Roots in Ripon
25 January 2016
Chuck
Roots
What a Body!
You may be raising your eyebrows
at this point, clearly wondering if I’ve gone over to the dark side. Rest
assured, all is well with me.
The body I’m referring to is the
congregation to which Isaura and I have been so much a part of the past 18
years, sixteen of which I was the pastor.
It was about three years ago
when I was sensing God leading me to retirement from pastoral ministry. There
were several contributing factors in making this decision. In no particular
order or level of importance, these reasons primarily had to do with: my
health; the need for a new pastor to take the reins; more time to invest in my
grandkids; more opportunities to get away with Isaura on trips hither and yon;
and the desire to get serious about writing several books. Then of course,
there’s golf.
But never for a moment did we
want to be away from our church family, also known as, the Body of Christ on
earth; the Fellowship of the Saints; the Gathering; the Brethren; the Flock;
the Laity; the Multitude; Parishioners; and so forth. Regardless of what name
this group of Believers in Jesus goes by, they are a wonderful assemblage of
people who have had an encounter with Jesus, and because of that their lives
are forever changed.
I’m often amused when I hear
someone tell me why they do not go to church (I suppose I should mention that
the only time I ever ask a person where they attend church is if they have
already informed me that they are a Christian). “The church is full of hypocrites!” is quite possibly my favorite.
I love the expression on their faces when I tell them I absolutely agree with
them. “All the church ever wants is my
money!” is another favorite of mine. Once again, I agree with them. How
else is this non-profit organization going to function if there’s no “buy-in” by people who have committed to
walking with Jesus? “No one even said
hello or shook my hand when I visited!” And the companion complaint, “After I attended church I never received a
call or a card or anything!” The flip side of this complaint is, “These people never leave me alone! One
visit and I’m on their mailing and calling list forever!” And again: guilty
as charged. If I say hello, then I’m pushy. If I don’t say hello or shake your
hand, I’m cold and uncaring. If I don’t let the people in the pews know of the
financial obligations of the church then folks figure they don’t have to give
anything in the offering plate. If I do share the financial needs of the church
and its ministry, then we’re “sticking
our hands into your wallet/purse.” And so on it goes.
But the people that make up the
body of my church are just folks. You see, over the past two decades, my wife
and I have gotten to know them, and they have gotten to know us. I remember one
couple especially that we invited to our home for dinner along with several
other couples shortly after arriving in Ripon. Isaura had planned a big dinner
which she wonderfully prepares. It’s a gift with her. This couple had started
attending church again after we came because he was a WWII veteran, and had
heard I was also a veteran so he was coming to “check me out.” But they weren’t sure about going to the pastor’s
home for dinner. They had never done that before. They even asked me how they
should act. I said, “We’re just people
like anyone else. Be yourselves.” They became precious friends.
I still enjoy attending the
first service at 8:30 on Sunday, followed by the pastor’s Sunday school class
at 10:00. I then stay for the first part of the 11:00 service so I can sing the
hymns again (I love to sing!) and also meet and greet these folks I love.
The congregation I am a part of
is made up of all sorts of disreputable people. Their backgrounds are often
sordid and foul. Some were drunkards. Others sexually immoral. Still others
crude and profane. Some cheated on their spouses. Or suffered with depression.
Or were addicted to drugs. Some were living a lie. Some still are (the
hypocrites mentioned earlier). Some have kicked the habit, fallen off, kicked
it again, fallen off again, etc. Some are running from God while sitting in the
pew every Sunday. Some harbor resentments and exhibit an unforgiving spirit. Shall
I go on?
Here’s my point. The church is
not a place for those who are perfect. Instead, it is a hospital for the
spiritually sick. Remember: Jesus did not come to save perfect people, but sick,
horribly flawed sinners. And we have all been affected (and infected) by sin.
Jesus is the antidote. But you must come to him for the cure.
This is why I love the folks in
my church so much. They have either come to Jesus and been healed of the sin sickness.
Or they are wrestling with a commitment to surrender their lives to him. Or
they are just not sure about anything, but they know they need something. My
kind of people!
Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in
me. In my Father’s house are many mansions, for I go to prepare a place for
you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again to receive you
unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also . . . I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Where do you stand with Jesus?
Accept him as your Savior. Then connect with his body. You’ll love it too!
No comments:
Post a Comment