We Will Faithfully Serve Our Lord!

April 2, 2025

Leadership Notes

     Here, again, the observation from economist Thomas Sowell:

“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those

they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a

whole.”

That man is a national treasure. He captures, in a much more articulate way, something I’ve said about protests and marches, etc. Style over substance. Those were some of the points Jesus touched on in the chapter of Luke {6} we finished last Sunday. His critics were often all about the show. Jesus was teaching us how to make a real impact on other people’s lives.

     In the interest of time, I’ll only go back five years. Think about all the examples of the kind of activism Sowell was addressing. There was the summer of death and destruction of 2020. Nothing but hate-fueled protest. There was the subsequent BLM inspired grift. There was some of that here in Tecumseh. There was the mayhem of January, 2021. There has been the pro-Hamas, pro-Gaza madness. And the beat goes on.

     “Useful idiots” is how the former Soviet Union referred to people living in democratic societies undermining capitalism. Not a good thing. Whether it’s blocking traffic on streets and highways or defacing works of art or gluing hands to pavement or firebombing someone else’s property or any number of other things that disrupt, deface, or destroy, it is horrible behavior. When I’m in a less-than-generous mood, when I think of people who do such things, I consider them miscreants, malcontents, and/or misfits.

     The Bible shows us a better way. Humble servanthood. Grace. Loving our neighbors and our enemies. Prayer for those with whom we disagree. We’ve been learning that in the early chapters of Luke’s Gospel. And I love how the faithful people of Covenant Church are taking it to heart.

     “Tangible” is a word that captures how followers of Jesus Christ are being called and equipped by God to love the world He gave us. Think about all the things this mighty little church embraces:

> Worship focused on praising God.

>Helping at-risk students improve their reading skills. Remember the old RIF – Reading is Fundamental public service campaign? Well, it still is.

> Saving baby’s lives through our partnership with “Care Pregnancy Center.” And showing the forgiving and transformative love of Jesus Christ to pregnant women.

> Being a part of the healing process for anyone with a hurt, habit, or hang-up, through “Celebrate Recovery.”

> Small group Bible studies.

> “Body Building” fellowship events after worship…see how they love each other.

> Sunday School for all ages; Vacation Bible School; TC Kids; Backpack Blowout.

There’s more that I could mention, but you get the point. We engage our community in positive ways, as taught and commanded by our Savior. The last thing we would ever do is protest, harm, or destroy. Leave that to the spiritually empty. As for Covenant Church, we will faithfully serve our Lord.

     Sometimes controversial sportswriter Jason Whitlock once observed:

“I don’t know who needs to hear this, but: I don’t care what

anyone thinks about me, my skin color, or any group they want to

place me in. I’m not important. Neither are you. I do care what

people think about Jesus Christ. He is important. Everything else

is just noise.”

As the Westminster Confession affirms, “The end purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

     With Much Love and Affection,

                      Richard