What struck me about this conversation, though, was not the reasons people gave for coming to church but the simple fact that we were having the conversation. Here were people of faith you have been at it a while, talking honestly and openly to people of faith who are still learning. Even in our churches it happens so rarely.
Our words of faith uplift one another, just as Paul greeted a fledgling Christian community with words of empowerment and encouragement in 1 Corinthians 1:1-9. Paul tells them that they have been given all the gifts they need to walk the difficult road of discipleship and sacrifice ahead of them.
Imagine the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote us at Westminster a letter. What would it say? What would we want it to say? ... Keep reading ...
"Martin, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the church of God that is in Albany, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him,in speech and knowledge of every kind - just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
Suddenly these regular words of greeting from 1 Corinthians are filled well wishes, with care and with call to keep going to the end.
Martin gives thanks for us! He affirms that we have speech and knowledge and all the gifts we need. He assures us that God is faithful and that Jesus will strengthen us to the end.
The same sentiment means so much more because we know the kind of life Martin Luther King lived. We saw his very public faith.
Like Martin's, may our faith be personal but not private!