David Snell’s Easter 2016 message: It’s time to demonstrate our Christianity
It’s Easter, that time of year when we pause to wonder at the incomparable gift God gave us of His Son, who lived to share a message of love, who died an excruciating death to redeem us of our sins, and who was resurrected to give us the promise of eternal life. That’s a lot to wonder at. It is truly a gift beyond our ability to comprehend, let alone to give proper thanks for. It should, though, inspire us to a better life, one that is enriched by following the Savior’s simple command—that we love God and that we love one another.
Those of us who follow Jesus, we Christians, find ourselves in a difficult time in history. In faraway places our brothers and sisters are being massacred at an alarming rate. Here at home we’re witnessing a rising secularism that can’t quite tolerate any public expression of Christian belief. We’re watching the church decline in membership and influence. What are we to do?
The way I see it the best defense we can offer is to be more Christian. The truth is that if everyone followed Christ’s teachings the world would be a peaceful place. Of course that’s not going to happen, but that doesn’t diminish the obligation that those of us who call ourselves Christians have to practice our faith in real and tangible ways.
Clarence Jordan established Koinonia Farm as a demonstration plot of the kingdom of God. The goal was to show how living out the commandments that we love one another, that we care for those in need, not only brought joy to those who were demonstrating such kindness but was of great benefit to society. We try to do that in our Fuller Center for Housing work as well. Every house we build is a sermon of God’s love and a witness to the message Jesus left us — that we love one another.
As we remember Christ’s suffering and celebrate his resurrection it’s a perfect time to recommit ourselves to following His example. The best hope for Christianity is for Christians to demonstrate the tremendous power of the faith and the goodness that comes from living a life of giving. The Great Commission calls on us to share the gospel with all the world. We do that best not by preaching but by doing.
May the good Lord bless us all as we reach out to bless others.
2 Comments
David:
Martha from Korean Quarterly here. Did you ever get to complete the project in North Korea which was on hold as of perhaps two years ago? What happened with it? I am somewhat embarrassed to admit I forgot to follow up on it.
I was just reading about Millard Fuller and Clarence Jordan and Koinonia Farms on a weekly news item I get from Plough Publishing. What an amazing project Koinonia was at its time and place. The story was really well written and link is here: http://www.plough.com/en/topics/faith/witness/clarence-jordan
I’ve recently been involved with a group concerned about North Korean refugees who are stuck in China. They walk or are transported over the border to Thailand or Laos where they wait in detention camps for months or years in terrible conditions until a third country will take them. Mainly, this is a diplomatic issue right now, in the short term. Long term, we hope to have a path to place these refugees in Minnesota or anywhere they wish to live. I think refugee organizations and justice-housing organizations should coordinate, don’t you?
Hope all is well with you. I do admire your great organization and its brave work.
We’re afraid the operation was suspended indefinitely in North Korea. Our last team to visit there returned one week before the death of Kim Jong Il. Since then, the situation has just been too unstable to pursue.