Friday, June 15, 2012

Word on the Street 6/15/12


Many of us are traveling this summer.  We are planning to go to some great destinations.  We are planning to see some amazing things and have some amazing adventures. We will need a way to get to those destinations.  Some of us will go by plane and others will go by automobile, but whatever method we choose, we would never mistake the vehicle for the destination.

In a new book called Remember the Future by Bishop Robert Schnase, he recalls hearing a sermon by Dr. Joy Moore at the 2011 World Methodist Conference in South Africa.  Dr. Moore told the gathering; “The church is not the destination any more than the plane and a successful flight are the ultimate destination on your next trip.” She went on to say; “The purpose of the church is the way to salvation.”

The church is at its best when we realize this.  The church is the vehicle that carries us on the journey of faith in Christ.  On the one hand one would never go on a long trip and just stay in the car or on the plane.  In the same way we cannot simply “go to church” and think we have arrived.  On the other hand one would never go on a long journey without a proper vehicle.  So by the same token, we cannot disassociate ourselves from the church and believe we are going to get anywhere on the journey of faith in Christ.  The church is not the destination but an essential vehicle.

I have experienced this again firsthand this week at Vacation Bible Camp.  The theme for the week has been “Look Up”.  As always the week has been filled with a great deal of excitement and learning, but the emphasis has not been simply; “go to church”.  The emphasis over and over again has been to teach our children to ‘Look Up and Trust God.”

When we get this straight we begin to see the value of the church as God’s vehicle but not God’s destination.

With you on Grace Avenue,
Billy Echols-Richter
Pastor

P.S.  By all reports, the steeple frame on the new building (with the cross on top) will be set in place Monday morning June 18 between 8 & 9 am. Be sure to watch the edited video of this great event later that day.