New Beginnings

 When I began my ministry at the Church of Genesis the church logo applied the slogan, “A New Beginning.”  Just five years earlier, a group of people from a former church, meeting for Bible Studies, decided to start a church. They viewed this move as a new beginning. There are many opportunities for new beginnings. A new job, a change in relationships, or moving to a different community are some examples. In a few weeks some people will attempt to have a new beginning with their New Year’s resolutions. Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the Church’s New Year’s Day. It’s a day of new beginnings.

Jesus said, “I will build my Church…” The Church is an ecclesia, a gathering of people called out from the world. The whole idea of the Church was a new beginning.

There seems to be a culture these days that says that in order to embrace progress, things have to be dismantled. We’ve seen it over the past several years in the quest for social justice. Buildings were renamed and historical statues were vandalized or brought down, ignoring positive contributions of patriots. 

The Old Testament isn’t full of new beginnings. God made a covenant with Noah and a rainbow confirmed a new beginning. He made a covenant with Abraham and Israel became the people of God - a new beginning. God made a covenant with David and David’s throne was established - a new beginning.  Each of these covenants have significance for us today.  Although we don’t live under Old Testament law, the covenants were not dismantled.

I confess that I get a little weary with the bashing of the church in America. Every church and every movement has their flaws because we are flawed people. The mantra of some is that the church should be dismantled in order to embrace the new movements. I disagree. While it may be true that some churches are slowly dying for various reasons, there are churches that are effectively embracing a balanced ministry of the five-fold ministry (APEST). They are birthing new churches, prophetically declaring the Word of God, sharing their faith, shepherding people with pastoral care, and teaching them to observe all that Jesus commanded us. Corporate functions of the church do not need to be dismantled.

I love the church and devoted:my career to caring for God’s people entrusted to me. The idea that my life’s calling wasn’t valid, or that it needs to be reimagined in light of some new movement is misled. 

See that rainbow? It still holds God’s promise to us. You follow what’s happening in the Middle East? Israel is blessed because of Abraham’s belief in God’s covenant. Jesus born in Bethlehem (David’s town) and Jesus’ kingdom? Yes, God said of David, “his kingdom shall have no end.” 

You remember what they always told us? “Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.” Embrace new beginnings but don’t dismantle the past by doing so.