Why Be a Presbyterian

                There are many reasons I am a Presbyterian.  Maybe foremost is that I was born into a very Presbyterian family.  I like Presbyterian order and Presbyterian worship.  Presbyterians have always emphasized mission, and I am proud when I think of the many ways Westminster Presbyterian Church has participated in the mission of Jesus Christ.  But at the top of the list of what attracts me to the Presbyterian Church is the church’s understanding of grace and salvation. 

                I have to admit there have been some settings where I was made to feel guilty if I neglected our spiritual disciplines; you know, things like having a daily quiet time with the Lord, Bible study, the Lord’s Day worship experience, and being a witness. 

Not so prevalent in my life, but I have heard some folks talk about their fear.  If you believe the wrong way you will go to hell.  If you do something really bad, you will go to hell.  Or, if you have neglected something really important (you name it), yes again, you will go to hell.

Did you know that Presbyterians believe that salvation begins with God, and it is never earned, but joyfully received?  This means that I am a child of God, and if this is true there is nothing that can separate me from the love of God found in Jesus Christ our Savior.  My relationship with God does not depend upon what I do, but upon what God has already done.  Soooooo, there is nothing I can do that will make God love me more, and there is nothing I can do that will cause God to love me less. 

I would hope that every parent has an inkling of this relationship.  It is not always true, but most parents unconditionally love their children.   As far as it is humanly possible, I do not think there is anything one of my children can do that will make me love them any more or any less.   Of course, in their accomplishments I beam with pride and when they really mess up, I can be deeply disappointed, but when it comes to love that is unconditional. 

If this is the case in our relationship to God, we as God’s children are absolutely secure.  There is no fear of losing one’s salvation.  It also frees us to serve Christ out of a sense of gratitude.  We are to worship, serve, study and give not because we are afraid, not because we feel guilty, but because we are grateful to God.   A healthy Christian worships, serves and gives in gratitude to Almighty God because of the salvation that is already accomplished by Christ. 

Paul wrote at the end of Romans 8, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

AMEN!