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36^TH SESSION OF EMMANUEL TAMIL ANNUAL CONFERENCE: NOV 11-12, 2011

Serving in church

Bishop dispels two ‘false ideas’

BISHOP DR ROBERT SOLOMON dealt with two “false ideas” about serving in church at the Opening Service of the 36^th Session of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) at the Tamil Methodist Church on Nov 11, 2011.

He dispelled the linking of faith with miraculous spectacles, asserting that faith has more to do with character – the loving character of Jesus, the character of God as all-powerful and the object of our faith – than being “religious magicians”. The miracle of God’s love transforming a “sinner into a saint” will be what helps persuade others, as it is a “demonstration of the power of God that can uproot the most stubborn of sins”.

The Bishop then went on to discuss the false linking of ministry and rewards through what he called a “rather difficult parable” – that of the servant and his master in Luke 17:7-10.

In the passage, Jesus asked: “Would the master thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?” The answer was that God does not owe anyone anything, and the Bishop suggested that we as God’s servants should respond as Jesus proposed: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”

Will we become “religious mercenaries” by seeking worldly rewards like approval in church, or is our reward Christ Himself, and doing His will? Faith and ministry is neither about being religious magicians nor religious mercenaries, but about recognising God’s love and serving Him in loving response.