Words from our Bishop

“Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to a rebellious nation….and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear, they will know that there has been a prophet among them.”
Ezekiel 2:3-5

No Room for the Ordinary

Most well intentioned Christian’s probably don’t know that the season after Pentecost (which ends the day before the first Sunday in Advent) is called Ordinary Time. We also called it Kingdomtide, but for the purpose of this article, I want to give attention to the term “ordinary.”

Without a doubt, the greatest threat to the advancement of God’s Kingdom is the ‘ordinary Christian.’ An ordinary Christian is someone who only does what is expected of him/her. There is no urge to go the second mile, or to do more than is required. And sadly enough, most of us fall into the category of ‘ordinary Christians.’

I am using this column to sound the alarm today, for in the world in which we live, there is no room for the ordinary Christian. For too long now, the modern day disciple has sought the easy way out, and because our Christianity costs us little or nothing, it is worth little or nothing. As the old saying goes, “You only get out what you put in.” And when it comes to matters of faith, we have put little or nothing in.

I need to remind you that as followers of our Lord and Savior, we are called to be different. We are sent as lights into a dark world, as salt to add flavor to our society. Therefore, in a world that seeks mercy without discipline, love that is devoid of requirement, and benevolence that knows no corresponding demand, I am calling on all of us to move beyond being ordinary to being “extra-ordinary!”

Such was the advice given to Ezekiel. He was sent out by God into a bitterly hostile world. He was sent to preach. He was not promised that his message would be popular. He was called by God to witness, to be extra-ordinary and to fulfill his God-given commission whether they listened to him or refused to listen at all.

During these hot summer months, we have a tendency to sit back, relax, and wait until another time to “be about God’s business.” I urge you to push on with the work we have to do! We must continue to witness as Ezekiel did, and we must stop seeking the easy way out. We must put an end to our mediocrity, the commonplace, and our ordinary Christian attitudes. We press on, upward and forward, believing that no effort is in vain in God, and that His power, working through our weakness, will ultimately save the world!
May God bless and keep you all as we pass through “ordinary time.”