"It is Time"
TWC Church Family,
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in the context of a mid-20th century German Lutheranism that had lost much of its spirituality and piety, was once asked why he read his Bible. His reply? “Because I am a Christian.”
Today, I believe we have lost the same answer albeit to a different question.
Many are asking the question nowadays: “Why should I come to gather in worship?”
The answer? “Because I am a Christian.”
A believer growing in her relationship with Christ will also have a growing relationship with the body of Christ, for whom Christ came to die.
During the last 18+ months of the pandemic, my message has been steady and unflinching: “Our church will display an unmatched level of graciousness towards one another as people navigate the coronavirus in wildly divergent ways.” That is still the case. That is still my message to you. Our church will stay Christ-centered through turbulent times.
Yet today – with the delta variant on the decline – my new message spoken with much love and gentleness to you is also this: “It is time.” It is time to gather for worship. It is time to hear God’s Word. It is time to bring children to church. It is time to practice the Sabbath. It is time to re-establish healthy rhythms and habits on the Lord’s Day. In short, it is time to do what we were created to do: worship God with brothers and sisters in Christ!
Our church family wants to raise a generation of worshippers who respond to the supposedly complex question: “Why should I gather for worship?” with a profoundly simple answer: “Because I am a Christian.” Don’t overthink it. Don’t overanalyze it. Don’t wonder “what I get from it”. You worship because you were created to worship in a community by a relational God. You worship because God is worthy of your praise.
Can you do that as an individual? Sure. I hope you do! Yet, it’s not an “either/or” question but a “both/and” response that God longs for you to give. A saved Christian is one who belongs to Christ’s body, the church. The New Testament is clear: that’s the only way the Christian life is designed to work.
Of course, there have been extenuating circumstances for those with “high risk” health conditions during this pandemic. God understands. The church understands. God sees you and loves you!
I am speaking more to the Christian who has unwittingly allowed the “unhappy times” in the wider world to influence his outlook and attitude about “the church”. Don’t do that. Re-establish a healthy rhythm. We exist for worship.
It is time.
Grateful to be with you on this journey of deep discipleship,
Pastor Jason Carter