He Said It Twenty-Two Times
Our scripture lesson for Sunday is about Jesus calling his first followers. Take note: He did not call them to join a church, register for a membership class, sign a pledge card, or to volunteer for some committee. Nowhere in the New Testament do we read about him asking people to ascribe to a certain doctrine, dogma, creed, political party, or platform. Nowhere do we hear him say, “If you believe A, B, and C sign on the dotted line to become an exclusive, card-carrying member with all the rights and privileges thereof. Nowhere does he ask them if they believed in a 3-point plan of salvation, or a virgin birth, or the rapture. He didn’t even ask them if they believed in him! But what we do hear him say, over and over in the New Testament—22 times in all!—is this: “Follow me.”
In the Book of Acts, Luke tells us that the first name ever given to Christianity was “The Way,” and that the earliest disciples were known as “People of the Way.” This is what the being the church is really all about—not a club, not an institution, not an organization, but a community of faith, peace, and love following his Way of life.
Plan to embrace and celebrate this Way of life this Sunday in our conmunity of faith, peace, and love at Algiers UMC!
Grace and Peace,
Callie
