After posting “Not only survive but thrive” My Joy informed me that at least one more paragraph was needed to complete the post. Next, Rachel and Eldon affirmed that the post needed more work. This after I had worked on it for four days. I only wanted to offer some practical ideas to churches like Forks Mennonite, but decided against it. I think I know that all new tactics are futile if a church is unaware of a need for costly change. So I gave up on being practical.
This 88 year-old Old Fool has the habit of communicating as though he knows for sure. But I must confess that he knows nothing for sure. He can only communicate what he thinks he knows. There is some credence to what he thinks he knows about Jesus.
Much hoopla accompanied the conception and birth of Jesus. The shepherds and the wise men on their arrival found only a helpless newborn baby. In Philippians 2:5-8, it is said that in the incarnation the son of God made himself “nothing.” The Apostle Paul learned that he, too, must count his assets as “dung,” and the Old Fool adds, to be composted, scattered on the field to benefit growing things.
It is in the humble “nothingness” of Jesus and the “dunginess” of Paul’s assets that Christians find unity, survive and thrive. This the Old Fool thinks he knows. It might be better to know nothing, for knowledge used unwisely puffs up. What we think we know may divide churches, deny sinners a place among those who think themselves to be saints, cause salt to lose its saltiness, put the candle under a bushel.
It is time to put away the childish things that tend to divide us. Jesus as a youth advanced in knowledge and grew physically, spiritually, and socially..
Be like Jesus, this my song,
In the home, and in the throng;
Be like Jesus all day long!
I would be like Jesus.
You keep impacting my life. Recent posts have made me THINK. And that’s what this is all about, right! Caused me to think about my experience at Assembly 1973 at EMC. First impression, the ministers/leadership people seemed like such a closed group and out of touch, and we were outsiders. Glad there were small groups! Learned to know lots of nice people (who were mostly pastors :)) Of course, that was the first Assembly, and Eureka and Estes Park were different. My family/extended family has always been involved in church. Somewhere along the way I became aware that there were people of different personalities, races, creeds, color, sexual orientation et al, and that is the world I live in. Some of those are my friends and relatives. As you said, the Bible is not a rule book. I learned long ago that I should respect the church and its leaders, but in the end I must make decisions about my life and develop my relationship with God. At Cornerstone UMC here in Naples, Pastor Roy and staff constantly work at being the church for people today. It is a challenge. I like the way we do church. It promotes spiritual growth for me. Communion is a part of every worship service. We have always been a diverse community. Some sermons are on YouTube. Spring is coming even at Goshen!
Well, I must not be as smart as your Rose and your children because I thought it was absolutely perfect! but then I think all of your writings are, as they bless me every time.
Thanks for all your work. Freda