Going Forward with Faith & Love

The Apostle James by Rembrandt

In Sunday School Loretta Tanner led us through a discussion about the Apostle James’ letter that encourages people to behave in loving and temperate ways toward one another. In it, James also talks about the importance of working in productively Christian ways.


Apparently, James’ letters have caused some controversy. Martin Luther, a hero of the Reformation, referred to it as a “straw epistle’ because it did not emphasize the primacy of faith over work. In some respects, Luther may have been right: work is only work unless it is imbued with faith and performed for good reasons.


That was our consensus at Sunday School. Faith is sometimes hard but always primary, and work is just work unless it is done because of our faith in God, and in fulfillment of the grand command to love Him, and others.


James’ letter seems terrifically timely just now. We’ve completed a congregational meeting agreeing to the installation of a new Church Board, recruited Ministry Team Leaders, and will create a 2011 budget that is a practical expression of our faith in the future. These are the actions of people of faith and works. However difficult the circumstances of the world surrounding First Christian Church may be, that future seems bright to us, and we can feel confident that people will ‘know we are Christians by our love.”


Thus, this is a good time to thank our Board of Directors, our Elders and Deacons, our Ministry Team Leaders, and each and all of our Members for your faithfulness and hard work in making our church a Community of Hope. Thank you for your faithfulness, and for your very hard work.