Faith and Convictions

 How do we share our faith? How do we share who we know and understand Jesus to be? 

This is what we have been talking about in our Sunday discussion and as we have read "We are Witnesses of These Things."  But how do we even begin. 

Often we struggle because at some time or another we will be asked when did you receive the Lord Jesus as your personal savior?  This is a hard question to answer.  Some of us might be able to recall a situation or experience when we really knew the presence of Jesus in our lives.  Some of us might answer with our baptism date, more so when God welcomed us and came to us rather than us going to Jesus.  Some of us have just always known, at least with a spark that Jesus was real.  

I grew up in the church.  There are experiences I remember.  But I can't give you a date.  I just have always sensed God's presence in my life.  I have questioned, wondered, strayed... but Jesus was always there--because my understanding is that Jesus comes to us, and that Jesus never leaves us.  Jesus calls me!

As I've thought about ways in which we might want to begin, it might be good to just start with some significant events in your life.  Some you won't remember--for instance, I don't remember my baptism.  I remember confirmation, but not always the exact date.  I recall moments, songs, sermons, relationships--all these bear understanding in my witness to Jesus.

I also wonder if it is helpful to think of what are our primary convictions of faith?  Do you have favorite passages of scripture and how do they speak to you?

For me, John 17 has an impact on how I understand Jesus, the Trinity, and our relationship with each other and the world.  In John 17, Jesus is praying for himself, then the disciples, and then those who will believe because of their witness.  Jesus prays for us!  And he prays specifically for unity, that we will be one as Jesus and the Father are one. One of my convictions in ministry is unity.  This is one reason why I am passionate in the open table at communion, in conversation with people who disagree but are still willing to converse, to realize that Jesus is for the whole world.

Micah 6:8--What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.  This passage from the Old Testament prophet summarizes for me the life of Jesus and the life we are called to live as disciples.  Justice isn't a political ideal or left for the courtrooms.  Justice is a way of life when we live as a disciple of Jesus the Christ.  

1 John may be my favorite book in the Bible.  There are so many gems in this short book.  1 John 4:16b-21 summarizes well:  "God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also."

There is no fear in love.  We often think of hate as the opposite of love, but I do believe fear is the opposite. We struggle loving others because we do not know them, or we have preconceived notions or prejudices--all stemming from fear.  Naming our fears is a start. My experience is that as I confront my fears of "the other" I am able to love not only them, but experience the love of God even deeper.

What are your convictions of faith?  Are there Bible passages, phrases, stories that you go back to for comfort, inspiration, challenge?  

When we can articulate our faith, our conviction in Jesus, it is easier to share with others.  

Are we ready?

Our study group continues in chapter 8 in the book "We Are Witnesses of These Things." --Prepare the Way of Jesus.

We talked briefly about one question--How does our faith community's life together align with its confession and witness of Jesus?  We talked about ways in which we serve in and with the community.

How does our community receive and accompany people desiring to follow the way of Jesus?  One way doesn't fit all!  We offer varying Bible studies, some small groups have arisen organically, we pray for one another.  How else might we receive and accompany people on their journey?

And the big question--are we ready to receive and accompany new disciples of Jesus?  New people will bring diversity and change. Not all people do things the way we have always done it.  Are we a congregation that says our way or no way?  We have to realize that some of the things some of us have found lifegiving are not what people are seeking now as they reach out to Jesus.  We have to admit that sometimes we just want more people in church, more people to do the work or better take over the way we do it our way and give money, so we don't close.  I just don't think that is what Jesus was asking of us when we are called to accompany people on their journey of faith.

One place to start is how do we present ourselves.  What about how we present ourselves on social media.  We have a Facebook Page, a website (www.ascensionlc.org), a YouTube page.  What do these pages communicate about who we are?  Can you find us easily, including worship times?  Is the website directed toward people who already have faith or would those who are new to faith figure out who we are.  Do we present a positive and realistic impression of who we are?

How are visitors welcome when they enter the building?  The author likens what we as church need to do to get ready as that which we do when we are expecting company at our homes.  We spiffy up.  We want to make sure the space is uncluttered, clean, functional.  How might a visitor experience our building?  Are there signs to the worship space, bathrooms, fellowship hall?  

Do we offer other ways to become part of our community, the "back door" as was mentioned in the book?  Some congregations offer Pub Theology or gatherings at restaurants for discussion.  

Do we mind our manners?  Do we leave people standing alone at coffee time, too engaged in seeing friends again that we ignore the visitor?  Do we watch what we talk about in our gathering area after church--I have overheard some interesting conversation that those of us may just think oh that's just how Alfred is--but what do visitors think?  Are we open about telling people why we like our church--maybe we have never even thought about that question. 

How do we adapt and proclaim Jesus' story to those who know it best and those who have never heard?  

Preparing the Way

 The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight"  Luke 3:4 and Isaiah 40:3

These are the words of the prophet Isaiah and the words of John, the Baptizer as they "prepare" the way of the Lord.  According to the author of "You are Witnesses of These Things," John prepared people to see Jesus.  Likewise, the church is called to prepare to receive those who seek Jesus.

What is Church?  The church is not a building where praying, worship, study, and meetings happen.  We know the church as the people who pray and worship and study and meet.  The church as the people also do outreach, in the community, as we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the community and world.  

When I was ordained, I can't remember word for word the sermon that was preached by my long-time mentor pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska--the Rev. Thomas Hallstrom.  He spoke to the reality that as church we are going to be called for a lot of things--we will be called to social service issues, fellowship, and I don't know what else he said.  But we are NOT another social service agency or a club where people join and meet.  As church, we have a call to proclaim Jesus, to introduce people to Jesus--to proclaim to those who know Jesus best and those who have never heard.  

In the book, Satterlee writes: "While we seek to attract busy young families who find belonging in multiple communities, the ancient church reached out to people who needed to belong-widows, orphans, and the poor.  While we make it easy for people to join (and therefore to leave) the church, the ancient church expected people to invest themselves by learning to behave differently, in ways Christians behave.  While we frequently approach faith as a matter of individual mind and heart, the ancient church was convinced that believing comes from doing.  Chrisitan faith in embarking on a chosen way of life that includes belonging to the way or community of Jesus, behaving like Jesus in the world, and trusting and sharing the good news of Jesus."  (page 82)

How have you witnessed this in your life and in the church?

They go one to say, "People who receive the story of Jesus seek out communities that prioritize extending belonging in the name of Jesus, behaving in ways Jesus embodies, teaches and commands, and trusting the good news of Jesus above all else. Even more disheartening and demoralizing than witnessing to Jesus and bearing no fruit is someone receiving our witness and seeking out the church to learn more about Jesus, only to turn away because what they find undermines or contradicts the good news about Jesus they received."  (Page 82)

Have you ever witnessed a stumbling block in the church?  Though we often think of individuals as being stumbling blocks, as a community we can be stumbling blocks as well.  

We are going to spend a little more time talking about this chapter in our class and online.  But there are a few questions I would ask that you consider:

1.  How well does our faith community's life together align with its confession and witness of Jesus?

2. How does this community receive and accompany people desiring to follow in the way of Jesus?

3. Is Ascension/your congregation ready to receive and accompany people new to the story of Jesus?