Pastor Paul's Newsletter Article for August 1

The name I have given my newsletter article may seem a little cutesy, or maybe offensive, but then again, that is one of the lessons that can be taken from this newsletter article. The fact that what is "evangelistic" to some or "cute" to me is offensive to others. Either way, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen

Paul’s Letter to the Church at Weatherford...

Dear Friends in Christ,

Have you ever seen something that you thought was in such bad taste, so offensive that you want to shake your head and run? If not, check out this artwork from a revival held here in Weatherford a month or so ago. There was song. There were talks. There was even a raffle where they gave away a new hunting rifle with scope, yes a “Rifle Raffle.”

I have nothing against hunting but I’m not a hunter. I love venison sausage! I have a friend who makes a good venison chili. This is a hunter who uses every bit of the animals he harvests. The animals he takes give their lives for the man’s family and the families of the people who receives gifts of meat and hide.

The opposite of this is the man who buys a ticket to a far off land, buys the services of a Sherpa or safari leader, and is taken where animals gather to create the illusion of a hunt. You’ve seen the pictures, uber rich guys over a leopard or some such animal. Even worse are places like bird farms that lure birds for “hunters” to shoot. These birds are often funneled into small areas to make it even easier for hunters.

One takes life to sustain life, the other hunts for the power and vanity of taking a life. And that’s the difference, isn’t it? Christ came and gave his life to sustain life. The gospels tell us, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

Still, there’s something about the visual of the “Cross in the Cross-Hairs” that makes me uncomfortable.

Yet, the image of Christ giving his life, voluntarily upon the cross, is the image we have. Christ gave his life not so we can survive, but so we can thrive living in relationship with God and with one another. That image should be disturbing too, but we’re used to it. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to “Rifle Raffle.”

God bless, see you in church--Paul