This Old House
Moving to a new location means learning all the idiosyncrasies of a new home. Over time you discover where the cold drafts come from, how long it takes for the hot water to reach your shower, where the cracks are in the pavement, or where a repair was done inadequately. You didn’t cause the issues. You didn’t live in the home when the plaster was applied poorly, or the ugly wallpaper or paint color was chosen. But as the current resident you must take care of the issues in front of you or attempt to hide them, passing them along to the next occupants.
We are surrounded by imperfections in all facets of life over which we had no influence or control. We didn’t design the roads, seemingly unable to handle the number of people attempting to get somewhere, nor did we design the manufacturing plants that now burn the fossil fuels pumping CO2 into the atmosphere, impacting our climate. We were not directly involved in making decisions that now cause the financial disparities evident around us. Our immediate ancestors probably had nothing to do with the historical sins of the past that continue to reverberate in racial and ethnic tensions. Yet, in many ways these are some of the challenges found in the “house” we currently occupy.
Casting dispersions or laying blame regarding who is at fault does nothing to resolve the issues. Ignoring the challenges, hoping they will go away, likely only exacerbates what will be dealt with by future generations.
Proverbs 2:2-3 reminds us what actions please God most.
All deeds are right in the sight of the doer,
but the Lord weighs the heart.
To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
God calls us to be handymen and handywomen, purveyors of conscientious and grace-filled repair work. Followers of Jesus who live out the call to ensure God’s righteousness and justice prevail. We should be doing our best to rectify the issues we know in order to pass the world along in the best possible shape to the generations coming next.
We accomplish this by doing all we can to eliminate the lack of basic goods needed by our neighbors—giving what we can to the food pantry or volunteering in its distribution. We make effort to listen to and come to know those who have different life experiences because of their ethnic heritage or how they are now labelled. Opportunities surround us as much as do the issues. Let us encourage one another to develop the skills for repair work, improving the structure and ensuring it is in great shape for our children.
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Dan Kreiss, RPC’s Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, brings with him a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.