Pastors' Corner

Christ Lutheran Church

In the Biblical account of Jesus’ last moments with his disciples prior to his ascension as recorded in the first chapter of the New Testament book of Acts, Christians then and now are given their “marching orders.” Jesus told them to be his witnesses “in Jerusalem and Judea/Samaria, even unto the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The disciples sort of understood that command, but they were not out telling any and everyone about Jesus when God's Holy Spirit found them all in that upper room. So with the sound of a mighty rushing wind, the Holy Spirit shook them up and gave them some additional tools to get them going.

If you are a self-professed Christian it would be good to ask whether you are being a witness to Jesus? Or are you safely tucked away in some upper room where you can huddle with other safely tucked away non-witnessing Christians? In fact, throughout Christianity there are many who emphasize the coming day when the faithful will be taken away from this sinful and broken world. Recently in the news the Harold Camping and his followers have once again tried to pick the very day and hour when the end would come. Once again they were mistaken. In that kind of theological framework witnessing and ministering in the name of the crucified and risen Savior Jesus Christ takes a back seat to fanciful interpretations and calculations about departure from this world. Christians do have the promise that Jesus will return to this earth, but in contrast to what we might call an escapist theology of getting out of this world as fast as we can, we need to remember and take to heart what Jesus said at the beginning of the book of Acts. He told his followers to go and be his witnesses even to the “ends of the earth!” Simply put we are not called to hide out in some hidden room, we are called and empowered by God’s Holy Spirit to be about the gospel work of engaging this world with the light and the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ.

We do not need to look very far in our daily world and life to find someone or someplace that is in need of the ministry we can bring in the name of Jesus. During these summer months I challenge all of you to be proactive in reaching out to others in your midst with the love and grace of God that you have been given through Jesus.