{"id":1546,"date":"2020-09-29T12:57:59","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T12:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/weekly-offerings\/?p=1546"},"modified":"2020-09-29T14:36:04","modified_gmt":"2020-09-29T14:36:04","slug":"gain-life-by-sharing-in-gods-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/weekly-offerings\/2020\/09\/29\/gain-life-by-sharing-in-gods-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"Gain Life by Sharing in God\u2019s Mission"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ren\u00e9 Myers<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

The Presbyterian Week of Action culminated in the Justice Rally and March on August 29, 2020 at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky.<\/p><\/div>\n

We live in a culture where we are encouraged to be afraid of others and to protect, at all cost, what we have for fear of losing it. Our current reality of living in an environment of pandemic seems to intensify that fear. That fear, I believe, is also at the root of systemic racism in our country. In Luke\u2019s Gospel, Jesus relates to his disciples the parable of \u201cThe Rich Fool.\u201d This wealthy man had ample goods for many years, enough in fact he had to build bigger barns to store them. When he was finally satisfied in their security, God told him his life, his soul was being demanded of him. His obsession with possessions had consumed his very life.<\/p>\n

The first of the Ten Commandments is to have no other gods before or beside the Lord, our God. The wealthy man in Jesus\u2019 parable had allowed his possessions to become an idol, which consumed his soul, his life. Fear of losing what we have can cost us our very soul and can separate us from our neighbors, which is a separation from God. When I was young, I remember comedian Jack Benny often repeating in skits on his TV show a scene where someone would point a gun in his face and demand, \u201cYour money or your life!\u201d Benny would slip into a thoughtful silence. When pushed for a response, he would impatiently reply, \u201cI\u2019m thinking; I\u2019m thinking!\u201d He was actually unsure which was of more importance to him \u2013 his money or his life.<\/p>\n

What idols are we worshiping? How can we put God first and let go of fear? Jesus, when asked to identify the greatest commandment, said, \u201c\u2018You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.\u2019 This is the greatest and first commandment.\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong> And a second is like it (just as important): \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019\u201d When we live in love \u2013 of God and of neighbor \u2013 fear has no place. 1 John tells us perfect love casts out fear.<\/p>\n

The Presbyterian Mission Agency has embraced our General Assembly\u2019s call to live into the identity as a Matthew 25 church \u2013 a detailed description of loving neighbor, and therefore, loving God. To do this, we are focusing our work around three areas:\"\"<\/p>\n