FOR What?

At a certain point, each of us comes to at least one point in which we need to discern what we are FOR.  What drives us?  Whom will we seek to benefit with our choices, our actions, our words?  Will we be FOR ourselves?  Or will we be FOR other people?

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If we are FOR ourselves then, as a church, we really don’t differ from any other private club or ‘business.’  Gyms are FOR themselves as they provide exercise space and equipment for their members.  Occasionally they might offer ‘deals’ to incentivize people to join their membership; however, even then the ‘deal’ is for a limited time and is for the benefit of the company in the long run.  Sure, patrons do experience community and hopefully support on their journeys of health and fitness; however, they seldom seek out what is best FOR their patrons solely for their patrons’ benefits.  Private clubs generally think and operate FOR themselves.

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We, as the church however, are meant to be different than that!  We are disciples of Christ who gather together FOR what?  To praise and give thanks FOR another.  We do not worship ourselves.  We do not read from our own private letters.  We do not sing songs about what we have done.  As disciples of Christ, we are to follow the way of our Savior in showing God’s concern FOR others.  We are called to be a place, a space, a time set apart FOR people (any person) to come and experience God’s love, grace, and embrace.  That could be as simple as a safe space to be dropped off and picked up from the school bus.  It could be as meaningful to have a support and encouragement to battle alcohol addiction.  And it could be as deeply moving as a setting in which we can cry together, laugh together, share meals together as we seek to understand God’s love FOR creation by which God gave his Son FOR us and died so that we might experience everlasting life!

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I bring all this up because church council this week will start our book study of Jeff Henderson’s Know What You’re FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, An Even Better Strategy for Life (2019).  I read this powerful book last year appreciating how it articulated the FOR mentality and wanted to let that start shaping our own way of life as a congregation.  In that sense it’s a book on not just Christian living (see the previous paragraphs); it’s also a book on stewardship and a book on life’s endeavors.  Council will read this book between now and early fall.  And I want to invite you on that journey too!  Because Church Council is FOR you and our community.  We want you to help us consider how we, St. James Lutheran Church of Red Bank SC can be FOR our community as well as FOR each other.

Here are the things you can do with us (in no particular order):
           1. Read the book with us.  I’m happy to order copies for people.
           2. Ponder this book with us.  Ask and answer questions alongside us to help us vision how we can be better Stewards and members of the Red Bank community.
           3. Inspire FORness.  I want to hear from you; any of you, all of you what different ideas we can think of as to how to achieve the previous point (2).