in the culture. The basic assumption was how we must make it all about convenience. We have unknowingly told the world, “The Gospel (the Good News) is not convincing enough. It has no engaging power in our current society unless we dress it up and make it as convenient as possible.” I believe the Gospel is compelling by itself, assuming a faith community (a church) is passionate about the Gospel, and the specific vision and mission of the congregation. During my Sabbatical, I spoke to a pastor who learned from a first time visitor how she was greeted warmly at the door of the church, but then told by the Sunday morning Greeter, “We hope you enjoy the service, though it’s not our service. Our service used to be at 11am.” This was how a first time visitor was welcomed on Sunday morning. Was the Greeter passionate about the Gospel or about convenience? What did those words communicate to the first time visitor?
Prayer: Holy God, your gift to the world was not executed by the Roman Empire to make sure I got Christianity exactly as I needed it. Jesus showed us the power of self-giving love, and those who followed him built the early church under the ongoing threat of the Roman Empire, not by making it convenient, but proclaiming its Good News even under that threat. May it be so within me. Amen.
TODAY’S PREACHER
Rev. Teresa Pecinovsky
Our Interim Children’s Minister
