Risk, Self-Sacrifice, and Abundant Life

Notes from the Pastor...

On the second Monday of every month the nuts and bolts of vocational ministry come to an apex.  On that day, it is my duty and honor to provide a Senior Minister Report to your Executive Board.  The report highlights administrative and pastoral activities from the past month.  As I prepared May’s report I reflected
back to Lent, to Holy Week, to Easter, and to Mother’s Day; then I realized a continual theme has dominated my conversations, sermons, and teachings thus far this year.

William Temple, the renowned Churchman once said, “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.”

In the season nestled between Easter and Pentecost we find the resting place of the Church.  Given the resurrected appearance in John 21 we assume that Peter, even after the faith-birthing Easter display of life, went back to fishing;  the life he held before Jesus called him to “follow me.”  His move from birthed faith to inactive existence is a tempted habit for you and me, as it has been throughout the history of Christianity.  And just as in days of old, on that lakeshore, Jesus corrects us still.  Even as we are fishing Jesus repeats his beautiful, life-changing call: “Follow me.”

First Christian Church Ruidoso cannot, and should not, exist solely for the benefit and recreation of her members.  Rather, we as a church exist to participate in the  Mission of God – that is to nurture the life, love, and peace of Christ in our community.  The irony of existing for others is the more we die to self, the more we gain “abundant life.”  Make no mistake; following Jesus in the Mission of God is a risky endeavor.  It cost Peter his life, and two thousand years later, the price has not changed.  Yet risk is the place where vulnerability and expectation meet.

So may we continue to sacrifice our collective desire for benefit and recreation so we may receive “abundant life” in Jesus the Christ.  After all, “through the work of worship,  the self-sacrifice of discipleship, and the healing of hopelessness we participate in the Kingdom of God.”

May the Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Ryan