An embodied truth

Pastor Phil Kniss began his sermon with a litany of the disastrous events thus far in 2011. People of faith around the world, and right here in our congregation, are wrestling with their faith in the midst of pain and suffering. The Christian church seems to be diminishing and losing it's influence. Little wonder that many Christians get caught up in anticipating the return of Christ. But as we await Christ's return, we are called to participate in God's mission of love and salvation in this world. In John 14:15-21, Jesus gives words of comfort, telling his disciples he will never leave them alone, but will give them the Spirit of Truth. They will not be orphaned. And in Acts 17:22-28 Paul lovingly speaks in a culture where his religious tradition is completely foreign. He does not put the Athenians down or berate their pagan ways. Instead he commends their religious seeking and then goes on to introduce them to Jesus Christ in language that they can understand. But this teaching only came after Paul was very familiar with the Athenian culture. As Pastor Phil said, it was a message of truth embodied in relationship. As we embody Christ's truths, we also can draw others toward those truths.