 |
Active
Membership |
 |
The Christ Presence in
the world is a uniting Presence. Think of all
the brokenness in the world . . .
Estrangement,
bitterness, misunderstanding, jealousy, and
even deep hatred between parents and children,
between husbands and wives, between peoples
of different Nations, between the races, between
the sexes, between the religions. Even between
members of Christ's own community there are
deep divisions.
How very much we need the reconciling, harmonizing,
healing Spirit to break down the walls and to
bring us together! This is God's
idea of an organization. The connectivity and
oneness of man.
A Standard
question on most employment applications asks
for a list of the candidate's organizational
memberships. Such lists appear also in most
obituary notices. To one degree or another,
most people are members of the "Joiners
Society." There are
labor unions and credit unions, country clubs
and social clubs, book clubs and sports clubs,
trade associations, professional associations
and political associations, Veterans organizations
and service organizations, youth societies and
senior citizens societies. A stamp collector
joins a group with similar interests, so too
does a coin collector. Investors bond together
to form syndicates. Ex-students become members
of the Alumni.
All of
us know, I'm sure, what the letters S.P.C.A.
stands for. That's the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals. But how many of you know
what the letters S.P.E.B.Q.S.I.A. stand for?
That's the Society for the Preservation and
Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing
in America, Incorporated. Organized in nineteen
thirty-eight, it boasts a membership in the
tens of thousands, in the U.S. and Canada.
Membership in any organized group is purposeful
and implies some kind of commitment. But, for
the most part, the call to commitment is limited
in scope. There are limits to the duties and
responsibilities of the individual member. And
there is a point at which the commitment is
terminated. Moreover, even the most enduring
commitment to a cause ends at the moment of
death.
But there is one organization and only one
that differs in all respects and that is the
society we call "church." This organization
is different.
First, the scope of the commitment implied in
church membership is limitless. That is, it
embraces the whole of its members' lives. The
duties and responsibilities of its members are
not limited to a few specific activities or
a corner of life, but to the full range of human
existence as a child of God.
Second, the duration of the commitment is
not limited to a certain time frame. Even death
does not transform membership into ex-membership.
The commitment implied in church membership
is rooted in eternity. And this brings us to
the most important distinction of all -- the
very basis of all that distinguishes the church
from all other societies.
Only the society we call "church" was
conceived and established through the desire
to share our knowledge and wisdom of our life
changing experiences on our Spiritual journey.
These are the places we choose to worship with
like minded people. People on the same chosen
path as ours. Each one seeking to know God.
A minister I found to be very wise in many ways
once told me. Metaphorically, imagine all the
different faiths of the world set out to climb
a mountain, each taking different paths. Their
ultimate goal is the same, reach the apex of
the mountain. Yes! We are all members of God's
organization no matter our branch of choice.
No matter our chosen path.
Jesus said to His disciples, "Anyone
who is not against us is for us" (Mk. 9:40).
He also said, "He who is not with me is
against me, and He who does not gather with
me scatters" (Mt. 12:30).
Both sayings are meant to impart the same message.
Jesus' was saying the notion
of inactive members or passive members or part-time
members in Faith is inconceivable. We are all
called to active membership, which implies an
abiding Faith in God's goodness.
Enduring hope in the promise of eternal fulfillment,
and Inspired Love for all God's
Children.
"Place yourself in the middle
of the Stream of Power and Wisdom which animates
all whom it floats, and you are without effort,
impelled to Truth, to Right, and to perfect
contentment." (Ralph Waldo
Emerson: Essay IV Spiritual Laws)
We at Unity Church of Sachse invite you to
join us any Sunday at 11:00 A.M. as we worship
in gratitude and share with each other the joy
of God's Love.
Blessings,
