More Responsibility

I have a friend who only likes movies with happy endings. Who likes feeling sad or upset at the end of a two hour investment? There is another person I know who will not watch the evening news because he hates all the bad news about war, suffering, crime, pain, and a myriad of other negative things in the world around us. Both of these people have a point about wanting to isolate ourselves from negativity. However, not knowing about the pain does not make it go away. Just because we isolate ourselves from sadness does not make it disappear.

I’ve found that the more I know about a situation, the more likely I am to act. What I mean to say is that I’m more motivated to help, intervene, advise, and assist when I know the whole story and start to understand the implications of my actions. So it stands to reason that if I am in the dark about something, it is a whole lot easier to claim ignorance as a reason for not acting. I don’t help because I don’t know.

As Christians, we have the responsibility to educate ourselves about the needs of the world around us in order that we might be better prepared, motivated, and equipped to assist our neighbors. Yet it is so much easier for us to stay within ourselves. There is less guilt about the situation of the world if we do not know it is even there; but that is never an excuse.

Through our faith in Christ we are called to forgive, love, and serve our neighbors, but we must know our neighbors in order to make this happen. This congregation has a responsibility to be in our community, learning about the issues we have around us, and then seeking God’s help to address the many needs.

This summer we need to continue to ask “What are we called to do in this place?” Church in the Hills has a responsibility to be a leader in our community for hope, love, and grace that streams from our risen Lord and Savior. I am overjoyed to see the many examples of mission at work in our building and in our world. Come learn more at a mission meeting, a Wednesday night gathering, a service event, or one of the many activities in this church and in this community that help us better love our neighbors and our God.

Peace and grace,

Pastor Andrew