Bonfire

How can a body function unless its parts communicate?

“I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts” (Psalm 119:63).

A few weeks ago members and friends of St. James gathered around a fire pit in our parking lot. Some brought chocolate, some brought toys, some brought music, and some brought giant marshmallows. (Everybody brought themselves.) The result was sticky, singing fellowship in Christ. Each person that came made our gathering richer and taught us more about Jesus that we could have experienced or understood alone. We needed and continue to need each other to know Christ.

This is all very sweet and idyllic until we disagree, right? Most of us can enjoy sugar and camp songs but when we get into questions of politics or economics or education the stakes get higher. And the topic of religion … well, forget it. Sadly, religion is as divisive as any other topic, even more so sometimes.

Often to avoid the conflict, we don’t mention our faith when we are with others. We try to talk about anything else – every other topic seems easier than this one! And we live in fear that if people knew what we really believed, we’d be cast out of the fellowship—the fragile friendships that we have built.

But, what if we risked it? What if we took the leap (of faith) to name the Name that brings us through each day? What if we praised God publicly for the good things and in the bad things? What if we realized that fragile friendships don’t sustain us anyway?

God created us to be his Body! How can a body function unless its parts communicate? Our three churches have committed to having faith-based conversations with one another, even when we disagree. We have committed to forging a united path in this world where division seems so much easier. We are working to show the world that despite our low expectations of it, faith can bind us together.

Today let us name Jesus where we see him and let him take care of the fallout. He is the only Friend we can’t live without. The end result will be stronger, more vivacious, and more interesting relationships in which Christ is actively binding us together and pushing us into the world. Let’s stop settling for a hidden faith and experience the richness of fellowship that Christ wants to provide for us. We three churches are on the right road with each other, but let’s not stop here!

In Christ,
Pastor Jill

Bonfire Churches sponsor booth at the New Hope Farmer’s Market
The Bonfire Churches will be hosting a booth at the New Hope Farmer’s Market on Saturday, August 21 (and select Saturdays in August and September) from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We will pass out literature about the three Bonfire churches, offer free bottles of water to thirsty shoppers, and just help spread a little community cheer. Volunteers are needed for this easy task. See Jean in the church office for details and to sign up.

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