“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

“We are rapidly becoming a nation of panic-ridden people. The present tendency is to make of everyone a scapegoat for our collective fears. This means that we are losing our sense of destiny as a people and are relaxing our faith in the ideals which gave birth to our nation and for whose high fulfillment we have in the past marshaled the resources of our common life. We cannot fight an idea with threats, investigations and scares. We can fight an idea only with a greater idea, to which, in all phases of our life, we are dedicated with high purpose and deep resolve. This is the answer to our present loss of nerve.” (Howard Thurman (2016-11-12T22:58:59). Deep Is the Hunger. Ravenio Books. Kindle Edition.)

“The present tendency is to make of everyone a scapegoat for our collective fears. This means that we are losing our sense of destiny as a people and are relaxing our faith.” We are often quick to blame others for the problems or the difficulties we have encountered in life. If we are people of faith, then we should accept the successes of our lives as well as the failures. We are not perfect people, and we are not surrounded by perfect people. Paul tells the people of Rome they must experience a renewing of their minds – and not allow their minds to be conformed to the world. This is something we need to hear in these Pandemic days – because we are living in a world and society that is surrounded by fearful people. And that fear is real – very real.

As people of faith we live with a sense of a different destiny than those who have no faith. And because of this destiny, we can have a greater resolve to live life without fear. Every person has been blessed with their own unique gifts – gifts for ministry, gifts for leadership, gifts for organization, and gifts for sharing our faith. Now is not the time to hold these gifts inside expecting either to protect them, or to protect ourselves. As Paul says, when we allow our minds to be renewed in the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, for this is our hope and our faith, then we will be better able to know G-d’s will in our lives, and to share that faith with the fearless, and the fearful.

Pastor Dave