Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
I’ve just returned home from our church annual pilgrimage to New Wine United, New Wine’s summer festival, held this year held near Maidstone in Kent. And in true New Wine style, the weather was appropriately soggy … a tradition which seems to follow New Wine around the country wherever it happens to be!
I love New Wine … it’s a reminder that the church in the UK is so much bigger than my own church, and that there are thousands of us up and down the country working hard to make a difference in our communities for Jesus.
UCAN does the same, bringing us administrators and ops managers together for support and encouragement … remember you are not alone!
In all the many things I heard at New Wine last week, one talk was particularly challenging … the speaker asked us what it would look like if we simply acted as if the teachings of Jesus were actually true? The assumption here is that lots of the time we just don’t.
So, let’s put this to the test by taking one of the well know teachings of Jesus… In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us not to worry. The list is quite exhaustive: Don’t worry about what you will eat, what you will drink, what you will wear… Don’t worry about tomorrow… Don’t worry about your life. The promise is that if we seek God’s kingdom, and his righteousness, our Heavenly Father will take care of all the rest (Matt 6:25-34).
Now I know that’s true! But the question here is not do I believe it theoretically, but do I live my life as if it’s true? Do I take Jesus at his word?
I don’t know about you, but I often worry. Worrying about things is almost part of the job description for an administrator or ops manager. We are paid to think about the what ifs. The things no one else worries about (risk assessments anyone…?). And that’s completely appropriate. We want our churches to be safe places, and we want the various ministries for which we have some responsibility to flourish. But I still worry! So, what would it look like, in my role and context, for me to live as if these verses of Jesus were actually true?
The speaker at New Wine outline two benefits: Freedom from fear and lifegiving joy. I know that I could do with both in my own context. Christians can sometime be so fearful, and joy is sometimes absent – especially from our business meetings and decision making. Yet Jesus speaks truth into our lives when he says, “do not worry”.
What would it look like for you and I to live as if the teachings of Jesus are actually true?
As I dry out the damp tent, pack it away for another year and return to the office, I’m praying for God’s help to do just that.
For you,
Mark
Mark Parsons
UCAN Chair of Directors