There's Always Room to Grow
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Today is a very special day for me, as today marks the beginning of my second year as the pastor of First United Methodist Church of West Monroe. The first year of ANY appointment is always a learning curve for the pastor and the congregation, but this year takes the cake.
To celebrate this one-year milestone, let’s take a look at some words of encouragement Paul shared with the Thessalonians as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12:
Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you, so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.
What first really drew my attention in these verses is his affirmation that he knows they know the calling God has placed on the faithful to love one another - and how they manifest that love to their faithful brothers and sisters throughout their land. Paul knew of their faith. Paul knew theirs was not a passive faith of a people inside a secure ‘holy bubble.’
I am inspired when I read these words of affirmation from Paul, for I think it is so important for any community of faith, especially a local church congregation, to take time to celebrate and affirm the great work they are doing in service to the Lord through their love of each other and the surrounding community.
Inspiring me even more, though, is Paul is not content to just leave them well enough alone with these words of celebratory affirmation. No, indeed, Paul takes it a step further and not rest on their laurels. There’s even more opportunity ahead for the community of faith to grow further in their faith, and do so in a way that builds upon what has gone on before.
Stepping in to the pastoral role of a congregation which has roots stretching back to the middle of the 19th century is a high and sacred honor; it is exhilarating to consider the amount of word God has done through the people of a church with that long of a history. Heck, even just making it that far is a win!
As year two of my pastoral ministry at First United Methodist Church begins, while I am ecstatic about how we have adjusted on the fly not only to a new pastoral relationship but also to having to adapt to and build ministry based off an unforeseen global pandemic, what excites me most is the future is so full of potential.
Reading the second portion of these verses from Paul’s word to the Thessalonians, we would be wise to note the reason why he gives them some specific instructions about what might, at first blush, be an approval of isolationist Christianity (which, when you look at things closely, is the precise opposite of what Paul was encouraging in light of his writings elsewhere.) The key to this whole thing is found in the last words - “so you will be dependent on no one.”
Wait, what? What?!?!?!?!?!?
Paul is encouraging them, and by extension us, to be sure that we are dependent on no one so that our faith and ministry is rooted in Christ alone. I think there is no time more appropriate for us to hear these words, because we must own and accept that our faith and our ministries are not dependent on anything of this world - be it government, technology, companies, media.
That’s the challenge not only as a congregation and a pastor begin another year of ministry together, but for us all. Not as an excuse to live in isolation, not as a rationale for not caring about others - but as a clarion call to be reliant on nothing other than the love of God, the grace of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. May it be so now and always.