Cease...

Today is comfy church for many of us that follow habits, traditions and opportunity. You don't have to go anywhere, dress in  any certain way to gather with friends and church family as you worship your God  For some of you, it may wait until later in the week because this day your work is essential. Congregations all over American, and possibly the world have found ways to connect with their church families and others as the church has left the building and is reaching out in different ways. Reaching out to who you might ask. Our church families, those that attend congregations that are small or unable to bridge the current, viral gap, and those that may have suddenly decided that they need to fill some time and space in their hearts and souls. I found myself wanting to re-visit some thoughts about "church."

Let's start there. The word church. The word church in the Bible comes from the Greek word ecclesia, which means a called out company or assembly. Wherever it is used in the Bible it refers to people. CHURCH = The people called out to form an assembly. When we are encouraged to not neglect assembly, the original language doesn't urge us to gather in huddled masses in a building. The scripture is urging to gather as the people of Christ to do the work set before us.

So what about remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy. Commandment number four for those of you counting. When God issued these words of life, God wanted us to remember the day of rest at the end of creation. God set aside a day for holy rest to enjoy, observe and be present in and with his creation. For the Jews it meant Saturday, but as Christ arose on the last day of the week, Sunday, we Christians have chosen our Sabbath to be Sunday. The debating of days is unnecessary, unless you like rigid laws and rules. What matters, really, is what you do with your Sabbath. Is it holy. Are you resting in and with that which God has given you through the glorious creation that can only come from God. God's rest was pure and complete. The word, in its origin means to cease. SABBATH=ceasing and being with The Creator in His Creation along with His Created.

In our world, today, Sabbath may not be on Sunday, ceasing may be hard to make happen. But God's Word still stands...and moves. Even if Sabbath means you are not following the rules of your tradition or comfort. Even if church means  NOT going to a place to worship and return to your homes. Rules are easy, comfortable and feel safe. Jesus upset that apple cart by fulfilling laws and rules with life. The writer of Hebrews put it this way, "The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven." God's Word is not words, God's Word is alive and active. God's Word is moving among us. God'a Word is Jesus and he left the building a long time ago and participates with us in movement(ministry) AND ceasing to be; Holy rest is what allows us to keep up with him.

Today:

• I urge you to consider what "sabbath" and "church" means to you.
• I urge you to meditate on Hebrews 4:9-12.
• Find your sabbath and observe it fully.
• Worship in community today or at least weekly.
• Assemble by being called out in service to Christ.
• Read scripture to bring the Word alive in you.