CARING Christians sharing God's message of Grace.
What does it mean to be caring Christians sharing God's message of grace?
To begin with, what does the word "caring" mean in our lives?
We use the word care often in our daily lives. We say to someone "I care for you." If we eat a bite of something bitter we say "I didn't care for that." We even have a shelter in Fluvanna called "Caring For Creatures."
If we are, as our mission statement says, Caring Christians, what are the characteristics of that care which identify us as Christians? We can find some clues in the Scriptures.
In God's word we see that...
God cares for God's people
Psalm 55:22 says "Give your burdens to the Lord and he will take care of you."
God cares for the earth
Read Psalm 104
God cares for our spiritual wellbeing
The author of the Hebrews writes: "Take care bretheren, lest there be in any one of you, an evil, unbelieving heart, falling away from the living God."(3:12)
God cares for the nations
Read Amos 6:6
God cares for the poor (one of the most persistent themes of the entire Bible)
Read Proverbs 19:17
As people who have experienced these expression of God's care, we are called to share that same care for the earth, the church family, the spiritual wellbeing of our neighbor, our country, and all those who are challenged by injustice and poverty.
The Leadership team at Grace and Glory, at its last meeting, noted some of the ways the congregation has expressed care. Some of those include reaching out to community residents with funds for heating oil. Helping members and friends who need assistance with transportation. Care for members going through a crisis. Picking up litter on a section of the Highway. The children express care as they sing to residents at the nursing home in Fork Union. Support of congregational members in agencies such as the Fluvanna Christian Service Society, Habitat for Humanity, Women's Correctional Facility, etc.
To care is to bother to do something. We live in an age of apathy. When we see things happening around us that don't square up ethically with our Christian perspective it is easy enough to say to ourselves "why bother?"