It seems progressively each year getting more bizarre. We had the Covid years of 2020-2021 which culminated in a greatest distrust in our health, academic, and governmental systems. Then in 2022 Inflation began to strike markets and lead to an already exasperated state for people who were on the edge for the previous years. Then this year 2023 had a war in Gaza that has split countries politically, those standing for Israel and those for the Palestinians, with protests erupting all over the world.
We have been divided over health: vax and anti-vax, we have been divided over race regarding migration and prejudices being stoked, we have been divided over finances, the rich undaunted by inflation while poor get poorer and mid class is no longer middle, we have been divided on religion as Pope Francis I permits blessings by priests of same sex unions, and United Methodists have a major schism of losing 1800 churches (https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/january/umc-churches-leave-global-methodist-denomination-schism.html), joining the Lutherans, Anglicans, and other denominations splitting over LBGTQ matters. We have been divided over academia, with record number of parents switching to homeschooling and private schools. These are only major issues, at the same time all around terms and standards are being changed: 50 Bird species are to be renamed, there 80 sexualities and genders, words like Supernatural which for 5,000yrs has referred to God and the demonic realm, is now Virtual Reality domain through VR headset! We are being inundated with so much change, so much division, so many new normals, that 2024 seems like nothing to celebrate. It is tempting to be pessimistic, to see only more insanity, bizarre changes, and pain ahead. And our Lord Jesus dis promise tribulation, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (Persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation. From thlibo; pressure). But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). The reality the church must face is not avoiding this, praying for God to halt it or make The West a beacon of light again. The goal is now for each of us to find a measure of peace, a stability, and strength in Jesus to sustain us in this sea of strange chaos.
It is for that reason I urge an emphasis in 2024 on Jesus and His Blood. What I mean is this, “For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” (John 6:55-59). These verses tend to be glossed over due to how extreme they read, do I have to cannibalize Christ? No! Of course not. We participate in this when we commune with Christ, which. Chief way is The Communion or Eucharist. If you believe in Transubstantiation or not, what matters is you spiritually feed, that when you take The Communion, you commune with Christ. Right now we need things that are stable, timeless, and have stability in a very unstable world. One of ways we can is to do Communion / Eucharist. For Catholics and Lutherans this happens every service, but I urge Evangelicals who pride themElves on getting the latest KAIN, Tomlin, and etc songs, shuffling up stuff each Sunday to have something constant for people in a world of upheaval. You may say, “grape juice and crackers each Sunday is money!” Well those fancy instruments cost money! Your electric bill is money! Your six figure salary for the Pastor is money! I say some grape juice and crackers is nothing! Saints need some consistency, for the worship songs and sermon changes every week! Communion is easiest way to add something that will be the same each week, and if will be opportunity to obey Scripture, “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ). The Communion proclaims The New Covenant in Jesus’ Blood and His Death for all our sins! It should be celebrated every Sunday! But it is needed even more now that people are having all things change around them! They need something that hasn’t changes in 2023-2024yrs, and to be reminded that our Lord is changeless, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8). While all around us seems in flux, Christ is the same, and we can tether to Him in this chaos, feed on Him (spiritually, He is The Bread of Life), and let Him sooth our exasperated hearts.
This needs to be a New Year in Jesus’ Blood. Where we make the only Changeless One our focus and practice The Communion to put Him and what He did at the forefront of our gatherings. If churches can afford coffee and donuts, they can afford grape juice and crackers/wafers for The Communion Meal each Sunday. Amen.
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