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Hello St. John’s Family,
Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. 1 Peter 3:15 (Message Bible)
One day I was out running errands, I was wearing a t-shirt that St. John’s had for our I Love My Church campaign several years ago. On the front of the shirt (in the pocket area) was our church name – St. John’s UMC along with our logo. On the back in big white letters it says “Ask me why I love my church”.
As I pulled into a parking space, something inside said “You had better know what you are going to say in answer to the question on your shirt.” So I stopped and thought for a few seconds and decided that I did know what I would say. I went into the grocery store and was busy looking for the items on my list when someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was a gentleman who said “So, why do you love your church?” To which I replied with the answer that I had formulated in my mind. He then made a point to read the name of my church and gave me a thumbs up and said “Amen.”
So many folks today want to say that their Christianity is between them and God – its private. They don’t want to talk about it. To that I say “My relationship with my Heavenly Father is personal, but I can’t possibly keep it private.”
When Mary encountered Jesus in the garden after his resurrection, He didn’t tell her that this was really wonderful news but she should just hold on to it – keep it a secret. No, he told her to go and tell. And before he ascended into heaven, he told his disciples, and us as well, to go and make disciples. Well, brothers and sisters, you can’t make disciples by being silent.
We aren’t hesitant to speak up about our favorite sports team, we are always ready and willing to brag on our children and grandchildren, And, we don’t hesitate to voice our political views (even though we may not have any idea what we are talking about) …so then why do we find it so hard to talk about our God and about all that He has done for us? That’s the only way we are going to make disciples.
John Wesley is credited with saying “Get on fire with enthusiasm and people will come from miles around to see you burn.” And Mike Slaughter changed it a little at Annual Conference a few years ago when he said “Get on fire for Christ and folks will come to see you burn.” However you say it I think it is clear that you can’t be on fire for Christ and keep it a secret. Fire isn’t something you can hide!
So, while we all should have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father…we should never keep it private. Let’s all “go and tell.”
Pastor Ruth
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