Of course the critical thing is not just having a voice, but how we use it. The essential question is, what should our voice say? Since our understanding has grown to the point where we are clearly no longer comfortable in making outdated claims about being the “one true church” (and probably never should have been), what should we now proclaim? Recent inspired counsel to the church has called us to invite, but exactly what are we inviting people to?
All of this reminds me of a family doing a jigsaw puzzle. It is at that point when we are nearly finished, and searching the floor for that one piece that has gone missing. Where did it go? It must be here somewhere. Is it possible that President Veazey’s address to the church last Sunday night has pointed us towards the missing piece? In fact, it seems to me he has pointed it out rather clearly.
In truth, the piece has been in front of us all along. It was lying right there in our mission statement; “We Proclaim Jesus Christ and Promote Communities of Joy, Hope, Love and Peace.” But what did that mean, exactly? What do we mean by communities of joy hope love and peace? If that is what our congregations are supposed to be, how do we do that?
The fact is that we were not seeing that piece of the puzzle very clearly. The piece was there, but perhaps it matched the carpet so closely we couldn’t see it without bringing in a little more light. Now that much needed light has been provided by the Mission Initiatives, and lo and behold, here is the missing piece lying right there before us.
We invite people to Christ, and to be part of a community that is trying to abolish poverty, end suffering, and pursue peace on earth.
What a wonderful picture this is!
Posted by Carman
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