Since the synod and I have been discussing the difference between a church family and community, I have pulled back from using the "Faith is a family" mission statement. I don't think it communicates to outsiders what we would like it to. As a part of creating a plan, we will be examining this.
For now, I'm going with what our church sign says, "All Welcome." You became a part of a community simply by moving into the area, just by showing up. Getting into my in-laws' family was a lot more difficult. Anyone who is/has been married knows how that goes. After 14 years of marriage, I'm in, loved like a son.
A better example would be the neighborhood Heidi and I landed in. We were accepted just as we were, with no expectations that we would change to fit in.
"Esther, just as she was, won the admiration of everyone who saw her." This unassuming girl gets into the position of queen simply by being herself.
My hope is that we can learn to celebrate who God made each of us to be and the fact that he drew us together into this community for a purpose.
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Though I like what you say about community, I would disagree about the link to Esther. This "unassuming" girl didn't get to be queen by being herself, she lied (by omission) about her ethnic heritage, spent MONTHS following beauty regimens, and followed the exacting advice of one of the lead eunuchs. She maneuvered quite a bit to get where she was.
ReplyDeleteEveryone had to spend a year preparing and Esther was smart to follow the sage advice. No one asked (or volunteered) the info about race. She was in it to win it, but did so by being herself.
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ReplyDeleteEsther 2:20 "But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do."
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 3, Mordecai is clear about his nationality.
She is, as you say, in it to win it, but I don't believe her to be as innocent as you do