Community News – 11/6/2024
Community –
Congrats! You’ve survived.
If you’re reading this, then you have survived what often felt like an apocalyptic election cycle. Candidates at all levels fought hard for our attention. From TV ads to mailers to yard signs, no space was off limits to candidates vying for your vote. Indeed, whether we intended it to or not, the election captivated our attention – if only because there was literally no escaping it.
Don’t mishear me. It’s not that Christians shouldn’t engage in the political world. There is certainly a place for robust political discourse. And the Christian worldview has important implications for how we approach policy and governance as followers of Jesus. All that is fair game. I am concerned about an overlooked aspect of our current political climate though. In our world of 24/7 news coverage, non-stop social media commentary, and an estimated $16 billions spent on election ads (this year alone), it becomes increasing hard to take our eyes off politicians, political agenda, and political commentary. Whether we look at the election with hope and excitement or like a mangled car wreck on the freeway, it has become incredibly hard to look away.
Why is that a big deal? It actually relates to a basic spiritual principle that scripture teaches: you become what you behold. We become like that which we give our attention to… what we fix our eyes on… what we constantly consume or contemplate. Our lives, values, and character are shaped by what we focus on.
This is at the core of our Spiritual Formation – or becoming more like Jesus. Paul uses this language to speak to how we’re changed: “And we all… beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor. 3:18, EVS).
What does Paul mean by the “glory of the Lord”? He answers that question clearly just a few verses later. God has given us the knowledge of His glory “displayed in the face of Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:6). When we look at Jesus, we see the glory of God on display. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, we begin to reflect His life, values, and character. God’s glory shines through us. We become what we behold.
When our attention is on Jesus, this principle is a good and beautiful thing. But we can also be malformed by the same principle: fix our eyes, attention, and heart on things other than God (say, for example, politicians and politic agendas), we slowly but surely begin to reflect that way of life in our life, values, and character. If your attention is fixed on the fear, anxiety, and division that drives both sides of our contemporary politics, don’t be surprised when we can’t shake that fear, anxiety, and division from our own lives. It gets hardwired into our hearts and way of seeing the world.
So whether you’re celebrating or mourning the outcome of yesterday’s elections, it’s time to set our eyes on Jesus! (For the record, it’s always the right time to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus, today just happens to be a timely reminder.) That’s why we’re setting time apart this evening to recalibrate after the non-stop competition for our attention and vote. However you voted, let’s set our attention on Jesus. Whether you’re filled with hope or anxiety today, turn to Him.
It’s November 6th – and Jesus is still King. Let’s fix our eyes on Him!
Night of Worship, TONIGHT, 6-7pm.
With Joy –
Pastor Brett
A reminder of November happenings:
- Nov 1-15 – Dinner Groups (our own sort of friends-giving)
- Nov 6 – Night of Worship (whatever happened on election day, Jesus is still King)
- Nov 10 – Start Party (a great place to hear about next steps here at Community)
- Nov 17 – Town Hall (updates from our Transitional Team and Pastoral Search Team)
- Nov 20 – Partner Night (a night of worship and vision for our partners/members – and anyone interested in exploring partnership)
- Plus our ongoing Renewed Prayer Initiative (keep on praying!)
