"What would [taking a gamble on resurrection] look like today, in the face of the decline of mainline churches? For bishop, pastors, and rostered lay leaders, what would it mean to risk our position, and our wallets and take a gamble on resurrection? Can congregations and their leaders do the same? tomorrow and the day after, will you...continue to gamble everything on Jesus and resurrection?"I'm not a gambler. I walk into the ocean slowly and get accustomed to the water temperature. I seem to have an inner control that doesn't allow me to spend too much money at one time. I like moderate risk investments. I rarely gamble on horse races.
Yet, more and more I am coming to believe that I am called to risk much more than the usual in the proclamation of Jesus' love. I am coming to believe that I am called to use my retirement years (when I finally get around to having any) to radically serve my neighbor (v. administering a program that serves others). I am coming to believe that my joy lies in an open generosity which challenges me.
When I read the quote above from Stephen Bouman, I got to thinking that the reason we don't gamble on resurrection is that we are frightened. We are frightened that our congregations will no longer sustain themselves and the place and people with whom we've become comfortable will no longer be at 435 Main Street and we will have lost something. We are frightened that a decision to take Jesus' words seriously might lead us to lobby for better food stamp benefits or to set aside $20 month for food pantry support, or to send a check to an organization which is doing spectacularly successful work in another city.
We are frightened that we can't be the person we think God is calling us to be.
We are frightened that we will fail God.
We are frightened that we will fail.
Boy do I understand all that. I also understand that when God and I are talking, when I do my best to be honest about my own truths - both good and bad - that I need to be honest about this fear I have. God won't be surprised. Someone just posted in Facebook that the words "Do not fear" appear 365 times in the Bible. I'm not going to count to check it out. Rather, I will take comfort in knowing that from Abraham to Moses to David to the prophets to May, the mother of God, the message was the same, "Do not fear." Even to the women at the tomb. Especially to the women at the tomb. In the face of the resurrection, 'do not fear.'
Do not fear. I need that message 365 times a year. Once a day. Perhaps, with God's encouragement ringing in my ears today will be the day that I will risk giving a little more, risk speaking to a stranger about my faith, risk volunteering for a project among the least of my neighbors. Perhaps today I can gamble a little bit more on Jesus and resurrection.
How about you?
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