I've been reading a book called Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History. It is an eye-opening look at how Christians have acted through the ages. As the title suggests, it hasn't all been bad. There are saints in our family tree -- people who love deeply and suffer patiently and act selflessly. Our tribe is rife with those folks. But they are not all of us. There are also bullies among us, from crusaders, to slaveholders, to molesters, to hypocrites. We are not perfect people. Not by a long shot. This Sunday, we'll look at a bully and a saint in John's third letter to the Church, and we'll be inspired to consider how our own attitudes and actions help or hurt the cause of Christ in the world. We'll try together to get to the heart of the issue as we let the issues get to the heart of us. I don't know if I'm as "excited" about this message as I am ready for it. It is an important conversation for the Church and for our church. ~ Carolyn
Topics: Relationship