Saint Benedict Episcopal Church

As you may have noticed, the past few articles from me have dealt with faith and good works. In September’s issue I reflected on prayer, good works and the Democratic Debate (to which Tony had a great Reader’s Response) and then last month we discussed the Big Bang experiment and having faith in a Being that we can’t directly see. This month, I am going to wrap up my discussion on prayer and good works as we gear up for stewardship.

Stewardship is a theological belief that humans are responsible for the world as it was entrusted to us through the Father. If we look at Genesis 2:15 it states that, “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it.” This could be interpreted that we are only guardians and protectors of the environment, but it also extends to all creatures living off of the Earth. As Jesus stated in Matthew 22:34-39 we have two great commandments, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'‘" Combing the two scriptures, we can see that we are entrusted with all of God’s creations and responsible for and to them. In order to accomplish this, we must use our God-given resources (gifts and talents) to accomplish God-given objectives. “Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,” James 1:16-17.

One of the scriptures that I like to re-read form time to time is James 2:14-17; 26. Here James states, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

You can’t just listen you have to do. The moment faith and works do not come together, you have hypocracy.

Surveys show that 90% of  Americans call themselves Christians and that 80% claim to have some link with a specific church according to Father Richard John Neuhaus, editor-in-chief of First Things. As of this moment, Oct 25th @ 13:31, the population of America is 303,210,414. Now, if we do the math here...90% of 303,210,414 is (drum roll please)  272,889,372 people. Almost 273 million people in America who claim to follow the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This begs the question, “Why then aren’t we seeing the fruits of having so many followers in this nation?” The answer is sadly simple...because not all of those 272 million people are followers. Which brings me back to my point: You can’t just listen, you have to do.

Now I know that Paul wrote to the Romans and told them, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith’” (Romans 1:17). And here I’m sure you are scratching your head and ask why I put this in. I just got finished explaining James and how we are to live by faith with works and now I cite Paul who states that we are justified by faith and not by works. I include it because the two are not at odds with one another. As a pastor explained to me recently, the two disciples are speaking of different justifications. To be justified by faith is to have God proclaim that we are righteous. To be justified by works is to have people proclaim that we are righteous. Two halves of the same whole as it were. Now, this doesn’t mean to strut like a peacock and claim to be part of that 90% in order to be called righteous by others, but to actually be a follower and let the Lord use you for HIS purposes as a fulfillment of OUR purpose. Again, using my favorite phrase, Being Christ’s Living Ambassadors on Earth.

Stewardship isn’t just about giving a tithe, but also about giving wholly of ourselves as God would have us give; utilizing and sharing the bountiful blessings that He has so generously given onto us. Here at St. Benedict’s there are numerous opportunities to answer the call of stewardship. You can become part of the Worship team, help with the Community Dinners, join the Reception or Coffee Teams or offer to help the growing youth ministry here. Of course it is only through your generosity that St. Benedict is able to do and offer all of the programs that we do that help our community.

As the Stewardship brunch draws nearer (November 4th) and our finncal capaign begins for the new year, please reflect on these passages and on the words of others in this issue asking for your help in continuing to do God’s works. Individually and together we can be that light!

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

—Matthew 5:16