We stand for...

My name is Kevin Ritter, I am not running for office, and I approve this message.

When politicians first started putting their voice on adds and saying they were approving a television or radio ad, I thought it might make them a little more careful about what they allowed to go on in their name and with their approval.  I thought that maybe we would get more adds about what the candidates were for and not about how their opponents were wrong or bad or some other negative statement.  Isn’t that why we dislike election times so much?  All of the negativity.

That is also why many people dislike church and Christianity.  Many pastors spend most of their time explaining what “good Christians” should be against.  As most of you know, I am not like most pastors.  I am not mad at liberals, conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Atheists, Gays, Lesbians, straight people, unmarried people, married people, workaholics, unemployed, civilians, military, sinners, saints, or any group of people that I can think of.  I will admit that I do try to stay clear of religiously self-righteous people because I do not want to get angry, but they even got under Jesus’ skin too. (That always helps me rationalize it)

So, what should we be for?  What and who should we stand up for?  In Jesus’ first sermon in Luke 4, he quotes Isaiah 61 when he says:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

This says a great deal about what and who Jesus is for, but it does not say who or what he is against.  Jesus is for God (the Lord) and accepts the power God has placed upon him and that drives him to proclaim good and wonderful things to those in need and that are hurting.   Jesus went on to give his life for everyone on Earth.  When we are not focusing on those around us that are in need, when they are not who we are for, we are not standing for God.  This causes us to focus on our own situations (both good and bad) too much.  When we are serving others and proclaiming the good news with our whole life, and sometimes using words, then we stand for God and our own issues and worries do not seem so big. 

Therefore, I stand for serving those in need and people that are hurting in many ways, no matter what group they are part of.  Why, because Jesus loves me and I do not deserve it and if I claim to follow him, I am challenged to love and serve like him.  I am giving my life and the resources of this church for those that need to see and experience the good news.  I am sure that means we need to help and love one another inside the church too, but if that is all we do, we miss the point.  Who will you serve today?  Who will stand up for today?

God be with you in the Journey,

Kevin