|
July 26, 2009 We’ve been taking a closer look at some resources from the wider Christian Reformed family that can help us find out what it means to be healthy. This is the fifth and last article in this series. Our vision [what do we see God calling us to be?]: The Christian Reformed Church is a diverse family of healthy congregations, assemblies, and ministries expressing the good news of God's kingdom that transforms lives and communities worldwide. Our mission [what can we do to help make this vision a reality?]: As people called by God, 1. We gather to praise God, listen to him, and respond. 2. We nurture each other in faith and obedience to Christ. 3. We love and care for one another as God's people. 4. We commit ourselves to serve and to tell others about Jesus. 5. We pursue God's justice and peace in every area of life. For, God is present in our world by his Word and Spirit. The faithfulness of our great Provider gives sense to our days and hope to our years. The future is secure for our world belongs to God! This week: 5. What happens in healthy churches when the people "pursue God's justice and peace in every area of life"? We are asked to claim every area of this earth as the Lord's. In planting the flag for our God, we will always be out of step with those who have claimed the earth and its goods as their own. As gardeners, wardens, and nurse-maids of the earth, some of us will be asked to suffer for the assertion of Christ's lordship over life. Where violence, revenge, and selfishness prevail, we will turn the other cheek and thwart the escalation of evil. From earth keeping to knowledge building, from controversy in workplaces to places of justice, from the open spaces to the polluted places, together we are called to speak God's word of justice and peace. God promises to make us like trees on the banks of a stream, always well fed so we can be fruitful, in harmony with the season. "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" — Amos 5:21-24 Find out more at www.crcna.org & www.crchurches. net!
|
 |