Month: July 2024

Thoughts from here and There…The Church Isn’t a Country Club!

“I will not go to that church, it is full of hypocrites!” a person declares.

And to that I say, “Thank God the church is full of hypocrites.”

Do you find this strange? Let me explain.

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up, left everything, and followed him.

Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them.

The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance,” (Luke 5:27-32, NRSVA).

The church is not a country club for saints but a hospital for sinners.

But then you have to admit that you are a sinner.

Sin is a transgression against divine law or a law of the deities. It refers to any offense against God or against a religious or moral law. Sin can be an action, thought, or word considered immoral, selfish, harmful, or alienating1. It is a failure to conform to the moral law of God.

That may not be an easy thing to do, but it is the necessary thing.

Without this admission one is excluded from God and the benefits of relationship with God.

Why would a person want to do that?

Thoughts from here and there…Biblical Conflict Resolution

I am neither a hawk nor a dove. Sometimes war is necessary, but I have come to believe that national or international conflicts will not be solved by “war.”

There are two biblical citations that come to mind: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good, (Romans 12:21, NRSVA), and When Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword,” (Matthew 26:52, NRSVA).

This leads me to share with you a thoughtful and insightful observation that I discovered in Homiletics Magazine on line:

“As the world’s only superpower, the United States bears grave responsibilities of leadership. Sometimes we must use force, and sometimes restraint. Sometimes we must act against world opinion.

“Popular psychiatrist M. Scott Peck makes an intriguing observation:

‘It is notable that two hundred years ago this new nation spent virtually no money and no energy attempting to control the behavior of the other nations of the world. Yet one by one, almost ten by ten, the peoples of these nations followed our spiritual and political example to seek the same freedoms for themselves. It is hard to escape the conclusion that in the years since, our political and spiritual leadership has declined in inverse proportion to the increasing amounts of money and effort we have expended to manipulate other countries…I wonder, if we in the United States were to concentrate—as our overwhelmingly major priority—on making ourselves the best possible society we can be, whether the nations of the world might once again, without any pressure except the influence of example, begin to emulate us.'”

This just might work, if we work at it.

As Historian of the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches (NACCC), I was asked by Mrs. Ann Kuester, Moderator of the NACCC to write a Covenanting Service that could be used to open the 2000 Annual Meeting of the NACCC in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

I looked at the Covenant of the NACCC that was affirmed at the first Annual Meeting of the NACCC held in Wauwatosa, WI on October 25, 1956, and at the original Salem Covenant of 1629 and the Enlarged Salem Covenant of 1636. Drawing on these resources I wrote a Covenant. Then working with the Rev. Gary Pierce, Pastor, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Green Bay, we modified that original effort and finalized the Covenanting Service which follows.

If you take the time to read through it, you will discover the principles that ought to be in a Church Covenant, the principles what bind members of a congregation together in the Word and Service of Jesus Christ. What applies to a congregation may also apply with modifications to citizenship in America. This month we celebrate the Fourth of July, the anniversary of the founding of our country. What better way to affirm our membership in church and country than by re-owning the covenants which bind us together.

COVENANTING SERVICE

In the old covenant, God chose Israel to be a special people of faith, and to obey the law. Our Lord Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection, has made a new covenant with all who trust in him. We stand within this covenant and we bear his name.

On the one side, God promises in this covenant to give us new life in Christ. On the other side, we are pledged to live not for ourselves but for God.

As gathered Congregational Christian Churches we affirm this covenant God made with us. Historically we have been a covenant people, both with God and with each other.

We who are present here today, members of the National Association of Congregational Christians and the congregations we represent, having found by sad experience how dangerous it is to take lightly the covenant we have made with our God and with one another: and how prone we are to wander into other paths, even to the relaxation of our first love in entering into fellowship: Do therefore solemnly in the presence of the Eternal God, both for our own benefit, and the benefit of those which shall be or may be joined with us, renew that covenant that was accepted at the beginning of our National Association:

“Therefore We, the churches by our delegates here assembled in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, this 25th day of October 1956, do covenant in this National Association of Congregational Christian Churches to walk together in the ways which God anciently revealed to our fathers, and in such further ways as He may yet reveal to us, the present form and purposes being hereinafter stated.”

And we do more explicitly in the name and reverence of God, profess and formally affirm our determination to walk as followers of God through the power and grace of our Lord Jesus.

1. We affirm the Lord to be our God, and ourselves his people.

We do so covenant

2. We give ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the word of his grace, for the teaching, and sanctifying of us in matters of worship, and conversation, resolving to be united with him alone for life and glory; in polity, and in worship.

We do so covenant

3. We promise to walk with our brethren and sisters in this association of churches with all watchfulness and tenderness, to follow the rule of the Lord Jesus, and to bear and forbear, give and forgive as he has taught us.

We do so covenant

4. In public or in private, we will willingly do nothing to offend the reputation of the association, but will be willing to take advise for our selves and ours as occasion shall be presented.

We do so covenant

5. We bind ourselves together to promote the advancement of the gospel in all truth and peace with our sister churches, using their counsel as need shall be:

We do so covenant

6. We hereby promise to carry our selves in all lawful obedience to principles and practices that we mutually cherish, knowing-how well pleasing it will be to the Lord, that men, women and children should have encouragement in their lives.

We do so covenant

7. We resolve to establish ourselves in the Lord by using our particular gifts of the Spirit to create harmony and community as sister churches.

We do so covenant

8. We also promise to our best ability to teach our children and one another the knowledge of God and his purposes, so that all may serve him by the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection sealed the new covenant with us.

We do so covenant

The following is not part of the Covenanting Service but is the preamble in a book in which the delegates may sign their names.

In acceptance of these principles upon which our covenant relationship is founded, we sign our names in this book to be shared with all of the congregations of National Association of Congregational Christian Churches who are not able to be present here this day.

Prepared by Rev. Leslie Shultz and Rev. Gary Pierce, Modified from the Salem Covenant of 1629 and the Enlarged Covenant of 1636

Thoughts from there and there…Our Promised Land

They stood at the place disappointed, discouraged and defeated. It was their own fault. They had refused to believe that what had been promised could be accomplished with the help of the god who had led them to this place.

From where they stood they could see the land, the Promised Land; the land promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and their descendants. It was a country that was described as “flowing with milk and honey.” This was the fulfillment of a dream that would soon turn into the people’s worst nightmare.

Spies had been sent out to investigate the land and to gather intelligence and to bring back some representative produce and products. The spies had been gone for forty days. There were many excited people who eagerly awaited their report. What a report it was!

The majority of the spies could only see the negative. It was a good land, productive and fruitful, but the people in the land were strong. The towns were large and well-fortified. There was a race of giants who invoked great fear.

One voice was heard encouraging immediate possession. The majority said it was impossible. As the word spread the people raised a loud cry of dismay and complaint. The intensity o their disappointment was readily observed.

No matter how loud was the one voice, the people would not listen. They believed the negative majority. The whole assembly questioned the leadership and the purpose that had brought them to this place. In a short time they decided to appoint another captain and return to the slavery from which they had been rescued.

So often we stand at the place of promise. We seek information and understanding, and that is as it should be. Too often we all our humanness to defeat the power of divine intention and purpose. Too often we remain as we are disappointed, discouraged, and defeated. God would not have it so.

If our founding mothers and fathers had possessed the same attitude as did Israel at Kadesh–barnea, this land would not have been settled, the Revolution would not have taken place, we would still be under the yoke of English rule and authority.

The founders did not listen to the voices of the majority, neither should we, that is and unless, those voices herald the will and purposes of God.

We can accomplish what needs to be done if we trust in the God who loves and guides us. Let us go up and possess the land!