In his first letter to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul encouraged them with these words:
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:1 (NIV)).
And the Apostle Peter, in his second letter, had this to say to his readers:
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory…, (2 Peter 1:12–14 (NIV)).
In this same spirit, and in light of the current political and social climate, it seems to be an excellent time to remind ourselves of our mission and core values as followers of Jesus walking together with this expression of the body of Christ we call Central Congregational Church. Keeping ourselves focused on the values of the kingdom of God taught by Jesus will keep us from allowing ourselves to be coopted by any party, politician or platform.
The CCC mission statement asserts that…
La Mesa Central Congregational Church is a historic, traditional church on a journey toward truly diverse, inter-generational fellowship, worship and service in the name and way of Jesus for the glory of God and the good of our neighbors near and far.
The motto version of this statement that we use regularly to keep ourselves on mission is that we are walking and working together For the Glory of God and the Good of Our Neighbors Near and Far.
To begin with, what does it look like to work for the Glory of God?
The words of Jesus in Matthew 5 provide the guidance we need to answer this question. As a part of Jesus’ teaching in what is known as The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16 (NIV))
In a culture rife with selfies, virtue signaling and an overemphasis on statistical church growth, Jesus’ words are a powerful corrective and a reminder that all of our efforts in word and deed should be conducted in such a manner that they point beyond us to the faithfulness and goodness of God. As God has most fully revealed himself in and through Jesus, the more our work and words lift up and point to him, the more we glorify God and the more we help people find real hope and healing.
Considering the difference between an idol and an icon may be instructive here. An idol is an object of worship representing a false god or deifying a created thing. An icon is an aid to devotion: an artistic rendering of Jesus, a biblical figure or a well-known holy person from history that encourages us to look past it to the goodness and greatness of God. An idol draws attention to itself or to someone or something that isn’t real or cannot actually help. An icon redirects attention from itself to God and his power and provision and encourages gratitude and devotion. By the grace of God, and as we commit ourselves to lifting up the name of Jesus in all that we do and say, our life together will be iconic rather than idolatrous.
That being said, I want our neighbors to know that CCC exists. And I believe that God wants our church to grow. However, people don’t need more religious jargon or political pontification. Nor do they need more showy services or service projects. Rather, people need to have their real needs addressed, more Spirit-filled community, and a genuine encounter with Jesus. Though we are far from perfect, I believe that as we continue to prioritize the Glory of God, people will encounter him when they encounter us.
The second half of our motto, For the Good of Our Neighbors Near and Far, challenges us to look beyond our preferred cultural, political or religious enclave and begs the question asked of Jesus by an expert in Jewish religious law: Who is my neighbor? Famously, Jesus responded to this pointed inquiry by telling the story of The Good Samaritan, where the neighbor is an unnamed person in need, the hero is the hated and religiously suspect Samaritan, and the religious leaders are exposed as uncaring and unhelpful.i Rather than delineate who our neighbor is or isn’t, Jesus powerfully and uncomfortably depicts true, Christ-like neighborliness, noticing and caring for the person in need right in front of us and providing for them even when it is inconvenient and expensive, and even and especially when they are not like us. Jesus’ rejoinder to the religious leader’s original question reverberates through the centuries to you and me: Which of these three was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?
Neighbor love resonates with us when we consider our near neighbors who look like, believe like and vote like we do. The situation gets more complicated and challenging when we take the words of Jesus seriously and begin to consider the other as a neighbor too. But Jesus goes even further than this, instructing us to love and work for the good of our enemies as well.ii And in Romans 12, the Apostle Paul reiterates Jesus words with these commands:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:14, 17-20 (NIV)).
To work for the Glory of God and the Good of Our Neighbors Near and Far is a catchy, inspiring slogan, but impossible to achieve without the presence and power of God residing in us and among us. Without the presence and leading of the Spirit, our attempts to work for the glory of God easily become showy and self-serving. And let’s be honest, without the daily transforming work of the Spirit of Jesus in our lives, our attempts to work for the good of even our near neighbors fall flat and loving those geographically or culturally far from us or considered enemies is rarely, if ever, attempted.
I’m encouraged by the legitimate ways that our CCC family is on mission, and in the spirit of the words of Paul and Peter above, I write these things as a reminder of what’s essential when it comes to working for the Glory of God and the Good of Our Neighbors Near and Far, and as an encouragement to do so more and more.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Scott
i Luke 10:25-37