Thoughts from the Pastor on Tension May 2012
Life brings tension.
This is what went through my mind when I received a phone call while attending the BRRICK prayer breakfast. Joani told me not to worry, but the fire department was on its way to the church. There were sparks, and a lot of smoke, but no flames. The ballast in one of our lights had burned out. All the ballasts (who knew such things existed?) need to be replaced.
It takes more money. People are already going above and beyond usual weekly giving to pay off the loan and help the youth get to New Orleans and back. And now, more money is needed.
Some have already stepped up to ‘adopt a light’ (it takes $50 to replace a ballast in one light. There are twelve lights which need to be replaced.) There is a poster in the narthex.
I imagine this request could feel like too much. You may feel tapped out. You may think, we have given, and are giving, all we can.
Thus, tension. But tension should not be seen as unusual, an aberration from the norm. Especially for people who follow Jesus.
Faith brings tension. We get the idea that faith just brings peace. Faith solves all problems. Faith ensures that everyone will love everyone, amen.
While those things can be true, this isn’t faith as I understand it. I understand faith to be a relationship. It isn’t just believing in an idea, and it isn’t magic. It is living in right relationship with God, and with others.
And it causes conflict. Jesus makes it plain in Mark 13:12-13, “Brother with betray brother, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents; and you will be hated by all because of my name.” Conflict occurs because some relationships are bad, and need to be broken. Some try to claim too much of us, or to take the place of God. Changing them creates conflict.
So tension comes with the territory. Choosing to live as a follower of Jesus causes tension, because the world doesn’t make this choice. There can be tension about responding to need.
One of our values as a congregations is, “ God calls us to be responsible stewards of our lives.” I believe God is putting this set of challenges in front of us because God thinks we can meet it.
And we can.
Responding faithfully -- even to unexpected things -- provides another opportunity to give. And the reality is that when we give, when we trust ourselves more and more into God’s care by responding faithfully, God provides. And, we are blessed. So let us give thanks, be faithful in weekly giving and, as we are able, even offer a little more. It is good. What’s more, giving eliminates tension. I’m serious. Not kidding. Speaking truth.
In Christ,
Pastor Julianne Smeck
