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ProudDog
Posts:562
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| 06/16/2008 7:40 PM |
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| Things have been peaceful around here for the past several weeks -- so here's something a little more daring! Take a look at Daring Discipleship and Dangerous Wonder and let's share opionions and experiences about what it means to follow Jesus. |
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-Kirk Moore |
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kate huey
Posts:65
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| 06/17/2008 5:38 PM |
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When I think about these instructions that Jesus gave his disciples (including us) in the speech that really seems to begin back at the end of Chapter Nine (when Jesus observed that the harvest was plentiful but the laborers are few, and then got his laborers together and sent them out), it reminds me of a picture of North Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus, Ohio, that was recently sent to me. The photo was sent to display the excellent lettering on the front of the church - "God is still speaking" - but there was an even more impressive thing about the picture: the congregation itself was gathered out front, a big crowd of people smiling with joy.
It seems like we equate "church" with buildings, and maybe with "how we've always done things" - both of which are stable to the point of being static. But this whole speech from Jesus tells the church to be active, to be on the move, to travel light, and, as usual, not to fear.
There's a lot of fear in the world today, and in some ways we're organizing our lives around it. We don't feel connected to one another in communities of care, so we feel more vulnerable to financial hardship and health problems and, of course, terrorist attacks. Who will take care of us, and how can we prevent these terrible things?
Meanwhile, Jesus keeps talking about being about his business, and not worrying or grasping things or security or even our families - to stay focused in our hearts and minds, and, it seems, our feet, too, on the gospel and the reign of God. That's the good news we're giving our hearts to each day or, as one pastor says it, day by day immersing ourselves in the waters of our baptism. (I really like that image.) It seems like Jesus is telling us to get out of the building, once our spirits are refreshed and our community bonds strengthened - get out into the world and spread the Good News!
Nothing else, Jesus says, should matter as much as that. What do you think? Is it too much to ask of "modern" or "post-modern" Christians? Are we busy with more important things? |
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