Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
~ Hebrews 11:1
As Christians, we know faith is important. But what’s it all about? Why do we do what we do, and why do we want other people to join us in doing what we do?
If you’ve spent any time at all in a Christian church, you will have heard about love and forgiveness and grace. You heard about salvation and Jesus and worship and prayer. Our sermons and education programs involve not only learning about Jesus and our faith, but seek to move us beyond just having head knowledge toward how each of us live our Christian faith each and every day of the week. We talk about evangelism (encouraging fellow believers and sharing our faith with others). We talk about stewardship (Managing all of our resources well and in a way that is consistent with our faith. It is making use of time, talent, of treasure to strengthen and continue God’s mission). We go to meetings, write reports, manage congregational finances, plant gardens, mow the lawn, maintain the building … and I could go on and on.
But … why? What’s it all about?
Why do so many of us care so much about Bethel and about the broader church?
Why do we give so much of ourselves to the church even when the bureaucracy of the church or church people annoy us and try our patience?
And, when we talk about sharing our faith, what is it exactly we’re sharing and inviting people to?
I’m sure each of us would have a lot to say about these questions and we would answer differently. Being a person of faith means that our faith orients our lives and our priorities. The season of Lent gives us the time and space to be able to step back and look at how and where we’re using our time, talent, and treasure. We know that faith is a gift. We know that salvation comes from God alone and that nothing we do warrants or merits our own salvation. But our faith implies a relationship with God, and relationships are two-way. Relationships require something of us for the sake of the other.
Our faith calls us to think and to question. It helps us interpret what we are seeing and experiencing. Our faith helps us to put God and pursuing God’s mission at the forefront of our minds, and this allows other things to fall into place and have meaning. You could ask me: “So, PJ, why do you go to meetings?” I certainly don’t go to meanings because I enjoy them or don’t have anything better to do. I can also think of many other ways I’d rather get together socially with the good people from our congregation. I go to meetings because they help us organize ourselves and develop strategies to accomplish God’s mission. I go because meetings are one way that allows people to exercise their spiritual gifts of administration, and they also allow for “ministry multiplication” – this is the idea that ministry teams provide opportunities for ministry beyond themselves.
As the season of Lent comes to an end and we prepare for Holy Week and Easter, take some time to consider your relationships, what you do at church, what you do as a volunteer in our community, how and where you spend your money … and consider how your faith orients your life and guides your decisions.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff
Epicurious Lutheran 
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