07-02-21

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHING
July 2, 2021
Scripture: Ephesian 4:32
Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.

Thought for the Day: On this day in 1964, President Johnson (who was a member of our denomination), signed the Civil Rights Act. It might have been the most important step in the area of civil rights since the Emancipation Proclamation. It called this country to a higher ideal. In fact, it continues to do so as it challenges discrimination in many aspects of our public life. I have often wondered about those who voted against it. At any point, did they have a change of heart? In politics, where it is hard to ever say, “I was wrong,” who among that group later apologized? If there are so many Christians in this country, then shouldn’t the ability to publicly confess a mistake, accept the consequences and do the hard work of reconciliation be so common that not doing it is what society finds weird? Now please understand, I am not using myself as a shining example. I have held to an opinion long after it had been dead and buried. Just ask my wife. Yet with all seriousness, we really need to model both the capacity to make a genuine confession and to be the first to accept an apology. We need to not only show our belief that people can change, but how honest confession and heartfelt forgiveness are the only way forward.

Prayer: When necessary, O Lord, take us by the hand and show us how confession and repentance, mercy and kindness can dramatically change the trajectory of a human life. Too often we forget this very basic principle revealed over and over again in the life of Jesus. Amen.

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REMEMBER

This Sunday
July 4

SINGLE WORSHIP SERVICE
10am in the Centrum

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