Spiritual Life Management
April, 2014

It's not safe...

 

I continue to read and see on the nightly news, and you do too, how unstable it is in the Middle East. Every other day features a report of violence and bloodshed. And it seems that the most frequently targeted group, of late, has been the Christians. In Syria the number of Christians killed has been staggering. Churches have been targeted, as well as sacred processions, festivals, and gatherings. And many thousands of Syrian Christians have also been forced across borders, fleeing mostly to Lebanon. In the Middle East right now, it's just not safe to be a follower of Christ.

 

It is reminiscent, eerily, of the early days of our faith. To be one of the first followers of Jesus was very unsafe as well. Almost all of our Lord's disciples were martyred, many in pretty horrible ways. And the threat of violence hovered over the head of all of Jesus' followers since the Jewish leaders threatened expulsion from the assembly to any who spoke of Jesus. Early on in Jerusalem, it just wasn't safe to be a follower of Christ.

 

And that was true in Gentile country as well. Throughout the Roman Empire, as our faith expended, there were persecutions and slayings. To proclaim Jesus as Lord took courage, real courage; and it invited very real consequences.

 

Now, however, nestled in our comfortable homes and churches, the risks are gone. But, they are not supposed to be.    

 

To be honest, and looking at the message of the Gospel with open eyes, it is clear that Jesus never intended it to be a safe journey-following in his footsteps.

            Whoever does not leave behind home and family...

            Whoever wants to be my disciple must take up his cross and follow...

            I came not to bring peace, but division...

There are more. But the point is clear enough. For the faith to be real faith, it must carry some risk.

 

Thankfully, there is no sword or IED sitting over any of us right here right now, ready to strike unless we renounce our faith. But there are plenty of risks.

 

Forgiveness, real forgiveness, is a risk. Loving the unlovable is a risk. Being different than our friends and neighbors in terms of our priorities is a risk. Tithing is a risk. Even half of that is risky.

 

None of those are required, of course. In this time and place there are no risks that are mandatory.

 

But, I won't pull any punches, to take no risks in the exercise of our faith brings its own risk. But that thought is between you and your maker.

                                                                                                                        Steph+

 

 

Scripture

Matthew 10: 37-30:  "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."

 

Luke 14: 26-27: "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and ever life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." 33: "So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions."

 

Luke 12: 49-51: "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!"

Tradition

 

Hymn 559:

 

"Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us o'er the world's tempestuous sea; guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, for we have no help but thee, yet possessing every blessing, if our  God our Father be.

 

Savior, breath forgiveness o'er us; all our weakness thou dost know; thou didst tread this earth before us; thou didst feel its keenest woe; yet unfearing, persevering, to thy passion thou didst go.

 

Spirit of our God, descending, fill our hearts with heavenly joy; love with every passion blending pleasure that can never cloy; thus provided, pardoned, guided, nothing can our peace destroy."

 

Reason
  

Question: I have been talking with some friends at church and they turned in their pledge cards several months ago. I have been hesitating because I do not know how my finances will turn out this year. What should I do if things change for me? Is it too late to turn in my pledge card?

 

Answer: It is not too late to turn in your pledge card. Tithing to the church is one of the ways we follow Jesus' teachings. Happily, it is easy to see how we are doing - are we are giving 10% of our income or, if not, are we striving to reach that goal? If your financial circumstances change later in the year, you can certainly adjust your tithe up or down, accordingly. 

 

Go to the E-Giving Online Transaction System

The Rev. Stephen C. Britt, Rector,
Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, Stewardship Committee,
San Jose Episcopal Church
7423 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, Fl 32217