So I have been delinquent in my posts the past few days.
I had a wonderful day of sabbath on Friday. I started referring to Fridays as Mydays. I love Mydays. Perhaps it is somewhat to very selfish and not right considering my wife doesn't get Mydays, but I feel like I am truly starting to understand this whole sabbath thing. On Mydays I only do things that I chose to do, nothing that I have to do. It used to be the pattern that I would do laundry, clean the house, mow the lawn etc., you know, the chores. As I have begun to further understand the need for sabbath and what it really means, I have come to see the chores as work, something we are commanded not to do on our sabbath. So now, sabbath means for me a day to only do those things I want to do, play with the boys (or take them to the sitter), go to the city to do whatever it is I want to do, mess around down in my wood shop and maybe be productive, just rest and relax and watch bad TV or movies (and soon, baseball).
My reflections on Saturday mainly revolved around being busy and tired, yet fulfilled and happy. I logged more steps on Saturday than I have thus far and got most of my project for the boys finished. We spent some time with friends and with each other, and generally took it easy.
Yesterday was the day that caused to most reason for reflection. It was a snowy and cold Sunday morning and we had very light worship attendance. Our attendance has been down significantly from last year, and this really concerns me. We have had several people leave because they don't agree with the direction I am leading the church. This doesn't bother me as much as it does some others because I feel I am being faithful to God and leading the church where He needs us to go. If people don't want to be on board with where God is leading the church, that is up to them. I suppose that we have had many people go out the "back door" and have many others who are not nearly as committed as they once were (for a variety of reasons, none of which really make sense to me other than their priorities need to be better arranged) and have not been getting as many in the front door. I guess this means I am not doing my job of replacing those leaving as well as I should.
It is tough though, I feel like I am being faithful to God and doing what the Kingdom needs. I have challenged this congregation to live out their faith and have said that this church will not participate in an activities that do not help us further the Kingdom of God. The congregation members think this is an unreasonable request. I have been told that my job is to find out what the people who are already a part of the church want, and do that. I have been told that my job is to take care of the members and that I should spend the majority of time doing just that (visiting every member at least once a month in their home, calling every person once a month, generally being their best friend and tending to their needs). I am not sure how taking care of the healthy is part of the work of the Kingdom. Jesus did not spend his time teaching the religious people about God. He talked to those who had never heard about Him. He spent his time with the sinners and tax collectors, those who needed to know that someone cared for them and that there was hope for their loves. He didn't just make the healthy feel good about themselves.
So that I am being as faithful as I know to be doesn't trouble me. That the results are not good does. Preaching the Gospel and teaching about the responsibilities of Christians to live out their faith (not just sit in the safety of the church) has caused many people to leave, and often with a bad taste in their mouth. Who we have (overall) is a strong group of faithful persons, but it worries me that our numbers and those who want to be a part of the work of God continues to decrease.
Well, enough rambling and complaining. Please be in prayer for communities that are trying to reclaim their calling and responsibilities as Christians and stop just sitting on the sidelines watching people suffer.
Keep the faith,
Chris
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