I've Been Thinking

I am thinking about Jesus and the disciples in the gospels. What a motley bunch! They were men with different personalities, skills, and ideas, just like any group of folks who would be thrown together today. I am sure from time to time, they got weary of one another, which led to tension and disagreement; that is just community, right? Yet they all had one thing in common; they were called to follow Jesus. At times, following Jesus was more than likely the only shared purpose they had. Only Jesus and His calling could have kept such a group together. Following Jesus was their common purpose.

Now allow me to segue with that same thought to our current community. As we come together in this new FUMC community, many think we will be more homogenous in belief. Well, let me go ahead and burst the bubble; we will still disagree on the interpretation of scripture, social issues, and have personality conflicts. I have never been in a group or community of folks who did not have differences. We are not alike, we are all different, and from time to time, those differences will strain our community. Now, if we choose to focus on those differences, it will shatter our fellowship. Going forward, we must agree on our common purpose, which is one thing, and only one thing - to follow Jesus! Our hope is found in absolutely agreeing on this one thing; we are here for Jesus! We are here to worship Him, to grow in Him, to serve Him, and to share Him! We come together to be and to make disciples, period. We are not social activists, political scientists, cultural analysts, or any other kind of “ist.” We are all believers in the One who has called us to follow Him.

As we move forward, let us remember we have received the same calling as the disciples did 2000 years ago “follow Me...” Matthew 4:19. It is the imperative through which our new community must see itself, just as the disciples did 2000 years ago. It is that which binds us together. It is our identity, our core, our heart, our soul, our purpose, and our reason for existing, to follow Jesus! May those who view and experience our community encounter a people who are not only called by His name but follow Him without reservation.

Peace and Grace,
Brother Chip