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5.3 Mission, Vision, and Values of ACOP
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In my own community, I think I can see myself “extending God’s Grace” and “igniting hope” in everyday life. When I encounter unbelievers I can show love while interacting with them and I can refuse to ridicule them for things they may be doing wrong. People of the world should be judged by the worlds standards if they don’t know Christ, not by God’s standards because that’s what they know. I can also extend gods grace by showing forgiveness to any wrongdoing against me in my life, doing my best to not hold a grudge or seek out revenge. God gave his grace freely to all out of love, so I should do my best to love them however I can.
Igniting hope can be done through relationship. God came to save everyone, so it should be in my best interest to tell anyone I can about the Hope of Jesus Christ. My life can be a living example that there is in fact more to this world, whether that be through sharing the gospel or simply living a set apart life as testimony.
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Apostle Paul said, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.” Having said that, my daily life, from the moment I wake up, the way I smile, the manner I conduct myself and my daily activities, the way I drive, the way I dress up, the manner I deal with my loved ones and other people, the way I wash the car and mow the lawn are being “known and read by everyone” and in doing so I must be mindful to find ways to extend God’s grace and ignite hope. As I engage my community by volunteering perhaps, or by simply being a good citizen/neighbor, I should always ask myself “Am I igniting hope”? When my boss, landlord, neighbor, or the next person I’m lining up with at Tim Horton is annoying, or when someone cut me in traffic or stole my parking spot at Costco, am I extending God’s grace?
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I love this vision statement! I want to reflect God’s grace to the people around me, while at the same time offering them hope that they were never supposed to do life alone. I’ve decided that if I’m going to err on the side of grace or justice, I’d rather lean towards grace.
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@Jenn that’s a pretty profound thing to say: erring on the side of grace against justice. This seems so right, and I think on average, it should be how Christians inhabit the world, at least when justice means “judging others.” But if we can redefine “justice” as living in the world in a way that reflects God’s desire not only for righteousness/judgement but also for “generosity and social concern” then we can begin to combine our understanding of justice with grace. Tim Keller has helped me to do this. Here’s a quote from him:
“If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice when we give all human beings their due as creations of God. Doing justice includes not only the righting of wrongs but generosity and social concern, especially toward the poor and vulnerable.”
Check out his book: Generous Justice: How God’s Grace Makes us Just.
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I am a work in progress but am getting there with being kind and extending love. If I allow myself to be filled with the love of Christ that joy shines through me and I can give it to those it need. I can build up and edify. I can shine the light of Jesus into the dark corners and provide hope. My church has opportunities and so does the community to reach out and let people know someone cares for them. More than ever we need to shine our lights brightly for all the world to see.
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@KarryMac – I love the reminder that we are works in progress. After all, until we get to heaven, we are all under construction! But it sounds like you are making progress towards God’s glory. I’m reminded of C. S. Lewis’s famous sermon, “The Weight of Glory.”
“It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor.
The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.
It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare.
All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations.”
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