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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
"We Are The Body"
May 5, 2010
I've recently become a big fan of the musical group Casting Crowns. I
know I am late to the party. They have some great songs including "Praise
You in the Storm" and "Who Am I?" I have both of them on my I-pod.
This week I came across another of their songs. It's words were
provocative. The chorus goes like this: "If we are the body why aren't his
arms reaching, why aren't his hands healing, why aren't his words
teaching? If we are the body why aren't his feet going, why is his love not
showing?"
The song struck a deep chord within me. When I think about the
transforming power of Jesus' love that we see in the pages of scripture, I
have to wonder what has happened to us? Why are the pews empty in so
many of our churches? Why has the church, the body of Christ, been
pushed to the sidelines of American life?
Maybe it's because, as the song suggests, we have become so consumed
with taking care of ourselves that we have forgotten that there is a hurting
world out there waiting to hear the good news. We pick and choose who
we are going to serve and end up serving each other and forget that Jesus
came because God so loved the world.
The truth is that the power of Christ can only be seen when we reach out
to those who are weak, hurting, lost and hopeless. When we do that we tap
into his power and suddenly the light goes on and the world sees him once
again.
This was a banner weekend for that here in Norwich. On Saturday night
Bill and Kay Pere raised their arms and lifted their voices in a concert that
raised money for the hungry. They sang songs and shared stories and gave
all the proceeds away. Tonight someone has a warm meal because Christ
was in them.
On Sunday a group of walkers took to the streets and enjoyed an
afternoon march through the city. At the end of the day those feet had
raised close to $5,000 to feed the hungry. Today there is someone at the St.
Vincent de Paul soup kitchen who has a renewed hope because in those
walkers Christ touched them.
I wish Casting Crowns were here to witness these things this weekend.
They'd have to write a new verse for their song. It would go like this: "I've
seen his body. It reached out in power. His love was shared in song. His
hope was seen in their feet. New life is beginning to flow again in a place
that had no hope. Praise God for his body. It is active and moving in the
world today."
So lift your arms. Reach out in love. Let Christ guide your feet. Be the
body of Christ.
God bless. See you in Church. Cal.
May 5, 2010
I've recently become a big fan of the musical group Casting Crowns. I
know I am late to the party. They have some great songs including "Praise
You in the Storm" and "Who Am I?" I have both of them on my I-pod.
This week I came across another of their songs. It's words were
provocative. The chorus goes like this: "If we are the body why aren't his
arms reaching, why aren't his hands healing, why aren't his words
teaching? If we are the body why aren't his feet going, why is his love not
showing?"
The song struck a deep chord within me. When I think about the
transforming power of Jesus' love that we see in the pages of scripture, I
have to wonder what has happened to us? Why are the pews empty in so
many of our churches? Why has the church, the body of Christ, been
pushed to the sidelines of American life?
Maybe it's because, as the song suggests, we have become so consumed
with taking care of ourselves that we have forgotten that there is a hurting
world out there waiting to hear the good news. We pick and choose who
we are going to serve and end up serving each other and forget that Jesus
came because God so loved the world.
The truth is that the power of Christ can only be seen when we reach out
to those who are weak, hurting, lost and hopeless. When we do that we tap
into his power and suddenly the light goes on and the world sees him once
again.
This was a banner weekend for that here in Norwich. On Saturday night
Bill and Kay Pere raised their arms and lifted their voices in a concert that
raised money for the hungry. They sang songs and shared stories and gave
all the proceeds away. Tonight someone has a warm meal because Christ
was in them.
On Sunday a group of walkers took to the streets and enjoyed an
afternoon march through the city. At the end of the day those feet had
raised close to $5,000 to feed the hungry. Today there is someone at the St.
Vincent de Paul soup kitchen who has a renewed hope because in those
walkers Christ touched them.
I wish Casting Crowns were here to witness these things this weekend.
They'd have to write a new verse for their song. It would go like this: "I've
seen his body. It reached out in power. His love was shared in song. His
hope was seen in their feet. New life is beginning to flow again in a place
that had no hope. Praise God for his body. It is active and moving in the
world today."
So lift your arms. Reach out in love. Let Christ guide your feet. Be the
body of Christ.
God bless. See you in Church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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