What is and What is to Come

We are presented with two texts for this final Sunday on the church calendar. The first is from the book of Revelation, in which the opening words provide us the assurance that Christ has been present from the beginning of time, and always will be. The hope in this opening greeting is that the powers of oppression, and sin, and sickness will not have the final word, rather Christ has the final victory. In the Gospel text we see Jesus before Pilate facing his crucifixion, asserting that those who follow him live according to a way that is decidedly alternative to the way in which the “world’s” kingdoms live.

In these two texts there is both challenge and hope. The challenge, is that as followers of Jesus Christ we must live according to a set of values that are decidedly other than those of the dominant culture. Instead of scarcity, fear, hoarding, competition, conflict, and violence we are called to live in abundance, love, sharing, cooperation, compassion, and shalom. It is only in living according to this set of alternative values that we can be faithful to the alternative Kin(g)dom of Jesus Christ. For FUMC at this moment in our lives, this living calls us into the work of Anti-racist/Anti-bias Transformation.

This is work that at times can feel hopeless; that with every step forward we take two steps back. The good news is found in the book of Revelation: that at the end of the day Christ and Christ’s Kin(g)dom reign. We are invited into a work yet realized, and is yet already accomplished by the God who is, who was, and who is to come.

Join us in person or online for worship on Sundays at 10am.