Irenic Thoughts

Irenic. The word means peaceful. This web log (or blog) exists to create an ongoing, and hopefully peaceful, series of comments on the life of King of Peace Episcopal Church. This is not a closed community. You are highly encouraged to comment on any post or to send your own posts.

3/07/2009

Pew Sitter or Follower?


In tomorrow's Gospel reading, Jesus has some tough words for those who will call themselves his followers:
If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
What would it look like to take up our crosses and follow Jesus? In his book, Discipleship David Watson writes,
Christians in the west have largely neglected what it means to be a disciple of Christ. The vast majority of Western Christians are church members, pew fillers, hymn singers, sermon tasters, Bible readers, even born again believers or spirit filled charismatics—but not true disciples of Jesus".
The move from pew sitter to cross carrying Christ follower probably does get precisely to what Jesus calls us to do in this passage. What would that look like in Camden County, Georgia circa 2009?

You don't have to look for ways to carry the cross.
Just chose love, truth and justice and suffering will come.
—Lindy Black

Labels:

1 Comments:

  • At 3/07/2009 7:44 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Since our family tragedy with Joe, I don't know where we would be without all the out pouring of Christianity and love toward us. I've never seen such hard work and dedication--people picking up the Cross and putting it into action--and on top of that, helping us to carry our cross.

    I've said many times through all of this, "Thank God we live here. This wouldn't have happened to this extent anywhere else we've lived."

    We could have never made it without our family, friends, neighbors, our church family as well as other church families in this area. And, I see this happening all the time in Camden County with others too.

    Jesus'disciples in Camden are definitely on the right track! They've gone above and beyond for us! :) Thank you all!!!! We love you!!!!

     

Post a Comment

<< Home