Spiritual Formation
As a congregation, we are so convinced of our need to grow on in the experience of uttermost salvation that we have established on our pastoral team a position called Pastor of Spiritual Formation. Dorothy Cross, a national leader in the spiritual formation movement, has joined our team to work with people who want to experience a complete, thoroughgoing renewal of their total lives.
Our prayer for ourselves and our congregation is the same as Paul's for the Galatians -- that Christ may be formed in us (
Gal. 4:19). We want to press on in being saved, so that our assurance of salvation is coupled with assimilation of Christian character. Bible study, prayer, classes, small groups, retreats, along with joyous worship, are the church's programmatical responsibility to encourage uttermost salvation.
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Christ Saves Perpetually
Why be a Christian? Because Christ saves -- perpetually and for perpetuity. It is a great comfort to know that the Father gave Him the assignment of watching over us -- now, during the years after our conversion, and finally as He sees us through death and on to heaven.
Does that sound a bit old-fashioned? If so -- I'm guilty as charged. There's no other clever way to say it. Christ does, in fact, take you and me on as His responsibility. He watches over us, ever attentive to our needs. But what about death?
The Frightening Loose End
One big, dangling loose end that twists about in so many of us is anxiety over death. We all want to live as long as we can here on earth. The thought of all that we will leave behind -- unfinished, unexpressed -- haunts us. Departure for the walk through the valley of death also means the anguish of leaving loved ones behind. But all of this is on the surface of our anxiety.
Death really troubles us because we can't control it. With good health habits we may postpone its arrival, but eventually it will come. Our need to be in control of our lives, people, and circumstances is threatened each time we think of death, our own dying, or go through the death of a loved one or friend.
We can't live to the fullest now until we are sure that we will live forever. Christ alone can put the fear of death behind us -- but not until we give up the need to control even this final scene in the last act of the drama of our life on earth.
Be as honest with yourself as you can. Has the Lord of the Loose Ends tied down this final loose end for you once and for all? He is able to save to the uttermost; from death for heaven. Are you sure of that for yourself? Christ not only conquered death, but conquers fear of death in us -- our own dying and the death of those we love. The only passport to heaven is faith in Christ. It's not what we've accomplished that will qualify us, and our failures will not disqualify us.
Why be a Christian? Because Christ is able to save us from a lifelong anguish over dying.