Spiritual Life Management

February, 2014

No Default, Only Choices

Across the country, and even more so across Europe, there is a general bemoaning, within the community of faith, about declining church attendance. And I am not un-concerned. But I think that those who are most worried are failing to see something critical.

For as long as any of us can remember...and you might argue from the year 325, when the Christian Faith was legalized in the Roman Empire...throughout much of the world, much of the time, it has been sort of an expectation that you go to church. You go, almost, by default. It's a given.

In the United States this mentality has been the slowest to break down, and in the southern states, the slowest of all.

It is very recently true that in the legislature of any southern state, you might be unelectable unless you are part of a church. You have to go. It is an expectation. You get the idea.

People used to go to church, at least in part, because you felt like you had to, because it was the place to see and be seen, because it was valuable in making connections in the business community. It was, in some sense, by default.

Not anymore. It just doesn't work like that anymore. No one feels any social pressure to worship on a weekly basis. And that is, more than anything else, why church attendance is down.

But it means something else also.

It means that if you are in church, you are not there by default. You are there by choice.

And imagine, just imagine, the question; what can a church which is full of people that are there purely by choice do?

Well, it's a simple answer, at least for San Jose.

With the help of the Holy Spirit that gathers us together...San Jose can do anything we choose to do.

Steph+

Scripture

1 Peter 4:10-11 - "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen."

Tradition

Hymn 528, verses 1 & 2:

Lord, you give the great commission: "Heal the sick and preach the word." Lest the Church neglect its mission and the Gospel go unheard, help us witness to your purpose with renewed integrity; with the Spirit's gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, you call us to your service: "In my name baptize and teach." That the world may trust your promise, life abundant meant for each, give us all new fervor, draw us closer in community; with the Spirit's gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Reason

Profile of a Steward - Burt Mendel

When I was a youngster, I was taught that the stars, the planets, the sun, the moon, the Earth and all its inhabitants...all of it...belonged to God. He had made it all and in His love had given it to His creatures for their use. It was "on loan" for the period of their lives. Life itself was a gift and along with it was given other gifts peculiar to each individual. How one managed all of these gifts - the property, the life, and the talents - was called "stewardship."

As I grew older, I was taught about examples of "good stewardship" and "bad stewardship." The later seemed to consist mostly of being selfish with the gifts; not being willing to share them for fear of losing them. The former seemed to be centered on the willingness to share, but not just the kind of sharing wherein two or more have partial ownership of one item. The deeper principal of sharing was to give away in the certain expectation that God would provide more. Thus, one could cast one's bread (property) upon the water (the larger world) and expect it to return. One could share one's talent and by that exercise watch it grow. One could even lose one's life in the expectation of finding it. Indeed, not to be willing to do these things was to display no faith in God's promise.

I think Jesus gave an illustration of the dynamic between good and bad stewardship in the Parable of the Talents, found in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew. Although Jesus spoke using the monetary sense of a talent (the amount of coinage minted from a "talent" - about 75 pounds - of silver), it is in applying the modern sense of the word that one gains insight into how God wants us to use our talents, time and treasure. Recall that Jesus told of a master who, before going on a journey, divided eight talents between three servants. Two of the servants put their talents to work making more talents. The third, being fearful, buried his one talent so it wouldn't get lost. When the master returned he was very pleased with the two who presented him with more than he had given them. But the third one so angered him that he dismissed him on the spot and gave the wasted talent to the servant who had been the most enterprising.
So it must be for us. These gifts which God has given us - our health, wealth, time, knowledge and abilities - are to be used to grow His Kingdom. Then, when Jesus returns he will rejoice to find that we have made the best use of what we were given.

The Rev. Stephen C. Britt, Rector,

Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, Stewardship Committee,

San Jose Episcopal Church

7423 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, Fl 32217