1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, you should do it all for God’s glory.
This Bible verse really hit me today as I read it in my devotions. "Whatever you do, do it for God's glory." How many things do I do for myself? How many things do I keep doing, over and over, just because I have always done them that way?
I have been reading a book, Mission Possible 3rd edition by Kay Kotan, and I am considering the ways I "do church." How often do I have a meeting coming up, and I just grab the last agenda and make a few changes, without thinking about where God is at work with this committee or ministry team? Am I putting the task of Kingdom-building first in my planning, or just trying to do the least amount of work to get through another meeting?
When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they ended up staying in the wilderness of Sinai for a long time. The people may have left Egypt, but Egypt was still in their hearts. When the going got tough, they wanted to go back to Egypt. We often laugh when our own people want to go back to a former way of doing things when change is hard, and we call them the "Back to Egypt Committee."
But this is no laughing matter. The world keeps changing. God didn't create a static world that always stayed the same. Volcanoes erupt. Hurricanes change coastlines. Rivers carve new routes. Babies grow up. Viruses spread.
The church as a family of believers has always faced change as well. The pandemic disrupted many of our worship and ministry schedules and routines. Generations grow up and move away. Technology makes us do ministry differently.
In The Book of Acts, Chapter 15, we read that "the apostles and leaders called a special meeting to consider the matter. The arguments went on and on, back and forth, getting more and more heated." They were arguing over the requirement that new believers get circumcised, but this verse describes some of the church meetings I have attended over the years as well. We argue and argue, holding on to tradition, trying to keep things the way we want them to be.
Paul responded during the argument in Acts, saying, "Don't we believe we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So, what are we arguing about?"
We argue. We get heated. We divide. I don't think this approach to meetings and ministry work fits with our 1 Corinthians verse to "do all for God's glory."
It takes energy to change. It takes extra time and effort to start doing work in new ways. But God offers us a challenge and an opportunity to be a partner in building a new Kingdom. We just have to start weaving God into everything we do each day, including changing the focus of our agendas from "let's get this over with" to "how can we build God's Kingdom with this gathering of people." Change can be focused on me and us, or it can be focused on God.
Our local church leaders are considering the ways our neighborhood has changed, and the ways our ministry needs to change to connect with the needs of our neighborhood. We might change stuff around our building, like a getting a new sign along the road. We might change our meetings, with new agendas that focus more on strategic plans and developing disciples, and less on reports of past activities. We might change in ways we don't even know about yet, but if we weave God into all we do, the change will be worth it. Amen.
Pastor Anna-Lisa Hunter
December 31, 2023
