Dear friends…
he fall season is sometimes seen as a time of beauty and color. Though our Southwestern U.S. climate generally shows less of this color, we still have a sense of this beauty, and those of us who have lived in other regions have seen incredible things.
To observe such beauty is to see the beauty of God’s Creation. In my mind, to share recollections and photos of this beauty is a theological proclamation of God’s creativity. This is in line with the conversations we had during last month’s sermon series, “Generation to Generation.” Our ministry to serve people who are hungry is a theological statement. Our commitment to inclusion and diversity is a theological statement.
In the same way, we have discussed the Labor of Love project (most recently summarized in Worship on September 16th) as a theological statement. This project is “to refurbish and refresh our facility to remain a place of worship and spiritual restoration and to welcome those who do not yet call PB UMC their faith community.”
Is it possible that all of these things are theological statements? Is it possible that commenting on seasonal color change, feeding hungry people, proclaiming inclusion, and refurbishing a church facility are all theological statements?
I believe they are. And so much more.
Every time we tell someone about the amazing music program in our congregation and invite someone to come to hear it, I believe this is a theological statement.
Every time we tell someone about how we feel changed because of something we experienced in Worship or in a Sunday School or small group or meeting, I believe this is a theological statement.
Every time we construct a parade float and ride or march in a parade (whether it’s a Pride parade or a Christmas parade, or anything else), I believe this is a theological statement.
Every time we stand up for the rights of those who are marginalized, I believe this is a theological statement.
Every time we pray, particularly if we do so in public, I believe this is a theological statement.
Every time we check-in on social media that we’re in church, every time we retweet an image/statement/link from a religious source, every time we text or tweet or post a line from a song or prayer in Worship, I believe these are all theological statements.
One more theological statement relates to stewardship, something we’ll be exploring during this October month. As United Methodists, we commit to supporting the ministries of the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. These, too, are theological statements. When we pray for the ministries of PB UMC, when we show up, when we give financially, when we share our time and talents, when we tell others about this faith community, we do these tangible things as a theological response to the way our lives have been transformed by the living Christ.
There are surely more examples, and I encourage you to explore how you are already making theological statements, either intentionally or unintentionally. I don’t think it is an understatement to say that the very way we live our lives is a theological statement. What does your life say?
Pastor Bob
