Fr. Tony’s Mid-week Message
May 29, 2013
Horizons
“Churches that become
passionate about people outside their walls will be far more effective than
churches that are passionate about keeping the few people they have inside
their walls. Better still, you will have a healthier church. We call
individuals who are fixated on their wants and needs selfish and immature.
Selfless and mature churches will have an impact because of their passion for
people God cares about.” --Carrie
Nieuwhof
Most writers on the subject of what makes Churches grow and
prosper agree that Churches need to be focused beyond themselves. In addition, while they need to be flexible
and able to respond quickly to changes in the communities about them—that means
they need to be able to change rapidly themselves—their ability to attract
younger worshipers and the previously un-churched depends directly on their
being authentic and true to their own beliefs, traditions, and calling.
Jesus said that we must lose ourselves in order to find ourselves;
we must be willing to sacrifice all to bring near God’s Reign; we must seek
first God’s Reign and God’s justice, and all else will be added to this. This applies to communities and congregations
as well as individuals.
It is a matter of perspective. If our horizon is the border of the Church
grounds or the denomination, we have a narrow view indeed, and we will see
newcomers merely as raw material for ministry staffing and as pockets to dip
into for budget replenishment. And the
newcomers will sense this and flee. If
our horizon is as broad as God’s creation, we will see those outside the ambit
of our parish church as fellow travelers with us, as children of God whom we
must serve, and to whom we must bring the joys of the Gospel. And newcomers will have a sense that here is
community that has a lot to offer them. Christ,
as ever, remains the focal point on such a broad horizon to which all our lines
of perspective are drawn.
Grace and Peace,
Fr. Tony+
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