Your Witness is Wanted

“Prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness” are part of what we United Methodists promise when we join a local church.

The first four have been a part of our membership questions and vows for a long time.  That fifth word, “witness” was added in 2008.  It’s been long needed.

According to an official denominational website,* here’s why —

“…the vows of “prayers, presence, gifts and service” were primarily “inwardly” focused and institutional in character. They offered little insight or inspiration for disciples of Jesus Christ to engage in God’s mission of transforming the world.

Though in an earlier vow those seeking professing membership promise to be “Christ’s representatives in the world”  there was no reflection of that baptismal promise in the vows of membership in a local congregation.

Adding “and witness” to the list (“prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness”) may help our members, new and old, to recognize their responsibilities not only to “show up,” but to “show forth” God’s saving love in all that we do.”

You and I need not look long or far to see how things are going.  All around us, your Christian witness is needed.  By the grace of God, it’s wanted as well.

Another great idea that came from Jesus: “Go be my witnesses,” he says in Acts 1:8.

Jesus was direct.

Time to follow his direction.

Your witness is needed.

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http://www.gbod.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=nhLRJ2PMKsG&b=5657895&ct=7778669, accessed 01.12.13.