Passion of Faith

A few months ago I talked about passion and how we can be passionate about something and it truly shows. Christ was passionate about serving the Father and about the needs of all mankind, God’s children. It showed in His every thought and deed. When the Pharisee came against Him, Jesus took the time to listen and He also took the time to teach. This is where the point fell mute on the ears of the religious leaders. They wanted Him to conform and adopt the passion for the rules set out by the Sanhedrin. These were the same rules they passionately believed in to the point of, dare I say, extremism. People were stoned to death for non-conformity yet Christ came to them with a different passion. He restated the law of God on which all laws were based; Love God with absolutely every ounce of your being and love each other with that same passion (my paraphrase).

There are rules set out by all organizations and churches that are set in place to guide or keep order but, like the Sanhedrin of ancient times, do some of these rules serve the passion of man or of God. There is a litmus test that can be used to test the rules and it is simply this; does the rule serve the community in the same way Christ served when He was among us? I know there are those who will blindly confess that they do but I challenge everyone to take a close look and not with a legalist eye trying to manipulate the rule to fit the passion of Christ, but rather with an open mind and willing heart to hear the truth from Holy Spirit. I propose this; the question to ask yourself is whether the rule or action will help build relationship or cast up a wall that deters it. Jesus broke down barriers, healed the sick, cured the blind, forgave the unclean and loved all God’s children, young and old, rich and poor, man and woman, sinners and the “clean”.

I am, as an old friend once reminded me, a follower of Christ and His passion is my passion. Love God, Love Each Other. This Sunday, we hope to have the service available online as Pastor Glenn brings Part Three of his message series. If it is not available live, I will attempt to broadcast it when I return from Ireland on Monday. Check us out this Sunday in person at Main Avenue Fellowship or on Facebook Live.

May God bless you all richly,
Pastor Todd