This Sunday we will celebrate our 66th Anniversary as a church family. It is always a worthwhile investment to ask “Why did God put us on this corner in this community?” The answer will be the same whether it was asked 66 years ago or today. His purposes never change. Our methods of accomplishing his purposes always change…but His purposes never change. This is one clear way to say it: God is in the business of reaching and redeeming a lost and dying world. That is His mission. Our mission is to join Him. He is not so much looking for a church to “do missions”. He already has a mission…now He is looking for a church family like JIBC to join Him on His mission. My vision as a pastor is to see where God is working and lead JIBC to have a heart ready to join Him.
Side bar: the religion/religiosity of our day is a major distraction to accomplishing His mission. I know we have talked about this long and often. The reality is the biggest struggle for the church is not the world outside the church. It is the world inside the church. It is our nature to want to substitute religion and religious works a living vibrant relationship with God. The downward call of our human nature is that “every man does what is right in his own eyes”. Add that to our southern sense of independence and you have the making of a beautiful religion…that really does not need God or Jesus. Ouch.
Our annual church anniversary is our opportunity to “re-up, re-commit, re-surrender” our wills to His. My friend has a slogan at his church that I like very much. We are disciples who make disciples who change the world. After I use that slogan a few more times, I will pretend that it is mine (lol). I like it. Let’s be followers of Jesus who follow Him, who love what He loved and values what He values. Let’s be disciples of Jesus who make disciples who change the world. Let’s make a difference in our families, in our community, Charleston and the world. I think we are on the way to doing just that. Good Lord willing, I will see you this Sunday as we celebrate what He is doing and make commitments to join Him.
Pastor Tom
