Do not abandon yourselves to despair...

Do not abandon yourselves to despair....

A two week March Break is something very out of the ordinary for us, and it will be Easter Monday when we meet up again in a few weeks.  I thought a few words on the defining moment of Christendom might be fitting this week!

As I look back in time at the church, I'm both encouraged and discouraged.  Perhaps I'll start with the tough side.  Arguments, differences of opinion, heartache, and misunderstanding still seem to plague the church and body of Christ. The liberation that a direct relationship with our Lord and Saviour brings is coupled with the challenges that we won't always see things in the same way.  We will interpret scripture differently, and we will find items upon which we don't agree.  This is evidenced by the multitude of Christian church denominations all seeking to live faithfully.  This fragmentation can seem crippling at times.

Why am I encouraged in light of this?  I'm encouraged as I watch students grapple with issues of faith, and are able to end up in a position of respect for one another.  Even as early as 10 years of age, we see students arguing about the finer points of doctrine as they are learning at church.  The more we can teach them and model a position of community and respect for one another in our multi-denominational community as like-minded believers, the closer we approach the vision that Paul had for the church as he wrote to the Philippians (1:1-2):  "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind."  I see this daily in our small, increasingly diverse community of believers at CCS:  a common desire to love and serve Christ because He died for us, freeing us to live in God's amazing world and to serve Him....

As we approach Easter, I invite you to ponder the words of a past church leader:  "Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and Hallelujah! is our song."  Pray as families for continued understanding, respect, fellowship, and unity among followers of Christ, even in (and sometimes especially because of) our differences.  And sing where you worship, bringing back the richness of your denominational traditions, ready to safely explore our faith in community.

Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.  Hallelujah!