To whom we serve? Acts 4:13-20

It is heartening to know that "For such a time as this: Discerning Christian Public witness" is the worship theme for the UTC community worship.
 

Normally when we think of discerning the signs, we move towards the societal structure, and look at the economic and political context of our country to read the signs of the time and to articulate the signs and create new theological formulations to make ourselves relevant. But most of the time we fail to discern the signs of the time from the view point of our churches from where we have come from and to where we are going to serve.

Theological institutions always would like to involve in an exercise to give new theological orientation to the world by reading the signs of the time, but usually fail to read the signs of the church. Are our churches ready to receive or willing to grasp any of our theological formulations made by reading the signs of the time? In the past, the churches and their leadership were willing to look at things openly and willing to accept any new expressions to make the church relevant in its mission. It was told that the paradigmatic expressions made by CISRS and UTC were readily experimented by St.Mark's Cathedral. But today neither are churches open, nor is the leadership fascinated in the new reading of signs or the formulations of theological foundations for the church’s meaningful existence! This is because the church in the process of its history has turned into being more institutionalized and in the progression has lost its movement character as Jesus has envisioned.

The biblical narration in Mathew 9: 35ff, describes Jesus’ involvement in the reading of the signs of his time by moving from one village to another and try to build the reign of God with those who were harassed and helpless and being lost in the community. In this process he calls his disciples to be involved with those people who are at the margins because they are like sheep without a shepherd. But today how many churches can claim that their church's priority is the lost sheep in the community and there is importance to give them identity and to share the good news that they are part of God's rule and reign?

Following this life giving call of Jesus, the early disciples established a new community with three challenges. Firstly, the value of depending on the affirmation of having the power of Jesus of Nazareth    (Acts 3:6) instead of depending on gold and silver to establish the rule of God. Secondly, in the context of Jesus’ crucifixion by the authorities, the believers made their life as living witnesses for the presence of Jesus in their community. It is the walk the talk experience of the community. (Acts 3:15). Thirdly, when the rulers and religious heads restricted them not to involve in the Jesus movement and to keep away from sharing the good news of Jesus, they boldly said  Is it right in God's sight to listen to you rather then to God....we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.(Acts 4:19-21) These three challenges of the early Jesus community gives us an opportunity in a time like this in the life of our church to discern whether we are part of that movement of Jesus? Are our theological colleges helping us to hear the voice of God rather than the voices of the people in authority. The challenging prophetic voice of the early disciples gives us an opportunity to think afresh our vocation “To whom we serve?''

Vincent Rajkumar

Director, Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (CISRS)

(Preached in the Tagore Hall of the UTC for UTC Sunday evening worship today.)