In
one of the very first pieces of Christian literature known to exist, written to
one of the first Christian churches, we find what today the corporate world would
call the mission, vision, and values statement. This church was being “remembered”
for its:
“…work
of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Some
English translations put commas in between these three ‘elements’ suggesting
separation between them. The Greek text however uses a word which deliberately
joins everything together.
There
is no separation…nor is one done at the expense of the other…nor is there a
sense of one of these leading to another…or that one of them builds upon the
other layer upon layer…
…nope
- just a big “here you go one size fits all” guide for any Christian community.
How
each Christian community fills in the details is up to them.
I
think that too often today when people see the Christian Church, at least as it’s
portrayed by various forms of media, all they see is one or two groups
insisting they alone hold the “franchise rights” to Christianity.
This
earliest call though reminds us ministry is like a 3 legged stool where all
three of these ‘legs’ are needed in equal measure to support a properly balanced
ministry.
Come
try us on for size. We’d like you to help us fill in the details. We gather
Sundays at 10AM.
Together
We Serve,
Pastor Mike