From the Inside Out

So this coming Sunday Calvary is once again hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner for the community.  Last year, somewhere around 200 people turned out and the result was the launching of a vision within our church body as to how we could further impact our community for the glory of Christ.  It was no surprise to anyone that we would host this event again...in fact, I'm pretty sure death threats would have quickly followed (or at least an embargo on pie) had I cast a vote to skip this dinner in favor of something else. 

I've been thinking all week about this coming Sunday, about the influx of people who wouldn't notice a church sitting by the side of the road on any other day.  I've been thinking about the motivation and the impetus for such an event.  Now I know I've said 100 times that the reason Calvary should do these types of events should be to simply make Monte Vista and the San Luis Valley a better place and I still believe that.  But that perspective is a bit short-sighted...a bit too narrow in focus.  Yes, from the outside of the church looking in the perception should exist that "Calvary makes life more tolerable...more joyous...easier."  But from the position of those Christ Followers helping with this dinner there has to be more to the motivation.  In fact, it comes back to good works.

I firmly believe that good works are necessary for Christians.  Hold on now...hear what I'm saying.  Good works are necessary for Followers to perform NOT as a means of acquiring grace but as an outpouring of the grace and love already received.  Think about it this way:  Ephesians 2:8-9 state, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ultimately, the grace that has been given to Jesus Followers is a gift along with the faith to accept the grace.  God has illuminated the hearts of people to accept this gift and without this illumination, this calling, no grace can be received.  But now look at Ephesians 2:10:  "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  So God in His handiwork, and He is the only One who is capable of delivering salvation and grace through His own works, provided life for Believers through His Anointed One, Jesus.  This life is given freely, of His own choice, and for His own reasons, in order that out of His grace those He chooses would replicate good works for the purpose of allowing others to come to life thus continuing this cycle.  Good works from the outside of the church-in are just that...good works; but from the inside-out good works are an invitation to become part of the succession...part of God's workmanship...part of the masterpiece of God's plan to provide salvation to all who crave completeness and joy and true peace. 

So this coming Sunday will be all about good works.  And as the masses flow in through the doors of the building those good works will be perceived and inspected and tested.  I want to challenge all of us to let the works flow from the inside out.  Let those deeds be accomplished as a reflection of the glory of God; as a reflection of the One who sent His Son to provide life through His death and hope from hopelessness.  let the good deeds flow out of the mercy provided to replace the tyranny of an oppressive philosophy still present today where "I hope I'm good enough to please God" leaves people feeling flat and unacceptable.  Let us remember where our good deeds are derived and where those same good works will hopefully lead the people around us every day.