Are you growing?

How has faith transformed you over the last six months? Six weeks? Six days? Perhaps this seems a strange question. After all, the old hymn sings about being accepted "Just as I am." Doesn't God accept us in our present state? The answer, of course, is "Yes!" However, faith is also a source of growth, a force for transformation. God in Christ accepts us, for sure, but also calls us to grow and be changed to what God made us to be. 

Throughout the New Testament, images of growth, transformation, and movement are used to describe the faith. Paul writes to the Colossians:

For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work as you grow in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10)

Paul counsels the Romans to "not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind..." (Romans 12:2). He chastises the Corinthians because their divisions and bickering testify to immaturity in faith. "I fed you with mild, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, (1 Corinthians 3:2-3)

Too often we think of our life in the church—a life of faith—like a vaccination. We get our baptism shot, we go to church when we can, to be assured we're OK. Yet, we don't change—we are not "raised with Christ."

The preacher of Hebrews likens faith to running a race, "...let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us..." (Hebrews 12:1)

One of the ways we grow in faith is through engaging in scripture and learning the faith. We send our children to church school and confirmation but then the learning stops. We have offered many opportunities for adults to learn and deepen their faith. This fall we will see if there is interest in doing more. 

We invite you to participate in a survey to learn what members desire to learn. CLICK HERE to find the survey and submit it. We will review these through August and develop a plan based on responses. Help us help you run the race and be transformed by grace. 

Pax Christi,
Timothy Olson
​Lead Pastor

Image by Steve Haselden from Pixabay