But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
1 Corinthians 12:18-21 NLT
Aloha KINGdom ‘Ohana!
Way back in the day, we did not have the luxury of “autopay” where your credit card automatically is charged each month for a membership. When I joined a weight training gym, I was required to pay cash or check each month, PRIOR to continuing my membership.
Unfortunately churches and spiritual leaders who keep track of their members “tithes/offerings or if they are serving enough” can tend to neglect certain members. The members who are more “generous with their time talents and treasures” can tend get better treatment.
When the church becomes more focused on “attendance, tithes/finances” the temptation to genuinely care for their members can be a challenge. The motives of spiritual leadership in these touchy topics can be a difficult area to deal with. Church folk generally don’t want to address motives even when things smell fishy.
Those of you who call New Hope Mānoa your church home, can count on the spiritual truth that you and I – WE ARE MEMBERS TOGETHER – of God’s family! No one is more accepted or special than the other. How much we give of our time, talents, treasures to a church does not determine the love and care you should receive – from me or the family of God.
But I will say that if you call NHM your church home, and me your pastor, there should be some measure of commitment, responsibility, and accountability. I will be teaching and discussing what it means to be a member of NHM, this Wednesday, 2/26, via ZOOM at 7 PM. I hope you will join me. There are distinctives I will cover that constitute being a member of our church.
And by the way, you may have had church membership may “expire” in the past, from a church here on earth (for various reasons) – but it will never expire as a Kingdom citizen of God’s ‘ohana!
