Today's Reading: 1 Kings 18, Hebrews 7, Acts 4, Psalm 12
Help, O LORD, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind. --Psalm 12:1
I know the feeling. When I look at the relative age of those who gather in our churches, I have my doubts about how long the church will last. When I consider the declining number of worshippers on Sunday mornings, especially since the pandemic, I doubt if anyone will be left to praise God. Elijah felt alone like that. Even after he soundly defeated the prophets of Baal. The Psalmist felt that almost 3000 years ago! But the Psalmist was wrong. The descendants of the Psalmist are still with us today. Elijah was wrong. Obadiah, who we met in today's lesson from Kings, squirreled away 100 prophets of the LORD. Elijah was hardly alone in his fight against Baal and Asherah. I am wrong. There are plenty of young adults who are people of faith -- even if you express that faith differently than your grandparents -- and it is a privilege to hang out with you! Communities of faith will continue to gather, and I am, as I always have been, committed to that gathering work. Yes, the institution of "church" as we know it may, in fact, disappear from humankind. (And maybe that's God's intent. I don't know.) But I am convinced -- the Way of Jesus will not.
Peace,
Pastor Mike