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On January 6 of
this year, Confirmation classes began here at First Church. We
have been learning the basics of our faith. They include
learning about the beginnings of the Church, how the Bible
came to be and its main contents, the formation of our
denomination, The United Methodist Church, the Trinity, the
Ten Commandments and a few more topics that fill up 13
lessons. Each class is interesting with various questions and
answers from the kids. When asked what are some of the hardest
commandments to keep, the list included: "Thou shall
honor your father and mother," "Thou shall not
covet," and "Thou shall not lie." Of all the
commandments we talked about, coveting and lying were in the
top ten. Not lying seemed to be the hardest commandment to
keep.
We can remember in
the Book of Genesis when Satan used lies to deceive and tempt
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He did so with twisting
the truth and using what weaknesses he saw in humans. Adam and
Eve sinned, breaking the perfect fellowship humans and
creation had with God. But what lies have broken and
destroyed, only Truth can restore and make new.
The Ten
Commandments, along with many other laws and rituals in the
Old Testament, were necessary in order to maintain a right
relationship with God. They are still to be followed—the Ten
Commandments, that is. However, Jesus summed up the
commandments and all the laws in two commandments: Love your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
mind. And love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:37-39)
We are able to
love as Jesus commanded us because we are reconciled with God
through Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. The
love we have for God and our neighbor is shown in our lives as
we follow Jesus’ Great Commission.
Our church has
purpose and vision statements which embody the Great
Commission. The purpose of the First United Methodist Church,
Birmingham is to gather persons into the body of Christ,
nurture them as disciples of Jesus Christ, and equip them for
ministry and mission in the world. And our vision statement
reads: With deepening commitment and expanding ministries,
First United Methodist Church, Birmingham, will change lives
and become a model New Testament congregation for the
denomination and the center of Christian faith in the
community.
Those statements
come from our identity as followers and disciple-makers of
Jesus Christ. What we believe about ourselves flows through
everything we do. Our actions show that we remember what Jesus
did to save us and what he saved us to do. We are called to be
in the ministry of reconciliation, no longer to live only for
ourselves, but for God. Our lives are focused and devoted to
living for God as a response of faith and love.
We no longer look
at ourselves or others the same after we are saved. We look at
others with the eternal in mind. Having abundant life in
Christ and having joy, knowing that that life continues even
after death. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The
truth about our identity frees us to live as God desires.
Though our roles and the ways we identify ourselves may change
with time and circumstances, our identity in Christ does not.
In our roles in family, work and society, we may change (or
have several roles) from being a son or daughter to being a
husband or wife or father or mother, and from student to
employee. Our identity as a child of God does not change. We
may grow and serve and work in different capacities for the
church or at work, but we are always called to be in the
ministry of reconciliation no matter what role(s) we have.
That is what the Good News of Jesus Christ is about. Jesus
Christ is the Way, Truth and Life. In him, we are set free.
We read in the
second letter of the apostle Paul to the church in Corinth
that God reconciled us to himself through Christ. We were dead
in our sins and broken off from a right relationship with God.
Our relationship with God was restored. Paul tells us that we,
therefore, are to be ministers of reconciliation to the world.
We are to be people who share the forgiving and saving love of
God through all that we do, sharing the truth that restores
relationships with God and one another.
Though I heard the
story of God’s love for me in the life, death and
resurrection of Jesus, it was when I was 12 years old that my
eyes were opened to who Jesus was and what he did for me and
the world. I realized I was saved from my sin and my broken
relationship with God was restored. I was free from the
penalty of sin and the fear of death. Faith in Christ meant
new life on earth and eternal life in heaven. Two years later,
I learned that I was to devote my entire life to God. What was
that to look like? I did not quite know at the time. But I
said to God, "My life is yours. Do whatever you will.
Whatever or wherever you call me to, I will follow." I
did not know that I would be a full-time minister at that
time, but I was willing to do anything. God calls me and you
to live out our faith by speaking the truth in love with
actions. The truth that restores relationships frees us to
live and share the restoring truth in Christ.
This ministry of
reconciliation is also about restoring relationships between
one another. Our acts of forgiving and restored relationships
will be signs to others of the power of Christ’s reconciling
love for us and the world.
Telling the truth
can be painful at times. But most times it is healing in the
end. I was terribly sad and guilty when I understood why Jesus
died for me and that, because of my sins and the sins of the
world, he came to die on a cross, even though he did nothing
to deserve it. I was also joyfully relieved. It was painful to
learn of Christ’s love for me, but more importantly, it was
healing to know that Christ’s love restores the broken
relationship between God and the world.
There are many
times we withhold the truth from each other that would open
doors to better relationships. In many cases, broken or
strained relationships only begin to heal with the opening of
hearts and truthful words. The words of truth must come from
motives that seek to restore the relationship.
In Galatians 2:20,
it says, "For freedom Christ has set us free." I
would like to venture a little farther, saying that the
freedom that Christ set us free with is the freedom to be open
and honest with each other. It is one of those things that
people in counseling are encouraged and guided to do; to face
misconceptions and face truths that they may not see in their
circumstances.
God touches our
heart to see truths that we normally may not see. It is by the
power of the Holy Spirit that he does that. I ask you right
now to bow your heads in a moment of silence. I ask you to ask
God to open up truths that may give you strengths where you
are weak, healing where you are hurt or in pain. Ask God for
truths that may open up wells of joy and of hope. Just ask.
O Lord, in the
silence you are here with us. O Lord, you know the areas in
our lives where we need to hear truth: that we are loved, that
we are forgiven, and that we are free. Lord, help us not to
fear the truth. Help us not to fear some pain in order to find
some healing. Thank you for bringing us the message of
reconciliation and for setting us free. As we go forth, help
us to be a joyful and rejoicing people, knowing the truth that
not only sets us free here on earth but in heaven.
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