From the Pastor - "Strength" October 2015

Dear Friends in Christ,

What is the church?  The church may be considered in terms of our location, nature, redemption, shape, ministry, mission, and inclusivity.  According to Everist and Nessan in Transforming Leadership, the church may also be described in terms of our strength. 

But we have to be specific about our strength.  It is not strength that comes from the raw power to control or destroy, nor is it strength that comes from robust health and abundant wealth.  In fact, these external measures of strength can mask our true strength.  Relying on those types of strength can give us a false sense of security with the result that we ignore the real source of our strength.

The strength of the church comes from our Savior Jesus who suffered on the cross.  He showed his strength paradoxically by yielding his will and submitting to the will of his Father.  Through his suffering, Jesus has demonstrated the strength of God, a far greater power than we are.  Even in the darkest moment, Jesus trusts in God’s abiding presence.  

This summer 26-year-old Andrew Zajack was killed along with two other firefighters in a Washington state wildfire.  His mother is my colleague, the Rev. Mary Zajack.  In a public video message on behalf of her grieving family, she said: “I am comforted to know that even though none of us could be there in [Andrew’s] hour of need, God never left him alone.” 

God is with us in the midst of our suffering, and God is the source of our strength.  As Paul says: “the weakness of God is stronger than human strength” (1 Corinthians 1:25).  Scripture proclaims Jesus as liberator, ally of the poor, man of sorrows, suffering servant.  His show of strength is in support of those who are weak. 

Likewise, the strength of the church is meant to serve God’s purpose of redeeming and transforming the world.  Instead of self-promotion and self-preservation alone, our strength is for the benefit of others.  The freedom and power God gives us is for the kingdom of God and the goals of loving our neighbors and doing justice. 

1.      Who is suffering in our congregation?  In our community?  In our world?

2.      How do each of us, in our own suffering, meet each other through the suffering of Christ?

Our strong foundation is Jesus Christ, who did not seek freedom from suffering, but rather productive suffering for the sake of justice, ministry, and mission.  That’s strength.  That’s church.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Brian C. Smith