When I was a kid my family had a pop-up camper. It was very basic, no a/c, two large “beds” that pulled out at each end after the roof was “popped up,” and then a “kitchen table” that lowered into another bed. We went from one end of North Carolina to the other with that camper. I remember camping in Cherokee, in western NC, and at Holiday Travel Park in Emerald Isle, NC. I loved going camping. I also remember the day my dad sold that camper. After years it was not in good condition, and I watched my dad talking to the man who came to look at it. My dad showed him ALL of the problems with it. The man, after hearing my dad being brutally honest, said to my dad “you must be a ‘church man’.” Even as a kid I knew the reason that man said that. My dad was honest, he didn’t try to unload a used camper and hide all of the problems. And by “church man,” that man really meant Christian.
My second core value as a Christian and a pastor is tied directly to how we live outside of the walls of the church. Our ethics and behavior as Christians is most important. Sure, our doctrine is important. Our worship is important. Hymns are important. But nothing is more important than living out the Kingdom Values that Jesus taught us. We are to live lives that are holy, moral, honest, and righteous. The things that we are called to do as Christians: compassion, kindness, humility, missions, hospitality, truth-telling, honoring our promises, etc. The things we are called to not do: harm others, be dishonest, cheat, covet, hate, be unfaithful to our spouse, etc. Being faithful to these is very important. We are not loved more by God when live according to these, and we’re not loved less when we fall short. But, this is what we aspire to.
In my observation, the “Presbyterian Gift” to Christianity is thoughtful doctrine, creeds that point out what we should believe. The “Lutheran Gift” is hymnody. Hymn singing. I love singing with the Lutherans. The “Anglican Gift” is worship. They have given Christianity the Book of Common Prayer. The “Pentecostal Gift” is the fire of the Spirit. But Baptists, it seems to me, is the denomination tradition that starts with the ethics of our living. How we behave and conduct ourselves in our personal lives and in our work together as a church must reflect the ethics and love of Jesus. And we can only understand our faith by practicing it.
Jesus, when calling disciples, didn’t say “believe this set propositions,” he said “follow me.” Walk the way I walk, talk the way I talk, behave the way I behave. “Follow what I do.” And that is how we know the faith, by following in the ways of Jesus.
There is a lot I’m concerned about that happens within the walls of our church. Good worship. Engaging Sunday school. Authentic fellowship. Our church government should be done “decently and in order.” But, for me, none of that is as important as how we live in the way of Jesus outside of our building.
My second core value: the practice of our faith as a community is primary. How we live as followers of Jesus is where the rubber meets the road. It is most important.