Faith

PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

I would like to share my Sunday morning message with you that I shared with my church family. We will call it the Reader’s Digest version, which means it is compact and shortened. The title was “Will your religion get you into Heaven?” I first explained what a “religion” is. Buddhism is a religion, Christianity and Hinduism are religions as well as Islam and Judaism. According to some estimates, there are more than 4,000 religions around the world!

Denominations are different expressions of the “Christian religion” Many were started by men who made a stand or proclamation that folks followed and adhered to.  The Lutherans began when their leader Martin Luther, nailed a paper with his complaints about the church he was leaving to its front door. The Mennonites traced their beginnings back to their first leader Menno Simons. The Mormons began with Joesph Smith. The Church of God started with a man named D.S. Warner, and one branch of the Methodist started with John Wesley, thus the Wesleyan Methodists. And then there were two men, Stone and Campbell, who were responsible for the Disciples of Christ.  And so, it goes for many more!

PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

Her name was Shirley, It was unfortunately that time in life when she just couldn’t care for herself any longer. She had enjoyed the grandkids coming over and the joy they brought. Her cookie jar was always full.  A few years ago her husband of 50 years had gone home to be with the Lord.

Shirley was trying hard to hide the work her husband had done and she wasn’t getting done. She hired lawn care and handymen but the cost was more that her meager retirement could handle. But she pressed on. She had a big family: three kids and their numbers totaled 14! three sons-in-law, three daughters and eight grandkids! But they could only visit a few times a year. So the dreaded loneliness began to take its toll.

The house that once rang with children’s laughter and family and friends visiting was quiet now. Shirley sat by the window and had to fight back tears! “Why did I not see this coming? Could I have done anything different to make this time better?” she thought.

PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

I grew a year older this week and I wasn’t looking forward to it! I remember as a child saying I was something plus 6 months! It was so important back then to project that you were getting older! Not anymore. Just let me quietly age and move on.

Age does have its benefits – you’ve lived and learned a lot of things, things you can share with younger folks so they don’t make all the mistakes in life. That is, if they listen. If you have lived a Christian life and walked with the Lord for many years you have insights into things that many don’t have. Young Christians need a lot of patience and unfortunately, many church folks don’t have it! I needed so much grace and understanding when I started my walk with Jesus. I was so glad I had a few who came alongside me and helped point the way for me to go. And when I messed up, there was no harsh judgement, just love and understanding. And along with that, I was told where I went wrong and how to get back on track. I wish our churches were full of people like that.

PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

This New Years, let’s start off with sharing love! I woke up listening to one of my favorite preachers. His message was Jesus’ prayer in John 17 that we would all be one in unity and love for each other so the world would know about Jesus through us.     

In my discipline and up bringing in the church, I quickly thought of all the things that divide Christians. How we baptize; sprinkle, immerse or pour. How many times a year do we take communion and how we do it? What worship songs do we sing, and how our worship services are put together? And the list goes on and on. Yet Jesus had only one request of His father when he prayed. It was that even with all the things that could divide us from our teachings to current politics, He wanted us to love each other! He knew those differences were coming, but He also knew that real agape love from God and His Spirit could bring the oneness we needed.