Culture is not a quiet pond in which we Christians quietly wade. Rather, being a Christian is like swimming in a rip-tide. It is when we think that culture is benign that our faith falls asleep.
Never was this more apparent than in a recent visit to our Presbytery by a pastor from Iraq (the word 'elder' is not used in Iraq because it would single out church leaders for persecution - and even death). More recently, a mission worker visited our Tuesdays Together to share with us what is happening with the Christian church in Turkey; of the 4,000 - 6,000 Protestants, most are Muslim converts who often pay a dear price to follow Jesus Christ. In Pakistan, for example, persecution includes the burning deaths of six Christians this past July (NY Times, September l7, 2009).
Around the world people are being called to a costly discipleship. If we think that we have it "easy" being a Christian in our particular culture, we are self-deceived.
A thought: maybe, just maybe, it is more difficult to follow Jesus in SW Florida, than it is in Turkey. I would like to talk to you about it some time and explain why I think it is true.
In the meanwhile -- swim for your spiritual life! |
| Every Christian community must know that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the community.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together |
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October 17, 2009 at 12:30 p.m.
The pumpkins arrive for YOF Pumpkin Patch.
- October 24, 2009 from 4-7 p.m.
Fall Pumpkin Festival
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October 25, 2009 with a shotgun start at 1:00 p.m.
3rd Annual Faith Golf Tournament |
