From the Pastor - "Sinner and Saint" March 2015

Dear Friends in Christ,

What is the church?  In terms of location, the church is not just the consecrated site of a church building, but also the people gathered in Jesus’ name in a particular place, as well as every time and place.  According to Everist and Nessan in Transforming Leadership, the church may also be described in terms of its nature as both sinner and saint. 

As Martin Luther puts it, we are simul justus et peccator, at the same time sinners in the eyes of God who has justified us by the righteousness of Christ. 

You may have heard people object to the church because it is “full of hypocrites.”  They are right, in a sense.  Others can spot the inconsistencies in our faith and life, just as easily as God can. 

Hans Küng writes that the church exists not merely to be admired or criticized, but to be believed.  As the people of God, the church is an instrument of God’s goodness, and as such, we are capable of doing much good.  But we can just as easily lose sight of God’s mission, and fall into fighting among ourselves, antagonism toward the world, or even worse, apathy. 

But there is hope!  Christ has taken our sins upon himself, and he has transferred his righteousness to us.  As his Spirit works within us, we bear such fruit as love, peace, and generosity.  In this way, we are redeemed from our sin and reclaimed for a holy life. 

As a constant counterbalance to sin, the call to repentance is built into the life of the church.  Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  The seasons of Lent and Advent invite us sinners back into a holy life. 

(1)  How is our church both saint and sinner?  When do we fall short of our holy calling?

(2)  How is God's grace transforming our congregation, even now?

As sinners and saints, we would be honest about our nature.  We cannot boast because we are sinners.  But by God’s grace, we have been redeemed to be God’s holy people.  That’s church. 

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Brian C. Smith