A Letter to the Church

January 11, 2021

You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
                                                               -Jesus of Nazareth
                                                                 From his Sermon on the Mount

As it is written, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
                                                                - Paul the Apostle
                                                                   From his letter to the First Century Church in Rome

This letter is for the church. I’m not an elected or appointed public servant. I am not a prosecutor or a peace officer. I am a Christian minister. So, speaking to the church, I want to be clear. The sight of “Jesus Saves” and “God Bless America” signs displayed in the mob that violently stormed the U. S. Capitol last Wednesday is a picture of Jesus and his good news that is blasphemous.

As a ministry student I was mentored by Alan Dunbar. Once, during a “let me give you some advice” sessions, he said, “The world is watching. The world is overhearing. They usually expect more of us than we do. Jim, Watch your actions. Watch your mouth.”
The world is watching and the church is not looking very good. Let’s begin the rehabilitation with some solitary time with Jesus admitting our desperate need for his life altering power.
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As my mentor said, “Watch your actions. Watch your mouth.” I’d add, “Guard your heart.”
 
You are loved,
Pastor Jim