Every culture is shaped by its legends. One story that has formed our American ethos is the moment George Washington, after cutting down his father’s cherished cherry tree, stepped out from hiding and boldly declared “I cannot tell a lie.” The funny (or sad) part of this story is that most historians believe it was fabricated by an early biographer of Washington’s. The author’s goal was to create stories about the president that kids could relate to and thus sell more books.
So the biggest story about American truth and character was probably a lie. But as I’ve heard Tommy Nelson say, if the story wasn’t true, it’s the kind of story about Washington that should have been true, because of how he was known for being a man of integrity and character. Any prominent public servant should be known for their commitment to truth and accuracy. That isn’t a quality as prized today as it may have been in the past, but it is still critical to hold high in the church.
This Sunday in the Sermon on the Mount we’ll examine a passage about keeping your word. Are we known for being trustworthy, or do we have to “swear on grandma’s grave” to try to convince others that we mean what we say? Our word should stand alone as our bond, without needing any other additives to make it convincing.
When looking at the biblical qualifications for leaders of the church, Paul twice says in Titus that the Elders should be “above reproach.” Elders should be known for their upstanding character, integrity, and commitment to truth, holding “firm to the trustworthy word as taught” (Titus 1:9).
This Sunday we’ll also introduce two new Elders to the church, Bill Brooks and Alan Johnson. Though no man is perfect, these are men who strive to uphold the Elder qualifications as listed in Titus and 1 Timothy, especially when it comes to being ‘above reproach’ and committed to truth. Pray for them as they serve and lead the church over the next three years (the length of an Elder term). I believe God has some great days ahead of us, especially in this coming year. I believe he has brought us the Elders we need to help us continue to grow as a church, to turn outward, and to focus on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ all across the Southend of Louisville.
Thanks to all who gave sacrificially to help the church end the financial year in the positive. We don’t have final numbers in yet, but things are looking good for us to at least break even and maybe come out ahead. Also if you missed this past Sunday, we covered the difficult subject of divorce. The message felt very heavy to me, as I know many have been affected by the damage of divorce. But I’ve also heard from many that they appreciated our church addressing the topic from a biblical perspective. Please take time to listen to the message, and if you have questions about anything that was shared I’d love to talk more with you about it.
Keep praying for our church. Prayer is the key to seeing God move!