Dear Truro Family,
At any time in the life of a church, but especially during a painful season like we are in the midst of now, there are some important reflexes for a congregation to pursue. These go against our natural inclinations of how to respond under stress, or when we’re confused, or when we’re hurting.
Here are ten gospel-enabled reflexes that support unity rather than division, trust rather than suspicion, and worship instead of worry.
Trust God. Things are not out of control — ever. God is in control — always. He “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11).
Love one another. By this, everyone will know that we are Jesus’ disciples (John 15:35).
Tame the tongue. While no one can tame their tongue on their own (James 3:8), with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).
Build one another up. The Bible never encourages or allows us to tear one another down. Just the opposite (Psalm 133:1). Always — especially right now — seek to build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11).
Walk in the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). Tend to this fruit in your life and relationships.
Reject gossip. The Bible is strong on this one (Romans 1:29). We should be, too. “Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts” (Prov. 26:20,22).
Remember God’s faithfulness. The Bible is full of exhortations to remember God’s past faithfulness (1 Chron. 16, Ps. 63:6, etc.), which fills us with faith for the present and future (Deut. 7:18).
Wait. Wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 130:5-6)). Wait for the parish meeting on August 8. We know waiting is (and has been) hard. But for the Christian, the spiritual muscle of patience is one of the most important ones to exercise (Eph. 4:2). As you wait, “commit your way to the Lord, trust in him, and he will act” (Psalm 37:5).
Pray. Cast your cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7); do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, make your requests known to the Lord (Philippians 4:6) — and do it without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17).
Fix our eyes on the crucified and risen Christ, resolving to know nothing but Christ crucified (1 Cor. 2:2), the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2).
Your Truro Clergy