We have had the Lords Day!

My hope was renewed today. Not that it had evaporated, nor even that it had decreased, but rather that today it was refreshed. It is because my Pastor, Steve Taylor, accurately preached 1 Corinthians 13. Yes, He presented the words in context without fear of being labeled a liberal. He repeatedly reminded us that these words were addressed to those of us who are the church – not the couples holding hands, but the deacons, choir members, and ushers.

This is what I craved as a teenager. This is the truth that I longed to hear at that church while growing up. Though I am a conservative - who loves to hear the authority of the Bible proclaimed, who loves to hear of justification, progressive sanctification, and eschatology; yet I also a believer who craves the preaching of love. We need to preach and practice love for all races, love for every ethnicity and love for those of every social circumstance. So I am so happy that we have matured as a church, that we have continued to grow in our faith, and that we are more like Christ than we used to be.

Consider Galatians 5:5-6– especially 5:6b – emphasis Blackburn:

5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight – the only thing that matters is faith working through love. (NET) Early in my ministry – I experienced criticism for putting this verse on my calling card. I also sometimes used the expression “Conservative in Doctrine, Liberal in Love” Would you believe that I took flak for those words? Perhaps, we can get past these things. May I share my prayer with you?

Lord, may we not be afraid to love, let us not think that loving makes us less faithful, and let us love boldly. May we do this even as we faithfully teach the Word and witness to the gracious gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In His Name we pray, A-men.

John