Greetings from the Pastor, 

     The other day I was driving home with a small motorcycle in front of me. As we were driving a motorcycle passed us going the other direction and the two motorcyclists greeted each other with a hand out to the side.This was a simple greeting, but a greeting that acknowledges their common value of riding a motorcycle. You see this all the time when two motorcycles pass, no matter what type of cycle is being driven. I think they do this because they see themselves as being in the minorty and need to support each other against all those cars on the road. They are a part of the brother/sisterhood of motorcyclists.

     As I watched this ritual between these two motorcyclists, I thought about how can we as Christians learn to greet each other. Now this is not as far fetched as you think. Early in the life of Christianity, Christians had a secret code to greet each other by so that they would not be arrested for being a Christian. When a Christian greeted someone who they were not sure was a Christian, they would draw in the dirt the top half of a fish: and if the other person was a Christian they would draw in the bottom half of the fish. If they were not a Christian they would not know what the drawing was and so the Christian was safe. This is the way the fish became a sign of Christianity.

     Many church historians state that the present day church is a lot like the early church. The culture has become more hostile to Christians with some recent polls saying many people under the age of thirty distrust the church and see Christianity as having no value for their lives. Maybe it is time for us to begin to greet each other if we claim the name of Christ for our lives. In the past we would usually try to differentiate ourselves from other Christians, I am Lutheran, or Methodist and even more defined as to what type of Lutheran or Methodist. But those days are past, most non-church people do not care what type of Christian you are, and our separation from each other has not served us well. Jesus, in the night he was betrayed, prayed for all Christians that they would be one, not in agreement but one in Christ. Just like not all motorcylists ride the same bike or vote the same way, they still feel akin and are willing to greet one aother. 

    So now may be the time for us as Christians to reclaim the greeting of the past and acknowledge our brothers and sisters in Christ. Just like the simple hand to the side of that motorcyclist reminding the world that there is a special kinship among motorcyclists, let us remind the world that there is a special kinship between Christians, not because we all think alike but because we all claim likeness in Christ.

 

See you in worship,

 

Pastor Mike