Missing the Point

"Who Do You Say That I Am?" by the Rev. Lauren Wright Pittman

I remember during my first call, I got into a debate with a seminarian about what was most important. She was also one of our youth leaders at the time. And the debate was whether it was more important to have the kids participating in the youth ministry of the church or out in the world doing the work, the ministry, the mission that Christ has called us to - even if it meant they stopped coming to church.

Now, arguments about the need we all have for community notwithstanding, I was so tied up with being the perfect Associate Pastor that kept the numbers up, worrying about butts in the seats, that I found myself on the wrong side of the debate.

By the end of my ministry there, I had realized my error.

Christ's main concern, when building the Church, was not about maintaining worship or perfection of teaching theology, nor about building mansions of grandeur , but was instead about continuing God's mission of expanding and extending the kingdom here on earth. Making disciples who feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe and house the uncovered, welcome the foreigner and the outcast, heal the sick, visit the prisoner, and know what it means to do justice and mercy rather than pursue self-righteous sacrifice. Disciples who understand that mission is the heart and soul of Church and having people live life together is what it means to be Christ's body.

It was never about maintaining entrance to the kingdom in the afterlife but building up the kingdom here and now. Never about a building of wood and stone, but how that building is filled and flourishing so that it can be more tangibly present in the community around it.

This weekend, we are going to look at the original Rock himself - the one that came before cooking was the essential tagline. How quickly he could be chosen and just how quickly he could get in his and everyone else's way by completely missing the point.

See you Sunday!

Blessings,

Rev. Janie