HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-05-29, Page 23PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 29.1991.
From the Minister's Study
Guilt poor motivation
BY BONNIE COLE ARNAL
WALTON-BLUEVALE
PASTORAL CHARGE
Now the company of those who
believed were of one heart and
soul, and one claimed personal
ownership of any possessions, but
they had everything in common.
And with great power the apostles
gave their testimony to the resur
rection of the Lord Jesus, and great
grace was upon them all. There
was not a needy person among
them. (Acts 4: 32-34).
Here we have from the Bible a
picture of what the very first Chris
tians were like. They were together.
They had that unity of one heart
and soul. They were generous,
sharing what they had among them
selves so that no one was in need.
They were powerful in their wit
ness. As you think about how it
was in those very beginning days of
the church and compare that to
your own experience of the church
today, what is your reaction?
For me, it's feelings of guilt. I
look at those early Christians and
then at myself and I have to say
that I don't measure up very well as
a Christian. The early church
shared their possessions and held
everything in common. I have to
admit that I enjoy my possessions
and I am not really taken by the
idea of holding everything in com
mon. The early church witnessed
with great power while I am not
sure that my witness has that much
of an impact. So when I read this
passage I feel rather uncomfortable.
But then I have to ask myself is
that what the writer of Acts intend
ed? Is the purpose of this passage
to lay a big guilt trip upon the read
er? I would have to say no. I don't
believe it is.
Using guilt to motivate people is
a skill many of us practice. Have
you ever told a child who is staring
sullenly at an untouched portion of
vegetables on their dinner plate,
"Eat your broccoli. There are mil
lions of children around the world
who are starving." In response to
this comment most children don't
suddenly clean up their plate and
ask for seconds. It’s more likely
that they'll tell you in no uncertain
terms to package the offending
vegetable and send it to a starving
child! Most of the time using guilt
as a motivator has limited success.
We often end up resenting the per
son who attempts to make us feel
guilty. So I am relatively sure that
the writer of Acts was not trying to
use guilt to encourage people to be
good Christians.
What writer of Acts was trying to
show was that encountering the
risen Christ had an enormous
impact upon people. It gave them a
new common purpose. It gave them
a new power as they shared their
experience and it gave them a new
lifestyle based on sharing and car
ing.
So the message for us is not
"Hey, you had better pay attention
to this early church. They had.
unity, they had power and they
shared. That is how you are sup
posed to be so you had better pull
your socks up and get your act
together as a Christian." No the
message is more one of telling the
story of what happens when people
have a real experience of the risen
Christ in their lives. When a person
somehow encounters the Divine as
a real and loving and caring and
beckoning presence in their lives,
they are no longer quite the same.
If they once responded out of duty;
for example, "I should go to church
each Sunday," they now go out for
love - "I want to sing and praise
and worship that God who loves
and cares for me. I want to seek out
the risen Christ who gives me new
life."
So looked at from this vantage
point, our scripture passage
becomes an invitation for us to seek
out experiences of the risen Christ,
to look for close encounters with
the Divine in our everyday lives
and to let ourselves be shaped and
remade in God's image.
Couple weds in Michigan
HALL-TAYLOR
Friends and family gathered at
Riverdale Baptist Church in Flint,
Michigan on April 13, 1991 to
share in the uniting in marriage of
Brenda Dee Hall to Murray Edgar
Taylor.
The Reverend Robert Bolander
officiated. The bride is the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Hall of
Burton, Michigan. The groom is
Brenda and Murray Taylor
the son of Mr. and Mrs. William E.
B. Taylor of RR 1, Belgrave. The
matron of honor was Tammi Greer,
sister of the bride; the bridesmaids
were Marion Taylor, twin sister of
the groom; Anna Hall, sister of the
bride; Janice Hall, sister of the
bride; and the flower girl was
Theresa Clemmer, friend of the
bride and groom.
The best man was Graydon
Stuckey, friend of the groom. The
guests were ushered by Glen Tay
lor, brother of the groom; Michael
Bogie, cousin of the groom and
Scott Blewett, friend of the groom.
The ring bearer was Preston Mor
row, nephew of the bride. Jeff and
Chad Clemmer, friends of the bride
and groom, were responsible for
greeting the guests, lighting the
candles and the unrolling of the
aisle runner. The hostess of the
Guest Registry was Lisa Taylor,
sister-in-law of the groom. The
soloist was Deanna Abel, a good
friend of the bride.
Jack Kopas was the Master of
Ceremonies at a reception that fol
lowed in the church hall. Honoured
guests were Mr. and Mrs. Edgar
Howatt of Belgrave, the grandpar
ents of the groom. After a wedding
trip to Walt Disney World, the
newlyweds will live at 12 Chick
adee Crt., Elmira.
Friends and relatives are invited
to a picnic June 2 at 2 p.m. on the
Taylor Farm to honour the newly
weds.
Mennonites host special concert
Pastor Gordon Bauman gave a
message based on I Corinthians
12: 26, entitled "The Weak and The
Strong Need Each Other ", on Sun
day, May 26 at Brussels Mennonite
Fellowship.
Alice Knorr was worship leader
for the service.
On Sunday evening Brush Is
Mennonite Fellowship hosted a
concert at the Presbyterian Church.
The Rockway Mennonite 40-voice
choir performed.
On Tuesday evening the ladies
met with Mary Baan and Mary
Keupfer in charge of the meeting.
Erma Bauman gave her life story.
Sharon Demaray, Sharon Horst,
and Tillie Lichty provided special
music.
The Youth group hosted a Youth
Rally at Brussels Public School on
Saturday, May 25. Rev. Jose Angel
Valentin was the speaker.
The Prayer and Praise Group met
at the Church on Thursday, as did
the Life Leaders' Committee.
BRUSSELS UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Cameron McMillan
Church Office 887-6259 Manse 887-9313
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship
Sunday Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
June 2 Church School - Nursery
9:30 a.m. - Ethel Morning Worship
Commit your way to the Lord
BLYTH UNITED CHURCH
REV. LORENZO RAMIREZ JR.
11:00 a.m. - Morning Worship Service
Junior Church - Nursery
June 2 - Church - Sunday School
Picnic Lion's Park 12:30
p.m.
Church Office 523-4224
ANGLICAN CHURCH
OF CANADA
REV. DAVID FULLER, B.A., M. DIV.
June 2 Pentecost 2
HOLY EUCHARIST
Blyth Brussels
9:30 a.m. 11:15 a.m.
BLYTH CHRISTIAN
REFORMED CHURCH
HIGHWAY 4, BLYTH
DR. W. H. LAMMERS
Sunday at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday School 11:00 a.m.
The Church of the "Back to God Hour" and "Faith 20"
Back to God Hour 10:30 a.m. CKNX Sunday
Faith 20 5:00 a.m. Weekdays, Global T.V.
' ALL VISITOR 'WELCOME
MELVILLE
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
BRUSSELS
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
- Sunday School
9:30 a.m. - Belgrave Service
We welcome you to come and worship
with u»
HURON CHAPEL MISSIONARY
CHURCH
PASTOR JAMES H. CARNE
AUBURN 526-7515
10:00 a.m. - Family Bible Hour
11:00 a.m. - Morning Service
8:00 p.m. - Evening Service
Wednesday - Prayer & Bible Study
Friday 7:30 - Youth
BRUSSELS MENNONITE
FELLOWSHIP
•we like to hear the good news of Jesus
•we like fun times as a family
•we like potluck meals
•we like special music
Why don't you give us a try?4
9:30 a.m. - Worship Service
10:30 a.m . - Sunday school for ail ages
Jesus is the Joy of Living
Pastor - Gordon Bauman Elder -Elwin Garland
887-6388 887-9017