Saint Benedict Episcopal Church

 Recently George Stephanopoulos, from This Week, prompted the Iowa debates with the Democratic candidates. One question in particular really stuck with me. The question came via email from a viewer and asked about the candidates’ personal God. He wanted to know if they thought prayer could have avoided disasters like Katrina. Two responses stuck out to me. The first was from Sen. Joseph Biden who said this: 

God sends no cross you are unable to bear. …The time to pray is not only before, but to pray that you have the courage, pray that God can give you the strength to deal with what everyone is faced with in life. Serious crosses…serious crosses to bear. The answer to the gentleman’s question is ‘No’. All the prayer in the world will not stop a hurricane, but prayer will give you the courage to be able to respond to the devastation that it has caused in your life and with others to deal with the devastation.

And then Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s response was this:

We have to have faith, but (we) also have to have good works. So when we think of Scripture...Isaiah making justice the measuring line; Matthew 25, whatever you do for the least of our brethren…the biblical injuncture make peace with your brother. All of these things relate to my philosophy. Now the founders meant to have separation of church and state but, they never meant America to be separate from spiritual values.

I’ve heard people argue that the reason for them not believing or worshiping God is because they don’t want to follow a being who would allow such disasters and hardships to befall His followers. I think this is perhaps why Sen. Biden’s response stuck out to me so much. You can’t just pray when hardships befall, but when the blessing are plentiful as well. You can’t be a “fair-weather follower.” Yes, God can work miracles. His seeming lack of presence or protection, doesn’t mean that he is not still working miracles. He has merely chosen his human vessels to carry them out.

In a society that is accustomed to instant gratification, or instant “getafication” as advertised by an Internet search company, it’s difficult to wrap ourselves around the concept that we are not following the Lord for benefits in this life. We are following...struggling with our heavy crosses so that we can be rewarded in eternity.

This concept is hard for people to grasp; believers and non-believers alike. But it becomes easier when we remember that we have a purpose, a mission and that we are not alone. 

I bring this up this month as we focus on newcomers to our church. Some come through our doors as believers, non-believers, seekers of truth or just searching for a place to belong. Everybody longs for a place where they feel a part of something, where they belong and feel accepted. Even I, as a non-church member, sought for a place to belong when I stepped through the doors of St. Benedict. I have seen the warmth and accepted the outstretched hands of friendship that emanated from this church. I wish others could have the same experience and I think that once they step inside this building for service or community dinner or for any other church related function, they will start to get the same warm and fuzzies that I did. 

This goes into Rep Kucinich’s statement about good works. It isn’t enough to simply have faith. That is the first step yes, but you also have to actively follow Christ. Part of actively following him is helping others to find him. Now, you can’t force people to love you or to do the right thing or even to have faith (darn free will). But you can show them how great it feels to be a Christian. And that starts with accepting your call to be the living Ambassadors of Christ on Earth (I know, my favorite phrase).  This starts with a simple, “Hello!” 

By doing this we can change the view that Gandhi had (and that others still have): “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” It is our call to accept and to reach out to all. The best way to do this is by example; by showing our love for one another and for Christ. It requires you to love by faith, walk with purpose, talk with conviction, listen with your heart and lead by example. Hopefully our light and the light of our Father will shine for those searching in the darkness. Not just occasionally, but at all times for all time. So, the next time that you greet someone new remember that your simple action is not only helping them to feel accepted and welcomed, but it is a feeling (and possibly a friendship) that will last for years to come.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”—Matthew 5:16