MICK JAGGER WAS RIGHT; WHY WE'D BETTER LISTEN...
This Sunday, we are going to hear Kathy Pfleider conclude our 'Why ARE We Here?' series by addressing the idea that we are here to, 'Share God's Love with the World.' During this week where I've been using the hours that I would normally spend in sermon prep doing some planning deep into next year, this question of 'Why ARE We Here?' has been going around and around in my soul to the point that I had to list the six reasons (and there could have been A LOT more) we (the church) are here. To recap:
We are here to WORSHIP
We are here because WE ARE NOT ALONE
We are here because WE NEED HELP
We are here TO FIND OUR IDENTITY
We are here TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER
We are here TO SHARE GOD'S LOVE WITH THE WORLD
As we've journeyed through the first five, and eagerly anticipate the sixth, one thread that I see running through them is that each of them has at their root that it is not our work, but God's work:
God is the one who calls us to worship.
God is the one who made us to be social, not isolationist.
God is the one who provides brothers and sisters to help us along the way.
God is the one who says to us we are not defined by the things of this world, but our identity is found as those who have been forgiven and reconciled through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
God is the one who, through his son, mandates that the greatest commandment involves loving our neighbor.
God is the one who gives us the hope to share with the world through how we interact with the world around us.
Now, what does any of this have to do with Mick Jagger and why do we need to listen to the lead singer of the Rolling Stones? Glad you asked! For, you see there probably should have been a seventh sermon as part of this series leading up to us embracing the opportunities God has so graciously given us over the past couple of years. That message would have been titled:
We are here because WHILE WE CAN'T ALWAYS GET WHAT WE WANT, IF WE TRY SOMETIMES WE MIGHT JUST FIND WE GET WHAT WE NEED.
Maybe it's just me, and if it is, I appreciate your indulging me in reading this message, but I cannot help but get the feeling that part of the reason why it can be so easy to get disillusioned with the life of the church is that we focus so much on what we want. Through his lyrics from 1968, Mr. Jagger, I think, captures the heart of what it means to be a faithful, devoted follower of Christ who is dedicated to strengthening the Kingdom of God through the ministry of the local congregation.
I doubt there's a one of us reading this message who can say that we get what we want out of the church (as one of your pastors, I can speak for both Kathy and myself when I say this is definitely true for us!) However, I am glad that I haven't always gotten what I want, for in the effort to pursue earnestly (if not perfectly) obedience to God's will by being involved in this congregation's ministry I have gotten a lot of what I need.
What do I need? It's found in the root answer that started our six week series - the purpose of the church as we define it in our church law:
Under the discipline of the Holy Spirit the church seeks to provide for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.
Notice..nothing in there about what we want; everything in there about the work of God...
Grace and Peace, Lamar