Bishop’s Note: November 16, 2017 – Discipleship

Bishop Eric Menees

As we continue our examination of discipleship, last week’s gospel lesson gave us a great opportunity to examine what it means to be intentional about our relationship with Christ. You’ll remember that Jesus told the disciples a parable about 10 wise and 10 foolish virgins waiting for the bridegroom. The wise maidens had enough oil to fill their lamps, plus extra if the lamps began to run low, but the foolish maidens only had enough to fill their lamps once. The bridegroom, upon his arrival, welcomed those who were wise and whose lamps kept burning, while the foolish were off looking - last minute - to find more oil.

One might ask: “How do we fill our lamps with oil? How can we be intentional about being disciples?” By taking seriously our Baptismal Vows! These vows are divided between: Orthodoxy – right belief and Orthopraxy – right action. Right belief leads to right action, but right action doesn’t always lead to right belief.

Under Orthodoxy, we have the three questions in the baptismal covenant regarding faith in God:

Q. Do you believe in God the Father?

A. I believe in God Almighty the creator of heaven and earth.  This is our affirmation that God is the creator of everything that exists and as creator He is over all and Lord of all.

Q. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

A. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.  He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.  Not only does this answer affirm our belief in Jesus as the only Son of God, Redeemer and Judge of  all, but it also affirms the authority of Scripture since all that we know about the life of Jesus comes directly from scripture.

Q. Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

A. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Scripture and the doctrine of the church inform our beliefs that lead to action!

Under Orthopraxy, we have the questions that lead to right action:

Q. Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers?

A. I will with God’s help. This question comes from Acts 2:42 which lays out how the Church functioned in the early days after Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit. In other words – right action is active participation in the life and worship of your congregation.

Q. Will you persevere in resisting evil, and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

A. I will with God’s help. With this answer we acknowledge the fact that we are sinners in need of a savior and the importance of all disciples of Jesus to repent and seek reconciliation with God and our neighbor

Q. Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

A. I will with God’s help.  Fulfilling the Great Commission is vital for all disciples of Jesus Christ. This requires us to tell everyone and anyone about the Grace, Love, Forgiveness and Peace that we’ve found in Jesus Christ. As St. Peter says – we must be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us! (1 Peter 3:15)

Q. Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

A. I will with God’s help. This question echo’s the Great Commandment.  As we’ll hear in next week’s gospel in serving others we are serving Christ who said, “I was hungry and you gave me food. Thirsty and you gave me drink. Naked and you clothed me etc. When did we see you hungry or thirsty or naked? “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Mt. 25:40)

Q. Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

A. I will with God’s help. Genesis chapter one tells us: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he made them; male and female he made them.” (Gen. 1:27) Because all people are created in the image of God, all people are worthy of dignity and respect – from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

How do we fill our torches with oil? By being intentional about living out our baptismal vows!

I pray you all a very blessed week.

The Thirty-Nine Articles:

XXXIX. Of Christian Man's Oath.

As we confess that vain and rash Swearing is forbidden Christian men by our Lord Jesus Christ, and James his Apostle, so we judge, that Christian Religion doth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the Magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and charity, so it be done according to the Prophet's teaching in justice, judgment, and truth.