ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
October 21, 2021
I have noticed a heaviness in my life that I can only name as grief. I am heart-sick about the 730,000 deaths from COVID. I mourn the millions of family members who continue to struggle because of these deaths, in part, because they were unable to say “Good-bye” in a way that was healthy. I lament the young children impacted by COVID, including the thousands who lost one or two parents to this virus. I also grieve what I can only describe as a shallowing of Christianity – a faith that emphasizes freedom apart from responsibility, a faith stressing personal happiness while ignoring the commands to love; to take up the cross; to sacrifice for the most vulnerable. In the 13th chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” The emphasis is on the words, “Just as I have loved you…” If we have any hope of others knowing we are disciples of Jesus, then we must emulate his love, not some anemic version of love that we have conjured up to make us feel good. This is where I am humbled by what I see around Cypress Creek Christian Church. So many people are asking hard questions about taking up the cross and what discipleship looks like in this unique moment. Those questions are necessary for anyone taking the teachings of Jesus seriously.
I need strength, O God, if I am to love as you loved. I will need to find spiritual prompting and nudging if I am going to live the life of love, the life by which others will know I am your disciple. Amen.
