Tell the Story

We’re in the midst of a financial crisis in our country right now.  Many who are reading this have lost half of their investment portfolio.  Some have lost their jobs.  Others are in foreclosure or near it.  It’s already a financial crisis greater than most of us have ever experienced.

And from all reports, we are only experiencing the beginning stages of the crisis.  Many expect this crisis to last another year or two at minimum.  And that’s the part that creates the most anxiety.  Most people have had their lives changed in one way or another but most are still hanging in there.  And yet, if this crisis continues on for several years, many of us will struggle to “hang in there”.  It’s the not knowing how long it’s going to last that causes so much of the fear.

So there is a need to be wise.  To be fiscally responsible.  To change certain spending habits. 

I am certain that there will be a gut reaction, both in the church and outside the church, which will cause many people to “circle the wagons”.  We’ll look out for ourselves first.  Giving and generosity will drop.  Intentionality towards those outside our communities will decrease.  We will see people go into survival mode.

My hope and prayer is that we don’t do this.  Now, of all times, is a time to keep our eyes on the mission because the mission just got bigger and the mission just got closer.

I was reminded a couple of weeks ago that the Japanese symbol for “crisis” is really made up of 2 symbols.  One is the symbol for “danger”.  And there is certainly danger involved for most of us in this crisis.  The second symbol is the symbol for “opportunity”.  It’s the opportunity in this crisis that I hope we don’t miss.

There are thousands of people that we rub shoulders with each week who have placed their trust in their 401(k).  In their education.  In their position or status.  In their home equity.  And they are losing these things.  Which leaves them with questions: “Who or what can I put my trust in?  Everything I’ve always trusted in is now gone, what can I trust?”

We, who are followers of Christ, have the answer to this question.  We know that in good times and in bad times, there is only one thing that we can put absolute trust in.  It’s the story that we celebrate this month.  It’s the story of a God who loved the world so much that He sent His Son in the form of a baby to be born in a manger.  A baby who grew up to be a man.  A man who lived a perfect life and then climbed upon a cross and died for your sins and for mine.  Who rose from the dead so that you and I can have new life, both in the here-and-now and in for eternity.

The world needs to hear this story and now, maybe for the first time, they are ready to hear it.

Let’s tell the story…