Calvin Synod Herald, 2016 (117. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2016-01-01 / 1-2. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 5 way to life. Will you develop that relationship with Him? Will you pay the cost? Will you follow Christ and get the life that He offers? I want to end this message with a challenge. I want you to take at least 30 minutes out of your day, one day get away from everything else, from work, from fun, from school, from family, and spend 30 minutes in real conversation with God. Build that relationship that will take you down the road that leads to eternal life. That is my challenge, your assignment for this Lent: start building a relationship with your God and Savior. Get away from everything else. Get away from all distractions, people, and interruption, and take some personal time with your God. SMT An Urgent Gospel for a Troubled World Text: Mark 1:29-39 “Go tell in on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere that Jesus Christ is bom,” sings the spiritual for this time of year. According to St. Mark, often the disciples provided a drag factor on Jesus’ ministry, seeking to hold him back or deter him from his destiny. Examples: On the mount of transfiguration, the disciples wanted to build booths and bask in the filtered glory, but Jesus knew that human needs awaited them down the slope (Mark 9:5). Later on his final journey to Jerusalem he walked the road ahead of them and they lagged behind, reluctant followers (Mark 10:32). In this text we read that Jesus had sought respite in prayerful solitude. The disciples interrupted Him with their agenda. They had forgotten they were followers, not leaders. He told them, “I must go on to the next towns to proclaim the good news, for that is why I came here.” Jesus moves with urgency. Not in haste or panic, but with an ASAP determination. Did you ever drive by a church building in the city, now a bingo parlor or a dress shop? Or by a church yard in the countryside with the windows of the building all boarded up? On these locations there might well be a sign reading: Somebody lacked a sense of urgency. Jesus needed to oppose the agenda of the disciples. We can imagine Peter saying, “Stay here Jesus. You’re on the verge of becoming a celebrity. You’ll be a super star. Only bad news awaits you in Jerusalem.” But Jesus had a pull from within attached to a source above that said, “I must go on. I must announce the good news of the reign of God breaking in. It’s urgent. The time is here.” His vision encompassed Galilee. In reality, the whole world. As one of his 18th century disciples, John Wesley, declared, “The world is our parish.” So if we’re going to be with Jesus we will need to keep moving on, going where he leads. An Episcopal priest I heard speak said that quite a few of us have responded to Jesus’ call, “’Follow me and I’ll make you fishers for people,’ but lots of us have ended up becoming tenders of the aquarium.” Jesus told a parable about folk invited to a banquet. They all offered excuses not to attend. One needed to go home to dispose of belongings. Another needed to say “goodbye” to the family. Yet another required time to bury his father. All were legitimate activities but the sense of urgent response failed to dawn on their hearts. Jesus declared them ineligible to attend because they lacked a passion for the occasion. (Luke 14:15-24) Clovis Chappel, in a book titled, When the Church Was Young, tells of a Christian missionary very familiar with Chinese culture. A large oil company sought to hire him. They offered $10,000 to join their team. He refused. Then the company offered $20,000, then $25,000, and then said, “Name your price.” In reply the missionary wrote: “The salary you offered first is large enough. I am making only $1,200 a year. It is not your salary that is too small; it’s your job. I have a bigger job than you can possibly offer.” Jesus is saying to us: “Remember, the church is not a social club. You are a band of strangers come together to put out a fire. Hurry! I need you urgently.” Jesus says to us: “I’m over here. Will you join me? Then I’m going over there to do and tell the good news. Will you come with me? It’s urgent business. Today is the day of salvation.” Remember, the church is the one movement in the world that lives primarily for those who are not its members. George W. Webber, once a minister in the East Harlem Protestant Parish, once said: “The church is to mission as fire is to burning . . .” Think about that for a minute, then pray. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, world to its end. Amen. David B. Bowman Live each day so that you wiff neither 6e afraicf of tomorrow nor ashamecf of yesterday l
